Independent investigation of Easter tragedy with international collaboration essential

by A. BEDGAR PERERA

This issue has come up again with the current firm stand of the Government of Sri Lanka that there is no need for any international involvement in such an investigation. This transpired during a rather controversial global attention-grabbing interview that our Head of State/Government had with the German broadcaster, Deutsche Welle (DW), in Berlin on Oct.3.

Any right thinking citizen of Sri Lanka, will be fed up with the issue dragging on to its fifth year with no answers to the ‘Whodunnit’ question. The bombs claimed over 269 lives including those of 45 foreign tourists and injured close to 500. With the government’s firm declaration that international collaboration is not needed (to review what has already been done and carry out further probes where necessary), hopes of a solution to this problem have evaporated.

During this painfully long post-tragedy period of over four and a half years, there have been three key reports on this bombing tragedy , viz. the Malalgoda Committee, Presidential Commission on the Easter Bombing and the Parliamentary Committee. Strangely, the key recommendations in these reports have not been implemented, in spite of the continuing pressure of those affected. It is quite apparent to the whole world that the Sri Lankan Government is not keen in finding an early solution to the problem and hence the clamor for an independent investigation with international collaboration. This in a situation where 45 foreign tourists were also killed and the local investigation has failed mostly due to unnecessary and uncalled for interference by the Government.

For example, it is well known that there has been a deliberate attempt by the then Government to stifle the CID investigations into this crime initially by transferring key officials and all others who were involved in the investigations. Some were penalized severely for nothing other than doing their jobs without seeking guidance or directions from the powers that be. Ideally, a righteous Government should facilitate such investigations and this attitude has naturally led to significant suspicion in the minds of those affected.

The Report of the Presidential Commission revealed clearly that there had been advance information on the bombing, from Indian Intelligence, which had been ignored by the then Head of State and key officials, thus allowing the terrorists to commit this mayhem on that Holy Day. This bombing is unique since in most or all such incidents here and perhaps in other countries are surprise attacks with no prior warning as in the case of the 9/11 disaster in the USA. in 2001.

All this raises suspicion of negligence by the concerned authorities by ignoring the warnings and letting the bombing to take place. So much so that a Fundamental Rights case filed by some aggrieved parties led to very heavy fines being imposed on the then Head of State/Government and some key high ranking officials. They were found guilty of failing to take appropriate action to prevent this bombing.

Furthermore, there is the recent Channel 4 broadcast where a whistle blower revealed information firmly casting reasonable doubts (yet to be clarified through investigation) on the possibility that a military intelligence official was involved in the whole business. This with the connivance of an LTTE leader, currently serving as a State Minister. This politician, subsequently acquitted of a murder charge, is accused of trying to “create an unsafe situation in the country” (through this bombing) prior to the last Presidential Election, so that poor national security could be highlighted as a critical issue, to enable an identified candidate to exploit the situation, promising firm national security and win a majority with ease. If found to be true, this is a terrible arrangement where military intelligence officials paid by the public to ensure national security have been used by an unseen hand to facilitate this crime against innocent people, with ulterior motives planned to be achieved.

The foregoing points to the fact that it will be futile to waste more time and effort to assign further committees as always done here and or continue further local investigations into this crime which remains unsolved after this long lapse of time, since they have not been independent as known to all. There should be a fully independent investigation where relevant local officials could be involved along with the participation of a reputed foreign investigative organization, which will be independent and have no bias of any sort and they could together review the available findings and recommendations and carry out further probes where necessary and come up with firm recommendations, within a reasonable period of time.

At this point of my above narration, I just cannot help but quote a News 1st report by Zulfick Farzan, datelined July 18,2022, titled ” Easter attacks: Sri Lanka to seek UK and intel assistance, says Acting President. ” Here it is stated that “Acting President Ranil Wickremasinghe has stated that the absence of a proper Easter Sunday investigation has meant that this issue has still not been fully resolved. Acting President also said that due to the incomplete nature of the Easter Sunday investigation he is requesting the assistance of the UK Government and their intelligence services.”.

It seems however, that at present there is a complete turnaround in the stand of the president in the light of pronouncements made during the rather vociferous interview of Oct. 3 referred to above. The Catholic church whose devotees were most affected has long been demanding an independent investigation on the lines set out by the then Acting President on July 18, 2022. Those behind the bombing are still at large. It is the duty of the government to bring those responsible, directly or indirectly, to book and work diligently towards that end.

Email <bedgarperera@gmail.com>