National flag is not MaRa’s: putting down and burning it is unlawful

-Compensation can be claimed by those hurt

(Lanka-e-News-09.June.2012,11.55PM) The Tamils living in Britain staged protests on the 6th in front of the hotel where President Rajapakse was staying alleging that the latter is a war criminal. During the demonstrations the SL national flag was put down and set on fire. This news was telecast in the night over the channel 4 of Britain . This is clearly a violation of the laws of Britain and the terms of the human rights agreement signed by the European union , on the ground that it is soiling a clean sublime belonging of a country. A national flag is such a belonging. Such an incident being published by the media is not only a wrong but also unacceptable based on media ethics. It may be correct to determine whether Mahinda Rajapakse is a war criminal or not ? Searching for an answer to that question is one thing , but the protestors putting the national flag down on the ground and burning it is an entirely different thing, for that flag is not Mahinda Rajapakses. This is a SL national flag accepted universally and by all communities in SL including Buddhists , Muslims and Tamils. It is a pure sublime belonging. A majority of the Tamils residing in Britain who staged the protests may not be accepting the SL or British flag , they may be accepting a red flag with a tiger and two weapons loaded with bullets printed thereon as their own. That is no issue to anyone. Any group can make a flag according to its fancy and call that as its flag. Not only have Schools, Banks and Business Organizations the world over made their own flags. If necessary, families too can make a flag for its generations and use them eternally. But such flags don’t thereby become a national flag . Many may have disputes with Mahinda Rajapakse. Those are on issues revolving around Democratic, legal, justice, suspicion and his despotic family rule. Certainly he ought to be punished for all the monumental unlawful activities he had indulged in so far. But those are different issues. The flag in question is not that of Mahinda Rajapakse , but that which has been universally acknowledged and locally accepted by all communities of SL including the Tamils of whom the group that burnt it also represents. It is important to view this incident of burning of the flag in Britain vis a vis the Tamil National alliance party representing the Tamils in SL recently hoisting it jointly with the other opposition parties. In other words ,Sri Lanka is thirsting for a national reconciliation. It is not sure whether the Tamil Nationals are not in need of it since yesterday’s protests. But , those in SL who are truly longing for a national reconciliation must view this episode with abhorrence like how they viewed the war.  The national flag being put down and burning it savors of extremism, barbarism , hooliganism. It is unlawful and punishable. On the same token , even Channel 4 Television channel is condemnable.  Those who were hurt by the channel 4 telecast should be eligible for compensation if they pursue legal action.