By Nilantha Ilangamuwa“Racism and racist oppression are the causative factors for rebellions and secessionist politics.” - V. Prabhakaran, ex- leader of the LTTE , Heroes' Day Address in 2002
(June 04, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The leading Sinhala daily newspaper ‘Divaina’ in Sri Lanka in their recent editorial published few hours after a senior journalist and activist, Poddala Jayantha faced the wrath of the gang attack by an unknown group of men who had kidnapped him in a white van, has called for open death penalties for the all the journalists, scholars and questionable people, who are on the payroll of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) also know as the Tamil Tigers. This is a worrying development for the future of Sri Lanka. There is no doubt the editor’s assertion is silly and his views are Nazi Germany’s Joshep Goebels jingoistic journalism. However, it is clear rabid hatred is clearly reflected in the editor’s comments.
Situation seems to be that, Sri Lankans are still unsure about the emerging favourable post Tamil Tiger defeat situation and is uncertain about their responsibility and conduct in the society which is now free of terror. The media which thrived on the war so far is failings to react to the changing post- war situations responsibly. In this context, failing to understand the emerging favourable situation will adversely harm the wellbeing of our society. Tigers are no more, but paranoia of Tamil Tigers is still haunting the society and is influencing the island nation in all levels. It was totally different during the Indian intervention, though the intervention has changed the traditional post independence politics of Sri Lankan.
The LTTE dictated the political agenda’s of the governments for the past three decades and with its demise now, the situation must change for us altogether. Our main focus now must be to change the centralized executive power system of the President.
In my view, since the implementation of the current constitution of Sri Lanka in 1978, introduced by the then President Junius Richard Jayawardene, this is the first time a President is able to stand up and assert that he is not under the dictates of the LTTE. JRJ during his tenure influenced the growth of the Tamil Tigers by his highly centralized governance (and the death threats against him by the Tigers as revealed by his wife the fist lady Elena Jayawardene) made him take the tough stand against the Tigers.
It is right time for all the political parties to reshape the type of governance in Sri Lanka from now onwards. A paralyzed opposition in the wake of government victories in the war should not be dictated by gullible patriotism. As citizens of Sri Lanka, we must carefully consider the comment made by the President in his speech in the Parliament after the wipe out of the Tamil Tigers in the warfront: “There are no minorities in Sri Lanka, there are only two nations, one is people who love the Country and other one is people who not love the Country,” says the President.
What is the meaning love? In biblical term ‘Love they neighbour’ has deep meaning. Love is physiological and eternal feeling towards others and other lives. A famous French novelist Honore de Balzac said: “True love is like a psychic experience. Everyone tells ghost stories, but few have ever seen a ghost.” Likewise the time will answer connect of the ‘people who love the Nation’ and Sri Lanka is not exception.
Jubilation of media over the victory in the war clearly shows how journalism and journalists are facing challenges over their duties and responsibilities and post-war must dictate high values in journalism to build and strengthen the democratic nation of Sri Lanka. Many journalists think they are fathers of victory in the war. In that they betray their own collogues who are facing the challenges loggerhead in the difficult terrain for journalists. This is dangerous for freedom of journalism at this important juncture.
In his worrying editorial comment the Editor states:“today, the key decision maker in this world is money. Therefore, journalists, Tiger sympathizers in television channels and intellectuals can be bought easily. There were journalists and professionals in Colombo, Sri Lanka who were in the LTTE's pay directly or indirectly. Some of these persons had fled overseas while others who could not make it on time are still in the island. All of them are guilty of treason.” (Quoted: Editorial- Divaina, sister news paper of the ‘The Island’, on 02 June, 2009)
It further states: “the penalty for treason is death. In a country like China, such persons are prosecuted and lined up before a shooting squad. Unfortunately for us, this country does not have capital punishment. People who commit worst of crimes and sentenced to life in prison get freedom after a few years for good conduct.” To quote China for democratic credentials is laughable. Let Sri Lanka limit its dealings with China on cheap arms purchases and not be dictated by its gun hoe culture against free expression in this country.
AP Photo: Journalist and media activist Poddala Jayantha lies in Colombo National Hospital after being abducted and assaulted by unidentified assailants June 1, 2009. He is the latest in a string of journalists who have faced violence on the Indian Ocean island, which just finished a 25-year war against the Tamil Tiger rebels. Colombo, Sri Lanka.The simple question is, is there any differences between the journalists who had taken money from the Tamil Tigers and its sympathisers and/or the government? Consciences of all journalists including the ‘Devina’ editor must also ask their own minds of this question. Can we stand on moral high ground and say those who had taken money from the Tigers must be branded as traitors whilst those benefiting from the government as patriots?
It is time for journalism in Sri Lanka to discipline itself and define ethical conduct and its dutiful mission. We must not forget in this self-destructive path blame many journalists lost their lives in the island nation. Calling for death penalty on journalists by the frustrated journalists seemed ludicrous and this could only undermine rule of law in the country. The answer for assumptions and hatred is not simple black and white. There are a million of shades opinions in a free democratic society. Let us respect them in a free democratic society.
The writer’s comments are not factual. He is trying to portray V. Prbhakaran is an intellectual my citing a phrase from his alleged 2002 speech written by Anton Balasingham. Prbhakaran was never for a political settlement, and was in killing spree killing anybody who did not agree with him. He had to be contained or destroyed by all means anyway.
To justify this conflict is not reasonable on the grounds of racism and ethnicity. There are more divisions in the Tamil society by way of cast. Did they resort to killing Tamils to justify this situation? What right Prbhakaran got to attack Buddhist Shrines and other civic monuments killing scores of people? Then Mosque attack of Muslims and Aranthalava hermitage attack how you justify.
Self styled human rights organizations are shouting to stop the witch hunt. But we have to identify the journalists who were on LTTE pay lists and distorted this terrorist conflict for so long. They have to account for the mayhem and killings. Rather than highlighting the destruction carried out by LTTE, it is unfair to only critical of government.
Tamil net is reporting some statements as made by CJ Sarath Silva. But this man is no god to talk like that. His personal conduct in the parliamentary complex in the company of another married woman is legendary.
There is no conflict on journalistic freedoms in Sri Lanka as out lined by the ‘Front Line of India’ reporters who has spent the final 70 hours in the conflict. It is the journalists who made a capital by taking LTTE funds who made a mockery of this freedom. We have to penalize these journalists unless and otherwise they apologize their disgraceful conduct. The writer should stop writing to safeguard the wrong doers.
Mr.Illangamuwa,
it is a shame Did you run out of quotation?
It is indeed a pathatic to quote a mass killer for whatever the reason you wanted to justify.Do not think that you can make yourself remarkable by citing this school dropout killers killing notions.
I read this 'Divaina' editorial and I stand by it.
Defence Ministry should expose all these sinhala terrorist as they cannot get away from this now if anyof them are in the payroll.
Are you one of them?I wonder
Capital Punishment should be introduced and whoever conspiried against the people of sri lanka should be shot.
all this 'human right' talk is B.S.Nothing is free in this world not even human right and it comes with a cost.
Regardless of the capacity these traitors should be exposed and if found they guilty should be dealt with.Tamils should be given a pardon but sinhalese were found guilty they should not be given a chance.
Sinhala traitors should be exoposed and punished and it is the responsibility of the government to bring them to book.
If Mr. Jayantha were some how involved with the LTTE then it is the Governments right to take him to task via the courts. They are there for a reason.
Apparently in Sri Lanka it is unwise to speak truth to power lest you be visited by the "White Van".
The Columnists main thrust that Democracy in Sri Lanka is now in danger has not been lost. A President with vast powers without adequate checks and balances is an accident waiting to happen as we have seen countless times in Governments throughout the world.
Members of the 4th estate are seen as checks on untrammeled power and apparently this is how the Government sees it as well hence the many examples of "White Van" violence vested upon these "checks".
A militarised nation whose Government has no compunction in resorting to the "White Van" brand of justice is truly a nation in peril.
'Divaina' is racist news paper. It always carry hatred, dangerous sometimes silly articles. I have seen some articles that some journalist in this newspaper have close ties with Israel representatives in Colombo. Who knows they may be on the payroll of foreign arms who do not want to see Srilanka as a democratic, peace loving and tolerant country.
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