Thread by @ThyagiR

People are understandably impatient about the resignation letter. This is a bit of an explainer on why it’s taking so long.

Gotabaya knows he needs head of state treatment and immunity to get to wherever he’s going. Losing this means he’s an ordinary criminal on the run.

In that journey, unless facilitated through private carriers, he will have to face the ire of the citizens of the world.

Even in choosing his final destination/safe haven, he will need guarantees of non-prosecution in their domestic legal systems (if such laws exist),

and there being no extradition treaty with Sri Lanka or any other country willing to hold him to account for the many injustices he’s implicated in.

This is not an immediately straightforward process, and he doesn’t care what happens in Sri Lanka the more he delays his letter.

For Gotabaya, the Presidency and the immunity that came with it, was, in many ways, his way of escaping justice too, as much as it was for power hunger and the opportunity to loot more for the family.

#Gohomegota

Just in case this explanation raises hope for international justice using universal jurisdiction or other means, I’d like to say, if only to manage expectations, this is not at all an easy or guaranteed path to accountability, but many have been trying.

That is why the work of the UNHRC’s evidence gathering mechanism (one example) is important.

So while it's important for people to wait to see that all-important resignation letter from President Gotabaya, it’s also important to move forward and demand the resignation of the acting President/PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Why is this important even though Ranil's appointment as acting President is provided for in Article 37(1) of the Constitution?

Because people have legitimate reasons for distrusting him, and there won't be any stability until he resigns too.

As @SurenFernando explains, if the office of PM is vacant at the time the President resigns, there won't be a governance crisis/vacuum as Ranil wants people to believe.

https://twitter.com/SurenFernando/status/1546883546924470272?s=20&t=5-BOrDIHV-FCHwW_YbnFqA

The Speaker becomes the acting President with power to facilitate governance by appointing a new PM pending the election of a new President by Parliament.

As @LuwieNiranjan says, if acting President Ranil is interested to become a more legitimate President, he may be elected in by a majority in Parliament when the election takes place (so far this is on 20th July).

https://twitter.com/LuwieNiranjan/status/1547220556876881921?s=20&t=FpD1FBK8P3k9lNowpCwUkQ