Channel 4 playing professional fouls

Saratha RAJENDRAN

Channel 4 in its new release has alleged that the doctors who had made various statements to international media when they were serving in government hospitals during war time in Vanni, have changed their stance due to pressure by the government while under custody of Criminal Investigation Department (CID). If the doctors recant their eyewitness accounts they would be imprisoned under Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), it has alleged.

Dr. T Satha yamoorthy MBBS - Formerly RDHS Kilinochchi and presently Medical Superintendent, General hospital Vavuniya, he has visited USA, Australia and Canada. 2011/12	Dr. Shanmuga rajah MBBS - Formerly RDHS District Hospital Mullaitivu and presently Medical Superintendent, Mullaitivu Hospital, visited Geneva also attended UNHRC sessions. March 2012	Dr. Vardharajah MBBS - Formerly RDHS District Hospital Mullaitivu, he has been to India for several times and subsequently migrated to USA. 2012	Dr. Siva palan MBBS - Formerly Medical Officer Vanni and presently  serving as MO, Kilinochchi Hospital in Chavakachcheri.	Dr. Illanchelipalliayn MBBS - Formerly Medical Officer, Kilinochchi. Presently undergoing post graduate studies, Colombo.

This seems another loony allegation levelled against the government of Sri Lanka by the CH 4. The fact remains true that when the doctors were in NFZ, they were entirely under control of the LTTE. The doctors were well aware of the repercussions they would have to face if they say anything against the LTTE Tigers.

So they had spoken for them giving exaggerated civilian casualty figures, blaming security forces of arbitrary shelling on hospitals and so on and so forth to the international media. This they had done only for the sake of their survival and to treat the injured, they later revealed.

However, what is interesting here is how the CH4 has dramatized these allegations according to its own imagination. How on earth can the CH4 say things without referring to any of the doctors who are freely available here and abroad about what had really happened when they were in three months’ CID custody?

There were five doctors who served in government hospitals in Vanni and later were liberated by the security forces.

Out of the five doctors, three of them have travelled outside Sri Lanka time to time on personal visits, to receive awards and to attend courses. The countries visited by them include India, USA, Australia and Canada.

Further to the point, the doctors too have provided their testimonies to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) of their true accounts in NFZ during the last phase of humanitarian operation.

In which the doctors have revealed the truth to the world. Also, Dr. Sathiyamoorthy who was awarded Inter Action Humanitarian Award 2010 in the USA, has addressed large gathering of international community sharing his role, experiences, difficulties encountered at the event.

(theimho.org/blog/18-event-category-in-blog/348-sathiyamoorthy-interaction- humanitarian-award-2010")

Their details including present occupational status and whereabouts are given below.

Therefore, it is obvious that the motives behind CH4 new release are nothing but to mislead the international community. The CH4 has drifted a long way from professional journalism and is playing professional fouls. Moreover, the CH4 is now hand in hand with pro LTTE groups and finally become their mouthpiece and giving oxygen to the LTTE rumps in exile, licking their wounds in a bid to help the outfit gain some legitimacy but in vain. Therefore, one must think before he jumps into this unwarranted jargon of mis-information as the truth withstands steady above all forces.