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Has water closed in on Navy probe report?
Monday, 11 December 2006 - 3:38 AM SL Time
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The three-member Presidential Commission that has completed a probe into the shady arms deals by the Navy is focusing on a number of questionable transactions by the army, according to The Sunday Island of Dec. 10. The Commission consists of Justices Shiranee Tilakawardane (Chairperson), Nissanka K. Udalagama and Nimal E. Dissanayake.
That the army reeks of corruption goes without saying. Corrupt generals haven`t spared even soldiers` rations or bootstraps. It is salutary that the government is planning to probe the sordid operations in the army. But, of what use are such probes, whose findings don`t get published or translated into action against the culprits?
The public has a right to know what is happening to their tax money. The government has increased the Defence expenditure for 2007 by 45 per cent and it is the people who will have to pick up the tab. Before effecting the proposed increase, it is incumbent upon the government to explain to the people how it seeks to rationalise expenditure by curbing waste and corruption in the military. They must not be asked to pour more and more funds into a bottomless pit so that corrupt generals, admirals or air marshals could continue to line their pockets.
Speculation is that the report of the Navy probe will go the same way as the previous ones?to the political lumber room. Politicians, cynics say, try to achieve through commissions and committees something similar to bowel evacuation: They sit, deliberate and there is a report, with which the matter is dropped! Whether the Rajapakse government will be different from the past regimes that swept all corrupt deals under the carpet remains to be seen.
The Commission has, we learn, recommended tough action against those responsible for the corrupt deals concerned. President Mahinda Rajapakse has no alternative but to do as the learned judges have said.
Some of the allegations against former Navy chiefs are startling. We have heard of Navy craft sinking. But has anyone ever heard of Navy vessels `shrinking`? Some Fast Attack Craft (FAC), which the Navy ordered, some years ago, had got shorter upon arrival! In a way, it shouldn`t come as a surprise in a country where the top floor of a five star hotel has gone missing! This may bring to one`s mind the yarn about a US politician and his Sri Lankan counterpart. The duo met in the US and impressed by the American`s posh abode, our man asked the host where the funds for his house had come from. The American pointed to a far away apartment complex and said, `From that!` Some time later, they happened to meet in Sri Lanka at the roof top garden of our man`s palatial house. Bewildered by sheer opulence, the American asked his host, `Where did the money come from?` Cracking a grin, our man pointed to the horizon and said, `From that bridge!` Perplexed, the American said after a careful look, `But, there is no bridge!` `Yes,` our man replied triumphantly, `there is no bridge.` Nothing explains the level of corruption in this country, be it in it politics, the security forces or the police, better than that yarn. In what country will a bunch of military officers be able go Scot free, having ordered a consignment of flak jackets which bullets can pierce or admirals go great guns even after retirement, having ordered discarded cannon to fight a formidable enemy? Where else in the world, can Defence high rankers import a container load of lace (for lingerie etc,) claiming it to be `Defence Cargo` and get away with it?
The corrupt in uniform cannot survive without the patronage of politicians whom they toady to or even share the spoils with. One`s gorge rises at their servility to their political masters as evident from the naming of the two Navy vessels, Jayasagara and Sagarawardene to appease a former President. (We hope there won`t be any Navy craft called Rajasagara or Sagarapakse.) Not to be outdone, a group of police bigwigs sought to nurse their egos a few years ago, by lending their names to five boats purchased for what was grandiosely called the police marine division. Why on earth should the police have a marine division, when they cannot at least deal with law breakers on land? However, we have no quarrels with those officers for having their names printed on boats, as the much flaunted marine division lived up to their reputation: It became a flop!
It is not only the corrupt military and police officers who must be held responsible for robbing the public purse. Their political mentors who appoint them, grant them extension in service and even create posts for them after retirement, too, must be dealt with appropriately. They are as traitorous as the Major who has been nabbed for collaborating with the Tigers and deserve the same punishment as he.
It behoves President Rajapakse to order an immediate probe into the recently finalised Mig deal that has led to controversy, if he is to avoid blame for it.
Let the Navy probe report be made public and legal action instituted against the culprits forthwith!
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whatreallyhap
Joined: Dec 2006
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14 Dec 2006 06:39:20 GMT Report for Abuse
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How many probes how many commissions how many inquiries have been made what has happened to all the people responsible and the crimes that was committed?
Nothing........Why? Why bother.....?
It is all a waste of time effort and public funds. |
SenaM
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14 Dec 2006 14:31:13 GMT Report for Abuse
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There may be instances of 'award' manipulation .. when it comes to major purchases. It is good to have the public made aware of what is happening .. it will help in keeping those 'decision takers' in a more responsible frame of mind. However having said that, we have also to be aware newspapers are not run always by scrupulous people .. they too some-times have an 'axe to grind' .. promote one political party over another, or take up a 'cause' on behalf of a 'financier' (a chum of the publisher] who has lost a 'deal', or is about to loose a deal, and needs propping-up.
The Navy FAC cannon up-grade, and the furore created by the press to 'cancel' the Tender, and there-after to go into a lengthy investigation looks as if it falls into the latter category. After a lengthy investigation, the Presidential Commission finds that the Oerlikon Model KCB 30mm Cannon which the SLN had recommended for the up-grade were eminently suited for the purpose .. they are New (un-used) - as promised, well proven and current (same model of cannon chosen for installation in war-ships, which are being built at this time for the British Navy). The fact that they were manufactured some twenty years ago may not be particularly relevant. On the plus side, it would go to show, they are well-proven.
As regards effectivity - the Oerlikon 30mm cannon, will be found as good as the Bushmaster 30mm. (The working-principles of the two guns are different; that is largely what there is to it). As a result of the ensuing 'squabble' - what did happen was that the Navy was denied an effective cannon being made available speedily .. and they had to go to battle stations in their FACs, with the in-adequate 23mm cannon. They lost many FACs and precious fighting-men, as a result .. because they could not stop in time, attacking suicide-boats with their short range out-moded 23mm cannon.
Former SLN Chief, and those other officers who recommended the purchase of the Oerlikon 30mm cannon appear vindicated .. however, we have lost good men and boats in the mean-time .. Who is responsible for that ?
Edited By - SenaM - 16 Dec 2006 03:47:23 GMT |
SenaM
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15 Dec 2006 18:23:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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We need to have in place procedures, which will not permit a repeat of this type episode occurring again.
It is for Secretary Defence, and for the President to decide on important matters of this nature .. Service Chiefs have to be trusted; if they cannot be, then they should be removed.
When we are dealing with matters affecting national security, it is up to the Service Chiefs concerned to present matters clearly, to the Secretary Defence .. and, if needs be - to the President. We cannot allow the lives of our valiant soldiers, sailors, airmen, and the redoubtable men of the STF to be sacrificed - to allow a second chance for a failed tenderer with 'political pull'.. and possibly backed by a newspaper publisher, to ever again hold-up progress of a much needed program like the FAC cannon up-grade.
Edited By - SenaM - 16 Dec 2006 04:59:55 GMT |
SenaM
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18 Dec 2006 09:27:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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This is a related post .. however it received in-sufficient exposure, I feel. (Column now 'closed' and removed to archives).
Just curious .. Why do all these articles (no doubt news-paper extracts), refer to the Gun which the Navy opted to purchase (for their FAC cannon up-grade), as the KCB 30mm Cannon ? KCB is the Model or Type .. it is actually the Oerlikon Model KCB 30mm Cannon, coming from a distinguished naval gun manufacturer (Swiss), which has led the 'field' since WWI times. (The Oerlikon KCB 30mm is on par with the German Mauser Cannon of similar calibre .. Rafael will offer their Typhoon Mount - see below - with the Oerlikon 30mm or with the Mauser Cannon). Guns under reference would have been manufactured under licence in Britain.
The Oerlikon Cannon (for SLN FAC up-grade) were to be integrated with Gun Mounts, Typhoon NT-D Type - from Rafael Armament Industries, Israel. This is a formidable combination .. the Navy had been trying to get their FACs up-graded since 2001 with this gun-fit. However, it is still under review .. politicians still 'gnawing' at it .. mean-while we have lost a large number of FACs, and good men along with them, simply because the smaller calibre, shorter range 23mm cannon - current fit in the FACs - were not up to the task of intercepting LTTE boats at long range. 'Suicide-boats' which have been largely responsible for our heavy losses, could have been intercepted and destroyed with the long range 30mm cannon.
There are several ways of looking at this 'debacle'. One may argue about the merits of the Bushmaster Mk 44 (30mm cannon), as against the Oerlikon cannon .. the Bushmaster may be 'newer' ('chain' gun, type) .. but to the SLN, it may have been an 'unknown' quantity. For good reasons, they found the Oerlikon gun suited for their purpose - still current, approved for RN war-ships yet to be built. (A conservative reticence is understandable, in the choice of equipment for such an important up-grade, as this one). The requirement was pressing .. hardly the time for prevarication. The higher calibre guns were a desperate need .. the up-grade program should have been rushed through, as a matter of high priority.
It may have been possible to save our FAC fleet (now resting at the bottom of the sea), and the gallant men who manned these craft - if the cannon up-grade had been processed, speedily.
Who-ever scuppered the FAC cannon up-grade program, did a tremendous favour to the LTTE .. that is yet another way of looking at this episode.
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nirupam
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18 Dec 2006 13:39:03 GMT Report for Abuse
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| You do not need commission or experts or judges to inestigate the corrupt arms deal, many are writing in this forum that generals and top brass in the security forces arrange depleted arms to be purchased and get rich commissions to educate their children abroad and to finance their retirement in the West. |
SenaM
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18 Dec 2006 14:26:26 GMT Report for Abuse
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Nirupam
There may be some corruption .. but by and large, the Services 'know their equipment', and do not buy 'rubbish'.
I agree, even the 'little there is', must be eliminated.
It can only come from the top .. rectitude must be demanded by those at the 'top', and those found to not meet with the exacting standards set, should be removed from those key positions.
We have to realise, there is a war being fought, and 'Time' is of the essence.
(I know, you would rather we 'take our time', and fail to meet the challenge .. allow the LTTE to emerge triumphant). |
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