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| Sunday, 8 May 2005 |
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Dance of hypocrisy on Taraki's grave Light Refractions by Lucien Rajakarunanayake I was at my regular watering hole last evening sipping the usual old stuff, when fellow journalist Puvath Liyanagedera joined me. Ordering his own blend of spirits he spoke some words of caution. "Don't you think we must be careful in choosing our drinking companions? he asked.
"That may be," he said. "But in future we must make sure they are friends who will not run away if we happen to be abducted as we leave our watering hole, or not even bother to report the incident to the nearest police post, even if it happens to be right in front of the watering hole." "Aha," I said, wisdom dawning on me despite the two drinks I had already taken. "You are laying down the new Taraki code for safe drinking for all journalists." "Whatever you may call it, we had all better be concerned about the people who invite us for a couple, that may be extended and also the NGO or trade union types they may bring along or later invite to join us." I ordered another round for the two of us, to show that I did share his concern about the drinking companions of journalists, not because of any harmful effects on the liver, but for the Taraki syndrome among one's drinking company. "What do you think of the TNA's latest demonstration in parliament?" he asked me. "With all the respect for the office of Speaker, I admit I do not envy the situation that Speaker Lokubandara was placed in by this latest example of TNA hypocrisy." "Why do you call it hypocrisy? They were protesting against the killing of a Tamil journalist, who supported the cause of the LTTE-TNA axis of terror, which no doubt is his right, even if we may not have agreed with him," said Puvath Liyanagedera. "I see it as the height of hypocrisy. What were these people such as Sampanthan, Raviraj, Ponnambalam Jr. Mavai Senathirajah, Joseph Pararajasingham and their ilk doing when other killings of Tamils were taking place with complete impunity? No doubt Taraki's killing calls for the most serious condemnation, but certainly not by these proxies of the LTTE." "Why do you say that?" asked Rupa Dharshanaratne, a TV journalist who joined our company. "I say their protest is both hollow and hypocritical. What were they doing when the LTTE carried out the first lamppost hanging of a so-called civilian traitor in Jaffna? Was that life not important? How many other such hangings were carried out and how many other opponents of the LTTE's thinking were eliminated, without these people making any protest, or asking for special inquiries?" "But this is a reputed Tamil journalist, so surely they should object," said Rupa. "Wasn't Neelan Tiruchelvam a reputed Tamil intellectual and academic?" Why were they silent when Rajini Thiranagama was killed? Was it because her husband was a Sinhalese? Why did they not object when the broadcaster, Anthony Mariadas, was killed in cold blood when he came to cover the New Year's Eve mass at a Catholic Church in Vavuniya? If they are interested in journalism and the freedom of the media, what were they doing with their mouths shut when the LTTE closed down the "Eelanadu" and other regional newspapers in the North? Did they make such a fuss when the BBC's stringer Nimalarajan was killed by those said to be other than the LTTE? Why could they not protest when the late Gamini Navaratne, who sought to give an independent view of the crisis of the Tamils, was forced by the LTTE to stop editing the Saturday Review from Jaffna? This was in addition to the problems he had to face from JRJ," I asked. "Well that is quite a charge sheet," said Puvath Liyanagedara. "No doubt journalists have a special place in society, and attacks on them should attract all opprobrium. But the more important issue is the respect for the life of all humans; and respect for their views. Not to protest when those other than journalists are killed for their political views or political activity certainly amounts not just to cowardice, but also to compromise with terror." "Yes, it is the caving in to terror when the same people do not condemn the killing of elected representatives of the Tamil people, whether they are Pradesheeya Sabha members, the Mayors of Jaffna, or other political activists, as we have seen happen with the EPDP members in recent months, especially after the ceasefire, rush to condemn the killing of a journalist. I don't think those who remained mute when all those killings took place, have any right to protest at Taraki's killing. In fact, their behaviour is both insult and injustice to the memory of Taraki, and his good journalism," I said. "What of the statement by Ranil Wickremesinghe that the government should accept responsibility for Taraki's killing" asked Rupa Dharshanaratne? "Very interesting indeed" said Puvath. "A government is responsible to maintain law and order, but can it be held responsible for every breach of the law? Nonsense; to go by Ranil's logic, does he admit that the government of which he was a Cabinet member in 1988/89, should accept responsibility for all the killings of journalists and other media personnel at the time?" "There's more than that. He was Prime Minister when the government, through the Attorney General, stopped the court case into the murder of Richard de Zoysa, at a crucial stage. As Prime Minister, he was also responsible for preventing a commission of inquiry being appointed to probe Richard de Zoysa's killing. He and the Government he was a member of must accept all this responsibility, before pointing fingers at today's government for Taraki's killing," I said. "In fact most of these people who today point one finger at the government for the killing of Taraki, should realise that there are four fingers pointing at themselves for not protesting or acquiescing in the killing of others," said Puvath. "I wonder how these whited-sepulchres, participated in the protest organised by the Free Media Movement over Taraki's killing? I asked. "It might be due to the whirligig of politics today," said Puvath Liyanagedera. "The true cause one represents is best seen from the company one keeps,"
said Rupa Dharshanaratne. |
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"Don't we usually drink with friends we trust?" asked him. 
