ETCA a disguise?

By Priyantha Bandara    

ETCA is a camouflage like a wolf disguised in sheep’s clothing. It appears as a big bluff. The politicians may not be extra intelligent but no one would deny that they are not in want of common sense. In fact they are very shrewd and cunning. 

The professionals, the industrialists, the business community marched in procession to Temple Trees (President’s residence), during the former President’s tenure and vehemently expressed their opposition to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), weighted heavily to the Indian side.

Why is the Government pursuing this again and also in another name after the previous Government accepted our petition and endorsed our concerns? Why be deceptive when the fact is that ETCA is only a name change?

 An article in the Sunday Times of 28th February aptly describes it as ‘old wine in a new bottle’. However, the PM has said at the South Asian Diaspora Convention in Singapore that ETCA would be signed before the end of this year. The concern of professionals and others has been completely ignored, disregarding the voice of the people and the decision taken by the former President.

It is not only ETCA but the recent controversial issues evoke our concern. The former Central Bank Governor was accused of corruption amongst other allegations. It is serious and a delay in taking a decision can in no way be excused. Nevertheless, the PM dilly-dallied without taking a decision until the pressure was too much for the incumbent President to bear. 

The former Governor’s father is one of the PM’s close advisors and he should have taken all precautions not to get embroiled in controversy concerning his son. However, we were taken by surprise that the former Governor of the Central Bank, who is under a cloud, was in the delegation that went to Singapore recently with the PM. Obviously the PM brushes aside public opinion. ‘Who cares’ is his attitude! 

Idi Amin can be accused of insensate and arbitrary decisions but our PM is endowed with greater and wider exposure and comes from a different stock. Unless he is showing great partiality to India. We cannot accept that our PM would be so unpatriotic not to care two hoots for the country. Why… but why are we having doubts and keep asking ourselves though we have confidence in our PM. 

Some would unhesitatingly refer this to the usual story we hear often about politicians. Who are his close advisors and does the PM talk with them and cannot one of them see the blatant truth staring at them or are they ‘Yes Men’?

The incumbent PM has a history of taking stubborn stances on important issues. In another instant some time ago he vetoed the development of Galle despite the fact that the Japanese agreed to fund it but made his choice known as firstly, Hambantota. It had nothing to do with Galle, which would have been made a tourist attraction – a fun city with a boardwalk and other pastimes. Galle still remains underdeveloped.

There are two questions that are conjecture. Is the PM unable to comprehend the consequence of his actions? We do not expect our PM to let our country down and be unpatriotic so as not to care to what the captains of industries and the professionals have said. 

But it’s happening. India’s neighbours have all rejected and resisted many moves by India to dominate the neighbourhood. Bhutan had to succumb. All other countries have rejected ‘the wolf’s plea’. Or is the PM trying to placate the Indians who have expressed their chagrin over the development of Hambantota by the Chinese? 

Let us be cautious. ETCA could spell disaster. It is too important an issue and we cannot let the Indians dictate to us.