Chasing rainbows!

By I. P. C. MENDIS

His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith is quite understandably a disappointed church leader, whose recent “no nonsense” approach to the lackadaisical attitude of the government and its agency the Police Department, in regard to the investigation into the 2019 Easter Sunday attack, has drawn heavy flak from him. His concerns are based on facts, some of which are very clear to the naked eye and open mind and are clearly open to the all-important question as to why specific recommendations made in the Presidential Commission Report have not been pursued to its logical conclusion which includes the necessity to investigate the role played by the President and Minister for Defence at the time. Allegations include, I believe Hemasiri Fernando’s evidence that he as Secretary, Defence found it very difficult to see his Minister, and the former, waiting for comfortable Class in the aircraft to return to base from Singapore after learning about the attack. The Cardinal has gone on record as saying that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had assured him earlier that it would be done. It is, therefore, a case of relying on the verbal assurance available, a gentleman’s agreement quite contrary to the written assurances commonly demanded by trade unions prior to calling off strikes.

This instance is a far cry from isolated union action. It was a “touch and go” situation where, if not for the timely and very wise move and the great personal sacrifice the Cardinal made in regard to his own personal standing with his flock at the receiving end of the heinous crime, was mellowed down with words of comfort coming down from the Cross used for the greater good, communal harmony and the country at large, the consequences would have been tragic. The country could have been a veritable furnace and killing field! Indeed, the Cardinal’s role bears no comparison whatsoever to the need for camouflaging the deeds or misdeeds, actions or inactions of any individual or group who can be by proper legal procedure be investigated and dealt with. There is absolutely no doubt that the government is unable to defend itself in regard to its inaction tantamount to a cover-up of person or persons who by their inaction or prevarication are directly or vicariously responsible for the carnage and deaths of innocent worshippers and impairment of others.

Political manipulation

President Gotabaya’s assurance to the Cardinal would have been made before the last presidential election or in the midst of it. The political implications of the SLFP coalescing with SLPP and this assurance in particular, could possibly not have come into the equation. This is not to find an excuse for reneging on any assurance given but let’s face it. Politics is a dirty game. Promises by politicians – only the tippler community by and large, take them seriously. The SLFP (which now conveniently ignores the fact of SLPP supporters themselves voting for them), was returned with 14 seats – a sizeable section to support a two-thirds majority with a new Constitution on the agenda. The SLFP General Secretary, Dayasiri Jayasekera, has continuously been very vociferous in his stance that there should not be any move to investigate the role of its Chairman, ex President Sirisena. If there were to be any such move, the consequences would be a foregone conclusion. The government will fall between two stools. There lies the dilemma. President Sirisena’s relationship with Sajith Premadasa has already been openly admitted by the former who had approaced him several times over to take-over the Premiership from Ranil W – Sajith P keeping it a closely guarded secret. So, the government itself is in a quandary. Anyone can patronisingly hold the government or President Gotabaya against the wall and demand that the assurance be honoured. Realities, the ground situation have to be faced. Politicians have to be essentially equipped with power. Once empowered, they will either enhance it or do their utmost to retain it. It should not be construed as an excuse but a stark fact whether one likes or not.

Chasing Rainbows

Very respectfully, the Cardinal needs to convince himself that he seems to be dealing with human beings, sinful as they are (if not the Church and Jesus on the Cross would be superfluous or meaningless). No Sermon on the Mount can move politicians as long as they are backed by voters. The Cardinal may win the battle but not the war. In the name of communal, racial and religious harmony it is best to persist in prayer with “Father, forgive them for they know not know what they do” and to leave the rest to the Will of the Almighty who will surely serve the guilty with their due dessert in time. So be it. In the meantime, the remedy lies in the pursuit of legal procedure.