Channel 4 Video and its aftermath

I blogged at length on June 10th suggesting that the Government should take preemptive action prior to the video being aired and try and limit its fallout and made some suggestions, which if taken I am sure would have reduced the current collateral damage which is harmful to Sri Lanka's image abroad, which this stupid and insular looking Govt. does not appear to care a rats ass about.

It has now aired and true to form the Govt. continues to deny  its authenticity, which does not do any good as it is impossible to defend the indefensible. One isolated person was found to question its authenticity, but his credentials also seem suspect in that he is also not independent. However if any of the home, bravado mobile phone based moving images were anything to go about, the authenticity is not in doubt.

That is not to say we are not patriotic and glad the LTTE were annihilated. After all who could take issue with wiping out the most ruthless terrorist outfit the world has ever seen. What is sad is the Govt. is making a great effort at harming the image of Sri Lanka and are pretending that they are doing the reverse. This in essence is the problem, and we in Sri Lanka are made to suffer due to the ego of a very few people at the top who think that whatever they say or do is acceptable to all those who hear it.

I said earlier that the Channel 4 video which had been sent to the Govt. in advance of the airing for comment, should have been countered as LTTE propaganda, or heavily influenced by people whose agenda is suspect, without saying the video is not authentic. We all know we have suffered 40 years of gory and dreadful atrocities so the video is nothing new and not surprising in comparison to this behavior. The action of a few rogue elements of the army in times of heated do or die warfare can be explained as nothing worse than the acts of atrocities committed by the LTTE. The fact that they are categorically stated as being fake is what grates the mind.

There was a good chance prior to the video being aired of getting a balanced airing showing LTTE atrocities along with Govt. atrocities. If this was shown then the repercussions would have been minimal.

HOW LONG ARE WE TO SUFFER DUE TO THE INTRANSIGENCE OF A FEW LEADERS WITH BIG EGOS WHO CARE NOT ONE IOTA FOR THE INTERESTS OF THE COUNTRY?