First they came for...

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.