There are many things that drive men: anger, greed, power, lust but surely power must rank at the forefront. Nothing illustrates this better than the assault on Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to the UK.
The High Commissioner was apparently shouted at, slapped and then kicked by a senior politician at a party. A great public humiliation that no one under normal circumstances would accept. If the victim were weak and powerless such as the urban citizens who are losing their houses, then they would have little option but to put up with it.
Chris Nonis is neither. He is independently wealthy, educated and of some standing in society. Yet, it appears that will be willing to put up with the humiliation and carry on with his job.
The question is why? Why would any self respecting being put up with such atrocious treatment? He has no need for money, unless he has developed extravagant habits following his ascent to the circles of politics. While this is a possibility it does not seem to be likely proposition. We have not seen any evidence: wild parties, exotic women or fine motor cars that may be indicative of such indiscretion.
The most likely motive to remain in office is the need for power. His position within the Government and diplomatic community brings a great deal of influence. Power, in the raw, unchecked form available in Sri Lanka may be particularly addictive. He may have have experienced what few in history may have dared even dream. Not surprisingly, once experienced, such power is rarely given up.
That a man of some standing can be so mesmerised by power that he will put up with such humiliation is a depressing thought.
What the far greater power wielded by his attacker and his ultimate patrons must be doing to their minds is positively terrifying.
2 comments:
If not for people like Dr. Chris Nonis, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka and many I can't recall now, we certainly would be doomed in face of the West & their allies whom they call the saints of Human Rights..these remarkable sons of Sri Lanka have been the firewall of this nation though not a lot can remember the dark times now.
There was an interesting comment made by a user a few days back when this incident came to light, where he (or she) went onto say that Dr. Nonis was too power hungry and that's the reason as to why he never listened to his parents and went into politics.
He's got a point too..not to say that Dr. Nonis is power hungry, but to say that no sane man with a righteous mind should be getting involved in Sri Lankan politics..coz for obvious reasons they will not be playing in an even field..
It's just sad, yeah?
I agree that Dr. Chris Nonis, Rajiva Wijesinghe Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka and others defended the regime although I think Jayatellika was the more successful.
Certainly they were all highly presentable and could carry themselves well in their official role.
With the benefit of hindsight, whether they should actually have played defender to the regime is a question that they may well want to ask themselves.
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