23rd February 1997

The Jungle Telegraph

By Alia


Head in the sky

Who is the SLAF top brass who ordered the arrest of a Policeman performing his legitimate duty at the Ratmalana Air Base soon after the crash of the AN 32 on Poya day?

The twin engined turbo prop answering the call sign Charlie Rome 862 overshot the runway and crash landed in the marshes at 10.27 a.m. Police Emergency who learnt of the incident promptly radioed the Mt. Lavinia Police. SSP Pathmasiri Liyanage and a police party rushed to the scene, made inquiries and returned to the station. Later they went again, this time with the official police photographer. An Air Force official refused entry to the photographer and tried to seize his camera. When SSP Liyanage intervened, the officer radioed his big boss. The reply came within seconds, "Arrest him (the cameraman) was the order.

An ugly situation was developing. Police informed D.M.T.B. Dissa-nayake, DIG (Greater Colombo) who immediately rushed to the scene. He did not mince his words. The Police have to investigate. There were deaths and a magisterial inquiry was pending. "If you obstruct us, we will inform the President," he asserted.

By this time, the big brass had arrived. Matters were sorted out and all of them went towards the runway. There were more problems there. The HQI of the Mount Lavinia Police had a telling off from the same man. "With whose authority are you measuring the runway?" the top brass demanded in his stentorian voice. A witty and well mannered HQI Ginige responded, "with my SSP's authority, Sir!" Needless to say that cameramen from the print and electronic media had been kept at bay for almost three hours. How could they enter when a Police cameraman could not?

Well, all thanks to SSP Liyanage. He made a plea on behalf of the media cameras too. He said they also had a job to do. It was worth their wait. They were also allowed. What price arrogance? Particularly when it comes from people who aspire to reach dizzy heights? Insiders say this is not the first time such things have happened. Hope Air Force Chief Oliver Rana-singhe will find some time (from his other duties of investigating losses) to go into this matter.

Just 42 days

Police Chief W.B. Rajaguru is due for retirement on June 20. He has not yet sent in his papers for retirement or made known his intention to go on leave. But the race to become IGP has already begun. At least one main contender is now doing the rounds calling on PA politicians who matter to support his case. He says he wants to hold the office for at least three weeks. Why the desire for such a short stint? Well, the brave young man has only 42 days to remain in office after Mr. Rajaguru retires!

Dummies

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) are much in the news these days. Only some days ago, one flying over the east, just north of Trincomalee, relayed pictures of a 120 mm artillery gun on the ground. Presumably it was in an LTTE base.

By the time SLAF bombers scrambled into the skies, the gun, one of those seized by the LTTE from the security forces, had disappeared. Now comes the news that the LTTE had turned out dummies of artillery pieces they seized. SLAF officials say they were being deployed in areas visible aerially to attract air attacks.

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