CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

If the President were to exercise his Constitutional Rights, he may disenfranchise, deprive civil liberties, and perhaps house arrest………, and may even ask the IC to get off his back.

By Charles.S.Perera

Sri Lanka is in the midst of a military offensive against a group of disdainful terrorists who are causing immense destruction , and continue to terrorise the people every where in the country, despite their apparent inability to stand against the Security Forces of the government of Sri Lanka.

The fighting cadres of the government forces are putting their lives into risk to avert an eventual division of the Country. They are determined to continue their offensive until they see an end to the decades long terrorism. In this situation the government and the Security Forces need the support of the people, as well as all the Agencies such as the media, and political parties, to give them the moral support in their valiant effort to defend the mother land against a set of horrendous terrorists. It is not too much to ask….

If that support is not forth coming to the Government, and the fighting forces, from the institutions, political parties , the media , and others, the President should have the power under the Constitution to stop such institutions, political parties, political party leaders, the media, and all other persons whosoever, continuing a campaign against the government and the army, from engaging in such negative propaganda activities, by taking necessary action under the provisions of the Constitution. It sounds dictatorial, but during a period of extreme importance, it is imperative that propaganda against the military activities of the government, in its provision of security to the country, and its people, is stopped.

The Late Mr.J.R.Jayawardhana, when he was the President disenfranchised Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike for a lesser offensive of an abuse of power as the Prime Minister. That unacceptable action went without challenge by the country. The President Mahinda Rajapakse is more democratic. But if he were to exercise his presidential powers vested in the Constitution, he may disenfranchise and deprive the civil liberties of Ranil Wikramasinge, and all his cohorts of the UNP, political activists like Wickramabahu, Mano Ganesan , Jehan Perera etc., and stop antigovernment Media such as the Leader Publications, Daily Mirror, Lakbima,, from publishing news pertaining to the military activities, and propaganda against the government.

He may take similar action against Lal Kantha and the JVP. But of course, such action would make them come forward later as heroes, to condemn the President as a Dictator. Therefore, it is better to tolerate them, leaving the people to be their judge.

Even the International Community ever ready to impose sanctions, and cripple developing countries, through their pseudo humanitarianism, could be asked to "get off our backs". Some USA senators are now demanding the institution of a UN Mission to survey human rights violations in Sri Lanka. It is quite pertinent to ask these Senators, why they are silent about USA's military built up in Iraq, torture of the prisoners by the USA in Iraq, and Guantanamo. It is in these places that UN Missions to survey violations of human rights should be set up.

The International Community, seeing the successful military action by the government against the terrorists, cannot now go back on its demand on the government to come to a political settlement with the terrorists, the formula it had concocted apparently to save the terrorists. This formula would have left the government with no alternative but to agree on a settlement favourable to the terrorists, which would have eventually allowed the terrorists have their Eelam State.

Sri Lanka, is no more a failed State. Left to it self, with the donor states confining themselves to make unconditional aid without interfering into the activities of the government, Sri Lanka will soon rise above its present economic difficulties, to compete with any developed country, within its capacity, giving its people a reasonable standard of living.

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