Malin Abeyatunge

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ An innocent unarmed black man named Mark Duggan shot by the Metropolitan Police has sparked off violent riots starting from Tottenham and spreading to other London suburbs . According to latest news, it has now been spread to Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol , Nottingham, Manchester and to some other countryside big cities. This is a repetition of Broadwater Farm incident in 1985. This is what Wikipedia says about the Broadwater Farm Riots Quote

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-On 5 October 1985 a young black man, Floyd Jarrett, was arrested by police, having been stopped in a vehicle with an allegedly suspicious tax disc. Four police officers searched his home. In a disturbance between police and family members, his 49-year-old mother, Cynthia Jarrett, fell over and died almost instantly.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

Cynthia Jarrett’s death sparked outrage from members of the black community against the Metropolitan Police. There was a belief in the black community that the police were racist. A black woman, Cherry Groce, had been shot by police a week earlier in Brixton. Four years earlier the Scarman Report into an earlier riot in Brixton criticised police Un quote

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Is killing this black man the main cause or something different has brewing in these suburbs. To me, this appears to be an external manifestation of internal frustration of one part of the community who are unemployed, living in poverty, desperate and helpless. However, Metropolitan Police and the Government so far have ruled out this as an act of terrorism but isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t it something against the ruling establishment like whatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s happening in Libya. Unfortunately, the reverse is happening and the NATO including UK is arming the rebels against establishment and bombing the Libyan Governments forces. Hypothetically, what happens if some invisible countries arm these looters to topple the established UK Government? When a protester at a demonstration against the Government got killed (not deliberately aimed at this man) in Colombo recently, the whole of western world was criticising Sri Lanka blaming Human Rights violation. IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t this a similar situation here in London and the west is condemning the looters and condoning the Metropolitan Police having killed an unarmed man.

The London riots reflect the double standards of the Metropolitan Police that provoked the black community to take to streets. A case in point is how the Metropolitan Police has been turning a blind eye to the terrorist activities of LTTE in London. I reiterate the fact that when LTTE terrorist outfit was in full form and strength, their activists in London celebrated Mahaveer Day many years in memory of the LTTE terrorists and suicide bombers who died for Eelam and propagating terrorism in Sri Lanka from London. They have been distributing Tiger Terrorists propaganda in front of the eyes of the Metropolitan Police and no action was taken. I am sure the Sinhala Diaspora in UK has many incidents to prove the double standard of the Police and the Governments in the past. Not only the present and the successive governments and the Metropolitan Police have been appeasing and working hand in glove with the LTTE terrorists but continue to do so with the patronage of UK politicians. So there goes the double standard.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is reported that the 2012 Olympic Venue is only 8 kms from the main rioting took place and UK needs to take all precautions to avoid a catastrophe of this kind.. If such a riot has happened in countries like Sri Lanka, the western governments including UK and the media would not hesitate to brand it as ethnic riots or racist riots and will immediately impose a travel ban on Sri Lanka. But what are they going to call this unruly mob of destructors and looters?. Has the British Society fallen to such a low ebb? I think this is a manifestation of internal frustration of the unemployed youth, poverty and many other economic and social factors. ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s appalling that Metropolitan Police was unable to contain the riots created by few individuals and Metropolitan Police should take the full blame on the London riots. I read somewhere that a young man arrested was saying that they have had peaceful demonstration against the double standard of the police, the print and electronic media came but nothing happened. Now the print and electronic media are on the spot and getting their message across. Who is to be blamed?

I do not condone the widespread looting, arson attacks, burglary, robbery ,killing three men who were trying to safeguard others properties from the looters. but itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s time the Metropolitan Police learnt to treat every citizen equally be they are whites, blacks, brown or Yellows to avoid any future occurrences of this nature. Whether you kill one unarmed person or hundreds, itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s yet a human rights violation.

I am waiting to hear the comments from David Miliband who talk big of democracy, Human Rights etc.

I have another request for the infamous Channel 4. This riot is ideal for media sensationalism. Channel 4 does not need to use actors to cover planted hidden faces paying money as in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Killing Fields of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as they should be able to speak to the rioters, looters up front of the 1200 already arrested by the Metropolitan Police. Ideal for Channel 4 for another film clip to make money.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Lastly, if the British population yearning for tranquility to getaway from the London mayhem, ideal time to visit peace and tranquil Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Malin Abeyatunge

11/8/2011