Partners in crime "War
Heroes" must face the music
Tuesday 01st December 2015
There is today a misplaced notion propagated by
the pro Rajapaksa Opposition that our soldiers should not be arrested, whatever
misdemeanours on their part. True to form, at the forefront of this "Hands
off our War Heroes" campaign are Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa and
Udaya Gammanpila. The latest to join the bandwagon is the National University
Teacher's Association and the Kandy Association of Scholars and Professionals.
According to Prof. G.L. Peiris who addressed a forum of these twin
organisations, the teachers and professionals have expressed concern at the
release of LTTE suspects and the arrest of soldiers.
Peiris, at this forum, of course went to town
elaborating on his favourite theme these days, of a nation in peril and the
return of the Tiger - all because of the Government's decision to de-proscribe
certain Tamil Diaspora groups in faraway Canada and other Western countries.
Peiris is perhaps of the view that these groups have the capability to resume
the war in Sri Lanka, perhaps inspired by the tale of the French resistance
group in Algeria who staged a spectacular but aborted bid on the life of French
President Charles de Gaulle, as brought out in vivid detail in the blockbuster
movie The Day of the Jackal, based on the novel by Frederick Forsythe.
Why Peiris has to uncharacteristically rave and
rant about the danger to the nation from some motley group of Tamil
Organisations in faraway lands we have previously questioned in these columns.
By continuing to harp on this theme is he daring to challenge the contention of
his boss Mahinda Rajapaksa that the LTTE is done for good sahamulinma nethi
keruwa?
Be that as it may, giving carte blanche to
soldiers to do as they please, whatever their contribution to the war victory,
or letting them off the hook for criminal acts committed at the instance of
VVIPs of the last Government, is a move that is not only fraught with danger
but also a callous disregard for the law which requires that any wrong doer
whatever his station or position in society has to suffer the consequences of
his/her acts. What the likes of Peiris, Weerawansa, Gammanpila et al. should be
made to understand is that the law is no respecter of persons. Soldiers who
committed crimes or aided and abetted in the commission crimes has to be
brought before the law. Period. There are precedents to go by. The soldiers
responsible for the murder of Kataragama beauty queen Premawathie Manamperi had
to pay dearly for their crime, so did the culprits in the Khrishanthi
Koomaraswamy rape and murder, much later, during the height of the Eelam war.
There was no outcry from the public as there is certain to be no outcry when
those members of the forces who were directly responsible for the murders and
white van abductions of journalists, political opponents, Tamil businessmen and
other innocents are brought before justice.
Already clear evidence has emerged on the role
played by military intelligence personnel in the murders of Sunday Leader
Editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, TNA MPs Joseph Pararajasingham, Nadadarja
Raviraj and the abduction of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. Are the likes of
G.L. Peiris, Dinesh Gunawardena and Udaya Gammanpila suggesting that no cases
should be filed against them because of their role in defeating terrorism? Will
this not open the floodgates for these same rogue elements to carry on with
their criminal activities, knowing they have blanket cover, for being "War
Heroes" which itself is a term much abused these days. How would their
conduct reflect on the real War Heroes who remain unhonoured and unsung?
These sentiments coming as it does from Peiris
who is a former Law Professor who no doubt had inculcated in his chargers the
maxim of the law being no respecter of persons, to say the least, is shocking
indeed. It is time that the likes of Peiris, Gunawardena, Weerawansa,
Gammanpila et al. see things in their correct perspective. Not just them, there
are even certain television channels who peddle this hidden form of racism by
attempting to juxtapose the arrest of soldiers and the release of Tamil
detainees in their news bulletins and talk shows. This particular news channel
went to town on the so called celebration of the Maveerar Day in the North.
Speaking to an English Daily, Secretary to the
Ministry of Defence Karunasena Hettiarachchi said there was no reason to be
excited because the people in the North commemorated the Great Heroes Day. He
said that there was absolutely no threat to national security and the three
forces are ready to face any challenge, if there is a collapse of peace in the
country. He further went on to say that a group of extremists in the South are
trying to create much chaos making the commemoration of the Great Heroes Day in
the North by a very small group, into a massive issue. These are stories that
are internationally spread, similar to that of Tigers coming again.
Whatever happened to the anti hate speech legislation
that was being contemplated by the Government? It is time to revive these laws
to rein in the communalists and hate mongers who could do much damage to the
Government's mission to foster amity, brotherhood and reconciliation among the
different communities.
