First they came for the Tamils in the “No Fire Zone” and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Tamil.
Next they came for Lasantha Wickramatunga, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Journalist.
Then they came for Roshen Chanaka, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a factory worker in the Free Trade Zone.
Then they came for Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Murugasan and I did not speak out
Because I was not a JVP activist.
Then they came for Anthony Fonseka, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a fisherman.
When they finally came for me there was no one left to speak for me.
With apologies to Martin Niemoeller, a prominent Protestant pastor who opposed the Nazi regime in Germany.
