| by Faraz Shauketaly
( April 29, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Listening to the tittle tattle in the restaurants and cafes of South London frequented, owned and managed by and large by the Sri Lankan Diaspora, one may think that Sri Lanka is some lawless outpost of the British Empire, long forgotten by its colonial masters and much of the civilised world. This negativity is fuelled by the concentrated efforts of the main Diaspora organisation in Britain and it may surprise some but at least three different people assured me that their ‘Leader’ was still very much alive and well and would make an entry at the appropriate time. It reminded me of the sign near the Concord cinema in Dehiwela: for as long as I can remember, the large sign says, “Jesus Is Coming”. I ought to have said that it is like Ranil W: waiting for Godot.
The more serious talk amongst colleagues in the international media, rights activists and those that truly can be described as ‘pro-Sri Lanka’ focus entirely on exactly what this government will do to enhance Sri Lanka’s reputation in the eyes of the western world. The fact is this: it is an inalienable fact that Sri Lanka needs the support and acceptance of the western world; and however unpalatable it may be, there is always a question of give and take. It is rather like elastic. Pull too much of course and it will snap.
A number of worries fan the flames of suspicion in the eyes of western governments. The case of Victoria Tkacheva, a 24-year old Russian woman who was attacked at a hotel outside Tangalle and whose boyfriend Khuram Shaikh was fatally wounded in the same melee, continues to worry the British authorities. On the one hand, Britain remains one of Sri Lanka’s larger trading partners, the second largest chunk of visitors to the country also originates from Britain (12.4%) and on the other hand the British government more or less asks Britons travelling in Sri Lanka to be aware of ‘an underlying terrorism threat’ and that ‘the justice system can be slower than in the UK’.
For most Britons it is incomprehensible how, an attack carried out on a tourist – even a Briton – can go unpunished for quite some time. Of course it does not help that media reports have suggested that one of the suspects initially arrested is a politician who was nominated to the local election forum by the ruling party. It has not gone unnoticed that President Rajapaksa, from whose town the suspect also hails from, is the leader of that Party. After several months in custody, all those initially remanded were granted bail and continue with their lives including practising politics. There is of course no suggestion that the Rajapaksa family have intervened
However with the prime witness – the victim who lived to recall the events – now hurling away her anonymity as a rape victim, there is now very much more impetus for the wheels of justice to move at a rather advanced speed. This case alone will go a long way towards assuaging fears held not only in Britain and Russia but across the European Community that Sri Lanka will fail to bring to justice those responsible for the murder of Khuram Shaikh and the attack and rape of Miss Tkacheva. Of course there will always be prosecutorial problems but the most compelling of evidence would be the testimony of a victim who made it against all odds and whose sense of civic duty has extended to a foreign and to her, an alien, land.
The victim is prepared to identify her attackers and the attackers of her boy friend in sharp contrast to the many others who were present at the hotel and the party that was being held there complete with hired-in DJ equipment, lighting and sound systems. Not one – not one – has been brave enough to come forward and stand up for what is right. The fact that most of those present at the party are from homes around the Tangalle area sound more like an excuse than any mitigating circumstance. No one has displayed even a morsel of regard for the Rule of Law and appears clearly disinterested in promoting the greater interests of Sri Lanka’s image internationally. Most of the people present there benefitted directly or indirectly from tourism; perhaps when the tourists stop coming it may be too late for them to reconsider their current cowardly and lackadaisical decisions.
In some instances – as indeed in the matter in which I was a victim myself to the rather lawlessness or more specifically to the impunity with which some elements in this country presume they may practise with gusto – some considerable progress has been made and the Police department is closer to bringing their investigation to a conclusion. Their record of engaging me thus far has been exemplary and to me a breath of fresh air. Explaining these events to colleagues overseas has met with complete surprise. I have had to explain that circumstances, rather like powder alters faces, does indeed alter cases. Attacks on the media as I have pointedly stated, is not the preserve of any government: it is relied upon by some unsavoury elements who hope that they may get away by hiding within the shade that government may however unwittingly offer. An officer investigating my case told me when I asked how hopeful could I be of a fair, robust and honest investigation, “we don’t intend to go to the shops” after questioning suspects. Only time will tell if he was right.
As Sri Lanka traverses its journey in this time of renaissance, the republic at large has every right to expect that justice will be done, seen to be done and that the Rule of Law can be the only certainty for the people.
Visitors to this country will be guided by how the average Sri Lankan feels about living in paradise. If the people have any doubt, visitors and investors will overfly Sri Lanka and adopt that most painful of all positions: wait and see.
Courtesy: The Sunday Leader
Courtesy: The Sunday Leader