Opportunism, the credo

The United National Party has long been the party with the largest vote base. Though only a fraction of its former size and strength it still commands a considerable vote base. That is why we could say that whatever the political and ideological inclinations of its new found partners in the Grand Opposition Alliance, de facto decision maker in the latter is none other than the UNP.

The reason for the allies to join the UNP is simple. Most of them, if not all cannot dare to stand alone and seek a popular mandate. Hence they seek to improve their chances at a future general election by allying with the UNP for the Presidential contest and influencing its voters to accommodate them too.

We have seen how the SLMC benefited by aligning with the UNP at previous elections. The same is true of the Western Province People's Front, a virtual one man show of Mano Ganeshan. As to the claims of other three-wheeler parties in the Alliance they fall into the realm of fantasy. The only exception is the JVP. It has successfully tried an alignment with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party earlier and reaped rewards at the last General Election. It is the same strategy they have followed at present with only a single difference. This time they have chosen the UNP in preference to the SLFP to try their luck.

That is why a large number of UNPers including some senior leaders are disillusioned at the strategy of the party in abandoning the chance to field a candidate at the Presidential election. Incidentally it is the first time in its six decade old history that the United National Party has kept away from a Presidential Election. The cross-over of the party's National Organizer S. B. Dissanayake is symbolic of the frustration within the UNP.

Similar dissentions are brewing inside the JVP too. Rank and file members imbued with anti-capitalist and socialist sentiments are wondering how the cause of socialism could be served by aligning with the most conservative, reactionary and pro-imperialist force in the political arena.

Political alliances, even electoral should have minimum of political understanding and common thought. What is the lowest common multiple among the constituents of this unholy alliance? Is it the abolition of the Executive Presidency? Have they got a program to do so? Even leaving behind the Constitutional provisions that clearly show that a reform of the Constitution either piecemeal or in toto should follow the existing Constitution which requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament and majority approval by the people at a national referendum, are the constituent parties and the contender at the Presidential Election agreed on its modalities?

Listening to the UNP one is made to believe that in the unlikely scenario of their candidate's victory there will be a shift over to an 'Executive Prime Ministerial system', though the latter is not defined. Mano Ganeshan says the President elected will be for a short time only.

The contender, however, has made it clear that he has no intention to abdicate his powers. He would not be a ceremonial figure, he has said openly.

What does all this mean? It means that the Opposition has neither a common policy nor a common program, even a minimal one. Their only credo seems to be nothing more than political opportunism.

Could the nation entrust its destiny to a bunch of opportunists or their proxy?

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How free is free media?

Last Saturday's attack on the State media TV crews has not made any impact on the so-called Free Media Movement. Its silence is inexplicable. It used to come out on the streets at the drop of a hat and even issue statements on internal transfers of journalists by media houses.

By its silence, one could infer one of two things. Either it is afraid to express solidarity with the victimized journalists, knowing very well the aggressive nature of the perpetrators of the crime or it endorses the attack.

This is not the first time that it had kept mum. It has been selective in selecting which incidents to be condemned and which not. Thereby it has become a collaborator or a willing accomplice in the crime.

The same silence is observed from the international media groups that usually make a hue and cry over incidents from which they could get political mileage.