Isn't it time to wake up?

by Padmini NISSANGA

About six months ago as we finally saw the end of 30 years of Tiger terrorism whch almost destroyed Sri Lanka economically, socially and took the lives of thousands of innocents in civil life and in the military.

On the 30th July 1983 the LTTE ambushed an Army patrol in Jaffna killing 13 soldiers, and setting off an anti-Tamil reaction in which some 600 people died.

Since that day some Sri Lankan people, including myself started our campaign against the Tamil terrorist. At that time the president was J. R. Jayawardena, who did not know his right hand from his left.

He was only looking after one part of Sri Lanka and this was obvious when we questioned him in London. Indeed, he was laughing at us, but we did not stop our campaign, against the Tigers.

No doubt Sri Lankan people remember the 14th May 1985 when LTTE gunned down 146 Sinhalese civilians and Buddhist monks in the holy Buddhist town of Anuradhapura (Sri Maha Bodhiya).

After this incident I went to the United Nations in New York in June 1987 to a meeting of the Human Rights Commission. Even in those days neither to US nor the UK took very much notice of the killing of innocent people in Sri Lanka.

And neither did other European countries.

From that time there were 26 years of killings of innocent people, and there was the tendency of politicians to look after themselves, with much corruption.

It must be said that the corruption really started with the UNP, who really supported it, with political dictatorship carried out by S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, who had an accord with Chelwanayagam to get into power.

Then there were Sirimavo, Chandrika, (Father, mother to daughter), Premadasa, and Ranil who betrayed the country.

Now we have Fonseka, apparently walling again to divide the country, presumably just to come to power. It is amazing that S. Fonseka promises to eliminate corruption by joining the most corrupted politicians and traitors in the country.

Sri Lankan people must think that Mahinda Rajapaksa, whatever he is, has destroyed one of the most powerful terrorist groups in the world. Even the CIA and M16 acknowledge that. Not only in Sri Lanka but also so-called very powerful countries such as America, Britain and other Europe didn't help much and Mahinda Rajapaksa had to fight them on the diplomatic front but received scant support. Even today they have changed very little. Very proud to say Sri Lanka has stood up to the bullying by the European nations.

The British Foreign Secretary David Milliband went to Sri Lanka and tried to interfere in the affairs of a sovereign country, at a time when he could not handle his own British affairs!

But one thing is certain. Terrorism must be eliminated whether it happens in New York, London or Colombo.

What is happening in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Israel today? Do they follow Human Rights? How many innocent people are dying? Corruption is all over the world, even in the richest countries. Corruption, which will be non - issue if Sri Lanka gets divided by the terrorist with the help of the international forces.

There is no point in having a corruption free country if there are two separates states.

We must be patriotic. In the Sri Lankan Constitution the Head of State - the President gives orders to the Forces. Even the Defence Minister takes orders from the President and so does the Army Commander who should be an honest employee.

As citizens of a great country, shed the differences and live with honour and dignity. Never lose your faith. This President has the wisdom and will to act in the best interests of all the people with different religions and languages.

In simple recognition of what he has achieved he should be given the chance to continue. This is not for a rash change. I put this forward as my personal view.

(The writer is Chief International Public Relations Officer to the United Nations - for International Buddhist Relief Organisation, UK.)