A despicable event
Posted on May 21st, 2015
Durand Appuhamy Negombo Courtesy: The Island (May 21, 2015)
On the 18th/19th of May 2009 what were our security forces observing on the shores of Nandikadal lagoon? No, they were not observing a “day of remembrance”, they were celebrating a Day of Victory over unmitigated tyranny of a maniac killer of Tamils and other Sri Lankans. Those valiant security forces endured all sorts of very dangerous obstacles including neck-deep floods infested with floating poisonous snakes and gut wrenching bombs to clear the land of all terrorists. They forded deep trenches, mounted artificial earth bunds full of devilish explosion devices in almost empty stomachs to decimate the Tamil terrorists and restore normality to the country. The present government denied our forces their legitimate right to celebrate this victory as they did on that fateful day in May 2009. The government emasculated their hard-won victory by calling it “a day of remembrance”. It was a grossly ungrateful act.
It was also a disgraceful act, because the government had capitulated to a cabal of pro LTTE persons who agitated for this down-grading of a momentous victory in the current world scene. Who could be those traitors in influential positions today? They were all appeasers of the LTTE in their previous avatar. They signed peace deals with the LTTE, they concocted Ptoms to share the power with the LTTE, they launched “tavalamas” to appease the LTTE, they obligingly saluted the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamils. All these people are a tiny minority of the population. But they are articulate and in influential positions and are now in charge of secret project to dismember the country as we know it today. No matter the strong words of the current President to safeguard the unitary character of the country, these saboteurs have already begun their treacherous work by ignoring (or perhaps encouraging?) the slanders of the country coming from the Northern Province and by talking of federalism from public forums. More than armed terrorism, these political parasites can easily eat into the very vital organs of our democratic institutions before we wake up to the danger posed by them. Hence this timely warning!
It was also a despicable act to designate the Victory Day as a mere remembrance day. In Europe they celebrate World War Victory Days with various Royal participations. A couple of weeks ago Russia celebrated on a grand scale the 70th year of Victory over the Nazis with the German Chancellor in attendance. The celebrants were all even treated to a dram of choice Vodka. So is it not despicable of our government that we and our security forces alone be deprived of calling it a Victory Day and celebrating it with the same gusto as our soldiers did on the 18th/19th of May 2009?
Yes a remembrance day can be had for all those who perished in the war on another day in another month. The 18th/19th of May are sacred days. It was then our brave men/women freed the country of terrorism. It deserves a unique undiluted celebration of its own. Why are we afraid of this truth and the fact?
Durand Appuhamy
Negombo
Courtesy: The Island (May 21, 2015)
May 21st, 2015 at 3:21 am
Victory Day is a milestone and not an event. The Yaha Palana idiots cannot understand the difference.
May 21st, 2015 at 3:36 am
The horapalanaya traitors now have to take orders from the LLTE rump through their god fathers in India, USA and UK and their servents MY3, Ranil and Chandrika Modi.
May 21st, 2015 at 5:06 am
Agree with Mr. Appuhamy that this Yahapalana attempt to ‘recalibrate’ the Victory that was considered impossible by all the world into a “Rwconciliation” is shameful and all it does is lend a farcical tone to the events that were designed towards this goal. The ingratitude shown in not inviting the Rajapakse duo who all in the country know were behind the Forces that made victory possible lends some tarnish to the government of the day who are loth to give any credit to the victory.
There are 2 different aspects…one a celebration of the victory, and second, the mourning and remembrance of the suffering brought on by war…both of which need to be commemorated.
So we should celebrate the Victory Day on May 19, and Remembrance Day on another date such as Nov 11 ………just as D-Day is celebrated on June 6, each year, and Remembrance on Nov 11 by the Allies, with whom Sri Lankans also participate in, anyway.
However, to expect the country NOT to celebrate the Victory since reconciliation efforts were considered inadequate in the post-war period, is being collectively more than niggardly about giving the persons involved their due recognition for the positives rendered, or is masochistic in wanting only to be conscious and observant of suffering by the defeated.
May 21st, 2015 at 5:53 am
It is obvious that our Three Blind Mice (My3/RW/CBK) are following orders given to them by India, West & the US. These three cannot even understand the ground situation. Irrespective of party colour or ethnicity 19th May 2009 brought so much relief, hope to the nation and made Sri Lankans’ proud of their country. It was no small achievement, it is only our security forces that wiped out terrorism from the country, as tiny and we are. Not even the US, no country in the world claim anything closer to this.
Shame on you troika.
May 21st, 2015 at 6:11 am
Druand thank you for that excellent write up. It brings back memories of the suffering of the valient soldiers.
UNP with Ranil as its leader is a curse for Sri Lanka. Maithripala Sirisena has done what he had done, but there is no necessity for him to remain oblighed to Ranil Wickramasinghe. It is time that he tells Ranil to step down from his Prime Ministerial Office. Maithripala Sirisena may be able to do better things without Ranil, by joining up with Mahinda Rajapakse.
Mahinda Rajapakse is a great patriot he will even be ready to play a second role to Maithripala Sirisena if that would give him the chance to serve the country and the people once again.
May 22nd, 2015 at 5:04 am
01th of May was the day SL got rid of the terrorist leader, just as US got rid of Bi laden. But in our case it became a circus not in line with the accepted military code like displaying the gruesome sight of the dead. Trained people like our forces should be made to account, if we are to truly value that victory.