Sri Lanka It's Happening

June 15, 2005

At the time this entry is being written there is still a few hours to go for the JVP to execute their threat of pulling out of the government. As any chess player will tell you the threat it mightier than it's execution, some threat's never have to be executed.

The JVP for their part have painted themselves into a corner. Unlike election promises which are soon forgotten they actually set themselves a deadline for quitting the government if the so called joint mechanism is implemented.

The government or rather the president for her part, painted herself into the opposite corner. Instead of inking the deal a few months ago when there wasn't so much opposition to it, she chose to procrastinate. A month ago the president had a real opportunity to pull out without losing face.

Now that the JVP has made threats to quit, the president cannot back down without losing all credibility and face. As they say in Asia lose of face hurts more than a kick in the pants.

So in effect what we have is the exact opposite of a win-win situation. One of the two parties that make up this government is going to lose.

Posted by raditha at June 15, 2005 1:57 PM