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Ukraine’s Independence Day was bereft of any public celebrations in Kyiv because of the elevated risk of Russian attacks on the capital. Precisely six months into Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation”, the ultimate aims of the mindless aggression as well as any prospects of a ceasefire remain shrouded in the fog of war. The threat of escalation has lately been compounded by the car bomb that killed Darya Dugina, a vociferous proponent of the conquest of Ukraine, on the outskirts of Moscow last Saturday. It is widely assumed that the target was her dad, Aleksandr Dugin, an ultranationalist ‘philosopher’ with a particularly odious attitude towards Ukraine. Dugin is often referred to as “Putin’s brain” or even “Putin’s Rasputin”, although the personal connection between them isn’t clear. Dugin’s writings nonetheless offer the supposedly historic basis for Putin’s determination to contest Ukrainian sovereignty in the context of a ‘Russkiy Mir’ — Russian world — that encompasses his nation alongside Belarus and Ukraine.
There is a degree of irony in the fact that it was the elected leaders of these very Soviet republics who colluded in signing the death warrant of the USSR in 1991. Anyhow, the Russian secret service FSB concluded on Monday that Dugina was the victim of a Ukrainian conspiracy carried out by a contractor of the neo-Nazi Azov brigade, who entered Russia pretending to be a refugee, and fled to Estonia after the success of her mission. That has been dismissed by Kyiv as propaganda, although the scenario is not entirely implausible. Red flags have been raised, however, over the FSB’s sudden ability to solve murder mysteries within 36 hours, given its record of investigations that remain inconclusive for decades. A number of speculative alternatives have been aired, some of them relating to ructions within the Russian ruling elite.
There are plenty of possibilities, but the upshot for the moment is increased pressure for doubling down on an incredibly dumb military mission that has thus far proceeded extraordinarily poorly from Moscow’s point of view. There is some evidence that Putin, much like George W. Bush on the eve of the American-led invasion of Iraq 19 years earlier assumed that the takeover of Iraq would be a cakewalk for his forces, believed that Kyiv would crumble within days in the face of Russian might. He appears to have been comprehensively misled by the FSB and other sources. Whether they really believed what they conveyed or were too frightened to lay out the truth remains a moot point. Either way, the ‘special operation’ did not go according to plan.
Nato-reinforced Ukraine put up an unexpectedly formidable resistance, and the prowess of the Russian military machine also appears to have been overrated. Whatever Putin’s initial ambition might have been, it has had to be recalibrated. Kyiv did not crumble at the first blow. Unlike Saddam Hussein, Volodymyr Zelensky did not have to go into hiding. Recent reports in the US press suggest that Putin was misled to a considerable extent by the FSB intelligence agency and other sources he relied on. It’s unclear, but certainly possible, that his aides and subordinates were too scared to tell him the truth. And we also do not know whether he would have behaved any differently had he known better. But what the Russian military fiasco does clarify is the unlikelihood of Putin attempting anything similar in other parts of the former Soviet Union, even though Zelensky continues to insist on Putin’s determination to use Ukraine as a springboard for further incursions into Europe.
I recall being appalled some five years ago by a provocative novel titled 2017: War with Russia, not least because the potboiler was purportedly penned by Gen Sir Richard Shirreff, billed as the “former deputy allied supreme commander Europe”. From what I can recall, it envisaged Russian aggression against the Baltic states, with the Nato response flailing until British ingenuity saves the day. For all its flaws, the novel offered an intriguing insight into the Western military mindset about Russia. A similar attitude is reflected today by those who insist that an unequivocal Russian defeat is the only way out of the war raging in Ukraine, and everything must be done to prolong the conflict until Putin caves in, or is overthrown.
The latter prospects seem thoroughly unrealistic for the moment, yet the idea of a negotiated settlement that would stem the bloodshed is evidently anathema to Moscow, Kyiv, Washington and Brussels alike. Where this attitude might lead is anyone’s guess, but nothing good can come of it. One wouldn’t expect Putin to appreciate this, but other Russians would do well to remember that Russkiy Mir can mean two things in their (and the Ukrainian) language. Mir can stands for ‘world’ in the Putin-Dugin context, but it’s also the word for something far more desirable right now: ‘peace’. (The Statesman/ANN)
Hopeless again with disappointment plus fear to write on PTA and tidbits from a Sunday paper
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“The object of terrorism is terrorism. The object of oppression is oppression. … The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?” George Orwell, 1984
The hot topic of now is the PTA. Those initials to ex-teacher Cassandra stand for a totally innocuous group of usually cooperating Parents and Teachers in an Association to help parents’ kids left in charge of teachers for much of weekdays. It had both head and heart working together. The PTA discussed widely now is totally otherwise, descriptive words being draconian, against human rights and inclusive of torture; extra judicial too.
The PTA is an Act passed temporarily by J R J in 1978 and made permanent in 1982 to enable the police to search, arrest, detain suspected terrorists. “Sri Lanka’s PTA has been used for over 40 years to enable prolonged arbitrary detention, to extract false confessions through torture, and to target minority communities and civil society groups. After years of domestic and international criticism of the law, the SL government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on January 22, 2022, published a bill to amend the act.” And in this month of August it was brought back in force by President Ranil Wickremasinghe,
Cassandra is not competent to comment on it, but she listened to discussions by competent people. One excellent session of exposition and comment was Monday August 22 Face the Nation facilitated by Shameer Rasooldeen with Thyagi Ruwanpathirana – Researcher at Amnesty International; Ambika Satkunanathan of the Human Rights Commission; and Dr Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu – CPA, who spoke on all matters related to the PTA. They unanimously and roundly condemned its being brought into effect now with the signing by the President of an initial 90-day incarceration of three activists who were said to have been mostly peaceful – no terrorism shown by them.
Earlier on the Monday, Faraz Shouketaly interviewed Srinath Perera PC, who was outspoken about the PTA brought into force. More than once he said there was a hidden hand behind the move; implying the Prez was influenced/forced to act this way by …. (Your guess is correct as mine is; Kaw Kaw and all that). Cassandra disapproved strongly of those who broke police barriers and surrounded Parliament some time ago. She has said enough is enough about protest marches. She most definitely disapproved and condemned the forced entry into the President’s official residence and other most important government buildings; and horrendously using the swimming pool, eating, and sleeping on flags in President’s House. But these condemned behavioural misdemeanors did not amount to acts of terrorism.
Cass, though limited in know-how of political and law matters, wonders with genuine concern and fear what effect the brought back PTA will have on the upcoming sessions in Geneva of the Human Rights Council and the report on Sri Lanka that the Director General of UNHRC will present. Also worried about our GSP benefit; and the PTA’s shadow casting itself on the discussions with, and decisions of, the IMF. Her response is that the PTA brought into force is like killing a fly with a hammer, while a much softer and unlethal fly swatter could have done the job much more efficiently, with no repercussions to follow.
Those protest leaders taken in for an initial 90 days should have been summoned to meet the President and Ministers concerned, along with Police high ups and warned and even cajoled to stop their protest capers and help in the economic recovery of the country.
Malala Yousafzai said: “With guns you can kill terrorists, with education you can kill terrorism.”
Storm in a glass of wine Maybe it was a stronger drink, but it and partying have caused a storm of protest of prude busy bodies after a video of 36-year-old Sanna Marin, PM of Finland, went viral worldwide. She has said she “did nothing but dance, sing, hug my friends and drink alcohol.” She was partying and had every right to enjoy herself. Accusations were flung that she was high on drugs so she volunteered to undergo a test and underwent it. She was also rapped in December 2021 for going to a club where a Covid positive person was. But why fault her, when the fault lay squarely on the Covid infected person? How was Marin to know? However, she apologised for this no fault of hers too.
Finland is ranked the happiest country in the world for the fifth successive year. Partying is most definitely a happiness producing activity. Cassandra asks stridently what on earth is wrong with a young pretty Head of a country enjoying a party with friends. Have all women heads to be staid and proper like German former Chancellor Angela Merkel or sweetly sacrificial and completely non-partisan as Jacinda Arden?
In retaliation to the unjustified crit of the young PM, Finnish, Danish and English women had posted social media pictures and videos of them partying and dancing. One comment was “If letting off steam at a party is the worst thing your PM had done, they you’re a pretty lucky country” Cass says amen to that.This reminds us of the fact that the PM of Britain was faulted heavily for partying in the premises of 10 Downing Street during Covid lockdowns over there. He was deposed from the premiership, however, for lying continuously about the parties. This brings us to our own country. Please let Cass be mum as there is so much to be said of our leaders and their shenanigans. Presidents included; not gents only!
Made by Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and reported in the Daily Mirror of Tuesday August 23. He insisted the UDA launch legal action to recover money from activists of the Aragalaya for damage caused to the Galle Face Green which he estimates at Rs five million. The Aragalaya was a peaceful protest so how did they damage the Green? They erected tents etc but that is a temporary inserting of spikes or whatever in the ground. The damage was caused by those drunken marauders who emerged from Temple Trees instigated by just abdicated PM and his boot-licking golaya – Johnston. What about damages caused by this same acolyte and other abusive and destructive pohottuwas in Parliament? Have they paid damages for broken chairs, mikes, etc? No. They haven’t even received the slightest official reprimand for their reprehensible behaviour, leave along being punished. And where should Ranatunge really be? In Welikada for soliciting a three million bribe. He roams free with a suspended jail sentence of six years.
As reported by Don Manu in his Sunday Punch in the Sunday Times of August 21, Minister Bandula Gunawardena claims it is a statutory right that an ex-Prez’s expenses be reimbursed as per the President Entitlement Act 1986. “Each and every executive president retired and widows … enjoy benefits, privileges and special facilities and they are also paid an allowance… The government is committed to paying former President Rajapaksa’s bills.” Star hotel hideouts scrounged for with chartered planes transferring the scared former Strong Man, after fleeing the home country? NOT SO! The ex-Prez slunk away afraid to remain in the country he drove to bankruptcy and utter despair. He did not retire.
Don Manu comments succinctly on this: “The people asked for Gota to go home, not for him to flee the country. If the ex-President chose self-exile to remaining at home, shouldn’t it be his lookout? Shouldn’t expenses incurred in taking flight be his to bear from his own funds and not from the public’s pauperised purse?
We fear Prez Ranil W R will OK this expense, plus government paying compensation for the burning of mostly rogues’ mansions. Everyone of those was NOT built with earnings, bequeathment or family wealth. The exception of course is Ranil W’s home which arson bereft Royal College of a most valuable endowment.The universal comment of us Ordinaries in this Land Like No Other is: “Mr Prime Minister, shed that second surname you have been given. You are Exec Prez. Shake off puppeteers and do the best for the people of the country on your initiative, using your executive power, not serve just one family.”
Rip Van Winkle in his 5th Column in the Sunday Times of August 21 addressing his weekly letter to the Prez asks: “Or is it that yours is a Udin Ranil, Yatin Basil government. Is Uncle Basil telling you who you should appoint as ministers…?”
Don Manu in his Sunday Punch in the same paper ponders thus: “Wonder why only he (Gotabaya R) must reap the whirlwind when the whole family (Rajapaksa clan of several brothers, sons, nephews, cousins, in-laws) had sown the wind.”
NOTE: What’s within parenthesis are Cassandra’s additions.
Cass ends her chat on a hopeless note: we the people may object, suggest, ask for, but Prez Ranil W R will do as The Family says. Utterly sad, no? Unnecessary too. There has to be a limit to gratitude.
In my view, the present unique in the world system of INDISCRIMINATE or EQUITABLE supply of drugs, needs to be reviewed by the Government as the drug bill is on an incessant upward trend, and the delivery programme is intricate, complex and complicated and ridden with corrupt and shady practices. Inbuilt and interwoven malpractices and poor drug management has reached colossal heights with very little scope for remedial action and ideal options.
It is desirable to evolve a completely new system which should, while not disturbing the recognized and declared policy of the Government, embedded in the established vision and mission of the Ministry for Health, allow for discrimination of the end user community segregating those who are needy and those who are affluent, with well mapped out and designed demarcations subject to periodic review and monitoring, as no welfare programme on earth could ever be considered perfect and fool proof. Basics have to be determined on an assessment of those who, under any circumstances, cannot be reckoned as eligible beneficiaries of a hundred percent free health service, and should be excluded from the present system; leaving those who cannot or ill afford medical facilities at a price, within the fold. The mechanism, in essence, will involve a grassroot level identification of the needy and those responsible for assessment will naturally be “not above board” levels of administration. Despite many a drawback and snags, the scheme can emerge, stand out and prove as a much better, satisfactory, acceptable and practicable alternative to the present system, with ever souring drug bills eroding the national exchequer and poor patients being disappointed when the drugs they need are not available entailing nerve racking burdens for the authorities.
It should, however, be ensured that the cost of the proposed arrangement does not outweigh the benefits sought to be underwritten. Having decided on a policy framework, logistics need to be carefully concentrated on, so that the benefits of the new scheme reach the beneficiaries without interruption and disruption and waste and malpractices are minimised. These objectives will be easier to achieve as the span of concentration will tend to reduce substantially.
The following is a response former Central Bank Governor, Arjuna Mahendran, has sent for publication:
You have mentioned in the editorial of The Island of Friday 19 August 2022 that (quote) former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who fled the country … (unquote). This is factually incorrect. It is on record of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Bond Issuance in 2017 that my counsel, Romesh de Silva PC, requested the permission of the Chairman of the Commission, Supreme Court Justice Chitrasiri, for me to leave Sri Lanka, which was granted in hearings open to the public.
Please print this correction to set the record straight.
Thank you for your response.
You have taken a section of our editorial (‘Cops and Robbers’) out of context. This is what we said:
“Crooks who defaulted on loans from state banks to the tune of billions of rupees, got off scot-free and chose to lie low after the 2019 regime change, are currently sighted in the exalted company of the powers that be at UNP events. They are now safe and can make up for lost time. At this rate, one need not be surprised even if former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, who fled the country before being hauled up before courts over the Treasury bond scams, returns to Sri Lanka. (Emphasis added)
Mr. Mahendran, you have omitted an important part of the sentence in question—‘before being hauled up before courts over the Treasury bond scams’.
Doesn’t the act of leaving the country before legal action is instituted against you and staying overseas without returning to stand trial amount to fleeing?
Mr. Mahendran, when you sought permission to leave the country, did you inform the Presidential Commission or your learned counsel (or your friends in the Yahapalana government) that you would not return to Sri Lanka in case of legal action being instituted against you over the bond scams?
We also hinted at the possibility of your return to Sri Lanka as those who protected you during the Yahapalana government are now in power. Will you care to inform us whether you intend to return and have yourself acquitted of all charges, the way the likes of Basil Rajapaksa did after the 2019 regime change?
Meanwhile, shouldn’t those who sought permission for you to leave the country and allowed you to travel to Singapore, before legal action was taken against the bond scam suspects including you, also be held responsible for your refusal to return to Sri Lanka to stand trial, and causing unnecessary problems to the Attorney General’s Department, which has been trying to have you extradited, albeit without success?
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