5th Column

To say one thing today and deny it later is a basic right
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what is this big fuss about Prabhakaran's birthday?"
"I believe it is because it's his fiftieth birthday…"

"I thought it was because they were expecting a significant announcement from him…"
"Whatever the reason, he has learnt something from the South…" Percy said.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"
"Why, all these ideas of having celebrations to coincide with the birthday of the leader is something that was practised in the South not so long ago…" Percy observed.

"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "not many people in the South are likely to wish him 'many happy returns of the day'…"
"Yes," Percy agreed, "but he is only fifty years old…"
"That is not a very young age…" Bindu said.

"Yes, but what we must all remember is that he is nine years younger than Satellite and five years younger than the Green Man, so time is on his side…"
"And he has outlasted three Presidents already…"
"Yes," Percy noted, "and he nearly blasted a fourth…"

"And whatever his faults," Bindu pointed out, "we must admit that he has been clever at manipulating events to his advantage…"
"Why do you say that, Bindu?"
"Why, thaaththa, he appears in public so rarely that whenever he is scheduled to, there is a big fuss and people hang on to every word he says…" Bindu said.
"Whereas we can't get rid of the leaders of the South from our television screens…"

"And we certainly can't believe what they say because they say one thing one day and then the next day they say they didn't mean exactly that…"
"Just like when people go about accusing the judges and the police of being corrupt…" Percy recalled.
"So, our leaders too will have to take Prabhakaran as an example on certain matters…" Bindu suggested.

"Or else, he will continue to enhance his reputation…"
"But I don't think Satellite is too worried about it…"
"Why do you say that, Bindu?" Percy wanted to know.
"With everyone praising the budget so much," Bindu explained, "I am sure she thinks all her problems are over…"

"But everybody is not happy with the budget…" Percy said.
"But thaaththa, I thought everyone was very happy, judging by how they are falling over each other to praise the Budget…"
"But they have been asked to work an extra hour every day…"
"But thaaththa, now they say that is purely voluntary…"

"So, the Finance Minister expects our public servants who don't even do the work they are supposed to do, to put in an extra hour every day voluntarily…"
"Is that being too optimistic, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.

"I would think that is downright stupid, Bindu…" Percy said.
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "an example has already been set and we are all supposed to follow that example…"
"What example is that?" Percy asked, puzzled.

"Why, thaaththa, Satellite has already said she will serve one more year voluntarily until 2006 though no one really wants her to…"
Percy voluntarily refrained from arguing about that issue.

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