Eliminating gun culture

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

She wept and repeated the confidence her husband had in the party and its leadership to take care of his family, in the event he died. Now he has tragically left the world leaving a grieving family. Lives of politicians, when they have rivals, are not so rosy. They always live in fear and uncertainty that their lives might be taken away at any moment.This was no exception for former Parliamentarian and Presidential Director General of Trade Union Affairs, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, who died in broad daylight in a shoot out last Saturday just before voting closed in Colombo."He repeatedly got death threats.

We were aware of the impending dangers to his life but when we pleaded of him to quit politics, he refused to do so. He said we don't have to worry as President Rajapaksa would look after us when he is gone. I know people who are with us grieving over his death will not be there tomorrow and we will be left alone", she broke down while speaking about her plight to President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the phone.

Take care of Bharatha's family

On the day Bharatha bid adieu, the President assured her, he would do his best to secure a better future for his family. "I always took care of him and I will continue to look after you all. Bharatha is one politician who put his heart and soul to the party. Don't have any doubts", President Rajapaksa reassured Sumana Premachandra, wife of the late Parliamentarian, who was killed in a confrontation with MP Duminda Silva, who is also suffering severe injuries and is recovering slowly.

While watching the 1st South Asian Beach Games held in Hambantota on the day of the recent Local Government polls on October 8, President Rajapaksa was elated with the poll results as it proved the people’s confidence in his government. But by noon he was upset with the bad news that Bharatha, one of his close political allies, was shot dead. President Rajapaksa, at first, was reluctant to believe the news, and rechecked it with the defence authorities.

This news prevented him from enjoying a beach game tournament and he rushed to Colombo. He was upset by the disturbing news, and had summoned the defence authorities to Temple Trees to find out details and then rushed to Bharatha’s residence, where his sisters who had returned from Sweden complained about the lack of security for Bharatha.“First, I offered him to contest from Colombo but he refused saying that he was unsuccessful twice and it was better to offer the chance to Duminda or Thilanga Sumathipala.

I have given the best security to him and he was given two security personnel from the President’s Security Division. This privilege was not given to former MPs. He was the only person who had his public relations office at the Presidential Secretariat. Bharatha knew how he was given full security”, he explained to his advisors and grieving kith and kin.

The incident, where bullets were sprayed by two gangs of the ruling UPFA, just nearing the closure of the polls, making the Mulleriyawa a mini-battle zone, killed four people including 55-year-old Bharatha who died of multiple gunshot injuries and severely injuring nearly a dozen, has prompted the government to be tough on providing security to VIPs.

The unfortunate incident marred the government's pleasure to celebrate yet another polls victory, where the UPFA swept Saturday's local polls by winning 22 out of 23 local councils.Issuing a condolence statement President Rajapaksa said “I was deeply saddened on hearing his death and it is an irreplaceable loss to the trade union movement, Presidential Secretariat and the country as a whole. Whilst being political allies we also had a close friendship.

Close to the people

He was always very close to the people and was a much loved leader. He was proud of the affection he had with the people. His desire to serve the people remained undiminished throughout. It would be in my memory the support he rendered within Parliamentand outside, in my journey from being an MP to becoming the President of the country."

"The memories of the close association between us in working for the benefit of the people would linger forever." His statement read out at Bharatha’s funeral. However, the government’s latest move against the underworld was reiterated by President Rajapaksa at his monthly breakfast meeting with media heads in the middle of this week. Assuring to neutralise the underworld, he said the government embarked on a ‘mission’ to recover all illegal weapons belonging to ‘criminals’.

He revealed about taking legal action against the two suspects who shot Bharatha and fled to India and were arrested and brought back to the country for questioning. "The Police will question as to how they fled the country”.

President Rajapaksa, responding to a question by a journalist about the situation that had occurred due to VIP security possessing illegal weapons by various means, stressed: " No VIP security personnel can wear civil clothes while on duty and no civil person can carry weapons for VIP security. They need to be clearly identified. Raids will be carried out to arrest those who possess illegal weapons. Politicians used various groups for security in the then political culture that propagated the idea that security should be provided by the person concerned. Due to threats from the LTTE and terror by the JVP, politicians depended on personal bodyguards for protection and support. This gave an opportunity to underworld thugs to creep into the VIP security system. Even though there is no terror now, the same political culture still prevails. Now it is time to change this culture", he said.

Eliminate

President Rajapaksa said the preferential voting system that led to a 'vote grab' among intra-party politicians had led to such unfortunate incidents and the government would eliminate such illegal activities systematically. "It must be remembered that politicians are not those who hail from the same social background as these illegal, criminal outfits. Accordingly, observers should not be surprised when in an election ‘Choppe Aiya’s son confronts Pala Aiya’s son’ - both ‘Choppe’ and ‘Pala’ being notorious local underworld figures go on an attacking spree.

The outcome is violence and lawlessness. It should also be considered that some security personnel assigned to politicians have been with them for as long as 14 to 15 years.

This also adds to the problem of lawlessness because these security personnel tend to be uncontrollable, the President pointed out."While the country is facing these problems, there are sections in the media who are fattening themselves on LTTE funds, and giving publicity to ‘warrants’ allegedly issued by foreign courts to important functionaries of the Lankan state. However, the crying need is for all sections in Sri Lanka to cooperate in ending the issues facing Sri Lanka.

The government is speeding ahead with development, and with economic advancement the current problems would ease. Politics must be based on values and it is useless to exercise violence", he said adding that some websites operating from abroad are carrying out character assassination. Bharatha's daughter too has been victimised by such websites.

At a pre-Budget discussion held with Government Agents at Temple Trees President Rajapaksa said action should be taken to enable State institutions to render service to the public with efficiency, and in doing so, a proper connectivity should be established between these institutions. GAs pointed out various shortcomings in development in their districts as well as the development endeavours scheduled to be implemented.

The discussion also focused attention on environmental issues that arise in development and the President gave instructions to GAs and the Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority to minimise environmental damage, and to take necessary legal action against those defying environmental protection.

He also stressed that the Child Protection Authority and the Department of Probation and Childcare should work in unison to crackdown on child abuse, another main social issue at present.It was a historical event for President Rajapaksa to welcome the first Head of State from Vietnam who visited Sri Lanka on October 13.

He arrived in Sri Lanka on a three-day official visit on an invitation extended by President Rajapaksa.

The Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and his wife were warmly welcomed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, the visiting President was accorded a guard of honour by the Sri Lanka Navy, followed by a 21-gun salute.

First state visit

This is the first state visit by a Vietnamese President to Sri Lanka since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1970.At bilateral talks with President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday President Sang said Vietnam would always stand by Sri Lanka in the international arena. " Vietnam will always extend its assistance to Sri Lanka in the UN Assemblies, South-South Cooperations, Colombo Plan or any other international event. we will give our fullest cooperation to Sri Lanka to ensure regional security and elimination of terrorism", he said appreciating President Rajapaksa for the first telephone call he had made to the then Vietnamese President to inform him of the elimination of terrorism in Sri Lanka in 2009.

He also said Vietnam valued the political relationship that exists between the two countries and assured to provide Sri Lanka with assistance in defence, defence training, fisheries, petroleum sector, disaster management, and search and rescue missions. Vietnamese multi-national corporations will be encouraged to invest in Sri Lanka", he said.

Thanking for having the first ever State visit by a Vietnamese leader to Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa said the close relations between the two countries which have "matured and strengthened on shared values and historical ties while expressing his gratitude to the Government of Vietnam for the support and co-operation extended to crackdown on illegal activities carried out by the LTTE in the East Asia Region.

Concern

"Although we have militarily defeated the LTTE, the sophisticated propaganda machinery supported by some INGOs, operating to tarnish the image of Sri Lanka is of great concern to us.

I look forward to your consistent support in the regional and multilateral fora to counter such negative effects. Sri Lanka desires to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries in fighting against the common menace of terrorism.

In this context, the conclusion of the Defence Co-operation Agreement between our two countries during this visit would enable to initiate measures for practical cooperation", President Rajapaksa said.

He also said Sri Lanka seeks to engage with Vietnam to create a win-win situation for both countries, capitalising on mutual advantages and invited the Vietnamese business community to participate in the Expo 2012 Trade Exhibition in March next year. President Rajapaksa, congratulating the Vietnamese President on the success of the 11th Congress of the Communist Party, President Rajapaksa invited the Vietnam Communist Party to establish links with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and also invited Vietnamese Communist youths to link up with the Sri Lankan youth to further enhance the mutual understanding between the two nations.President Rajapaksa hosted a State banquet to President Sang on Friday.

Undivided

"You visit us at an important period. After eliminating terrorism, today our nation stands undivided under one flag, committed to sustainable recovery from three decades of conflict, accompanied by the further strengthening of national amity,the President said at his speech at the banquet."The people of Sri Lanka were firmly behind and supportive of the national liberation struggle of the people of Vietnam. Sri Lanka has always drawn inspiration from Vietnam in your efforts in defending national independence and achieving national re-unification. The common heritage of Buddhism, the shared experiences of colonialism, the struggle for independence and the more recent advances in bilateral co-operation in a variety of areas have drawn our people together," he said adding that President Sang visited at an important period."After eliminating terrorism, today our nation stands undivided under one flag, committed to sustainable recovery from three decades of conflict, accompanied by the further strengthening of national amity. My visit in 2009 to Vietnam ushered in an era of renewed engagement between our two countries. My stay in your beautiful city of Hanoi, which celebrated its one thousandth (1000th) year of existence in 2010, is very much etched in my memory. That visit opened new vistas in further harnessing the enormous potential available for consolidating the bilateral partnership.Much has happened since then. Our engagements have been productive. On the security and defence front we have agreed to work with each other for eradicating the common menace of terrorism", President Rajapaksa said.

Vietnam President Sand said that he firmly believe that under the wise leadership of President Rajapaksa, the Government and people of Sri Lanka would score greater success in national reconstruction, building and development, turning Sri Lanka into a strong and prosperous nation in the region with an enhanced role and position in the world.

Favourite destination

"It gives me great pleasure to visit the beautiful country of Sri Lanka for the first time. The beautiful island nation of Sri Lanka with friendly people has always been a favourite destination of international tourists. It comes to my mind the words of admiration of Sri Lanka's beauty by a poet. I have lost my heart in the golden sand of Sri Lankan beach". Like Vietnam, Sri Lanka has a heroic and indomitable tradition of national building and protection".

"Treasuring, preserving and promoting these fond memories, we are happy to note the continued expansion of traditional tied between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

We hope that in addition to the deepening of good political relations, our two countries will expand cooperation areas in economic-trade, investment, external affairs and defence, security. And our cooperation should be lifted up to the level of good political relations, to both sides' potential and to the level of the two peoples' expectations.