The true story of an imprisoned deserter

by Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne

(September 14, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Premasiri came to Moladande at the height of the JVP/DJV chauvinist rebellion. He was taken into our security arrangement as his brother was a longstanding party member. It was a time when we could not trust even our closest relations. We had to protect ourselves with those who were politically loyal. At that stage, we were members of the United Socialist Alliance (USA) launched under the leadership of the late Vijaya Kumaratunga. After his death we continued as the USA under trying conditions. Many of our leading figures in the southern districts were killed brutally. Sometimes the brutality of the JVP/DJV exceeded not only that of the LTTE but also that of the counter terror of the government.

We struggled, sandwiched between the state and the counter state rebellions. Both Sinhala and Tamil rebels considered the socialist camp as enemies of their respective projects. So did the UNP regime though we were agreed on the issue of devolution. What a terrible time to have lived in!

Securiy round the clock

In November 1989 I was shot down with a near fatal injury where a rifle bullet went through my upper abdominal area. I struggled for life for a few months, while party comrades took turns to provide me security round the clock. One of those who volunteered was Premasiri and he continued to be with me for many years thereafter. General Attygalle, when he discussed the issue of our security, agreed to train our security squad selected from our politically faithful.

General Attygalle was an old fashioned general brought up in the British military tradition, but he was remarkable for his ability to go beyond military limits and bend according to the political needs of the moment. He accepted our refusal to get formal police or army protection. Instead our comrades were allowed into the ranks of the army and police to be placed specifically as our security personnel.

That was how Premasiri became a soldier. It was a long time back. But he was with me during the entire period when I faced terrible death threats from the JVP/DJV. The latter, quite correctly considered me to be the most serious defender of the right of self determination of the Tamil speaking people. Apart from the attack I faced at Kadawatha, several attempts were made to kill me in the years ‘89/90. Twice they surrounded the house at Moladande. They however failed to overcome the resistance of our comrades though we were heavily outnumbered. Of course, I believe many of those who came to attack me were village youth, without much training in any kind of warfare. There could have been several army deserters among them. Still they were no match for our group which was well organised. Apart from the training they got formally some of our comrades got experience from the PLOTE and the EPRLF. These organisations, at that stage, were politically allied to the United Socialist Alliance. I am not sure what kind of training comrade Premasiri had, but he was absolutely loyal and daring. If not for the loyalty and sacrifice made by our security squad, I will not be sitting here writing about our efforts to defend the concepts of equality, autonomy and the right of self determination.

But today I am in great distress to learn that Premasiri is being held in the Pallekele prison camp as punishment for being “absent” from the army. My entire attempt to understand how he could be a deserter failed miserably.

Great distress

Of course the brigadier at the Kurunegala camp, the colonel in charge of the military tribunal, the superintendent of the Welikada prison, Pallekele prison officials, Welikada jailers and all the other officials that I contacted were very helpful. I never expected such solidarity. But they were unable to explain the nature of justice that imprisoned this old comrade of mine who never deserted me in the most dangerous period of my life. Premasiri was later married and his wife died a few years back leaving their only son in his charge.

So many decades have passed without any problem. He was running a small boutique near his house. His entire life is in disarray after the sudden charge of the army.
Anyway this is the true story of an imprisoned deserter. - Sri Lanka Guardian