Editorial - The Island
Following our revelation of some sections of the Moon Panel report we are inundated with e-mails from various people including journalists from around the world. They are making all sorts of inquiries, the prominent being what Sri Lankans' reaction to the document will be. We keep telling them that since we have published the most sensitive parts of the report, there will be no surprises left for the people even if the UNSG releases his stale document as promised. Sri Lankans have demonstrated their remarkable resilience vis-à-vis terrorist attacks for over two and a half decades without being provoked and they will face the latest 'terrorist offensive' on the diplomat front in a similar manner.
One of our columnists argued the other day that the UNSG had timed the handing over of a copy of his panel report to Sri Lanka for the eve of the traditional New Year––when the country is usually laid back and Colombo virtually deserted with people disporting themselves in festivities––so that there would be no aggressive reaction. We think the UN worthies hostile to Sri Lanka and their NGO allies also sought to derive some perverse pleasure by taking the gloss off the New Year celebrations by submitting the report on April 12. But, much to their disappointment, the people did not give two hoots about the news of the report.
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The government went all out to hush up the report as evident from its clandestine meetings with the panel and the UNSG while bellowing rhetoric for the consumption of the home constituency. Paradoxically, the government could not have got a better report. The document is so lopsided that it does not stand up to scrutiny at all.
It is hoped that the government will not act like a bull in a china shop in responding to the report. Some of its ministers have launched peaceful protests such as signature collection campaigns. While they have a right to protest in that manner, President Mahinda Rajapaksa ought to keep the likes of Minister Wimal Weerawansa on a tight leash lest they should play into the hands of the terror backers who are all out to bring this country on a collision course with the UN as a whole. The report, they need to be told, has nothing to do with the UN and it was the brainchild of a group including the LTTE rump, some UN functionaries and a few western governments hostile to Sri Lanka. Therefore, the government must ensure that the UN office in Colombo will be able to function free from harassment and/or interruptions.
President Rajapaksa's call for turning the government's May Day rally into a show of strength has fuelled speculation in some quarters that the government is planning a demonstration against the UN. The pro-terror elements and their hired guns in the UN look forward to some untoward incidents on May Day to whip up anti-Sri Lankan sentiments internationally. Minister Weerawansa's death 'farce' against the appointment of the Moon Panel last year only became grist for their mill. Such action is not only stupid but also counterproductive.
Everyone has a right to non violent protests without committing public order offences. The success of the pro-government protest scheduled for May will hinge on the UPFA backers' ability to act with restraint and limit their show to a pledge of solidarity and nothing more. However, in our book, such political circuses are uncalled for. The Moon Panel report is so flawed that even the UNSG must be regretting that he ever appointed his advisory panel. The report has provided the Rajapaksa camp with a fresh rallying point. The President is sure to make the most of it at a future election.
