Wednesday, April 3, 2013


Government must explain as to whether the security forces were asleep - Karu

Wednesday, 03 April 2013 
Once again the right of the people in the North to hold dissenting opinion has been threatened. The latest example is the attack on the office of the Udayan newspaper by goons.
According to the government democratic rights have been established not only in the North but across the country. There cannot be room for any kind of harassment in the North. The attack on the Udayan office has taken place under this background.
The problem is if there is security as stated by the government, who permitted and created the environment for these goons to behave as they wish and to reach their victim without any hindrance and flee from the sight unharmed. The government must explain as to whether the security forces were asleep; whether they are subjected to any political influence preventing them from carrying out their entrusted duties. How did the goons become so powerful to go above the forces?
Because in January a similar attack was carried out on Udayan newspaper, unidentified goons assaulted a distributor of Udayan newspaper and damaged his motor bicycle, fled unharmed after burning the newspapers. Although almost 3 months have elapsed after the incident, those who are responsible are still at large.
We firmly believe that whether we agree or disagree with the other person’s opinion we have to respect his/her right to hold a dissenting view. It is an inborn quality of those who believe in democracy. When we shoot down the messenger it will leave room for gossip mongering. Also it will bring harmful results. We wish to emphasize that those who are in power should realize this truth.
Deshabandu Karu Jayasuriya M.P.
Gampaha District

British Spies Organised Execution Of Patrice 

Lumumba

April 2, 2013 
Colombo TelegraphBritish spies admitted helping to organise the detention and execution of the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1960s, a peer has claimed, the Telegraph reports.
Baroness (Daphne) Park of Monmouth, who was the senior MI6 officer in the African country at the time, said she had “organised it”, according to the Labour peer Lord Lea. Independence leader Patrice Lumumba was arrested, tortured and executed just months after becoming the first democratically elected prime minister of the DRC in 1960.
Read more in the Telegraph
British spies admitted helping to organise the detention and execution of Patrice Lumumba the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 1960s, a peer has claimed. Photo: AP