Lasantha Wickrematunge was the editor of the Sunday Leader. He was shot in the head on the way to work. In many ways he was the de facto leader of the opposition, as the political leaders speaking at his funeral are generally failures. Lasantha broke stories of large scale corruption, injustice and tyranny ranging from the CBK’s Water’s Edge deal to the sketchy defense procurement of the Rajapakse brothers. He basically lambasted everyone in a country that needs a good lambasting and handed the opposition quite a few good plums (that they turned into prunes). He was thought by many to be too big to die, but they were wrong. He is dead, his wife is a widow and his children are fatherless. The opposition to the war and tyranny in this country is now reeling. But at least it is awake. These are some photos I took during the funeral procession.
There’s more to come, this gallery should update as I upload. Also got a lot of video, but that’s another thing to upload.
Firstly, I’m not much for protests or processions. I think they’re hot, muck up traffic and are generally pointless. This one though, I dunno, there was something deeply affecting about reading his posthumous editorial (dead man writing), or seeing the photos of his shot up car. I mean, I always took the Sunday Leader for granted. I didn’t even read it that much, but I always knew that there would be some voice ranting in the desert, constantly pointing out the corruption and tyranny that Sri Lankans have grown so cruelly used to. And that voice was shot dead in the streets.
And it hits home. Because I do live in Colombo, I do speak English, etc. Because he is a friend of a friend.
But to those who’d say this is a Colombo elite issue, it’s not, and I’m not. I’m not Colombo elite. Politicians are, as are their families and cronies. If only because they are physically safe. I’m part of the vestigal elite, that cadre which feels deserving by virtue of accomplishment or wealth or beauty, but who are still not physically safe in this country. So cocktail parties aside, if you don’t have guns you’re nobody.
But to return, Lasantha was a guy I am one degree of separation from. I am one phone call away. And it makes me scared because the creeping terror from his bloodied windshield shatters the illusion I have that me and mine are somehow safe. And that things will somehow be OK. Because he was fighting the good fight. And he died.
And that sucks. But the hope is, the burning ember is, after the curses and the railings have ceased, perhaps some of the people marching today will talk to each other, protect each other and rebuild the opposition in this country. And perhaps that opposition will – thru the fear that grips us today – push on to reclaim the democracy, freedom and rights that they say is the price of war. Because it’s not. Because we are fighting for a nation, not land, and while Mahinda may be conquering land, Lasantha pointed out all the ways he has abandoned our nation. And Mahinda has now abandoned his friend Lasantha, in this new era he has created, well, I think Lasantha said it best:
You have told me yourself that you were not greedy for the presidency. You did not have to hanker after it: it fell into your lap. You have told me that your sons are your greatest joy, and that you love spending time with them, leaving your brothers to operate the machinery of state. Now, it is clear to all who will see that that machinery has operated so well that my sons and daughter do not themselves have a father. (His Last Editorial)
Below are a few of the photos that came out the best
I hesitate to aggrandize the average, but amidst all the washed up washed up communists and people yelling there are still a lot of average people who are like ‘WTF?’.
This I don’t really agree with, but probably one of the more interesting moments of the march. It’s Mahinda Rajapakse burning in effigy. I don’t support violence, insinuation of violence, or threat of. Partly because the Buddha said it’s a bad idea, partly cause reason shows it to be counter-productive, and partly cause I’m little and it’s not that much of an option.
Mahinda on fire eh?
Wish I was there.
It turned into a bit of a UNP rally at the end, but hey, they are the official opposition if not the de facto opposition.
Was good to see you there…
Something interesting pointed out in DBS Jeyaraj’s article was that Lasantha was deeply religious–he was a born again Christian-and had told Jeyaraj “Dont worry machang. Nothing will happen to me because there is a divine power watching over me. That’s my protection.” This has kinda been bothering me ever since I read this because it made me think that maybe his faith contributed to his death. He knew there were motorcycles outside his house, his wife tried to make him stay home; someone who saw the motorcycles take off after him called to warn him. And still, he willingly drove out into the waiting jaws of the beast. It doesn’t seem rational to do that. Perhaps he was brave, perhaps he was foolhardy, perhaps he thought no one would go that far…or perhaps he was blinded by faith into thinking he really did have divine protection. I have no issues with religion–I’ve learnt a thing or two from many religions myself–but I can’t shake the feeling that he might still be here if he was more of a secularist, if he was more pragmatic about his religion, if he was more realistic about the world we live in. Then again, maybe it was the fearlessness born of his faith that made him push for that scoop that no one else had the balls to go after.
DBS’s article is here:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=37390
‘Because we are fighting for a nation, not land, and while Mahinda may be conquering land, Lasantha pointed out all the ways he has abandoned our nation.’
You really hit the mark there. Great writing!
I was there, but was sickened by Ranil and co’s pathetic attempts to turn the funeral into a political wankfest. I left earlier than I’d have liked to, but at least I got a chance to pay my last respects.
RIP Lasantha.
I’m not sure, but I heard that Lasantha actually planned some of his funeral and requested that the UNP be involved, as the opposition. Indeed, this could be a pivot for the opposition, if they had opposable thumbs.
It’s really sad. There’s so much political capital lying on the ground, but Ranil can’t pick it up. Him and the UNP guys were pretty useless at the rally and most of the numbers had to be raised from other people. There really is a deep leadership vacuum that someone has to step up and fill.
Not sure about you, Indi, but I am resigned to another Rajapakse term once this one runs out. And then who knows? Basil? Gotha?
Fuck me. The doesn’t bear thinking about.
Thanks for these pictures. This whole series of events, from his death to his posthumous article to his funeral, has been both utterly depressing and incredibly inspiring. That sort of bravery is too rare.
Ranil will be opposition leader for life. The broz will do everything they can to keep him safe. The only answer: don’t vote for him in the general election. Get him to loose his seat in parliment. Then he cann’t be opposition leader!
Amen to that!
Under Dog, I don’t agree with you there. Most Christians believe that the lord watches over them, it is in fact what the bible teaches them. They believe that they are always protected no matter what. It isn’t a foolhardy belief, it is what they are taught and what they trust. I think Lasantha said it best in his final Editorial
“We have espoused unpopular causes, stood up for those too feeble to stand up for themselves, locked horns with the high and mighty so swollen with power that they have forgotten their roots, exposed corruption and the waste of your hard-earned tax rupees, and made sure that whatever the propaganda of the day, you were allowed to hear a contrary view. For this I – and my family – have now paid the price that I have long known I will one day have to pay. I am – and have always been – ready for that. I have done nothing to prevent this outcome: no security, no precautions. I want my murderer to know that I am not a coward like he is, hiding behind human shields while condemning thousands of innocents to death. What am I among so many? It has long been written that my life would be taken, and by whom. All that remains to be written is when.”
He did not want the threat of death to scare him into living a life of fear. It is the choice between being dragged into a fight kicking and screaming and walking in to it with your head held high. To some there may be very little difference, but to those who matter, the difference is a significant one. Him acting the way he did i think had little to do with his beliefs that no one would ACTUALLY get him. He knew VERY well that they would one day, we all did. But i think it had everything to do with being the person he was… till the very end! And that person was not a coward!
I love the photos, indi. Especially the vertical one of the on lookers with the mobitel signs on the balcony-the woman looking straight into the camera clinches the shot. well done.