28 March, 2024

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Uruguay’s President: No Palace, No Motorcade, No Frills

In the week that Uruguay legalises cannabis, the 78-year-old explains why he rejects the ‘world’s poorest president’ label

The former guerrilla fighter José Mujicais clearly disgruntled by those who tag him “the world’s poorest president” and – much as he would like others to adopt a more sober lifestyle – the 78-year-old has been in politics long enough to recognise the folly of claiming to be a model for anyone.

Read more in the Guardian

URUGUAYANS VOTE ON SUNDAY

 

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  • 5
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    But he IS a role model, all the same.

    • 2
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      If I could, I would grab this guy and inaugerate him as President of Sri Lanka. Right now. Period.

      • 1
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        I dont think the enviroment – made by current rulers will leave him secure, if he would practise the same like used to be in Paraguay in our crime friendly society.

        And as one who supported Maxistist views then, MR should have some sort of Mujica ^s … I wonder why lanken JVPers in general loose their then qualities after them being posted to positions.

        Best example to compare the life style of Wimal Buruwanse today and few decades ago ( I thought his is the most ideal… from what I heard during my schooling days).

        • 0
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          This gives us – those who cry for equality for decades long – is just because their families suffered by poor economic conditions.
          Many JVPers known to me then were coming from very low income family backgrounds. Their unrest pushed them into JVP movement – some left classes and took part in JVP discussions rounds (in early 80ties). Atleast few of them are there live in SL to this day – some of them being able to achieve their academic goals, some becoming medic docs, but I lost my contacts with them. From what I heard from some, many of then JVP activists – are today turn-non-jvpers, non -political activists. They just danced until they filled up their bellies.

  • 8
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    See how they’re setting an example to their future generations to follow. And what Banda the Racist bugger did to our country…the country is still bleeding from the wound he made on the body politics of this beautiful land. His wife damaged it further by changing the name into a cursed title that is Sri Lanka. Also, his daughter Chandrika did the ultimate damage by introducing the all time blunder “THE TOP OF THE RANGE CORRUPT/RACISTS – RAJAPAKSES”. Now, everybody is suffering just because of that bloody mistake of part blind Chandrika.

    • 3
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      ‘Banda the Racist bugger’ how very simplistic.

      Perhaps you remember Chelvanayagam before independence
      ‘If Ceylon is fighting to secede from the British Empire, why should not the Tamil people, if they feel like it, secede from the rest of the country?’ (House of Representatives 26.11.47)

      And the TULF in their 1977 manifesto ‘The territory from Chilaw through Puttalam to Mannar and thence to the North and from there covering the East stretching to Kumana in the South through Trincomalee and Batticaloa was firmly established as the EXCLUSIVE homeland of the Tamils.’

      As someone has said before, a minority claim a third of the land and two thirds of the coastline. There’s racism for you. What jokers.

      • 1
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        See as how Ceylon prior to European colonialism had a Southern Sinhala nation and a northern Tamil nation and both only became 1 under the British, then what was wrong in suggesting that the Tamil North and East separate from the Sinhala South and West.

        • 0
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          Both did not become one under the British, there was a single nation long before that under many kings.

          • 1
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            Neither of you had any clothes only the borrowed amude when the first europeans saw your ancestors. It was always a hiding place for royalty from baharath as much as Andaman is today.
            We find you always clutching your 3 in one thingi when in lungi or sarema even today.Even if you are wearing underwear its Italian design from 19th centenary.
            Greedy partition man has more of a class problem for which no one has a solution.

            • 1
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              Bilbo Baggins emerging from his Hobbit hole- nice one!! (^‿◕)

              “If I asked people to live as I live, they would kill me,” Mujica said.

              Mujica’s three-legged dog, Manuela, is very intelligent to understand what it is to live poor on an expanse of land than a manicured poodle led on a leach licking it’s master/mistress face to say I love you.

              But it’s all about renewable energy. The Yankees have the patent right for oil and gas therefore the $ as currency Franca. The Yankees banned `Mari` because it still is the cheapest form of renewable energy and has multiple uses more than a coconut tree. Will he or anyone get there is left to be seen.(@_@)|(@_@)

              The Chinese have replaced the dollar by 8% only for its energy purchases while India has always bartered with Iran.。◕‿◕。

      • 2
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        ‘Banda the Racist bugger’ how very simplistic…..I sad that because during that time, Banda was surrounded and supported by the Racists who raising hell like what we’re seeing today……….This is called “Pukey Amaruwa”……………………..the bunch of Racists under the influence of the Spooky Faced Anagarika (The Catholic who converted to Buddhism to misguide the majority Morons and turning them into Killing Machines in 1915, 1958, 70’s, 80’s, Bumper Prize in 1983, 1987/88 JVP-UNP killings,and the ultimate Mass Murder in 2009) have started the campaign targeting the minorities like what Mahinda is doing with JHU/BBS terrorists. So, obviously anyone who foresees the danger would do everything in their sleeve to make sure the innocent people are safe and should provide them that protection. So, the politicians of that period would have thought it fit to go for a Federal solution. Look at now…..it’s going to happen anyway, with the help of the international powers, the freedom (those people asked for) you guys wanted trampled under the bloody boots of the many murdering regimes who ruled this cursed SRI LANKA, has come to stop at where all this began. It has come full circle and stopped at the start of that struggle back again. YOU GUYS WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT LIVES OF PEOPLE ARE A PLAYTHING AND YOU CAN KEEP ON MURDERING (ALREADY IT HAS REACHED 100 YEARS MARK FROM 1915) and no one is going to ask anything to stop????? You silly Mahawansa bath meyttos…That;s why all the guys who converted from Christianity are resorting to show violence to get the support of the majority morons to get them elected by these crooked means to keep the power to themselves and pass it on to their own kith and kin, like what Banda did and now MR is copying all the tricks of all the regimes that came after the independence from the Brits.

        • 0
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          ….contd….Look at the support rendered by the likes of Dayan Jayatilake (a Christian and a pseudo Buddhist) supporting with his whole heart for the MR regime to keep on doing the killings. He always call Mahinda a political wizard better than Ranil. He attacks Ranil always. WHY?????????????????? Because, Ranil always likes to go the peacefulways and MR wants murder and mayhem. So, if Dayan ( a well educated political scintist??? a Diplo-mutt who knows international laws on wars and its after effects and resposibilities) can support the war of MR, can’t he advice MR of its consequences????? Yes, he can..nut he won’t. Because, this is what all the Christian/Catholic pseudo guys who showed that they have given up their former religion and have now embraced Buddhism have actually done immense damage to Buddhism b introducing and promoting everything that Lord Buddha stood against of. These guys promote corruption, nepotism, greed, murder and mayhem…all these vices were regarded evil by Lord Buddha. Banda, JR, ANAGARIKA, MR FAMILY, DAYAN….and many more holding the neck of human freedom and suffocating it to prove their MASTERY TACTICS in enslaving the 80% of the Sinhala population and making them commit these crimes to mar their reputation in the world as Kind Hearted, smiling fellow human beings. These bunch of pseudo Buddhist criminals (Banda,JR, Anagarika, MR goons, Dayan etc) have proven to the world that their ulterior motives were successful. That’s why even the WEST supported all the WARS undertaken by these gobbs to make the majority servile to their agents and that no good hearted, human spirited Buddhist from becoming a leader. Had they allowed that we would have had 100 Mandela’s and 1000 Gandhi’s made by this land. Everything these guys advices and do are contrary to the pure teachings of the Buddha. JUST THINK TO YOUR SELF (YOU BUDDHSISTS) WILL BUDDHA IF HE IS ALIVE TODAY, to kill human beings, lead luxury lives with poeple’s money and rule a country and then call it a tradition of 2500 years of proud history???? Can’t you guys think for bit???? These guys collectively made the entire Sinhala people as Killers, Murderers, Rapists, Looters etc. And yet they utter words of Buddha after committing these crimes in world podiums to that “WE ARE A STUPID, MORONIC NATION”…….AND THE BIGGEST JOKE IS THE BUDDHIST HIERARCHY HAS ACCORDED MAHINDA IN THEIR GOLDEN BOOK (MAHAWAMSA) AS A SAVIOUR OF THE SINHALA….WHAT A JOKE!!! ALL THIS FOR KILLINGS???? THAT BUDDHA ABHORRED VEHEMENTLY AS VICES???? THE SAME POWER BUDDHA GAVE UP FOR THE SAKE OF TRUTH????? THINK, THINK, THINK DEEPLY….

          • 1
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            And all this proves that a minority are entitled to third of the land and two thirds of the coastline?

            • 0
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              All this proves that Racists dumb wits who have hijacked the Buddhist religion and have turned it into a Murder project and the display of their evils in the form of State terror must stop. Then everything evil will come to about a full stop. Do you think you have the right kill anyone who have questioned the myth of this country BELONGING TO ONE BLOODY RACE??????

              • 0
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                Do something about all that anger you are spewing before your heart explodes.

                • 0
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                  Yeah!!! Thanks for the advice buddy. I have ordered some stuff to sniff around from Kudu Dumiya….Guy has enough qty stolen from the container of grease….Come join us, come fly, the Sri Lanka International Kudu-land guys…its feeling, its caring, its just like coming home – I mean the hell is our home…. Sorry, I lifted the song of Pakistan Airline’s theme song….

    • 2
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      Plat Toe in Mouth

      Nobody suffers except blood sucking LTTE supporters. No war no bombing in public places and no killing of poor people.

      • 1
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        If that’s true then why people are still dying in Rathupaswela, Katunayake, extra judicial killings…etc. etc.????? 45,000 people of this country are dying from Alcohol related diseases for one year. Who is bringing Alcohol and Narcotics?????? Contract killing by some Police officers….Did I say LTTE did not kill. They’re bunch of Murderers who have suffered the same fate as their innocent victims fell for their evils. Just go & check who KARUNA is, Who KP is and Pillayan & his gangs are…..Gota went and met the biggest LTTE arms supplier in Italy which has no gone against the US law, because of Gota’s citizenry in the US, and the entire interpol is active on following that secret game of Gota. Soon he will have to answer these to the World powers. WHY MR is keeping the so called LTTE guys with him?????? ARE YOU ON GANJA or something????? Stop smoking it…..it will skew your already stunted brain. Enjoy Paan with Parippu (Govt. is increasing TAXES).

  • 0
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    The best comment from Jose is that he is not the poorest as you think but the opposite. Richness is excess money you have to spare. A person who earns $500k may need all that money for his needs and his family. Then He has no spare money, so he is poor or not rich.
    Same applies to definition of Rich in Time….. We all use 99.99% of 24×7 time we have, you need all that time for yourself and there is no spare time, so you are poor in Time…..
    Anura

  • 2
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    The Sinhalese are a bunch of fools who do not want to learn anything from the world on nation building.Have we learned anything from Mandela? Have we learned anything from Nehru?Have we learned anything from the Lord Buddha’s Dhamma? Though many Sinhalese are Buddhists, are they not fake Buddhists? I believe Buddhism is the greatest religion in the world, yet our racist priests have destroyed the Lord Buddha’s messages and Dhamma by distorting it.If our priests behave as real Buddhists, preach non violence many non Buddhists here and abroad would embrace Buddhism.
    Sri Lanka will not produce leaders such as,Joce Mujica of Uruguay, or Mandela or Nehru in the foreseeable future. Instead it is producing leaders whose sole objective is becoming richer through legal and illegal businesses such as drug, alcohol etc.
    The future of our country is bleak because we are an arrogant lot who do not learn any good thing from the world

    • 1
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      It is just because our people prefer surface values to anything else.

      Why to spend millions to belong to developed world, wasting millions. Sure we need conference halls, new airports or better roads – but I l bet you, the wastes through deliberate acts filled with corrupted mindedness – we loose 50% of those funds. THis China has opened up to the world lately. Do you think that China would agree with lanken Leaders for whatever they do… no.. our stupid leaders have no wisdom to get it.

    • 0
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      Punchi -the wise

      YEah we learned a lot of your national hero blood sucking podian Preba for 30 years and we gave him and his monkey thongs clad army the same medicine. That is a good learning for all of us and what other advise we need from tamil racist like you. Simply bugger off idiot.

  • 1
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    Not only President Rajapaksa but many western heads of state should follow his example (not to mention the CEOs of many so-called human rights NGOs – AI kindly take note).

  • 0
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    The gaze of today`s leaders have fallen on the pockets of the poor man. How can I fill my coffers and the rest of humanity can go to hell! In their thinking and in the thinking of animals there is no difference. Accumulate and amass more and more and in the end take nothing!You maybe a millionaire or a billionaire but if there is no contentment of the heart, you`ll be like an animal in the jungle chasing after its prey; you will keep on moving the goal post and live a life of a beggar with all your billions in the bank. The rich person is the one who is contend with what he has been given or what he has earned through legal means without usurping the rights of others.

  • 1
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    But ours is the most exaggerating example for presidents to abuse the power for his own prestige.

    MR seems to have no sense about the colossal wastes made by his UNNECESSARY foreign TRIPS ( his participation to Mandela ^s is big wastage while Indian premier did not travel to there), while the masses struggle for their supper.

    Lanken carrier is said to be bankrupted in billions within the last 5 years.

    Mugabe^s country has rich resources to finance his large delegation in his foreign tourages. But we are small country that just survive through lower means, loans, donations…

  • 0
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    Should read “content” instead of “contend”

  • 3
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    Uruguay is one of the wealthiest Latin American countries. I have watched him as a leader for quite sometime and he is indeed a great leader. Then we have a great leader like him in Sri Lanka but he is slightly different, where he dresses like a poor man’s president (the circus clown outfit he wears everyday) but behind the scenes he robs and pillages the country day and night. That is the only small difference he has from the leader of Uruguay. All in all, MR is a good man (sarcasm)!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 0
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      Wonder when the time will come to show Lankan weed to the Cheech and Chongs.. Jose is a good man and a smart man, he’s not ruffling the feathers too much, which must be very hard not to do when you are surrounded by crooks of big businesses..

      • 0
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        You are having wet dreams!

        The Chinese have changed poppy to saffron at Afghanistan where even the Indians cannot have their boots on the ground and the I.C. is thrilled.

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