Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia

One night during the 1987-89 Insurrection, some members of the JVP visited my brother, an army officer, who had come home for a short break afterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ servingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the terror stricken areas. He was blindfolded, tied his hands behind his back amidst screams from his wife and children and taken away. They were given strict instructions not to leave the house. Early next morning they received a note with the following burial conditions:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 1. The funeral to be held by mid-noon the same day.
2. The coffin was not to be carried shoulder high
3. No decorations within the premises or along the route of the procession
4. Only the closest relatives of the family were to attend the funeral and not to entertain any visitors
5. Funeral rights such as wearing white clothes, lighting of traditional lamps, wailing at home or at the grave site were prohibited
6. Speeches, recital of verses reading of appreciation notices etc., were banned.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So the armed services and police personnelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  will not forget JVP brutality during their reign of terror.

Chandrakanthan, Chief Minister, Eastern Provincial Council and Karuna are Ministers under UPFA National List. Their initial response was that they were to back Sarath Fonseka. But contrary to opposition expectation they have now shown their allegiance to the incumbent President Rajapakse. At a recent meeting Chandrakantha had said that a person who had served the army all his life and retired to do politics cannot be trusted.
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This had angered the JVP. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP., and spokesman for Sarath Fonseka had said, “…Chandrakantha was responsible for a spate of high profile attacks, suicide bombing of Dalada Maligawa, massacre of policemen…”
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In this connection, we wish to remind them that the people have not forgotten how JVP brutally killed unarmed service personnel, put pressure on them to resign, harassed their families and so on during the 1987-89 Insurrection.
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During the 1988 elections, people were asked not to vote and threatended to line up the first five and shoot them. They did not evenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ spare the dead. They were ridiculed and humiliated. Here is my experience.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
One night during the 1987-89 Insurrection, some members of the JVP visited my brother, an army officer, who had come home for a short break afterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ servingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the terror stricken areas. He was blindfolded, tied his hands behind his back amidst screams from his wife and children and taken away. They were given strict instructions not to leave the house. Early next morning they received a note with the following burial conditions:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
1. The funeral to be held by mid-noon the same day.
2. The coffin was not to be carried shoulder high
3. No decorations within the premises or along the route of the procession
4. Only the closest relatives of the family were to attend the funeral and not to entertain any visitors
5. Funeral rights such as wearing white clothes, lighting of traditional lamps, wailing at home or at the grave site were prohibited
6. Speeches, recital of verses reading of appreciation notices etc., were banned.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
So the armed services and police personnelƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  will not forget JVP brutality during their reign of terror. Now that it’s glamour has faded, as a last straw, the lame-duck JVP are trying to cling on to anyone to be on the saddle.
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In a lighter vein, I wish to say that this week an English Daily displayed two photos ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fonseka and Somawansa Amerasinghe, leader of the JVP, on the first page at two different meetings. Both photos showed Fonseka leaning towards Somawansa, who was showing a pointed fingure,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and listening seriously. Obviously, Somawansa must be reminding the General, “… You are lucky we did not bump you off during the 1987 insurrection. So by any chance if you become President don’t sideline us…”ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  !!!