counter state
rebellions. Both Sinhala and Tamil rebels considered the socialist camp
as enemies of their respective projects. So did the UNP regime though
we were agreed on the issue of devolution. What a terrible time to have
lived in! Premasiri came
to Moladande at the height of the JVP/DJV chauvinist rebellion. He was
taken into our security arrangement as his brother was a longstanding
party member.
It was a time
when we could not trust even our closest relations. We had to protect
ourselves with those who were politically loyal. At that stage, we were
members of the United Socialist Alliance (USA) launched under the
leadership of the late Vijaya Kumaratunga. After his death we continued
as the USA under trying conditions.
Many of our
leading figures in the southern districts were killed brutally.
Sometimes the brutality of the JVP/DJV exceeded not only that of the
LTTE but also that of the counter terror of the government.
We struggled,
sandwiched between the state and the counter state
rebellions. Both Sinhala and Tamil rebels considered the socialist camp
as enemies of their respective projects. So did the UNP regime though
we were agreed on the issue of devolution. What a terrible time to have
lived in!
Securiy round the clock
In November
1989 I was shot down with a near fatal injury where a rifle bullet went
through my upper abdominal area. I struggled for life for a few months,
while party comrades took turns to provide me security round the clock.
One of those who volunteered was Premasiri and he continued to be with me for many years thereafter. General Attygalle, when he discussed the issue of our security, agreed to train our security squad selected from our politically faithful. General Attygalle was an old fashioned general brought up in the British military tradition, but he was remarkable for his ability to go beyond military limits and bend according to the political needs of the moment. He accepted our refusal to get formal police or army protection. Instead our comrades were allowed into the ranks of the army and police to be placed specifically as our security personnel.
That was how
Premasiri became a soldier. It was a long time back. But he was with me
during the entire period when I faced terrible death threats from the
JVP/DJV. The latter, quite correctly considered me to be the most
serious defender of the right of self determination of the Tamil
speaking people.
Apart from the
attack I faced at Kadawatha, several attempts were made to kill me in
the years ‘89/90. Twice they surrounded the house at Moladande. They
however failed to overcome the resistance of our comrades though we
were heavily outnumbered. Of course, I believe many of those who came
to attack me were village youth, without much training in any kind of
warfare. There could have been several army deserters among them. Still
they were no match for our group which was well organised.
Apart from the training they got formally some of our comrades got experience from the PLOTE and the EPRLF. These organisations, at that stage, were politically allied to the United Socialist Alliance. I am not sure what kind of training comrade Premasiri had, but he was absolutely loyal and daring. If not for the loyalty and sacrifice made by our security squad, I will not be sitting here writing about our efforts to defend the concepts of equality, autonomy and the right of self determination.
But today I am in great distress to learn that Premasiri is being held in the Pallekele prison camp as punishment for being “absent” from the army. My entire attempt to understand how he could be a deserter failed miserably.
Great distress
Of course the
brigadier at the Kurunegala camp, the colonel in charge of the military
tribunal, the superintendent of the Welikada prison, Pallekele prison
officials, Welikada jailers and all the other officials that I
contacted were very helpful. I never expected such solidarity. But they
were unable to explain the nature of justice that imprisoned this old
comrade of mine who never deserted me in the most dangerous period of
my life. Premasiri was later married and his wife died a few years back
leaving their only son in his charge.
So many decades have passed without any problem. He was running a small boutique near his house. His entire life is in disarray after the sudden charge of the army.
Anyway this is
the true story of an imprisoned deserter.