They are barking up the wrong tree! - Island Editorial

ravi mona by e-mail

Once relegated to the political dustbin, the scum of the earth of all hues become the salt of the earth overnight" - the Island editorial provides fine insight to what is going on in the local political theatre.

Sri Lankan people are quite known for being oblivious of the past, especially of those politicians. Today, those who were behind the well-crafted "Black July" in 1983, have apparently become the guardians of the minority rights; those maintained torturing chambers on their backyards in 1988/89 have become protectors of human rights ;and quite ironically those who betrayed the national security for a terror outfit are trying to advocated defence strategy for the nation.

The Island's editorial referring to the LTTE's air power novelty, addresses the intellect of the readers that they would be able to see the big picture of the whole affair. It is indeed true that the country's air defence system had some serious flaws, but it is equally true that the LTTE has never been so close to its death knell as it is today. What did bring about the consensus between the terrorists and certain political parties? Read below the full text of The Island's editorial on Thursday the 12th of April.

We are a nation of backseat drivers, as has been pointed out in these columns many a time. Most Sri Lankans claim to know the way but cannot drive. If given a chance to drive, they will certainly ram a wayside wall slap-bang! In politics such worthies are found mainly in the Opposition, though the ruling party, too, has its quota of them. Once relegated to the political dustbin, the scum of the earth of all hues become the salt of the earth overnight. We have those upasakas and upasikas pontificating to us about human rights and the like ad nauseam. Some of them turn out to be ardent patriots ready to die for the country. They are raring to charge like the legendary Light Brigade. But, unlike those gallant soldiers immortalised in Tennyson's poem, our heroes will wet their pants at the first sight of a cannon and fall at the feet of the enemy pleading for mercy.

Those cardboard patriots, who can't say boo to a goose let alone take on ferocious Tigers, are today offering unsolicited advice as to how the country should be defended. They don't say clearly whether terrorism should be defeated or not but they want national security to be handed over to 'competent people'. They want heads to roll at the Defence Ministry including that of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse over the recent air raid on the Katunayake airbase.

Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday that Gotabhaya must step down and General Janaka Perera must be brought in as new Defence Secretary. Janaka Perera is, no doubt, an excellent soldier, who has proved his mettle in battle. He is known as a general who led his troops from the front. His battlefield achievements are many and the soldiers are fond of him. But, the question is why Ranil didn't appoint him Defence Secretary when he was the Prime Minister of the UNF government. When he says Janaka is the best person for that post, the implication is that he owns up to the fact that he erred by appointing someone else as Defence Secretary at that time. Why didn't the UNF government at least consult Janaka before signing the CFA?

Ranil's call for bringing Janaka as Defence Secretary militates against his advocacy of a non-military solution, which has made him the darling of the international community enamoured of his commitment to a political solution. For, Janaka is a warrior and anyone who wants him to replace Gotabhaya expects him to do better than the latter in the prosecution of the war. If it is non-escalation of the conflict that the UNP really seeks, then why does its leader want a battle-hardened former general to take over national security? We thought he preferred a mediocre bureaucratic yes-man adept at appeasement.

Suppose Gotabhaya is kicked out today and Janaka is installed as Defence Secretary tomorrow. What if the LTTE mounts another air raid? Should Janaka also be kicked out? Where will that process end? On the other hand, has any Defence Secretary resigned in the past over terror attacks?

What needs to be done is not to ask for Gotabhaya's or any other person's head but to urge the government to equip the Air Force urgently with the required capabilities to meet the new threat. Removal of Gotabhaya may serve the purpose of some politicians but that is not going to make the country any safer. The real problem is the LTTE's air capability. And how is the UNP going to deal with those illegal aircraft, if it is elected to power?

It is sad that Janaka Perera is being dragged into a political battle once again. Earlier, an attempt was made to bring him as a presidential candidate against Mahinda Rajapakse to prevent the latter from winning in 2005. Janaka proved to be much smarter than those who masterminded that move. He didn't walk into the trap. This time round, they are trying to use him as a bludgeon to beat Mahinda Rajapakse's brother, Gotabhaya. It is rather unlikely that Janaka will allow himself to be made a cat's paw by politicians.

Prabhakaran must be a happy man to see his bete noire Gotabhaya being hounded by his political enemies. He might think of another sortie to give a fresh impetus to their campaign against Gotabhaya, the only Defence Secretary he considers a serious threat to his terror project and therefore tried to remove physically with the help of a suicide bomber.

However, there is no reason why Gotabhaya should get disheartened. He should remember what Mao Zedong said. If you are praised by your enemies, you must be careful, but if you are criticised by them you should be happy, as it is an indication that you are on the right course.