Advising students to think of us as Dons can engender a DO –Dr. Rasakumaran , President Jaffna FUTA laments
(Lanka-e-News-11.June.2014, 7.30PM) ‘Even if we advise the students to think of us as University Dons , the following day , we are branded as terrorists and a detention order (DO) may be served on us. Or , we may be labeled as of the Tamil Diaspora. As a result the University Dons of Jaffna are forced to remain silent and stop thinking,’ Dr. Amirthalingam Rasakumaran , the President of the Jaffna University Dons Association (FUTA) bemoaned, when he was explaining with profound concern the true situation in Jaffna which he claimed is a dark peninsular yesterday(10). He was making these comments when he arrived in Colombo to enlighten those in the south who are unable to understand the truth.
Dr. Rasakumaran made this rudely shocking exposure when participating in the media briefing held at the National library auditorium , Colombo last evening (10) , organized to express the solidarity of the civil society organizations and lawyers associations with the University Dons federation (FUTA) and against the death threats and intimidations posed to them , as well as to rescue and protect the State education .
Dr. Rasakumaran went on to elaborate as follows :
‘Today the situation in Jaffna is , if we express the truth , the following day we are bound to give explanation to the Terrorist investigation department (TID). If we talk out what we know we run the risk of being served with a DO and detained. What we ought to do and what we ought not are decided by them. I still remember what happened in 2012. The leader of the Jaffna University students was attacked with iron rods. That brutal attack was launched by none other than a group supporting the government. Because I issued a statement in that regard I was summoned to Vavuniya by the TID and questioned. I have neither done anything in violation of the country’s laws nor shall I in the future.
We just cannot express the truth. All what we can only do is , just say whatever they do is right. If we state the truth we are threatened . One day , my daughter and I went home in the evening. At about 6.45 p.m. they came in a jeep and told me to come and make a statement at about 10.00 p.m. I told them I cannot come in the night .
We cannot mourn for those who died. When Sinhalese people die , like how the Sinhala people mourn , deliver sermons and give pinkama (almsgiving) , the Tamil people also have a custom of lighting lamps in memory of the dead.
We don’t light lamps on behalf of terrorists. We do that in memory of our dead relatives who count as many as about 80,000. Because the ‘Great heroes day’ is in November , we have selected May as the month to commemorate the dead by lighting lamps. Yet many of our relatives died in November. They are alleging we are commemorating dead Prabhakaran. In Jaffna , many do not accept that Prabhakaran is dead. Why can’t we commemorate our dead relatives? We are being described as terrorists when we do that .
On the one hand when we look at ourselves we are like Robots. All Sri Lankans , whether they are Sinhalese or Tamils must have the right to express their views. Otherwise Sri Lanka (SL) is headed for disaster.
A 30 year period was destroyed. Please allow us room to express opinions and ideas without fear of death . Allocate 6 % towards education. Create a bright future for our children. Of course , because I uttered these truths , there is a possibility that I might face a DO tomorrow .
If we do not express now , in the future too freedom of expression may be denied . Hence , I was requested by Nirmal to come to Colombo and make my speech. My heartfelt gratitude to all of you.’
One journalist who stooped low to entertain a misconception based on Rasakumaran’s exposure that there are people in Jaffna who still think Prabhakaran is not dead tried to question whether that was the view of all others in his group . Another speaker answering that question replied , ‘we are here to express diverse opinions. Rasakumaran talked only about the belief of the Jaffna people.’
Attorney at law Lal Wijenayake , the convener of the lawyers for Democracy speaking on the occasion said, the Bar association is holding hands with the people to dethrone jungle laws and enthrone rule of law. The bar association is with the students to safeguard them against the devastation of State University education , Lal Wijenayake further emphasized.
Lawyer JC. Weliamuna of Lawyers united addressing the crowds said , the University Dons were facing death threats for about a month. Dons and students of Ruhunu University were attacked. The struggle of the teachers , students , FUTA must be safeguarded with the support of the civil organizations.
President of the University Dons federation (FUTA) Chandragupta Thenuwara, convener of media freedom campaign ; Sunil Jayasekera , Executive Director of PAFFREL organization Rohana Hettiarachi ;and convener of Platform for freedom , Sudahrshana Gunawardena , attorney at law also addressed the Press conference .
Dr. Nirmala Ranjith Devasiri , former President of the University Dons federation (FUTA); attorney at law W. Janaranjana ,chief editor of Ravaya newspaper; and Lakshman Gunasekera of the South Asian mass media association too were present among others at the Press conference.
(Lanka-e-News-11.June.2014, 7.30PM) ‘Even if we advise the students to think of us as University Dons , the following day , we are branded as terrorists and a detention order (DO) may be served on us. Or , we may be labeled as of the Tamil Diaspora. As a result the University Dons of Jaffna are forced to remain silent and stop thinking,’ Dr. Amirthalingam Rasakumaran , the President of the Jaffna University Dons Association (FUTA) bemoaned, when he was explaining with profound concern the true situation in Jaffna which he claimed is a dark peninsular yesterday(10). He was making these comments when he arrived in Colombo to enlighten those in the south who are unable to understand the truth.Dr. Rasakumaran made this rudely shocking exposure when participating in the media briefing held at the National library auditorium , Colombo last evening (10) , organized to express the solidarity of the civil society organizations and lawyers associations with the University Dons federation (FUTA) and against the death threats and intimidations posed to them , as well as to rescue and protect the State education .
Dr. Rasakumaran went on to elaborate as follows :
‘Today the situation in Jaffna is , if we express the truth , the following day we are bound to give explanation to the Terrorist investigation department (TID). If we talk out what we know we run the risk of being served with a DO and detained. What we ought to do and what we ought not are decided by them. I still remember what happened in 2012. The leader of the Jaffna University students was attacked with iron rods. That brutal attack was launched by none other than a group supporting the government. Because I issued a statement in that regard I was summoned to Vavuniya by the TID and questioned. I have neither done anything in violation of the country’s laws nor shall I in the future.
We just cannot express the truth. All what we can only do is , just say whatever they do is right. If we state the truth we are threatened . One day , my daughter and I went home in the evening. At about 6.45 p.m. they came in a jeep and told me to come and make a statement at about 10.00 p.m. I told them I cannot come in the night .
We cannot mourn for those who died. When Sinhalese people die , like how the Sinhala people mourn , deliver sermons and give pinkama (almsgiving) , the Tamil people also have a custom of lighting lamps in memory of the dead.
We don’t light lamps on behalf of terrorists. We do that in memory of our dead relatives who count as many as about 80,000. Because the ‘Great heroes day’ is in November , we have selected May as the month to commemorate the dead by lighting lamps. Yet many of our relatives died in November. They are alleging we are commemorating dead Prabhakaran. In Jaffna , many do not accept that Prabhakaran is dead. Why can’t we commemorate our dead relatives? We are being described as terrorists when we do that .
On the one hand when we look at ourselves we are like Robots. All Sri Lankans , whether they are Sinhalese or Tamils must have the right to express their views. Otherwise Sri Lanka (SL) is headed for disaster.
A 30 year period was destroyed. Please allow us room to express opinions and ideas without fear of death . Allocate 6 % towards education. Create a bright future for our children. Of course , because I uttered these truths , there is a possibility that I might face a DO tomorrow .
If we do not express now , in the future too freedom of expression may be denied . Hence , I was requested by Nirmal to come to Colombo and make my speech. My heartfelt gratitude to all of you.’
One journalist who stooped low to entertain a misconception based on Rasakumaran’s exposure that there are people in Jaffna who still think Prabhakaran is not dead tried to question whether that was the view of all others in his group . Another speaker answering that question replied , ‘we are here to express diverse opinions. Rasakumaran talked only about the belief of the Jaffna people.’
Attorney at law Lal Wijenayake , the convener of the lawyers for Democracy speaking on the occasion said, the Bar association is holding hands with the people to dethrone jungle laws and enthrone rule of law. The bar association is with the students to safeguard them against the devastation of State University education , Lal Wijenayake further emphasized.
Lawyer JC. Weliamuna of Lawyers united addressing the crowds said , the University Dons were facing death threats for about a month. Dons and students of Ruhunu University were attacked. The struggle of the teachers , students , FUTA must be safeguarded with the support of the civil organizations.
President of the University Dons federation (FUTA) Chandragupta Thenuwara, convener of media freedom campaign ; Sunil Jayasekera , Executive Director of PAFFREL organization Rohana Hettiarachi ;and convener of Platform for freedom , Sudahrshana Gunawardena , attorney at law also addressed the Press conference .
Dr. Nirmala Ranjith Devasiri , former President of the University Dons federation (FUTA); attorney at law W. Janaranjana ,chief editor of Ravaya newspaper; and Lakshman Gunasekera of the South Asian mass media association too were present among others at the Press conference.
