Deputy Ambassador to UN & the Street Urchin
Posted on August 1st, 2011
Prof. Hudson McLean
Reference to-;
DEAR DEFENCE SECRETARY, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR ?
Susantha Wijesinghe. – (LankaWeb – 31/07/11)
The story on Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Major General Shavendra Silva, on the PAVEMENT, has a couple of points require correction.
First question: Is Shavendra Silva still recognized as a Major General in the Armed Forces or is he now retired?
Second question: As the Deputy Ambassador to United Nations, has he been briefed on the Diplomatic Protocol, Etiquette, holding such an important designation?
If Deputy Ambassador is no longer in the Army and still wishes to display his Rank, he then should add (Retd) after his Rank, to be correct.
He should know that as an Ambassadorial responsibility, one does not degrade the country he represents by engaging in a conversation with a journalist or a “Street Urchin” on a Pavement.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is beneath his dignity!
When a “garbage cleaner” swears at you, the Golden Rule is to ignore!
Next on the matter of Litigation: Sri Lanka, as quite correctly stated, has quite an illustrious Gaggle of Legal Eagles, educated in the UK, called to Bar in the UK, both actively practising in the UK, as well as domiciled in Sri Lanka.
Without too much pondering on too much on “When & How”, the Defence Secretary should act now to select a Legal Team to bring the Channel 4 to book.
It is too early days to “Start Counting the Chickens” on how many millions of British Pounds are the lawyers going to hatch, but nevertherless, Aiming Too High is good, as Shakespeare said in Julius Ceaser,
“When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuff”. – (Quote Act III, Sc. II).
Sri Lanka now should Stand Up and say, “We are no longer a subservient Colony!”
Express Your Opinion – Read What Others Say!
The Independent Interactive Voice of Sri Lanka on the Internet.
Please visit -: http://www.lankaweb.com/
August 1st, 2011 at 4:29 pm
– When a “garbage cleaner” swears at you, the Golden Rule is to ignore!
Well said, Sir! It is about time Sri Lanka took these gutter journalists to the courts.
August 1st, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Thanks Professor, you raised some moot points.
To my belief, he is not a retiree, and carries his designation as Major General. I stand to be corrected.
Second question, Sorry, Iam unable to answer that. Possibly the Foreign Minister could.
Thirdly, that too, I believe should come from the Foreign Minister, and concurred by the Defense Secretary. Just my point of view.
Fourthly, as Mr. Asoka Weerasinghe stated, he was virtually ambushed on the street of Manhatten, by Channel 4 Journalist, Johnathan Miller, acting like a Street Urchin, and Major General displayed typical Sri Lanka Courtesy, in brushing him off. His dignity therefore is not in question.
The assumed Garbage Cleaner did not swear. He physically confronted the Major General. That is how I saw it.
About litigation and procrastination, I appreciate you being with me on the same wave length. Thanks for your insight.
August 1st, 2011 at 4:57 pm
He is still in the army. He is not retired.
A word of caution. In the UK laws about journalism when it relates to matters of human rights, whistle blowing, war elsewhere, minority rights are not very stringent on the wrongdoer. We have to have a water tight case. If we lose or backdown that will be another victory for Channel 4 News. I want to see this “Fernando”. I bet he is a Tamil Tiger or a phantom. Both are same nowadays.
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:11 am
The whole words saw the biggest “garbage cleaner & family acting” at UK Parliamentary inquiry. So Channel 4 Journalist, Johnathan Miller is nothing more than a Street Urchin.
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:06 am
If this UK group is serious they must realise they need considerable financial resources to make a “water tight case”.
They, or some other organzation with integrity must put out a call for help/donations. There are people willing to help.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 pm
SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP BIG TIME.
August 2nd, 2011 at 1:14 pm
If this UK Group is serious enough to take legal action against C4, they should first read Leading Counsels opinion taken out in late 2009/ early 2010 for the Govt of Sri Lanka instructed by the UK High Commission.
Any chance of success would depend on Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Shavendra Silva, Palitha Kohana, Sarath Fonseka to name a few being under oath on the witness stand and giving a credible performance. C4 defense will no doubt call them as witnesses
It was possibly was felt at that time not feasible or unwarranted, hence the complaint to UK Ofcom where Channel 4 got a “slap on the wrist”.
Naturally, C4 (sensing the weakness) obtained the sanction of Ofcom before airing “Killing Fields” provided it was broadcast after the “watershed”.
I hope it is not the same UK Group that organised the UK Demo against C4. They got the location wrong.
C4 News Team and the “Killing Fields” producer is located at Grays Inn Road and not Horseferry Road.