Ven. Muruththettuwe’s selective amnesia | Page 115 | Daily News

Ven. Muruththettuwe’s selective amnesia

The Ven Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, who has lent his Abayaramaya Temple, to be used as a headquarters of sorts, to the Joint Opposition, has, once again come out roaring against the government, on behalf of his political sponsors. It is this self same Muruththettuwe Ananda, who, at one time, threatened to mobilize the Sangha, and, take to the street, if the full security contingent of Mahinda Rajapaksa was not restored, after the government decided to slash the number of security personnel, of the former President, that was deemed disproportionate by the authorities. Nay, the Ven Thera took upon himself the task of providing security, to the former President, from among members of the Sangha. The government’s decision remained, and, members of the Sangha did not take to the street, or, themselves provide the additional numbers, as promised.

Now, the Ven. Muruththettuwe, is, once again flexing his muscles, threatening to bring the Sangha onto the street, this time on behalf of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, following reports of an imminent arrest of the former Defence Secretary. Addressing the media, at the Abhayaramaya, flanked by pro-Rajapaksa Bikkhus, the Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda issued a warning to the government against going ahead with the planned move to arrest Gota, and, that, he would lead the Sangha onto the streets, in such an eventuality.

Of course, the Ven Thera’s reasons for such a course of action is based on the premise that it was Gota, as Defence Secretary, who successfully prosecuted the war against terrorism, and, thus, he belongs to the breed of ‘untouchables’. This was elaborated on by Gota himself, at the D.A. Rajapaksa commemorative event, the other day. Asked by a journalist if the rumour of his imminent arrest was true, the former Defence Secretary stated that this was reward for his role in bringing the war to a successful conclusion.

In the thinking of both, the Ven. Muruththettuwe, and, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, all those who fought the war are inviolate, and, should not be penalized, whatever the offence. However, this mode of thought was applied selectively given the fate that befell Sarath Fonseka, who was thrown behind bars, after a sham court marshal, by the Rajapaksas. There wasn’t even a whimper of protest, by the Ven. Muruththettuwe, when the war winning Army Commander was made to exchange his military uniform, for a prison Jumper. And this was an individual who was in the thick of the battle, and, nearly paid the supreme sacrifice, when a woman suicide bomber blew herself up at the Army Headquarters, unlike the former Defence Secretary, who was issuing orders from the cool comfort of his air conditioned room.

Where was the Ven. Muruththettuwe, whose heart is bleeding for the ranaviruwas, when the military personnel providing security to Sarath Foinseka, who was billeted at a five star hotel, after his defeat at the presidential election, was made to kneel on the hotel driveway, on the orders of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, and, publicly humiliated? We did not hear Ven. Muruththettuwe raise his voice in protest, when the Rajapaksas threatened to split the Malwatte Chapter, after the Mahanayake protested at the shabby treatment meted out to the jailed former Army Commander.

Be that as it may, the Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda, and his ilk, by their conduct and actions are demonstrating a clear lack of concern for the rule law. By preempting the arrest of the former Defence Secretary, the likes of Ven. Ananda are only showing their contempt of the law, and, setting a very bad example to the ordinary public. It is incumbent on the clergy, of any religion, to take a firm stand in upholding the law of the land, instead of attempting to make selective implementation of the law, based on misconstrued notions of patriotism.

The Sangha have already done enough damage in this regard, like creating scenes in court houses. What message does the Ven. Thera seek to convey to the public, by threatening to prevent the law from being implemented? No individual can be above the law, whatever contribution he/she may have made on the country’s behalf. The same goes for military personnel involved in criminal activities. Today it has become a habit, nay, a fashion, for the Joint Opposition, and, certain members of the Sangha, to cry foul, whenever a member of the security forces is arrested, for grave crimes, such as murder, and, rape, on the basis that they were war heroes. In their book, members of the security forces can do no wrong.

There is today an outcry for the release of the former Navy Spokesman, who was taken into custody for overseeing the abduction of Tamil youth. Why was there no such noise made when Sarath Fonseka was dragged away like a common criminal and thrown behind bars? This, therefore, is a political game, indulged in by political monks, to once again enthrone the Rajapaksas, and, regain their lost privileges, that they enjoyed in abundance, in the not too distant past. 


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