Letters to the editor
View(s):Piecing together the bloody jigsaw puzzle of Rathupaswala
It took the general public more than a week to put together the pieces in the Rathupaswala jigsaw puzzle as information trickled in slowly. But yet, the picture is not complete.
The day of shame at Rathupaswala
There are still, several missing pieces. What has now been publicly established through media reports has not yet been established in court, but the bizarre events recorded indicate that the attacks on the demonstrators were premediated and carefully planned. The use of face masks to cover the identity of the offenders, wooden poles, the grouping of journalists and dumping them into a vehicle to be driven away, the assault and smashing of cameras of those who remained in isolated locations, disconnection of electricity supplies to the “operation area”, bear testimony to this planned execution of the assault.
The gunshot injuries received by the victims on head, chest, hands and feet indicate that indiscriminate shooting had taken place, even in excess of the established old principle of “shooting below the knee”. The recipients of gunshot injuries were mere passers-by and not active demonstrators which again indicate that the shooting was not aimed at quelling any riot but done to quickly disperse the entire gathering.
The most dangerous trend observed was the ordering of the hitherto disciplined and legally constituted Army units to transform themselves within minutes into marauding goon squads. This portends a total disregard by the state of the sacred principles of democratic governance written into the laws of the country.
At this critical juncture in the political history of our country, all organised sections of the people and also the un-organised sections must shed their differences and unite to defend the sacred laws of our civic society which protect the fundamental freedoms of the people and the individual’s right to life.
Upul Ranjith Fernando, Panadura
Crass insensitivity of those in power
On switching onto the English News on TV the other night, I was appalled by the crass insensitivity of our erudite Minister of External Affairs, whose response to a query by a journalist, regarding the Weliweriya (Rathupaswala) incident was, “These incidents happen, that is life!”
There was no apology, no mention that the precipitate action of the army was quite unwarranted. The three youth who died as a sequel to gunshot injuries were not protestors. They were returning home, one, after work and the other two after school.
It is only in our ‘(M)-alaise In Wonderland’ island that the following sequence of events does not occur:
1. An apology by the government.
2.The resignation of a minister.
3. An immediate independent enquiry with interdiction of those responsible.
The statement of the obvious made by the President was also ludicrous — “Understand the problem before resorting to any action.”
I am shocked that the President of the people who is always seen exuding ‘bonhomie’ and ‘bonding’ with the people (witness the head-patting performances at public gatherings), did not strike a more sympathetic note.
The slaughter of cattle appears to arouse government ire to a greater extent than the murder of innocents. I know that this letter is an exercise in futility. However, as a concerned member of the general public, retired public servant and professional (alas! not of an age where active involvement in protests is possible) this is the least I can do!
Dr. Premini Amerasinghe, Kandy
Former teachers of Royal College must be spinning in their graves
As a regular reader of the Sunday Times delivered at my doorstep, I was appalled to come across journalist Aanya Wipulasena’s news report under the heading ‘Minister: Protesting teacher must leave Royal’ (August 11, 2013). I am certain that the desplorable act would have caught the interest of the public especially the senior citizens of my vintage. I, therefore, decided to pen my two cents’ worth in the public domain on their behalf as well.
I have my own personal experience with this prestigious and hallowed institution as my only son Gaya had his entire education therein. Resultantly I enjoyed the proud privilege of associating with the members of the tutorial staff who earned paeans of praise for the impressive methods they adopted to teach their charges. They were also never motivated by money. In no uncertain manner they amply demonstrated their ability to reach out to the young ones. My fond memories of this holy institution will never desert me. In my last lap of life I recall how the noble teachers were committed to their task.
With this pleasant background, I feel that the ludicrous action of this particular female teacher is abhorrent and it cannot and should not be condoned. All public servants are liable for transfer at some stage or other. Moreover this particular individual has been given a change of station within the Colombo district itself. The Minister concerned need not even hold an inquiry as she has openly climbed the rooftop of Royal College. So what more? It is skewed logic to protest a routine transfer.
No one questions the business activities of some of the so-called teachers who hold tuition classes after school hours. Thus they openly sell their knowledge. No one with a twinge of conscience can resort to these deplorable ways. Certainly good old teachers of Royal College would spin in their graves if only they knew what some of their present-day counter parts are up to.
With rancour and malice towards none.
Nanda Nanayakkara, Matara
Life-jackets must be made compulsory
The recent tragedy that befell over 50 fishermen who were caught in a storm was indeed terrible. It should be made compulsory to wear life-jackets when going out to sea and these should be provided to them.
N. Saheed, Colombo
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