The UNP is doing it again. It’s reaction to the twin body-blows of the cowardly prorogation of parliament (widely expected) and the nonsensical referendum (totally unexpected) has been so lacking in fireworks and theatrics that it has not only failed to match the sense of outrage of its loyal voters but has failed to capture the imagination of the floating voters.

Whatever has been said so far in condemnation of these two life-saving measures of a desperately ailing government, has been so uninspiring and flat that once again, people are beginning to wonder whether the UNP can fight its way even out of a wet paper bag. After all, a lot of people know that the events of the past few weeks that led up to an almost certain defeat of the PA government, had very little to do with the machinations of the UNP and were due in the main to the tactical mistakes made by the PA.

It is unimaginable and indeed unforgivable that though the prorogation was known to be inevitably around the corner, the UNP had not got its act together to shout themselves hoarse, in impressive numbers and with all the required drama, the moment it happened. Even now, beyond stating the obvious, such as "undemocratic’, ‘face-saving’ etc., of these actions, the UNP leadership says they have still not decided what to do! That is pathetic.

Leaders do not sound unsure. Even if they are still formulating courses of action, they should sound and seem utterly confident and formidable and breathe fire 24 hours of everyday, in a concerted, coordinated action, until the threat is averted. That’s the only way to get the masses to pay any attention, and that is exactly what the PA is doing.

The only premises that the UNP can successfully drive this action from is that the masses are asses. Again, the PA knows this only too well and it derives its vote base, apart from the ham-fisted approach, by playing upon the emotions of the less-educated or the uneducated on whom the intricacies of parliamentary practices and democratic principles are totally lost. The UNP must accept this as a given fact and proceed from there, without complicating the issue by trying to explain intricacies, to paint the terrifying picture in all its gory colours. That is the way to whip up the required hysteria against what is clearly a strategy by the PA to counter the defeat that stares them in the face.

The UNP leadership must also always remember that they are up against street-fighters against whom mahattayas cut a sorry figure. So, they must act the part even if it kills them from inside and give not simply as good as they get, but better. They should bear in mind that the m(asses) love a street fight — it’s a sure crowd-puller. And they must never say, as one of them said the other day in a TV interview, that "99percent of the people want a change in constitution". What a thoughtless comment! The state media will now play that up to suit their end with the m(asses).

If the UNP loses this one, it’s curtains for the country and for the UNP leadership. And not for the same reason.
Mahendra Fernando
Moratuwa