India's Cynical Sri Lanka Vote

India’s foreign policy is acombination of realpolitik and old-school “nonaligned” mumbo-jumbo that made little sense even when it was more relevant during the Cold War. In any case, they definitely don’t want to talk about country-specific human rights issues (lest Kashmir might get more play). Yet, they joined the majority to support a human rights resolution on Sri Lanka.

India has refused to condemn Syria’s brutal crackdown on its own citizens. There, it was pure cynicism on the part of South Block (India’s Ministry of External Affairs) knowing that India won’t take a hit for not condemning Syria’s war against its people.

For Sri Lanka, it’s infinitely more complicated.

Because of India’s federal system (similar in many ways to the US), regional politics play an outsize role in India’s foreign policy with respect to Sri Lanka. The southern state of Tamil Nadu, with 72 million people, often has come to the aid of their brethren in Sri Lanka. That wouldn’t matter except that national elections are coming up soon and one of the government’s main coalition partners just happens to be a Tamil Nadu-based party known for taking a very strong pro-Sri Lanka Tamil line. As India’s top English-language newspaper (based in the Tamil Nadu capital of Chennai) states in its article on the vote:

India initially showed reluctance to vote on a nation-specific resolution but changed its stand after political parties in Tamil Nadu exerted pressure on the United Progressive Alliance government to go with the resolution. The DMK, in particular, threatened to pull out its Ministers from the UPA government on the issue.

So, although it’s clear that India’s position on the resolution helped sway others to also vote in favor of the UN resolution (and that’s a good thing), it doesn’t hurt to look cynically at what India did here and put it down to domestic politics. Next time a resolution like this comes up on a country, they should take a principled stand on behalf of human rights and stop playing games with other people’s struggles.

For more on human rights in South Asia, please follow me @gringostani

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107 thoughts on “India's Cynical Sri Lanka Vote

  1. good article, India should do more if it wants to be global player and UN permananent member.

    As international law suggest “ if a state unable or unwilling to investigate war crimes” international investigation is inevitable.
    Srilankan president and many other personalities has stated that Srilanka will not implement UN resolution .

    There fore It is time to initiate international investigations as suggested by UN expert Pannel, AI, HRW , British PM , ex-FM of UK David miliband.

    Support international investigation sign it, spread it world wide ..

    Sign petition @ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14586

  2. good article, India should do more if it wants to be global player and UN permananent member.

    As international law suggest “ if a state unable or unwilling to investigate war crimes” international investigation is inevitable.
    Srilankan president and many other personalities has stated that Srilanka will not implement UN resolution .

    There fore It is time to initiate international investigations as suggested by UN expert Pannel, AI, HRW , British PM , ex-FM of UK David miliband.

    Support international investigation sign it, spread it world wide ..

    Sign petition @ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14586

  3. As international law suggest “ if a state unable or unwilling to investigate war crimes” international investigation is inevitable.
    Srilankan president and many other personalities has stated that Srilanka will not implement UN resolution .

    There fore It is time to initiate international investigations as suggested by UN expert Pannel, AI, HRW , British PM , ex-FM of UK David miliband.

    Support international investigation sign it, spread it world wide ..

    Sign petition @ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14586

    All AI members please promote and sign above petition for International investigation against srilanka as it is now clear that state is " UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE"

  4. As international law suggest “ if a state unable or unwilling to investigate war crimes” international investigation is inevitable.
    Srilankan president and many other personalities has stated that Srilanka will not implement UN resolution .

    There fore It is time to initiate international investigations as suggested by UN expert Pannel, AI, HRW , British PM , ex-FM of UK David miliband.

    Support international investigation sign it, spread it world wide ..

    Sign petition @ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14586

    All AI members please promote and sign above petition for International investigation against srilanka as it is now clear that state is " UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE"

  5. good article, India should do more if it wants to be global player and UN permananent member.

    As international law suggest “ if a state unable or unwilling to investigate war crimes” international investigation is inevitable.
    Srilankan president and many other personalities has stated that Srilanka will not implement UN resolution .

    There fore It is time to initiate international investigations as suggested by UN expert Pannel, AI, HRW , British PM , ex-FM of UK David miliband.

    Support international investigation sign it, spread it world wide ..

    Sign petition @ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14586

  6. As international law suggest “ if a state unable or unwilling to investigate war crimes” international investigation is inevitable.
    Srilankan president and many other personalities has stated that Srilanka will not implement UN resolution .

    There fore It is time to initiate international investigations as suggested by UN expert Pannel, AI, HRW , British PM , ex-FM of UK David miliband.

    Support international investigation sign it, spread it world wide ..

    Sign petition @ http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/14586

    All AI members please promote and sign above petition for International investigation against srilanka as it is now clear that state is ” UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE”

  7. Abuse of the Human Rights of the Tamils continues.

    CPJ Blog
    Press Freedom News and Views

    Eknelygoda's wife latest victim of Sri Lankan intolerance
    By Bob Dietz/CPJ Asia Program Coordinator

    Sri Lankans are calling for a boycott of U.S. products after the U.S. sponsored the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution calling for an investigation into possible war crimes. (Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte)
    On Thursday and Friday, we wrote about the ugly government backlash to last week's U.N. Human Rights Council resolution calling for an investigation into Sri Lanka's alleged abuses of international humanitarian law during its war with Tamil separatists.

    That campaign of intimidation continues: In the magistrate's court where Sandhya Eknelygoda has been trying to gain any information about the whereabouts of her husband, Prageeth, who disappeared on January 24, 2010, she came under harsh questioning — observers at the court called it intentionally intimidating — from government lawyers about her presence at the UNHRC in Geneva. Before she returned home from Switzerland, her name had been denounced in the government-controlled media as one of the government's critics — several of whom have been denounced as "traitors."

    Eknelygoda told colleagues in Colombo that Monday's entire court session was about how she went to Geneva, who funded her trip, why she betrayed her country, and how much she was paid to do that. Her lawyer objected to the line of questioning, but was overruled, she said.

    When she had returned home on Sunday from Geneva, she told reporters, "I only wanted to bring the disappearance of my husband to the notice of the international community. But, those who are allied with the government insulted me, saying I went there to betray the country," she said. You can see a video report of her statement on YouTube.

    Eknelygoda and her two teenage sons have been waging a quiet but steadfast campaign to pressure the government for information about their husband and father. CPJ and four other media support groups wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in March 2011, asking for his intervention in the case. Ban referred the issue to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNESCO, where it has been allowed to languish, despite pleas from Eknelygoda and her supporters.

    Nor has a January 2012 ruling by Sri Lanka's Appeal Court that former Attorney General Mohan Peiris could be called in as a witness into the disappearance of Eknelygoda been acted on. In a November 2011 posting, "Sri Lanka's savage smokescreen," CPJ reported that Peiris told the Asian Human Rights Commission that Eknelygoda had taken refuge in a foreign country and that the campaign against his disappearance is a hoax, although he failed then and ever since to provide detailed information about where Eknelygoda had fled.

    At the time, CPJ said that Peiris's statements "do more than point up the government's indifference to Eknelygoda's fate and the mental anguish of his wife and two sons. Peiris's statements highlight the disregard with which the government views international opinion."

    Given the response in the government-controlled media following last week's Geneva vote, that indifference and disregard have moved on to outright hostility.

    Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk.
    Tags: Harassed, Missing, Prageeth Eknelygoda, Sandhya Eknelygoda, UNHRC
    March 26, 2012 2:04 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
    Comments

    By Anonymous on March 27, 2012 12:24 AM ET
    If Gotabaya killed Basil then Basil's wife would be in front of the UN Office.

    If Mahinda killed Gotabaya, then Gotabaya's wife would be in front of the UN Office.

    When Savendra Silva tried to rape Kehilia's daughter in the New York UN Office, Kehilia was shouting like a traitor. Kehilia's daughter was a 30,001 woman for him.

    By Rajan on March 27, 2012 9:26 AM ET
    Dear Author,

    Firstly i like to thank you for bringing this issue out in the open.I am 46 year and living in UK since 1986. Prior to that i was born and bred in Colombo(studied in a sinhala school with Tamil medium) who only visited north of SL during my school holidays as it was my parents birth place. During July 1983 my dad was ill and admited at the Colombo Government hospital. Within few days of admitting him at the hosptial the riots started and we been told to take him home since he is a tamil he might get killed at the hospital. He died on the 10 August 1983, when i was 17, sister 12 and mum middle aged person. We had nothing to do with any troubles in North of SL and because simply being a Tamil we have been penalised and my dad died as a consequence. There are thousands of stories like this, and i am happy mine is not bad as the other. ie: person is not burnt alive by putting tyres put on their necks.

    I only visited SL twice(both occasions i had to go because my mother in law wasnt well) for the past 26yrs, not because i dont like visiting my birth place, but simply because of i am scared of travelling to SL.

    After this many years if i still have the fear for my life by going to colombo, i could imagine what sort of perils the people living in SL are going through, whether Sinhala,Tamil or Muslim. Unless the Government attitude changes starting from the top nothing will change. To do that, Western countries should do much as possible to protect the innocent from mass killings and war crimes and they have a duty to do that, simply because they are the provided the armoury to SL govt and placed them on a dictatorship path.

  8. Sri Lanka will not abide by UNHRC resolution

    Sri Lanka today made it clear that it will not abide by the UNHRC resolution that censured it over its human rights record and said it would only implement "feasible" recommendations of its own panel that probed the three-decade-long bloody civil war. "We had taken a decision not to abide by the resolution irrespective of the result", Rajapaksa Government told reporters.
    http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/SriLanka

  9. Sri Lanka will not abide by UNHRC resolution

    Sri Lanka today made it clear that it will not abide by the UNHRC resolution that censured it over its human rights record and said it would only implement "feasible" recommendations of its own panel that probed the three-decade-long bloody civil war. "We had taken a decision not to abide by the resolution irrespective of the result", Rajapaksa Government told reporters.
    http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/SriLanka

  10. As Tamil we know nothing will happen by this resolution. This is all game. India do not like any investigation about war crime because if it happen then all the involvement on killing of more than 100,1000(UN say 40,000) people will be revealed. India want SL to do what they say and play a game using tamil's problem to bring SL under their control. USA also playing game to bring under their's control by using tamil's problem. They once gave arms and all military help to destroy tamil's freedom fight knowingly that their fight is reasonable. After destroying the safe guard of Tamils now acting that they are the only people worrying about human right. They know very well that thousand of people were going to be killed but they did not take interest to stop that. Tamil Nadu politician are always selfish and using this Ealam tamil's struggle to show their strength and show how mush supporters they have in order to negotiate with the big party for the next election. TN major parties always what the do is whenever the support from tamils in TN, they also joint with them by good acting and try to weakening it. As India know this very well, they do not bother about it and it do what it decide.(India want to SL under their control and it do not like tamil be majority in North and East of SL). TNA is Srilanka also playing game by cheating innocent Ealam tamils. Whenever there is no need they shout about independence, freedom, Tamil right etc. but whenever there is need to talk about those thing the do not. Only they use Ealam Tamils problem to get vote and keeping their M.P seats. Most of them do not visit to their constituency. They are living good life in Colombo. Some of them playing cricket with Shinhala M.P.s (Tamils who voted them are thinking that they are the enemies) while the people who voted them are living with fear, poverty, without freedom, without roof to live. Ealam tamils are now tired and fed up about this. Every one (governments and individuals) used us for their benefit and still trying to use us for it.SL, Russia, China and Cuba are better than those countries and people I mentioned before because, their's policy is always the same and that is SL want to make it as Shinhala Buddhist country by making tamils as minority in their's homeland and Russia, China, Cuba is always anti America. Eaalm tamils have to wake up and not to believe these countries. What will they Ealam tamils get by supporting India or USA. Nothing. We do not get other than Provincial government as a solution and we never get war crime investigation because major countries involvements are there. Both country trying to hijack our struggle for their benefit. In resolution it is clearly said that there is no investigation (India do not allow anyway) and the solution is under provincial council.

  11. What a shame !! 🙁

    India is a country of 1 billion people is bullied by war criminal Rajapakshe who is shamelessly playing chinese card….

  12. Give Rajapaksas 1000 more years.. still they would keep tamils as 2nd class citizens..

    Soon there is no be any Tamil opposition as remaining Tamils completely maimed and they even cant breath louder..

    LLRC would say there was no any war at all.. one day in future Rajapaksa would do research and report that there was no race of TAMILS in sri lanka at all too…

  13. India voted against Sri Lanka because "we knew that they will lose peace in the long term. Sri lanka has not done enough after the war was over," says Prakash Menon, military advisor to national security council.

    Speaking at a seminar on "Challenges to India's National Security" organised by University of Madras on Monday, Prakash Menon said that "it was a value based vote. Many say union government was influenced by coalition politics but it was a calculated voted."

    "Sri Lanka has not done enough" he added.
    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-

  14. India voted against Sri Lanka because "we knew that they will lose peace in the long term. Sri lanka has not done enough after the war was over," says Prakash Menon, military advisor to national security council.

    Speaking at a seminar on "Challenges to India's National Security" organised by University of Madras on Monday, Prakash Menon said that "it was a value based vote. Many say union government was influenced by coalition politics but it was a calculated voted."

    "Sri Lanka has not done enough" he added.
    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-

  15. Rajapaksa is loosing the support worldwide because of his is wicked politics, crooked behavior,dishonesty, lack of principles, lack of vision, lack of good faith, double face, twisted tongue and every bad behavior one can attribute to shameless liar and ruthless killer

  16. A step towards justice
    The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka is a landmark in many ways. It dilutes the much despised blockade on country-specific resolutions that has often dogged the council; it indicates a positive change in the voting patterns of big and influential Commonwealth countries such as India and Nigeria; and it dismantles a longstanding impasse on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC that many feared might tire the international community into avoiding the question of accountability.

    While these are good reasons for jubilation, it is important to remember that the current resolution is only a beginning and not nearly enough to actually realise justice in Sri Lanka. For this to be achieved, the international community has to be able to continue its scrutiny and judge Sri Lanka’s future actions towards accountability in accordance with international standards. If this does not take place, then the resolution would have served as a means for Sri Lanka to buy time for a long holiday from international pressures on accountability.

    Further, the resolution gives domestic initiatives for accountability a chance at a time when allegations of international law violations point to involvement at the highest levels of government. If the international community fails to monitor Sri Lanka’s follow up to the resolution meticulously and act on shortcomings, it would amount to forfeiting the responsibility for initiating urgently-needed, independent, international investigations. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-step-towards-

  17. A step towards justice
    The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka is a landmark in many ways. It dilutes the much despised blockade on country-specific resolutions that has often dogged the council; it indicates a positive change in the voting patterns of big and influential Commonwealth countries such as India and Nigeria; and it dismantles a longstanding impasse on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC that many feared might tire the international community into avoiding the question of accountability.

    While these are good reasons for jubilation, it is important to remember that the current resolution is only a beginning and not nearly enough to actually realise justice in Sri Lanka. For this to be achieved, the international community has to be able to continue its scrutiny and judge Sri Lanka’s future actions towards accountability in accordance with international standards. If this does not take place, then the resolution would have served as a means for Sri Lanka to buy time for a long holiday from international pressures on accountability.

    Further, the resolution gives domestic initiatives for accountability a chance at a time when allegations of international law violations point to involvement at the highest levels of government. If the international community fails to monitor Sri Lanka’s follow up to the resolution meticulously and act on shortcomings, it would amount to forfeiting the responsibility for initiating urgently-needed, independent, international investigations. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-step-towards-

  18. If the Sri Lankan government proceeds to treat its Tamils as second class citizens, that will be the direct road to a secessionist movement and partition of Sri Lanka.

  19. It is not going to be easy to correct the intransigence of
    Sri Lanka and its national hate feelings toward its fellow citizens with Tamil
    as mother tongue. Sri Lankan govt seems over-sensitive to human rights issues as far as they are related to Tamils. It is also the fact that Tamils in the north, east and south
    had not been saying things in one
    unified voice nor acting in any unified collective interest. So it became
    easier for the Buddhist Sinhalense Govt to divide & rule (similar to what
    our politicos did and still doing).
    Shame on the Buddhism being practised in that so called paradise Island.
    The effect: the educated and smart Tamils have long migrated to many of the
    civilized countries in the world and are indeed doing well. The Tamils who were left behind, already
    manipulated and killed thru use as
    fodder or shield by the LTTE goons in their fight against the Colombo regime,
    are indeed the poor lot, totally displaced, disoriented, dis-empowered and also dis-enfranchised; for many it is just a
    living hell with so much promises of a decent shelter and life never arrived.

    If Sri Lanka consider itself a civilised regime valuing
    human dignity should not waste time to remove fear and inequities, to bring
    reconciliation and peace and social justice to those poor Tamils still hanging
    in there. Even the Chinese, if they are
    decent enough to respect human life, should prod Sri Lanka to act fast with
    human face. Money power can only kill
    and not make friends.

    Unfortunately, Indian record of doing anything sensible to
    any positive effect has been so precious little! Shame for the great democracy.

  20. Of course, he is a Srilankan government agent trying to create a rift between the tamils and others in India. so sad that even a nation which is a tiny speck on the world map has the courage to split Indians. We must be assertive this time around and ensure the sinhala chuvanists are accounted for all the extra judicial killings.

  21. Sri Lankan Minister has threatened to "break the bones" of three rights activists who campaigned for a US resolution at Geneva that was deemed to be anti-Colombo. His comments were directed at activists Sunanda Deshapriya, Nimalka Fernando and Pakiasothy
    He is a disgrace but this is the sort of ministers Rajapaksa family needs to keep afloat. Several journalists have been killed – the lucky ones escaped overseas. Several TV/Radio studios had been set on fire for not giving prominence to the ruling class.

  22. Most of the nations don’t know the true face of s** laNka yet! At least US has started this by making this resolution! It’s the worst Genocide ever happened in the history, and yes Tamils have also killed many by suicide bombing. But finally s** laNka have wiped off everything by killing nearly 240,000 people without any heart, I really don’t know how some one can do this to other human beings. Even in some videos you can see those sl military men stamping dead peoples on face it shows how brutal they are, It was like a genocide festival for them killing so many innocent Hindu people in Sri Lanka

  23. Thank you India for voting against Sri Lanka in UN !!!
    Entire Tamil Nadu celebrates victory of US resolutionPeople in Tamil Nadu welcomes the US resolution against SriLanka.According to the Tamil Nadu people this was the first step of diplomatic move against SriLanka. Lankan Tamil people residing in the IDP camps, members of the Tamil Nadu political parties, lawyers, and students celebrated this victory at the state yesterday.Lawyers of Madras High Court and Madurai High Courts fired crackers and distributed sweets towards people at the premises of respective courts.Law college students also appreciate Indian government and also distributed sweets towards people.Lankan Tamil People residing in the IDP camps were also happy on passing resolution against Lankan.According to the people” Now only we were able to achieve victory for all the sufferings which we faced in the country”This was the first step of legal action against Lankan government said the Tamil people .

  24. Without a strong resolution, outside intervention, intrusion, interference and international investigation, the GENOCIDAL RACIST Srilankan state never ever punish ANYONE involved in any killing of the Tamils or Muslims in the Genocide in 2009 as the Srilanka NEVER EVER punished ANYONE for ANY killing of Minorities in any Srilankan state sponsored HOLOCAUSTS in 1948, 56, 58, 66, 67, 77, 81, 83, and every month after 83 until the genocide of 2009.
    India must be blamed for the USELESS TEETH LESS WATERED DOWN USA RESOLUTION. India DIRECTLY involved with Srilanka in the Genocide of Tamils and India must be BANNED from the UN Human rights council.

  25. In Sri Lanka the definition of a “patriot” is one who agrees with the ruling class. Others are “traitors” which includes media-persons who show signs of dissent. On 08 January 2009, the then Editor-in-Chief of Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, was murdered in broad daylight on the way to his office in Colombo. Gunmen on motorbikes were able to stop his car, kill him and escape, despite the heavy security presence in the capital. To date, the police have not produced even a preliminary investigative report into the murder. Lasantha wrote articles critical of the government. On 21 July 2009 the then PM of Sri Lanka Mr Ratnasiri Wickremanayake made an extraordinary statement in the parliament branding five lawyers as “traitors” because they had appeared for the Sunday Leader in a defamation case filed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Wickremanayake also endorsed an article that appeared on the defence ministry website attacking the lawyers as “traitors in black robes”.

  26. Sri Lanka must address war crimes charges and show respect for Tamil rights

    Three years after bringing Sri Lanka’s bitter 25-year civil war to an end, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his triumphalist government risk becoming pariahs. At the United Nations they are under fire for not fully probing what the UN calls “credible allegations” of war crimes, and for not healing the broken nation.

    In Geneva this week Canada is co-sponsoring an American push at the UN Human Rights Council to demand that Rajapaksa’s Sinhala-dominated government set up a “credible and independent” probe of alleged war crimes, and seek genuine reconciliation with the Tamil minority. It’s a scandal it has taken this long.

  27. War Crimes exposed
    Sri Lankan war criminals to be on the docks of the ICC sooner than later. This is the first step towards a full scale international investigation and accountability mechanism applied to criminals irrespective of race and colour. Even after the resolution, the Sri Lankan regime continues to be defiant and this will pave the way for the International community to act swiftly against Sri Lanka. The current Indian regime has voted last minute against Sri Lanka and its time for the Indian regime to be bold and act as a growing global power and take the Rajapakses to the ICC without further delay if they want to safe face. No crminal can escape from punishment! No accountability without those responsible are put in front of the Law and accept responsibility.

  28. Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and his military intelligence operatives are not in a mood to engage in any reconciliation with the Tamils.
    It’s futile to believe Sri Lankan president would engage in any reconciliation with the Tamils .The findings of the “International Crisis Group” (ICG) and the first study published by The Social Architects (TSA) that the Sri Lankan military in the Northern Province has 'become an army of occupation physically and psychologically' and 'manages many aspects of everyday life and is the final authority on virtually all important decisions. It controls the population in part through tight surveillance, high levels of fear and occasional strong doses of physical repression'. We urge all civilised leaders, governments and news editors to act urgently to their utmost ability to safe Tamils of Srilanka from genocide. The Tamil community has no confidence in the Government of Sri lanka to conduct an independent investigation and deliver justice to the victims of the war. We cannot expect justice when an investigation is initiated by a party to the alleged crimes. The Tamils call upon IC to support the establishment of an independent, international inquiry into the credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sri Lanka during the final months of the armed conflict in 2009, as recommended in the 'Report of the UN Secretary General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka'.

  29. Justice and accountability are important for any peace
    Tamils has been suffering under Sri Lankan government more than 65 years since British left. Tamils fought for their rights non-violently for 30 years and then with force for another 30 years. Tamils fighting force were defeated 3 years ago with the support from around the world. Even after, Sri Lankan government committed so many crimes against humanity. The world has a responsibility to apply maximum pressure on Sri lankan government for accountability and justice.

  30. Three years, worst still remains..
    Thank you Star for the timely, excellent article. Since the Sri Lankan onslaught ended three years ago, many events have taken place including Libyan and Syrian leaders have used the 'war on terro' to kill their own people by calling them 'terrorists' and 'armed thugs'. Today, at the UNHRC, Sri Lanka is playing the 'divided world' card for not wanting to implement recommendations by its own LLRC commission, which fall far short of any sharing in its 64-year old ethnic question. The UN resolution is further watered down to satisfy the countries which voted during Kosovo, Libya and Syria.

  31. No Peace for Tamils in Sri Lanka
    Sri Lankan Apartheid Rajapakse regime has successfully fooled the nations that supported the war against the LTTE that was protecting Tamils against state terrorism. When The LTTE was defeated, hundreds of thousands of Tamils were abducted, raped, tortured and murdered in cold blood. The world knows now who the real devil is. Tamils were denied Human rights, equality, justice, R2P and other democratic principles by the successive Sinhala regimes. There is no true reconciliation possible after the mass murders and horror. The US and France are just reducing its sin by bringing a resolution at the UNHRC against Sri Lanka. The International Community and Indian Congress have shown the world how mockery and barbarian they are by supporting a regime that has no faith in democracy. The IC must fulfill Selvi Jeyalalithaa's call to take Rajapakse to the ICC and conduct a full scale human rights and war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka to bring a meaningful reconciliation.

  32. Rajapaksa Government will not abide by Geneva’s United Nation Resolution

    The Ruling Regime even don’t want to implement recommendations by its own LLRC commission.

    It seems to me that LLRC was there to hoodwink the gullible World again. But, fortunately, World communities smartened up and they now know who the real devil is..

    Rajapaksa is now loosing the support worldwide because of his wicked politics, crooked behavior,dishonesty, lack of principles, lack of vision, lack of good faith, double face, twisted tongue and every bad behavior one can attribute to a rogue government

  33. The Sinhalese need to stop their brainwashed, racist thoughts for a moment, and think about the 50,000 Tamils killed in 2009, and the 300,000 Tamils killed over the last 60 years.

  34. Why so many people in Lanka can shout all they want about the ‘hypocrisy’ of the US, but no major democratic country’s leadership lies so brazenly as this SL regime does, and the pro-Rajapaksa crowd fails to comprehend the significance of it.

  35. Sri Lanka Army attacked the Tamil bus drivers and conductors who were admitted to Mullaiththevu hospital with injuries.

    Tamil villagers took to the streets protesting against the attack on the only bus allowed to operate between Mullaiththeevu town and Kokku'laay.

    Attacks on Tamils have increased in recent weeks in the area, according to Tamil villagers in Kokku'laay.

  36. Does Rajapaksa has conscience ??

    Did conscience play a role when you bombed 40,000 innocent victims in Vanni?

    Does conscience play a role when families wanting to know whether their loved ones are dead or alive and are given no answer?

    Does conscience play role when government sends out white vans and execute extrajudicial killings?

    Does conscience play role when innocent journalists are abducted and their wives are left without husbands and children are without fathers?

    Does conscience play a role when government actively colonize north and east?

    Does conscience play role when fishermen are killed for protesting against the hike in oil price peacefully?

    Does conscience play a role when you point blank deny the Channel 4 videos are untrue?

  37. Abuse of the Human Rights of the Tamils continues.

    CPJ Blog
    Press Freedom News and Views

    Eknelygoda’s wife latest victim of Sri Lankan intolerance
    By Bob Dietz/CPJ Asia Program Coordinator

    Sri Lankans are calling for a boycott of U.S. products after the U.S. sponsored the U.N. Human Rights Council resolution calling for an investigation into possible war crimes. (Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte)
    On Thursday and Friday, we wrote about the ugly government backlash to last week’s U.N. Human Rights Council resolution calling for an investigation into Sri Lanka’s alleged abuses of international humanitarian law during its war with Tamil separatists.

    That campaign of intimidation continues: In the magistrate’s court where Sandhya Eknelygoda has been trying to gain any information about the whereabouts of her husband, Prageeth, who disappeared on January 24, 2010, she came under harsh questioning — observers at the court called it intentionally intimidating — from government lawyers about her presence at the UNHRC in Geneva. Before she returned home from Switzerland, her name had been denounced in the government-controlled media as one of the government’s critics — several of whom have been denounced as “traitors.”

    Eknelygoda told colleagues in Colombo that Monday’s entire court session was about how she went to Geneva, who funded her trip, why she betrayed her country, and how much she was paid to do that. Her lawyer objected to the line of questioning, but was overruled, she said.

    When she had returned home on Sunday from Geneva, she told reporters, “I only wanted to bring the disappearance of my husband to the notice of the international community. But, those who are allied with the government insulted me, saying I went there to betray the country,” she said. You can see a video report of her statement on YouTube.

    Eknelygoda and her two teenage sons have been waging a quiet but steadfast campaign to pressure the government for information about their husband and father. CPJ and four other media support groups wrote to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in March 2011, asking for his intervention in the case. Ban referred the issue to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNESCO, where it has been allowed to languish, despite pleas from Eknelygoda and her supporters.

    Nor has a January 2012 ruling by Sri Lanka’s Appeal Court that former Attorney General Mohan Peiris could be called in as a witness into the disappearance of Eknelygoda been acted on. In a November 2011 posting, “Sri Lanka’s savage smokescreen,” CPJ reported that Peiris told the Asian Human Rights Commission that Eknelygoda had taken refuge in a foreign country and that the campaign against his disappearance is a hoax, although he failed then and ever since to provide detailed information about where Eknelygoda had fled.

    At the time, CPJ said that Peiris’s statements “do more than point up the government’s indifference to Eknelygoda’s fate and the mental anguish of his wife and two sons. Peiris’s statements highlight the disregard with which the government views international opinion.”

    Given the response in the government-controlled media following last week’s Geneva vote, that indifference and disregard have moved on to outright hostility.

    Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program, has reported across the continent for news outlets such as CNN and Asiaweek. He has led numerous CPJ missions, including ones to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Follow him on Twitter @cpjasia and Facebook @ CPJ Asia Desk.
    Tags: Harassed, Missing, Prageeth Eknelygoda, Sandhya Eknelygoda, UNHRC
    March 26, 2012 2:04 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
    Comments

    By Anonymous on March 27, 2012 12:24 AM ET
    If Gotabaya killed Basil then Basil’s wife would be in front of the UN Office.

    If Mahinda killed Gotabaya, then Gotabaya’s wife would be in front of the UN Office.

    When Savendra Silva tried to rape Kehilia’s daughter in the New York UN Office, Kehilia was shouting like a traitor. Kehilia’s daughter was a 30,001 woman for him.

    By Rajan on March 27, 2012 9:26 AM ET
    Dear Author,

    Firstly i like to thank you for bringing this issue out in the open.I am 46 year and living in UK since 1986. Prior to that i was born and bred in Colombo(studied in a sinhala school with Tamil medium) who only visited north of SL during my school holidays as it was my parents birth place. During July 1983 my dad was ill and admited at the Colombo Government hospital. Within few days of admitting him at the hosptial the riots started and we been told to take him home since he is a tamil he might get killed at the hospital. He died on the 10 August 1983, when i was 17, sister 12 and mum middle aged person. We had nothing to do with any troubles in North of SL and because simply being a Tamil we have been penalised and my dad died as a consequence. There are thousands of stories like this, and i am happy mine is not bad as the other. ie: person is not burnt alive by putting tyres put on their necks.

    I only visited SL twice(both occasions i had to go because my mother in law wasnt well) for the past 26yrs, not because i dont like visiting my birth place, but simply because of i am scared of travelling to SL.

    After this many years if i still have the fear for my life by going to colombo, i could imagine what sort of perils the people living in SL are going through, whether Sinhala,Tamil or Muslim. Unless the Government attitude changes starting from the top nothing will change. To do that, Western countries should do much as possible to protect the innocent from mass killings and war crimes and they have a duty to do that, simply because they are the provided the armoury to SL govt and placed them on a dictatorship path.

  38. Sri Lanka will not abide by UNHRC resolution

    Sri Lanka today made it clear that it will not abide by the UNHRC resolution that censured it over its human rights record and said it would only implement “feasible” recommendations of its own panel that probed the three-decade-long bloody civil war. “We had taken a decision not to abide by the resolution irrespective of the result”, Rajapaksa Government told reporters.

    http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/SriLanka/Sri-Lanka-will-not-abide-by-UNHRC-resolution-Peiris/Article1-831189.aspx

  39. As Tamil we know nothing will happen by this resolution. This is all game. India do not like any investigation about war crime because if it happen then all the involvement on killing of more than 100,1000(UN say 40,000) people will be revealed. India want SL to do what they say and play a game using tamil’s problem to bring SL under their control. USA also playing game to bring under their’s control by using tamil’s problem. They once gave arms and all military help to destroy tamil’s freedom fight knowingly that their fight is reasonable. After destroying the safe guard of Tamils now acting that they are the only people worrying about human right. They know very well that thousand of people were going to be killed but they did not take interest to stop that. Tamil Nadu politician are always selfish and using this Ealam tamil’s struggle to show their strength and show how mush supporters they have in order to negotiate with the big party for the next election. TN major parties always what the do is whenever the support from tamils in TN, they also joint with them by good acting and try to weakening it. As India know this very well, they do not bother about it and it do what it decide.(India want to SL under their control and it do not like tamil be majority in North and East of SL). TNA is Srilanka also playing game by cheating innocent Ealam tamils. Whenever there is no need they shout about independence, freedom, Tamil right etc. but whenever there is need to talk about those thing the do not. Only they use Ealam Tamils problem to get vote and keeping their M.P seats. Most of them do not visit to their constituency. They are living good life in Colombo. Some of them playing cricket with Shinhala M.P.s (Tamils who voted them are thinking that they are the enemies) while the people who voted them are living with fear, poverty, without freedom, without roof to live. Ealam tamils are now tired and fed up about this. Every one (governments and individuals) used us for their benefit and still trying to use us for it.SL, Russia, China and Cuba are better than those countries and people I mentioned before because, their’s policy is always the same and that is SL want to make it as Shinhala Buddhist country by making tamils as minority in their’s homeland and Russia, China, Cuba is always anti America. Eaalm tamils have to wake up and not to believe these countries. What will they Ealam tamils get by supporting India or USA. Nothing. We do not get other than Provincial government as a solution and we never get war crime investigation because major countries involvements are there. Both country trying to hijack our struggle for their benefit. In resolution it is clearly said that there is no investigation (India do not allow anyway) and the solution is under provincial council.

  40. What a shame !! 🙁

    India is a country of 1 billion people is bullied by war criminal Rajapakshe who is shamelessly playing chinese card….

  41. Give Rajapaksas 1000 more years.. still they would keep tamils as 2nd class citizens..

    Soon there is no be any Tamil opposition as remaining Tamils completely maimed and they even cant breath louder..

    LLRC would say there was no any war at all.. one day in future Rajapaksa would do research and report that there was no race of TAMILS in sri lanka at all too…

  42. India voted against Sri Lanka because “we knew that they will lose peace in the long term. Sri lanka has not done enough after the war was over,” says Prakash Menon, military advisor to national security council.

    Speaking at a seminar on “Challenges to India’s National Security” organised by University of Madras on Monday, Prakash Menon said that “it was a value based vote. Many say union government was influenced by coalition politics but it was a calculated voted.”

    “Sri Lanka has not done enough” he added.

    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-26/india/31239643_1_sri-lanka-india-sri-coalition-politics

  43. Rajapaksa is loosing the support worldwide because of his is wicked politics, crooked behavior,dishonesty, lack of principles, lack of vision, lack of good faith, double face, twisted tongue and every bad behavior one can attribute to shameless liar and ruthless killer

  44. A step towards justice
    The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on Sri Lanka is a landmark in many ways. It dilutes the much despised blockade on country-specific resolutions that has often dogged the council; it indicates a positive change in the voting patterns of big and influential Commonwealth countries such as India and Nigeria; and it dismantles a longstanding impasse on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC that many feared might tire the international community into avoiding the question of accountability.

    While these are good reasons for jubilation, it is important to remember that the current resolution is only a beginning and not nearly enough to actually realise justice in Sri Lanka. For this to be achieved, the international community has to be able to continue its scrutiny and judge Sri Lanka’s future actions towards accountability in accordance with international standards. If this does not take place, then the resolution would have served as a means for Sri Lanka to buy time for a long holiday from international pressures on accountability.

    Further, the resolution gives domestic initiatives for accountability a chance at a time when allegations of international law violations point to involvement at the highest levels of government. If the international community fails to monitor Sri Lanka’s follow up to the resolution meticulously and act on shortcomings, it would amount to forfeiting the responsibility for initiating urgently-needed, independent, international investigations.
    http://www.indianexpress.com/news/a-step-towards-justice/928695/

  45. If the Sri Lankan government proceeds to treat its Tamils as second class citizens, that will be the direct road to a secessionist movement and partition of Sri Lanka.

  46. It is not going to be easy to correct the intransigence of
    Sri Lanka and its national hate feelings toward its fellow citizens with Tamil
    as mother tongue. Sri Lankan govt seems over-sensitive to human rights issues as far as they are related to Tamils. It is also the fact that Tamils in the north, east and south
    had not been saying things in one
    unified voice nor acting in any unified collective interest. So it became
    easier for the Buddhist Sinhalense Govt to divide & rule (similar to what
    our politicos did and still doing).
    Shame on the Buddhism being practised in that so called paradise Island.
    The effect: the educated and smart Tamils have long migrated to many of the
    civilized countries in the world and are indeed doing well. The Tamils who were left behind, already
    manipulated and killed thru use as
    fodder or shield by the LTTE goons in their fight against the Colombo regime,
    are indeed the poor lot, totally displaced, disoriented, dis-empowered and also dis-enfranchised; for many it is just a
    living hell with so much promises of a decent shelter and life never arrived.

    If Sri Lanka consider itself a civilised regime valuing
    human dignity should not waste time to remove fear and inequities, to bring
    reconciliation and peace and social justice to those poor Tamils still hanging
    in there. Even the Chinese, if they are
    decent enough to respect human life, should prod Sri Lanka to act fast with
    human face. Money power can only kill
    and not make friends.

    Unfortunately, Indian record of doing anything sensible to
    any positive effect has been so precious little! Shame for the great democracy.

  47. Of course, he is a Srilankan government agent trying to create a rift between the tamils and others in India. so sad that even a nation which is a tiny speck on the world map has the courage to split Indians. We must be assertive this time around and ensure the sinhala chuvanists are accounted for all the extra judicial killings.

  48. Sri Lankan Minister has threatened to “break the bones” of three rights activists who campaigned for a US resolution at Geneva that was deemed to be anti-Colombo. His comments were directed at activists Sunanda Deshapriya, Nimalka Fernando and Pakiasothy
    He is a disgrace but this is the sort of ministers Rajapaksa family needs to keep afloat. Several journalists have been killed – the lucky ones escaped overseas. Several TV/Radio studios had been set on fire for not giving prominence to the ruling class.

  49. Most of the nations don’t know the true face of s** laNka yet! At least US has started this by making this resolution! It’s the worst Genocide ever happened in the history, and yes Tamils have also killed many by suicide bombing. But finally s** laNka have wiped off everything by killing nearly 240,000 people without any heart, I really don’t know how some one can do this to other human beings. Even in some videos you can see those sl military men stamping dead peoples on face it shows how brutal they are, It was like a genocide festival for them killing so many innocent Hindu people in Sri Lanka

  50. Thank you India for voting against Sri Lanka in UN !!!
    Entire Tamil Nadu celebrates victory of US resolutionPeople in Tamil Nadu welcomes the US resolution against SriLanka.According to the Tamil Nadu people this was the first step of diplomatic move against SriLanka. Lankan Tamil people residing in the IDP camps, members of the Tamil Nadu political parties, lawyers, and students celebrated this victory at the state yesterday.Lawyers of Madras High Court and Madurai High Courts fired crackers and distributed sweets towards people at the premises of respective courts.Law college students also appreciate Indian government and also distributed sweets towards people.Lankan Tamil People residing in the IDP camps were also happy on passing resolution against Lankan.According to the people” Now only we were able to achieve victory for all the sufferings which we faced in the country”This was the first step of legal action against Lankan government said the Tamil people .

  51. Without a strong resolution, outside intervention, intrusion, interference and international investigation, the GENOCIDAL RACIST Srilankan state never ever punish ANYONE involved in any killing of the Tamils or Muslims in the Genocide in 2009 as the Srilanka NEVER EVER punished ANYONE for ANY killing of Minorities in any Srilankan state sponsored HOLOCAUSTS in 1948, 56, 58, 66, 67, 77, 81, 83, and every month after 83 until the genocide of 2009.
    India must be blamed for the USELESS TEETH LESS WATERED DOWN USA RESOLUTION. India DIRECTLY involved with Srilanka in the Genocide of Tamils and India must be BANNED from the UN Human rights council.

  52. In Sri Lanka the definition of a “patriot” is one who agrees with the ruling class. Others are “traitors” which includes media-persons who show signs of dissent. On 08 January 2009, the then Editor-in-Chief of Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickrematunge, was murdered in broad daylight on the way to his office in Colombo. Gunmen on motorbikes were able to stop his car, kill him and escape, despite the heavy security presence in the capital. To date, the police have not produced even a preliminary investigative report into the murder. Lasantha wrote articles critical of the government. On 21 July 2009 the then PM of Sri Lanka Mr Ratnasiri Wickremanayake made an extraordinary statement in the parliament branding five lawyers as “traitors” because they had appeared for the Sunday Leader in a defamation case filed by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse. Wickremanayake also endorsed an article that appeared on the defence ministry website attacking the lawyers as “traitors in black robes”.

  53. Sri Lanka must address war crimes charges and show respect for Tamil rights

    Three years after bringing Sri Lanka’s bitter 25-year civil war to an end, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his triumphalist government risk becoming pariahs. At the United Nations they are under fire for not fully probing what the UN calls “credible allegations” of war crimes, and for not healing the broken nation.

    In Geneva this week Canada is co-sponsoring an American push at the UN Human Rights Council to demand that Rajapaksa’s Sinhala-dominated government set up a “credible and independent” probe of alleged war crimes, and seek genuine reconciliation with the Tamil minority. It’s a scandal it has taken this long.

  54. War Crimes exposed
    Sri Lankan war criminals to be on the docks of the ICC sooner than later. This is the first step towards a full scale international investigation and accountability mechanism applied to criminals irrespective of race and colour. Even after the resolution, the Sri Lankan regime continues to be defiant and this will pave the way for the International community to act swiftly against Sri Lanka. The current Indian regime has voted last minute against Sri Lanka and its time for the Indian regime to be bold and act as a growing global power and take the Rajapakses to the ICC without further delay if they want to safe face. No crminal can escape from punishment! No accountability without those responsible are put in front of the Law and accept responsibility.

  55. Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa and his military intelligence operatives are not in a mood to engage in any reconciliation with the Tamils.
    It’s futile to believe Sri Lankan president would engage in any reconciliation with the Tamils .The findings of the “International Crisis Group” (ICG) and the first study published by The Social Architects (TSA) that the Sri Lankan military in the Northern Province has ‘become an army of occupation physically and psychologically’ and ‘manages many aspects of everyday life and is the final authority on virtually all important decisions. It controls the population in part through tight surveillance, high levels of fear and occasional strong doses of physical repression’. We urge all civilised leaders, governments and news editors to act urgently to their utmost ability to safe Tamils of Srilanka from genocide. The Tamil community has no confidence in the Government of Sri lanka to conduct an independent investigation and deliver justice to the victims of the war. We cannot expect justice when an investigation is initiated by a party to the alleged crimes. The Tamils call upon IC to support the establishment of an independent, international inquiry into the credible allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Sri Lanka during the final months of the armed conflict in 2009, as recommended in the ‘Report of the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka’.

  56. Justice and accountability are important for any peace
    Tamils has been suffering under Sri Lankan government more than 65 years since British left. Tamils fought for their rights non-violently for 30 years and then with force for another 30 years. Tamils fighting force were defeated 3 years ago with the support from around the world. Even after, Sri Lankan government committed so many crimes against humanity. The world has a responsibility to apply maximum pressure on Sri lankan government for accountability and justice.

  57. Three years, worst still remains..
    Thank you Star for the timely, excellent article. Since the Sri Lankan onslaught ended three years ago, many events have taken place including Libyan and Syrian leaders have used the ‘war on terro’ to kill their own people by calling them ‘terrorists’ and ‘armed thugs’. Today, at the UNHRC, Sri Lanka is playing the ‘divided world’ card for not wanting to implement recommendations by its own LLRC commission, which fall far short of any sharing in its 64-year old ethnic question. The UN resolution is further watered down to satisfy the countries which voted during Kosovo, Libya and Syria.

  58. No Peace for Tamils in Sri Lanka
    Sri Lankan Apartheid Rajapakse regime has successfully fooled the nations that supported the war against the LTTE that was protecting Tamils against state terrorism. When The LTTE was defeated, hundreds of thousands of Tamils were abducted, raped, tortured and murdered in cold blood. The world knows now who the real devil is. Tamils were denied Human rights, equality, justice, R2P and other democratic principles by the successive Sinhala regimes. There is no true reconciliation possible after the mass murders and horror. The US and France are just reducing its sin by bringing a resolution at the UNHRC against Sri Lanka. The International Community and Indian Congress have shown the world how mockery and barbarian they are by supporting a regime that has no faith in democracy. The IC must fulfill Selvi Jeyalalithaa’s call to take Rajapakse to the ICC and conduct a full scale human rights and war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka to bring a meaningful reconciliation.

  59. Rajapaksa Government will not abide by Geneva’s United Nation Resolution

    The Ruling Regime even don’t want to implement recommendations by its own LLRC commission.

    It seems to me that LLRC was there to hoodwink the gullible World again. But, fortunately, World communities smartened up and they now know who the real devil is..

    Rajapaksa is now loosing the support worldwide because of his wicked politics, crooked behavior,dishonesty, lack of principles, lack of vision, lack of good faith, double face, twisted tongue and every bad behavior one can attribute to a rogue government

  60. The Sinhalese need to stop their brainwashed, racist thoughts for a moment, and think about the 50,000 Tamils killed in 2009, and the 300,000 Tamils killed over the last 60 years.

  61. Why so many people in Lanka can shout all they want about the ‘hypocrisy’ of the US, but no major democratic country’s leadership lies so brazenly as this SL regime does, and the pro-Rajapaksa crowd fails to comprehend the significance of it.

  62. Sri Lanka Army attacked the Tamil bus drivers and conductors who were admitted to Mullaiththevu hospital with injuries.

    Tamil villagers took to the streets protesting against the attack on the only bus allowed to operate between Mullaiththeevu town and Kokku’laay.

    Attacks on Tamils have increased in recent weeks in the area, according to Tamil villagers in Kokku’laay.

  63. Does Rajapaksa has conscience ??

    Did conscience play a role when you bombed 40,000 innocent victims in Vanni?

    Does conscience play a role when families wanting to know whether their loved ones are dead or alive and are given no answer?

    Does conscience play role when government sends out white vans and execute extrajudicial killings?

    Does conscience play role when innocent journalists are abducted and their wives are left without husbands and children are without fathers?

    Does conscience play a role when government actively colonize north and east?

    Does conscience play role when fishermen are killed for protesting against the hike in oil price peacefully?

    Does conscience play a role when you point blank deny the Channel 4 videos are untrue?

  64. Dear Govind,

    You talk of cynicism, yet fail to mention that Amnesty now accepts funding from child-soldier recruiting and child-murdering terrorist front groups.

    I was utterly appalled to learn that AI accepted a $50,000 donation from the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), a front group for the defeated Tamil Tiger terrorists who, like Kony specialised in forcible recruitment of child soldiers for over 30 years until the Sri Lankan government finally crushed them in May 2009.
    http://tinyurl.com/6vpq9x7

    Are you as appalled by AI's involvement with the CTC as I am?

    [I'm having to post under another name, as Amnesty doesn't like having its involvement with Tamil Tigers made obvious. Rather pathetic, for an organisation dedicated to free speech, no? 🙂 🙂 ]

  65. Dear Govind,

    You talk of cynicism, yet fail to mention that Amnesty now accepts funding from child-soldier recruiting and child-murdering terrorist front groups.

    I was utterly appalled to learn that AI accepted a $50,000 donation from the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), a front group for the defeated Tamil Tiger terrorists who, like Kony specialised in forcible recruitment of child soldiers for over 30 years until the Sri Lankan government finally crushed them in May 2009.
    http://tinyurl.com/6vpq9x7

    Are you as appalled by AI's involvement with the CTC as I am?

    [I'm having to post under another name, as Amnesty doesn't like having its involvement with Tamil Tigers made obvious. Rather pathetic, for an organisation dedicated to free speech, no? 🙂 🙂 ]

  66. Sri Lanka Army Mass-rape of the Tamil War Victims in Theavipuram, Sri Lanka.

    Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), a US-based activist group that seeks legal redress to Tamil victims of war, said Saturday that the organization is piecing together evidence based on an eye-witness testimony that up to 20 women, separated from nearly 200 civilians who surrendered to the SLA, were alleged to have been raped by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers near the village of Theavipuram, in Mullaiththeevu, in April 2009. While lack of witness protection program in Sri lanka, and threat to life of witnesses who appear against Security Forces have placed TAG's legal effort in UK on hold, TAG said that the current legal action in UK involving Ex-Army Commander, Prasanna de Silva, may provide the momentum required to seek witnesses and to obtain corroborative evidence to identify the perpetrators of the alleged crime.

    "Families in small numbers were fleeing the Rajapaksa Government demarcated No Fire Zone (NFZ) in Mu'l'lvaikkaal in Mullaitivu from February till the end of the war on or around 17th May. There were persistent rumours among the beleagured civilians that mass rapes were occurring during this period. 40 to 50 Kilometer area inland from the SLA forward lines close to the beachhead of the NFZ, was fully occupied by several divisions of the SLA. No one, other than the victim-escapees, can bear witness to the crimes committed by the SLA in the area controlled by the SLA," a witness who was working among the population in Mu'l'livaikkaal until the end of the war, and later escaped to a foreign country, told TamilNet.

    According to this witness, evidence of such crimes can be gathered as soon as there is free access to the Vanni area. "It will be hard for the military to destroy all the evidence; the memory of such crimes last until the victim is dead," the witness said. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art

  67. Sri Lanka Army Mass-rape of the Tamil War Victims in Theavipuram, Sri Lanka.

    Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), a US-based activist group that seeks legal redress to Tamil victims of war, said Saturday that the organization is piecing together evidence based on an eye-witness testimony that up to 20 women, separated from nearly 200 civilians who surrendered to the SLA, were alleged to have been raped by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers near the village of Theavipuram, in Mullaiththeevu, in April 2009. While lack of witness protection program in Sri lanka, and threat to life of witnesses who appear against Security Forces have placed TAG's legal effort in UK on hold, TAG said that the current legal action in UK involving Ex-Army Commander, Prasanna de Silva, may provide the momentum required to seek witnesses and to obtain corroborative evidence to identify the perpetrators of the alleged crime.

    "Families in small numbers were fleeing the Rajapaksa Government demarcated No Fire Zone (NFZ) in Mu'l'lvaikkaal in Mullaitivu from February till the end of the war on or around 17th May. There were persistent rumours among the beleagured civilians that mass rapes were occurring during this period. 40 to 50 Kilometer area inland from the SLA forward lines close to the beachhead of the NFZ, was fully occupied by several divisions of the SLA. No one, other than the victim-escapees, can bear witness to the crimes committed by the SLA in the area controlled by the SLA," a witness who was working among the population in Mu'l'livaikkaal until the end of the war, and later escaped to a foreign country, told TamilNet.

    According to this witness, evidence of such crimes can be gathered as soon as there is free access to the Vanni area. "It will be hard for the military to destroy all the evidence; the memory of such crimes last until the victim is dead," the witness said. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art

  68. Occupying Sri Lanka Army soldiers are selling narcotics to Tamil children in the Tamil Homelands

    Sri Lankan military intelligence is allegedly behind a systematic programme of narcotics trade in the North and East of Eezham Tamils homeland, aiming the Tamil students as the target group, reliable sources in Jaffna told TamilNet Friday. On Thursday, three narcotics traders, including the distributors from South, were arrested on Somasundaram Road near the District Secretariat of Jaffna, while they were distributing narcotics. Narcotics dealers sent from South engage in the trade involving former members of Tamil paramilitary groups, news sources further said. However, the Sri Lankan police remained tight-lipped on the arrest of southern narcotics drug dealers on Thursday in the area having leading Tamil schools.

    The latest report of the arrest comes following a recent incident in which some students of a key educational institution in Jaffna were arrested while using narcotics.

    The Tamil students were brought to the court and were released with obligatory participation in a drug rehabilitation program.

    The informed sources in Jaffna further said that the SL military intelligence operatives were behind promoting the distribution of narcotics among Tamil students.

    Recently, there were also reports of SL soldiers involved in growing marijuna plants in the vicinity of SL military camps in Thenmaraadchi. Some of these were reportedly detected and destroyed by the SL Police although there is no independent way of verifying such destruction.

    Most of the men arrested for narcotic trafficking into the Jaffna peninsula in the recent times have explained to the SL Police that they were bringing in narcotics for the consumption of the SL soldiers.

    However, the drug flow from the South has continued under the camouflage of ‘intended’ consumption for the occupying SL soldiers, targeting the Tamil student community, as evident from the recent incidents, the news sources further said.

    Apart from the narcotics, the alcohol consumption among the youth has increased by 200 per cent in Jaffna during the past two years, according to medical staff at the Teaching Hospital of Jaffna.

    The occupying SL Army has been also conducting ‘socialising events’ with free distribution of beer to Tamil students.

    Alcoholic beverages were on sale targeting youth in a recent military event held at Duraiappa Stadium.

    As the SL police has failed to control such distribution and trafficking of narcotics, concerned civil groups in the North and East have sought a systematic study exposing the trend in detail.
    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art

  69. Occupying Sri Lanka Army soldiers are selling narcotics to Tamil children in the Tamil Homelands

    Sri Lankan military intelligence is allegedly behind a systematic programme of narcotics trade in the North and East of Eezham Tamils homeland, aiming the Tamil students as the target group, reliable sources in Jaffna told TamilNet Friday. On Thursday, three narcotics traders, including the distributors from South, were arrested on Somasundaram Road near the District Secretariat of Jaffna, while they were distributing narcotics. Narcotics dealers sent from South engage in the trade involving former members of Tamil paramilitary groups, news sources further said. However, the Sri Lankan police remained tight-lipped on the arrest of southern narcotics drug dealers on Thursday in the area having leading Tamil schools.

    The latest report of the arrest comes following a recent incident in which some students of a key educational institution in Jaffna were arrested while using narcotics.

    The Tamil students were brought to the court and were released with obligatory participation in a drug rehabilitation program.

    The informed sources in Jaffna further said that the SL military intelligence operatives were behind promoting the distribution of narcotics among Tamil students.

    Recently, there were also reports of SL soldiers involved in growing marijuna plants in the vicinity of SL military camps in Thenmaraadchi. Some of these were reportedly detected and destroyed by the SL Police although there is no independent way of verifying such destruction.

    Most of the men arrested for narcotic trafficking into the Jaffna peninsula in the recent times have explained to the SL Police that they were bringing in narcotics for the consumption of the SL soldiers.

    However, the drug flow from the South has continued under the camouflage of ‘intended’ consumption for the occupying SL soldiers, targeting the Tamil student community, as evident from the recent incidents, the news sources further said.

    Apart from the narcotics, the alcohol consumption among the youth has increased by 200 per cent in Jaffna during the past two years, according to medical staff at the Teaching Hospital of Jaffna.

    The occupying SL Army has been also conducting ‘socialising events’ with free distribution of beer to Tamil students.

    Alcoholic beverages were on sale targeting youth in a recent military event held at Duraiappa Stadium.

    As the SL police has failed to control such distribution and trafficking of narcotics, concerned civil groups in the North and East have sought a systematic study exposing the trend in detail.
    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art

  70. Sri Lanka Army Soldiers are forcing Kugan’s wife to sign Sinhala document.

    Four army personnel forced the wife of missing JVP dissident group Jana Aragalaya Movement member and activist Kugan Muruganathan, to sign a document in Sinhala, which she could not understand, parliamentarian Ajith Kumara told the Sunday Times.

    On March 23, around 4 p.m., four army personnel had come to Kugan’s house in Achchuveli and forced Kugan’s wife to sign the document, which she had refused to do.

    Then, several persons clad in civilian clothes were seen monitoring Kugan’s house from the street, the MP said.

    “I have made a compliant to the IGP with regard to this incident,” he said. The parliamentarian added that, Kugan’s family, fearing for their safety, had left the house next day (24). According to their lawyer, they have complained to the Achuveli Police, Jaffna Red Cross and the Human Rights Commission of this incident.
    http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120401/News/nws_037.htm

  71. Sri Lanka Army Soldiers are forcing Kugan’s wife to sign Sinhala document.

    Four army personnel forced the wife of missing JVP dissident group Jana Aragalaya Movement member and activist Kugan Muruganathan, to sign a document in Sinhala, which she could not understand, parliamentarian Ajith Kumara told the Sunday Times.

    On March 23, around 4 p.m., four army personnel had come to Kugan’s house in Achchuveli and forced Kugan’s wife to sign the document, which she had refused to do.

    Then, several persons clad in civilian clothes were seen monitoring Kugan’s house from the street, the MP said.

    “I have made a compliant to the IGP with regard to this incident,” he said. The parliamentarian added that, Kugan’s family, fearing for their safety, had left the house next day (24). According to their lawyer, they have complained to the Achuveli Police, Jaffna Red Cross and the Human Rights Commission of this incident.
    http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120401/News/nws_037.htm

  72. Mahinda is Mad and Untrustworthy. Tamils want the third party mediation.

    The political dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has hit a fresh snag with MP Suresh Premachandran suggesting third party mediation for talks.

    Mr. Premachandran told the Daily Mirror that he requested both the government and his party to give serious thought to his suggestion if they were genuinely interested in evolving an early solution. He said the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) or the South Asian Association for regional Co-operation (SAARC) could possibly play such a mediatory role.

    "We had talks with the government for more than one year. It took us nowhere. Therefore, in my opinion, third party mediation is absolutely needed for the successful conclusion of talks. This is my humble suggestion. I do not propose anyone in particular as the facilitator. However, it can be the UN, the EU, the SAARC or a group of nations. Going by our past experiences, I believe that such a role is all the more important," the TNA MP said. http://www.infolanka.com/news/IL/dm508.htm

  73. Mahinda is Mad and Untrustworthy. Tamils want the third party mediation.

    The political dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has hit a fresh snag with MP Suresh Premachandran suggesting third party mediation for talks.

    Mr. Premachandran told the Daily Mirror that he requested both the government and his party to give serious thought to his suggestion if they were genuinely interested in evolving an early solution. He said the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) or the South Asian Association for regional Co-operation (SAARC) could possibly play such a mediatory role.

    "We had talks with the government for more than one year. It took us nowhere. Therefore, in my opinion, third party mediation is absolutely needed for the successful conclusion of talks. This is my humble suggestion. I do not propose anyone in particular as the facilitator. However, it can be the UN, the EU, the SAARC or a group of nations. Going by our past experiences, I believe that such a role is all the more important," the TNA MP said. http://www.infolanka.com/news/IL/dm508.htm

  74. Dear Govind,

    You talk of cynicism, yet fail to mention that Amnesty now accepts funding from child-soldier recruiting and child-murdering terrorist front groups.

    I was utterly appalled to learn that AI accepted a $50,000 donation from the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), a front group for the defeated Tamil Tiger terrorists who, like Kony specialised in forcible recruitment of child soldiers for over 30 years until the Sri Lankan government finally crushed them in May 2009.

    http://tinyurl.com/6vpq9x7

    Are you as appalled by AI’s involvement with the CTC as I am?

    [I’m having to post under another name, as Amnesty doesn’t like having its involvement with Tamil Tigers made obvious. Rather pathetic, for an organisation dedicated to free speech, no? 🙂 🙂 ]

  75. Sri Lanka Army Mass-rape of the Tamil War Victims in Theavipuram, Sri Lanka.

    Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), a US-based activist group that seeks legal redress to Tamil victims of war, said Saturday that the organization is piecing together evidence based on an eye-witness testimony that up to 20 women, separated from nearly 200 civilians who surrendered to the SLA, were alleged to have been raped by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers near the village of Theavipuram, in Mullaiththeevu, in April 2009. While lack of witness protection program in Sri lanka, and threat to life of witnesses who appear against Security Forces have placed TAG’s legal effort in UK on hold, TAG said that the current legal action in UK involving Ex-Army Commander, Prasanna de Silva, may provide the momentum required to seek witnesses and to obtain corroborative evidence to identify the perpetrators of the alleged crime.

    “Families in small numbers were fleeing the Rajapaksa Government demarcated No Fire Zone (NFZ) in Mu’l’lvaikkaal in Mullaitivu from February till the end of the war on or around 17th May. There were persistent rumours among the beleagured civilians that mass rapes were occurring during this period. 40 to 50 Kilometer area inland from the SLA forward lines close to the beachhead of the NFZ, was fully occupied by several divisions of the SLA. No one, other than the victim-escapees, can bear witness to the crimes committed by the SLA in the area controlled by the SLA,” a witness who was working among the population in Mu’l’livaikkaal until the end of the war, and later escaped to a foreign country, told TamilNet.

    According to this witness, evidence of such crimes can be gathered as soon as there is free access to the Vanni area. “It will be hard for the military to destroy all the evidence; the memory of such crimes last until the victim is dead,” the witness said.
    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35055

  76. Occupying Sri Lanka Army soldiers are selling narcotics to Tamil children in the Tamil Homelands

    Sri Lankan military intelligence is allegedly behind a systematic programme of narcotics trade in the North and East of Eezham Tamils homeland, aiming the Tamil students as the target group, reliable sources in Jaffna told TamilNet Friday. On Thursday, three narcotics traders, including the distributors from South, were arrested on Somasundaram Road near the District Secretariat of Jaffna, while they were distributing narcotics. Narcotics dealers sent from South engage in the trade involving former members of Tamil paramilitary groups, news sources further said. However, the Sri Lankan police remained tight-lipped on the arrest of southern narcotics drug dealers on Thursday in the area having leading Tamil schools.

    The latest report of the arrest comes following a recent incident in which some students of a key educational institution in Jaffna were arrested while using narcotics.

    The Tamil students were brought to the court and were released with obligatory participation in a drug rehabilitation program.

    The informed sources in Jaffna further said that the SL military intelligence operatives were behind promoting the distribution of narcotics among Tamil students.

    Recently, there were also reports of SL soldiers involved in growing marijuna plants in the vicinity of SL military camps in Thenmaraadchi. Some of these were reportedly detected and destroyed by the SL Police although there is no independent way of verifying such destruction.

    Most of the men arrested for narcotic trafficking into the Jaffna peninsula in the recent times have explained to the SL Police that they were bringing in narcotics for the consumption of the SL soldiers.

    However, the drug flow from the South has continued under the camouflage of ‘intended’ consumption for the occupying SL soldiers, targeting the Tamil student community, as evident from the recent incidents, the news sources further said.

    Apart from the narcotics, the alcohol consumption among the youth has increased by 200 per cent in Jaffna during the past two years, according to medical staff at the Teaching Hospital of Jaffna.

    The occupying SL Army has been also conducting ‘socialising events’ with free distribution of beer to Tamil students.

    Alcoholic beverages were on sale targeting youth in a recent military event held at Duraiappa Stadium.

    As the SL police has failed to control such distribution and trafficking of narcotics, concerned civil groups in the North and East have sought a systematic study exposing the trend in detail.

    http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35054

  77. Sri Lanka Army Soldiers are forcing Kugan’s wife to sign Sinhala document.

    Four army personnel forced the wife of missing JVP dissident group Jana Aragalaya Movement member and activist Kugan Muruganathan, to sign a document in Sinhala, which she could not understand, parliamentarian Ajith Kumara told the Sunday Times.

    On March 23, around 4 p.m., four army personnel had come to Kugan’s house in Achchuveli and forced Kugan’s wife to sign the document, which she had refused to do.

    Then, several persons clad in civilian clothes were seen monitoring Kugan’s house from the street, the MP said.

    “I have made a compliant to the IGP with regard to this incident,” he said. The parliamentarian added that, Kugan’s family, fearing for their safety, had left the house next day (24). According to their lawyer, they have complained to the Achuveli Police, Jaffna Red Cross and the Human Rights Commission of this incident.

    http://www.sundaytimes.lk/120401/News/nws_037.html

  78. Mahinda is Mad and Untrustworthy. Tamils want the third party mediation.

    The political dialogue between the government and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has hit a fresh snag with MP Suresh Premachandran suggesting third party mediation for talks.

    Mr. Premachandran told the Daily Mirror that he requested both the government and his party to give serious thought to his suggestion if they were genuinely interested in evolving an early solution. He said the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) or the South Asian Association for regional Co-operation (SAARC) could possibly play such a mediatory role.

    “We had talks with the government for more than one year. It took us nowhere. Therefore, in my opinion, third party mediation is absolutely needed for the successful conclusion of talks. This is my humble suggestion. I do not propose anyone in particular as the facilitator. However, it can be the UN, the EU, the SAARC or a group of nations. Going by our past experiences, I believe that such a role is all the more important,” the TNA MP said.
    http://www.infolanka.com/news/IL/dm508.htm

  79. Opposition political activist was abducted, tortured and raped by Sri Lanka Government Forces !!!

    Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#16 min ago

    No to Sri Lanka Tourism
    Sri Lanka is dangerous place.
    An Australian man was abducted, tortured and raped by Sri Lanka Government Forces !!!
    An Australian man says he was sexually tortured by security forces after being abducted in Sri Lanka.

    Speaking in Sydney on his return home, Kumar Gunaratnam claimed he was abducted at gunpoint by secret police in Colombo on Friday, assaulted, tortured and left to fear for his life.

    He was released after the intervention of the Australian Government following a public appeal by his wife.

    The Sri Lankan government has denied the kidnapping claims and says Mr Gunaratnam is a dangerous militant.

    Mr Gunaratnam says he was about to launch a left-wing political party Sri Lankan officials want to silence.

    He says about 15 government security personnel stormed into his house in Colombo around 4:30am on Friday.

    The 42-year-old, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Sri Lanka, claims he was held for about four days and moved around to different army bases around the capital.

    "I confirm I was abducted by the Sri Lankan government forces [who] blind-folded me and tortured [me]," he said.

    "This includes, I'm embarrassed to say, sexual torture. I was handcuffed and my ankles were bound during the whole period."

    Mr Gunaratnam says he believes without the intervention of the Australian High Commission and the media pressure put on the Sri Lankan government, he would be not be alive.

    "I have no doubt that if I didn't have the Australian Government's support, I would have been killed just like my brother and hundreds of other political activists and journalists have been killed," he said. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-11/australian-

  80. Sri Lanka Army to replace Computer Room in Jaffna Library which renowned throughout the whole word as a jewel in ancient Tamil studies with a toilet for Sinhalese visitors from the South is … a beggars beliefs …. 🙁

    Yet another anti –reconciliation initiative by New Colonial Slave Masters in Occupied Tamil Homelands

    Sri Lanka's Buddhist tormentors force Hindus and Christians to play the ultimate humiliation game!!!

  81. A terrible history of murdering journalists who dissent from the government's grace isn't evil enough for Sri Lanka's continual conflict against the Tamil population in Jaffna. Now the man presiding over the country's northern Tamil area, a war crime suspect, is going to transform the high technology section of the Jaffna Library into a toilet for Sinhalese visitors from the south.

    Sources report that The Sri Lankan Governor for the Northern Province of Jaffna proposes the construction of a toilet to replace the Computer section on the second floor of the Jaffna Public library[1] .

    It's pretty sad when a nation's entire military mission is based around ethnic cleansing. It is even sadder when you learn that the agents of death and state terrorism in Sri Lankan are Buddhists.

    But this story isn't about the Genocide this religious government is responsible for, where Tamil Hindu and Christian people were slaughtered in a systematic, utterly cruel way.

    It is about the post-war actions of this same Buddhist government, and if there is one underlying theme in this report it might be the question, how much are people really expected to take?

    By the summer of 2009, right under the world's nose, vast segments of a culture were annihilated, ground into pieces, children were hacked, shot and stabbed. There are horrible accounts of Tamil women and girls being raped. Resistance fighters with white flags were murdered by the government forces of Sri Lanka as they attempted to surrender to what they believed was an honorable military force.

    Instead we learn of their plight; we discover the photos of a resistance leader's son who had been shot in the chest, just a 12-year old boy who had turned himself into government forces for protection. Some protection they offered.

    As we have detailed in grisly, past reports, they were directed into so-called 'safe zones' and then bombed to smithereens. And when the bombs stopped, the men of Sri Lanka's Army came, and the killing at that point became much more personal. It is truly a world catastrophe, and now the government turns on the treasured Jaffna Library?

    What is really interesting, is the fact that Sri Lanka's highly decorated generals like Chandrasiri, Silva and so many others, earned their medals fighting their own countrymen. I know many Sinhalese have a hard time admitting it, but the Tamils are also Sri Lankans and most if not all of the medals these decorated officers wear, are for killing their fellow Sri Lankans. Rarely has such a defeating and tragic country or concept existed.
    http://salem-news.com/articles/april102012/jaffna

  82. Opposition political activist was abducted, tortured and raped by Sri Lanka Government Forces !!!

    Reply »|Report Abuse|Judge it!|#16 min ago

    No to Sri Lanka Tourism
    Sri Lanka is dangerous place.
    An Australian man was abducted, tortured and raped by Sri Lanka Government Forces !!!
    An Australian man says he was sexually tortured by security forces after being abducted in Sri Lanka.

    Speaking in Sydney on his return home, Kumar Gunaratnam claimed he was abducted at gunpoint by secret police in Colombo on Friday, assaulted, tortured and left to fear for his life.

    He was released after the intervention of the Australian Government following a public appeal by his wife.

    The Sri Lankan government has denied the kidnapping claims and says Mr Gunaratnam is a dangerous militant.

    Mr Gunaratnam says he was about to launch a left-wing political party Sri Lankan officials want to silence.

    He says about 15 government security personnel stormed into his house in Colombo around 4:30am on Friday.

    The 42-year-old, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Sri Lanka, claims he was held for about four days and moved around to different army bases around the capital.

    “I confirm I was abducted by the Sri Lankan government forces [who] blind-folded me and tortured [me],” he said.

    “This includes, I’m embarrassed to say, sexual torture. I was handcuffed and my ankles were bound during the whole period.”

    Mr Gunaratnam says he believes without the intervention of the Australian High Commission and the media pressure put on the Sri Lankan government, he would be not be alive.

    “I have no doubt that if I didn’t have the Australian Government’s support, I would have been killed just like my brother and hundreds of other political activists and journalists have been killed,” he said.
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-11/australian-man-27sexually-tortured27-after-sri-lankan-abducti/3944322

  83. Sri Lanka Army to replace Computer Room in Jaffna Library which renowned throughout the whole word as a jewel in ancient Tamil studies with a toilet for Sinhalese visitors from the South is … a beggars beliefs …. 🙁

    Yet another anti –reconciliation initiative by New Colonial Slave Masters in Occupied Tamil Homelands

    Sri Lanka’s Buddhist tormentors force Hindus and Christians to play the ultimate humiliation game!!!

  84. A terrible history of murdering journalists who dissent from the government’s grace isn’t evil enough for Sri Lanka’s continual conflict against the Tamil population in Jaffna. Now the man presiding over the country’s northern Tamil area, a war crime suspect, is going to transform the high technology section of the Jaffna Library into a toilet for Sinhalese visitors from the south.

    Sources report that The Sri Lankan Governor for the Northern Province of Jaffna proposes the construction of a toilet to replace the Computer section on the second floor of the Jaffna Public library[1] .

    It’s pretty sad when a nation’s entire military mission is based around ethnic cleansing. It is even sadder when you learn that the agents of death and state terrorism in Sri Lankan are Buddhists.

    But this story isn’t about the Genocide this religious government is responsible for, where Tamil Hindu and Christian people were slaughtered in a systematic, utterly cruel way.

    It is about the post-war actions of this same Buddhist government, and if there is one underlying theme in this report it might be the question, how much are people really expected to take?

    By the summer of 2009, right under the world’s nose, vast segments of a culture were annihilated, ground into pieces, children were hacked, shot and stabbed. There are horrible accounts of Tamil women and girls being raped. Resistance fighters with white flags were murdered by the government forces of Sri Lanka as they attempted to surrender to what they believed was an honorable military force.

    Instead we learn of their plight; we discover the photos of a resistance leader’s son who had been shot in the chest, just a 12-year old boy who had turned himself into government forces for protection. Some protection they offered.

    As we have detailed in grisly, past reports, they were directed into so-called ‘safe zones’ and then bombed to smithereens. And when the bombs stopped, the men of Sri Lanka’s Army came, and the killing at that point became much more personal. It is truly a world catastrophe, and now the government turns on the treasured Jaffna Library?

    What is really interesting, is the fact that Sri Lanka’s highly decorated generals like Chandrasiri, Silva and so many others, earned their medals fighting their own countrymen. I know many Sinhalese have a hard time admitting it, but the Tamils are also Sri Lankans and most if not all of the medals these decorated officers wear, are for killing their fellow Sri Lankans. Rarely has such a defeating and tragic country or concept existed.

    http://salem-news.com/articles/april102012/jaffna-library-tk.php

  85. Rajapaksa is killing off Tamil Businessmen is another for ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka to wipe out the tiny Tamil Minority ??

    Rajapaksa is supporting the brutal Paramilitary Forces by Karuna, Douglas D, Pillayan extort money from the already impoverished Tamil Businessmen to wipe them out. The Genocide continues. First Rajapaksas destroyed Tamil people in the war , now Rajapaksas are destroying Tamil businessmen to wipe out them out. White van “disappearances for ransom” is overtly a racket milking Tamil cash cows there is also a hidden aspect. In July 1983 organized mobs consisting mainly of Sinhala – speaking hoodlums looted and destroyed Tamil businesses. Despite that blow the resilient Tamil people have bounced back and have carved out their niche once again in Sri Lankan commerce. What is happening now is another “silent” July 1983. The business concerns are not physically destroyed but Tamil businessmen are being systematically wiped out. Tamil owned or controlled commerce is rapidly eroding. The “enforced disappearances” of most affluent Tamils are not political or related to counter – terrorist procedures. These are nothing but extortion related abductions. It is now an industry. The actual number of incidents are not reported to the Police or even organizations like the Civil Monitoring Commission. Many people negotiate on their own and get their loved ones released through paying a reduced sum. They later keep silent. In many cases the ransom paid is so great that continuing with business becomes impossible. Some are forced to sell off property to collect ransom money. Also some who get released feel so insecure that they transfer their businesses to someone else and leave the country. There are also many businessmen who have run off to India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Middle – East and Western nations to escape being victimised.
    The irony is that this slow strangulation is not being done by Sinhala mobs but by main three Pro-Rajapaksa Paramilitary Groups:1. Karuna, 2.Pillayan, 3.Douglas D. The actual abductions are generally done by the Karuna or Douglas D group or in a few cases by both. There is close collaboration by sections of the Police and armed forces and intelligence personnell. Some top “security” guy is usually at hand to help out if something goes wrong. It is also believed that a percentage of the ill – gained loot is given to these sections. In some instances the Tamil groups pay “bribes” to get things done. There is corruption or collaboration by the Police or Armed forces in this sordid activity. What is frightening about this racket is suspected connivance and condonement at very high levels. At least one cabinet minister has demanded and received money for the release of abducted persons. There are also instances of the families and relatives of abducted persons obtaining their releases through contacts at very, very high levels of Government. It is said that the only sure guarantee of getting one released is to gain the sympathy of family members of a Rajapaksa political dynasty. http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/5508

  86. This is the spectre of enforced disappearances where people mostly from Tamil minority are abducted brazenly by Rajapaksa armed forces in whte vans or go missing without a trace.

    – A Tamil multi – millionaire businessman accused of attempting to de–fraud Customs goes “missing” in Colombo after he threatens to expose involvement of people in high places in corrupt activity. Ransom is demanded and distraught family members pay more than three crores of rupees to two Tamil political groups for the return of the man who is a diabetic. But the missing person who phoned last from Polonnaruwa district is yet to return despite the huge amount paid.

    – The vice – chancellor of an Eastern university is threatened by an armed Pro-Rajapaksa amil group and moves to Colombo. His resignation is not accepted by the UGC. The VC attends a top academic conference in a high – security area of Colombo. He is last seen around noon at the venue. Many appeals have been issued and representations have been made to the President himself but the man who went missing many weeks ago remains in the ranks of the “disappeared”.

    – The Colombo district organizer of an Up Country Peoples party goes missing in Colombo. Within 48 hours of his disappearance the party concerned crosses over from the opposition to the Government. One MP becomes cabinet minister and another deputy – minister. But the “disappeared” organizer is still missing.

    – A young Tamil woman working as financial executive of an airline firm is abducted by unknown persons from her residence in Borupane road, Ratmalana. Nothing is known of her whereabouts so far. In a separate incident another young Tamil woman working as an information tech executive in the private sector is also abducted. But she is fortunate in having UNP Colombo distict MP Thiyagarajah Maheswaran as her uncle. Maheswaran who enjoys close rapport with President Rajapakse pulls strings at a high level and the niece is released.

    Two prominent businessmen – brothers in law – in the jewellery trade return home in a car. The vehicle stops at a Police check point. Two men get in with arms and the vehicle speeds off. One of the businessmen a heart patient is dropped off soon. A ransom is demanded. Negotiations take place and a sum is paid. The missing man returns home. The family keeps “mum”.

    – A well – known Tamil broadcaster is abducted on his way to work. He is taken blind- folded to an unknown destination and quizzed by people. The Indian High Commission exerts maximum pressure to get him released. The Indian envoy of that time speaks to President Rajapakse directly. The broadcaster is released with the stern warning that he should not open his mouth.

    – A Christian evangelical pastor from Vavuniya district, his two sons and another are on their way to Colombo. They are last seen at the Negombo bus stand. They are reported missing and have been classified as “disappeared”.

    – Another Colombo businessman and his employee go missing. His family is informed by his abductors that a hefty amount has to be paid. They are advised to sell off the business and pay up. Meanwhile some relatives have links to “Saffronist” politicians. Through these connections an appeal is made to a powerful personality in defence circles. The man and his employee are released from a camp in the Eastern province.

    – A Tamil entrepreneur living in a Western Country goes to Colombo because a family member is terminally ill. His vehicle is stopped at the Negombo road junction by Tamil youths in a pick up. The relative driving him home from the airport is told to keep his mouth shut. Later a massive sum is demanded for his release. The telephone calls are made from Sri Lanka to the foreign country where the family lives.Negotiations are currently on to reduce the sum demanded.

    – a woman teacher is abducted in Vavuniya. Her family is middle – class and does not have the ransom demanded for release. But her abductors are well aware of her close relatives abroad and what their financial status. The relatives are asked to pay up. After bargaining an agreed amount is paid and the woman freed.

    The above – mentioned incidents are but a few in a long list of similiar ones plaguing the Tamil people of Sri Lanka in recent times. People suddenly disappear or go missing .There have been some incidents where Muslims and Sinhala people have gone “missing” too but the overwhelming cases of “Missing” or “Disappearances” pertain to the Tamil people alone. Though these incidents are loosely called “disappearances” they are really “involuntary disappearances” or “enforced disappearances”.

    The “enforced disappearances” of most affluent Tamils are not political or related to counter – terrorist procedures. These are nothing but extortion related abductions. It is now an industry. The actual number of incidents are not reported to the Police or even organizations like the Civil Monitoring Commission. Many people negotiate on their own and get their loved ones released through paying a reduced sum. They later keep silent.

    There is strong evidence that sections of the Police and armed forces are collaborating in these enforced disappearances. There is also evidence of people in positions of power providing tacit support to this racket.Against this backdrop the average Tamil victim does not trust the Police, armed forces or the Government. Those who have high level contacts use that influence to get their loved ones out. Others negotiate with the abductors, pay up and secure releases. After getting out most victims either leave the Country or simply keep quiet. http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/5518

  87. Mahinda Rajapaksa kills Sri Lanka Journalists

    (3) On April 29, 2005 Darmaratnam Sivaram (47), male, editorial board member of TamilNet / around 10:30pm/ abducted by 4 men in a white van in front of the Bambalapitya police station in Colombo, later his body was found near the parliamentary complex with in a high security zone.

    (4) On 29 July, 2005. Arasakumar Kannamuthu (38), male, a newspaper delivery agent for the Batticaloa Eelanatham newspaper shot and killed by unidentified gunmen at Matupola in Kalmunai-Akkaraipattu Road, 50 kilometers south of Batticaloa.

    (5) On August 12, 2005 Tamil broadcaster Relangi Selvarajah and her husband, a political activist, were killed by unidentified gunmen in Colombo on the same day that Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka`s foreign minister, was assassinated.

    (6) On August 29, 2005. David Selvaratnam (50), a security guard, Manickam Kamalanathan (49), a proof-reader, Subramaniyam Suthas (29), a computer operator, A.M.F Anas, a visiting employee, all are male / around 6:15pm. / severely injured by unidentified attackers throwing two grenades into the printing office of Tamil-language daily Sudar Oli, Madampitiya Road at Grandpass in Colombo.

    (7) On September 30, 2005 Yogakumar Krishnapillai (38), male, a distributor of the Batticaloa-Eelanatham newspaper / around 7:30am / shot and killed by two unidentified gunmen in Batticaloa.

    (8) On 24 January, 2006 35-year old Subramaniam Sugirtharajan, a father of two and a correspondent for `Sudar Oli,` a Tamil-language was shot and killed at his residence located along the Lower Road facing the Trincomalee harbor in the suburb of Orr`s Hill in Trincomalee He was waiting for transport to his workplace.

    (9) On May 02, 2006. a gang of five men armed with T-56 automatic rifles entered the Uthayan office at about 7.25 p.m. and began firing. Marketing manager Bastian George Sagayathas, 36, also known as Suresh, was the first killed. Circulation supervisor S. Ranjith, 25, was killed when he raised his head to see what was happening to Uthayakumar. He was held down and shot dead.

    (10) On May 03, 2006 Suresh Kumar and Ranjith Kumar were killed on May 3, as journalists gathered in Colombo to celebrate Press Freedom Day this year.

    (11) On July 2, 2006 freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva was shot dead by an unknown group.

    (12) On July 27, 2006 Mariathas Manojanraj, 23, a distributor of Yarl Thinakural and Veerakesari, was killed in a claymore explosion on Rasa Road, near Nilavarai Deep well on his way from Atchuvely to Jaffna. Manojanraj was riding a motorbike to collect Thursday issues of the papers from the Jaffna Thinakkural office for distribution in Atchuvely when the explosion occurred, sources said. The claymore mine was triggered by remote-control device and occurred in an isolated area in Navakeeri close to the Ellalan Community Center, sources said.

    (13) On August 12, 2006 Relangi Selvarajah and her husband were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Bambalapitiya.

    (14) On August 15, 2006 Sathasivam Baskaram Driver/Distributor Uthayan Newspaper in Jaffna was shot and killed.

    (15) On August 21, 2006. Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah (68), male, managing director of Tamil-language daily `Namathu Eelanadu, chairman of the Multi-Purpose Co-opeative Society (MPCS) in Tellippalai, Jaffna, former member of parliament for the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) / around 7:20pm/ shot and killed at temporary residence in Tellippalai, 14 kilometers northeast of Jaffna.

    (16) On February 27, 2007 S. T. Gananathan (64), male, president of the Jaffna Multi Purpose Co-Operative Society / shot dead 200 meters from the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp at Mampalam junction in Ariyalai.

    (17) On April 16, 2007 Subash Chandrabose, 32, editor of the Tamil monthly Nilam, was gunned down late Monday at his residence in Thirunavatkulam in Vavuniya, 260 kilometres north of Colombo, the rights group said. Chandrabose also freelanced for other publications including the London-based magazine Tamil World. The FMM, which consists of journalists and rights activists, said it was `appalled by this killing.`

    (18) On April 29, 2007 Selvarajah Rajivarman (25), male, journalist of Jaffna`s `Uthayan` newspaper / around 10am/ shot and killed by gunmen riding on a motorbike at Naavalar Road, Rasaavin Thoaddam junction in Jaffna.

    (19) On August 01, 2007 Nilakshan Sahapavan, a 22-year-old student at the Jaffna University Media Research and Training Centre and the editor of Calare, was killed by unidentified gunmen.

  88. Rajapaksa is killing off Tamil Businessmen is another for ethnic cleansing in Sri Lanka to wipe out the tiny Tamil Minority ??

    Rajapaksa is supporting the brutal Paramilitary Forces by Karuna, Douglas D, Pillayan extort money from the already impoverished Tamil Businessmen to wipe them out. The Genocide continues. First Rajapaksas destroyed Tamil people in the war , now Rajapaksas are destroying Tamil businessmen to wipe out them out. White van “disappearances for ransom” is overtly a racket milking Tamil cash cows there is also a hidden aspect. In July 1983 organized mobs consisting mainly of Sinhala – speaking hoodlums looted and destroyed Tamil businesses. Despite that blow the resilient Tamil people have bounced back and have carved out their niche once again in Sri Lankan commerce. What is happening now is another “silent” July 1983. The business concerns are not physically destroyed but Tamil businessmen are being systematically wiped out. Tamil owned or controlled commerce is rapidly eroding. The “enforced disappearances” of most affluent Tamils are not political or related to counter – terrorist procedures. These are nothing but extortion related abductions. It is now an industry. The actual number of incidents are not reported to the Police or even organizations like the Civil Monitoring Commission. Many people negotiate on their own and get their loved ones released through paying a reduced sum. They later keep silent. In many cases the ransom paid is so great that continuing with business becomes impossible. Some are forced to sell off property to collect ransom money. Also some who get released feel so insecure that they transfer their businesses to someone else and leave the country. There are also many businessmen who have run off to India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Middle – East and Western nations to escape being victimised.
    The irony is that this slow strangulation is not being done by Sinhala mobs but by main three Pro-Rajapaksa Paramilitary Groups:1. Karuna, 2.Pillayan, 3.Douglas D. The actual abductions are generally done by the Karuna or Douglas D group or in a few cases by both. There is close collaboration by sections of the Police and armed forces and intelligence personnell. Some top “security” guy is usually at hand to help out if something goes wrong. It is also believed that a percentage of the ill – gained loot is given to these sections. In some instances the Tamil groups pay “bribes” to get things done. There is corruption or collaboration by the Police or Armed forces in this sordid activity. What is frightening about this racket is suspected connivance and condonement at very high levels. At least one cabinet minister has demanded and received money for the release of abducted persons. There are also instances of the families and relatives of abducted persons obtaining their releases through contacts at very, very high levels of Government. It is said that the only sure guarantee of getting one released is to gain the sympathy of family members of a Rajapaksa political dynasty. http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/5508

  89. This is the spectre of enforced disappearances where people mostly from Tamil minority are abducted brazenly by Rajapaksa armed forces in whte vans or go missing without a trace.

    – A Tamil multi – millionaire businessman accused of attempting to de–fraud Customs goes “missing” in Colombo after he threatens to expose involvement of people in high places in corrupt activity. Ransom is demanded and distraught family members pay more than three crores of rupees to two Tamil political groups for the return of the man who is a diabetic. But the missing person who phoned last from Polonnaruwa district is yet to return despite the huge amount paid.

    – The vice – chancellor of an Eastern university is threatened by an armed Pro-Rajapaksa amil group and moves to Colombo. His resignation is not accepted by the UGC. The VC attends a top academic conference in a high – security area of Colombo. He is last seen around noon at the venue. Many appeals have been issued and representations have been made to the President himself but the man who went missing many weeks ago remains in the ranks of the “disappeared”.

    – The Colombo district organizer of an Up Country Peoples party goes missing in Colombo. Within 48 hours of his disappearance the party concerned crosses over from the opposition to the Government. One MP becomes cabinet minister and another deputy – minister. But the “disappeared” organizer is still missing.

    – A young Tamil woman working as financial executive of an airline firm is abducted by unknown persons from her residence in Borupane road, Ratmalana. Nothing is known of her whereabouts so far. In a separate incident another young Tamil woman working as an information tech executive in the private sector is also abducted. But she is fortunate in having UNP Colombo distict MP Thiyagarajah Maheswaran as her uncle. Maheswaran who enjoys close rapport with President Rajapakse pulls strings at a high level and the niece is released.

    Two prominent businessmen – brothers in law – in the jewellery trade return home in a car. The vehicle stops at a Police check point. Two men get in with arms and the vehicle speeds off. One of the businessmen a heart patient is dropped off soon. A ransom is demanded. Negotiations take place and a sum is paid. The missing man returns home. The family keeps “mum”.

    – A well – known Tamil broadcaster is abducted on his way to work. He is taken blind- folded to an unknown destination and quizzed by people. The Indian High Commission exerts maximum pressure to get him released. The Indian envoy of that time speaks to President Rajapakse directly. The broadcaster is released with the stern warning that he should not open his mouth.

    – A Christian evangelical pastor from Vavuniya district, his two sons and another are on their way to Colombo. They are last seen at the Negombo bus stand. They are reported missing and have been classified as “disappeared”.

    – Another Colombo businessman and his employee go missing. His family is informed by his abductors that a hefty amount has to be paid. They are advised to sell off the business and pay up. Meanwhile some relatives have links to “Saffronist” politicians. Through these connections an appeal is made to a powerful personality in defence circles. The man and his employee are released from a camp in the Eastern province.

    – A Tamil entrepreneur living in a Western Country goes to Colombo because a family member is terminally ill. His vehicle is stopped at the Negombo road junction by Tamil youths in a pick up. The relative driving him home from the airport is told to keep his mouth shut. Later a massive sum is demanded for his release. The telephone calls are made from Sri Lanka to the foreign country where the family lives.Negotiations are currently on to reduce the sum demanded.

    – a woman teacher is abducted in Vavuniya. Her family is middle – class and does not have the ransom demanded for release. But her abductors are well aware of her close relatives abroad and what their financial status. The relatives are asked to pay up. After bargaining an agreed amount is paid and the woman freed.

    The above – mentioned incidents are but a few in a long list of similiar ones plaguing the Tamil people of Sri Lanka in recent times. People suddenly disappear or go missing .There have been some incidents where Muslims and Sinhala people have gone “missing” too but the overwhelming cases of “Missing” or “Disappearances” pertain to the Tamil people alone. Though these incidents are loosely called “disappearances” they are really “involuntary disappearances” or “enforced disappearances”.

    The “enforced disappearances” of most affluent Tamils are not political or related to counter – terrorist procedures. These are nothing but extortion related abductions. It is now an industry. The actual number of incidents are not reported to the Police or even organizations like the Civil Monitoring Commission. Many people negotiate on their own and get their loved ones released through paying a reduced sum. They later keep silent.

    There is strong evidence that sections of the Police and armed forces are collaborating in these enforced disappearances. There is also evidence of people in positions of power providing tacit support to this racket.Against this backdrop the average Tamil victim does not trust the Police, armed forces or the Government. Those who have high level contacts use that influence to get their loved ones out. Others negotiate with the abductors, pay up and secure releases. After getting out most victims either leave the Country or simply keep quiet.
    http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/5518

  90. Mahinda Rajapaksa kills Sri Lanka Journalists

    (3) On April 29, 2005 Darmaratnam Sivaram (47), male, editorial board member of TamilNet / around 10:30pm/ abducted by 4 men in a white van in front of the Bambalapitya police station in Colombo, later his body was found near the parliamentary complex with in a high security zone.

    (4) On 29 July, 2005. Arasakumar Kannamuthu (38), male, a newspaper delivery agent for the Batticaloa Eelanatham newspaper shot and killed by unidentified gunmen at Matupola in Kalmunai-Akkaraipattu Road, 50 kilometers south of Batticaloa.

    (5) On August 12, 2005 Tamil broadcaster Relangi Selvarajah and her husband, a political activist, were killed by unidentified gunmen in Colombo on the same day that Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka`s foreign minister, was assassinated.

    (6) On August 29, 2005. David Selvaratnam (50), a security guard, Manickam Kamalanathan (49), a proof-reader, Subramaniyam Suthas (29), a computer operator, A.M.F Anas, a visiting employee, all are male / around 6:15pm. / severely injured by unidentified attackers throwing two grenades into the printing office of Tamil-language daily Sudar Oli, Madampitiya Road at Grandpass in Colombo.

    (7) On September 30, 2005 Yogakumar Krishnapillai (38), male, a distributor of the Batticaloa-Eelanatham newspaper / around 7:30am / shot and killed by two unidentified gunmen in Batticaloa.

    (8) On 24 January, 2006 35-year old Subramaniam Sugirtharajan, a father of two and a correspondent for `Sudar Oli,` a Tamil-language was shot and killed at his residence located along the Lower Road facing the Trincomalee harbor in the suburb of Orr`s Hill in Trincomalee He was waiting for transport to his workplace.

    (9) On May 02, 2006. a gang of five men armed with T-56 automatic rifles entered the Uthayan office at about 7.25 p.m. and began firing. Marketing manager Bastian George Sagayathas, 36, also known as Suresh, was the first killed. Circulation supervisor S. Ranjith, 25, was killed when he raised his head to see what was happening to Uthayakumar. He was held down and shot dead.

    (10) On May 03, 2006 Suresh Kumar and Ranjith Kumar were killed on May 3, as journalists gathered in Colombo to celebrate Press Freedom Day this year.

    (11) On July 2, 2006 freelance journalist Sampath Lakmal de Silva was shot dead by an unknown group.

    (12) On July 27, 2006 Mariathas Manojanraj, 23, a distributor of Yarl Thinakural and Veerakesari, was killed in a claymore explosion on Rasa Road, near Nilavarai Deep well on his way from Atchuvely to Jaffna. Manojanraj was riding a motorbike to collect Thursday issues of the papers from the Jaffna Thinakkural office for distribution in Atchuvely when the explosion occurred, sources said. The claymore mine was triggered by remote-control device and occurred in an isolated area in Navakeeri close to the Ellalan Community Center, sources said.

    (13) On August 12, 2006 Relangi Selvarajah and her husband were shot dead by unknown gunmen in Bambalapitiya.

    (14) On August 15, 2006 Sathasivam Baskaram Driver/Distributor Uthayan Newspaper in Jaffna was shot and killed.

    (15) On August 21, 2006. Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah (68), male, managing director of Tamil-language daily `Namathu Eelanadu, chairman of the Multi-Purpose Co-opeative Society (MPCS) in Tellippalai, Jaffna, former member of parliament for the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) / around 7:20pm/ shot and killed at temporary residence in Tellippalai, 14 kilometers northeast of Jaffna.

    (16) On February 27, 2007 S. T. Gananathan (64), male, president of the Jaffna Multi Purpose Co-Operative Society / shot dead 200 meters from the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) camp at Mampalam junction in Ariyalai.

    (17) On April 16, 2007 Subash Chandrabose, 32, editor of the Tamil monthly Nilam, was gunned down late Monday at his residence in Thirunavatkulam in Vavuniya, 260 kilometres north of Colombo, the rights group said. Chandrabose also freelanced for other publications including the London-based magazine Tamil World. The FMM, which consists of journalists and rights activists, said it was `appalled by this killing.`

    (18) On April 29, 2007 Selvarajah Rajivarman (25), male, journalist of Jaffna`s `Uthayan` newspaper / around 10am/ shot and killed by gunmen riding on a motorbike at Naavalar Road, Rasaavin Thoaddam junction in Jaffna.

    (19) On August 01, 2007 Nilakshan Sahapavan, a 22-year-old student at the Jaffna University Media Research and Training Centre and the editor of Calare, was killed by unidentified gunmen.

  91. India’s frustration with Sri Lanka over Tamils
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17891135
    Indian disappointment with Sri Lanka’s refusal to undertake genuine reconciliation with its Tamil population ought to have been apparent to Colombo for some time now.

    It must have been brought home forcefully with the visit of an all-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians to Sri Lanka last week.

    Although India supported the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam it was wrong to presume that it would turn a blind eye to Colombo’s indifference towards resolving the Tamil question since the war ended three years ago.

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