Enemy’s enemy is a friend of convenience
The saying that an enemy’s enemy is a friend of convenience is a truism especially in the political arena. For example, if A, B, and C are enemies of each other, then A and B may become friends of convenience against C, or A and C against B, or B and C against A.
This happened in reality when the former Minister of National Security Lalith Athulathmudali ( LA) and President R. Premadasa ( RP) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were tripartite enemies.
The LTTE befriended RP against LA, and the RP government’s policies paved the way for the LTTE to assassinate LA. This was done after his security detail was withdrawn, with his expulsion from the government. He was assassinated at a political meeting at Kirullapone on April 23, 1993 in spite of credible information of a threat to his life.
Having achieved the first 2.)
Antagonism between these two groups has been strong. But the funny thing is that many politicians of either group have been crossing and crisscrossing from one group to the other for political expediency of seeking positions and perks. Many have been partners in crime and know each other’s involvements. Although one may shout levelling allegations such as the Central Bank bond Scam, irregular tenders, commissions on contracts, and ill-gotten wealth from underworld drug barons and so forth, he is silenced by the other who threatens to open the first alleger’s can of worms. Then they agree on a truce.
Since elimination of the LTTE, politicians have neither permanent friends nor permanent enemies. They just fool the people. The fault is in the system – the one-man show. It has been there since the introduction of the Executive Presidency, and will be there as long as the system lasts.
What the people want is to have back their democratic rights. Then we can revert to grouping of friends and enemies, and politicians can remain and bolster their respective political parties either in government or in the opposition, as in the good old days.
As for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa he has inherited the one-man show and authoritarian governance has to be expected. In investigations into large scale crimes and frauds, the investigating officers are held on a leash by President Rajapaksa, the Constitutional Council and the so- called Independent Police Commission notwithstanding. Sacking of investigating officers who had uncovered implicating evidence in big crime, and the sudden departure of Police Inspector Nishantha de Silva of the Criminal Investigations Department seeking haven in Switzerland, are veritable tell tales.
It being a numbers game for President Rajapaksa, he is exploiting his position by threatening to investigate politicians, as the stick and dropping the investigation as the carrot.
It is reminiscent of the school children’s game: When O’Grady says, “Do this” and you do it, you are in and not counted out. In the context of the present government, you are in with position and perks.