5th Column

Tsunami shifts political tactics, buries promises
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "what will happen to our country?"
"What is worrying you now?" Bindu's father Percy wanted to know.

"Why, thaaththa, won't it take years to undo the damage caused by the tsunami?"
"It might," Percy agreed, "but there are a few positive aspects of the disaster…"
"What are those?" Bindu wanted to know.

"For instance, Satellite hasn't blamed the Greens for anything for the past two weeks…"
"That is true," Bindu said, "but we cannot be sure how long that will last…"
"Then, there are so many world leaders descending on Colombo to see the disaster for themselves…"

"And President Bush at last got to know where Sri Lanka was on the world map…"
"And large amounts of foreign aid is flowing in to the country…" Percy observed.
"But thaaththa, the big question is whether we will use this opportunity to truly rebuild the country…"

"Or," Percy said, "how soon it will be before politics overtakes everything and we start fighting amongst ourselves again…"
"Already there is a hint of that…" Bindu said.
"Where is that happening?" Percy wanted to know.

"Why, the Tigers are complaining they are not getting enough aid…"
"And from the South, some people are complaining that aid is being sent direct to the Tigers instead of through the government…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "there are other people who are falling over each other to provide aid too…"
"How could you say that, Bindu?" Percy asked.

"Why thaaththa, there is almost a competition between the television stations as to who provides more relief…"
"But, Bindu," Percy protested, "I am sure they are all doing their best because we need all the relief we can get…"
"But thaaththa, when they interview donors, what they want to know is why the donation was made to that particular television network…"

"We have also reached the stage where each political party is collecting its own aid and then claiming they collected more…"
"Yes," Bindu agreed, "but it must be said that our political parties have been surprisingly well behaved until now…"

"That is because the disaster has forced our politicians to change their tactics…" Percy said.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?"
"Why, Bindu, Satellite can no longer talk of changing Constitutions to remain in power…"

"And Velu cannot be insisting on a self governing authority right now…"
"Nor is it the time for the Green Man to launch protest marches…"
"And Wee Wee will be forced to stop talking about his 'bibikkama', at least for the moment…"

"And this will not be the correct time for elections or a referendum…"
"Or, for that matter bringing a no-confidence motion against the Speaker…"
"But don't be too optimistic about all this…" Percy cautioned.

"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why, Bindu remember all those election promises that were made less than a year ago?"
"Yes," Bindu said, "about salary increases, jobs and controlling the cost of living…"

"Don't forget that now, there is a ready-made excuse. They can always say they couldn't keep their promises because of the Tsunami…"
Bindu didn't disagree with that.

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