A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Tuesday, October 25, 2016
On The Killing Of Jaffna University Students: In Search Of The Right Path
By Purujoththaman Thangamayl –October 24, 2016
The incident of two Jaffna university students being killed due
to gunshots by the police has set off countless arguments and debates. A
majority of these arguments come from one single perspective. They
highlight this incident as a ‘racist attempt’ or as ethnically
motivated. But, there exists a necessity to list out the issues
surrounding this incident. That will be the healthiest way to deal with
it.
Firstly, the fact that the students have been subject to shooting
amounts to their killing being an act of murder. If the Police Officers
had committed this act they need to be punished. This is because, when
police officers on night patrol do not have the power to attack someone
in a way that leads to his death, but acts that result in death occur
(in whatever form it happens) it should be basically looked upon as
murder. Fundamentally therefore, the killing of the students should be
treated as an act of murder and after the investigations justice should
be provided. On this basis, it becomes necessary that any and all
mistakes those police officers made should also come to light.
Secondly, it should be investigated whether extreme intoxication on
power was the reason behind the police officers committing this
horrendous killing. That, requires taking into cognizance what measures
they took at that time, the amount of alcohol in their body and many
other such issues.
Thirdly, in reality did those two students not pay heed to the police
officers’ request to stop for a police check? Or, were they indeed
checked, allowed to proceed on their motorcycles and then shot? This
also needs looking into.
Even if these three issues are investigated upon and answers found, if
the police had used their gun/s and shot the students it would still
lead to the basic fact that this was murder. Therefore, if the police
had used their gun/s to shoot then they are the perpetrators of this act
of murder as well. There are no doubts on this matter. The path to
achieve justice therefore becomes easier.
Instead, if these basics are thrown aside and the fact that this was a
‘racist attempt’ is highlighted it will give ammunition to making the
situation more complicated. Primarily, it will make the Sinhala South
refer to these two students as Tigers or Terrorists, spread such rumors
amongst the Southern polity and create opportunities for the
perpetrators to gain their sympathy.
Sri Lanka is governed by ethnic conflict. There is no question on that.
But, in such a situation without handling any issue in an appropriate
manner, pushing such an approach aside and instead pouring ghee on the
fire of racism will only lead to more problems. This will not benefit
the Tamil youth.
Another issue that arises is the question as to who will control the
ever increasing number of killings, robbery and rowdyism that has
started plaguing the North –East including Jaffna. Judge Ilancheliyan
put the STF on the ground and ordered the Police to control these acts.
What are the basics behind this order? And, how much authority (and
necessarily, what are the limitations) has been provided to the police
on checking those who travel on the roads needs to be looked into as
well.