Comments on: DARE WE DREAM?

By: cyberviews

cyberviews — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:55:36 +0000

In my previous comment “prurient” should read “virulent”. A freudian slip possibly!

By: cyberviews

cyberviews — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:54:45 +0000

I tend to agree with Melvin Ally. Mangala’s track record as a politician over the past 20 years, has only shown him to be nothing but a political animal par excellence. Despite the rhetoric of his “Dare to Dream” manifesto, he too worked the system to its machiavellian limits. When Chandrika came into power in 1994, he had his opportunity to provide the backstopping necessary for the visionary direction he now talks of, which would have brought about the “drastic change in the political climate” that Melvin mentions. Instead he was to play a key role in creating a prurient political culture of which he himself is now a victim. It is not that he is a principled politician or statesman with the moral fibre to make a difference. But can a man change, and overnight at that? Some would say Ranil did in terms of his stance on the ethnic question. After all, he was part of government that was responsible for the Dhushana Beeshana of 88/89 and was even said to be a sympathiser of the Cyril Mathew ideology. Today he has metamorpised into a politician with strong liberal democratic ideals. (Ironically, Mahinda Rajapakse, the left leaning human rights crusader, is the political ogre of the day! ) Would a Ranil-Mangala alliance make a difference! Can they rally the people around them? The JVP having also smelt blood are jostling for a lead position in the pack. The lions, the hyenas and the vultures are already there feasting on the rotting carcass. They sense the impending threat and their reponse should not be underestimated. One false move and their will be dead meat galore!

By: Melvin Ally

Melvin Ally — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:46:29 +0000

Somehow I seriously doubt what impact a Mangala-led SLFP govt. would have. I would like to put forward some food for thought:

-would his govt. take measures to curtail the rampant corruption in the country and bring charges (in public) against the perpetrators? What happened to the COPE report? What happened to the VAT scam of Rs. 7 billion? What happened in the Sathosa privatisation?

-what is his answer to the ethnic conflict? would he pursue a war-only strategy or would he give peace a real chance? how would he try to build the Tamil community’s confidence in our govt?

-how would he seek to tackle the widening disparities in income between the Western Province and other parts of our island?

-how would he try to give relief to the ordinary man on the street? pensioners?

-how would he handle the economy? unemployment? inflation? tourism? tea and garment industry? port services?

I wish there were politicians who could make a difference but unfortunately they have fallen far short. In the 12 years that I’m here, I have witnessed first hand a country going down a downward spiral and I would imagine only a drastic change in the political climate will bring about any significant tangible change for the people..