Derana TV Chathura’s Double Standards Exposed: Citizens Enraged Over Racist Slurs Of Derana TV Anchor
Openly President Gotabaya Rajapaksa supporter Chathura Alwis of Derana TV was unwittingly exposed last Tuesday (31) when several racist slurs hurled at Muslims were inadvertently aired during a break in the political talkshow – Wadapitiya.
Chathura Alwis
The Wadapitiya talkshow was attended by Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage – who too had been caught in making a racist comment just a few days back, immediate former State Minister of Tourism Promotion Affairs Arundika Fernando from the government side and former MPs Buddhika Pathirana (UNP) and Wasantha Samarasinghe (JVP) from the opposition ranks. It is not confirmed whether ExMP Pathirana was present when the racist comments were made although the presence of the other three politicos are verified beyond doubt.
Concerns arise as to why the two politicians from the United National Party (UNP) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)- two parties which have fervently portrayed themselves as antiracist, anti-extremist; failed to condemn such abhorrent, unethical and reprehensible actions of the TV anchor and Minister Aluthgamage.
“Now I should be paid for allowing this to be said,” quipped Alwis, who is known to make many racist slurs against the Muslims before, but surprisingly had been promoting as an inclusive individual in the face of the public during recent months.
To which Minister Aluthgamage mentions about statistics possibly relating to figures of Covid-19 patients and deaths arising from the Muslim community.
“19 out of 20 found (on 31st)” added Aluthgamage implying that they were Muslims. (However Sinhalese still make up majority of the 148 Covid-19 patients so far, as at 12 noon)
“Definitely we must attack…. I had a chance to attack during the morning show with that….. Otherwise this won’t do”
“Even Bimal (Of the JVP) has criticized it saying that there was no burial and it was wrong. Is it inaccurate?” he asks exMP Samarasinghe from the JVP.
“No that is fake,” replies Samarasinghe.
“If I am asked whether the Ulema Organisation (in reference to ACJU- the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama – the apex religious body of Islamic theologians in Sri Lanka) has taken a decision (on the burial / cremation issue) I will tell I don’t care whether its Ulema or Hanuma even”
“I saw Upul Shantha Sannasgala’s post,” says Alwis.
“When I went for the meeting with Director General this (cremation) issue came up. We brought the Chief JMO (Judicial Medical Office) Dr Ruwanpathirana was called in….” said former State Minister Fernando.
“He has thoroughly refused,” claimed Alwis.
“You can’t deal with Muslims,” replies Minister Aluthgamage, who in the middle of fierce anti-Muslim attacks in the run up to 2019 November Presidential Elections promised a Muslim school in the Kandy city and ensured that Muslims would be safeguarded in the event they were able to increase the Muslim percentage of votes cast for Gotabaya Rajapaksa from 10% to 20%.
“In Dharga Town, when the procession was ordered to be called off, they (Muslims) distributed alms-giving from a vehicle,” says Samarasinghe who is affiliated to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) which portrays itself as an antiracist, anti-extremist Marxist party.
“WHO guidelines (on disposing of bodies) were earlier published on our web. Now it is removed. In vain we published that. Why should we publish that? We should have published our own (guidelines),” Alwis questions, affirming that the Rajapakasa regime did allow even burials in principal at the beginning.
Experts are raising questions as to whether Alwis is a medical professional to discern on the approach to be taken over Covid-19 deaths.
“You can’t dig eight feet to bury in the Negombo beach,” added exMinister Fernando.
“No those are irrelevant. Saw what (Russian President Vladimir) Putin said?” question the JVP politico, siding with Alwis and Aluthgamage.
“Now it’s over…. This time they (Muslims) will have to understand that they can’t jiggle… ”
WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines say coronavirus victims may be either cremated or buried and is practiced that way the world over. However the first was hurriedly removed and the second guidelines allow burials only.
Earlier too Minister Aluthgamage went on Derana TV trying to prove a surreal correlation between Muslims and Corona (https://twitter.com/i/status/1245638663595102209)
Interestingly the Tuesday’s episode has not been put on Youtube like all other previous talkshows. It is learnt that the advertising revenue of Derana too like many other TV channels has been badly hit by the Covid-19 Crisis and have very few commercials to be aired at present.
Alwis was referring to Sri Lanka’s second coronavirus victim – a 64 year- old who was receiving treatment at the Negombo General Hospital, who was cremated on 30 March against the urging from the Muslim community. Racist campaigns attacks on social media against Islam heightened after the deceased was found out to be a Muslim.
Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader former MP Rauff Hakeem condemning remains of a Muslim were cremated against the teachings of the Islamic faith. The ExMinister in a post on Facebook last Tuesday said the government’s action was “unfortunate, regrettable and of course reprehensible,” making him the subject of chagrin of many pages supporting President Rajapaksa.
Earlier Dr. Anil Jayasinghe went on none other than Derana TV explaining that the Ministry of Health guidelines did allow burial beyond eight feet or cremation under the supervision of JMO, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) and Public Health Inspector (PHI) (https://twitter.com/i/status/1245579999798681600 )
However legal experts say that Alwis’ comments and action of Derana TV in vicarious capacity, tantamount to intention to incite violence against minorities in breach of International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) of 2007, which criminalises advocacy of “national, racial, or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, the hostility of violence”.
