WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
By Basil Fernando
(July 16, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Lasantha from the Leader paper went overboard. I took care of him. Poddala agitated and his leg was broken. Now a fellow in my electorate is trying to stand against me. I now tell him in his own hometown, I will give him only seven more days. If he does not resign as chairman of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha, dont blame me later on. Youll dont find fault with me. If this fellow goes against what I say, I will send him to the place where I sent Lasantha, Non-cabinet Labor Minister Mervin Silva stated publicly at a meeting in Hunupitiya, Kelaniya on 9th July.
Though this statement has been widely known, there has been no response from the government and no police inquiry. Such lack of response is not unusual; in fact, this is business as usual.
Whether Mervin Silva committed the crimes he claims to have committed is not the issue. What matters is the fact that such statements can be made without fear of consequences. In fact, there is an expectation of some reward. The very fact that people can make such remarks without fear of consequences brings us closer to understanding the present context of the country.
The purpose of his statement is to claim that there will be no hesitation to respond with serious criminal acts if anyone does anything that goes against the interest of government. Lasantha Wickramatunge and Poddala Jayantha are accused of crossing the line. The consequences of such unacceptable behavior is said to have followed. It is a proud claim of vengeance by someone who considers himself a victor. Beware, he tells others.
This is generally the message that the present government is spreading. Direct physical consequences will follow if you cross the lines we lay down. Several lawyers who made appearances in a case before courts on behalf of a party opposed to the Secretary for Defense got their message through the same ministry’s website, in which they were named traitors.
Nowadays, the word traitor appears more and more. Such use of language happens only when a country has descended to crudest use of physical violence.
There was no social outrage against the minister’s claim that he had committed the crimes against both journalists. The police have been saying that they are unable to trace the criminals. A minister in the government is saying here I am; I did it.
The absence of outrage is a sign of zero faith in the government. No one asks the government to do justice. This is the extent of loss of faith in good governance. Morally and legally, the country has reached its lowest depth. Seeing the lowest depth reached in Russia during his time, Dostoevsky predicted that something terrible would take place in his country. The same can be said of Sri Lanka, judging from the circumstances it has reached now.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
