Falsehood Reveals the Truth

by Sabesan, Australia

The abduction of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) staff within the Sri Lanka government-controlled region is condemned as an act against the attempts at peace, by both island and foreign sources. Above all, the hearts of our people are filled with the expectation and anxiety that these volunteers should be released immediately without being subjected to any dangers. Worldwide appeals are being made that measures aimed at the immediate release of these staff, who render great service to the war torn and tsunami battered people, should be intensified.

But it doesn't seem to us as if the government of Sri Lanka and its administration are acting in an appropriate manner. Their approach and announcements worsen the situation and strengthen our already existing suspicions.

The all-too-hasty views expressed by the Foreign Minister, the Defence Secretary and the Advisor to the Defence Ministry have destroyed the expectation of fair investigations and our hope that justice will prevail.

We observe that, not only the truth, but disguised and hidden anti-peace ideologies, also, have been exposed through these tragic events.

We feel that it is absolutely essential to analyse certain matters and events in this context.

The numerous humanitarian services rendered in Sri Lanka by the volunteer institution, the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation, are well known. Though the word 'Tamils' is in the name of the organisation, it is an exemplary humanitarian organisation serving Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims, surmounting racial differences. The TRO continues to extend its services in Sri Lanka beyond the barriers of race and religion. The help and assistance afforded by it during the two decade war and the natural catastrophe of the tsunami are praiseworthy. The humanitarian service rendered to prevent people starving to death during wartime is limitless. This is the same organization which, during the past four years known as the 'period for peace' when Tamils were refused the benefits of the 'peace period,' embarked on great rehabilitation schemes enabling the lives of the people to move toward relative normalcy. During and after the tsunami disaster the services of this organisation reached people of all races and religion. This organisation has now grown to great heights due to the unselfish service of its staff and the humanitarian contribution of the expatriate Tamils, and serves to rekindle the lives of the people.

But some 'noble souls' are engaged in the enterprise of decimating this life-giving source. Our readers know that Sri Lanka's new defence minister, Mangala Samaraweera, has assumed the chief role in this play.

On his recent visit to America, Samaraweera staged many attempts against the welfare of the Tamils. But he had to return empty-handed. One of his plots was to have the TRO proscribed in America! In America, the TRO, while commanding great respect, enjoys tax relief for its fund raising. Considering the exemplary conduct of the TRO, the American government has authorised it to be considered a charitable organisation.

We must examine the conflicting nature of Mangala Samaraweera's attempts to smear the TRO. Former President Chandrika, who had been Samaraweera's earlier boss, had awarded a trophy in honour  of the excellent services of the TRO last year. The award is not an ordinary one! It was for the extraordinary feat of completing twice the number of  projects the TRO envisaged  within a short period of time.

But the Foreign Minister of the new President Rajapakse is bent on banning the TRO. Have the policies of Sri Lankan changed during these six months?

The above obserbation diminishes in character compared to the following: Samaraweera issued a stament immediately after the abduction of the TRO personnel in the government-controlled region and tells the press that the incident is merely a 'drama' !

This is the question that rises within us:

The Sri Lanka government has stated that the police would conduct a proper investigation into the abduction of the TRO staffs and that justice will be established.

If this is true, why should Mangala Samaraweera air his views before the results of the proper investigations are known? His government announces that proper investigations will be held. But Mangala Samaraweera, its defence minister, says that the 'abduction incident is a drama!'

We have but a single question: Why should Sri Lanka stage this drama?

The statement issued by the new advisor for the defence ministry, Kotagathenya, also, seems to justify our question. He says, 'the government is not responsible for the abduction of the TRO personnel.'

Here, does not the question as to why the government should pledge proper investigations arise? How could justice be meted out when the judgement is served before the investigation is concluded?

The only justice resulting in this context is the exposure of these lies. The truth exposed by these lies is the reality that there will be no justice and fairness!

If the Sri Lanka government or its auxiliary forces are not responsible for this abduction, the government should immediately complete proper investigation. It is improper for senior members of the government to deliver judgement before the investigations begin.

If this government is capable of labelling events before our very eyes as 'lies' and 'drama,' we can guess what tricks this government will resort to, in the context of peace process!

We wish to draw attention to an important matter: It is natural for the parties confronting each other to have conflicting views during war times. But conflicting views on already agreed matters would only point to dishonesty. We wish to state now that the conflicting views expressed in the context of the abduction incident will pave the way for the disruption of the peace talks. Because, in our opinion, the reaction to this incident exposes the dishonesty of the new Sinhala regime already.

We continue to observe with great concern the activities against the lofty values of democracy by the new regime of President Rajapakse. The extension of the State of Emergency is a clear example. We must understand the reality of this. The government has extended the state of emergency in a 'period for peace.' It is not the Sinhalese who have to suffer the atrocities of the laws of the emergency. It is the Tamils who are continually oppressed by the emergency laws. Therefore, this state of emergency is nothing but violence committed even during the peace period!

These activities should not be engaged in during the time peace period. These create distrust of the new regime of Mahintha Rajapakse in us.

Last week we witnessed the postponement of Parliament on what appeared to be a false bomb alert. The funniest part of this is that, even after the bomb alert was called off, the Parliament sessions were postponed! If this government could postpone the activities of the Parliament just for a false alarm, we are concerned about how this regime is going to rule the country in the future.

We cannot prevent a disastrous thought arising at this moment. What would have been the attitude of the Sinhala state had the abducted persons been Sinhalese? We pause a second to contemplate this.

One thing should be made clear. The question is: Is the government of the new President Mahintha Rajapakse within his control or not? If the state mechanism is still under his authority, the president of the country should take the necessary steps.

If he has no authority and control of the government mechanism, will it be of any use to conduct negotiations with him? This is the ground reality.

But one thing is crystal clear here: The Sinhala governments are honest neither during war times nor during peace times!

The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam may come forward to afford an opportunity to the new President Mahintha Rajapakse even in the face of these violations of human rights, lies, sabotage and dishonesty. Circumstances may result to advancing the talks to the stage of negotiating through the proper implementation of the ceasefire Memorandum of Understanding. The immediate release of the TRO personnel is indeed an act of respecting the MoU!

Another opportunity, nonetheless, for Mahintha Rajapakse's regime to dismantle its duplicity may be offered by the Liberation Tigers, because they hold the traditions and values of democracy in high esteem.

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