| by Basil Fernando
( December 11, 2012, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka Guardian) Once a ruler told one of his country’s citizens,
Mr. Thinking citizen, you have told me some very beautiful
principles. For example, you have said that any inquiry against anyone must be
fair, and you have explained what fairness means. But you do not seem to
understand that I do not like principles.
The thinking citizen then said, Sir, every nation that wants
peace and tranquillity must fellow good principles.
The ruler said, I do not agree; peace and tranquillity can
be brought about by the sword.
Such a nation will be a very unhappy place, said the citizen
All unhappy ones can be erased by the sword, said the ruler.
And you, thinking citizen, if you wish to be happy, stop thinking or you may
soon not have a head to think with.
President’s judges
The ruler said to the judges of the country, “I understand
your worries. You have been told that you belong to a separate branch of the government
and that you are to be independent. Now, I will remove the reason for that
worry. From now on, there is only one branch and everyone is part of it. Your
loyalty is only to me. Everyone serves me. I created a position called
President’s Counsel - PCs. Now I will make you one of the President’s Judges –
PJs. And the Chief Justice will be called the President’s Chief Justice - the
PCJ.
But we are supposed to protect the people said the judges;
we are supposed to protect their liberty.
Do not worry about that. I have declared that people have
surrendered their liberties to me. They have become slaves voluntarily. I am
now the people’s sovereign. You have only to protect me.
 Once a ruler told one of his country’s citizens, Mr...){kind=link}