Great deal of Diaspora-concocted mischief on the move

From Down Under comes the latest, an example of falsehood fabricated on foul fantasies

By Mohan Gunaratnam and Roshanti Arasakularatne in Vavuniya

(May 03, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka Guardian) Communication technology is such that information can be transmitted across the globe at the speed of sound; perhaps light. We have been asked to investigate a story by our editors that appears to have originated from Australia and is being transmitted no doubt with vicious intentions to throw dirt at the Armed Forces engaged in the Wanni.

According to this story there are houses in Kilinochci and the surrounding areas where 15-35 year olds are held as prisoners. They are supposed to be those coming into the army-controlled area and are chained together in pairs after rendering them naked. They are fed only once a day and kept near latrines which they can use chained together.

It adds: “They are in a desperate situation because of insect bites particularly girls who are suffering far more which cannot be easily described. The Sinhalese cooks know they are ordinary citizens and are upset by what they have seen.”

As could be expected in a situation of this nature in the Wanni where the LTTE in the desperate situation they face is very likely to seize all possible opportunities to discredit the Government of Sri Lanka and the Armed Forces using suicide bombers to cause murder and mayhem. Already three suicide bombers have done their worst.

A final onslaught as the ultimate weapon from the Black Tigers is expected. Naturally all those of the age in the mischievous story who come from the hostage-held areas are screened. This is not an option but a necessary must and LTTE is no respecter of civilians. This is also necessary to safeguard the thousands who have already fled from the Tigers. One hasn’t got to pass the Fifth Standard to understand this simple logic.

We have thoroughly investigated this matter of some so-called sinister and pernicious houses in Kilinochchi and have been even laughed at for thinking that such could exist. There are indeed holding houses particularly to ensure no Tiger terrorist has used the opportunity or sent by the LTTE to cause panic in the cleared areas.

The detainees are treated most kindly and the government has made it very clear that their dignity must be respected and they be prepared for rehabilitation. If every wing lap of a bird in flight is reckoned as a lie, how many wing laps will a bird need to reach Australia? Furthermore, the pro-LTTE Diaspora is telling the whole world that their adoration is only for a terrorist whom their own kith and kin in Sri Lanka abhor.

They are firmly struck on the 1983-warp and are unwilling to see that since then a quarter century has gone past. As they become fossilized Down Under and elsewhere, Tamils in Sri Lanka are readying themselves for a great new chapter and along with the Sinhalese, Malays, Muslims and Burghers are setting their goals on racial unity, peace and harmony.

We enjoy a great deal of freedom in the Wanni to make our inquiries and in some areas we have to get special passes and that is a necessary evil in the circumstances prevailing in this region. Among many dangers there are landmines buried by the Tigers and the possibility of ambushes are also there. Furthermore, with the kind of equipment we carry, we could be mistook for LTTE spies as well.

American and European communications and media organizations have their own rules and invariably each one of them depends on the sensational and the scandalous for their very survival. Human values rarely count for them. We of the east have our traditions and values and cannot allow the western corporate community to play the fool and the foul around in our countries, indulge in shallow reporting that titillates the insatiable hunger of those who need scandalous and shocking stuff on their breakfast table every morning.

We have a commitment to our country and our people. We can have views that may differ from another but our focus is Sri Lanka and the best interests of our people. The government of Sri Lanka is quite right in keeping foreign journalist adventurers from misrepresenting our country especially in respect of our war against terrorism.

News is not the birthright of the west, rather the corporate world. They can use our services or hire our expertise and pay our due share instead of lifting our research and stories from the comfort of their hotels and rewriting them as their own stories even twisting the intended message to suit their audience. Some recent reports that appeared in the west indicated the blatant disregard some journalists have for truth.

Sometimes these are written from their offices in distant lands. As for the story regarding certain houses in Kilinochchi from Australia, we can only feel sorry for the source that has to indulge in such ghastly and grisly mischief; perhaps more appropriately, monkey business.

-Sri Lanka Guardian