Ajit Randeniya

As far as double-barrel names go, the name of Mandana Ismail-Abeywickrema (MIA), one of the self-described ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”investigativeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ reporters at The Sunday Leader is a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”corkerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, as an Australian would say.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This MIA has probably been more fortunate with her naming than her other inheritance, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the mantle of that erstwhile ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”investigative reporterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and current editor of the rag, Frederica Jansz; now that is a real ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”dogƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Before we get to MIAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s work at the Sunday leader, it needs to be put on record that the first name Mandana is a name made famous in the UK in the 1990s by a British actress named Mandana ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Jones ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”. Research shows that the name Mandana in fact has Persian origins, coming from queen Mandana of Media, the mother of the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great: the name apparently means ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”wise motherƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”female seerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢! ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To digress for a moment, Mandana ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Jones played the role of prisoner Nikki Wade on the British television series ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Bad GirlsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢: a lesbian who finds herself in jail after killing a police officer for assaulting her lover, and falls in love with prison governor (played by Simone Lahbib of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Monarch of the GlenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ fame). ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ According to audience research, the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”collectiveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ performances of these two characters have transported many a viewer, dare I say predominantly the middle-aged demographic, to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”blissƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now, before the morally upright types start rushing to conclusions about a middle-aged Sri Lankan manƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s interest in such debauchery portrayed in a teen-oriented TV show such as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Bad GirlsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, the writer wishes to stress that his keen interest in the lengthy, complex story line involving these two characters was purely bookish, with his devoted viewing of the show leading to the valid criticism that the scenes involving ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”key momentsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ were wanting in the area of anatomical detail: such detail could have greatly enriched the plot!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Getting back to the real subject, MIA, unfortunately, does not seem to represent the above mentioned etymological roots of her name. Her attempt to make the point that the LLRC ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-that was appointed to show the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and prevent the recurrence of another violent warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ (emphasis added) ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ may be unable to deliver the goods as expected proves the point.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MIAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s approach to investigative journalism, as revealed by this latest piece on Mr Gotabhaya ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s evidence at the LLRC, and her previous ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”workƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ reveals that she has inherited JanszƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”kitbagƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of biases, prejudices and ignorance that is her hallmark.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MIAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s beef in this particular instance is that the members of the LLRC failed to pose any questions on the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”variousƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ allegations leveled against the government and the security forces by some Vavunia residents, the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”international communityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and the UN. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ She is also unhappy that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Given its mandate to report on reconciliation, no questions were posed on the role played by KP or his role in the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s reconciliation planƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In a clearly fraudulent ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”attributionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of the source of her story, MIA tells us that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- the public and the mediaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ that witnessed the session were of the view that the Commission failed to ask more pointed questions from Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Pity her! This is the standard technique, in fact the modus operandi, of the BBC, CNN, AFP, AP and other wire services who represent the so-called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”international communityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢: they often ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”reportƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ what purports to be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”newsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ from the developing world to their home audiences and wider, based on statements such as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”most people do not trust the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”most Tamils feel unsafeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ etc.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Needless to say, this particular construction makes it obvious that what is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”reportedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is in fact a subjective ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”viewƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”opinionƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. MIAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s adoption of this method, knowingly or unknowingly, puts her particular gripe in to the same category.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In order to support her apparent belief that the LRRC is merely a charade staged by the government as a diversion from the Ban Ki Moon ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”panelƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and that the Commission ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”may not be able to deliver the aspired resultsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, she even quotes the Cabinet memorandum presented by President Rajapaksa. But it is simply irrelevant because she simply has no foundation to base this non-complaint!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ She not only blames the LRRC for not confronting Gotabhya with certain ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”allegationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by some residents of Vaunia, but also blames them for ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”praisingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ the military for progress and for reporting the detaineesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ appreciation. On what basis is she alleging that the LRRC members are being selective? What about the Tamil members?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Then she questions Gotabhaya RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s evidence that civilian casualties in the war were being ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”confusedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ with the LTTE causalities: this is a commonly known fact due to the standard terrorist tactic of disguising as civilians and mingling with them, including in refugee camps; the moment the law enforcement officials ask questions, arrest, or kill, they are invariably reported as attacks against ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”civiliansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The BBC and Rupert Murdoch owned global media then publicise such cases as civilian casualties and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”atrocitiesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢: this is another technique used by them. Those who remember the casualty figures reported by Gordon Weiss (the spy who infiltrated the UN) and Catherine Philp of the Times in May 2009 would readily identify this method.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MIA is also taking umbrage against GotabhayaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s account of the measures taken to assist the rehabilitation of the LTTE militants who surrendered. But she does not seem to have any basis for this unhappiness!

Then the alleged acquisition of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”privateƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ lands in the North and G. RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s denial of such a move and the assertion that the land being used to build Security Centres is government land: Rajapaksa has clearly stated that any private land would be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”purchasedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ from its owners and alternative lands would be provided to them; but this does not seem good enough for MIA! She is suffering from a condition known as stupidly bad faith!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This type of inane attacks on the government shows that The Sunday Leader is a cancer on the body politic of Sri Lanka: it attempts to attack, criticise, and cast aspersions at the least, on any and everything the government does.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The incurable ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”bile bagsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ at the Sunday Leader suddenly find Rule of Law they have been clamouring for is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”badƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ when the foreign agent Sarath Fonseka is brought to book! They spread the baseless lie that sacking of Mervin Silva is an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”eyewashƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, and he will soon be reinstated!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The low life at the Leader is motivated by foreign money and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”bad faithƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢.