The Fifth Column

15th March 1998

Prabha's official spokesman

"Thaaththa" Bindu Udagedara asked, "who is Prabhakaran's official spokesman?"

Percy Udagedara thought for a while. "Is it Anton Balasingham?" he wanted to know.

"No" said Bindu.

"Then, is it someone in Paris or London?"

"No, he's right here in Colombo" Bindu said.

"Why have they caught him after the bomb blast?"

"No, thaaththa" Bindu said, smiling.

"Then, who is he?" Percy was puzzled.

"Why thaaththa, he is Mr. Thondaman..."

'Why do you say that?" Percy demanded.

"Why, thaaththa, now he says the government must cease hostilities with the Tigers and start talking to them..."

"Why on earth should he say that?"

"Maybe because the Tigers exploded three bombs in six weeks..."

"No, Bindu" Percy said, "that is only typical of Mr. Thondaman..."

"Why do you say that?"

"Remember, his trade union recently went on strike".

"Yes, and they got what they wanted..."

"And remember that offer of handing over the north and east of the country to Prabhakaran for ten years..."

"That's what Satellite told TIME magazine ..." Bindu recalled.

"Yes, but that was first suggested by Mr. Thondaman, years ago..."

"So, what you are saying, thaaththa, he is always ahead of our leaders..."

"Yes, that's why he survives regardless of whether the government is green or blue..."

"And he, every now and then, makes a noise supporting the Tigers, so Velu also wouldn't mind..."

"Yes" Percy agreed, "his idea of politics is to take what is given and then ask for more..."

"Isn't that a good lesson for Prabhakaran too?" Bindu asked Percy.

"Yes" Percy agreed, "but if I had to choose between Prabhakaran and Mr. Thondaman..."

"Whom would you choose, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"That's a difficult choice" Percy said.

Bindu didn't disagree.

Rajpal Abeynayake's Column

Editorial/Opinion Contents