"In a country of deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act"
by T. Earakan
Sri Lankans of several walks of life, from politicians to everyday readers have been ratcheting opinion on General Fonseka's interview with The Sunday Leader, in several media outlets in the recent days. The remarks are mostly negative on the reported allegations by the General in the Sunday Newspaper, at least the ones being carried by prominent media organizations.
In the political front Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe in various interviews continue to say that Gen. Sarath Fonseka's recent statement to the Weekend newspaper has brought the country into disrepute. Several other government ministers, notably Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G.L. Peiris and Cabinet spokesman Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa have been harping about common candidate Sarath Fonseka in various forums, over the Philip Alston query.
Yet the however small number of comments that have come across - in the form of “citizen journalism” – reader comments to articles on websites say significant number of Sri Lankans are out there deeply concerned about the reality and ramifications about the "bottomline" of the issue at hand regardless of political wrangling.
Case in point is Sri Lanka newspaper Daily Mirror online recently publishing several reader comments below its reporting on the aftermath of the letter to Amb. Kshenuka Senewiratne from Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions seeking clarifications on the alleged killing of the LTTE leaders.
While the comments moderated by the newspaper appear to show an overwhelming negativity towards the ex-General of Sri Lanka Army, there were at least three comments seeking “reason” and “upholding the true values” of the “silent majority” of Sri Lankans - as follows:
| * In a country of deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. If heinous crimes have been committed on humanity it is time we hanged our head in shame and seek apology. We should rethink the character of our leaders whether they consist of the same human principles and observe the teachings of Lord Buddha. Only then will the Sinhala race shine and thrive otherwise it will be damned in the sins that we commit. - Posted By: spark
* Let us stop the 'betrayal', 'Traitor' Nonsense. As a true Buddhist, I am bit concerned and started to worry, if what this guy say is true. As I was thinking the Pro LTTE diaspora is making this claims and that was denied by our ministers. If this is true, then for god sake let the culprits face the music and they can't rule my country at any cost. - Posted By: Nanayakara * Thank you very much SF mother Lanka is very proud of You - Posted By: Fayad |
While there are plenty of raucous against the Common candidate Sarath Fonseka in the print and national media, also being largely ignored is the fact this matter has been around since May 2009 when well-known British journalist Marie Colvin who herself played a role in trying to arrange for the safe surrender of LTTE leaders wrote an article in the Timed of UK then outlining some of the events.
6 Comments
Is there any honour among criminals and murderers is the question. For instance people are given rewards by the government for exposing crimes and criminals. Some criminals turn crown wittness and are awarded reprieve and are rewarded.
We have many such examples in the Govt such as Karuna, Pilliyan etc Also the politicians who cross over and are awarded ministerships would come into this category. Therefore are we are a nation of Betrayers and Traitors. I think not, every one has the freedom to speak the truth or express his opinion in a democratic society. If the truth is not palatable to those in power this does not mean that he is a traitor or betrayer.
Dear Mr Earakan,
Thank you for your wonderful comments. Can any one of the Presidential candidates, including the "no hope of winning" candidates propose a Truth Commission where any citizen including civilians, public servants and armed services personnel can provide evidence of atrocities and other acts against humanity that took place since 1977?
There should be a guarantee of no punitive action against anyone; the evidence cannot be adduced in courts and those providing evidence should be able to walk away and continue with their lives.
Such a public outpouring of grief on any matter concerning our beloved land should bring about a new sense of freedom and reconcilliation.
Hi to all my beloved Sri Lankan blood, we all know what is happening in our motherland right now but truth will never fade forever, it will prevail even if that takes time, dont be fool by what you see or hear be smart and self thinking human,let us educate our people and support the man who has the common vision as you and me have to develop the country into a better heaven,
So pls be brave and support and campaign for our common man who is full of dream to see our motherland progress as a nation with choice for all and get rid of all the evil from the island, pls be a smart Sri Lankan forever.
What I cant understand is these three so called LTTE terrorists or any oyher in the same terror organization has not paid for the coldblooded killing of Amirthalingam, Thirychelvam, Kadirgamar, Premadasa, Gamini, Athulathmudali and so many unknown innocent civilians. The ones killed in what ever cicustances are out and out terrorists. If you don't kill them they will definitely kill you. If you want to talk about them talk about those killed by them also. Justice is both ways not one way.
These are few of the TRUTHs IN Srilanka.
NEARLY $537 million in tsunami aid for Sri Lanka is unaccounted for and more than $686m has been spent on projects unrelated to the disaster, an anti-corruption watchdog says.
While the Tamil political parties have been busy forming alliances and discussing whom to support, over 50% of the citizens of the North will not be able to exercise their franchise at the upcoming presidential election.
Sri Lankan Violations, and The LTTE are the Symptom, not the Disease
Dear Kingkong. killing of Amirthalingam, Thirychelvam, Kadirgamar, Premadasa, Gamini, Athulathmudali and so many unknown innocent civilians are uddoubetedly terrastic like wise killing of innocent Tamil civilians, by Thugs with the support of sinhala politicians and military since 1956 to date also teraristic and perpetrators should be killed othewise they will definitely kill again how is that? If you kill the symptoms alone you can't cure the disease.
Colombo's long-time oppression of the Tamils is the disease.
Kongking, you know that 30k or so people were killed in just a day or two including scores of remaining LTTEers. If that doesn't quench your thirst for blood I don't know what else can. By the way if you did not know who killed Lalith you are in political wilderness that you have to come out before making your grand comments.