Blindfolded liberals at the edge of the cliff

July 7, 2012,

Kumar David

Reports say that the Defence Secretary telephoned Federation of University Teachers president Nirmal Devasiri and assured him that white vans and suspicious characters loitering around his home have nothing to do with the defence establishment. I am no private detective hence have no way of ascertaining the truth, but my response is unhesitating: "Don’t be a fool and take a chance; only suckers ignore open secrets about abductions and assassinations; it’s suicidal to trust the state". Yes, I know this is not new; it is the refrain that all of us who criticise the Rajapaksas, incessantly hear from family and friends. However, I most certainly am not saying: "Get into a funk and back-off. No, no, not at all; what I say is, take precautions to foil attempts to pick you up." This is an occasion to alert all who oppose the government that it is not enough to be alert; take practical steps to protect yourself – better safe than dead!

Some months ago I had the opportunity to chat with a few young fellows from the FSP and warned them not to allow activists to become isolated in ones and twos. I hate to say "I told you so" but the abduction of two of their cadres in Jaffna soon afterwards came as no surprise. Still they learnt nothing and soon two leaders were abducted by a black agency of the state and released only when the Australian High Commissioner intervened with the Defence Secretary. This case is extremely important since it makes public the identity of the powers behind abductions. The cat is out of the bag about responsibility for abduction and murder of opponents of the regime and unbowed journalists.