POLITICS

The waiting game

Rajitha Senaratne      Wimal Weerawansa

By Dilrukshi Handunnnetti President Chandrika Kumaratunga's penchant for dramatic political moves is a known factor. It is only someone like her who would have the courage, albeit the wisdom of such decisions, to prorogue parliament and not dissolve it, hold twin discussions with both the ruling United National Front (UNF) and the Marxist JVP to attempt the formation of two diametrically opposite unions, play for time with both, thus managing to keep the country in grave suspense.

Kumaratunga manages to remind the populace of the plethora of executive powers conferred upon the executive by the 1978 constitution as she springs one political surprise after the other, making use of the very office she pledged to abolish as her first priority.

No answers

While she may provide political entertainment to a nation unable to ascertain which way the wind would blow, it is just not possible to sweep the concerns that have emerged largely due to the current political crisis under the proverbial carpet - they beg for answers and immediate action.

However, it is not just President Kumaratunga who plays the waiting game. Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe too prefers to react rather than to act and so the Titanic sails on with both leaders waiting for the eventuality - for the steamer to sink.

Following the takeover of three ministries, some quick follow up action was expected by Kumaratunga. As many PA legislators told this column, they expected an announcement of snap polls and to maximise benefits by putting to good use the three vital portfolios under the President. While the People's Alliance (PA) has obviously gained the upper hand in the political game by emasculating the government, the MPs are still confused not knowing what to tell their respective electorates.

Politically weak

But not just the PA, but the UNF members too feel the pain of going before their electorates. After all, they have to admit to being politically weak and there's little to show by way of rural development. The peace process also cannot be marketed with the same ease as before, not having held a single round of talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since last April.

Commenting on the current political impasse, Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne who believed in meeting fire with fire to prevent possible anarchy said that he believed the storm would blow over.

"Kumaratunga is far too suave and internationalised to overlook international  pressure. The Tittawela - Samarawickrema committee has not been disbanded. They will take new initiatives to work things out, and Kumaratunga would come around," he said.

Senaratne believes that instead of driving the nation to the brink of disaster and anarchy, conciliatory moves like passing votes on ministries held by the President need to be taken. "It is in the larger interest of the country. If the UNF's pride takes a beating by doing that, it still needs to be done. But, we should watch out for the political moves better," he said.

But government legislators are not that confident about the prudence in falling in line with what they call the "PA's agenda." "It's suicidal. The peace process has been stalled, there has been little development, the party machinery is weak and the worst part is, we have been politically reduced to nothing by wresting three ministries from our control," chorus many UNP members.

Difficult situation

According to UNP Spokesman Gayantha Karunatilleke, it is admittedly a difficult situation for the government,. but he subscribes to the view that differences could be ironed out.

"What we need is to stop harping on takeovers and prorogations. We need either an enhanced political strategy to become politically strong or the will to work out a practical cohabitation arrangement," he says. Preferring the latter in the present circumstances, he said that an all-party initiative was needed to resurrect the country.

But PA's Dilan Perera is of the view that politics apart, a golden opportunity has presented itself for the government to take the PA on board.

Perera rejects the view that the UNF is unable to pursue the peace process due to not having the defence portfolio in its hands. While the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has advocated the idea that the portfolio is best kept with the UNF to help resume the disbanded talks with the LTTE, the LTTE itself has not said so.

Perera asserts that there have been less violations of the MoU since the takeover. "What I am saying is that the situation is such the best course of action to prevent political upheaval is to take the UNF on board.

"Even if the UNF does take the peace process forward, they would need our support to make it a reality. This is why we promote putting an end to acrimonious relations, working things out, including a Presidential representative at peace talks, as the President is still the chief executive. What remains to be seen is whether Premier Wickremesinghe is big enough to want to share the peace trophy with the PA or want to kill time, play for time and drag things till the President's term ends, so that he may exclusively take the credit for peace," explained Perera.

Burying the hatchet

The more moderate types like Nimal Siripala de Silva and John Seneviratne believe that it is best that the two main parties bury the hatchet and come up with a working arrangement to put the country back on track. As de Silva said, it was bad management on the part of the UNF that caused the President to takeover. Thus, there should be some formula where both the executive and the legislature could govern without adding to the problems the county is faced with.

But what the PA members do not articulate openly is that Kumaratunga is too concerned about her own political future to worry about the broader issues. For reasons best known to her, the rehearsed drama of capturing power as promised by her to PA legislators before the take over of three ministries and the prorogation did not go on board.

While both the PA and the UNF downplay the current political impasse, the JVP seems far more forthright and decisive about the need for fresh political initiatives

As Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa told parliament last week, the situation is catastrophic and requires urgent and courageous political decisions that could change the destiny of this nation. In simple language, Weerawansa advocates the holding of elections to resolve the political impasse.

Fresh mandate

According to JVP's Sunil Handunnetti, the only way to break the deadlock is to seek a fresh mandate and to be honest about the precarious political and defence situations when doing so.

With the uncertainty continuing, the emerging truth is that there is no use pretending as if the deadlock does not exist and simply wish it away. The political scene gets intense by the minute, and all three main political parties have quietly begun their campaigns at grassroot level. The prevailing silence is pregnant with intensity.

For the moment, as Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse said: "The waiting game is on." There won't be any surprises just yet. But the year 2004 cannot be that. It demands an end to the political deadlock and fresh political initiatives that could go well beyond petty divisive politics.

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