groundviews » For Lasantha and others

For Lasantha and others

January 9, 2009 at 9:10 am · Categories: Colombo, Media and Communications, Peace and Conflict, Poetry | by Malinda Seneviratne

Murder is a moment to point fingers
Murder is a moment to crawl into shells.
But moments don’t forbid,
there is no opportune time,
nothing auspicious
about standing up,
speaking out.

Speaking of Lasantha now,
he was not the just-another-guy
not because he was right
(he was wrong a lot of times;
hard to agree with too),
but he wrote his politics regardless
he made his allegiances clear
protected friends
(and some of them were unsavoury creatures too);
it does not matter, though.

He was flawed as the next person
but was more a citizen than many of us,
he spoke his mind,
he screamed.

And I, hardly a friend or fellow-traveller,
salute him,
for I prefer word to silence
in the matter of political engagement.
There is a finger that is itching to point,
let us point it at ourselves
at least in the manner of a question.

Who are we, who am I in these times
of omission and commission?

[Editors note: A comment left on a blog I read regularly regarding the murder of Lasantha Wickremetunge threw up an interesting (and timely) challenge to Sri Lankan poets. I pointed out this comment to Malinda, who responded with this poem.]

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dayan jayatilleka said,

January 9, 2009 @ 5:47 am

Damn good poem , Malinda. I am glad you wrote it. It speaks for me too. Lasantha had guts, which is more than i can say for the cowardly barbarians who murdered him.

Dayan Jayatilleka

dayan jayatilleka said,

January 9, 2009 @ 6:00 am

Good poem, Malinda. Speaks for me too. Lasantha had guts, whih is more than I can say for the cowardly barbarians who murdered this unarmed man.

Dayan Jayatilleka

Pratheep said,

January 9, 2009 @ 6:34 am

There you go World. This is the Srilankan Democracy. Can the World wake up now and help Tamils to get their freedom. Please help.

ashok said,

January 9, 2009 @ 6:36 am

Ranil and his clan forgot who killed internationally known journalist Richard de Zoysa when they were ruling this country.Shame on you! He was a minister at that time and also many journalists got killed and burned on tyres at that time!!Sri Lankans have a very short memory I think.Those who talk against this govt now were on power when 50,000 singhalese youths burned on tyres and dumped in rivers.(Journalists,doctors,engineers..etc.etc). and Ranil was the one who is invloved in Batalanda torture camp at that time and he knew about what was happening at that time in Ambilipitiya school!.Are,nt you ashamed you guys from UNP for that?

Dayan John said,

January 9, 2009 @ 7:29 am

Lasantha was a person who led the way innvestigative journalism in Sri Lanka. His style was often unsavoury. But his service to Sri Lanka is beyond parales. May his associates be blessed with the strength and courage to continue his work. May God bless Lasantha.

vivimarie said,

January 9, 2009 @ 9:56 am

Death at Noon

Today dawned
Like any other morning

At the other end of the world
My sister sits nursing a cup of coffee
Her fingers numb
From minus twenty
Mind numb with shock.

Here, I drive to work
Still swear under my breath
at the driver of the truck that cut into my lane
Nearly killing me,
Plan my day
Tick off the list of things to be done:
A listening test to be recorded
A lecture to prepare for
A report to write
A professor to be contacted

Before lunch.
But more than four of my colleagues
Are in black and white
And I realise that includes me.
We stand around the
Water filter
Discussing ‘heroism’.
And no one is in a mood to work today
Even those joyous about captured
Territory.

Maybe we are numb too
Though it’s warm
and all we have today
Is a cloudy sky

Ravi R said,

January 9, 2009 @ 10:33 am

This guy was no saint. He represented gutter journalism and he was asking for this end for long time.

T.Douglas said,

January 9, 2009 @ 11:31 am

THE WORLD STOOD STILL FOR A MOMENT ABOUT THE BREAKING NEWS OF THE BRUTAL KILLING OF LASANTHA WICKREMASINGHE A GREAT SON OF OUR SOIL IN SRI LANKA BY THE RAJAPAKSE JUNTA.

LASANTHA IS HONEST, TRUSTFUL, FEARLESS AND CANNOT BE BOUGHT BY THE RAJAPAKSE & SARATH FONSEKA JUNTA.

JOSEPH PARARAJASINGAM,RAVIRAJ,MAHESWARAN,TARAKI AND NOW OUR OWN SON OF OUR SOIL LASANTHA.

LASANTHA'S KILLING IS THE WORST AND BRUTAL IN SRI LANKA'S JOURNALIST HISTORY.

KILINOCHCHI WON KILINOCHCHI LOST, BUT SRI LANKA LOST A GREATEST SON FOREVER.

OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE SONALI AND HIS THREE CHILDREN.

Kalana said,

January 10, 2009 @ 1:55 am

Lasantha wasn’t a saint, or the best of journalists. But he wasn’t the worst, either. He was a brave man. His brand of journalism was perhaps necessary within the current political culture which is soaked in corruption. His killing is an outlandish attack on the media. The question is, who did it? Broadly, fingers are pointed at:(1) the Government and (2) any group that is not. I reject (1). The Govt. can’t be that stupid. I believe it’s (2). But, sadly, there could be 'enemies within', unknown to the President. If so, I am saddened to see President Rajapaksa being stifled by this ‘enemy within’ who could tarnish his image and that of his Govt. more than anyone else could.

Kalana said,

January 10, 2009 @ 1:56 am

Sanjana asked Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke (during the recent interview), about whether in the process of defeating the LTTE, we are turning out to be something similar. Now, while I believe we are NOT (as Dr. Jayatilleke pointed out) it is sad if we are made to mull over the question before answering in the negative. Simply, we can’t be anywhere even close to being that bad especially in ensuring human security because we are comparing ourselves with the most brutal terrorist organization in the world. Unfortunately, the regime seems to having this ability of creating doubt in the minds of its supporters (like yours faithfully, who strongly supports President’s uncompromising stand against terrorism, but not too much else). It’s saddening. Fortunately, for the Govt., there is no viable political alternative which has the credentials to: a) claim that they could defeat the LTTE and b) show greater respect for notions such as media freedom, human rights, good governance etc., and thereby pose any formidable challenge. We, as a people, ought to be crying.

sunil gunasekera said,

January 10, 2009 @ 4:48 am

At a time when the government is engaged in a battle that could determine the future of Sri Lankans of all persuasions and backgrounds for a long long time to come, the Editor seemed singularly and purposefully determined to denigrate and discredit the efforts of the government to bring an end to this misery and cu rse that has visited usand ruined our lives for decades.To that end I would always remember the man as an unpatriotic person driven by other peoples agendas and not geniunely the welfare of our nation to which he also belonged.
Nevertheless the Editor had the right to say what he pleased so long as it was done in a legitimate way which he did and he wasnt breaching journalistic ethics which I beleive hedidn't..It is an absolute tragedy the Editor was killed.Who had the right to act like this and who gave the orders.It is the sort of thing we would have expected of the LTTE in Killinochchi pre 2nd January,09.It is a sad day for Freedom Of Expression in Sri Lanka.

herath said,

January 10, 2009 @ 6:03 am

AS a buddist i belive karma ; we saw president Premadasa ,he has done lot of good things for the people, But he or his surroundings done many wrong things but he paid the price.Lasanthe murder also will be the same.

Hetti said,

January 10, 2009 @ 9:31 am

In a Land, where people like to live in the past than in the present, where Buddha's preaching words change in every second with MONKS interpretations, where animals are more important than people—-"feel numb"

Dilkusha Joseph said,

January 10, 2009 @ 12:14 pm

As expressed in the poem"feel numb"all though its scorching hot in this other country…..like the tide coming in and claming the land all sense of humanity,kindness,tolerance, decency is being washed away bit by bit. Grieve for the "unbowed & unafraid" Editor who attempted to stay the tide….grieve for the beloved land that is being claimed by the greedy sea.

Chandrika Kumaratunga said,

January 10, 2009 @ 5:56 pm

But dear Dayan, you are serving those “cowardly barbarians ” with great passion !

Chandrika Kumaratunga.

dayan jayatilleka said,

January 11, 2009 @ 1:34 am

Dear Chandrika,

I am serving the Sri Lankan state and people at the international frontlines while a war is ongoing against the same enemy that attempted to assassinate you and assassinated an earlier President whom I worked with and for. If your insinuation is what I think it is, am I to assume that because dead bodies of handcuffed Tamils were found floating around parliament in the Diyawanna Oya and there were allegations such as those of the Chenmani mass graves on your Presidential watch, ambassadors who were appointed by you and served during your tenure were "serving cowardly barbarians "? I rather think not. In my writing at the time I never criticized you as responsible for the gruesome Diyawanna murders though they took place in Colombo and you were the Commander in Chief — and similarly, I do not think the current Executive is responsible for the murder of Lasantha. Earlier, I did not think that President Premadasa was responsible for the murder of Richard de Zoysa or that you were responsible for the violent attacks on Lasantha and Iqbal Athas in the 1990s.

best,
Dayan

The talking Frog said,

January 11, 2009 @ 7:18 am

But, sir Blacker, do you not see that the "point" of all the "bowing and saluting" is *precisely* to "prevent the next such killing"? Will you not join in?

sittingnut said,

January 11, 2009 @ 2:14 am

mrs kumarathunga ( if it is her )seems not to have got back to reality even after leaving the presidency.
after all her reliance on conspiracy theories and delusions instead of reality of sri lanka do explain her total failure a leader.

indi said,

January 11, 2009 @ 4:36 am

@Dayan

In my writing at the time I never criticized you as responsible for the gruesome Diyawanna murders though they took place in Colombo and you were the Commander in Chief — and similarly, I do not think the current Executive is responsible for the murder of Lasantha. Earlier, I did not think that President Premadasa was responsible for the murder of Richard de Zoysa or that you were responsible for the violent attacks on Lasantha and Iqbal Athas in the 1990s.

Does not thinking stuff make it true? Would not thinking at all clear up our bloody history?

It is perhaps necessary to serve flawed political masters, but doesn't the commander of security forces bear some responsibility for at least the collapses in law and order under their watch?

Perhaps willful ignorance is necessary to do a government job, but that doesn't have too much to do with the truth. You seem to deny that anyone you've served has ever had someone killed, which I'm pretty sure is false.

realskullzero said,

January 11, 2009 @ 4:42 am

hmmm…well quite interesting response…

asiri aravunda said,

January 11, 2009 @ 4:45 am

Not my Business

They picked Akanni up one morning
Beat him soft like clay
And stuffed him down the belly
Of a waiting jeep.
What business of mine is it,
So long they don't take the yam
From my savouring mouth?
They came one night
Booted the whole house awake
And dragged Danladi out,
Then off to a lengthy absence.
What business of mine is it
So long they don't take the yam
From my savouring mouth?
Chinwe went to work one day
Only to find her job was gone;
No query, no warning, no probe-
Just one neat sack for a stainless record.
What business of mine is it
So long they don't take the yam
From my savouring mouth?
And then one evening
As I sat down to eat my yam
A knock on the door froze my hungry hand.
The jeep was waiting on my bewildered lawn
Waiting, waiting in its usual silence.

- Professor Niyi Osundare –

(The Nigerian Poet used this poem and others to object to the
dictatorship that ruled his Country under General Abacha from 1993 to
1998)

I grieve with mother Lanka who lost yet another precious son;i grieve
not only the loss of a truly courageous , talented and fearless son of
the soil but for our beloved motherland herself. Welcome to the land
of state terror, corruption and impunity!It's a shame on the incumbent
Government; Barely a week since the so called 'friend of the media'
took over the Media the second gruesome carnage takes place in broad
day light within a high security zone in the capital city; How does
the state explain trained sharp shooters on four identical black
coloured powerful mo/bikes on a rampage in the city? How does the
state disregard a team of trained mercenaries carrying T56, hand
grenades and even claymores on a rampage in a National TV station
which should have got the best of protection? Isn't it a pertinent
question as to whose sins was Lasantha trying to expose during his
last few days of his noble life? Isn't it relevant to ask whether
there was attempts to silence him by methods legal and otherwise? Is
it of any relevance that the very press of this newspaper was attacked
on two previous instances? Can the Government account any responsible
steps it has taken to bring the culprits to the book? What is the
progress of those investigations? The state cannot shirk it's
responsibility in any way for either the attack on Sirasa or the loss
of this precious life which is worth a billion times than the corrupt
and shameless politicos who would go to any extent to cover up their
sins. With so many threats looming large the state or the HE cannot
wash their hands off the pouring blood; particularly as the
Commander-in -Chief of the Tri forces it is his onerous responsibility
to ensure the safety of the citizens at large, specially those at
globally known risk. Iraq, move out, we have clearly outdone you ,
terror-wise! Is this the sri lankan/ sinhalese way of celebration???
causing carnage to people and property in the name of 'humane
operations'???; Terrorising the south because the north is supposedly
recapped? Do you want us to believe that there is a force even beyond
your control Mr.President? What actions do you propose to take to
ensure the safety of the journalists and others precious lives at
risk? Are only the lives of those meat balls at Diyawannawa and
Colombo 3, precious? When will you liberate us southerners Mr.
President? Are you aware that these deaths too cause sorrow to beloved
parents, wives, children, friends and relatives? What action does the
state propose to take to ensure non-recurrence?
Mr. Wickramatunga, I salute you great sir, for the courage ,
determination and unblemished integrity you held , to the very last
breath. The sad truth remains that the investigative journalism in Sri
Lanka from today onwards will be but a dead letter. No one, yes no one
will be able to fill your worthy shoes. You would have been a honoured
billionnaire celebrity if only you gave up the motherland or your
untouched integrity; but you did not and here you are. I express my
deep sorrow and solidarity to the bereaved family and to the saddened
Nation. My thoughts and prayers are with you. The loss is indeed ours.
May the good man rest in peace and may this warrior be reborn to slay
the many dragons that will be stalking the motherland. Until then may
you rest in peace Honourable Sir.

aadhavan said,

January 11, 2009 @ 5:14 am

Both the Ambassador and Madam CBK were servants of, and servile to a system that is deeply racist, antithetical to the just realisment of the rights of the Tamils and one that requires sustaining a militarised and authoritarian state in order to continue imposing Sinhala hegemony over the Tamils. While each may be entitled to view themselves as less culpable than the other, each bears the burden of responsibility for participating in the perpetration of the monstrous crimes that they personally may not have endorsed.

David Blacker said,

January 11, 2009 @ 5:40 am

I think it's a bit pointless to be bowing and saluting now that the Lasantha is dead, or to be venting our anger on Dayan Jayatillake because he's an articulate servant of the government. If Lasantha was the great hero he now seems to be, why didn't we all make sure they couldn't touch him? Why didn't we ensure that the powers knew we wouldn't tolerate it? Why didn't we walk beside him instead of beside his coffin? There's no point praising the dead — have a look around, and do something to prevent the next such killing.

Chandrika K said,

January 11, 2009 @ 7:09 am

But dear Dayan, you are serving those " cowardly barbarians " with great passion!

Chandrika Kumaratunga

Under Dog said,

January 11, 2009 @ 7:58 am

A part of preventing the next such killing David, is for those of us whose job it is to wash the government's dirty laundry to stop doing so. Dayan's dogged refusal to see the obvious elephant in the room reminds me of the Germans who watched the Jews go in to the concentration camps, ashes come out, and then said "we didn't know."

Under Dog said,

January 11, 2009 @ 8:08 am

And with regard to preventing the next killing…perhaps as Indi suggested in one of his posts, journalists should arm themselves; perhaps we should arm ourselves. Clearly it has come to a point where we have to defend ourselves. I see now why the second amendment right to bear arms in the U.S. constitution makes sense.

Savitri_Rodrigo said,

January 11, 2009 @ 9:11 am

No truer words were spoken at this point Madam CBK although this is not the first time in our violent recent history that journalists, professionals, academics and corporate heads have had death warrants upon their heads and these are not warrants from the LTTE either.
Dayan, isn't it time that you told those cowardly barbarians just so, hung up your boots and walked proudly out of the door? It will bring you a sense of peace, I assure you.

rajivmw said,

January 12, 2009 @ 1:00 am

Cheelanka, David Blacker brings a hell of lot more value to this discussion than you do. If you feel you're a war criminal, spare us the hysterics and go turn yourself in.

CheeLanka said,

January 12, 2009 @ 1:09 am

There goes the ex-military boy again! When will you grow up and own up that you too were once part of that killing machine? It's the same killing machine that all Sri Lankan finance, making us all war criminals…

If I remember right, it's not just Dayan but you too, Blacker, have been a staunch defender of this Sinhala Buddhist regime, shocking though it is given your own mixed ethnic background. When you talk like this now, do you expect us to take you seriously? Or have you just fallen out with Brothers & Co?

Kalana said,

January 12, 2009 @ 1:12 am

Madam CBK, I am sorry, but this is a very silly statement! Perhaps this question needs to be directed at, for instance, Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala: what was he doing as Deputy High Commissioner in India in 1983 – July, to be precise? And what of his appointment as PRUN, Geneva soon after in 1984? And going by your current logic, wasn’t it a graver crime to endorse him as Sri Lanka’s candidate for the UNSG post if he had had once upon a time defended JR’s regime?! The problem is that we (as in people and politicians) are utterly confused about the role of the diplomat and are at a loss as to what to expect from that high office. Perhaps, Mr. Kadirgamar could have reminded you of the role and function of a diplomat. But well, he was killed, you might remember. Anyway, I still would like to think that you were not serious when posting this comment, Madam!

Dayan Jayatilleke said,

January 12, 2009 @ 1:29 am

Indi, I never worked for Chandrika or for that matter, for Dudley Senanayake during whose Prime Ministership, Dodampe Mudalali took an inexplicable and fatal dive from the Fourth Floor of the CID building in the Fort, while being interrogated about an alleged plot to topple the Govt! Still, I do not think that either CBK or Dudley Senanayake were guilty of those deaths on their watch, any more than the present President is for Lasantha's death.

President Premadasa was held responsible by Colombo's elite for the murders of everyone but himself– and that practice stopped only when Gamini Dissanaike was killed a year after Premadasa!

When Benazir was killed, Pakistan's civil society blamed Gen Musharaff, who in the event was not responsible: it was a fundamentalist terrorist organization led in all probability by Behtullah Masood.

Look, it is all very simple, and a matter of logic: who benefits? In none of these cases did the head of state and government benefit from the murders. Indeed they paid the political and social price as did no one else.

What threat did Lasantha, editing an English language paper, pose President Rajapakse who by all evidence of public opinion polling, is hugely and unprecedentedly popular?

By taking the easiest route of accusing the incumbent, whoever it is, civil society permits the real perpetrators to go free and the really problematic trends to go unaddressed.

Kalana said,

January 12, 2009 @ 2:14 am

Dear Madam, also, I believe your observation points to another problem facing the diplomatic service today – the lack of diplomats who would defend the country with passion! I feel you would have wished for someone like Dr. J to have helped the only gem of your Cabinet, late Mr Kadi – wouldn't you?! Also, I might add that we need to mindful of the distinction between 'serving' a regime and 'defending' any and every barbaric act of the regime. If public servants were to leave office (according to Savitri's logic) just because they belonged to a regime accused of barbaric acts (or indeed commited some), then why a 'public service' at all? how would one, then, justify the very existence of a public/foreign service?
Best wishes,
Kalana Senaratne

David Blacker said,

January 12, 2009 @ 8:26 am

OK, Chee Chee, you got me. It was me all along. I wore all four black helmets and rode all four black motorcycles and surrounded Lasantha myself and shot him from two directions, Antonio Banderas in Desperado style. Wherever will I hide now that you've exposed me?

This sort of manic finger-pointing at anyone who's convenient — myself, Dayan — because you can't find the real culprits is precisely my point. You don't really care who's to blame as long as you can blow some hot air, make some noise, feel good about yourself, and then disappear until the next man of action is killed.

Your inability to see beyond the black and white of your own prejudices is part of the reason why the middle-class is losing its voice in this country. How can you have a voice when you can't even articulate yourself? It’s because of those like you that people like Lasantha are so easy to kill.

Pat yourself on the back with that, Chee Chee.

indi said,

January 12, 2009 @ 4:41 am

@Dayan

Look, it is all very simple, and a matter of logic: who benefits? In none of these cases did the head of state and government benefit from the murders. Indeed they paid the political and social price as did no one else.

Your logic is pretty flawed man. I know this is a blog, but step your game up. I benefited when this one girl broke up with her boyfriend. But I didn't break them up. Benefit is not causation. I've watched enough Law & Order to know that doesn't fly in court.

But To Get Back To The Point

Mahinda is responsible for the breakdown in law and order in this country to the point where journalists are getting shot dead in the street.

More to the point, him and Gotabaya have been publicly hostile to the media and said that they can't be accountable for what 'those that love us' do. They have let Mervyn Silva publicly assault media while holding his Ministry. Gotabaya has issued circulars (retracted) ordering the media not to report on the war or procurement.

Mahinda has warned the public of 'unseen forces' and various third flanks within our population that we need to fight. Now, in their minds oppositional media is a dire threat to national security. What type of environment do you think this creates for media? Where does the leadership lead? Who does it enable, and who does it disable?

Now, in a responsible government who would you complain to about media getting shot dead in the streets? To the Minister of Media, and the Minister of Defence, Public Security and Law & Order. And who controls these Ministries? Mahinda Rajapakse.

You and OJ Simpson can go on looking for the real killers. For most people it's pretty clear what's really going on. The President has the power, he has the relevant ministries and he has taken the mantle of the defender of national security. He can take the responsibility.

And you sir. Do you hear what your boss is saying, and see what is happening on the streets? Have you read the legislation they're proposing? Have you seen what they do to businesses with broadcasting licenses? Do you know that journalists are still in jail without charges? People are dying out here man. With all due respect, where the fuck are you?

David Blacker said,

January 12, 2009 @ 5:53 am

Under Dog & the Talking Frog,

Yes, we must not defend the GoSL's faults — I agree — but that has no connection to preventing extrajudicial killings. Most of you are just trying to now make yourselves feel good and delude everyone into thinking you're doing some good. You're doing nothing. Tissanaigam is still in jail. Are you waiting for them to kill him too, so that you can bow and salute again?

As for journalists defending themselves, again, that won't really prevent the killings — it'll just make the killers more inventive. Car bomb, anyone? Make sure the government understands that you can't kill a Richard de Soyza or a Lasantha Wickramatunge and get away with it — 'cos right now, they can, and no amount of bowing and saluting will change that. Make sure the public won't stand for a suppression of media freedom. Right now, the public think journalists are biased wankers and don't really care if they're killed.

ado said,

January 12, 2009 @ 8:22 am

if i were a journalist and came across a tit bit of commision, and used the guilty party (blackmailed him) to obtain some more, would i be a journalist still?
if i by writing a unproven (debatable point) broke a mans life and shamaed a family, would i be a journalist?
if i as a sri lankan , ever bribed a traffic cop, and then say sri lankan cops are so corupt , would i be still in the clear?
are there any saints and sinner or is it just humans?

thePublic said,

January 12, 2009 @ 8:35 am

"Right now, the public think journalists are biased wankers and don't really care if they're killed."

Three cheers for truth.

mohan wickramasinghe said,

January 12, 2009 @ 8:42 am

Dear Madam,
good. i am glad u wrote it.as ajournalist lasantha hsd guts and he has done lots of thinks behalf of the nation and readers.Aa s buddhist i belive karma pala….
i am mohan wickramasinghe,journalist,attanagalla,front of the rajamaha viharaya

Dhammika (DD) said,

January 12, 2009 @ 9:56 am

Everyone has the knowledge of who it is. None of you can be so naïve?
The question is which one of us will do something about it? Who among us have the nerve to put our lives in jeopardy? Blacker makes sense, we dared to march beside Lasantha’s coffin in death, but in life, we did nothing.
CBK was one of the architects of this ‘gun’ culture. The PSD and MSD, government mercenaries who were granted the right to kill out of uniform, were her direct machinations. It continues. Three years ago I wrote of this ‘gun’ culture on ‘Moju’, everyone laughed it off.
Our country has been at war from 1976. A terrorist war. Gone are the eating, drinking, debating peaceful Sri Lankan’s of the past. Until we ourselves recognise and correct our new found love of guns for the past two decades there is no looking forward.
Now it is survival of the fittest, at an outmost carnal level of humanity.
We ourselves are to blame; we forgive and forget atrocities of all governments. I am to a certain extent immune to what the future holds for Sri Lanka. Now having the ability to preach from a far.
To those of you who remain, soon survival will be to adopt the ways and follow the means of this new ‘gun’ culture. I wonder how many in Sri Lanka will survive the upcoming era – and I am talking about the next three years.
As I write I fear and wonder, do I myself distance myself from the ruin of my country of birth, and what I say and write on others and my blog, is it guaranteeing that I will be no longer safe to even visit Sri Lanka on holiday?
That I now by speaking out, seek to offend the powers that be?
All of us know what happens in Sri Lanka. Are we already as citizens and the Diasporas that weak and fear the current SLGov that we no longer speak about what really happens in Sri Lanka? And beyond the current SLGov or the handful politico’s who truly wield the power to command… Identify and unveil those who carry out the machinations and commands of those in ‘power’?
The LTTE is as to blame as successive SL ‘democratically’ elected governments.
Is it bad as I think it is, we seek judgement of the African Continent, Israel… are we no better, or far worse?
It’s no longer the time to point fingers. It’s time to rebuild political integrity. Which I believe that the JVP and the JHU once had, even fleetingly.

Dhammika (DD) said,

January 12, 2009 @ 10:00 am

What about Raine his first wife? Who stood by all his trials and tribulations. And those of starting the Sunday Leader.

Galapitamada said,

January 12, 2009 @ 10:39 am

Dear Mohan,
good. I am glad u wrote it. as a buddhist I too beleive in karma pala….

I am galapitamada, the "Bath Balaya",galapitamada, front of the "Dahila Wattuwa".

Ajith said,

January 12, 2009 @ 12:05 pm

I wonder if some people want to believe blind the gov did it due to party loyalties. So many people are jumping to conclusions without a shred of evidence. Common sense would suggest that this job was done to discredit the gov. Clearly gov can't be that stupid to get involved in something like this knowing full well its gonna bite them back in the arse!
It is entirely plausible that the UNP thugs from the tyre burning days are still alive and kicking. Even LTTE is likely suspect since they would do anything to shake the gov right now. A collaboration is not far fetched either.
I have no love for this journalist but he didn't deserve to die. By pointing the finger at the easy escape goat is doing him grave injustice by letting the actual murderers get away. Either you can use his death to further a political agenda or try to find out the truth first.

Dayan Jayatilleka said,

January 13, 2009 @ 1:02 am

Er… issues of the wielding of state power may not be illumined by analogies to your love life, buddy. We are not discussing the overall indirect social responsibility of the head of state for the crimes that are committed in a country. What I am concerned with is the more direct issue of who killed Lasantha, who ordered it and who are likely to be responsible for more of the same. And I just don't see Mahinda or Gotabhaya Rajapakse as guilty of these, anymore than I think Chandrika was responsible for the murder of Kumar Ponnamabalam or Premadasa was similarly responsible for Richard's killing. If you want to prevent this kind of shit, you have to identify the likely motivation and location of the perpetrators.

The kind of cheap demagogy that accuses the top leaders of this kind of crime allows the real monsters to crawl back under the rock they came from, until the next kill.

You say people are dying out there. I know: I have more dead friends than live ones. As in the case of most of our citizens, but, I suspect unlike yours Indi, most of my dead friends were killed either by the LTTE or the JVP — and I did, have been doing and am doing something about that, which is why the Nithanarshanam published by the Tigers in Kilinochchi, has an article condemning me, but won't even know who the fuck you are.

You use the word "people" , which is ironic: as far the people go, the masses, the majority of citizens, do you know what they think of the kind of stuff you are saying, and of folks like you? Who do you think the people prize more…Mahinda Rapajapakse, Gotabhaya or you and your heroes?

You want to know where the fuck I am. Well, I am on the side of the anti-fascist forces, the people and that impoverished old woman, the mother of Gamini Kularatne of Hasalaka who's only wish is to be taken to the newly liberated Elephant Pass to see the improvised LTTE bulldozer/tank that her son disabled witha grenade while sacrificing his life in 1991 — an act for which he was decorated and his family visited by President Premadasa. That's where I am.

indi said,

January 13, 2009 @ 1:10 am

So, your day job is a … diplomat?

But seriously, to sum. You're saying that the government isn't responsible for any of the killings attributed to it, but the JVP and LTTE are. You say that the government-implied killings instead come from – and this is where you lose me – 'Generic Elements' and 'Certain Factors' coming from their ethnic homeland of the 'Same Place'.

Basically, with evidence of verbal attacks against the media from the Rajapakses, actual assault from their cabinet, and targeted hits in high security zones where investigations reveal nothing you offer the alternate theory of …

'The Generic Elements and Certain Factors (GECF) are killing journalists in their fight for their ethnic homeland of 'Same Place'. Oh, and Indi Samarajiva is badly educated and out of touch.'

So…. OK. Don't quit your day job.

Pushparanjan said,

January 13, 2009 @ 1:14 am

Dear Madam Chandrika,

When you were in power you did every thing possible to hold on to it. Even at the end of your tenure you did not want to leave. MR is no different now. I sincerely think that if not for your greed for power Ranil W. could have made this country a better place. Though a totally divine set-up wouldn’t have been possible, our country would have been a much much better place than what it is today.

Let me reiterate if Ranil W. was in power Sirasa attack wouldn’t have taken place nor the murder of Lasantha. All media men & institutions would have enjoyed a better atmosphere to carry out their job well.

punitham said,

January 13, 2009 @ 1:44 am

The title of Lasantha's valedictory editorial should give us a lot of clues as to what the country can and must do now: '' And then they came for me''.
To pay respect for him and all the others who died before him for the same reason, we must see that he was the last person to use the clause in the context of post-independent ethnic conflict.

indi said,

January 13, 2009 @ 2:06 am

@Dayan

Fair enough. The sad fact is that we won't know who the killers are. And the institutions that would investigate and try the case are compromised and unreliable.

At this point do you really think they're LTTE or JVP? What motivitation does either have, and how does either benefit? And who now has the capacity to move weapons around Colombo?

However, I don't believe that what you call 'overall indirect social responsibility of the head of state' is so indirect. The Rajapakse brothers are openly hostile to the media. To quote Gotabaya – “I think that there is no need to report any thing on the military… I tell without fear that if I have power I will not allow any of these things to write.” And this is an official statement from the Ministry of Defence:

"Whoever attempts to reduce the public support to the military by making false allegations and directing baseless criticism at armed forces personnel is supporting the terrorist organization that continuously murder citizens of Sri Lanka. The Ministry will continue to expose these traitors and their sinister motives and does not consider such exposure as a threat to media freedom. Those who commit such treachery should identify themselves with the LTTE rather than showing themselves as crusaders of Media Freedom."

I can't find the quote, but Mahinda also said something to the effect of, if you criticize the troops, we can't be held accountable for actions by 'those that love us'.

And you're telling me these guys aren't even suspects? I don't even care if they ordered the hit. At the least, aren't they encouraging people to attack these 'traitors', with impunity and even blessing?

You don't even have to read between the lines here, you can literally read the lines that the Rajapakse's say. Journalists criticizing them are LTTE. We can't be accountable for what happens to them. And then, out of the blue, someone kills them. But the Rajapakse's aren't held accountable, and Dayan Jayatilake will blame it on the LTTE or JVP.

indi said,

January 13, 2009 @ 2:15 am

Wow, and I missed this gem of a quote from Minister Champika Ranawaka. Who Mahinda has kept in his cabinet, just like Mervyn Silva.

"People will die, What can we do about it. Are you asking us the leave those alive? those bastards are traitors. We can't do any thing because of wild donkey freedom in this country, if those can't be dealt with existing laws we know how to do it. If we can't suppress those bastards with the law we need to use any other ways and means."

But hey, look over there, LTTE!

indi said,

January 13, 2009 @ 2:32 am

To sum, in my mind the chain of evidence is pretty clear.

1. Mahinda and Gotabaya go on record equating dissenting media with the LTTE and calling them traitors. A threat to national security, to be stopped, etc.

2. They retain people in their cabinet (JHU's Ranawaka and Silva for example) who go even further, actually assaulting the media (both the threat of violence and actual violence).

3. Who those people retain is beyond me. But Lasantha ends up dead in the streets. Everyone gets what they want, and no one has responsibility.

4. The Ambassador to the UN (Geneva) blames it on the LTTE or JVP or other more serious, unspecified problems which need to be addressed later.

5. Repeat

DPEIRIS said,

January 13, 2009 @ 3:11 am

In Sri Lanka, all prominent people misuse their weapons.
Some misuse their pens and, others misuse their guns

Dayan Jayatilleka said,

January 13, 2009 @ 3:23 am

I've posted a comment to Lionel Bopage's article that I am cross posting here.

Does no one out there on groundviews remember the lethal grenade attack on the Shah Rukh Khan show — for which no one was arrested? Does no one remember the communication claiming credit for the murder of Sivaram; a communication claiming to be from a vigilante group bearing the name of a martial figure from ancient history? Please also remember that none of those top figures, civilian and otherwise, accused by gv readers and "civil society" of Lasantha's killing, were in the picture at the time. Do not confuse a cancer in the gut for a tumour in the brain of the body politic. Wrong diagnosis helps no one.

Malinda Seneviratne said,

January 13, 2009 @ 3:43 am

I am a journalist and i have to agree with David. One likes journalists who write the politics one subscribes to and ignore the rest. The reigning motto seems to be ‘freedom to express the views I subscribe to’. This is unfortunate and it is an indictment on journalists AND readers in general. Specifically, Lasantha wrote the party line (of the UNP) for the most part. I salute his courage. I lament the death of a fellow journalist but more so a citizen whose assassination says something serious about the law and order situation and possible says a lot about our political culture.

Under Dog said,

January 13, 2009 @ 5:29 am

"Make sure the government understands that you can't kill a Richard de Soyza or a Lasantha Wickramatunge and get away with it"

Dude, how do we do that?? I try talking to people to make them care, but as you rightly point out, most of them don't.

Under Dog said,

January 13, 2009 @ 5:33 am

An addendum to point 3: four guys on motorcycles dressed in black (uniform?) get away without the usual sinhala check at any of the myriad checkpoints. Gotta be state based to have that kind of freedom.

David Blacker said,

January 13, 2009 @ 6:27 am

"Il nous faut de l'audace, et encore de l'audace, et toujours de l'audace" — Georges-Jacques Danton. "We must dare, and again dare, and forever dare."

Or to put it into its modern context by another man of action, David Sterling — "Who dares, wins."

Only action brings results.

Haren said,

January 13, 2009 @ 6:39 am

There are two traits of human nature – the creative and the consumptive. We all consume the fruits of other’s labour and creativity, yet that should in-turn replenish our strength to create and share our creations with others. The moment we cease to create, we become mere parasites.
In that vein, I appreciate what Lasantha created in the Sri Lankan media space, and the vibrancy and energy that Indi, David and indeed Dayan and hundreds of others like them infuse in the way of new ideas and courageous expression of original thoughts. As conscionable as Indi’s views are, that the state executive must in some way be held responsible for the ever deteriorating state of law and order in the country (since there is a terrorist threat against civil liberties and constitutional right of people – perhaps the government would be so kind as to dispatch troops to liberate them too??) I do not see his criticism of Dayan’s views as an indictment. Both men are performing vital social functions as are many others in numerous spheres – not least among them those who risk their limbs and lives in battle. I only wish that those who rise to merely criticise or praise would do so with at least the same creativity and independence of thought, integrity of spirit and fairness of judgement as these men do. I feel that is the main reason why we are poorer as a society for Lasantha’s loss.

Haren said,

January 13, 2009 @ 6:49 am

Yet the trgedy of our present predicament lies in the fact that only a few utilise – or indeed demonstrate the capacity to utilise – their OWN brains (even to misuse them – though that is always a subjective assesment).

The talking Frog said,

January 13, 2009 @ 9:31 am

Dear sir Blacker, you paint a most unappealing picture of "the public". Do they really have mindsets that are apathetic to the killing of people they consider "biased wankers"? BWs may deserve a lot of things, but murder by killer squads? If that's the general human spirit in this country, let me say, I am as glad as ever to be a Frog.

Dayan Jayatilleka said,

January 13, 2009 @ 11:13 am

Man, if you think that I implied that the JVP or LTTE killed Lasantha, I feel sorry for your lecturers at university, if you made it through one, that is. I think that the same (generic) elements that killed Richard de Zoysa and Kumar Ponnambalam and Sivaram killed Lasantha, and out of the same motivations. The Rajapakses were not around when those killings happened. Those killers weren't apprehended due to certain factors- and not because either Premadasa or CBK ordered the hits or approved. Go figure. Also, read Rajiva on the Richard and Lasantha murders in today's Island.

indi said,

January 13, 2009 @ 11:29 am

Was referring to 'most of my dead friends were killed either by the LTTE or the JVP'. and added 'unspecified problems'. Those are the only real entitites you've mentioned. Here you clarify the latter to say 'generic elements'.

To be clear, you're saying that all the major killings of our time were carried about 'generic elements'. The reason they weren't caught was 'certain factors'.

Are you serious?

Then I shall certainly attend the next rally against Generic Elements and Certain Factors (GECF). I pin this all on the GECF, scoundrels.

Seriously man, what? The GECF did it, and they also did every major killing thus far? Go figure.

David Blacker said,

January 13, 2009 @ 11:46 am

Well, don't take my word for it. Pop out of that well and ask around. Walk out on the street and along the paddy fields and ask them if they want something done.

Dayan Jayatilleka said,

January 13, 2009 @ 12:04 pm

Buddy, your powers of simple comprehension leave something to be desired. I was talking about people I knew; most of MY friends – who were killed by the JVP and LTTE.

Your idea of the serious killings of our times just goes to show what you stand for, where you are at and where you are coming from. My idea of the serious killings of our times are of Vijaya Kumaratunga, Premadasa, Rajini Tiranagama, Amirthalingam, Padmanabha, Rajiv Gandhi, Neelan Tiruchelvam , Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanaike. Vijaya was killed by the JVP and all the others by the LTTE. That leaves a third category of those like Richard, Kumar Ponnambalam and Sivaram who were killed before the Rajapakses came into office. Those killers got away.

I think that whoever killed Lasantha came from the same place. Now I have no more time to waste with you Indi.

Raja_Blasius_Se said,

January 13, 2009 @ 12:10 pm

Whatever our traditional culture could boast it cannot talk of ever achieving personal freedom or freedom of thought and expression. The average man was a serf who paid obeisance to the King, the royal family and the Nilames. Lasantha is a modern hero- a man who for the first time in our 2500 year civilization stood for freedom and was prepared to die for it. Such freedom is not for those with a slavish mentality much as our countrymen are. Freedom is something they never fought for but obtained as a by-product of the British colonial rule. . Now that we are going back to the 15th century we will all end up as serfs if not slaves worshipping not a herediatary class but a set of knaves who have successfully hoodwinked the peasantry.

rajivmw said,

January 13, 2009 @ 12:23 pm

Dr. Jayatilleka seems to be suggesting the existence of some shadowy armed ultra-nationalist force that exists outside the state command & control structure, and above the law. It may even have the capacity to threaten the government. Lasantha hints at this in his editorial from the grave, and I believe the Leader of the Opposition has recently brought it up in the house. This GECF is quite a revelation.

Asif said,

January 14, 2009 @ 2:25 am

Dayan's argument is summary:
Jews were dying before Hilter, ergo Hitler did not kill any Jews.

Rasika said,

January 14, 2009 @ 6:09 am

This concept of GEF is good for a plot of a crime novel.

Alas, it has been used by jack Higgins already.

In one of JH novels just before there is a new round of talks between the UK government and the IRA, someone from either side is murdered – presumably by the otehr party.

david blacker said,

January 14, 2009 @ 6:32 am

I don't think Dayan implies that there's some organized 'shadow force', anymore than he's implying that there's some ephimeral non-entity (as Indi is trying to make out) responsible.____First of all, are y'all seriously expecting Dayan to admit to anything here? He's a civil servant — he can't, so trying to interrogate him here is pointless, and I frankly am surprised he even allowed himself to be sucked into this brawl. ____But getting back to the point. There will always be elements within the government 'structure' ready and willing to carry out these things. That doesn't mean that it's ordered or even sanctioned by the top. It just means that the people controlling these elements are too valuable to the executive to be exposed or punished, even if the executive disagrees with the fait accompli.____Remember, the vast majority of JVP/DJV 'suspects' killed in the late '80s weren't killed by organized GoSL forces. But they were 'elements' of the GoSL 'structure' that were valuable to the executive in the fight of the time. It's the same today.____I suspect that that's what Dayan means.

Sie.Kathieravealu said,

January 14, 2009 @ 11:14 am

First I express my deep sorrow for the loss of a good investigating journalist.
But we should consider in all seriousness the cause of his untimely death. Nearly everyone has expressed one and the same cause, namely that he was a great threat to someone and that person or persons was responsible for his death.

That he was exposing corruption was well known. It is no secret. So everyone agrees that "corruption" must be eradicated BUT no one has found a way of eradicating "corruption".

In my humble opinion "corruption" is one of the main causes of the present "war" that is costing the country dearly including the death of Lasantha Wickramathunga.

Please find below one of the ways of eradicating "corruption" and thus saving the lives of persons of the calibre of Lasantha Wickramathunga.

Current wars have to be ended and new wars have to be prevented. To achieve this goal the present system of Democratic Governance has to be changed to one that is really democratic in its true sense.

In the present democratic system it is only the powerful – speech, money and thuggery – can join the ruling class to suppress or convert others all others as their subjects and is a fertile ground for "corruption" in various forms to thrive.

In my opinion "Corruption" includes any kind of waste, neglect and every form of malpractice, dishonesty, abuse, misuse, unreasonable exercise of power, failure or refusal to exercise power, anything and everything left undone which results in the right of the people being denied or impaired.

Without a "just society" in existence much talked about "terrorism" cannot be eradicated. For the creation of a "just society" there should be "good governance" in the country. For the creation of "good governance" in the country "corruption" in ALL its forms must be eradicated. And to eradicate "corruption" the present democratic system of governance, where full power to make final decisions ultimately rests in the hands of one person, must be changed.

So the only way to salvage a country is to change the present system of governance to one that is truly democratic where the final decision-making power will NOT be in the hands of ONE person BUT shared by as many people as possible and thus restricting any individual hasty decisions that might lead to trouble everywhere.

To make a country truly democratic, the powers of the Parliament (the decision making supreme body of a country) should be split and separated and each of the separated powers must be handled by different groups of persons selected and elected by the people for the purpose of administering EACH SET OF POWERS or duties as the case may be so that no single group has the full power. All the groups together will make the whole. The country is not divided but the powers of parliament are divided/separated.

Different groups have to be elected for such purposes as administration, fiscal management, planning, implementing, policy and law making, auditing and for any other function that may be deemed necessary.

The group that is entrusted with the power to make laws and regulations shall not be given the duty/power of implementing/administering the laws and regulations.

Particular care should be taken to see that all powers are NOT CONCENTRATED in one place and that they do not overlap and there must not be a secret budget to be handled by a single person.

All transactions should be transparent including Diplomacy which has to be diplomatically transparent.

One set of powers dealing with the development of the country should be given to the set of representatives at the village level. The people of each and every village must be empowered to determine their way of life (lifestyle). The life-style of a village, its lands and resources shall not be disturbed by external forces.

All plans of development of a village that remotely/indirectly affects the village must have the concurrence of the people of that village concerned.

It has to be ensured that people are treated equitably regardless of their gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origins, age, disability, socio-economic background, religious or political beliefs and affiliations, marital status, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or other inappropriate distinction;

The decision-making powers with regard to each and every set of powers must be spread through-out the country.

With such system in practice discrimination, injustice, bribery and corruption, the four pillars of an Evil society might become history.

When the above four pillars of Evil are eradicated, the people would be living under a system that would guarantee sustainable peace, prosperity and a pleasant living to everyone in any country.

Comments on the above views are solicited from everyone with a view to prevent future wars and end current wars.

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 8:33 pm

In the name of your last line, if it exists, your comments will be read by many. I wish to reiterate to you mr.Gunasekera, and others who would read this note: Consciously speaking, I dont find genuine Sri Lankans objecting to the war or the defeat of the LTTE. However rampant curruption and manipulation of the affairs of Sri Lanka in the name of war, now that should be something we all collectively stand up for.

Most of us in the South seem to have lost the confidence of the tamil speaking people of this country. Unless and untl we look at the roots of this problem, and deal with it honestly, you will never see an end to it. Somewhere in the future, another force will unleash its wrath on the state. If Sunil thinks he can solve his family problem by brutally assaulting a member or eliminating them, I will agree the conflict can be put to an end. I doubt the people affected with war will ever wholeheartedly trust the state or the people of the other parts of the country.

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 8:33 pm

continued….

You may rejoice, but it will be back to haunt our kids and their kids. This has been the very same reason that wars around the world have never ended via brutal force. Treaty of Versailles and formation of the UN and so on with the Bretton Woods agreement, for good or for the worse has been the only path to settlement. It has been at the table that matters have been solved, and through discussions… For people like Sunil and the like-minded, either you a lack the ability to look into matters beyond face value, or your sanctity has taken over you ability to be unbiased.

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:34 pm

Clear inter-linked chain of events.

The latest trend seems to have kicked pace with the arrival of the Special Adviser to the President. A while back all existed including Jeyaraj (SLFP), Mahesaran(UNP), Raviraj(TNA), Sivaram (Journalist)… but the ones missing in action were a Special Adviser aka sibling and current man heading the transport ministry Dallas Alahapperuma.

Lately, Basil has been missing in action. Someone who has been quite outspoken and publicity savvy sporting the same outfit as his brother Mahinder, and after his last interview in a state television station paralelly by 2 presenters, he has disappeared. When talking of elements in tne Govt. and suspected Govt. within the Govt., and so on…does anyone picture him? Is his planned strategic exit, a means of making sure people never would picture him being guilty over the spate of brutality and events in the country? I strongly feel so.

continued…..

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:36 pm

Continued…

Basil has been slowly but surely running (mismanaging) the entire state of affairs of the country at his whim, and Mahinda his puppet. If Mahinder doesn't comply, he can easily be disposed of in the name of LTTE. On the other hand, Basil is working brutally towards becoming the head of state after Mahinder (if Mahinder survives this and his next term)

If you look at the long line of events: Basil returns to Sri Lanka… becomes a mere advisor. His aspirations grow. He makes contacts among the military, white van fiasco starts. He earns millions of rupees from businessmen of all communities…muslims, tamils and sinhalese. He uses these new goon friends of his to intimidate MP's in parliament. MP's suddenly change sides. TNA MP's family members are abducted, and he gets a knack of being in power and in charge.

continued….

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:37 pm

continued…

In the mean time, a possible deal between da LTTE and the Mahinda Presidential Campaign in 2005 emerges. The Tiran Alles, Sripathy Sooriyarachchi, Basil and Nishantha Gjanayake (later found being involved heading the White van squads) team together with Mangala started to breakup. This would have made a dire dent on Mahinda's presidency as well as any of Basil's future aspirations. How to deal with it, intimidate all involved…if that wasnt enough, dispose Sripathy Sooriyarachchi. So did he.

continued…

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:39 pm

Continued….

The sense of the "Basil brand" of fear being instilled, the next strategy was about silencing SLFP stalwarts. Jeyaraj who had aspirations of becoming a possible future PM and also outspoken against Basil's antics within the Govt. being a mere adviser caused stir between the two, ultimately was taken out by Basil. Mangala too was forced into a corner so much so that he spoke out repeatedly against the conduct of Basil, then he was sidelined and out of the party he went. Maithripala Sirisena who spoke out within the party again against Basil narrowly escaped. Any others within the party who intended to speak against Basil were merely made to understand, they will not be spared.

Continued…

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:39 pm

Continued…

Has anyone wondered how Dallas Alaheperuma, Basil's ally came into power? He came via the vacant seat of an MP who unfortunately died. Just like Basil himself came in through the Muslim MP's death which in itself is a mystery. The president is speculated to have gone and met this MP at Apollo before he died, I wonder why a Head of State would visit him all of sudden. Very compassionate right? Back to my point, has anyone reaslised the fact that Dallas Allaheperuma has been at the forefront of most of the Govt. press conferences lately, above all other stalwarts of the SLFP. And Dallas being bosom buddies with Basil aint a secret.

Then there is Chapika Ranawaka and his jolly friends who radically propogate nationalism, and try earn their means through it. And Basil if to ever win a presidential election (his ultimate goal), needs the support of Champika's radical forces, as its the radical faction of our country that voted in Mahinda…and has been paramount in his propagation of the war.

Continued…

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:40 pm

Continued….

And who are the ones who would dare to challenge the currupt and manipulative practices of the Basil wing? Who has exposed him up until now? Who came out IN THE MEDIA with the Nishantha Gajanayake fiasco? Who came out with the details? Who came out with the Mihin Air fiasco? Who came up with the evidence and cried foul over all currupt deals of the Govt. with details? Who IN THE MEDIA spoke of a possible secret deal between the Mahinder campaign and the LTTE during the 2005 Presidential Elections with details? Who exposed them all? Incase, who would continue to expose such practices in the future? Who would gather evidence in this regards too? Who is daring enough?

Continued….

Jacob said,

January 16, 2009 @ 10:40 pm

Continued…

Answer? Predominantly, Lasantha Wickramatunge in the print media. Supported by MTV/MBC Networks in the Audio/Visual media. What better time to execute both their destructions, when people are exhillerated over the war front victories? The state media purposely created an atmosphere by tagging labels on these institutions, so as to wash their hands off the incidents, as well as blame it on others. And our ill-informed public who take things at face value as always, brought the story.

A Govt. within the Govt. is Basil. Mahinder is a puppet, and Basil is said to be have been abroad (likely Singapore) all this while… Do bells ring atleast now folks?

DOES ANYONE NEED MORE CLEAR MOTIVES? Or are you so adamantly biased to see light in ANY of the above?

Sophist said,

January 17, 2009 @ 10:32 am

Dear Mr. Dayan your Excellency. For what reason we prithee Sir did the Govt Minister make the remarks attributed to him by the said Insidious Insurgent Indi? Do you deny he made the said remarks, along with the said Defence Secretary (god bless him) and our Excellency the Most High President? Were all those comments fabricated? How would you dear sir, respond, if an amabassadorial colleague was to ask you over some wine and cheese why your noble leaders made the said obviously justified comments? Do tell us…please. Buddy.

sittingnut said,

January 17, 2009 @ 3:19 pm

the irrationality of the debate here is illustrative and not unworthy of lasantha's rantings in his paper since inception; facts do not matter , ignorance is no bar to positive assertions , express prejudices as forcefully as possible. etc . for prime example of that sort of thing see indi's comments above.

why anybody wanted kill lasantha for that sort of stuff is beyond me, but then may be he was not killed for that . but then i am just being rational and that is not part of 'debate' here.

sunil said,

January 18, 2009 @ 1:34 am

Dear Jacob,__I am neither a historian nor a political scientist but a mere commentator on topical issues affecting our country at what I perceive to be a most critical and I have no doubt will go down in history as a momentous occasion for all Sri Lankans.The issues as I se them are "the long term greater good of the country on the one hand and on the other, individual freedoms and civil liberties of the citizens"It is accepted convention,is it not that individual freedoms would have to a take a back seat at times of war or severe national crises,for instance the Tsunami.Now is a time when the country is at war with most of us deem the most cruel enemy of the state and at a time like this should not the hands of the Government and its military forces be strenthened in every respect inclusive of with our moral support.

sunil said,

January 18, 2009 @ 1:45 am

It is in this context that I am arguingthat a good and responsible journalist must exercise discretion,restraint,good judgement and objectivity.It is my view that any action that distracts the forces and those who command and guide them and detracts from them the confidence that they do not have the support of those they are trying to defend at the peril of their own lives.are not only unpatriotic but also dangerous to the wider community that which has ben paying the supreme price whilst waiting so longfor a viable alternative to the death and distruction.

sunil gunasekera said,

January 18, 2009 @ 2:19 am

Continued..You make referenceto the Treaty Of Versailles,but have you posed for a moment to ponder and reflect on the fact that Germany had to be pounded into submissionbefore she was ,to all intents and purposes was virtually forced, to enter the negotiation process.What would you think is the alternative to defeating Germany militarily,to acheiving Peace?Obviously loss of more life, limb and resources for many more years to come if at all one would really consider it as an alternative.This I submit are the reasons that at this juncture the Goverment must only be subjected to pertinent and constructive criticism and scrutiny not scandal.Scandalous and egotistical journalism at a time like this would in my view only strengthen the hand of those who have throughout this conflict sought to destroy the country we areall trying to saveand those who have never and wil not ever wish us well.You have also made reference to the Bretton Woods agreement which I understan is precursor to the formationof the IMF,I didnt see the relevence to this matter.Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Groundtruth said,

January 9, 2010 @ 4:25 am

Why is the country swimming in blood ever since it became the “Democratic Socialist Buddhist Republic of Sri Lanka” in 1972? Is it none of these or is it in name only?

By any standards of such a state citizens can expect that the killers of Lasantha Wickrematunge be brought to trial especially as it was revealed in the press that his mobile phone had been recovered in the possession of certain suspects by the police. And it seems to have gone into cold storage (?).

Mention has been made of murders in bygone decades. Likewise, who killed Kumar Ponambalam, Leader of of the Tamil Congress? According to what one read a few years ago the related file of papers had been handed over by a SSP to the Highest Authority in the presenece of an HQI (as witness). Since then the case has gone cold!

Why have killings of people become such commonplace whether by JVP, LTTE or the State (most of all) in an independent sovereign country? Is it not time for serious introspection to discover the causes and remedy them at least for the sake of future generations ? Where lies good governance, citizen’s democracy, justice and the rule of law in all this? None of this have seemingly been aired in the context of the forthcoming election?

Tmama said,

January 21, 2010 @ 10:18 pm

Murders in human kind can be traces to stone age, in British Isles, evidence of cannibalism has been found in Cheddar Gorge. Large scale murders took place in the Potugese times, for forced conversion to Catholicism etc. More came under the English to quell the uprisings in Wellassa [1818] on and on.

I am confused by the confinement of the dates to 1915, 1948, 1972, 1979 etc. In Europe Christians used to be fed to the lians and the population enjoyed watching the spectacle. THousand years ago, Emperor Constantine came to power, who declared himself to be a Christian. Christians went on a rampage to kill and ransack multithiests. Fortunately books were saved by Librarians / rulers of Alexandria, and the feeding of other believer to lions had continues for few more centuries. THese facts most people conviniently forget and there was a edict to stop teaching history in Sri Lanka, I heard, few decades ago. One on you can remind me..

justitia said,

March 30, 2010 @ 6:32 pm

Dayan Jayatilleke forgot to mention that prosecutions of those arrested for murders of persons whose ‘floating bodies’ in Diyawanna Oya and other waterways around colombo appeared, did not happen, as state counsel of the attorney general’s department failed to appear on many dates and the judge stopped giving further dates for the case, in disgust.

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