The arrogance of the SLMM

by a Special correspondent
Every newspaper in this country has called for the removal of Telefsen, the new SLMM Chief -

1) because of his biased and wholly partial determinations in favour of the LTTE. He has lost all credibility

2) The people of the south of this country have lost confidence in the SLMM because of his actions. Despite the editorials, the articles in newspapers, demonstrations and most importantly the statements made in Parliament by all opposition leaders calling for the man’s removal, the man stays on as nothing has happened.

Many in this country refer to him today not as Telefsen but as Teflon-son, because nothing seems to stick.

He appears to have a skin of a crocodile. After the earlier incident in which he spoke of a third party having sunk the Chinese vessel, he was nicknamed ‘Tell lies son’. However that may be the man does not appear to have any self respect for any one else would have removed himself.

Since the man refuses to remove himself, there is no question at all that the man must be removed and this can only be done by the government asking the Norwegians to replace him. The government has not requested for his removal despite the aforementioned protests and we therefore legitimately ask the government as to why they have not called upon the Norwegians to replace this man. This man is doing untold harm to the peace process. Is the government waiting for further demonstrations and perhaps a fast unto death to request for the man’s removal.

The Sangha Sabha, the Sinhala Weeravidhana and the Sihala Urumaya are indeed contemplating such action. It is a pity that the government is allowing this situation to escalate. It appears that the government. is taking the Sinhalese for granted.

It may be the view of the government that since they owe their being in power to the minorities, they can afford to ignore the views of Sinhalese, particularly those who supported the opposition.

It is not only those who supported the opposition who are clamouring for his removal but even those who supported the government, want the man removed. There is no question that this man must be removed in the interest of the credibility of the SLMM, the peace process itself and last but not least to show these foreigners that we have spine and they cannot spit on us with impunity. Would the SLMM ever have attempted to act in the manner they have in any other country? Why do we allow ourselves to be taken for granted?

Our leaders are the guardians of the country’s self respect. If they cannot safeguard the dignity of the country it would seem that they don’t value their own dignity and do not value self-respect either. Let us hope that all those who say that we must sacrifice our self respect in order to safeguard the peace process would realize that the dignity of this country is more important and cannot be sacrificed at the altar of white man’s arrogance.