Daily News Editorial

LTTE prisoner issue given racist twist 

Thursday 29th October 2015

Avenues are being explored to ascertain whether those detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) could be granted bail. This is to be done strictly within the legal confines. A Committee headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe which also includes Ministers Tilak Marapana, Wijedasa Rajapakshe, Mano Ganesan and representatives of the Attorney General's Department has decided to see whether there was legal provision that could be used to enlarge them on bail. It was also decided that no common amnesty will be granted to those held under the PTA.

The move comes in the wake of the death fast campaign launched by the Tamil detainees held under the PTA, which was brought to an end following assurances given by the authorities that a solution will be found to their grievances. It should be noted that some of the prisoners are being held without trial for as long as 15 years and it was felt that their cases should be expedited and those found guilty to be prosecuted while releasing the rest.

A vernacular newspaper went to town yesterday that there is going to be a blanket release of all terrorist suspects. A morning host of a TV station known for its pro-Rajapaksa leanings also went onto read extensively from the news report of this particular newspaper highlighting the impending release of ALL terrorists, with the anchor also adding his own opinion about the discriminatory nature of this act. This, when it was made clear by Minister Mano Ganesan of the Committee decision not to grant any amnesty to PTA suspects; that only the possibility of granting bail, strictly within the legal confines is to be explored.

By inflection and innuendo the newspaper and the TV anchor was attempting to suggest that Tamil prisoners were to be released while Sinhala prisoners were to be given a raw deal.

Both the newspaper and TV anchor is blissfully unaware, or chose to ignore the fact that all the JVP suspects in the first uprising responsible for the killing of police and army personnel not to mention causing the destruction of the lives of thousands of youth, were granted a common amnesty following the hearings of the Criminal Justice Commission. Most of these JVPers later entered Parliament, some of them even going onto hold Cabinet posts. There was no public outcry at such a course of action. True, the JVP only rose in revolt against the system in attempting to overthrow the Government while the LTTE was demanding a separate state. It is also true that the rebellion against the state by the JVP can in no way be compared to the war waged by the LTTE. The JVP uprising was crushed within a few months while the LTTE war continued for 30 years. Equally, the casualty figure in the JVP uprising is nothing compared to the heavy toll of lives during the three decade war, chiefly due to the superior war machine of the LTTE. Hence there may be some resentment at the prospects of the release of hard core LTTEers among the majority community.

Be that as it may the vernacular newspaper and TV anchor is also ignoring the fact that the LTTE Eastern Commander Karuna Amman, responsible for the attack on the Sri Dalada Maligawa the holy of holies of the Sinhala Buddhists, the massacre of Samaneras (novice monks) in Arantalawa and the cold blooded gunning down of 600 policemen who surrendered to the LTTE, in the East, was not only made a Minister by Mahinda Rajapaksa but also made a top office bearer of the SLFP. It is also blinding oneself to fact that Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, the LTTE's international chief arms procurer whose contribution to the Tiger war chest resulted in the death of thousands of security forces personnel not to mention the mayhem and destruction caused in the South was not only mollycoddled and given accommodation at a state guest house but was also made an SLFP electoral organiser in the North and freedom to set up an NGO by Rajapaksa.

It should be borne in mind that the previous Government rehabilitated and sent into society over 11,000 LTTE cadres who surrendered to the Government during the last stages of the war. Among them were hardcore fighters and who no doubt participated in many massacres and other atrocities. Why was no hue and cry made in respect of the release of these LTTEers? These were Tigers who were engaged in battle with the forces in the last stages of the war, while the fasting prisoners had spent over 15 years in jail with their cases still pending. Therefore it is only fair that justice is done to them. Their cases should be processed and those found guilty punished under the law and the rest released. This is what even the TNA had been suggesting and hence the Government will be free from blame and justice will be served. The issue of bail in respect of PTA suspects is only being explored and jumping to conclusions that there will be blanket amnesty for all detainees smacks of nothing short of racism.