The Dinamina Editorial of 09 November 2016 states that there exist higher respect and official recognition for war heroes in the country. The epithet Ranaviru itself bears proof to this fact. Members of the armed forces are elevated as war heroes for being a party to the war victory. Besides, the regard for disabled war heroes is even higher in the society. They are regarded highly with honour as a segment who have sacrificed their life and limb for the defence of the territorial integrity of the country.
Every government has granted privileges to war heroes. Granting of houses and awards for war heroes, allowances and promotions for the disabled personnel can be cited as such instances. Each war hero killed in action was given a pension and other allowances along with promotion to next rate/rank. In addition, they are entitled to special privileges from the public administration. A programme to give marks when admitting a child to school was also in place. It is true to say that war heroes are a segment who receive greater privileges and respect from the Government as well as the society.
Amidst such a situation, a fast was commenced by disabled war heroes on 31st near the Fort railway station. By 03rd it had turned into a fast unto death. They demanded that disabled war heroes who had not completed 12 years of service also be given pensions. The Government had agreed to fulfil that demand. Accordingly, the war heroes who had not completed the stipulated service period will receive pensions with effect from next February. The move proves the special regard the Government has for war heroes.
A second reading is needed into this demand and the fast as well as the subsequent response of the Government. The Government has taken its decision contravening the pension and gratuities code of the Army. As such, relevant sections in the code will have to be amended. A soldier should have a service period of 12 years to retire or resign. That period has to be 10 years for a higher rank. Yet, disabled war heroes that have only 08 years of service now receive pensions according to the new decision.
Protesting war heroes are said to be those who had left the service having received compensation. As such, it could be deduced unfair by those who receive pensions after completing 12 years of service since they have not opted for any compensation. In contrast, those that had protested have received not only compensation but also pensions and other allowances as well. According to Government regulations, no government servant, who has left the service having received compensation, will be granted such a payment. In such an eventuality, the relevant Government institution will act as having foregone all bindings by the servant concerned. Viewed from such a perspective, the disabled war heroes have now gained a substantive privilege.
The protest of the disabled war heroes shows that they were lacking in their conduct and negotiation. They marched towards the Presidential Secretariat, overturning the police barricades when the discussions were nearing conclusion. The protest did not stop even though the success of the discussions was conveyed to the protestors. It showed that they have an intention to inconvenience the Government. Something is wrong if war heroes are used as cat’s paws of political parties. Yet, it is highly likely that it had been the intention of the whole process.
When this protest, its march and speeches are closely analysed, it becomes apparent that a substantive number of nationalist, religiously extremist organizations were behind it. Rawana Balaya, Patriotic Bikku Front, Sinhala Jathika Balawegaya and Sinhala Rawaya figure prominent among them. Generally, there is a high regard for war heroes irrespective of ethnic and religious differences. It is even so politically despite the divisions along party lines. Nevertheless, this protest had been led by other groupings. It must be pointed out that the general public resent political, religious and ethnic bias in war heroes.
As the Secretary of Defence states so far solutions have been granted to many of the demands made by the war heroes. Five out of the twenty-five demands have been solved at the ministerial level and another two have been resolved through the President’s mediation. The protest had been launched when a cabinet paper had been submitted to solve the demand of the disabled war heroes. The President had once stated that the Government acts to safeguard the honour and pride of the war heroes at all times despite the accusations levelled by various political organizations against the Government. The protest has been launched by the disabled war heroes disregarding even the President’s assurance.
It is not uncommon to observe social problems involving military in the countries affected by war. One such manifestation is the rise in violent acts, crimes and mental trauma. A higher number of criminal cases linked to deserters of our armed forces are also on record. Such instances can be attributed to the war and the consequent war mentality. The general public never approve of war. Nonetheless, in the countries of the rest of the world there are two groups who do not normally take part in strikes and protests. One is the health workers and the other is the members of the armed forces. In Sri Lanka, both groups stage protests and engage in strikes.
