Janaka today! Dr Vigneswaran tomorrow?

by R. Jayadevan

(October 12, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Starling revelations in the Sunday Leader (datelined 12 October 2008) under the heading ‘Murder of a war hero and a state’s dirty tricks’ by Dilrukshi Handunnetti is an eye opener to consider the unfolding events developing in the Eastern front of Sri Lanka. The article in the Sunday Leader deals with compelling circumstances surrounding the death of the retired Major General Janaka Perera in the holy city of Anuradhapura.

The Sunday Leader claims: ‘Perera was killed at a time when he was thoroughly vulnerable and exposed to every conceivable security threat. He was not provided with security, despite that being his entitlement and a Supreme Court ruling in his favour on July 29.’

The article further claims: ‘In his own admission, the government had attempted to scuttle his security ever since his entry to politics. Having failed to lure the retired Major General into their fold or to dispatch him as ambassador to the United Kingdom, an offer made just prior to Perera's return from Australia to engage in mainstream politics, the state's only tool was to deny Perera his security entitlement on two accounts - as a retired senior army officer and a person who was perceived to be under serious threat by the LTTE.’

Whilst there is no definite information about the claim of suicide attack by the LTTE, circumstances revealed in the Sunday Leader puts the government in the docs to provide convincing answers for the killing. Though there is every possibility that the LTTE could have undertaken the mission to kill the General, the circumstances prevailing for them at present give little reason for them to target a retired General. In the present difficult climate, their aim would be a big nick within the government circles.

The investigators have not revealed any evidence from the bombing scene so far that the attack was the work of a suicide bomber. In addition to the discontent of the government over the General, not crossing to its side, it is also known that the General was involved in the ruthless suppression of the JVP troubles in the 1989 following the arrival of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. JVP which is a component coalition partner of the government is said to have stretched its influence in the government machinery since it started to play its democratic role. There is also a possibility a discontented JVP man in the forces doing the job.

The revelations in the Sunday Leader raise the eye brows over the situation developing in the East. It is claimed that government is putting continuous pressure on the Chief Minster of Eastern Provincial Council Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan known as Pillayan to get rid of his Secretary Dr K Vigneswaran. The unbending Chief Minister has become a headache for the government. The Chief Minister is advised by his able Secretary to uphold the provisions of the 13th amendment to the constitution devolving powers to the provinces. The knowledgeable Dr Vigneswaran has become a hindrance for the government to keep the Chief Minister under its absolute control. The government wants the Chief Minister to follow its orders and the Chief Minister is said to be someone not succumbing to some of the government pressures.

This precipitated the government to impose punitive sanctions against the Chief Minister. Having identified that Dr Vigneswaran is the cause for the difficulties, it is understood the government had initially had asked the Chief Minister to get rid of him. When this was not adhered, the government went on to pressurise the Chief Ministers Secretary directly. By its unilateral decision, the government has stopped the salary of Dr Vigneswaran from last month and had gone further by withdrawing the static police security provided to him.

The government’s precipitated actions have exposed Dr Vigneswaran to face the same fate of General Janaka Perera. Dr Vigneswaran’s position has become more difficult as he is said to be hated by the government Minister Douglas Devananda who runs his own paramilitary outfit in Colombo and Jaffna. Dr Vigneswaran was the former adviser to the Minister Douglas Devananda and their working relationship ended following bitter feud between them. - Sri Lanka Guardian