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Govt. rinses its mouths of Weliweriya, Opposition dutifully swallows it
By the time Parliament took up the Opposition initiated adjournment motion debate on the Rathupaswela incident last Wednesday, the dust had more or less settled on the issue, and the resulting debate did not generate sufficient enthusiasm either from the Opposition or the Government side to justify the gravity of the incidents that took place in Weliweriya on that fateful day in early August, that resulted in the loss of three lives.
Instead, the Government, as it usually does, avoided giving clear answers to queries raised by the Opposition, saying investigations into the whole incident are inconclusive and hence, more time would be needed to come to a definitive conclusion on the matter.
To the question “Who gave orders to open fire on the group of protesting civilians?” Government speakers said that an army inquiry as well as a magisterial inquiry is under way to establish that fact. To the question, ”Was the glove-making factory in Rathupaswela to blame for water pollution in the area?” Government members replied that scientific tests take time and it is only once these tests are over, an answer can be provided to this query.
Environment and Renewable Energy Minister told Parliament during the debate, it is only after the tests on the source of the water contamination are established, a decision will be made whether the controversial glove factory can continue to operate from this area or not.
He said that the Government genuinely sympathises with the families who lost their loved ones and would compensate them adequately, but he did not forget to remind the UNP that just few miles away from Weliweriya, where the incident took place, the UNP government was responsible for killing many people at Batalanda several years ago.
“You have forgotten that history, but I have seen these things with my own eyes and remember them,” he said. The adjournment motion was moved by Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga who said that, while unarmed citizens were demonstrating peacefully, the armed forces and the police overreacted, and this led to the death of civilians. “It appears that journalists are being either directly or indirectly assaulted and their cameras and recording equipment deliberately damaged. This manifestly exposes the current situation in the country of downright violation of human rights and intimidating media,” he said.
The subject of the militarisation of society was raised by several opposition MPs. TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that anywhere in the world where the military has got involved in civilian affairs, it has ended in disaster. “It is time for the Government to pause and think of the militarisation that is taking place in the country. If you truly love this country, you will take measures or reverse this trend,” he said.
DNA Gampaha District MP Vijitha Herath too spoke on the involvement of the military in the incident and asked why they were seeking to question civilians on the issue.” The army can have its own internal inquiry, but it has no right to question civilians,” he said.
He also referred to the recent court ruling in the Rookantha –Chandralekha case where 10 members of the Presidential Security Division (PSD) of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga were jailed for harassing the couple, and said that, similarly, while the big fish who gave orders to shoot will walk free, one day it will be those in the lower rungs who will be punished for carrying out such orders.
Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena spoke in defense of the factory in Rathupaswela, saying that it provided direct employment for over 600 people. “It also provides medical gloves to our heath sector. Otherwise we would need to import these items,” he said.
The Minister added that the Government would not hesitate to move the factory out of the area, if it was found to be responsible for the water contamination, but accused the Opposition of making use of this issue to gain some political points. “You can’t use Rathupaswela to come out of the political doldrums you are in,” he told the Opposition.
Private Bus Transport Minister Lasanath Alagiyawanna, who is also a MP from the Gampaha District, wound up the debate. He also voiced what many other Government members said, while speaking of efforts taken to settle the matter before it turned violent, and promised action after the necessary investigations are over.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa who is the UPFA Gampaha District electoral organiser, who reportedly was involved in talks with the villagers to settle the issue, however, chose not to speak on the debate, even though he was present in the Chamber.
A string of Government members, mainly those representing the Gampaha District, spoke during the debate, but what was not forthcoming were any clear cut answers to what really happened at Rathupaswela, and who was reasonable for the deaths of three persons.
And going by the recent experiences in Sri Lanka on how inquiry reports never see the light of day, Rathupaswela is likely to be drowned out by other issues of concern to the public. Also going by the Government’s response to public protests, people will have to get used to the iron fist and not the velvet glove treatment from the Government in the future.
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