Funeral of an Editor

Reflections of a scribe:

These words resonated in my ears as I heard the news of the tragic death of Lasantha Wickrematunga, Editor of the Sunday Leader. Certainly, his death did diminish not only me but many of our tribe.

It was a sombre moment for reflection, a time to reflect on life and death, the impermanence of the soul or whatever that comes to one’s mind.

It is no wonder that in the politically charged journalistic milieu emotions ran high and there was a super-abundance of media hype.

The funeral was well attended as befitting the departed soul. The majority were mourners who had a tear to share. However, it was conspicuous that there were elements, in fact an organized gang that wanted to hijack the funeral and turn it into a political circus.

They displayed such hooliganism and vulgarity marring the sombre and solemn occasion.

Thrown aside were hallowed customs of the people and traditions of the nation. They derived a sadistic pleasure in parading the dead body for cheap political gain. The Leader of the Opposition cut a sorry figure with his wild accusations in a bid to stage a comeback to power. It was typical of him as he is a man in a hurry always. It is this indecent haste that has become his Achilles’ heel.

What was uppermost in their thought were not the fate or honour of the fallen scribe but the mechanisms of taking advantage of his death for political gain. The way the same tune was orchestrated by the Opposition and NGOs and INGOS point at a conspiracy to undermine the popularity of the Government and destabilize the country.

That is why they thought it fit to discredit the Government and the Armed Forces who are at the zenith of popularity following the string of military victories won in the battle against LTTE terror.

The indecent haste with which these forces tried to use the unfortunate death of the Editor was seen in the manner they stormed the Kalubowila Teaching hospital preventing the quick transfer of the wounded Editor for medical attention.

The Leader of the Opposition and his followers were seen storming into the Operating Theatre with shoes on in violation of all ethical norms and medical regulations with no heed to the danger it would pose to the victim.

The funeral was also used by some unscrupulous elements who have burnt their fingers recently by misappropriating funds and betraying the trust placed on them by media organizations to stage an “honourable” comeback and once again parade the streets as champions of media freedom. It’s time we scribes prayed “Oh God! Save us from our saviours”

It is also necessary to expose the international links of these conspiratorial groups. Several Western Embassies went out of their way, ignoring diplomatic protocol to issue statements concerning the death which questioned the democratic set up in the country and cast aspersions on the government. Had it happened in any other country the diplomatic personalities involved would have been declared persona non-grata and expelled from the country for undue interference in its internal affairs.

Just imagine how the United States, Britain of Germany for that matter would have reacted if our Ambassador or any other diplomat censured their governments over internal issues. To make matters worse the German Ambassador thought it fit to address the gathering at the cemetery and comment on our internal affairs. It is high time that the government tell them to mind their own affairs and channel any reservations they have on local situations through proper diplomatic conduits.

No foreign diplomat, whatever the country he or she represents or whatever position he/she occupies should be allowed to transgress on the sovereignty of the country. Unfortunately they are emboldened by their fifth-columns that operate with impunity sans shame or dignity.