UNP hits back at threats against Mangala

June 28, 2014, 6:54 pm 

The UNP yesterday responded to statements made by the army and police spokesmen that MP Mangala Samaraweera revealing ``state secrets’’ would be investigated and he may be prosecuted, with Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga saying that a government that had politicized the entire public service was now politicizing the military.

``We will proceed to draw the attention of the parliament and the International Parliamentary Union on this issue,’’ Amaratunga said.

He also said that Samaraweera has only mentioned the names of some higher officers whose conduct has been discussed previously both in Parliament and outside. 

The following is the text of Amaratunga’s response:

``Our attention is drawn to various statements made by the Army and Police Spokesman on comments made by UNP Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera about the Intelligence Unit. 

``There is a globally-recognized tradition with respect to opinions about and criticism of a country’s intelligence institutions. 

``Firstly, there is accepted procedure on how to respond when any parliamentarian is ready to reveal such matters.  The subject minister, on such an occasion, speaks to the MP concerned or his/her party leader, seeking to resolve the issue through discussion.  There was no such intervention in this case.

 ``Secondly, such disclosure should only be made under extraordinary circumstances.  Since the incident in Beruwela prompted many accusations regarding the security and intelligence services, it has to be considered an ‘extraordinary situation’.  

``Thirdly, it is only for special reasons that names of intelligence officers should be revealed.  In this instance MP Mangala Samaraweera has not revealed any such names, mentioning only the names of higher officers.  In fact these individuals and their conduct have been discussed previously as well, within parliament as well as outside it .  The state media itself has mentioned these names.  Nowhere in the world is revealing of names and addresses of intelligence officers considered a divulging of state secrets or as transgression of the law.  Moreover, what we are witnessing is a deliberate strategy to protect powerful officers at the top in the guise of keeping secret the names of regular intelligence officers. 

``Fourthly, if a member of parliament utters a lie or levels an unsubstantiated charge, it is the relevant ministry that needs to respond to it.  As of now neither the relevant subject minister nor the government spokesman has rejected the story.  If such a statement had been made, then it is the parliamentary tradition for the relevant member to substantiate his charge.  The government, instead of refuting the member’s statement, has resorted to complain about revealing the names of intelligence officers.

 ``Lastly, it cannot be stressed enough that the Army Spokesman has no legal mandate to express opinion on the intelligence services.   This is because these services do not function under the security forces. 

``We are compelled to raise reasonable suspicion in this context on the dictatorial tendencies demonstrated by this government, especially in the matter of deploying the security forces in fields that are not within their jurisdiction.  This is just the beginning.  It is possible that in the future the security forces could be used not just to issue statements about other ministries but to manage those ministries as well. 

``The way the Police Spokesman was used with respect to Mr Samaraweera is another example that clearly indicates the way the government has opted to use the security forces.  The Spokesman said that there are no complaints against Mr Samaraweera, but nevertheless proceeds to state that investigations will be commissioned based on media reports.  The people have not forgotten that this same individual has on previous occasions clearly stated that investigations cannot be commissioned based on media reports but that they are considered only subsequent to a complaint being lodged. 

``According to the Police Spokesman, Mr Samaraweera’s fault is ‘having revealed state secrets’.  What is implied by this is that the intelligence units were indeed implicated in the Beruwela incident and that Mr Samaraweera has only revealed this.  In other words, the Police Spokesman has acknowledged that all the details furnished by Mr Samaraweera are indeed factual.

``This government, through the abrogation of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, has completely politicized the entire public service.  What we are seeing at present is the politicization of the security forces.  The Army Spokesman’s indulgence in politics in fact puts to shame the parliamentarians and ministers of this government. 

``This government has no interest whatsoever in alleviating the burning problems faced by the people including the cost of living and the deprivations resulting from cuts in the health and education allocations.  This government has no other objective than using the entire state apparatus to protect the Rajapaksa regime so that others in the government could also enjoy benefits denied to the rest of the population.  

``We will proceed to draw the attention of the parliament and the International Parliamentary Union on this issue.’’