By Alia
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High security jinks
It happened in the high security zone that encompasses the Summit Flats and other VIPs residences, all heavily guarded by Police and those from the security forces. It is not only politicians but top brass of the security forces who live there. One lady VIP politico was having "thank you" parties for the third night in succession. It co-incided with Thursday's oaths taking.Late into the night, a supporter who had taken one too many thought it fit to give a speech. The language was unparlia-mentary. The man was badly assaulted. He came out screaming at the top of his voice. Others on guard duty in the vicinity raised hell thinking the worst had happened. Cries were raised. It took a while to realise what had gone wrong.
Protecting prisoners
Alia's comments last week about the Op Hq of the Ministry of Defence running into trouble over seeking wide publicity on the confessions of two female LTTE surrendees has had its sequel. Confirming the report, Harsha Gunawardena, the energetic Information Officer of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has this to say on last week's report:"The ICRC Colombo Delegation has noted that the pictures and story of a LTTE prisoner recently captured by the Sri Lankan Security Forces (SLSF), had been prominently depicted in the national and international media, following visits of journalists. Subsequently, the ICRC in Colombo has drawn the attention of the Ministry of Defence and SLSF, with a view to ensuring the respect and dignity of prisoners, reminding the SLSF that according to basic principles of international humanitarian law (Vide Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols I and II) "Prisoners must at all times be protected against acts of public curiosity. Taking the above situation into consideration, the ICRC urged the Sri Lankan Security Forces to pay due attention to this humanitarian issue and take all necessary measures to avoid its recurrence in the future. It must also be stressed that such ICRC interventions are made to the SLSF and the LTTE, whenever deemed necessary."
A delayed plot
A state intelligence arm has stumbled on a reported LTTE plot to assassinate Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader, M.H.M. Ashraff, when he took part in polls rallies for the now concluded Parliamentary elections. The plot, however, could not be executed. The SLMC leader died when an Mi-17 helicopter he was travelling from Colombo to Batticaloa crashed in the hills of Urakanda near Mawa-nella.Birthday honours
A soldier turned author and now a politician, retired Major General Sarath Munasinghe, is indeed lucky. With only a 33 day old political career and campaigning, he won a seat in the Kurunegala district. If that was a quick rise, he was elected Deputy Speaker this week and took the chair within minutes.What many did not know is the fact that he was sworn in and became Deputy Speaker on October 18, his 52nd birthday.
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