There are no ‘okay’ words for the belligerent and influential few of the international community when it comes to nations, regimes and other entities they are at odds with. There are no ‘okay’ deeds either. The only thing that is ‘okay’ in such cases is submitting to agenda; in other words, compliance with rules they set. This is why there was so much pooh-poohing of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission when the idea was mooted and embracing of consequent recommendations in a ‘pick and choose, in and out of context’ manner, followed by the natural ‘implement the darn thing right now!’
The international community, so-called, will do their
thing. Their machinations must be called
out and so too their selectivity, myopia and ignorance of the idea of
proportionality. That’s in the national
interest. The national interest,
however, cannot be limited to countering external enemies; it requires a deep
and meaningful engagement with domestic issues that a) compromise democracy and
the rule of law, and b) feed ammunition to external enemies.
Unsolved murders and attacks where senior (and favored) politicians
are implicated, political crossovers to circumvent adverse decisions in court cases
which compromise integrity of politician and the judicial system, incidents
whose investigation are shoved under a carpet of convenience called ‘Commission
of Inquiry’ help regimes tide over
difficult times. They also deepen the
confidence-lack in regimes in the eyes of the general public.
It is in this context that a different postscript to an
‘incident’ warrants comment. This is
about Weliveriya. A water contamination
issue sparked a protest. There may have
been agent provocateurs at work, but that’s not the issue. An errant corporate entity controlled by a
staunch supporter of the Government got away unscathed while 3 young men died
in an unnecessary shooting. If the past
is anything to go by, then condolences and compensation done this would be
end-of-story.
Last week, however, it was reported that a Court of Inquiry
appointed by Army Commander Lt. General Daya Ratnayake had found that the Army,
deployed to bring things under control, had exceeded legal duties. A ‘summary of evidence’ is being put together
in anticipation of a court martial. The
Army Commander has said that all necessary support will be given to the
magisterial inquiry and the police inquiry with regard to the shootings. Those in charge of troops on that day have
been posted to their regiments to ensure a free and transparent inquiry, he
said.
The question then is, ‘why this and not other incidents that
warrant in the very least a proper investigation?’ We are not talking about the fantasies
concocted by third rate journalists seeking to make a name for themselves or
the gripes of displaced Tigers and misnamed political commentators, but
specific incidents referred to in the LLRC report. There are those who out of hand reject any inquiry
into anything to do with the security forces.
The assumption is that security forces are saints or arahats and beyond reproach and worse,
above the law. A secondary objection is
‘they are heroes!’ Well, heroism in one
context does not imply divinity. Neither is it a license to do the as-I-please
thereafter. Heroes turn into zeroes or
are turned into zeroes, after all. The
people don’t have illusions about divinity and the political and military
leadership should not assume that they do.
‘There is a zero tolerance policy on anything that is
illegal and the maximum punishment will be meted out to anyone found guilty of
violations,’ the Army Commander has pledged.
He has clearly understood the importance of recovering the moral high
ground and that humility is a necessary ingredient in that exercise. It won’t stop the likes of Navi Pillay
un-closing her mind, sure, but it strengthens the Army, the Government, the
state and most of all allows people to start believing in justice once again. As far as post-war recovery and reconciliation
are concerned, this is clearly the right way to go. It is an important first step and it is
imperative that further steps are taken so word matches deed and people get to
‘okay’, regardless of whether or not the thugs in the international community
are impressed.
[Malinda Seneviratne can be reached at msenevira@gmail.com]
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