A Big Thank To Our Military

by Mass L. Usuf

( February 9, 2016, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The sound of the thumping high boots accompanied by the notes of the various musical bands of the armed forces viz. the Army, Navy and the Air Force along with that of the Police was breathtaking. The precision march, the neat and smart attire embellished with ceremoniality fixed the eyes of the beholder to the rare display.

The military uniforms for the parade studded with medals, order insignias, neck scarves, lanyards, coloured berets, and other decorations was a beauty to behold. The well rehearsed display of battle dressed soldiers carrying their glistening assault rifles, others donning the bright coloured ceremonial uniforms, the march past of the distinctive elite commandos and those with traditional military uniforms added grandeur to the parade.

Then came rolling down the road columns of military hardware only seen in the battle fronts, for the civilians to look on. They were gazing wonderstruck at the armoured cars, vehicle mounted weaponries, armoured personnel carriers, infantry vehicles etc. The sonic sound of the Air Force jets suddenly shifts the focus towards the blue sky with all wanting to take a glimpse of the ceremonial fly past.

Small but mighty

Watching the 68th Independence Day parade inspired awe in every one of us. A sense of pride deluged our feelings looking at the protectors of our nation both from external and internal threats.

This is our military. Small but mighty. The military of our small island nation which not long ago warred with one of the world’s most fearsome and ferocious terrorist outfit, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It took almost 30 years and thousands of lives to see an end to that menace. The country lost many innocent people of all communities. She was systematically deprived of several intellectuals, experienced and respected politicians. Many were the young soldiers who laid down their lives during this testing period. If they had been living today they would have sired families of their own. Each death of a person was a loss of a child to the parents, a brother/sister to the siblings, a husband or the wife and a father/mother to the child and a citizen to mother Sri Lanka.

Today, we are a nation free of terrorism, explosions and fears. We are able to breath the air of peace and enjoy freedom. The nation in unison says a big, “THANK YOU” to the military, the Police, the auxiliary forces and all those who directly or indirectly helped to bring our country to what it is now, today.

We also do remember with gratitude our elders who valiantly stood united in the cause of gaining independence to Sri Lanka. Among them were the Sinhalese, the Tamils, the Muslims and the Malays. A clear demonstration of One People, One Nation. All belonging to one single human “Le” (blood).

Saffron Soldiers

It is appropriate at this juncture to juxtapose our military against some significant developments in the recent past. One is relating to the arrest of several intelligence officers from the military. They had been detained and were being interrogated on the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. The other is the hackneyed claim by some bankrupt politicians about the derogation or disapprobation of the status of our army in the light of the Geneva resolution. The third is the exploitation of these two events by the so called protectors of the Sinhala race, the Sinhala nation and the Sasana in cohort with the bankrupts.

According to reports, Homagama Magistrate R.B.Nelumdeniya had granted leave to the CID to photograph and to examine the books and documents maintained by the camp authorities at the Girithale Army Intelligence Corps Camp. It is alleged that Prageeth Ekneligoda had been detained there. The magistrate also ordered the Army Commander to provide all necessary facilities to the CID officers and also to detail Military Police officers to provide security for them. This is purely legal and within the law.

As far as investigations into the violation of human rights during the last phases of the war is concerned the President Maithripala Sirisena has clearly stated in relation to the involvement of UN investigators, that: “We are ready to get advice and their opinions for the inquiry, but I don’t think we need any outsiders because we have all the sources for this.”

To any sane person, the above two issues relating to the military in no way impacts on the integrity of the military as a whole or any military personnel. The investigation into the acts of the intelligence officers is nothing extraordinary than the normal law of the country in motion in a criminal inquiry.

So what is all this fuss about prompting the infamous soldier in saffron to address the Homagama Magistrate in a manner defying the protocols of the judiciary? From time immemorial the court has its own decorum of polite language, calm tone and reserved body language. The use of slang, bursts of emotions, disrespect to the judge in facie curiae (in front of the court) or ex facie curiae (outside the court) should not be tolerated under any circumstances. Let it be a monk or a layman. To allow such misdemeanour would be a gross affront on the principle of the rule of law. It would also erode the trust the people have on the judiciary. This country today needs more of such courageous judges who would uphold the pure essence of the law irrespective of extraneous considerations.

Beggared politicians

Apparently, the bankrupt politicians and their frustrated saffron robed consociates have run out of steam in maligning the government. They now seem to trek a path whereby they could spur the military establishment against the government. Therefore, we hear the weasel statements and see the crocodile tears of these insincere and unpatriotic assailants. Is this how we respect our men and women in military uniform who sacrificed their lives for us to live happily and peacefully today? Are not the actions of these beggared politicians and these handful of monks belittling our armed forces? Why do they not honour our soldiers and leave them alone without exploiting our armed forces to achieve parochial political mileage? Are their cries sincerely aimed at safeguarding and protecting our armed forces from danger? Or, are these ‘military’ maneuvers just one more attempt to damage and destabilize the government to recapture power. Or, one more in the vicious, fast depleting arsenal trying to undermine the goodwill and reputation of the Ranil/Mathri government.

Do not engage our respected military in your petty, uncouth and deceptive politics. Shame upon those who condescend themselves to such low levels.

Long live our Military !