Sarath, Gota and the brutality shown to surrendered LTTE leaders
By Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne
The Island’, reported on December 15: “Fonseka said, he had told a weekend newspaper that a journalist had told him that Gotabaya Rajapaksa had ordered Maj. Gen Shavindra Silva (then Brigadier) to kill the LTTE leaders who offered to surrender but, what he said had been misreported. Certain opposition politicians were trying to gain political mileage by making use of that erroneous report, he said. “I don’t believe that the journalist who wrote the story had any intention of slinging mud at me,” he said.
Thus he was trying to wriggle out of the problem he himself had created by exploding a political bombshell about war crimes. Fortunately, for the public, the government took his exposé seriously and claimed that he has betrayed the country by divulging military secrets. Wimal Weerawansa the leader of Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (JNP) told a news conference on the same day that this matter had already been discussed with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and it had been decided to seek the attorney general’s views with the objective of taking legal action against Gen. Fonseka.
Weerawansa said further, that the statement which the former Army Commander had said had breached the ethics of his profession. He explained that even a professional who works for a biscuit factory is not supposed to reveal its recipes if he joins a competitor’s company. “Gen. Fonseka had, therefore, seriously violated the ethics associated with the army,” he said.
It is clear that the government has indirectly confirmed that, what appeared in the ‘Sunday Leader’ is the truth and the general should be penalized for exposing this highly guarded truth. There were reports in various websites about the killing of the LTTE leadership around 17 of May 2009. The most wide spread story was that, with international agreement the LTTE leadership was requested to come forward to surrender which they accepted. They came in batches with white flags and all were taken into one room. Then instead of treating them as prisoners of war they were all clubbed to death. Even children, including young girls, were murdered.
Though there were confirmations of this event it did not have any credibility as no confirmation came from the side of the Sinhala army. Now, not only the general who led the war but also the very government has indirectly confirmed the development, though not the details.
Now both parties have got into a tangle from which neither can get out easily. The general has to explain why he kept his mouth shut all this time, and why he did not check the media story with Major general Shavindra Silva before going public. On the other hand, if the army was so professional and apolitical under his leadership how did Shavindra implement any order given by Gotabaya, without his knowledge. In the case of Lasantha’s murder General Sarath vouched, that the army men could not have been used for a political purpose as they were strictly professional.
But in this case he suspects that Shavindra has been used for a political end by Gotabaya. General Fonseka cannot have it both ways; either the army was professional and could not be used for political murders or it was possible for some higher up to have used the army to kill Lasantha and attack other media men.
Whatever maybe the outcome of the investigation promised by the parties involved, the war has not indeed created heroes but only suspects of war crimes. Modern Dutugemunus have behaved like barbarians. In the case of the ancient war in 3rd century BC, narrated in the Mahawansa, the old Elara had invited the young Gemunu for a duel in order to avoid the mass killing. For the old man it was a sacrifice and after his death Gemunu gave the utmost respect and even today the Sinhala people pay homage to the statue of Elara.
This Sinhala story stands in contrast to that of the ancient Greeks. In the latter, the Greek hero Achilles drags the dead body of vanquished Trojan leader Hector, which was tied to his chariot, disregarding the cries of Hectors family. But according to this new story Mahinda has surpassed the ancient myths by the brutality shown to the surrendered LTTE leaders.
Whatever may be the result of the proposed investigation on this matter the damage done to our country and the people is irreparable. The political bankruptcy of both parties is shown in debates and abuses that are going on. To gain respect and dignity for all, both these camps should be rejected.
10 Comments
A brilliant analysis. What a sharp and incisive mind! What brilliant intellect! Wish you could walk into Temple Trees on 27 Jan. Keep it up Prof, we are with you.
Why all this people are worried about the LTTE leaders those who were worked as barbarian and killed innocent thousand people who were lived with very hard ship not only Sinhala but also Tamil and Muslims.LTTE never respect or consider the human rights and any other regulations accepted by civilizes society and most of the Human rights organization now talking about the human rights of the LTTE leaders never or take any action against the LTTE
In the name of the Marxism you helped LTTE who are ruthless killers who killed my nephew who was an agricultural officer just because he was singhalese.How can u shed tears for LTTE killers who never gave any chances to their victims?They killed many in busses,trains,at air ports or in cities or in government buildings.You always defended these ruthless killers and it is disgusting.I know you will loose your deposit but it is not enough.I wishe all those supporters of LTTE would die with a LTTE sucide bomber or remain limbless and still show your mettha and karuna for them.All of you are eating thanks NGO's and everybody knows that.DISGUSTING!!!
If such a thing did not happen, or if the govt wanted us to believe that such a thing did not happen, the obvious response would have been to deny Fonseka's allegation. Instead the govt has called it a betrayal and a violation of the official secrets act which is a tacit admission that what Fonseka says is true.
I have no sympathy for Prabakaran and Pottu or Wijeweera and Gamanayaka. They were born killers and killed without compunction even those who had done no harm. If no one showed them any mercy it does not disturb me. However Nadesan and Puleedevan were not killers. I doubt if they had ever killed in cold blood or ever ordered anyone to be killed in cold blood. So feel they should have been treated differently.
In combat the decision to execute captives is sometimes a rational one rather than an emotional one when you dont want high value captives in your custody. According to the Guardian even the terrorists who took over the Iranian Embassy were executed in cold blood by the SAS commandos. They had orders to do so. The reason was because the British government did not know what to do with them if they are taken alive. Sometimes it is the only way to avert a Beslan like incident in the future. What happens if some LTTE men surround a school and threated to kill all the kids if the top brass is not released from custody? So better to play safe and kill them first. I guess that must have been the rationale.
A former US democrat presidential candidate and Vietnam Veteran Bob Kerry was on a Navy Seals operation deep within Viet Cong territory. They were discovered by a family of peasants, a grandfather, a grandmother and four small kids between 4 and 10. Rather than abort the operation the platoon took them captive and then butchered them one by one with their knives. It was all over the New York times and there were testimonies of several men in Kerry's team but Kerry was never charged with war crimes.
Comrade Bahu might also remember what happened to the Russian Tzar and his entire extended family after the revolution.
It only goes to show that the best of us capable of mindless brutatilty whenever it suits us.
Wickramabahu, The LTTE barbarians who killed thousands of innocent people cold bloodedly including toddlers,pregnant women during last 30 years.They killed their own people too.They kIlled about 300 surrendered police men in eastern province. There are many more incidents.
LTTE leader ordered to fight until last cadre perish.We saw it reported at that time, in their web sites and mass media.So how can anybody say LTTE carders came with white flags to surrender.Even if some LTTE carders want to surrender at last moment,their commanders kill them before they did it. That is their ruthless method.
So finally Wickramabahu keep your mouth shut and mind your own business.It is because of your name that you popular in SL. Not because of your acts nor less than 2000 voter base. Don't insult the great kings by using one of their name.
THe persons like you crying over LTTE, but did nothing while the JVP led violence brutally finished in 88-89 period. The only person mediate at that time to save thousands of innocent young lives was Mahinda Rajapasha. And nobody can preach him how to protect human rights.
What is becoming more and more clear is the shadowy world of peopled by the Terrorist groups, Army, politicians, ethnic vote blocks based on an invented histories, newspaper lobbies funded by generous overseas donors, NGO lobbies infiltrated heavily by terrorist groups, arms traders with major powers at the apex, each vying with the other in the pursuit of power.
It is all to easy to think it started after 1979, 1956, 1948, 1915, 1818, 1798, 1648, 1505 or after year 0 in the SLB calender, or in the Sparta or Athens or the time of Nefertiti. Remember Buddha's following was probably a small minority in his day; when secret sects of turning the other cheek Christians came to power after King Constantine, that was followed by a rampage of killings of others multi thiestic sects and suppression of learning traditions.
Human being world over is avaricious and lasting solutions were not brought about in the Saint Trotsky to USSR as Bahu the brilliant would make you believe. TOday's rulers are said to enjoy seeing opponents cooked I am told in some parts.
One should take a step behind and see how these world of unstinting loyalties arise to power groups. For example investigate not only who killed Lasantha, but why did he prove to be a man who deserved to be killed by some group of errant individuals. Who was financing the papers Lasantha edited, why was his loyalties from one side to another with the time.
Similarly who planned the killing of Bandaranayke, coup of 1960 which gave rise to a brilliant analysis by DBSJ in tese columns or even Suharto coup in Indonesia resulting in a blood bath od hundreds of thousands.
World Bank leaders write memoirs after their retirement confessing how they used to manufaacture bogus growth figures, private secretaries of great war time leaders write the private conversations of great leaders, Widespread buisness debacles of Enron World Com Galleon have give us well informed of ethics leading world economies.
I fear of another Pol Pot arising from the ashes when folks talk of wiping out corruption.
What a dill ! LTTE leaders were the most ruthless and murderous among all Terrorist organizations.The treatment these leaders meted out to their own for disagreeing or not obeying them.as disclosed in this publication itself are disgusting and unforgettable. Prabakaran was no Elara for sure.
Rajapaksa did not ask Prabakaran for a duel.He did even better. He made repeated request to the LTTE leaders to initially come to talks.As the battle progressed. and the odds were getting irreversibly stacked against the LTTE.Rajapaksa offered them several opportunities to surrender.These requests were manipulated by the LTTE and their overseas backers and tried to hoodwink the Government to escape and fight another time.Unfortunately this strategy did not work and the majority of Srilankans are thankful for it.Ofcourse the Communist Doctor seems to think otherwise.
Whether it was done on the orders of MR, GR or Gen Fonseka or anyone else in the army/Govt the fact of the matter is unarmed prisoners of war (Tamils and some Sinhalese including women and children) were mowed down savagely in this 21st century in not merely a civilised country but that bathed in over 2,500 years of a religious code whose cardinal rule is not to kill even an ant. Bahu adds to the barbarity by stating "they were clubbed to death"
As to the Elara/Dutugemunu analogy millenia later the Sinhalese have reason to feel justly proud even today for the noble post-battle behaviour of Durrugemunu....
I am aware many scholars have reason to suggest Dushtakaimunu was Tamilo and/or Tamil lineage and that Ellalan had many Sinhala Generals - probably relatives as well - in his ranks.....I often wonder where the sam hill does the cantankerous and opportunistic Weerawansa comes into the equation in these matters? As for many, this dreg is nothing but a semi-illiterate plebian who used Marxism and the JVP for his own personal benefit. When we pointed out this earlier we were mercilessly attacked. Why not name the Hokandara Rs.50 million palace "Vimukthi Walauwa"? He is not the first JVPer to make a sucker out of those semi-illiterate idiots who dream of that
New Man and New Society (Fidel Castro/Che Guevera)and who follow them. There were many earlier and will be more to follow.
ISS
In War we must show our Enemies that we mean business. The BRUTALITY shown to the LTTE was completely Justified. This should serve as a grim reminder to any other Tamil Terrorists that think they can fight us and steal our sovereignty. In fact those LTTE cadres and leaders in our captivity should suffer similar fates. They should be summarily tried and executed in public so that those Seditious elements that remain in our midst see and learn the consequences of TREASON.
Trust me they will never try that against us anytime soon.
"Unarmed Tigers both Tamil and Sinhala who came to surrender were mowed down" or clubbed to death".Prabakaran's famous quote that the Sinhalese have only one week memory span , now seem to fit well for the pro LTTErs like ISS and Bahu.
What about the eight hundred prisoners who had surrendered already and shot or hacked to death with their arms tied at the back??? . Get a life and move on mate.