Deadly Prophecy From Sri Lankan Journalist

The Age

Wednesday January 14, 2009

Jonathan Steele

A dissident's final editorial has been published posthumously. Jonathan Steele reports.

IT IS being called "the voice from the grave", a remarkable and accusing article written by one of Sri Lanka's best-known journalists, published days after he was murdered in a hail of gunfire.

In a 2500-word editorial, Lasantha Wickrematunge foresees his own death, hints at the identity of the killers from within the ranks of Sri Lanka's Government, and lays out a gripping and detailed account of what he sees as his country's descent into the persecution of its citizens and the flouting of its democracy.

"When finally I am killed, it will be the Government that kills me," he wrote. Addressing Sri Lanka's President, Mahinda Rajapakse - a close friend - he says: "In the wake of my death, I know you will make all the usual sanctimonious noises and call upon the police to hold a swift and thorough inquiry. But like all the inquiries you have ordered in the past, nothing will come of this one, too. For truth be told, we both know who will be behind my death."

Wickrematunge was shot in the head in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, by two gunmen on a motorcycle as he drove to work last Thursday.

In its 15 years of existence, his paper, the Sunday Leader, has become well-known as the island's best independent newspaper. It took an impartial line on the vicious civil war between the Sinhala-dominated Government and the Tamil Tigers.

Wickrematunge had suffered three attacks before last week.

The Government has made a series of military gains over the Tigers in the past two weeks, capturing their political capital and reopening the main road from Colombo to Jaffna by seizing the important Elephant Pass. In the editorial, Wickrematunge said this would not bring victory - a sign that he wrote his article very recently.

"A military occupation of the country's north and east will require the Tamil people of those regions to live eternally as second-class citizens, deprived of all self-respect," he wrote.

The editor ends with an appeal: "If you remember nothing else, remember this: the Leader is there for you, be you Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, low-caste, homosexual, dissident or disabled. Its staff will fight on, unbowed and unafraid, with the courage to which you have become accustomed. Do not take that commitment for granted ... As for me, God knows I tried."

Australia's Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, yesterday expressed his condolences to Wickrematunge's family.

"He was a very well respected editor and a very well regarded Sri Lankan who had permanent residency in Australia," Mr Smith said. "We have in very recent times seen in Sri Lanka a disturbing attack on media outlets."

© 2009 The Age

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