What enables tail to wag dog

I refer to the news item under the above heading in The Island of March 20, 2003 and subsequent reports in the press, of the displeasure expressed by Minister Hakeem of his party being referred to as the tail of the government.

The above comment by Minister Hakeem, in response to the courageous comment by Minister Dayaratne at a public rally at Samanthurai recently, that "always a dog wagged the tail and not vice versa...." only goes to confirm that the SLMC is in fact a "tail" of the government. This statement also goes to confirm that the "tail does wag the dog" in the context of our elected governments. One would remember that the last PA government was thrown out of office because it tried to resist this "tail wagging the dog" by none other than Mr. Hakeem, who was a Minister in that administration, too.

For this "tail wagging the dog" problem and solution is the two major parties, the UNP and SLFP to join hands. The policies of both these parties, to a large extent, are the same. Further, both the UNP and SLFP are parties representing all citizens of the country - Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher et al. Thus, the need to have separate parties representing different ethnic communities is unnecessary.

During the period of the last regime there was a move to form a national government in a bid to overcome the problems besetting the country. But the then UNP opposition would not hear of it. It is the same now, with the party positions reversed. It is unfortunate but true that our politicians are more interested in power and personal gain than in the welfare of country and its citizens.

Peace is the buzz word today. The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, is trying its best to usher in peace. The President from time to time and as recently as March 31, addressing diplomatic community based in Colombo, has expressed her support for the peace process. Of significance is also the statement she made on this occasion regarding the opposition of the UNP to a power sharing system as a lasting solution to the protracted ethnic conflict. Thus, it seems that the door to a possible getting together of these two parties in not completely closed.

If only these two parties could iron out whatever minor differences they have and get together, the question of "the tail wagging the dog" won't arise. It would also be a boon to the country and a positive step towards peace, co-existence and development. But as long as our politicians remain blinded by greed for power, the tail will continue to wag the dog.
Rovi
Kandana