In Desperation UNP Opposition Becomes Irrational and Insensitive

By Darmitha-Kotte

Astrology is required by politicians in this country only when they want to grab power, to lay foundation stones, or inaugurate a ceremony-anything that will ensure their stay at the top of local politics! This seems to be the "household word" in the house of the Leader of UNP and Opposition-Ranil Wickramasinghe. Whatever happened to the predictions made when he lost 14 elections and who made those predictions?

Apparently, someone has predicted that he will get back into power after April and the once slumbering leader has now suddenly jumped back into action as if he were given a new lease of life with a booster Vitamin B injection!

Desperation and Irrational Insensitivity:

The recent newspapers are full of the UNP leader's utterances which truly expose the fact that he is not interested in Sri Lanka remaining as an independent and sovereign State or whether The Armed Forces remain on top of operations against world famous terrorists who are now facing severe problems both locally and internationally(unlike during his tenure of Premiership) or whether "he even appears" to be a patriotic politician.

Right now the only important thing for him, is how to make the astrological prediction if ever it is accurate-materializes and he becomes Prime Minister! There is no doubt whatsoever, that he is working closely with other "anti-national forces" who wish to see LTTE terrorists regain their much depleted power. The strategies used by the UNP leader are deplorable to say the least.

Recently, at the book launching of "Mechanics of Buddhism" by Tilak Marapane, the UNP leader dropped a bombshell about Islamic religious wars which have brought out wide protests from the Muslim community in this country and demanded an apology from him-which he has not done so far. He spoke of the Islamic religious wars but failed to mention the atrocities committed by the Inquisition and the Christian religious wars which recorded as a historical shame considering their brutality! This clearly shows his insensitivity, bias and irrationality.

The Lankadeepa of 11th April,2007 carries an article "Chase Out Defense Secretary Gotabhaya and Appoint General Janaka Perera To That Post" in which it is stated that this is the solution that the UNP leader has to solve the security problem of Sri Lanka! The opening paragraph of this article states (quote):" The leader of The Opposition and UNP Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe stated that the Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse who was unable to ensure security in this country and safeguard human rights must be chased out from this post and for this post General Janaka Perera must be appointed" (end quote). The entire article states irrational and degrading statements which should not be made by a responsible politician of this country. What he fails to state in this article is the fact that The Armed Forces which were humiliated and demoralized during the post 1977 era have now reached a high pitch and they are doing what could not be done for 30 years to eliminate the terrorists in this country! The Armed Forces have done an excellent job so far even though a few hiccups may occur(but that is to be expected in a country at war) and shown the entire western world (contrary to Ranil Wickramasinghe's statement) that the LTTE is not a peace-loving group but a brutal and blood-thirsty terrorist group who are irrational just like the UNP leader.

In another article which appeared in the Lankadeepa of 11th April, 2007 on page 17 titled " The Truth is Not Revealed About Disappearances-Media Must Be Ashamed Of It" it goes on to explain the UNP leaders insensitivity when he spoke as Chief Guest to parents and relatives of "disappeared persons" at a meeting held at on 9th April at Veeramailan Hall located at Kathiresan Street,Colombo. This meeting organized by the "Civil Adheekshane Comisame(in Sinhala)" Ravi Karunanayake, Mano Ganeshan(UNP-MP) and Sirithunga Jayasuriya were among those who were present to listen to the grievances of the families concerned.

At this meeting according to the article, the UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe has stated that at a time when the Sri Lanka Cricket Team was bringing honour and glory to the country internationally, the government under Mahinda Rajapakse was bringing international disrepute to the country due to the spate of abductions and disappearances taking place. This article goes on to state comments made by other UNP politicians Ravi Karunanayake, John Amaratunga, Mano Ganeshan as well as the Convenor of the meeting Sirithunga Jayasuriya. It is ironic that these politicians talk of violation of human rights, the responsibility of the Government to ensure the safety of citizens and the freedom to live in this country. Those who speak of these issues must first honestly and sincerely look back on their own party history during the last 3 decades before making such hilarious statements.

Who Was Responsible for These Atrocities?

During the post 1977 elections, why did the late J.R.Jayawardane give our Police a holiday for 4 days-was it to practice Metta,Karuna and Muditha on political adversaries?

We all know how the houses of SLFP MPs were torched during these 4 days. Why did the late J.R.Jayawardane as PM and later Executive President of Sri Lanka approve distribution of personal weapons to parliamentarians-was this just to keep as souvenirs in their houses?

How did the underworld mafia of Sothi Upalis and Gonawela Sunils go out of hand? Why were these mafia gangs sent for special training to Pakistan-for Maithri or Karuna?

Why, who and how did the infamous Batalande Torture House come into being and who overlooked its horrendous operations?

How many thousands of murdered, gagged and tied bodies of youth disappeared downstream in our rivers and who was responsible for these disappearances and why?

How many thousands were murdered and buried in mass graves at Suriyawewa and other places- who and why did these take place?

In the name of eliminating JVP elements in the south, how many hundreds and thousands of innocent youth who had absolutely no connections to JVP politics disappeared from our villages- who ordered these?

Who was responsible for the famous "July 1983 or Black July" torture, murder, burning and looting of Sri Lankan Tamils in the south which resulted in the glorious name of Sri Lanka being tarnished for good?

Why and who organized the famous "tyre burning murders" of youth in the country? Why and how did the Jathika Sevake Sangamaya of this era eliminate anti-UNP Trade Unionists from Government Institutions during the time?

Who was responsible for murdering Richard de Zoysa and how was he murdered?

During the pre-Presidential elections of 1989 before Ranasinghe Premadasa was elected Executive President, who organized mass scale poster campaigns, in the name of JVP who carried on the mass scale poster campaign(identical to JVP posters) to instill fears in our people island-wide?

During the 2001-2003 era who personally called up newspaper companies and journalists and threatened them that their operations would be closed down if they did not tow the line of the then UNP government?

Who appointed a Director-General and Chairman (to run concurrently) at Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation with the specific instructions that they must ensure that all sentiments of nationalism and religion must be eliminated from the face of this country?

Who signed an Agreement with a German organization to ensure that the morale of our Armed Forces was diluted to "zero levels" when the responsibility of our Armed Forces is to protect the sovereignty and independence of Sri Lanka against and our citizens from terrorism?

ALL THIS no doubt, in the minds of Ranil Wickramasinghe and his disgruntled current UNP membership must have been done in the name of "human rights" and "freedom of expression and life!" What utter hypocrisy?

What Is Expected of The UNP and It's Leader:

If Ranil Wickramasinghe is a patriotic politician and sincere about human rights, freedom of life and expression, then the UNP leader must first exhibit his true commitment to wiping out terrorism from this country. In this endeavour, he must fully back the current Government and work together to bring about peace for all in this country.

He must sacrifice personal aspirations first and work in harmony without creating more confusion in the minds of our people.

Once peace is established, then he can organize rallies to come forward for a just and fair election during a time of harmony. Most or all, we expect the UNP leader to act with responsibility and sincerity towards the Sri Lanka-our nation.

Unfortunately though for Sri Lanka, this leader has proved that he cannot be a successful politician or the leader of a once highly respectable and dignified political party-The UNP.