Sri Lanka 'Needs Space' to Heal War Wounds

What else is new? The Rajapaksa government is mute on the numerous protests and questions being raised by the public about the injustice for General Fonseka. They can run, but they can’t hide!!!

We came for dialogue but received platitudes instead. As a constituent the Foreign Minister is supposed to serve and represent, he did a great injustice to me. As a Sri Lankan, a Sinhalese, a Buddhist and a Patriot - an individual with the knowledge and information to judge right from wrong, he showed me that the archaic and disruptive ideologies that led to this 30 year long conflict that ravaged our nation, is still very much alive. He refuses to acknowledge the injustices perpetrated on the Tamil population; does not deem it dangerous that the Executive powers are being grossly augmented; that witnesses are not protected but bear the onus of proving state sponsored terror. Mr. Peiris: When asked what you thought about the plight of the Tamil people, you answered that according to the experiences of your "one Tamil friend", Tamils were not marginalized but had equal rights and opportunities. How Sir, do you reconcile this with the thousands who are treated as criminals and many a time will go to a silent death just because of their ethnicity? The war did not commence because we had a unified people, because everyone had equal rights. It commenced because of inequality and discrimination. To increasing Executive powers, you simply stated that John F. Kennedy thought it prudent to have Bobby as his Attorney General. True, we cannot stop a few family members coming into power, but the case in Sri Lanka is that the President has over 300 of his relatives in positions of power throughout the nation and as representatives on foreign soil. To analyze your answers will be a gross misuse of one's time - but what hubris to think your audience that unwise? Yes, we are at a crossroads, but the future of Sri Lanka is looking very bleak. State censorship is at an all time high, the leader of the military, who brought about the military victory you spoke about is currently in custody for practicing his right to contest an election, scores upon scores of people are disappearing and turning up dead throughout the nation, just for their ideals. The Legislature you are now coercing to do your bidding was our last option of checks and balances. We now have no government, no Legislature, but a very strong family, with the entire strength of the military to do their bidding. You spoke about this utopia where we should all come together and help with the economic development of the nation, but what of justice, what of accountability. What of the humanity we have all forsaken trying to take away the humanity of others? We deserve better, Mr. Foreign Minister, we deserve so much more from those who say they represent us. Please understand, unity is not some abstract ideology that you can simply conjure up, when you want foreign investment to flow into the nation. True unity in a war torn country, requires an understanding, an acknowledgement and an empathy for what the people have gone through and continue to go through. E pluribus unum, Mr. Foreign Minister, Sine qua non. But we cannot get there using the ideology you espouse - that's what got us into this mess in the first place.