Tiger-linked Kilinochchi paper
attacks Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka
The Permanent Mission of
Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office at Geneva
13th December 2007
An article in "Vellinatham", a Tamil language news-paper
published in Kilinochchi, Wanni, attacks Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Sri
Lanka's Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.
Vellinatham is the weekly edition of Eelanatham, published daily in
the Wanni. The close nexus between the newspaper and the LTTE is revealed
by the facts that the Tamilnet carries a photograph of a journalist
accepting an award from Velupillai Prabhakaran on the 14th anniversary
of the Eelanatham, and that one of its sub-editors Jeyaseelan who died
in a motor-cycle accident was decorated as a 'Nattup Patralar' or 'National
Patriot' by the LTTE.
The article on Ambassador Jayatilleka was subsequently featured on a
pro-Tiger website in Canada, Tamil naathan.com.
The article (in English translation) follows:
Who is this Dayan Jayatilleka?
There is a saying in English "Chip of the Old Block". In
Tamil also there is a similar saying:" A son is born with his father's
characteristics" - Proverbs are the identifications of a country's
or a community's cultural phenomenon. Proverbs are highly sensible and
meaningful but unfortunately, they do not always prove correct.
For example, one can mention the case of Mervyn de Silva-a Journalist-
and his son, Dayan Jayatilleka. There is no similarity even between
their names to say that they are father and son. Mervyn de Silva was
an internationally renowned English Journalist. He served as the Colombo
reporter of B.B.C. English services, CNN, Reuters and Japan News Services.
He did his higher studies at the University of Peradeniya and he studied
English as a special subject and excelled in it. His writing skill in
English was excellent and his style very much individual. He always
managed to say a lot using only a few words.
At one time, Mervyn de Silva served as a Senior Editor for Ceylon Daily
News newspaper. This newspaper was later taken over by the government.
He was forced to publish distorted news and news that only favored the
government. But he refused to do so. As a result, he was dismissed by
the government. This was done by Felix Dias Bandaranike who was a close
ally of Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
Following to a court decision, de Silva received a large amount of
money as compensation. He started his own magazine named "Lanka
Guardian" and he had been serving as its editor until his death.
His magazine was always impartial. For example, we can mention one article
appeared in the magazine in November 1998. This article related the
failed attempt of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces in Sri Lanka and was
written by Romesh Babu who was an Indian political analyst. And Lanka
Guardian published another article written by Oswald Firth, with the
topic, "The two major political parties must be responsible for
the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka". De Silva refused to show our
war (LTTE's war) for freedom as a terror war. In his writings, de Silva
always described our leader (Prabakaran) as a good leader and a good
commander. He always had a certain respect for him (Prabakaran). It
was a pleasure to read de Silva. In fact, Anton Balasingham used to
collect de Silva's articles.
Neville de Silva is a brother of Mervyn de Silva. He is also a journalist
and lives in London. He is opposed to Tamils. He keeps an eye on Tamil
people's activities in London and informs the British police about them.
Neville de Silva also writes to Sunday Times. One of his regular articles
to the paper comes under the title "Thoughts from London".
Dayan Jayatilleka's policies are also like those of Neville de Silva.
Once his (Dayan Jayatilleka's) life was saved by Tamils. But nowadays
he acts as an advisor for killing Tamils. In 1973, he formed Sinhala
Leftist Students' Social Study Circle. Those days, they had a perfect
and clear view on Tamils. They even spoke in favour of Tamils' right
to self-determination.
This Sinhala Leftist Students' Social Study Circle maintained a relationship
with the E.P.R.L.F. At the same time, P. Muthulingam, a writer of Veerakesari,
also maintained close links with Dayan Jayatilleka.
In 1982, Dayan Jayatilleka formed a new organization called "Vikalpa
Kandayama". This organization maintained links with young Tamil
leftists. Both Tamil and Sinhala youth worked together in this organization.
In 1986, "Vikalpa Kandayama" was declared as an anti-government
group and was banned. Suddenly, Dayan Jayatilleka disappeared. (Among
others), Vijaya Kumaratunga also helped him to escape. Police and the
Army searched for him to arrest. In 1987, a critical situation made
him escape to India with the help of some Tamil friends of his. He was
in hiding in Tamil Nadu.
After the IPKF arrived in Sri Lanka, JR's government announced amnesty.
Under this, Jayatilleka returned to Sri Lanka. He was appointed a Minister
of the North-Eastern Provincial Council under Varatharaja Perumal. Few
months later, he resigned from his ministerial post.
Meanwhile, Pathmanaba - Secretary General of EPRLF- refused to take
over the post of Chief Minister and suggested that post should be given
to Suresh Premachandran -Deputy President of EPLRF. But Dixit decided
to appoint Varatharaja Perumal as the Chief Minister. He appointed Joe
Seneviratna to the post left vacant by Jayatilleka.
Jayatilleka was a person with revolutionary principles. Now, he has
changed his mind and represents a repressive government. He has worked
as a Lecturer in Political Science in the Open (sic) University of Colombo.
Then, he went to Cuba. He analysed the Cuban constitution and wrote
a book on that.
An unknown American university has awarded him the doctoral degree for
this book. Under Chandrika's government, he was appointed to the post
of Advisor.
Now he is an advisor to Mahinda Rajapaksa, and is also the Permanent
Representative to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN office
in Geneva. Once he was saved by Tamils but now he's acting against Tamils
and their rights. Once he acted as a leader of "Vikalpa Kandayama"
of which the policies were against America. Now he is expecting Americans'
assistance to crush the Tamils' war for liberation.
Source: www.tamilnatham.com. (11.11.2007)
[This article has been written by Anparasu and was initially published
in the Tamil newspaper "Vellinatham" on 07th November 2007.]
10th December 2007
Web Link : http://www.tamilnaatham.com/articles/2007/dec/speical/anparasu20071210.htm
" Swiss Police interrogate Tamil duo caught filming Sri Lanka's
Geneva Mission ( 30th November 2007)
http://www.lankamission.org/other%20pages/News/2007/November/2007-11-30Police.htm
" Pro-Tiger website Nidarshanam.com has targeted Ambassador Dayan
Jayatilleka
http://lankapage.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/pro-tiger-website-nidarshanamcom-has-targeted-ambassador-dayan-jayatilleka
" Homage paid to journalist Jeyaseelan in Kilinochchi
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=18058
|
