2020 A mixed bag of national expectations, bright hope and insipient fear

December 25, 2019, 5:57 pm

How was Christmas with you? For Cass it was a quiet day of reminiscing and purring on her couch, extra glad she is in Sri Lanka notwithstanding minor warts that may grow into cancerous sites. Glad because she isn’t wary like a friend of hers is in the outskirts of Sydney feeling the heat of out of control bushfires. Relieved not to be in New Delhi where her lovely friend Ritu has to wear a mask even in the balcony of her flat due to evil smog. Librarian that she was, she used to scooter around, but now no more. Cass enquires from a bhikkhu who won a scholarship to the Hong Kong University for his Masters whether he escapes being caught up in the protest for democracy.

But though she is satisfied as of now, having nibbled a piece of Christmas cake and sipped a glass of wine, and reclining relaxed, there are faint tremors that tingle down her spine and jabs of fear that prick her mind. Why, you may well ask with this season being particularly one of ‘peace on earth and goodwill to men.’ Will both explode soon enough? Like incomes that get busted in December so that wives scrape together money for January with the sale of bottles emptied in merrymaking and collected newspaper? Will the euphoric month after presidential elections when the new Prez was borne to his high seat on the shoulders of very much more than half the voting population of the island turn un-euphoric? He gave some fine promises and we believe him. Even sceptics trust his dedication to get a job done. But why the recent arrest of an ex Minister of the State and the imminent arrest of another, as Cass writes this; and why call out all the armed forces to ensure security during this season? Wouldn’t the police suffice? We ordinary folk believe so, and also feel those jihadists or whatever the terrorists of the Easter Sunday massacre called themselves, are gone. They blew themselves up killing the innocent church goers and those enjoying their breakfast in star class hotels. The remaining Jihadists were arrested by the armed forces. Why call out the armed forces now when there is not even a whiff of imminent danger? Is it a very subtle move to induce a fear psychosis that weakens people’s spirit? Will the armed forces out there mingling with the crowds soon become a steady presence so much so that this beautiful isle incipiently moves away from being free and democratic?

This fear justified by another happening. Cass, watching TV news on Tuesday night, saw a whole phalanx of police women and another of policemen. She thought it was a passing out parade, but then she thought again. How come before a court in Colombo? And then was shown Patali Champika Ranawaka allowed out on bail. Goodness, the khaki clads outnumbered civilians present ten to one. What was the police expecting? A mini war?

In the first and last place, Ranawaka’s case against a motorcyclist who crashed into his vehicle was heard and judgment given. The victim was on a racing bicycle that should not have been ridden on a public road. So he is in the wrong. Why this sudden resurrection of a case heard and judgment given at the time of the accident?

Turn around

As seen on TV, read about in newspapers and heard at press conferences, those who denounced signing the MMC Pact as if we were giving half the land and our entire freedom to the Americans are now very quietly becoming advocates for its signing. I heard Gamanpilla a couple of days ago speaking highly of what Sri Lanka can gain from signing it. Just a couple of moons ago, he was spitting fire and brimstone against the Millenium Challenge Corporation’s project in our land. He said categorically that the UNP was selling our country to the American colonizers. Wimal Weerawanse too almost exploded his lungs and voice box shouting against the Americans, his pet aversion (pretended for political expediency?). I did not hear him recently as I switch the TV off the moment he sits or stands at a mike or podium. He is also strangely less heard, isn’t he? Gagged by higher ups?

Heard along the gossip grapevine was that monks in temples principally in the south were stark against the signing of the MCC Pact and vociferous in faulting the yahapalanaya government. They were even said to have distributed pamphlets about this. A rumour ignited which spread like wildfire was that a visa would be necessary to go worship at Anuradhapura and sightsee Polonnaruwa. Naturally, the ordinary masses thought the then government was selling the country to the Americans. Now if the pact is signed by the interim government, it will be passed as a great benefit to the nation, and accepted by the sheep-like hoi polloi.

Once abhorred, now advocated

For her edification, Cass googled and got to know the MCC business and was further educated on it by unbiased articles in this paper and others. To quote part of what she gathered:

"The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is an innovative and independent U.S. foreign assistance agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty.

Created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bipartisan support, MCC has changed on how best to deliver smart U.S. foreign assistance by focusing on good policies, country ownership, and results. MCC provides time-limited grants promoting economic growth, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions. These investments not only support stability and prosperity in partner countries but also enhance American interests. With cost-effective projects, a lean staff, and an evidence-based approach, MCC is a good investment for the American people."

Cass learnt signing the pact would result in huge development of infrastructure and transport and communication over here in our Paradise. On Monday 23 December. two intellectuals, one from the UNP and the other - an academic representing a national minded group spoke on the Compact in Face the Nation TVI programme. They were both for it and opined it would be good for the country and moving with the world was important as conservative concepts of world economy and international integration had all changed.

To Cass, it was surprising how the then Opposition rejected it wholesale and also dubbed it a move to divide the land into two along a corridor running from Colombo to Trinco to be owned by the US of A. We have still not graduated to devalue only those moves that are truly injurious or disadvantageous to the country. When will opposition politicians (whatever their Party) be able to look at matters with unprejudiced minds and not condemn everything and anything a government does? Now that the MCC Pact is approved of by the interim government, will saffron hued pamphlets advocating it flood villages and hamlets with the good news that with American aid, the Sacred Sites will be easier approached at lesser cost? The promised grant is too attractive to be snorted at.

Two lessons learnt from this. The sauce that is good for the gander is not good for the goose, but when the goose has the upper hand, the previously abhorred sauce turns good. Also, no consideration for the good of the people or nation, all consideration for one’s political and economic well being, though the mouthed slogan remains: all done for the people’s benefit.

So, it’s till 2020, and the hope that the good we expected by voting in a new Prez will come to us all!

Cassandra