They beg for our valuable votes and come to power, to serve us but, once elected, they loose their thick skulls and serve themselves, and also their kith and kin.
Brig. (Retd.) Neville Fernando says… In the present context, heavily guarded politicians are
in no way a national asset. If they are in so much danger, that they cannot move around in public places, without being accompanied by 10 to 15 guards each and so many pilot and escort vehicles, then it is better they stayed at home. Just imagine the amount of money spent on these servants of ours. They beg for our valuable votes and come to power, to serve us but, once elected, they loose their thick skulls and serve themselves, and also their kith and kin.
These politicians hugely inconvenience the public. They also are a threat, because most of their security guards carry automatic weapons pointed at the poor citizens.
These politicians should not come out, as their presence in public places itself threatens the ordinary citizens. It has become a matter of prestige for these ‘servants’ of ours to move with 10 to 15 uniformed security personnel carrying automatic weapons. If these politicians feel so threatened they should not come out in public places… It has become a status symbol for them, as some of them were just riff raff, before being voted into power. The more security personnel around them, the more prestigious they feel. It is obnoxious, that ordinary people are forced to stay on the sidelines and are prevented from walking on even the payments, when these ‘servants’ of ours pass by.
The other problem is that roads are completely closed and even pedestrians are not allowed to stay on the roads, as they are pushed into by-lanes, when the more powerful ones are moving. What a mess? Even HE the President should not come out to cut ribbons and lay foundation stones, inconveniencing the public. If he really has to come out, better to use a helicopter, after all he is the President!
These security personnel are more required in operational areas than guarding our politicians here. And even the vehicles these security personnel travel, could be put into better use in operational areas.
The bottom line is that if our politicians are so scared, they should stay at home, without inconveniencing the general public. HE the President should set the example. The ordinary citizen curses these politicians every time the roads are closed for them to move round.
November 11, 2007 at 11:38 am
Very well said. I agree with every word in the article.This way the politicians as well as general public will be safe guarded. Indeed when politicians come to public places citizens will become extremely unsecured. Please please don’t waste money and innocent peoples lives,stay home. Let us see if they respond to this.
November 11, 2007 at 1:03 pm
The President, the Defense Secretary, and all high profile VIPs MUST avoid ALL unnecessary exposure to be targeted by the LTTE. They are planning as we speak. LTTE have succeeded many times in the past. They just need one more to turn the tide. Seriously, who needs all these ribbon cuttings, and public speeches, use the radio, TV, people are not dumb they know the risks involved.
So PLEASE don’t take any chances.
This is it, time is now, Sri Lankan’s war will be decided in the next two years, we want our leaders and heroes to see the end of this, another commemorative statue is not what we need.
November 11, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Partly agree with the guy Mr. Neville Fernando. HOW MUCH of real war, real battle, real security experience does Mr. Neville Fernando have?
Minimizing exposure is critical. LTTE does their homework and rehearse and adjust and rehearse and adjust. What does Mr FDO have to say about military incompetence and intelligence failures? What about all the millions of dollars going up in flames at Apura because people were partying and probably drunk?? How many army camps were overrun and weapons stolen because of military incompetence too? Dont just tell off politicians Brig Fdo. OUR money goes to pay your cars, your drivers, your official houses, your shopping jaunts to the pola while troops ride tractors in Jaffna to battle while you get the AC car because YOU think YOU As officers of a third world Army deserve these without really having fought?Stop wasting money on high ups and let the people who fight have the CArs and army drivers you get who go around throwing their weight and bossing people at markets etc.
Mahinda, Gotabaya and the critical Defense Chiefs need to be hidden from the ltte. But kick out the crooked corrupt military people first too. They have let this war drag on through military failures too. Remember all the camps that were overrun and then how they lied to Chandrika K? They said weapons were not stolen by LTTE. So get real..
November 11, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I fully agree with the view, especially now HE in his capacity as the Minister of Finance has burdened the nation with 20% defense budget to “protect the nation”. It will be interesting to see the cost of moving one minister per meter in public places and compare and see how heavy they are to the National Economy.
November 11, 2007 at 3:22 pm
what’s said is political. attempts are made to make a mockery by keeping the government away from common masses and development. this is the latest cry by the wimpy opposition. they will fail again!
writer is clearly run by jealousy. may be for what he cant get or what he is missing since retirement!
but, salute to what ever good (if any) you’ve done!
November 11, 2007 at 4:06 pm
I fully agree with him. but should cover not only the politicians but the authorities concerned in all aspects of lives.
November 11, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Congratulations Brig. Neville Fernando, Many thanks that one Sri Lankan can talk about the inconvenience of Millions of Sri Lankan who suffering at this moment.
Brig. We Sri Lankan, Sinhalese cannot go freely in our own country. This is Sri Lanka… Pathetic situation is that the Petrol is sky rocketed and when you want to go some place in Colombo with the massive traffic and once you reach to a point where the American Passport Holder Gotabaya will arriving from his office and the dam roads are close before his departure from his office prior 15 to 30 minute. You must see the way our Sri Lankan Senior Police officers are chasing the traffic, stating that the road is close and get back as soon as possible. I don’t understand why the Traffic Police cannot put up a notice stating Monday to Friday from this time to this time the road is close or they have to take some sort of plans. The best part is that even if your car is breakdown you have to move the car from that particular place which you cannot even start the car since the VIP’s are moving around. This is what happened to our own country. We Sri Lankan Sinhalese have no place to go. What the Heck who got the American Passport go away without making trouble to our innocent poor Sri Lankan or you VIP’s can get in to HELICOPTERS and go were ever they like.
Keep-it-up Brigadier and god bless you, because you might get missing if you are in Sri Lanka.
Best Regards,
Lucky A….
November 11, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Well said. These so called people who are were elected to serve us behave as the whole general public is mere rubbish, with impunity. Driving or using our public roads has become a extreme danger to ones health these days with the politicians parading our public highways with their gun totting security staff