Murdered scribes & ‘promising’ politicos
Posted on June 2nd, 2015
The Island Editorial -03/06/2015
President Maithripala Sirisena has recently pledged to bring the killers of journalists to justice. This is something long overdue and we hope he will carry out his promise. His predecessors, too, wept buckets for journalists who were either killed or injured in attacks, but they, true to form, reneged on their promises to have those crimes probed for obvious reasons.
A crucial election is drawing near and politicos of all hues are falling over themselves to woo the media, which they obviously despise and detest at other times. It is being claimed in some quarters that the change of government in January has helped restore media freedom. But, we believe what we are enjoying at present is only an interval in hell, as we have argued previously. Respite will be over before long and we will undergo torments of inferno after the next parliamentary election. On the other hand, coercing media persons through various means into practising self-censorship is as bad as physical violence directed against them.
Neither the UNP nor the SLFP cares to probe crimes against the media. Unlike Jefferson, they would rather have governments without newspapers which refuse to toe their line. There are only two politicians who don’t pose a threat to journalists; one is dead and the other unborn.
Politicians take up the cudgels for journalists not because they are great lovers of the media; they only infantilise scribes in a bid to project themselves as knights in shining armour on a mission to save the media and gain some political mileage in the process. Their media freedom campaigns are like animal rights movements led by meat eaters!
If President Sirisena really wants to catch the killers of journalists and the perpetrators of arson attacks on media organisations, he is now in a position to do so. A special presidential commission of inquiry has been appointed to probe corruption. Why no such all-out effort has ever been made to investigate attacks on the media is the question.
Media institutions came under attack and several journalists were killed during the Rajapaksa government. A similar situation prevailed under the Kumaratunga administration as well. Journalists perished while the UNP was in power in the past. All those savage attacks on the media must be probed thoroughly and the culprits brought to justice without further delay.
The UNP, currently in power, told Parliament in 2008 that it knew who was carrying out attacks on journalists. The then Chief Opposition Whip and UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera made a special statement in the House on July 08, 2008. BBC reported his speech thus: ‘…Opposition MP Joseph Michael Perera told parliament that the attacks were carried out by a ‘special team’ controlled by Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka … Mr. Perera said the government should arrest the offenders and ‘immediately bring them to justice’. ‘ … We are told by those in the army itself that journalists are abducted and subjected to grievous injury by none other than a special unit under the army commander,” Mr. Perera, a former parliamentary speaker, said.’
The UNP-led administration which is extolling the virtues of good governance ought to probe this serous allegation if it has told the national legislature the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth or apologise to the former war-winning army commander, Parliament and the public for having uttered a diabolical lie. Let no lame excuses be trotted out. President Sirisena, who was a prominent minister of the Rajapaksa government at that time, is duty bound to ensure that a high level inquiry is conducted into the UNP’s allegation.
It is time politicians stopped making promises to probe attacks on the media and took some action. Let them be urged to fish or cut bait!
June 2nd, 2015 at 3:43 pm
Champika’s involvement is missing from the editorial;
එක්නැලිගොඩට මරු කැඳවූ චම්පික ගැන ලියූ ලිපිය…
මෙහි දැක්වෙන්නේ 2009 දෙසැම්බර් 08 දින ලංකාඊනිවුස් වෙබ් අඩවිය මගින් පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතා පිලිබද පලකල ලිපියකි. මේ ලිපිය අද දෙවියකු මෙන් සලකන පාඨලී මහතාට අදාල වේද? නැතිනම් එදා කීවේ බොරුද? අද කියන්නේ බොරුද? නැතිනම් ඇත්ත බොරු කෙසේ වෙතත් ලාබය සදහා කට්ටිය කඩේ යනවාද? රට බෙදන්නට සැරසෙනවාද? ලංකා ඊනිවුස්ට අද පාඨලී චම්පික රණවක මහතා මහත්මයකු වී ඇත. මේ වෙනස ඇයි?
ඔබත් ලිපිය කියවා තීරණය කරන්න.
මෙම ලිපියෙහි කිසිම ස්ථානයක කිසිම වෙනසක් සිදුකර නොමැති බව කරුණාවෙන් සලකන්න. එය ඒ ආකාරයෙන්ම ඇත. ලිපිය මෙතැන් සිට.
https://maruwaxx.wordpress.com/2015/01/04/%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%94%E0%B6%AB%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B1-%E0%B6%B4%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AB%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%AD%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%9C%E0%B7%9A-%E0%B6%A0%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B4/
June 2nd, 2015 at 4:28 pm
How about the journo killed by so and so who called SANATH GUNATHILAKA commission Sana?
CBK is the next PM the way thigns are going. Maru Sira should NOT be allowed to defend crimes during her rule.
June 2nd, 2015 at 6:53 pm
NMY,
Are you suggesting Champika wanted to kill this fellow and he arranged “White Van”. Obviously he had to go through Gota. So Gota also involved. Is this what you are repeatedly saying ?
June 2nd, 2015 at 6:57 pm
NMY,
Why don’t you make a formal complain if you have evidence. It is a huge service for the mankind. I will donate $5000 for this work for your expenses.
June 3rd, 2015 at 2:49 am
Independent
Why are you so agitated about lankaenews report published on 08 December 2009 and trying to offer $5000 for the information. I am just quoting on that publication. So Contact Lankaenews and offer that money for evidence. I am sure they will accept it
June 3rd, 2015 at 7:08 am
Normally it is Police who offers cash rewards for information about missing people.
For the first time, I came to know even police personnel put comments in LankaWeb!
June 3rd, 2015 at 3:55 pm
From Lanka News Web
Exposé – Real Reason For Customs Chief Resignation…
Details Created on Wednesday, 03 June 2015 12:25 Category: General
The Laska investigation team unearthed reasons behind the sudden resignation of Director General of Customs, Jagath P Wijeweera..
Evidence has surfaced that he had personally intervened and allowed garments to be imported duty free to a factory owned by wimal weerawansa’s wife Shashi Weerawansa named “Randunu Fabrics Private Limited (PV 67321)” located in Biyagama, the factory had no BOI status and is subject to duty.
Allowing owners of House fashion Mr. Preethi and Neela Jayawardena import garments at extremely low and some time zero duty rates, probably owing to the fact that Neela and Gotabaya’s wife maintain a close friendship.
Personally intervening and letting Rohan Weliwita (whose license was used by namal rajapaksa to run CSN) to import Tv and broadcasting equipment duty free which were subsequently purchased by ITN and Rupavahini on the behest of Namal Rajapaksa.
The importation of sports cars and luxury cars in containers which were directly unloaded at the gates of the Rajapaksa henchmen the investigation carried out by both the CID and the FCID are nearly complete with evidence pointing Jagath Wijeweera which will lead to his imminent arrest, his resignation will now undoubtedly be followed by his flight from sri lanka.
June 3rd, 2015 at 4:38 pm
NMY,
Since you are a true believer of LTTE Lankaenews , let me post one form today’s Kaelaeae Pattare.
‘Knowing how Mahinda killed with his own hands , if he is made P.M. he will use a bullet on me and become president’ -Maithri
(Lanka-e-News -03.June.2015, 11.45PM) ‘If Mahinda Rajapakse the deposed president who is now in a most humiliated and enraged state is made the prime minister , in order to become the president next , no constitutional amendment nor any laws will be necessary for him , he will need only a bullet to shoot and kill me,’ said the incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena while emphasizing that he is fully aware of that.
The president requested the leaders of the UPFA party not to exert pressure on him to appoint cruel individuals as P.M. in a country where it is common knowledge what cannot be achieved via the constitution and legal processes are achieved by the bullet. The president made this unsavory announcement with deep regret.
If Mahinda Rajapakse becomes the P.M. ,by the time I go overseas and return , he would have murdered the people of Sri Lanka (SL) and when I return he would murder me too. I am not that foolish. I will not allow room for that. I am right now keeping my fist tight. If I release what will happen to the Rajapakses can be seen. So , please do not work in a manner to force me to release my grip,’ the president exhorted.
The president issued these warnings when he had a discussion with the UPFA leaders recently. While all the other leaders were keeping silent , DEW Gunasekera said in support of Maithripala , ‘if the president has dissolved the parliament within a week of his appointment as president on January 8 th , all of you could have known what would have happened to you.’
The president then boldly and in no uncertain terms went on to announce , there is a sufficiently intelligent group within the SLFP to take independent and intelligent decisions pertaining to its internal affairs without kowtowing to pressures applied by outside parties , and the intervention of Vasudeva, Dinesh , Wimal Weerawansa , Udaya Gammanpila are unnecessary and unwarranted , while adding that it is best if these outsiders clearly understood this. Vasudeva who has lately become most disdainfully aggressive and disgracefully foul mouthed – a common eccentric weakness among some aging individuals particularly discarded political renegades, shockingly remained crestfallen and dumbfounded.
At the next general elections, the nominations under the SLFP or UPFA will be according to the wishes of the party leaders . It is not possible to dupe the people through artificial media circuses as in the past in order to boost the image deceitfully. It is something he knows well and truly based on his experience , and it is important the leaders of the UPFA also clearly and deeply understand this. He feels sorry for the slaves who during the Rajapakse reign through that slavery and sordid subservience sought to achieve their self seeking opportunistic agendas unconscionably compromising national interests, the president explained at length .
After this discussion concluded , the UNP deputy minister Ranjan Ramanayake arrived to meet the president personally. When the discussion centered on what the president related to the party leaders, Ranjan inquired , ‘how is that you spoke with such certainty that Mahinda Rajapakse will murder you?’ The president’s answer was :during the by -election at Mulkirigala , Mahinda carrying a gun himself shot and killed .At that moment two individuals were dead , and I was some distance away. Hence I know how he murdered , and that is why I am saying this.’
Ranjan in a state of shock asked , how did he then escape ? The witnesses were threatened that they will also be killed . It is John Amaratunge of your party who saved him then. By giving contradictory evidence that the victim was killed by shooting from a top of a tree , the case was discharged, the president told Ranjan.
Mahinda after winning the case at that time even contemplated joining the UNP. Even today John and Mahinda are good friends,’ president said disclosing an old secret.
When Ranjan inquired whether or not to reveal this story to the media , the president has replied , ‘this story was related by me to you to be conveyed to the media’.
Ranjan when relating this episode to Lanka e news said, the president pointed out , he cannot forget that the members of the SLFP who voted for Mahinda Rajapakse on 8 th January voted to bury him and his family six feet underground. Hence, the president advised Ranjan to unrelentingly announce all the time that he is a UNP president .
LTTE
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by (2015-06-03 22:23:30)
June 3rd, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Dham, Nanda, Independent,
VERY SAD to see you promote anti-Singhala agenda of LTTEs and ISs.
“Allowing owners of House fashion Mr. Preethi and Neela Jayawardena import garments at extremely low and some time zero duty rates, probably owing to the fact that Neela and Gotabaya’s wife maintain a close friendship.”
House of Fashion has been the ONLY SINGHALA owned garments retailer doing well. LTTE and IS terrorists were finding it a BIG problem to their MONOPOLY. Now their LTTEIS govt. is after it!!
This is the REAL reason. Don’t spread their LTTEIS lies. CURSE the LTTE-IS govt.
June 3rd, 2015 at 6:41 pm
Dham, Nanda, Independent,
“If Mahinda Rajapakse the deposed president who is now in a most humiliated and enraged state is made the prime minister , in order to become the president next , no constitutional amendment nor any laws will be necessary for him , he will need only a bullet to shoot and kill me,’ said the incumbent president Maithripala Sirisena while emphasizing that he is fully aware of that.”
WHAT UTTER BS!
Why are you pasting these lies here?
IF that is true, why the hell Maru Sira is keeping Babu RUN-NIL as PM??
1. In 1993 RUN-NIL was just a minister (with his husband KONAWALA SUNIL AMARASINGHE, justice of the peace, the ministry secretary). RUN-NIL’s CFA buddies BOMBED president Premathasa. BANG! RUN-NIL became the prime minister!!
2. In 1994 when RUN-NIL was PM, his CFA buddies placed a van bomb targeting DB WIJETUNGA. The things was detected and DB survived. Otherwise RUN-NIL would be president!!
3. In 1994 GAMINI DISANAYAKA disposed RUN-NIL as UNP leader and became the UNP + opposition leader. RUN-NIL’s CFA buddies killed him making RUN-NIL the UNP + opposition leader!!
4. In 1999 RUN-NIL’s CFA buddies bombed CBK just 2 days to the presidential election. HAD she died, RUN-NIL would have become the president!!
5. In 2003 when CBK was the president and RUN-NIL the PM, his CFA buddies tried to assassinate her. She survived. Otherwise RUN-NIL would be the president!!
6. in 1989 RUN-NIL maintained the BATALANDA killing house where 500+ civilians were killed!!
Maru Sira has more to fear his beloved PM RUN-NIL than MR!! His excuse NOT to appoint MR as PM is LAME.
I get this sneaking feeling that RUN-NIL and his CFA buddies are getting ready for another 1993. That is why he is now trying to release HARDCORE LTTE terrorists from prison.
June 4th, 2015 at 5:40 am
Lorenzo, good response to Awamangala’s hired Pacha Balakaya. And your analysis makes sense. But who is Dham?
Is that the politico’s son who attacked DIG Vaidhyalankara’s son in front of his girl-friend at a beach resort in the East?
June 4th, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Indrajith,
The same person who commented here under 3 different names.
June 4th, 2015 at 3:57 pm
Lorenzo,
No need to take out your LTTE gun. No need to argue pretending to be dumb. You may be the editor of this Lankaenews by the way. That is how you operate.
I pasted this in response to NMY’s copying of UNP/LTTE enews to show how this mud slinging medias operate.
June 4th, 2015 at 6:49 pm
Lorenzo, I am still confused! But it is ok. Thank you!
June 4th, 2015 at 8:16 pm
Indrajith,
My good friend first came here as Dham. Then he abused Hon Ben Silva and was moderated. Then he came as Nanda. He then abused MR and was moderated. Then he came as Independent.
Somewhat like Ranawaka. First Ranawaka came from BOW & ARROW, then SHELL, then BEATLE LEAF, then SWAN. I’m not surprised if he comes from the SUN symbol of the HOUSE symbol of TNA/TULF. Even the TREE of SLMC!!
June 5th, 2015 at 5:17 am
Okay! Lorenzo Now I understand. Thank you.
June 5th, 2015 at 5:19 am
I am not surprised, even if Aalapaalu Ranawaka comes from tiger head symbol in the next election.