By Arun Kumaresan –
Arun Kumaresan – Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d)
Much has been spoken of the incident involving our Military Attaché in UK. The duties of a Military Attache is well articulated by Dushy Ranetunge in an article in Colombo Telegraph, quote “…The function of the military attaché to the Sri Lankan mission in London is not to be its security guard. He/she is the point of contact for British security agencies, to enhance the security of both nations, with periodic meetings for security cooperation between the two nations….”. It is clear his act has no relevance to his official role.
Hence, the incident needs no further review but the reactions by the people in power needs attention.
Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake came to the defense of the Military Attaché and stated “On the day of the incident the protesters who were carrying LTTE flags had shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan government and sung songs in praise of Prabhakaran. The Brigadier who was standing inside the premises of the Sri Lankan HC had pointed to the Sri Lankan flag on the shoulder of his uniform and gestured that the Sri Lankan government had already ‘taken care’ of Prabhakaran,”.
Question to the Army Commander; is your assertion that the perception of flag waving protestors hither to was that Prabhakaran died of a ‘Heart Attack’. ???? Does the act by the Military Attaché conform to the best of traditions & to the phraseology of an “Officer and Gentlemen”????
State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene too lauded our Military Attaché stating “My preference is for Brigadier Fernando as he had given the right signal to pro LTTE Diaspora,”
Question to the Mr State Minister; do you mean your government has given the wrong signal to the LTTE Dispora? In contrary; isn’t the act by the Brigadier gave the much needed publicity at no cost for the LTTE Diaspora???
Minister Navin Dissanayake said Military Attaché enjoys diplomatic immunity for actions performed within the embassy premises and that it was most disturbing and offensive to witness protesters being allowed to carry flags belonging to the LTTE in the UK where the organization has been banned.
Questions to the Mr Minister; No one challenges the diplomatic immunity but; whether his actions conform to the well established “Diplomatic Norm, Form & Conduct” that entails such immunity???
As Paul Gosar said “It is time to reclaim our nation’s moral compass”. This will enable us to differentiate the “Right” from “Wrong”. Until then we will be forced to glorify the wrong. Any reasonable person attempting to answer the above questions will understand the magnitude of the need for the recalibration of the moral compass of our society. (No wonder UVA CM who made a Principal to kneel is still in power)
The reactions of defending the ‘WRONG’ are disgusting. Shame, Shame, Shame….on the above defenders.
Shame / February 10, 2018
Shame, Shame, Shame on you Arun!!
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Native Vedda / February 10, 2018
Shame
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Shame, Shame, Shame on you Arun!!
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Why, why, why, why, …………?
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Dinal / February 10, 2018
Arun Kumaresan, sadly most of our Sri Lankans don’t see the need to punish bad behavior to pave the path for honest integral individuals getting into positions of power…
We are only reinforcing the mentality that crime and criminal behavior is rewarded and sending our nation spiraling down a dark path.
At this rate Sri Lanka is destined to turn into another North Korea or worse…
We even have social media platforms like VOC were people like to hold candles and dance in the moonlight instead of engaging the real issues like this.
Nothing really has changed at least not enough…
Only pseudo patriotism everywhere you look.
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airforceone / February 10, 2018
Arun is a coward. Just ask his colleges in the Air Force. You should be held for treason!!!
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Native Vedda / February 10, 2018
airforceone
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“Arun is a coward. Just ask his colleges in the Air Force. You should be held for treason!!!”
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Well I may agree with you provided I have access to his colleagues in the Air Force. Please let me have names and contact detail of his colleagues, e mail addresses, telephone numbers, addresses, ….
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John / February 10, 2018
Bloody Donkey of idiots. They all just lost the meaning of diplomat. They are there to show the good side of the country and the people they represent, and not to behave in callous manner bring disrespect to all in the country. Just think of what JR said in 1951 in San Francisco, when the world powers met to discuss the fate of Japan, and he showed the best of the country to the entire world by saying the words of Lord Buddha – haterred couldn’t be eradicated by haterred but only by love and mercy, there, he and the country stood up against the mighty powers. This had brought not only those Japanese, all the might powers’ of the world and those in attendance in that conference but the entire planet’s appreciations and good wills to the little country called Ceylon. All please stop these nonsense, eye for eye, limb for limb wouldn’t work for the good living of the people, and just work hard to build real and lasting reconciliation of all communities to lead a good lives and a better country for all. By this silly action of this diplomat, these misguided people are getting remondous publicity for their bad course, at no cost.
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Jim softy / February 10, 2018
I think President should give TV/Radio address and probably should debated in the parliament.
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Jim softy / February 10, 2018
People do not know better ways to be cheap.
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Mallaiyuran / February 10, 2018
Vijithamuni was set up by JR’s acolytes to beat Rajiv. Sinhala Jury Verdict was he had a heat stroke. Then, which is true, as per the our Sinhala Only Jurist? when Rajiv walk by our Army- Navy personnel get heat stroke so they, without knowing him who he is, beat him up or when heat stroke comes our Navy-Army personnel search and strike Rajiv only? (or both?).
These UNP parliamentarians impeached a Tamil Opposition Leader. Their contention of having embassies is only to have a path way to foreign Bars and Restaurants. So the rowdies back at home leave alone the embassies and its goons and they bark through the fence on their own.
These unruly crowd, famous for their brawls in the parliament, now convulsing to take those browls to London too. They are willing to explain why the embassy rowdy showed throat slitting sign, but don’t explain why they brawl in the parliament, with ultra filth languages.
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Sape / February 10, 2018
Arun seems to be a LTTE apologist that served in the SLAF. Not sure how many he betrayed during his tenure.
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Native Vedda / February 10, 2018
S-ape
“Arun seems to be a LTTE apologist that served in the SLAF. Not sure how many he betrayed during his tenure.”
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Since when? And how did the SLAF miss him being an apologist in its periodic vetting process? If so saying the SLAF is awash with incompetent idiots?
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The lonely Field Marshall Fonseka was jailed after the end of the war.
Was/Is he a traitor?
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How about Lakshman Kadirgamar, he must have been a traitor.
Is that why he was assassinated?
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Sunil / February 13, 2018
Sape, watch yourself and don’t be disrespectful to this true patriot of Sri Lankan…
Where were you while he was risking his life for your freedom!?
Were you hiding under your bed?
If you disagree with his opinion do so in a respectful way…
By your foolish logic anyone who has views that don’t agree with yours must be a terrorists or traitor! I remember similar Sounding views from a GOATa.
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Burt / February 10, 2018
I don’t agree with what the embassy “security guard” did and the argument of his defenders but I understand why no action by Sri Lanka should be taken.
In real life this happened to civilians that were arrested during the conflict and it happened when the current president was with the last govt and the current military commander was in position of power. All these crimes happened with the consent of the govt and military. So if non have been held accountable for the actual cruel action and cold blooded murders how do you demand action on someone imitating just the gesture.
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Anonymous / February 10, 2018
Here comes Mahinda Rajapaksa and his military state!?
Well done coalition government your inaction is at play.
International intervention on the horizon.
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Mallaiyuran / February 11, 2018
I don’t know. I want to see what the Slap can do!
This is only LG anyway.
Ranil wanted to keep Military in tact in North-East, in case he loses. He had continued the Chinese relationship, too. If Old Royals take over, no major modification necessary in the structure other few firings and more family members hirings
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K.Pillai / February 10, 2018
Arun Kumaresan poses some uncomfortable questions following the now infamous ‘Cut Your Throat’ gesticulation.
Army Commander Mahesh Senanayake came to the defense of the Military Attaché and tells GoSL “Brig Fernando is not answerable to GoSL”.
The incident has opened up a can of worms.
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Laura Powell / February 11, 2018
Arun, Why don’t you critisize or look down the act of LTTE diaspora in London. Not only that f.. ing British government allowing those f…ing LTTE supporters to protest. Are you scared of them or British government?
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Silva / February 13, 2018
Laura Powell, this is not how you take this up with the British Government can’t you understand that!?
This diplomat has set the Sri Lankan Government efforts!
Taking some form of disciplinary action is the right thing to do.
The military is here to serve the nation state and has no business taking on diplomatic postings and tarnishing the reputation of our country and then expect the state to defend him.
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srinath.gunaratne / February 11, 2018
This is something we need to handle silently like Brits do, More our politicians try to defend it, more shit end up on our face!
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Gorakaya / February 11, 2018
Srinath, How true.
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Rinks / February 11, 2018
You are the dumb idiot! Why can’t all of you stupid people understand that he did not display hatred for Tamils or any other ethnic group but simply made the statement that “TERRORISM” which is being promoted by those LTTE dogs has been “taken care of” and “eliminated” by the government.
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Native Vedda / February 12, 2018
Rinks
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“simply made the statement that “TERRORISM” which is being promoted by those LTTE dogs has been “taken care of” and “eliminated” by the government.”
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The news that “TERRORISM” has been “taken care of” and “eliminated” by the government.” hasn’t reached the protesters since 2009 and he was generous enoug to let them know? Why didn’t the previous military attache’s let the protesters know about the news over the last 9 or so years?
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Did he ever make the same statement to the JVP terrorists or got annoyed with its imported symbols on its flag?
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He is not only a threat to people abroad but also a serious threat to people of this country.
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Why did the foreign/defense ministries chose to send a thug as a diplomat who cannot properly communicate with people. In that incident I am told there was no need for him to mingle with the protesters. He was not invited by them either. He was annoyed by questions raised by the protesters. He went inside the High Commission removed his civilian winter jacket came out again in his military uniform. Was his hand gesture to tell the protesters he was ready for another war or perhaps he was well trained to slit throats?
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Can you not think for yourself.
Did he say he was a silit?
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PS
The meaning of silit in Indonesia is damn,as****e
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Richard Kaz / February 12, 2018
I understand the anger felt by Tamils, this Brigadier was probably trying to show the world by signs, what he and the GoSL did to Tamil civilians during the last days and months of the civil war in 2009.
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Nirmalan Dhas / February 12, 2018
The responses of the government confirm that the Brigadier was enacting through mime, the governments policy towards supporters of the LTTE – “cut their throats and kill them”. This makes it clear that the Sri Lankan government rejects global norms of civilisation and the doctrine of human rights. It wants to take us away from civilisation and into savagery and this is what most native Sri Lankans seem to want too…
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