Ill give my Full support for the Investigation
Mar 09, 2017
On many occasions we have talked about the journalists who had been attacked by “unidentified gangs” for the sole mistake of criticizing the previous government.
Today we are talking about the attack that was carried out against the former Editor of the Rivira newspaper Mr. Upali Tennakoon. At present he resides in the United States of America. He answer me and talks about the incident and its aftermath, Mr. Tennakoon said that even though he is willing to return back to Sri Lanka, he has been held back due to the complexity of the issue that has woven around him.
Recalling the memories of that horrid incident, Mr. Tennakoon said, “My life was saved because of my wife. I still remember what DIG Kotakadeniya told me at the hospital on that day. He said that he was amazed by the bravery of my wife as not even a body guard would fight unarmed against armed attackers.”
Veteran journalist Upali Tennakoon says that no faith could be kept about justice being served to him for the injustice that has been done to him. Claiming that he has no trust in the senior command of the Yahapalana government, Mr. Tennakoon says that he however supports the investigations that are being carried out regarding his assailants. Furthermore, he said that he believes that returning back to Sri Lanka could place his life in further danger. “I give my full support for the investigation. Upon request of the CID, I recently visited Sri Lanka to take part in an identification parade. After identifying one of the assailants I have now created new enemies. Three other gang members who attacked me are still at large. So how can I believe that there is a peaceful environment form me in Sri Lanka? In a country where people are killed ob broad daylight while being carried to the court amidst armed guard, how can we stay safe? Those who still roam free will definitely try to get rid of the case by killing me” he says.
According to Mr. Tennakoon, ordinary officials of the Police and the CID are committed towards their duty even by risking their own lives. But he questions as to what extent these officials are allowed to carry out their duties. There are two main suspicions about the assault carried out by an unidentified gang upon Mr. Upali Tennakoon. First, he was a strong critic regarding the assassination of Lasantha Wickramathunga. Secondly, he had been subjected to the wrath of a top member of the then government regarding a news article that had not been published.
He has recently visited Sri Lanka for a short while to take part in an identification parade to identify his assailants. At the parade, he has been able to recognize one of the gangsters. During his visit, he has held discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Rani lWickremesinghe. The President has told him that the government would be paying compensation for those who had been subjected to political injustices during the previous regime. Claiming that he had some faith that the Yahapalana government would continue with the investigations at first, Mr. Tennakoon said, “Now I do not have much trust about these investigations. When this government came into power I had a strong belief that justice would be done. I know that the officers of the police and the CID are doing their best. I am thankful for them for their efforts. But there are places even they cannot visit. Recently the President talked about suspects who are held in remand prisons for a long time. He talked about their mental rights. But what about the rights of the widow and the orphans of Lasantha Wickramathunga? Many be they do not matter any longer. There those who like Keith Noir and Poddala Jayantha to whom nothing has been done by the government. All our hopes have been destroyed. Our homes have become ruined. We have lost our previous lives. Does the government know about the violation of our rights?
He has recently visited Sri Lanka for a short while to take part in an identification parade to identify his assailants. At the parade, he has been able to recognize one of the gangsters. During his visit, he has held discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Rani lWickremesinghe. The President has told him that the government would be paying compensation for those who had been subjected to political injustices during the previous regime. Claiming that he had some faith that the Yahapalana government would continue with the investigations at first, Mr. Tennakoon said, “Now I do not have much trust about these investigations. When this government came into power I had a strong belief that justice would be done. I know that the officers of the police and the CID are doing their best. I am thankful for them for their efforts. But there are places even they cannot visit. Recently the President talked about suspects who are held in remand prisons for a long time. He talked about their mental rights. But what about the rights of the widow and the orphans of Lasantha Wickramathunga? Many be they do not matter any longer. There those who like Keith Noir and Poddala Jayantha to whom nothing has been done by the government. All our hopes have been destroyed. Our homes have become ruined. We have lost our previous lives. Does the government know about the violation of our rights?
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has recently stated that the attacks carried out against Lasantha, Keith, Prageeth and Upali are all parts of a single chain of incidents. Meanwhile Minister Sarath Fonseka has openly accused the Rajapaksas for orchestrating the attacks against journalists. However, when queried by the former Defense Ministry regarding these allegations, he said that even they had started investigations about these incidents during their administration and that it is unfair for the government to pass the blame on others without arresting the true culprits.
Recently, veteran journalist Poddala Jayantha published a YouTube video, about the delay in the investigations regarding the attacks carried out against the media during the Rajapaksa regime. They are not enjoying a happy life while living abroad. They are all waiting till these problems are solved so that they could return to their country without fear. Although investigations have now been carried out under two governments, still they are far from success. If the members who are now closer to the government ant their security officials could be questioned then the truth would be uncovered.
Recently, veteran journalist Poddala Jayantha published a YouTube video, about the delay in the investigations regarding the attacks carried out against the media during the Rajapaksa regime. They are not enjoying a happy life while living abroad. They are all waiting till these problems are solved so that they could return to their country without fear. Although investigations have now been carried out under two governments, still they are far from success. If the members who are now closer to the government ant their security officials could be questioned then the truth would be uncovered.
Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa has continuously stated that the investigations are being carried out without any undue influence. But even the members of the government have now started to question the progress of the investigations. At the recently held commemoration ceremony of Lasantha Wickramathunga, Minister Mano Ganeshan said that he is ashamed of the lack of progress of the investigations. At a time even the members of the government are ashamed of their government’s conduct, achieving justice for these journalists is only going to be a dream.
AshWaru
AshWaru
