When will the government relieve the guns from the paramilitary groups and the goons?

by B. Gunawardene

(June 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The President Rajapakse’s entourage to India recently consisted of some violent men associated with the President. Notable of them were the paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda and the President’s buddy Sajin Vas Gunawardena.

Gun carrying Sajin and Douglas chat whilst the Foreign Minister Prof G L Pieris enjoy their conversation on the far right.

The LTTE has been eliminated and their violence even with the residuals is not experienced in the country for the past one year. But what is spoken widely is the violence of the paramilitary group of government minister Douglas Devananda. Kidnapping, murders, ransom demands are his group’s strategy at present and according to latest news even two judges in Jaffna who presided over some of the violent cases against Douglas Devananda’s paramilitary group has been transferred out of Jaffna suddenly due to political pressure. This is indicative of the new form of state violence through this begging bowl paramilitary group to fill the vacuum created following the elimination of the LTTE in the north.

Paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda is progressing to become the victim like Pirabakaran. He is unable to control his own gun carrying men. Knowing very well of the adverse publicity of his group recently, he is still unable to exert pressure on them to abate their violence. A visitor from Canada who went to meet Douglas recently in Jaffna was stunned when he saw men carrying automatic guns and pistols giving guard to him at his premises in Jaffna.

Douglas Devanada came under media and legal scrutiny when he visited India with the President. Without denying his involvement in a murder in the 80’s in Tamil Nadu, he took the stand that 1987 Indo-Lanka accord pardoned him from the murder. What he failed to understand was that the pardon referred in the Indo-Lanka Accord relates to Sri Lanka and not the murder of an Indian national in the Indian soil.

Douglas will be well protected by the Sri Lankan state like it protects the state forces over their crimes against humanity. Like Puirabakaran living and ending his life with the gun, the destiny of Douglas too is uncertain in the jamboree politics his and of Sri Lanka.

Sajin Vas Gunawardene is another man who lives with the pistol. When the moment arises he does not fear to pull the piston strapped to his leg covered by his trouser. A Muslim politician was held at gun point by Sajin when he uttered comments unpalatable to him. According to information the said Muslim politician has given up politics following his terrifying experience with Sajin.

These are two men of the President. But there many more guns held by the government goons including Karuna, Pillaiyan, Mervin Silva, JHU leaders and other Tamil paramilitary groups.

When will these guns be relived from these violent mafia men? The government does not have will to relive them. Even it can find a way it will not proceed, as these elements do their part to keep this government survive.