Terrorism

A Nation Betrayed - CBK & Co

By Chaminda Tilakumara, Human Rights for Victims of Terrorism

Endless corrupt political practices that has destroyed the country go on unabated

I thought I'd spend some time to convey some of my inner thoughts to you all after another senseless LTTE attack in Colombo, once again claiming many more innocent lives. It is important to look at why we have not made any realistic gains in this war against terrorists, despite what the self-appointed great war General and the state media regurgitates. We have to be totally deaf, dumb, blind and stupid to believe a word of it. On the other hand LTTE have grown from a group of 4 members in the mid 70's to the most ferocious guerrilla force in the world. But we keep on going in an endless loop of failure after failure in government policies in the war front.

I am writing mainly to the Sri Lankan expatriate community to plead with you'll to keep up the good work all of you are doing as your work seems to have caused some concern to madam CBK, who hasn't the foggiest idea where she is leading the people of this country to. This is very apparent in a statement she made some months ago, asking concerned expatriate Sri Lankan community not to criticise or hold protests against her government and its policies from overseas. Incidentally, this is exactly what Prabakaran tells his Tamil critics living in the West. CBK is once again totally missing the point on this. Or perhaps she may be concerned that, the real truth about the "Devolution Package" that threatens to obliterate the unitary state of our motherland would be unearthed. LTTE runs its massive propaganda machine from overseas and this they do to a very good effect. Furthermore, it is not incorrect to state that the "Overseas Help" factor contributes a great deal to the continuation of the entire LTTE war economy of the N & E. So, even to think that the pressure expatriates can exert is not going to have an effect proves where our Madam's brain is located. By the way, it is not just madam CBK who thinks from this vital part of one's anatomy. In fact, we are yet to come across a Sinhala politician who doesn't think from this area (with the exception of those involved in SIHALA URUMAYA). Therefore, it is absolutely mandatory that we expose what our less-than-truthful politicians are up to whilst we continue to expose the LTTE's true colours in every way possible. It seems that we have two war fronts, and not just one.

Those of you who think that our Country's main problem is just a LTTE terrorist problem will have to think again. In simple fact, we have a serious in-house problem that has been made worse and worse by incompetent, spineless and corrupt politicians. And the LTTE supermo Prabakaran's strength is the result of the weakness of our politicians. Their weakness is quite simply the greed for money and power. This is very apparent in the current scenario: Whilst madam CBK being the boss, her relatives (notably her uncle & cousins who place themselves above the law) make a good killing out of the war economy from arms procurement to everything that they can flog at a helpless nation. Whilst it is not a crime to make money out of arms procurement, it is a crime against this Nation to buy more often than not inferior weapons based on the commission alone. Our chaps continue to buy rubbish that carries the most commission and not concentrate on weapons that will be highly effective in this war. This is true even now, even after the Israel Arms deal and the humiliating retreat in the North. Therefore, at every opportunity, we must expose weaknesses in government policies and politicians who make a living out of this war. Then only we may be able to get our people to work straight and honestly. This will leave dealing with the LTTE menace somewhat less complicated. Our biggest problem is THE ENEMY WITHIN. This we have to realise and acted upon, if we are ever going to see an end to the madness that is gripping the country. Our politicians are deceiving the people of this country in every way possible because they know that they can get away with it. This is why it is absolutely imperative to expose any anomalies in every way we possibly can.

Another good example of opportunist convoluted politics that is taking place is the constitutional amendments, including the abolition of the Executive Presidency, Her Excellency Madam Kumaranatunge is working on. She was elected at the presidential election before last on the promise she made to abolish the Executive Presidential system - Now wasn't that a great vote puller? However, this was conveniently overlooked during her last term in office. Now she wants to abolish the EP system at the end of her current term, how convenient. The sting in the tale of this story is that, with the EP system abolished, which leaves the Prime Minister as the head of state, she can contest for the Prime Ministership and be the boss again as the two-term limitation would no longer be valid. This also implies that one can be in power for life - what a frightening thought in a Sri Lankan context. Whilst Governing the country at this very moment in time out side the EP system is highly debatable with for and against effects, her motives behind this move is of high self interest. Furthermore, this self-serving attitude is reflected from her all the way down to the minnows in her party and across to the UNP and on everybody who scrounge off the blood that pours out of our brothers and sisters on the battlefield. It is our moral duty to ensure these lives are not sacrificed to keep these corrupt politicians in power. We will never see an end to this senseless slaughter as long as we are ruled by a bunch of opportunistic corrupt politicians, make no mistake on this.

Currently the state media, government newspapers and the Rupavahini are engaged in a campaign to brain wash the people all over again with lies. With a nation-wide news censorship in place for the sole purpose of party politics, the government has a free hand to lie their way through unabated, which they are exploiting, to the limit and beyond. This is being done with the idea of getting the people to swallow the "Package" - the recipe for disaster. This censorship has been enacted to keep the entire country in the dark, leaving CBK Company's to do as they please. THIS IS A GROSS VIOLATION OF OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES. For heaven's sake this is the 21st century and this sort of thing should not be taking place. We should not allow our voices and opinions to be suppressed, NO MORE DECIEVING. The taxpayers, the very people who bank-roll the defence of the county should be informed of the events that is taking place.

Madam CBK was elected by the people of this country in good faith last year to defeat terrorism and this was what she had in contrast with the other joker Ranil. But, once again the people of this country are going to be deceived in a big way. Madam CBK & Co are attempting to break up the country through the implementation of the "Package" - of course they may not wish for this to happen, but we all know where their thinking process is taking place (hint - they sit on this).

Another joke I like to draw your attention to is our war chief, Gen. Ratwatte's stating early this year that the LTTE is not a banned organisation in Sri Lanka, which caused an uproar. To begin with, how on earth can we go around the world and ask other countries to ban the LTTE, when the very country LTTE carries out its blatant acts of terrorism has not banned it? Anyway don't panic, madam CBK was very quick to correct him the very next day through the state media. Perhaps Gen. Ratwatte forgot that LTTE was banned soon after terrorists attacked the Kandy Temple. Then again one cannot blame him for wanting to forget the whole saga as the LTTE had obtained the pass to enter the sacred premises through one of the companies owned by the great General's son. This anomaly coupled with a murder case indicating his son's direct involvement were quite conveniently swept under the carpet. The moral of the tale above is that, we simply cannot expect politicians who abuse their positions and place themselves above the law to honestly deal with the problems we are faced with today. These parasites will only make money from our misery. In times of trouble, they can always to emigrate to Western countries where they have stashed their illicit earning, leaving the people of this country to sink deeper in cesspool of problems created by these politicos. The position our great war general holds is one of utmost importance to the survival of Sri Lanka as a unitary state and most importantly, the survival of the Sinhala race. We now have to raise questions whether Gen Ratwatte is the man for the job? And is he capable of doing an honest job? So, far he has failed miserably to prove either of the points. When Elephant Pass fell the general was throwing a party for his relatives in Nuwara Eliya whilst our poor boys, ill equipped and demoralised, were running for their lives in the North. Recently, CBK had the cheek to tell the country to refrain from throwing any sort of parties and celebrations whilst our security personnel were battling it out in the North. I think that she really should be telling this TO HER CABINET & RELATIVES (especially to her uncle).

What we need to see the country through its present crisis is not a "Package to please Tamil extremists and a way to buy time for corrupt, opportunistic and unaccountable politicians". What we need is an accountable governmental system that is prepared to safeguard its people and the sovereignty and the integrity of the country. This "Package" on offer does not address how it is going to solve the LTTE terrorist problem and the Tamil separatism - PLEASE TAKE NOTICE OF THIS. Instead, it will certainly escalate the Terrorist issue in to a much bigger problem. Changing the Constitution of this country to accommodate terrorist demands and to suit fancies of politicians is not going to bring about an end to the untold misery the whole country is going through today. Madam CBK & Co should concentrate on the root cause of the state the country is in today, which emanates from acts of unaccountable politicians.

SO, DON'T BE FOOLED

Warm regards to you all and the very best wishes to Gen. Janaka Perera and his staff,
Chaminda Tilakumara
Human Rights for Victims of Terrorism