Image: People want a paradigm shift, but deep state may not try to derail the govt.
President’s security vital in the face of threats
Senior Journalist Sunanda Deshapriya who has always raised his voice about human rights, is now in the country on a brief visit. He recently launched a book containing specific facts related to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks.
In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Deshapriya said that there may be a threat to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s life and that threat was there even before the Presidential Election. There was actually a paradigm shift in the country and the power shifted from the elite class. However, certain disgruntled elements would not allow this paradigm shift to continue.
He said if the current Government also continues with the same old system, it won’t be a problem. If the President and the Government change it, it will definitely be a threat. If the Government commences investigations on the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga, disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda and the mysterious death of Wasim Thaudeen, those who had been involved in those incidents would spare no pains to hamper those investigations. Therefore, this threat exists even today and it is important to tread cautiously.
Excerpts of the interview
Q: What led you to compile a book on the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks after a lapse of five years?
A: The Catholic society was deeply shocked due to the Easter Sunday attacks. Everybody asked what really happened on Easter Sunday. I also felt that there is something behind those incidents than we just see inside. During my journalistic career, one of my major tasks was to safeguard human rights and mete out justice to victims who breached their human rights.
My intention was to ascertain the truth behind the Easter Sunday attacks to bring justice to the victims. Therefore, I decided to go into the inner details as to how the Easter Sunday attacks occurred.
A serious question arose in a country which had the vast experience of facing a war and prevented some massive terrorist attacks due to intelligence sources failing to prevent those Easter Sunday attacks.
Q: Do you think the findings of your book would pave the way to bring justice to the Easter Sunday victims and bring the culprits to book?
A: I launched the book at a very opportune time. It was launched soon after a fresh election was held and a new President and a Government was appointed. The Government that came to power also pledged to dispense justice to the Easter Sunday victims. Therefore, the launch of the book at this juncture got a keen interest among the people. I can be happy that the book has paved the way to create a fresh hope among the society on Easter Sunday attacks. Over one million people have viewed the speech by former CID Director Shani Abeysekara at the book launch. It means a new dialogue has been created in the society about the Easter Sunday attacks.
Q: Prior to the Presidential Election, the National People’s Power (NPP) promised to bring mastermind planners of the Easter Sunday attacks and political authorities and Government officials to book. Do you think this would happen under the NPP Government?
A: Before the election, both the NPP and SJB met the Cardinal and gave some assurance with a comprehensive plan as to how they would mete out justice to the Easter Sunday victims. At this juncture, there is a possibility of going for a joint strategy regarding this. I think this should not be done only as a Government process. It should be done by getting the support of the entire Parliament. At present, there is no Opposition until the General Election is held. The best strategy is to ascertain the truth through a joint mechanism and then there is an opportunity to provide some relief to the victims.
Q: At your book launch, you said this will be a litmus test for the new Government. Are you confident that the new Government would expedite the investigations on the Easter Sunday attacks?
A: Now the Government has only two or three Cabinet Ministers. It would be difficult to conduct such a major task only with three Ministers. Until a new Government is formed after a Parliamentary Election, we can’t say how this task will continue. I don’t think it would be possible to go for a formal process until a new Government is formed. It is not appropriate to intervene into this issue by only making use of the Presidential powers.
As I said earlier, there should be a joint mechanism regarding this. It won’t be a problem to wait for the next two months as five years have already elapsed. If we go for such a mechanism, both local and international expertise should be sought so that it would build confidence among the Catholic community and others. During the past, so many Commissions have been appointed in Sri Lanka on various issues but most of those recommendations have not been implemented. I think this case should not be given to the Attorney Generals’ Department as they will have to appear for the Government officials.
Q: How do you view the political transformation that took place in Sri Lanka after the September 21 Presidential Election?
A: This political transformation is good for the country. Throughout history, the country has been ruled by two families. If former President Ranasinghe Premadasa came from an ordinary family, he could also emerge as a member of those elite political parties.
During history, a political movement which represents the vast majority of the ordinary people at grassroot level could not consolidate power. Therefore, this is an ideal opportunity to show to the country and entire South Asia that political power can be shifted to the ordinary people from the elite class.
This has also happened in countries such as Chile and Latin America. This political transformation is a historic occasion in Sri Lanka where the power was captured by those who were outside the elite class. However, there should be a good mechanism to move forward.
I also contributed to bring former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to power in 1994. Those days young Parliamentarians in that Government were really good and they didn’t solicit any bribes or indulge any corruption. I thought they were the ideal people who could change the country. However, I should not tell what really happened after 10 years.
We should not trust people hoping that they will create a new political culture. The need of the hour is to create a system which is suitable for the country. I would say don’t believe people because they might change.
Even JVP frontliners such as Nandana Gunathilaka and Wimal Weerawansa later quit the JVP and joined other political parties. Civil society has also a major role to play to create a new system. However, this system change cannot be made only through mainstream political parties. The media, civil society, trade unions and women’s organisations have also a major responsibility to make the change productive.
Q: Do you think this Government would fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people?
A: They should fulfill that task. I hope they will make some changes. The NPP has come to power amid a crisis. There was no such crisis in the country when Maithripala Sirisena came to power in 2015. Actually, the left movement could have come to power in the early 1950s. At that time, the country’s economy was stable and there was no crisis. The country had not been divided based on ethnic lines.
At present, we have a society where the economy has collapsed and the country has been divided on ethnicity. It is not an easy task to uplift the society from the current crisis. There is a big challenge before President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. I hope the President and the Government will successfully face this challenge.
A: This Government came to power two or three weeks ago. They have only three MPs. We need experienced politicians. Even the President should have a good team. The challenge before the NPP is greater than other political parties as they are a new team completely. I don’t say that they won’t be able to fulfill this task.
Such new teams have changed the world with their talents and capabilities. They should properly understand the challenge and work with others as well. We need competent people who are willing to learn and make sacrifices.
The new President and the Government should face criticism. They should not think that those who level criticism as their traitors. In our political dialogues, there are only heroes and traitors. That should be done away with and even constructive criticism should be accepted in a friendly manner. If we don’t point out the mistakes of the Government at this juncture, we won’t be able to do that later.
If we try to contact politicians before they come to power, they immediately respond. After they consolidate power, they change completely and don’t even respond to a telephone call. As a journalist, I have personally experienced this.
Actually, this happens to all politicians when they take office. Except former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, I have politically associated all former Presidents to some extent who came to power after 1994. Based on my experience, I would like to call upon this Government to be ready to listen, learn and accept criticism.
Q: You said that it is hoped that prompt investigations will begin under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the killings and disappearances of journalists, which had been the subject of much controversy in Sri Lanka. Would you like to comment?
A: All political parties who came to power pledged to bring the culprits to book. They came to power by exploiting the killings of journalists Lasantha Wickramatunga and others for their political campaigns. Actually, the former Yahapalana Government made some effort to investigate those killings and disappearances of journalists. In my book, I have also outlined about a ‘Deep State’ and it is very powerful and they intervened to stall those investigations. They are connected to those killings and disappearances. The information on the killing of journalist Lasantha Wickramatunga and disappearance of journalist Prageeth Eknaligoda are available. However, one of the key former investigators whom I met recently said all information on the Eknaligoda case is available but we can’t hope that investigation will continue as those who got involved in it have much power.
Q: You have told the media that there is a threat to the life of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. What led you to make such a statement?
At present the underworld in Sri Lanka operates like an organised armed force. They undertake any killings if they are given money and air tickets to flee the country. Certain disgruntled elements would not let this paradigm shift to continue. Actually, threats come when power moves from the elite class and commence investigations to bring the culprits to book who indulged in corruption and resorted to various wrongdoings.
If the current Government also continues with the same old system, it won’t be a problem. If the President and the Government is going to change it, definitely there will be a threat. If the Government commences investigations on the killing of Lasantha Wickramatunga, disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda and mysterious death of Wasim Thaudeen, those who have got involved in those incidents will try their level best to hamper those investigations. Even today this threat may be there for the President. Therefore, it is very important to be cautious about this situation.