Since 1971, Sri Lanka has been operating almost continuously under a State of Emergency. These emergency laws have granted state authorities sweeping powers of detention and have permitted the use of secret prisons, a practice that encourages human rights abuses like enforced disappearances, torture and death in custody, which could constitute crimes under international law. In the last thirty years, thousands of Sri Lankans have spent years in detention without trial.
The war is over. Perpetuation of the emergency is now just being used as a weapon against political opposition, and as a quick fix for poor law enforcement practices and a dysfunctional justice system – Madhu Malhotra, deputy director of Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific program
During the last phase of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), we used satellite imagery to demonstrate the prison-like conditions displaced civilians faced, used aerial photography to demonstrate violations of international humanitarian law, and geovisualization tools to track the violence and growing humanitarian crisis. This information has helped us to campaign for the release of prisoners held under the emergency laws and for an end to the countless unmonitored human rights violations occurring.
Today, Sri Lanka’s first post-war parliament is meeting to discuss the next steps the country must take in the wake of its 27-year war. Now is the time for Sri Lanka’s parliament to press for the release of people still detained under these emergency laws, unless they are charged with an internationally recognized criminal offence, and are tried in regular civilian courts to international standards for fair trial.
Kristin Ghazarians contributed to this blog post
The James Joyce Ramble, a 10-kilometer race in Dedham, Massachusetts on April 25, will be dedicated to J.S. Tissainayagam, a Sri Lankan journalist who was convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the emergency regulations last year – see http://tinyurl.com/297c33s
Amnesty International considers Mr. Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience, detained and prosecuted solely for his legitimate activities as a journalist. Although he is currently out of prison on bail while his appeal against his conviction is pending, he should never have been tried in the first place. The Sri Lankan government should promptly quash his conviction and free him from all charges against him. Please write on his behalf – http://tinyurl.com/yemdkkt
Rajapaksa parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya "plays" in this team:
http://tvnz.co.nz/cricket-black-caps/black-caps-s…
The James Joyce Ramble, a 10-kilometer race in Dedham, Massachusetts on April 25, will be dedicated to J.S. Tissainayagam, a Sri Lankan journalist who was convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the emergency regulations last year – see http://tinyurl.com/297c33s
Amnesty International considers Mr. Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience, detained and prosecuted solely for his legitimate activities as a journalist. Although he is currently out of prison on bail while his appeal against his conviction is pending, he should never have been tried in the first place. The Sri Lankan government should promptly quash his conviction and free him from all charges against him. Please write on his behalf – http://tinyurl.com/yemdkkt
The James Joyce Ramble, a 10-kilometer race in Dedham, Massachusetts on April 25, will be dedicated to J.S. Tissainayagam, a Sri Lankan journalist who was convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the emergency regulations last year – see http://tinyurl.com/297c33s
Amnesty International considers Mr. Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience, detained and prosecuted solely for his legitimate activities as a journalist. Although he is currently out of prison on bail while his appeal against his conviction is pending, he should never have been tried in the first place. The Sri Lankan government should promptly quash his conviction and free him from all charges against him. Please write on his behalf – http://tinyurl.com/yemdkkt
I humbly ask what Amnesty can do about officials from Sri Lanka freely traveling to the US while their government is dodging international calls for war crimes investigations, accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
Even Sanath Jayasuriya visiting Florida to play cricket is a governing party UPFA parliamentarian appeasing President Rajapsksa policies.
Rajapaksa parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya "plays" in this team:
http://tvnz.co.nz/cricket-black-caps/black-caps-s…
Rajapaksa parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya "plays" in this team:
http://tvnz.co.nz/cricket-black-caps/black-caps-s…
It look like, sri lanka still demining vanni while IDPs still in the camps. http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2bIAQKe0d3lm…
May 18 http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/…
Sri Lanka’s new parliament must drop emergency laws
Bravo Amnesty International USA for standing up to the Mahinda Rajapaksa savagely repressive regime in Sri Lanka !!
16 political prisoners in Jaffna prison begin hunger strike
Sixteen political prisoners held in Jaffna prison began a hunger strike Thursday in protest against the order issued by Department of Attorney General to move them to High Courts in the South including Anuradapura High Court for trials, sources in Jaffna said. The sixteen political prisoners on hunger strike have either been arrested or had surrendered themselves and charged by the government for various alleged political offences. The protestors demand their trial to be conducted in Jaffna and not to send them to the High Courts in the South
It look like, sri lanka still demining vanni while IDPs still in the camps. http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2bIAQKe0d3lm…
It look like, sri lanka still demining vanni while IDPs still in the camps. http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2bIAQKe0d3lm…
The desperate need for homes is ignored by Sri Lanka Government
Materials to construct shelters given as aid by India meant for the resettled families in Vanni have not been fully distributed to them and are left unattended along A9 road due to noncooperation of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Vanni and their refusal to grant permission for distribution, sources close to Ki’linochchi Secretariat said. SLA authorities purposely delay and obstruct distribution of these materials with the aim to give them to Sinhalese families to be colonized in places including Kokkaavil and Maangku’lam in Vanni, according to some Tamil National Alliance (TNA) newly elected representatives. The distribution of the materials had not been carried out by the government officials due to noncooperation by SLA authorities in Vanni.
The occupation of the Tamil Homelands
SLA constructs big bases in Vanni
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupying Vanni without allowing the uprooted civilians from resettling in their homes is busy engaged in constructing big bases in strategic areas in Vanni, sources in Vanni said. Meanwhile, the small numbers of civilians permitted to resettle in some areas in Vanni are subjected to harassment by SLA.
May 18 http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/…
May 18 http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/…
The James Joyce Ramble, a 10-kilometer race in Dedham, Massachusetts on April 25, will be dedicated to J.S. Tissainayagam, a Sri Lankan journalist who was convicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the emergency regulations last year – see http://tinyurl.com/297c33s
Amnesty International considers Mr. Tissainayagam to be a prisoner of conscience, detained and prosecuted solely for his legitimate activities as a journalist. Although he is currently out of prison on bail while his appeal against his conviction is pending, he should never have been tried in the first place. The Sri Lankan government should promptly quash his conviction and free him from all charges against him. Please write on his behalf – http://tinyurl.com/yemdkkt
I humbly ask what Amnesty can do about officials from Sri Lanka freely traveling to the US while their government is dodging international calls for war crimes investigations, accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
Even Sanath Jayasuriya visiting Florida to play cricket is a governing party UPFA parliamentarian appeasing President Rajapsksa policies.
Rajapaksa parliamentarian Sanath Jayasuriya “plays” in this team:
http://tvnz.co.nz/cricket-black-caps/black-caps-sri-lanka-clash-florida-series-3486479
Sri Lanka’s new parliament must drop emergency laws
Bravo Amnesty International USA for standing up to the Mahinda Rajapaksa savagely repressive regime in Sri Lanka !!
16 political prisoners in Jaffna prison begin hunger strike
Sixteen political prisoners held in Jaffna prison began a hunger strike Thursday in protest against the order issued by Department of Attorney General to move them to High Courts in the South including Anuradapura High Court for trials, sources in Jaffna said. The sixteen political prisoners on hunger strike have either been arrested or had surrendered themselves and charged by the government for various alleged political offences. The protestors demand their trial to be conducted in Jaffna and not to send them to the High Courts in the South
It look like, sri lanka still demining vanni while IDPs still in the camps.
http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2bIAQKe0d3lmA0ecLBY44a4554Ucd3cYB2dc2Amd3a434OX2e230Mm30
The desperate need for homes is ignored by Sri Lanka Government
Materials to construct shelters given as aid by India meant for the resettled families in Vanni have not been fully distributed to them and are left unattended along A9 road due to noncooperation of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) authorities in Vanni and their refusal to grant permission for distribution, sources close to Ki’linochchi Secretariat said. SLA authorities purposely delay and obstruct distribution of these materials with the aim to give them to Sinhalese families to be colonized in places including Kokkaavil and Maangku’lam in Vanni, according to some Tamil National Alliance (TNA) newly elected representatives. The distribution of the materials had not been carried out by the government officials due to noncooperation by SLA authorities in Vanni.
The occupation of the Tamil Homelands
SLA constructs big bases in Vanni
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupying Vanni without allowing the uprooted civilians from resettling in their homes is busy engaged in constructing big bases in strategic areas in Vanni, sources in Vanni said. Meanwhile, the small numbers of civilians permitted to resettle in some areas in Vanni are subjected to harassment by SLA.
May 18
http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/04/04/210410%20005.jpg
Mahinda Rajapaksa was talking at the Alfred Duraiappa Stadium in the northern town of Jaffna to an audience of only 400 — unsurprising given the checkpoints and inspections anyone attempting to attend was subjected to. But it was meant to show support for the president in the Tamil-dominated north.
In Kilinochchi, a predominantly Tamil city , a Buddhist shrine is being used as a tool to encourage the repopulation of the north by the largely Buddhist Sinhala ethnic majority.
Suresh Premachandran, an MP from the Tamil National Alliance, told the Times: "The Government is putting up new Buddhist shrines and building permanent housing for soldiers.
"They are trying to colonise the area, to show it belongs to the Sinhalese."
Kumar, a Kilinochchi local, told
he felt "sad" and "nervous" when he saw the Sri Lankan army in his area.
"Look at the temple", he said. "The Sinhalese rules this place now. It belongs to them. "
Mahinda Rajapaksa was talking at the Alfred Duraiappa Stadium in the northern town of Jaffna to an audience of only 400 — unsurprising given the checkpoints and inspections anyone attempting to attend was subjected to. But it was meant to show support for the president in the Tamil-dominated north.
In Kilinochchi, a predominantly Tamil city , a Buddhist shrine is being used as a tool to encourage the repopulation of the north by the largely Buddhist Sinhala ethnic majority.
Suresh Premachandran, an MP from the Tamil National Alliance, told the Times: “The Government is putting up new Buddhist shrines and building permanent housing for soldiers.
“They are trying to colonise the area, to show it belongs to the Sinhalese.”
Kumar, a Kilinochchi local, told
he felt “sad” and “nervous” when he saw the Sri Lankan army in his area.
“Look at the temple”, he said. “The Sinhalese rules this place now. It belongs to them. “
Already Mass Murderer Mahinda Rajapakse has in place all the elements of a police state. During the past four years of war, he has used his sweeping executive powers to create a ruling cabal of relatives, aides, generals and top bureaucrats. He has flouted the constitution and the Supreme Court on several occasions, including by failing to appoint a constitutional council to oversee government appointments.
Rajapakse boasts of ending the 30-year war, but working people should carefully consider what this has involved. In the final months of fighting, the military killed thousands of civilians through its indiscriminate bombing of rebel-held areas. After the rebel’s defeat last May, nearly a quarter of a million men, women and children were incarcerated in military-run detention camps in flagrant breach of the constitution and legal system.
Since 2006, hundreds of people, including politicians and journalists, have been killed or disappeared by pro-government death squads.
The whole security apparatus has been kept in place, despite the end of the fighting. No troops have been demobilised. In fact, a permanent military occupation is being established in the North and East of the island. Rajapakse has kept the state of emergency in place that gives him sweeping powers to censor the media, detain people without trial and outlaw strikes.
Minorities, especially Tamils were beaten and burnt alive for staging peaceful protests against the Ceylon Citizenship Act which disenfranchised one million upcountry Tamils in 1949, Sinhala Only Act of 1956 and the systematic government sponsored settlements of Sinhalese in the minorities-dominated North-East provinces. Now Tamil civilians and the Tiger 'suspects' are detained behind razor wired fences and in unknown locations barring access even to the ICRC is to take revenge for having having lived in areas controlled by Tamil Tigers. This has been made possible with the help of 'war on terror' policies of the previous administrations of India, Pakistan US and UK and the unlimited arms sold by China. The members of the UN Human Rights Council do not want to probe the human rights violations committed on Tamil MPs, aid workers and journalists but wait to call for apology from the perpetrators of those crimes
Already Mass Murderer Mahinda Rajapakse has in place all the elements of a police state. During the past four years of war, he has used his sweeping executive powers to create a ruling cabal of relatives, aides, generals and top bureaucrats. He has flouted the constitution and the Supreme Court on several occasions, including by failing to appoint a constitutional council to oversee government appointments.
Rajapakse boasts of ending the 30-year war, but working people should carefully consider what this has involved. In the final months of fighting, the military killed thousands of civilians through its indiscriminate bombing of rebel-held areas. After the rebel’s defeat last May, nearly a quarter of a million men, women and children were incarcerated in military-run detention camps in flagrant breach of the constitution and legal system.
Since 2006, hundreds of people, including politicians and journalists, have been killed or disappeared by pro-government death squads.
The whole security apparatus has been kept in place, despite the end of the fighting. No troops have been demobilised. In fact, a permanent military occupation is being established in the North and East of the island. Rajapakse has kept the state of emergency in place that gives him sweeping powers to censor the media, detain people without trial and outlaw strikes.
Minorities, especially Tamils were beaten and burnt alive for staging peaceful protests against the Ceylon Citizenship Act which disenfranchised one million upcountry Tamils in 1949, Sinhala Only Act of 1956 and the systematic government sponsored settlements of Sinhalese in the minorities-dominated North-East provinces. Now Tamil civilians and the Tiger ‘suspects’ are detained behind razor wired fences and in unknown locations barring access even to the ICRC is to take revenge for having having lived in areas controlled by Tamil Tigers. This has been made possible with the help of ‘war on terror’ policies of the previous administrations of India, Pakistan US and UK and the unlimited arms sold by China. The members of the UN Human Rights Council do not want to probe the human rights violations committed on Tamil MPs, aid workers and journalists but wait to call for apology from the perpetrators of those crimes
Here the request to drop the Emergency Laws, but Sri Lankan defence secretary proposes further security laws http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/apr2010/sril-a2…
Here the request to drop the Emergency Laws, but Sri Lankan defence secretary proposes further security laws http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/apr2010/sril-a2…
Here the request to drop the Emergency Laws, but Sri Lankan defence secretary proposes further security laws http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/apr2010/sril-a2…
Nearly 1 yr pass by and police administration in North continues in ‘Sinhala Only’?
———-
Police administration in police stations and in courts in the North and East continue only in Sinhalese language causing immense difficulties to public as their complaints and statements are recorded in Sinhalese, a language not known to them, sources in Jaffna said. Despite the repeated insistence by magistrates in the North police administration is still carried out in Sinhalese language as the police officers being Sinhalese are not proficient in Tamil language to record complaints or statements in the language of the people. Six moths ago, Mahinda Rajapakse government had made great publicity of appointing Tamils in the police stations in the North and had held interviews to select candidates for training but nothing has come out of it, sources in Jaffna said.
Jaffna Superintendent of Police, commenting on appointing Tamils as police officers in Jaffna, said that there has been no further information about the appointments from the Police Head Office in Colombo.
Announcements had been made in the local media in Jaffna calling applications for police posts and hundreds of young men women had applied and appeared for interviews.
The appointment of Tamil police officers in the North seems to have been abandoned by Colombo authorities.
Here the request to drop the Emergency Laws, but Sri Lankan defence secretary proposes further security laws
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/apr2010/sril-a21.shtml
When was Sri Lanka on the right track.
Was it when Bandranaike introduced the sinhala only act?
When a Buddhist monk killed Bandranaike?
Was it when Pacts with Chelvanygam was torn up by Bandranaike. Was it when Chelvanygam and his supporters were beaten by the sinhala community while protesting in Ghandhian fashion.
Was it after State colonisation of the North East driving the residents tamils from their original villages?
Was it on the right track when a sinhala mob with police assistance burnt tamils alive on the streets of Colombo?
Was that Chelvanygam repeatedly offered acceptable solutions within a united Sri Lanka for 30 years after independence only to face violence by the Sinhala common man and State security forces.
There has been protection of minority identity, culture and history especially after Sri Lankan government sponsored burning of Jaffna library twice.
If someone was really aiming to save the tamil community in Sri lanka then why did you not stick to the B-C and D-C pact.
It is Sinhalese who are in need of education considering it is the Sinhala community that prevented devolution to tamil people for 60 years.
If the Sinhala people really cared for the tamil community then why didn’t Rajapaske wait for the APRC proposal before killing 40,000 tamils and imprisoning the 300,000 in camps. What happened to the APRC?
If caring for tamils was your objective then why did Ghotabahya say to an international journalists that hospitals and Schools are legitimate targets during the war.
Nearly 1 yr pass by and police administration in North continues in ‘Sinhala Only’?
———-
Police administration in police stations and in courts in the North and East continue only in Sinhalese language causing immense difficulties to public as their complaints and statements are recorded in Sinhalese, a language not known to them, sources in Jaffna said. Despite the repeated insistence by magistrates in the North police administration is still carried out in Sinhalese language as the police officers being Sinhalese are not proficient in Tamil language to record complaints or statements in the language of the people. Six moths ago, Mahinda Rajapakse government had made great publicity of appointing Tamils in the police stations in the North and had held interviews to select candidates for training but nothing has come out of it, sources in Jaffna said.
Jaffna Superintendent of Police, commenting on appointing Tamils as police officers in Jaffna, said that there has been no further information about the appointments from the Police Head Office in Colombo.
Announcements had been made in the local media in Jaffna calling applications for police posts and hundreds of young men women had applied and appeared for interviews.
The appointment of Tamil police officers in the North seems to have been abandoned by Colombo authorities.
When was Sri Lanka on the right track.
Was it when Bandranaike introduced the sinhala only act?
When a Buddhist monk killed Bandranaike?
Was it when Pacts with Chelvanygam was torn up by Bandranaike. Was it when Chelvanygam and his supporters were beaten by the sinhala community while protesting in Ghandhian fashion.
Was it after State colonisation of the North East driving the residents tamils from their original villages?
Was it on the right track when a sinhala mob with police assistance burnt tamils alive on the streets of Colombo?
Was that Chelvanygam repeatedly offered acceptable solutions within a united Sri Lanka for 30 years after independence only to face violence by the Sinhala common man and State security forces.
There has been protection of minority identity, culture and history especially after Sri Lankan government sponsored burning of Jaffna library twice.
If someone was really aiming to save the tamil community in Sri lanka then why did you not stick to the B-C and D-C pact.
It is Sinhalese who are in need of education considering it is the Sinhala community that prevented devolution to tamil people for 60 years.
If the Sinhala people really cared for the tamil community then why didn’t Rajapaske wait for the APRC proposal before killing 40,000 tamils and imprisoning the 300,000 in camps. What happened to the APRC?
If caring for tamils was your objective then why did Ghotabahya say to an international journalists that hospitals and Schools are legitimate targets during the war.
The Emergency Laws and Prevention of Terrorism Acts are still in force to continue the suppression of Tamils. Despite AI's best intentions, they miss the point when they portray this simply as an exercise to strengthen democracy and rule of law in Sri Lanka. Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, told a Senate hearing that 300,000 Tamils are interned simply because they are Tamils. AI should recognize this Apartheid, this ethnic based subjugation of Tamils, and call for an end to Sri Lankan forces' occupation of Tamil NorthEast, while pressing for the repeal of the Emergency Laws and PTA. Thank you AI for listening, and your well intentioned initiatives.
The Emergency Laws and Prevention of Terrorism Acts are still in force to continue the suppression of Tamils. Despite AI’s best intentions, they miss the point when they portray this simply as an exercise to strengthen democracy and rule of law in Sri Lanka. Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, told a Senate hearing that 300,000 Tamils are interned simply because they are Tamils. AI should recognize this Apartheid, this ethnic based subjugation of Tamils, and call for an end to Sri Lankan forces’ occupation of Tamil NorthEast, while pressing for the repeal of the Emergency Laws and PTA. Thank you AI for listening, and your well intentioned initiatives.
Tamil culture & heritage are being systematically destroyed in Sri lanka.
1803 memorial to Tamil king destroyed
The Sinhala Democracy used to suppress the Democratic will of the Tamils. Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan has been destroyed.
The Village name Katchilaimadu came as Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan. Sinhala Armed forces, personally directed by Government cabinet ministers – A wanton act of genocidal intent to destroy the history of an ancient people.
Mahaveeran Pandara Vanniyan was a rebel Tamil chief from the Vanni region who was known as one of last native cheif to challenge the british rule in the Island nation of Sri Lanka. August 25th, is the memorial day of Tamil Chieftain Pandara Vanniyan who ruled the Vanni kingdom of Adankapatru. British defeat him during the historic battle of Katchilaimadu by Col. Drieberg. The Portuguese who landed at Galle in 1505 and went to Kotte, to befriend the King there, got control of the Kotte Kingdom through political manipulations. They captured the Jaffna Kingdom by defeating Sangili in battle in 1619.
The Portuguese failed to capture two areas: the Kandyan Kingdom and Wanni which comprised most of the present Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. The Dutch, too, failed in their attempts to subjugate Kandy and Wanni. The British, who wanted to bring the entire country under their control, started with Wanni. They captured it by defeating Pandara Vanniyan in 1803. Before the final battle, Pandara Vanniyan destroyed the British Fort on August 25, 1803
May 18 http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/…
May 18 http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/…
May 18 http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/…
Tamil culture & heritage are being systematically destroyed in Sri lanka.
1803 memorial to Tamil king destroyed
The Sinhala Democracy used to suppress the Democratic will of the Tamils. Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan has been destroyed.
The Village name Katchilaimadu came as Memorial evidence of the King Pandara Vanniyan. Sinhala Armed forces, personally directed by Government cabinet ministers – A wanton act of genocidal intent to destroy the history of an ancient people.
Mahaveeran Pandara Vanniyan was a rebel Tamil chief from the Vanni region who was known as one of last native cheif to challenge the british rule in the Island nation of Sri Lanka. August 25th, is the memorial day of Tamil Chieftain Pandara Vanniyan who ruled the Vanni kingdom of Adankapatru. British defeat him during the historic battle of Katchilaimadu by Col. Drieberg. The Portuguese who landed at Galle in 1505 and went to Kotte, to befriend the King there, got control of the Kotte Kingdom through political manipulations. They captured the Jaffna Kingdom by defeating Sangili in battle in 1619.
The Portuguese failed to capture two areas: the Kandyan Kingdom and Wanni which comprised most of the present Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts. The Dutch, too, failed in their attempts to subjugate Kandy and Wanni. The British, who wanted to bring the entire country under their control, started with Wanni. They captured it by defeating Pandara Vanniyan in 1803. Before the final battle, Pandara Vanniyan destroyed the British Fort on August 25, 1803
The Emergency Laws and Prevention of Terrorism Acts are still in force to continue the suppression of Tamils. Despite AI's best intentions, they miss the point when they portray this simply as an exercise to strengthen democracy and rule of law in Sri Lanka. Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, told a Senate hearing that 300,000 Tamils are interned simply because they are Tamils. AI should recognize this Apartheid, this ethnic based subjugation of Tamils, and call for an end to Sri Lankan forces' occupation of Tamil NorthEast, while pressing for the repeal of the Emergency Laws and PTA. Thank you AI for listening, and your well intentioned initiatives.
May 18
http://www.sankathi.com/uploads/images/news/2010/04/04/210410%20005.jpg
The Emergency Laws and Prevention of Terrorism Acts are still in force to continue the suppression of Tamils. Despite AI’s best intentions, they miss the point when they portray this simply as an exercise to strengthen democracy and rule of law in Sri Lanka. Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, told a Senate hearing that 300,000 Tamils are interned simply because they are Tamils. AI should recognize this Apartheid, this ethnic based subjugation of Tamils, and call for an end to Sri Lankan forces’ occupation of Tamil NorthEast, while pressing for the repeal of the Emergency Laws and PTA. Thank you AI for listening, and your well intentioned initiatives.
Mahinda Rajapaksa was talking at the Alfred Duraiappa Stadium in the northern town of Jaffna to an audience of only 400 — unsurprising given the checkpoints and inspections anyone attempting to attend was subjected to. But it was meant to show support for the president in the Tamil-dominated north.
In Kilinochchi, a predominantly Tamil city , a Buddhist shrine is being used as a tool to encourage the repopulation of the north by the largely Buddhist Sinhala ethnic majority.
Suresh Premachandran, an MP from the Tamil National Alliance, told the Times: "The Government is putting up new Buddhist shrines and building permanent housing for soldiers.
"They are trying to colonise the area, to show it belongs to the Sinhalese."
Kumar, a Kilinochchi local, told
he felt "sad" and "nervous" when he saw the Sri Lankan army in his area.
"Look at the temple", he said. "The Sinhalese rules this place now. It belongs to them. "
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE…
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit. But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably. These twin incidents during Rajapaksa’s rare visit to Jaffna on Apr. 1 illustrate the contrasting ways in which soldiers from an army made up largely of Sinhalese treat the majority and minority ethnic groups. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51188
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE…
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit. But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably. These twin incidents during Rajapaksa’s rare visit to Jaffna on Apr. 1 illustrate the contrasting ways in which soldiers from an army made up largely of Sinhalese treat the majority and minority ethnic groups. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51188
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE…
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit. But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably. These twin incidents during Rajapaksa’s rare visit to Jaffna on Apr. 1 illustrate the contrasting ways in which soldiers from an army made up largely of Sinhalese treat the majority and minority ethnic groups. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51188
Sin Hell a
Shocking racism !!!
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit. But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably.
———————————————————————————————————
Disease in Sri Lanka is State Terrorism that has been going on for more than 60 years.
Unless the root cause is dealt with, Sri Lanka will continue to hear the voice of the oppressed louder and louder.
Disease in Sri Lanka is State Terrorism that has been going on for more than 60 years.
Unless the root cause is dealt with, Sri Lanka will continue to hear the voice of the oppressed louder and louder.
Mahinda Rajapaksa was talking at the Alfred Duraiappa Stadium in the northern town of Jaffna to an audience of only 400 — unsurprising given the checkpoints and inspections anyone attempting to attend was subjected to. But it was meant to show support for the president in the Tamil-dominated north.
In Kilinochchi, a predominantly Tamil city , a Buddhist shrine is being used as a tool to encourage the repopulation of the north by the largely Buddhist Sinhala ethnic majority.
Suresh Premachandran, an MP from the Tamil National Alliance, told the Times: “The Government is putting up new Buddhist shrines and building permanent housing for soldiers.
“They are trying to colonise the area, to show it belongs to the Sinhalese.”
Kumar, a Kilinochchi local, told
he felt “sad” and “nervous” when he saw the Sri Lankan army in his area.
“Look at the temple”, he said. “The Sinhalese rules this place now. It belongs to them. “
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE…
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit. But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably. These twin incidents during Rajapaksa’s rare visit to Jaffna on Apr. 1 illustrate the contrasting ways in which soldiers from an army made up largely of Sinhalese treat the majority and minority ethnic groups.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51188
Sin Hell a
Shocking racism !!!
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit. But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably.
———————————————————————————————————
Disease in Sri Lanka is State Terrorism that has been going on for more than 60 years.
Unless the root cause is dealt with, Sri Lanka will continue to hear the voice of the oppressed louder and louder.
Disease in Sri Lanka is State Terrorism that has been going on for more than 60 years.
Unless the root cause is dealt with, Sri Lanka will continue to hear the voice of the oppressed louder and louder.
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend’s referendum by Australia’s Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka’s large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-have-no-voice-in-sri-lanka-20100423-thyf.html
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling
http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_004.html
Jaffna Tamils Decry Development Plan of Sri Lankan Gov't
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit.
But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably.
These twin incidents during Rajapaksa’s rare visit to Jaffna on Apr. 1 illustrate the contrasting ways in which soldiers from an army made up largely of Sinhalese treat the majority and minority ethnic groups.
Nearly a year after the war ended, burnt out, shell-shocked buildings can be seen lying side by side with spanking new ones for banks or financial services as Colombo firms rush to grab a share of the new business opportunities in Jaffna.
But youngsters and city elders clamor for a different kind of development. "We need to be able to own rather than be bystanders (to development)," said a city businessman, who declined to be identified for fear of reprisal.
Nirmala (not her real name), a high school student, said banks and financial services are not helpful to the Jaffna Tamils.
"A lot of banks setting up branches here are employing people from Colombo. We don’t have jobs. On the other hand, the banks take our deposits, but getting a loan is difficult because the banks want collateral, which we don’t have because our properties have been destroyed or have been taken over by the army for military purposes," she said.
Nirmala was one of a group of 30 16- to 17-year-old high school students who met with IPS recently to discuss their future in an environment where livelihood and employment opportunities are scant. They were unanimous in saying that the people of Jaffna are not part of the development that the government is carving out for the north.
Most of them want to go abroad for studies and live there permanently. "There is no future here. We will always be second-class citizens,"
Perceptions of widespread insensitivity of the Colombo establishment to the city residents became more pronounced when a group of businessmen and bankers flew into the city in late March to lay the foundation stone for a new 80-room hotel being built by a Colombo bank.
Few Tamils from Jaffna were invited to the event and all the speeches were delivered in English even if the majority of the 700,000 people speak only Tamil. Furthermore, local residents questioned the location of the hotel as it is close to a sacred Hindu temple, visited by millions of Tamils every year.
"How can you sell alcohol or meat in a sacred location?" asked Arudpragasam Sivathamby, a taxi driver. Outside the same temple premises, dozens of Sinhala traders are doing business, in some cases displacing the Tamil merchants, causing resentment among the minority ethnic group.
"This is causing a huge problem," said Tamil parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran.
Development is only seen in the form of banks, finance companies and consumer firms opening up in Jaffna while job-creating industries or factories are still inexistent.
Tamils are hoping for a greater role in power sharing. However, Dr. S. I. Keethaponcalan, a political scientist from the University of Colombo, said that is not a priority for the government at the moment. "The government won a commanding majority at the recent parliamentary polls, and trying to appease the Tamils is not the biggest priority at the moment," he declared.
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Jaffna Tamils Decry Development Plan of Sri Lankan Gov’t
Two cyclists from the minority Tamil community are shooed away by government soldiers as they approach this northern Sri Lankan city’s only Buddhist temple while President Mahinda Rajapaksa is paying a visit.
But when a family from the majority Sinhalese family ambles toward the guards, they are treated more amiably.
These twin incidents during Rajapaksa’s rare visit to Jaffna on Apr. 1 illustrate the contrasting ways in which soldiers from an army made up largely of Sinhalese treat the majority and minority ethnic groups.
Nearly a year after the war ended, burnt out, shell-shocked buildings can be seen lying side by side with spanking new ones for banks or financial services as Colombo firms rush to grab a share of the new business opportunities in Jaffna.
But youngsters and city elders clamor for a different kind of development. “We need to be able to own rather than be bystanders (to development),” said a city businessman, who declined to be identified for fear of reprisal.
Nirmala (not her real name), a high school student, said banks and financial services are not helpful to the Jaffna Tamils.
“A lot of banks setting up branches here are employing people from Colombo. We don’t have jobs. On the other hand, the banks take our deposits, but getting a loan is difficult because the banks want collateral, which we don’t have because our properties have been destroyed or have been taken over by the army for military purposes,” she said.
Nirmala was one of a group of 30 16- to 17-year-old high school students who met with IPS recently to discuss their future in an environment where livelihood and employment opportunities are scant. They were unanimous in saying that the people of Jaffna are not part of the development that the government is carving out for the north.
Most of them want to go abroad for studies and live there permanently. “There is no future here. We will always be second-class citizens,”
Perceptions of widespread insensitivity of the Colombo establishment to the city residents became more pronounced when a group of businessmen and bankers flew into the city in late March to lay the foundation stone for a new 80-room hotel being built by a Colombo bank.
Few Tamils from Jaffna were invited to the event and all the speeches were delivered in English even if the majority of the 700,000 people speak only Tamil. Furthermore, local residents questioned the location of the hotel as it is close to a sacred Hindu temple, visited by millions of Tamils every year.
“How can you sell alcohol or meat in a sacred location?” asked Arudpragasam Sivathamby, a taxi driver. Outside the same temple premises, dozens of Sinhala traders are doing business, in some cases displacing the Tamil merchants, causing resentment among the minority ethnic group.
“This is causing a huge problem,” said Tamil parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran.
Development is only seen in the form of banks, finance companies and consumer firms opening up in Jaffna while job-creating industries or factories are still inexistent.
Tamils are hoping for a greater role in power sharing. However, Dr. S. I. Keethaponcalan, a political scientist from the University of Colombo, said that is not a priority for the government at the moment. “The government won a commanding majority at the recent parliamentary polls, and trying to appease the Tamils is not the biggest priority at the moment,” he declared.
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend's referendum by Australia's Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka's large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-hav…
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_00…
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend’s referendum by Australia’s Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka’s large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-have-no-voice-in-sri-lanka-20100423-thyf.html
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling
http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_004.html
Tamils have no voice in Sri Lanka
Results from last weekend’s referendum by Australia’s Sri Lankan Tamil population have given almost unanimous support for the proposal for an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The vote by Australian Sri Lankan Tamils follows those in seven other countries, including Canada and Britain, each of which have produced a 99 per cent vote in favour of Tamil independence. The vote might seem redundant, following the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a bloody, dirty war in Sri Lanka that ended in May 2009. However, Sri Lanka’s large Tamil diaspora have long played a critical role in the lives of Sri Lankan Tamils, not least in actively supporting the more than three decade long struggle for independence.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/tamils-have-no-voice-in-sri-lanka-20100423-thyf.html
Northeast had the highest literacy rate in asia once, now
78% of the students in the North have stopped schooling
http://www.lankanewsweb.com/news/EN_2010_04_26_004.html
Disease in Sri Lanka is State Terrorism that has been going on for more than 60 years.
Unless the root cause is dealt with, Sri Lanka will continue to hear the voice of the oppressed louder and louder.
In IDP camps there are still inadequate services to provide everything the Tamils need. At a recent Medical camp visit to the region I witnessed large scale skin infections, malnutrition, PTSD symptoms and many with illnesses which the doctors are incapable of diagnosing and treating with limited facilities. The Tamils are treated like animals-Sri Lankan soldiers thrown empty plastic bottles (unwashed, just emptied of Sprite, Coke etc and thrown away by others in Colombo) and I watched over 300 men, women and children fight over them to the amusement of laughing Sinhalese soldiers. These are luxuries to the IDPs who now have to walk miles in this huge concentration camp to get water. The toilets are horrifying and the little Tamil children are regularly falling into them. Abysmal filth is everywhere.
In the recent parliamentary election in Sri Lanka clearly demonstrates that the Tamils in the island feel that they don't have the political space to fully articulate their political aspirations.
The sixth amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, which outlaws peaceful advocacy for an independent state, thereby deprives the freedom of expression.
It is a kind of racism which dooms the Tamils to a permanent political minority position.
It also creates a climate of fear due to the pervasive and systematic human rights violations to which the Sri Lankan Tamils have been subjected.
Coupled with the massive colonization of traditionally Tamil areas
Disease in Sri Lanka is State Terrorism that has been going on for more than 60 years.
Unless the root cause is dealt with, Sri Lanka will continue to hear the voice of the oppressed louder and louder.
In IDP camps there are still inadequate services to provide everything the Tamils need. At a recent Medical camp visit to the region I witnessed large scale skin infections, malnutrition, PTSD symptoms and many with illnesses which the doctors are incapable of diagnosing and treating with limited facilities. The Tamils are treated like animals-Sri Lankan soldiers thrown empty plastic bottles (unwashed, just emptied of Sprite, Coke etc and thrown away by others in Colombo) and I watched over 300 men, women and children fight over them to the amusement of laughing Sinhalese soldiers. These are luxuries to the IDPs who now have to walk miles in this huge concentration camp to get water. The toilets are horrifying and the little Tamil children are regularly falling into them. Abysmal filth is everywhere.
In the recent parliamentary election in Sri Lanka clearly demonstrates that the Tamils in the island feel that they don’t have the political space to fully articulate their political aspirations.
The sixth amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, which outlaws peaceful advocacy for an independent state, thereby deprives the freedom of expression.
It is a kind of racism which dooms the Tamils to a permanent political minority position.
It also creates a climate of fear due to the pervasive and systematic human rights violations to which the Sri Lankan Tamils have been subjected.
Coupled with the massive colonization of traditionally Tamil areas
During the six decades, Sri Lanka has seen the murders of thousands of innocent persons of all sexes, ages, and races which for some reason or other continue to remain unsolved. Murder is defined as the unlawful, malicious and intentional killing of one human being by another.
When these murders are committed with the knowledge and participation of the government, which has the responsibility of safe guarding the life of its people, the laws governing justice for the people does not exist in that country or the government.
In civilised life, where social and political capacities distinguish man from animals, there are laws that have to be followed to avoid killings. The criminals responsible for the killings have to be fleshed out and punished forthwith in order to prevent the state from becoming lawless.
The Greek Philosopher and thinker, Aristotle, calls man as a political animal and says:-
" Man when perfected is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all, since armed injustice is the most dangerous and he is equipped at birth with the arms of intelligence and wit, more qualities which he may use for the worst ends. Under democracy, demagogues attain power by bribing the electorates and waste accumulated wealth."
He detests the arbitrary power of an individual above the law, who is responsible to no one and who governs all alike with a view to his own advantage and not that of his subjects, and therefore against their will. No free man can endure such a government.
In today's world such a person is a dictator, but a man lacking any benevolence towards his subjects is nothing short of being a tyrant- the current President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse
ate and government banks rushing to Jaffna peninsula to open their branches and the opening of the fifth branch of Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in Jaffna town Tuesday, in the name of development are but schemes aimed at exploiting the funds of peninsula residents, civil organizations in Jaffna said. They further accused the above financial institutions of employing only Sinhalese persons from South at all levels while denying job opportunities to the Tamil young men and women in the peninsula.
The civil organizations also said that these activities of government and private financial institutions are aimed at exploiting the funds of elderly persons and recipients of foreign currency from their relatives abroad.
Though the government and private institutions claim developing Jaffna peninsula is their aim peninsula people are not offered their due participation and share in these enterprises.
During the six decades, Sri Lanka has seen the murders of thousands of innocent persons of all sexes, ages, and races which for some reason or other continue to remain unsolved. Murder is defined as the unlawful, malicious and intentional killing of one human being by another.
When these murders are committed with the knowledge and participation of the government, which has the responsibility of safe guarding the life of its people, the laws governing justice for the people does not exist in that country or the government.
In civilised life, where social and political capacities distinguish man from animals, there are laws that have to be followed to avoid killings. The criminals responsible for the killings have to be fleshed out and punished forthwith in order to prevent the state from becoming lawless.
The Greek Philosopher and thinker, Aristotle, calls man as a political animal and says:-
” Man when perfected is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all, since armed injustice is the most dangerous and he is equipped at birth with the arms of intelligence and wit, more qualities which he may use for the worst ends. Under democracy, demagogues attain power by bribing the electorates and waste accumulated wealth.”
He detests the arbitrary power of an individual above the law, who is responsible to no one and who governs all alike with a view to his own advantage and not that of his subjects, and therefore against their will. No free man can endure such a government.
In today’s world such a person is a dictator, but a man lacking any benevolence towards his subjects is nothing short of being a tyrant- the current President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapakse
ate and government banks rushing to Jaffna peninsula to open their branches and the opening of the fifth branch of Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) in Jaffna town Tuesday, in the name of development are but schemes aimed at exploiting the funds of peninsula residents, civil organizations in Jaffna said. They further accused the above financial institutions of employing only Sinhalese persons from South at all levels while denying job opportunities to the Tamil young men and women in the peninsula.
The civil organizations also said that these activities of government and private financial institutions are aimed at exploiting the funds of elderly persons and recipients of foreign currency from their relatives abroad.
Though the government and private institutions claim developing Jaffna peninsula is their aim peninsula people are not offered their due participation and share in these enterprises.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has recently posted a blog entry on their site about the state of Sri Lankan media: http://cpj.org/blog/2010/04/an-indicator-of-what-…
The Committee to Protect Journalists has recently posted a blog entry on their site about the state of Sri Lankan media: http://cpj.org/blog/2010/04/an-indicator-of-what-…
The Committee to Protect Journalists has recently posted a blog entry on their site about the state of Sri Lankan media: http://cpj.org/blog/2010/04/an-indicator-of-what-…
While the Sri Lankan people look up to the Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide a safe and secure nation, in reality, the President uses all his powers to lead an autocratic rule and deny basic human rights. During the days of war, LTTE was used as a reason to suppress most of the democratic values, but since the elimination of LTTE, what can be the rationale behind the increasing crime rates and violation of the democratic norms in Sri Lanka? Colombo which was comparatively a safer place to dwell has seen sporadic violence against journalists, humanitarian workers and human rights activists. What is more, if residents of Colombo were to face such dangerous situations, miseries pertaining to people living in northern, eastern and central highlands go unspoken.
"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Pastor Martin Niemöller
Pastor Martin Niemoller’s poem is a typical example of events that followed post-independence period in Sri Lanka. Initially when the Indian Tamils were denied citizenship, except for the left parties, Colombo did not react. During the JVP riots, the Colombo elite showed a blind eye to the massacre of the Sinhala youth. The three-decade-old ethnic conflict and the defeat of the LTTE were issues pertaining only to the Tamils and not of the nation as a whole, still the majority and the Colombo elite showed little concern on the suffering of the Tamils. Now the nation is living in fear, not even the Buddhist monks are being spared of the brutality of tyrannical rule, but unfortunately there is no credible left behind to raise and talk for justice. Who next is a common question raised in Sri Lanka.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has recently posted a blog entry on their site about the state of Sri Lankan media: http://cpj.org/blog/2010/04/an-indicator-of-what-comes-next-for-sri-lankas-med.php
While the Sri Lankan people look up to the Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide a safe and secure nation, in reality, the President uses all his powers to lead an autocratic rule and deny basic human rights. During the days of war, LTTE was used as a reason to suppress most of the democratic values, but since the elimination of LTTE, what can be the rationale behind the increasing crime rates and violation of the democratic norms in Sri Lanka? Colombo which was comparatively a safer place to dwell has seen sporadic violence against journalists, humanitarian workers and human rights activists. What is more, if residents of Colombo were to face such dangerous situations, miseries pertaining to people living in northern, eastern and central highlands go unspoken.
“THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
Pastor Martin Niemöller
Pastor Martin Niemoller’s poem is a typical example of events that followed post-independence period in Sri Lanka. Initially when the Indian Tamils were denied citizenship, except for the left parties, Colombo did not react. During the JVP riots, the Colombo elite showed a blind eye to the massacre of the Sinhala youth. The three-decade-old ethnic conflict and the defeat of the LTTE were issues pertaining only to the Tamils and not of the nation as a whole, still the majority and the Colombo elite showed little concern on the suffering of the Tamils. Now the nation is living in fear, not even the Buddhist monks are being spared of the brutality of tyrannical rule, but unfortunately there is no credible left behind to raise and talk for justice. Who next is a common question raised in Sri Lanka.
“It’s a sin to be a born as a Tamil in Sri Lanka”
These words said by mutual friend whose family was in the IDP camps, soon after the end of war, outlines the suffering of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The government looked at the Tamils, with suspicion, as ardent supporters of the LTTE. The only exceptions were the overt supporters of President Rajapakse. This was the case not only with Tamils; even Sinhalese who are critical of the current regime have become potential targets for white-van abductions and intimidation by the Police.
Nearly nine months after the defeat of the LTTE, it was thought to be safe for Tamils from North to travel to Colombo. But in most cases it simply proves to be an illusion. Recently a young Tamil woman from Vavuniya, who is working for an NGO involved in relief operations travelled to Dehiwela, Colombo for training. The reluctant and naïve women on reaching Colombo was questioned by police officers at her lodge. While, none of the policemen spoke Tamil, she couldn’t speak Sinhala. Her requests to call her Colombo office were also denied. On wanting to search her room, her request for a female officer was also turned down. She was remanded; the crime – not speaking Sinhala. This person has already had the childhood experience of seeing her mother’s brains blown off by IPKF soldiers in Jaffna. It was several days before her office was able to secure her release and send her back to Vavuniya, only to never visit Colombo, ever.
LOL !!
Who said that the LTTE troubles are over ????
Dear Juliette & Romeo Jim,
You don't have to look further. Just check the comments on this forum and other forums related to Sri Lanka. I am sure that your IQ levels are high enough to realize that though the "WAR" in the sense of an armed battle between a terrorist organization and the Sri Lankan government is over, the mindsets of separatism and terrorism still prevails in some of our colleagues who post in here + a few around the world and in Sri Lanka.
If anyone thinks that just because the war is over there is no requirement for completely forgetting the security aspects, that person is terribly mistaken. If by chance a single person with a terrorist mindset would plant a bomb and kill several innocent civilians, who will take the blame??? Amnesty International or our good Rohan's and Ramesh's and Arul's etc or the Sri Lankan Government ??
I agree that some of the Laws under emergency regulations should be eased out, but that does not necessarily mean that we should give away with the whole aspect of it. The issue is more than skin deep. It's not like you cutting down a tree and forgetting about it or demolishing a house and forgetting it. It is to do with humans and many of them innocent, mislead or brain washed civilians. Changing there mindsets and attitudes needs more time and the same people should be protected from the very same terrorists who try to spoil them. This needs time.
Though there is emergency, it has not effected people's day to day life as some here try to showcase. After 30 years of brutality and terrorism, people are actually enjoying their lives immaterial of their religions, races, casts or anything for that matter. Why spoil the innocent fun ?????
Mahinda Rajapaksa made an election promise for the freedom of movement for the Tamils and some checkpoints were suspended but after the election he increased road checks, roadblocks, checkpoints, patrols, systematic surveillance, harassment and intimidation of the Tamils in Jaffna peninsula
Tamilan
Good story !!
Her only crime to be an Tamil. This is the reason she was imprisoned
“It’s a sin to be a born as a Tamil in Sri Lanka”
These words said by mutual friend whose family was in the IDP camps, soon after the end of war, outlines the suffering of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The government looked at the Tamils, with suspicion, as ardent supporters of the LTTE. The only exceptions were the overt supporters of President Rajapakse. This was the case not only with Tamils; even Sinhalese who are critical of the current regime have become potential targets for white-van abductions and intimidation by the Police.
Nearly nine months after the defeat of the LTTE, it was thought to be safe for Tamils from North to travel to Colombo. But in most cases it simply proves to be an illusion. Recently a young Tamil woman from Vavuniya, who is working for an NGO involved in relief operations travelled to Dehiwela, Colombo for training. The reluctant and naïve women on reaching Colombo was questioned by police officers at her lodge. While, none of the policemen spoke Tamil, she couldn’t speak Sinhala. Her requests to call her Colombo office were also denied. On wanting to search her room, her request for a female officer was also turned down. She was remanded; the crime – not speaking Sinhala. This person has already had the childhood experience of seeing her mother’s brains blown off by IPKF soldiers in Jaffna. It was several days before her office was able to secure her release and send her back to Vavuniya, only to never visit Colombo, ever.
I think, Rajapakse is a tyrant and does not have to be careful and the seeds of a future conflict are growing rapidly. The Tamils now are leaving in open prisons in subjected daily to numerous road checks, roadblocks, checkpoints, patrols, systematic surveillance, harassment and intimidation by the Sri Lanka Army.
The Tamils say ?We lost everything we had bit by bit in this displacement and at last we became beggars. Now we are beggars.?
Clinton Anandeshan and Vishnunathan, aged sixty and sixty two respectively. They had come to North of Sri Lanka after the 1983 Black July riots from Kandy.
Clinton has three girls and a boy. Vishnunathan had lost two sons, aged nineteen and twenty two in the final battle of the Civil War. His son in law lost his hand and the old aunt?s stomach was ripped open in a shell attack.
?From Paranthan, as other people were leaving, we too joined. It was terrible as the Sri Lanka Air Force attacks were fierce and the ground attacks were merciless. Some of our relations were killed with their little ones. Attacks were random and haphazard. We collected all our belongings including the asbestos sheets, door frames, furniture and the sacks of paddy, loaded them in a tractor and moved towards Murasumottai. We just settled there for a few months, midst heavy shelling. We put up a small hut for us only to sleep and built a bunker for safety. When it was unbearable we collected all we could take and moved towards Dharmapuram. On this journey we did not have a vehicle, so we had to take all we could on foot. The journey to Udayarakattu was very hard.
Some of our own people, three of them died due to the tiresome, hard journey and bombardment. A few weeks there and we moved to Suvandirapuram. Every displacement reduced our traveling baggage.
Then to Vaikkal, Vattuwal and Rettai Vaikkal (Double Canal) were the last places of our displacement. In all these places we suffered.?
When asked: ?Do you enjoy peace now??
?There is some kind of normalcy. We lost everything. We want the Sri Lanka government to compensate our loss. At least the Sri Lankan government must help us in self employment by income generating projects. We were not beggars but today we have been made beggars. Recently we had to come to the Catholic convent to beg for some cash to buy some food to survive. We need employment
We, the Tamils are still struggling to live, to survive now. There are so many of our children in detention camps, some more in the IDP camps. There are armed groups and the Chavekachcheri incident (A seventeen year old boy was murdered by unknown persons) proves the point. There is continuous checkingby the armed Sri Lankan soldiers in our resettled areas day and night . Any time the military can break the door down and the Tamils are taken away, never to return. We treated like criminals. We are afraid and there is no hope for us, no future now. Then do you think we enjoy peace in freedom??
LOL !!
Who said that the LTTE troubles are over ????
Dear Juliette & Romeo Jim,
You don’t have to look further. Just check the comments on this forum and other forums related to Sri Lanka. I am sure that your IQ levels are high enough to realize that though the “WAR” in the sense of an armed battle between a terrorist organization and the Sri Lankan government is over, the mindsets of separatism and terrorism still prevails in some of our colleagues who post in here + a few around the world and in Sri Lanka.
If anyone thinks that just because the war is over there is no requirement for completely forgetting the security aspects, that person is terribly mistaken. If by chance a single person with a terrorist mindset would plant a bomb and kill several innocent civilians, who will take the blame??? Amnesty International or our good Rohan’s and Ramesh’s and Arul’s etc or the Sri Lankan Government ??
I agree that some of the Laws under emergency regulations should be eased out, but that does not necessarily mean that we should give away with the whole aspect of it. The issue is more than skin deep. It’s not like you cutting down a tree and forgetting about it or demolishing a house and forgetting it. It is to do with humans and many of them innocent, mislead or brain washed civilians. Changing there mindsets and attitudes needs more time and the same people should be protected from the very same terrorists who try to spoil them. This needs time.
Though there is emergency, it has not effected people’s day to day life as some here try to showcase. After 30 years of brutality and terrorism, people are actually enjoying their lives immaterial of their religions, races, casts or anything for that matter. Why spoil the innocent fun ?????
Mahinda Rajapaksa made an election promise for the freedom of movement for the Tamils and some checkpoints were suspended but after the election he increased road checks, roadblocks, checkpoints, patrols, systematic surveillance, harassment and intimidation of the Tamils in Jaffna peninsula
Tamilan
Good story !!
Her only crime to be an Tamil. This is the reason she was imprisoned
I think, Rajapakse is a tyrant and does not have to be careful and the seeds of a future conflict are growing rapidly. The Tamils now are leaving in open prisons in subjected daily to numerous road checks, roadblocks, checkpoints, patrols, systematic surveillance, harassment and intimidation by the Sri Lanka Army.
The Tamils say ?We lost everything we had bit by bit in this displacement and at last we became beggars. Now we are beggars.?
Clinton Anandeshan and Vishnunathan, aged sixty and sixty two respectively. They had come to North of Sri Lanka after the 1983 Black July riots from Kandy.
Clinton has three girls and a boy. Vishnunathan had lost two sons, aged nineteen and twenty two in the final battle of the Civil War. His son in law lost his hand and the old aunt?s stomach was ripped open in a shell attack.
?From Paranthan, as other people were leaving, we too joined. It was terrible as the Sri Lanka Air Force attacks were fierce and the ground attacks were merciless. Some of our relations were killed with their little ones. Attacks were random and haphazard. We collected all our belongings including the asbestos sheets, door frames, furniture and the sacks of paddy, loaded them in a tractor and moved towards Murasumottai. We just settled there for a few months, midst heavy shelling. We put up a small hut for us only to sleep and built a bunker for safety. When it was unbearable we collected all we could take and moved towards Dharmapuram. On this journey we did not have a vehicle, so we had to take all we could on foot. The journey to Udayarakattu was very hard.
Some of our own people, three of them died due to the tiresome, hard journey and bombardment. A few weeks there and we moved to Suvandirapuram. Every displacement reduced our traveling baggage.
Then to Vaikkal, Vattuwal and Rettai Vaikkal (Double Canal) were the last places of our displacement. In all these places we suffered.?
When asked: ?Do you enjoy peace now??
?There is some kind of normalcy. We lost everything. We want the Sri Lanka government to compensate our loss. At least the Sri Lankan government must help us in self employment by income generating projects. We were not beggars but today we have been made beggars. Recently we had to come to the Catholic convent to beg for some cash to buy some food to survive. We need employment
We, the Tamils are still struggling to live, to survive now. There are so many of our children in detention camps, some more in the IDP camps. There are armed groups and the Chavekachcheri incident (A seventeen year old boy was murdered by unknown persons) proves the point. There is continuous checkingby the armed Sri Lankan soldiers in our resettled areas day and night . Any time the military can break the door down and the Tamils are taken away, never to return. We treated like criminals. We are afraid and there is no hope for us, no future now. Then do you think we enjoy peace in freedom??
I still don't see people writing in line with the topic. Why is it important or not important for the GOSL to keep the emergency law's going ? Is there an issue with it being in force – is anyone being mistreated due to this law ? What would be the repercussions of lifting the law? Is there are way that certain clauses could be given away with and if so what are we keeping ??
I still haven't seen any person list down the clauses of the law and how it had effected day to day life of Sri Lankan citizens as a whole – this goes out to Amnesty's Juliette and Romeo Jim too – what are the clauses in the law that is bothering you ??? Have you also spoken to the GOSL re. these laws and it's effect on day to day life of Sri Lankans (All citizens immaterial of religion or race)
Anyways, the good news is that H.E. the president mentioned today that the laws will be lifted soon. But my worry is that all of you seem to be talking of something other than the Law and it's effect – so Anyone – please enlighten me and the rest of the world who read this blog.
Thank you, AI USA from the bottom of my heart, for still caring for the unlawfully imprisoned, deeply depressed, war- damaged, innocent Tamils civilians who are still in the Sri Lankan concentration camps. May God bless you !!
———————–
Amnesty International: Demanding justice for survivors one year after the end of the conflict
Amnesty International Event
19 May marks the first anniversary of the end of the internal conflict in Sri Lanka.
Despite massive violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides, impunity remains the norm. Survivors and family members of those killed have no hope of justice, truth and reparations at the national level.
Amnesty International is calling on the UN to establish an international independent investigation to collect information from all relevant sources as a first essential step to establish accountability.
I still don’t see people writing in line with the topic. Why is it important or not important for the GOSL to keep the emergency law’s going ? Is there an issue with it being in force – is anyone being mistreated due to this law ? What would be the repercussions of lifting the law? Is there are way that certain clauses could be given away with and if so what are we keeping ??
I still haven’t seen any person list down the clauses of the law and how it had effected day to day life of Sri Lankan citizens as a whole – this goes out to Amnesty’s Juliette and Romeo Jim too – what are the clauses in the law that is bothering you ??? Have you also spoken to the GOSL re. these laws and it’s effect on day to day life of Sri Lankans (All citizens immaterial of religion or race)
Anyways, the good news is that H.E. the president mentioned today that the laws will be lifted soon. But my worry is that all of you seem to be talking of something other than the Law and it’s effect – so Anyone – please enlighten me and the rest of the world who read this blog.
Thank you, AI USA from the bottom of my heart, for still caring for the unlawfully imprisoned, deeply depressed, war- damaged, innocent Tamils civilians who are still in the Sri Lankan concentration camps. May God bless you !!
———————–
Amnesty International: Demanding justice for survivors one year after the end of the conflict
Amnesty International Event
19 May marks the first anniversary of the end of the internal conflict in Sri Lanka.
Despite massive violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides, impunity remains the norm. Survivors and family members of those killed have no hope of justice, truth and reparations at the national level.
Amnesty International is calling on the UN to establish an international independent investigation to collect information from all relevant sources as a first essential step to establish accountability.
Anti Terror laws to remain in State Terror inland http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/3498-ant…
A 26-year-old male, Sivalingam Satheesan, an uprooted civilian who settled in Jaffna after leaving the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated internment camp in Vavuniyaa, has been gunned down on Jaffna – Point Pedro Road Sunday around 7:30 p.m. by armed men riding a motorbike. The killing has taken place in SLA-guarded road near Ceylinco insurance company and Vadamaraadchi telecommunication building. This is the first killing by gunmen reported in Jaffna after the Eelam War – 4 ended in May 2009 in Vanni. The targeted killing of Vanni IDP comes in the wake of a recent visit by Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Jaffna. Tension prevails in the area. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
TamilNet has released video clippings from a lecture conducted by late D. Sivaram (Taraki), the well-known political and military analyst and senior editor of TamilNet, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his assassination, at a remembrance event held in Oslo by the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils on Thursday.
Sivaram showed how Sri Lankan state was dependent on oppression of Tamils http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Tamil journalism in sri lanka http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Anti Terror laws to remain in State Terror inland http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/3498-ant…
A 26-year-old male, Sivalingam Satheesan, an uprooted civilian who settled in Jaffna after leaving the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated internment camp in Vavuniyaa, has been gunned down on Jaffna – Point Pedro Road Sunday around 7:30 p.m. by armed men riding a motorbike. The killing has taken place in SLA-guarded road near Ceylinco insurance company and Vadamaraadchi telecommunication building. This is the first killing by gunmen reported in Jaffna after the Eelam War – 4 ended in May 2009 in Vanni. The targeted killing of Vanni IDP comes in the wake of a recent visit by Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Jaffna. Tension prevails in the area. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Anti Terror laws to remain in State Terror inland http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/3498-ant…
A 26-year-old male, Sivalingam Satheesan, an uprooted civilian who settled in Jaffna after leaving the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated internment camp in Vavuniyaa, has been gunned down on Jaffna – Point Pedro Road Sunday around 7:30 p.m. by armed men riding a motorbike. The killing has taken place in SLA-guarded road near Ceylinco insurance company and Vadamaraadchi telecommunication building. This is the first killing by gunmen reported in Jaffna after the Eelam War – 4 ended in May 2009 in Vanni. The targeted killing of Vanni IDP comes in the wake of a recent visit by Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Jaffna. Tension prevails in the area. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
TamilNet has released video clippings from a lecture conducted by late D. Sivaram (Taraki), the well-known political and military analyst and senior editor of TamilNet, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his assassination, at a remembrance event held in Oslo by the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils on Thursday.
Sivaram showed how Sri Lankan state was dependent on oppression of Tamils http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Tamil journalism in sri lanka http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
TamilNet has released video clippings from a lecture conducted by late D. Sivaram (Taraki), the well-known political and military analyst and senior editor of TamilNet, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his assassination, at a remembrance event held in Oslo by the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils on Thursday.
Sivaram showed how Sri Lankan state was dependent on oppression of Tamils http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Tamil journalism in sri lanka http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
SL Military Intelligence men issue death threats to Thenmaraadchi journalists
Sri Lanka Military Intelligence wing men in Jaffna Monday issued death threats to the journalists who covered the case of alleged death threats to Chaavakachcheari Magistrate K. Pirabakaran by EPDP operatives when it was taken for inquiry Monday in Chaavakachcheari court and published news of it in the local dailies
Withdrawal of SLA forces from Jaffna peninsula to be reconsidered
Anti Terror laws to remain in State Terror inland
http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/3498-anti-terror-law-to-remain.html
A 26-year-old male, Sivalingam Satheesan, an uprooted civilian who settled in Jaffna after leaving the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) operated internment camp in Vavuniyaa, has been gunned down on Jaffna – Point Pedro Road Sunday around 7:30 p.m. by armed men riding a motorbike. The killing has taken place in SLA-guarded road near Ceylinco insurance company and Vadamaraadchi telecommunication building. This is the first killing by gunmen reported in Jaffna after the Eelam War – 4 ended in May 2009 in Vanni. The targeted killing of Vanni IDP comes in the wake of a recent visit by Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Jaffna. Tension prevails in the area.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31655
TamilNet has released video clippings from a lecture conducted by late D. Sivaram (Taraki), the well-known political and military analyst and senior editor of TamilNet, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of his assassination, at a remembrance event held in Oslo by the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils on Thursday.
Sivaram showed how Sri Lankan state was dependent on oppression of Tamils
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31649
Tamil journalism in sri lanka
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31643
SL Military Intelligence men issue death threats to Thenmaraadchi journalists
Sri Lanka Military Intelligence wing men in Jaffna Monday issued death threats to the journalists who covered the case of alleged death threats to Chaavakachcheari Magistrate K. Pirabakaran by EPDP operatives when it was taken for inquiry Monday in Chaavakachcheari court and published news of it in the local dailies
Withdrawal of SLA forces from Jaffna peninsula to be reconsidered
The most casual observer of the Sri Lankan state’s conduct can see that the situation today is the continuation of war by other means.
By war, I am referring to the systematic and ideologically coherent practices of the state against the Tamils and other non-Sinhalese. What we see today is the intensification of structural violence against the Tamil people that began from independence.
By violence I do not mean just disappearances, abductions, murders, rapes and torture, although these are continuing, as we know. I mean more the structural practices of the state, aimed at limiting and suppressing the thriving of non-Sinhala people. We are familiar with some of these: colonization, erasing of Tamil usage in state practices, and the efforts to limit and destroy the socio-economic possibilities for Tamils.
None of this is new. It is part of efforts of the Sri Lankan state, since independence, to break down all resistance to the Sinhala national project. What is this project? To turn Sri Lanka into a modern day realization of an ancient myth that the island belongs to the Sinhalese and in which the minorities have a subordinate existence. As such, anyone who stands in the way of Sinhala majoritarianism – including principled Sinhalese who are not supportive of that project – are destroyed. This, as we know, is also why Sivaram was killed.
The recent parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka have once again brought to power the southern party that most aggressively espouses a Sinhala majoritarian view. It is a case of history repeating itself. It is a carbon copy of the 1956 elections. Then, as now, as the Tamils sought a political arrangement between Tamils and Sinhalese, the Sinhalese voted into power a party that vehemently rejected any compromise with the Tamils.
While constitutional changes are almost certainly in the near future, as the President’s party almost has the required two thirds majority, only the blindest of optimists see these changes as possibly positive towards addressing even basic Tamil grievances. Those who suggest this do so with no regards to either the historic evolution of the Sri Lankan state or the contemporary realities of Sinhala power today.
Let us be clear, change in Sri Lanka cannot come from within.
The last elections prove how overwhelmingly the structural bases of power serve Sinhala nationalism. The JVP for example lost several seats purely because its core platforms of Sinhala nationalism and anti-market economics were more convincingly taken up by the UPFA and President Rajapaksa.
In a contest between the UNP and the SLFP – both of which are essentially Sinhalese entities despite the token Tamils – the party that more aggressively pursued the Sinhala national project has won convincingly.
What we see now is another phase in the further entrenching of the Sinhala people’s dominance over the non-Sinhala.
It is not merely a question of human rights abuses, or lack of media freedom, or lack of governance. Rather, it is a specific kind of governance. This is why the Sinhala people – as in 1956 – are with Rajapaksa and his party.
To repeat, the core driver of Sri Lankan politics continues to be this Sinhala majoritatian nationalism.
This mass ideology predates independence and has now been entrenched in the mechanisms of the state. It is now carried forward in the state bureaucracy, the composition, practices and strategies of the military, the directing of international aid and state investment to some places and not others, and so on.
This Sinhala majoritarianism remains the central obstacle to the constitutional recognition of the Tamils, and other Tamil speaking peoples, as having a rightful place, equal to the Sinhalese, on the island.
And until it is confronted and checked, a truly democratic and peaceful Sri Lanka, one which treats all communities as equal, will remain an impossible dream.
It is worth noting that the ascendancy of this Sinhala majoritarianism has taken place while the country has been in the close embrace of the international community. After several decades of ‘engagement’ by the liberal West there still isn’t a hairsbreadth of liberal space in Sri Lanka. Indeed, it can be argued that Sri Lanka has headed successfully in the opposite direction.
Thus the war continues in Sri Lanka through politics. And as long as the war continues, there will be resistance. Some of us focus on media freedom, others are more driven by human rights concerns, or the humanitarian or developmental needs of the oppressed. But unless all of us recognize that the problems we are opposing stem from a strategic logic embedded in the state, we cannot succeed in our objectives.
We do not believe the course of Sinhala majoritarianism will change from within. Every effort by the Tamils to negotiate or reason with this majoritarianism has resulted in further violence. Look at the history of constitutional change since independence, for example.
Sri Lanka today is in a state of flux. As the Sinhala-dominated and supported state continues to wage war on the Tamil speaking communities, various forms of resistance will emerge, not only from within, but also from without. Today, the Tamils problem is being assessed and reflected upon in far more spaces across the world than ever before in our history.
I have of course not forgotten that we are here today to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sri Lankan state’s murder of Sivaram. In closing, I would like to say a few words about him.
As long as the oppression of Tamils continues, so too must the struggle for Tamil rights.
In 1948 when Sri Lanka gained its independence from Great Britain, the Sinhala leaders “sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority.” He says the Tamil people never expected to be made “second class citizens” spanning several decades in Sri Lanka.
Many important policies were enforced in Sri Lanka that would continue to disenfranchise the Tamils from their own country such as in 1956 when the Sri Lankan government passed a measure that would recognize Sinhala as the only official language. Other legislation approved would give preferential treatment to Sinhala, whether it would be for university or employment applications. Their new constitution even stated it would “protect and foster Buddhism.”
All of these actions by the government, forced the Tamils to feel that they were being oppressed, discriminated against and their equal rights were being deteriorated with each passing day.
Due to the policies enacted by Sinhala leaders, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities eroded and for the next 25 years “saw was not only the erosion of Tamil rights but also the erosion of the Tamil homeland. For 25 years, the Tamil leaders expressed their protest in Parliament and outside, adopting the principles of ahimsa and Satyagraha.”
Many reports from international organizations and news outlets suggest that there are still tens of thousands of IDPs remaining in the camps; while between 10,000 and 15,000 Tamils are being held in undisclosed regions of the country because they have alleged ties to the rebels. There have been numerous allegations of rape and torture, sometimes on a daily basis.
The 92,000 Tamils who did return to their place of origin found their home and or village completely demolished or their homes have been occupied by Sri Lankan army forces. Another 93,000 were staying with host families. Others were forced into rehabilitation centers where they must adapt the Sinhalese culture and learn a trade.
Many of the IDPs still in the camps are children and are being illegally held by the Sri Lankan government. The camps are militarily guarded and overcrowded, which are also “in-adequately managed” and the prisoners are “poorly fed.”
The situation of the Tamil refugees is so hopeless that the International community has a responsibility in taking ownership for the decent survival of these vulnerable since Sri Lanka is not in any hurry or mood to entertain any concern for the Tamil population.
Western nations, are taking notable interests in prosecuting the Sri Lankan government over war and human rights crimes. Many leaders are calling for Sri Lanka to abide by the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and local human rights.
In its annual 2009 report, the U.S. State Department criticized the Rajapaksa government and accused them of killing or forcing disappearance of lawyers and journalists, who have also been harassed, threatened and or victimized.
An annual British report titled: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report 2009, the British government stated that they were concerned over the allegations made that the Sri Lankan government violated many human rights laws and “the deteriorating status of the rule of law and freedom of expression.”
Furthermore, the recent 30-page Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, which was compiled through interviews with prosecutors, humanitarian workers, detainees, relatives of detainees and others, called upon the Sri Lankan government to release the more than 11,000 Tamils who are being held in the rehabilitation centers.
Last month, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deepest concern about the situation in Sri Lanka and “the lack of progress on political reconciliation, the treatment of Internally Displaced Persons and the setting up of an accountability process in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan government must adhere to the principles of human rights because they are “the very foundation of a decent democratic civilized world.”
Even though the government has denied all accusations and allegations, it’s quite "naïve" for Rajapaksa and his colleagues to expect financial support from the rest of the world for its programs such as the rehabilitation centers or its internment camps.
“This would be like giving the key to the chicken den to the fox. But, on the other hand the international community should stand firm by not pouring the financial support into the coffers of the Sri Lankan regime to fatten its repressive regime.
It is imperative that an international body implement investigations for Sri Lanka’s crimes against journalists, human rights, international humanitarianism and the violations of the Tamil people over the last several decades.
“Permanent, peaceful and acceptable solution for the long suffering Tamils need to be found soon by keeping in mind their freedom with dignity and rights to self – determination.”
The Sri Lankan ditatorial president Rajapaksha and his brothers who are in the dock for war crimes are teaching the local journalists about 'responsible journalism', otherwise be faced with the dire consequences of what other slain editors and incarcerated journalists had in that country.
A brutal regime wants to hide what it's done to its own citizenry and continuously punish the minorities by keeping them in detention camps for about a year now.
Sri Lanka cannot go on with its blackout conditions and military guided tours for reporters.
Cronysm and henchmenship are what authoritarians promote.
Ethical journalism is what dictators fear.
Thank you AI USA 🙂
My sincere gratitude to you for being the voice for the voiceless, long tormented, horribly victimized, helpless, and hapless Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Political violence manifests itself at all levels of social organization in Sri Lanka for many decades, especially under the current authoritarian regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Many politicians believe that easy ways to grab power and rule inspiring fear among the opponents by engineering violence and initiating ethnic riots within multiple communities.
Considering the inadequate national concern for the violence, implementing international humanitarian and human rights laws, especially against media personals of Sri Lanka and Tamil civilians in the North and East of the country, the international community should do its utmost intervene to stop this violence in the country to bring about peaceful and dignified solution based on the U.N accepted norms of Tamils also do have the right to self – determination.
Tamil university undergrads are imprisoned without charge for over one year and are currently being taught how to make rings out of coconut shells.
Is this the future for the Tamils ?
As second class citizens ?
_______________________________
1,250 Tamil university students still detained
Inter University Students Union Convener Udul Premaratne said the education rights of a large number of Tamil university students have been violated as 1,250 Tamil students who were arrested on suspicion of having links with the LTTE are still being detained.
He said that about 150 students from the Jaffna University who were studying for various degrees have been detained at the Pompeimadu camp for over one year and are currently being taught how to make rings out of coconut shells.
Meanwhile, sources from the Jaffna University say that about 42 university students who have come out of the camps have been detained at another place under police and army custody and that they are unable to attend lectures.
The most casual observer of the Sri Lankan state’s conduct can see that the situation today is the continuation of war by other means.
By war, I am referring to the systematic and ideologically coherent practices of the state against the Tamils and other non-Sinhalese. What we see today is the intensification of structural violence against the Tamil people that began from independence.
By violence I do not mean just disappearances, abductions, murders, rapes and torture, although these are continuing, as we know. I mean more the structural practices of the state, aimed at limiting and suppressing the thriving of non-Sinhala people. We are familiar with some of these: colonization, erasing of Tamil usage in state practices, and the efforts to limit and destroy the socio-economic possibilities for Tamils.
None of this is new. It is part of efforts of the Sri Lankan state, since independence, to break down all resistance to the Sinhala national project. What is this project? To turn Sri Lanka into a modern day realization of an ancient myth that the island belongs to the Sinhalese and in which the minorities have a subordinate existence. As such, anyone who stands in the way of Sinhala majoritarianism – including principled Sinhalese who are not supportive of that project – are destroyed. This, as we know, is also why Sivaram was killed.
The recent parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka have once again brought to power the southern party that most aggressively espouses a Sinhala majoritarian view. It is a case of history repeating itself. It is a carbon copy of the 1956 elections. Then, as now, as the Tamils sought a political arrangement between Tamils and Sinhalese, the Sinhalese voted into power a party that vehemently rejected any compromise with the Tamils.
While constitutional changes are almost certainly in the near future, as the President’s party almost has the required two thirds majority, only the blindest of optimists see these changes as possibly positive towards addressing even basic Tamil grievances. Those who suggest this do so with no regards to either the historic evolution of the Sri Lankan state or the contemporary realities of Sinhala power today.
Let us be clear, change in Sri Lanka cannot come from within.
The last elections prove how overwhelmingly the structural bases of power serve Sinhala nationalism. The JVP for example lost several seats purely because its core platforms of Sinhala nationalism and anti-market economics were more convincingly taken up by the UPFA and President Rajapaksa.
In a contest between the UNP and the SLFP – both of which are essentially Sinhalese entities despite the token Tamils – the party that more aggressively pursued the Sinhala national project has won convincingly.
What we see now is another phase in the further entrenching of the Sinhala people’s dominance over the non-Sinhala.
It is not merely a question of human rights abuses, or lack of media freedom, or lack of governance. Rather, it is a specific kind of governance. This is why the Sinhala people – as in 1956 – are with Rajapaksa and his party.
To repeat, the core driver of Sri Lankan politics continues to be this Sinhala majoritatian nationalism.
This mass ideology predates independence and has now been entrenched in the mechanisms of the state. It is now carried forward in the state bureaucracy, the composition, practices and strategies of the military, the directing of international aid and state investment to some places and not others, and so on.
This Sinhala majoritarianism remains the central obstacle to the constitutional recognition of the Tamils, and other Tamil speaking peoples, as having a rightful place, equal to the Sinhalese, on the island.
And until it is confronted and checked, a truly democratic and peaceful Sri Lanka, one which treats all communities as equal, will remain an impossible dream.
It is worth noting that the ascendancy of this Sinhala majoritarianism has taken place while the country has been in the close embrace of the international community. After several decades of ‘engagement’ by the liberal West there still isn’t a hairsbreadth of liberal space in Sri Lanka. Indeed, it can be argued that Sri Lanka has headed successfully in the opposite direction.
Thus the war continues in Sri Lanka through politics. And as long as the war continues, there will be resistance. Some of us focus on media freedom, others are more driven by human rights concerns, or the humanitarian or developmental needs of the oppressed. But unless all of us recognize that the problems we are opposing stem from a strategic logic embedded in the state, we cannot succeed in our objectives.
We do not believe the course of Sinhala majoritarianism will change from within. Every effort by the Tamils to negotiate or reason with this majoritarianism has resulted in further violence. Look at the history of constitutional change since independence, for example.
Sri Lanka today is in a state of flux. As the Sinhala-dominated and supported state continues to wage war on the Tamil speaking communities, various forms of resistance will emerge, not only from within, but also from without. Today, the Tamils problem is being assessed and reflected upon in far more spaces across the world than ever before in our history.
I have of course not forgotten that we are here today to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sri Lankan state’s murder of Sivaram. In closing, I would like to say a few words about him.
As long as the oppression of Tamils continues, so too must the struggle for Tamil rights.
In 1948 when Sri Lanka gained its independence from Great Britain, the Sinhala leaders “sought to secure dominance over government by virtue of their majority.” He says the Tamil people never expected to be made “second class citizens” spanning several decades in Sri Lanka.
Many important policies were enforced in Sri Lanka that would continue to disenfranchise the Tamils from their own country such as in 1956 when the Sri Lankan government passed a measure that would recognize Sinhala as the only official language. Other legislation approved would give preferential treatment to Sinhala, whether it would be for university or employment applications. Their new constitution even stated it would “protect and foster Buddhism.”
All of these actions by the government, forced the Tamils to feel that they were being oppressed, discriminated against and their equal rights were being deteriorated with each passing day.
Due to the policies enacted by Sinhala leaders, the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities eroded and for the next 25 years “saw was not only the erosion of Tamil rights but also the erosion of the Tamil homeland. For 25 years, the Tamil leaders expressed their protest in Parliament and outside, adopting the principles of ahimsa and Satyagraha.”
Many reports from international organizations and news outlets suggest that there are still tens of thousands of IDPs remaining in the camps; while between 10,000 and 15,000 Tamils are being held in undisclosed regions of the country because they have alleged ties to the rebels. There have been numerous allegations of rape and torture, sometimes on a daily basis.
The 92,000 Tamils who did return to their place of origin found their home and or village completely demolished or their homes have been occupied by Sri Lankan army forces. Another 93,000 were staying with host families. Others were forced into rehabilitation centers where they must adapt the Sinhalese culture and learn a trade.
Many of the IDPs still in the camps are children and are being illegally held by the Sri Lankan government. The camps are militarily guarded and overcrowded, which are also “in-adequately managed” and the prisoners are “poorly fed.”
The situation of the Tamil refugees is so hopeless that the International community has a responsibility in taking ownership for the decent survival of these vulnerable since Sri Lanka is not in any hurry or mood to entertain any concern for the Tamil population.
Western nations, are taking notable interests in prosecuting the Sri Lankan government over war and human rights crimes. Many leaders are calling for Sri Lanka to abide by the Harare Commonwealth Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and local human rights.
In its annual 2009 report, the U.S. State Department criticized the Rajapaksa government and accused them of killing or forcing disappearance of lawyers and journalists, who have also been harassed, threatened and or victimized.
An annual British report titled: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report 2009, the British government stated that they were concerned over the allegations made that the Sri Lankan government violated many human rights laws and “the deteriorating status of the rule of law and freedom of expression.”
Furthermore, the recent 30-page Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, which was compiled through interviews with prosecutors, humanitarian workers, detainees, relatives of detainees and others, called upon the Sri Lankan government to release the more than 11,000 Tamils who are being held in the rehabilitation centers.
Last month, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deepest concern about the situation in Sri Lanka and “the lack of progress on political reconciliation, the treatment of Internally Displaced Persons and the setting up of an accountability process in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan government must adhere to the principles of human rights because they are “the very foundation of a decent democratic civilized world.”
Even though the government has denied all accusations and allegations, it’s quite “naïve” for Rajapaksa and his colleagues to expect financial support from the rest of the world for its programs such as the rehabilitation centers or its internment camps.
“This would be like giving the key to the chicken den to the fox. But, on the other hand the international community should stand firm by not pouring the financial support into the coffers of the Sri Lankan regime to fatten its repressive regime.
It is imperative that an international body implement investigations for Sri Lanka’s crimes against journalists, human rights, international humanitarianism and the violations of the Tamil people over the last several decades.
“Permanent, peaceful and acceptable solution for the long suffering Tamils need to be found soon by keeping in mind their freedom with dignity and rights to self – determination.”
The Sri Lankan ditatorial president Rajapaksha and his brothers who are in the dock for war crimes are teaching the local journalists about ‘responsible journalism’, otherwise be faced with the dire consequences of what other slain editors and incarcerated journalists had in that country.
A brutal regime wants to hide what it’s done to its own citizenry and continuously punish the minorities by keeping them in detention camps for about a year now.
Sri Lanka cannot go on with its blackout conditions and military guided tours for reporters.
Cronysm and henchmenship are what authoritarians promote.
Ethical journalism is what dictators fear.
Thank you AI USA 🙂
My sincere gratitude to you for being the voice for the voiceless, long tormented, horribly victimized, helpless, and hapless Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Political violence manifests itself at all levels of social organization in Sri Lanka for many decades, especially under the current authoritarian regime of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Many politicians believe that easy ways to grab power and rule inspiring fear among the opponents by engineering violence and initiating ethnic riots within multiple communities.
Considering the inadequate national concern for the violence, implementing international humanitarian and human rights laws, especially against media personals of Sri Lanka and Tamil civilians in the North and East of the country, the international community should do its utmost intervene to stop this violence in the country to bring about peaceful and dignified solution based on the U.N accepted norms of Tamils also do have the right to self – determination.
Tamil university undergrads are imprisoned without charge for over one year and are currently being taught how to make rings out of coconut shells.
Is this the future for the Tamils ?
As second class citizens ?
_______________________________
1,250 Tamil university students still detained
Inter University Students Union Convener Udul Premaratne said the education rights of a large number of Tamil university students have been violated as 1,250 Tamil students who were arrested on suspicion of having links with the LTTE are still being detained.
He said that about 150 students from the Jaffna University who were studying for various degrees have been detained at the Pompeimadu camp for over one year and are currently being taught how to make rings out of coconut shells.
Meanwhile, sources from the Jaffna University say that about 42 university students who have come out of the camps have been detained at another place under police and army custody and that they are unable to attend lectures.
If the media minister is a thug, what will happen to journalists? http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/srilanka…
If the ministers are thug, then no need for Emergency Laws??
If the media minister is a thug, what will happen to journalists? http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/srilanka…
If the ministers are thug, then no need for Emergency Laws??
If the media minister is a thug, what will happen to journalists? http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/srilanka…
If the ministers are thug, then no need for Emergency Laws??
I still see a load of crap written on this blog where people with Terrorist mentalities have posted 99% articles not relevant to the subject. Ex. the previous post by Rohan re. Media Minister… What has that got to do with emergency laws?? He was not appointed under any law but the constitution.
Also I am disappointed that AI nor anyone else has mentioned any of the clauses of the law that is hampering HR. Only thing that is mentioned on the initial post is on sending the IDP's home, which obviously could be done and is being done under the emergency Laws.We would like to see a stronger case from AI in this regard. Also why not talk of all the Sri Lankan citizens ? Why isolate the IDP's…. All civilians are ruled by this law and has been so for the past 30 years – so tell us about the impact after all, we grew up with it and have not experienced any other Law.
Also I would like to know what the AI thinks of easing the Law. It was mentioned in the parliament yesterday that the Law will be gotten rid of sooner than later and certain clauses will come to be inactive immediately. (Like forces entering premises of individuals without permission)
As much as we would see the brick backs from AI on certain policies any government (Not only GOSL) makes, we also would like to see what they feel when HR friendly policies are made.
I still see double standards from AI in most occasions. Would like to see something more productive than hanging on a tigers tail.
If the media minister is a thug, what will happen to journalists?
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/srilanka/Buddha-Lincoln-Marx-and-Silva/Article1-539473.aspx
If the ministers are thug, then no need for Emergency Laws??
I still see a load of crap written on this blog where people with Terrorist mentalities have posted 99% articles not relevant to the subject. Ex. the previous post by Rohan re. Media Minister… What has that got to do with emergency laws?? He was not appointed under any law but the constitution.
Also I am disappointed that AI nor anyone else has mentioned any of the clauses of the law that is hampering HR. Only thing that is mentioned on the initial post is on sending the IDP’s home, which obviously could be done and is being done under the emergency Laws.We would like to see a stronger case from AI in this regard. Also why not talk of all the Sri Lankan citizens ? Why isolate the IDP’s…. All civilians are ruled by this law and has been so for the past 30 years – so tell us about the impact after all, we grew up with it and have not experienced any other Law.
Also I would like to know what the AI thinks of easing the Law. It was mentioned in the parliament yesterday that the Law will be gotten rid of sooner than later and certain clauses will come to be inactive immediately. (Like forces entering premises of individuals without permission)
As much as we would see the brick backs from AI on certain policies any government (Not only GOSL) makes, we also would like to see what they feel when HR friendly policies are made.
I still see double standards from AI in most occasions. Would like to see something more productive than hanging on a tigers tail.
Sri lankan state forces use rape as a weapon of war, every single singhala armed forces use their own law to destroy Tamil from sri lanka. In vanni, where IDPs allowed can't stay in their homes. Army enters homes looking for women, In one incident army drop the gun and ran when family members were alerted. People took the gun and gave it to the army who incharge of the army camp. But no action taken by the commanding officers because all of them are doing the same thing. Racism at every level in Sri lanka.
Armed men keep six girls in unconscious state in Batticaloa.
A grade 10 student of Ka'luthaava'lai Tamil Maha Viththiyaalayam, who managed to escape from abductors has revealed that she had seen six girl students in unconscious state in the place where she was held captive, Police said. The girl, P.Niranjala, was alleged to have been abducted by unidentified persons who arrived in a black coloured van in front of the school escaped from their clutch Wednesday morning, according to a complaint she made to the Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Police.
Ms. Niranjala escaped while she was held by abductors and rushed to nearby school, Eruvil Kannaki Viththiyaalayam.
Later, she went to the Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Police with Mr. Kailasapillai, the principal of the school and lodged a complaint. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
In the same area
Sri Lanka soldiers remanded over rape of 9-year old Tamil girl http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Sri lankan state forces use rape as a weapon of war, every single singhala armed forces use their own law to destroy Tamil from sri lanka. In vanni, where IDPs allowed can't stay in their homes. Army enters homes looking for women, In one incident army drop the gun and ran when family members were alerted. People took the gun and gave it to the army who incharge of the army camp. But no action taken by the commanding officers because all of them are doing the same thing. Racism at every level in Sri lanka.
Armed men keep six girls in unconscious state in Batticaloa.
A grade 10 student of Ka'luthaava'lai Tamil Maha Viththiyaalayam, who managed to escape from abductors has revealed that she had seen six girl students in unconscious state in the place where she was held captive, Police said. The girl, P.Niranjala, was alleged to have been abducted by unidentified persons who arrived in a black coloured van in front of the school escaped from their clutch Wednesday morning, according to a complaint she made to the Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Police.
Ms. Niranjala escaped while she was held by abductors and rushed to nearby school, Eruvil Kannaki Viththiyaalayam.
Later, she went to the Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Police with Mr. Kailasapillai, the principal of the school and lodged a complaint. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
In the same area
Sri Lanka soldiers remanded over rape of 9-year old Tamil girl http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Sri lankan state forces use rape as a weapon of war, every single singhala armed forces use their own law to destroy Tamil from sri lanka. In vanni, where IDPs allowed can't stay in their homes. Army enters homes looking for women, In one incident army drop the gun and ran when family members were alerted. People took the gun and gave it to the army who incharge of the army camp. But no action taken by the commanding officers because all of them are doing the same thing. Racism at every level in Sri lanka.
Armed men keep six girls in unconscious state in Batticaloa.
A grade 10 student of Ka'luthaava'lai Tamil Maha Viththiyaalayam, who managed to escape from abductors has revealed that she had seen six girl students in unconscious state in the place where she was held captive, Police said. The girl, P.Niranjala, was alleged to have been abducted by unidentified persons who arrived in a black coloured van in front of the school escaped from their clutch Wednesday morning, according to a complaint she made to the Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Police.
Ms. Niranjala escaped while she was held by abductors and rushed to nearby school, Eruvil Kannaki Viththiyaalayam.
Later, she went to the Ka'luvaagnchikkudi Police with Mr. Kailasapillai, the principal of the school and lodged a complaint. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
In the same area
Sri Lanka soldiers remanded over rape of 9-year old Tamil girl http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Sri lankan state forces use rape as a weapon of war, every single singhala armed forces use their own law to destroy Tamil from sri lanka. In vanni, where IDPs allowed can’t stay in their homes. Army enters homes looking for women, In one incident army drop the gun and ran when family members were alerted. People took the gun and gave it to the army who incharge of the army camp. But no action taken by the commanding officers because all of them are doing the same thing. Racism at every level in Sri lanka.
Armed men keep six girls in unconscious state in Batticaloa.
A grade 10 student of Ka’luthaava’lai Tamil Maha Viththiyaalayam, who managed to escape from abductors has revealed that she had seen six girl students in unconscious state in the place where she was held captive, Police said. The girl, P.Niranjala, was alleged to have been abducted by unidentified persons who arrived in a black coloured van in front of the school escaped from their clutch Wednesday morning, according to a complaint she made to the Ka’luvaagnchikkudi Police.
Ms. Niranjala escaped while she was held by abductors and rushed to nearby school, Eruvil Kannaki Viththiyaalayam.
Later, she went to the Ka’luvaagnchikkudi Police with Mr. Kailasapillai, the principal of the school and lodged a complaint.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31687
In the same area
Sri Lanka soldiers remanded over rape of 9-year old Tamil girl
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31278
What has Rohan's comment do with the topic or the emergency law ? Moderators ??
Are you this blog enforcer ?
Let this forum moderators decide what to do .
Impeccable Jim Gons Says:
May 6th, 2010 at 6:55 am
What has Rohan’s comment do with the topic or the emergency law ?
u r right, even if the emergency law scale down, abduction, raping, killing of Tamil will continue in sri lanka. It has been from 1948.
Even Sarath Fonseka is also under emergency law ??
Sri Lanka fears revival of war crimes charges http://sify.com/news/sri-lanka-fears-revival-of-w…
Impeccable Jim Gons Says:
May 6th, 2010 at 6:55 am
What has Rohan’s comment do with the topic or the emergency law ?
u r right, even if the emergency law scale down, abduction, raping, killing of Tamil will continue in sri lanka. It has been from 1948.
Even Sarath Fonseka is also under emergency law ??
Sri Lanka fears revival of war crimes charges http://sify.com/news/sri-lanka-fears-revival-of-w…
Impeccable Jim Gons Says:
May 6th, 2010 at 6:55 am
What has Rohan’s comment do with the topic or the emergency law ?
u r right, even if the emergency law scale down, abduction, raping, killing of Tamil will continue in sri lanka. It has been from 1948.
Even Sarath Fonseka is also under emergency law ??
Sri Lanka fears revival of war crimes charges http://sify.com/news/sri-lanka-fears-revival-of-w…
What has Rohan’s comment do with the topic or the emergency law ? Moderators ??
Are you this blog enforcer ?
Let this forum moderators decide what to do .
Impeccable Jim Gons Says:
May 6th, 2010 at 6:55 am
What has Rohan’s comment do with the topic or the emergency law ?
u r right, even if the emergency law scale down, abduction, raping, killing of Tamil will continue in sri lanka. It has been from 1948.
Even Sarath Fonseka is also under emergency law ??
Sri Lanka fears revival of war crimes charges
http://sify.com/news/sri-lanka-fears-revival-of-war-crimes-charges-news-international-kfgmObiiihc.html
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-g…
UN also faild to protect the 10000's of victims. I do believe the involement of some UN official in this bloodbath http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-g…
UN also faild to protect the 10000's of victims. I do believe the involement of some UN official in this bloodbath http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-g…
UN also faild to protect the 10000's of victims. I do believe the involement of some UN official in this bloodbath http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Yes,
SRI LANKA TO PROBE ALLEGED WARTIME RIGHTS ABUSES ON ITSELF IS A JOKE !!!!
——————-
It is another move to cheat international community. Mahinda, the War Criminal has also appointed a commission to look into the lessons learnt during the war.
The pardon of Tissa is to convince EU to give back the GSP+ and IMF loans to the savagely repressive Sri Lankan dictatorship.
During the war, Rajapkase appointed a All party conference to find a solution to the ethnic problem but once the war ended he put All those proposals into the bin.
International community should not fall into the trap again !!!!
Every time the international community raises the issue of accountability, Sri Lanka establishes a commission that takes a long time to achieve nothing. Ban should put an end to this game of smoke and mirrors and begin a process that would ensure justice for all the victims of Sri Lanka’s war.
Sri Lanka: Government Proposal Won’t Address War Crimes
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/05/07/sri-lanka-government-proposal-won-t-address-war-crimes
UN also faild to protect the 10000’s of victims. I do believe the involement of some UN official in this bloodbath
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31701
Yes,
SRI LANKA TO PROBE ALLEGED WARTIME RIGHTS ABUSES ON ITSELF IS A JOKE !!!!
——————-
It is another move to cheat international community. Mahinda, the War Criminal has also appointed a commission to look into the lessons learnt during the war.
The pardon of Tissa is to convince EU to give back the GSP+ and IMF loans to the savagely repressive Sri Lankan dictatorship.
During the war, Rajapkase appointed a All party conference to find a solution to the ethnic problem but once the war ended he put All those proposals into the bin.
International community should not fall into the trap again !!!!
From the news we hear from around the world, the world is moving forward and has pledged the GOSL to take it along in to the future. I guess it is high time that the LTTE mentally sick diaspora realize this and move forward too. As for AI, get a life – please – for the sake of those who really need HR attention – let's get together and get some food to the starved in Africa (as their government don't provide like the GOSL does), let's get rid of Malariya in Africa – you would be blessed !!!
LTTE – the more you whine, the more irritating you become – you know what happens to the mosquito that becomes very irritating ha ??
In Hell – SF is under military Law and not emergency law – this goes on to show how well read you are and how knowledgeable you are – worst of all, you are the type of donkey's that spread these false stories…
There is no impact of the law to a peaceful person but for a terrorist like you.
Impeccable Jim Gons, sri lankan propaganda agent, changed many names to write comments.
You proved that u r one typical buddist sri lankan who always call terrorist others, whoever talk the truth. SL forces killed over 50,000 Tamils last year including many children. see the children, pregnant mothers…. http://picasaweb.google.com/TamilPuli/GenocideOfT…
Are you telling the world to forget the crime you committed to Tamils over 61 years in sri lanka. http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OXx4a43B…
Impeccable Jim Gons, sri lankan propaganda agent, changed many names to write comments.
You proved that u r one typical buddist sri lankan who always call terrorist others, whoever talk the truth. SL forces killed over 50,000 Tamils last year including many children. see the children, pregnant mothers…. http://picasaweb.google.com/TamilPuli/GenocideOfT…
Are you telling the world to forget the crime you committed to Tamils over 61 years in sri lanka. http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OXx4a43B…
Impeccable Jim Gons, sri lankan propaganda agent, changed many names to write comments.
You proved that u r one typical buddist sri lankan who always call terrorist others, whoever talk the truth. SL forces killed over 50,000 Tamils last year including many children. see the children, pregnant mothers…. http://picasaweb.google.com/TamilPuli/GenocideOfT…
Are you telling the world to forget the crime you committed to Tamils over 61 years in sri lanka. http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OXx4a43B…
From the news we hear from around the world, the world is moving forward and has pledged the GOSL to take it along in to the future. I guess it is high time that the LTTE mentally sick diaspora realize this and move forward too. As for AI, get a life – please – for the sake of those who really need HR attention – let’s get together and get some food to the starved in Africa (as their government don’t provide like the GOSL does), let’s get rid of Malariya in Africa – you would be blessed !!!
LTTE – the more you whine, the more irritating you become – you know what happens to the mosquito that becomes very irritating ha ??
In Hell – SF is under military Law and not emergency law – this goes on to show how well read you are and how knowledgeable you are – worst of all, you are the type of donkey’s that spread these false stories…
There is no impact of the law to a peaceful person but for a terrorist like you.
Impeccable Jim Gons, sri lankan propaganda agent, changed many names to write comments.
You proved that u r one typical buddist sri lankan who always call terrorist others, whoever talk the truth. SL forces killed over 50,000 Tamils last year including many children. see the children, pregnant mothers….
http://picasaweb.google.com/TamilPuli/GenocideOfTamilChildren?feat=directlink#
Are you telling the world to forget the crime you committed to Tamils over 61 years in sri lanka.
http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OXx4a43B54Ie4a4YAQ6ce2acYBP3cd2pdmA2e0dC0MmAce03cYBJ0cd3vlmAd0
Impeccable Jim Gons
Why are you so uncivilized ?
Impeccable Jim Gons
Why are you so uncivilized ?
My Dearest Ganesh !
I trust you could read the previous post I have posted. (I.e. Impeccable Jim Gons Says:May 13th, 2010 at 12:35 am)
I also trust that you could read out the list of my thought process of who Terrorists are.
Then I would want you to kindly use the Analytical part of your brain and decide whether it's me who is uncivilized or whether it's you and your brotheren here who support such acts are uncivilized.
Then also start reading the posts made in this forum from top to bottom. Then read the AI's code of conduct for this forum.
Now again get the "Analytical" Part of your brains to understand the difference between my posts and the others. Just see for your self as to who has been in line with the topic.
Then also try to understand the posts that I have made which are not in line with the subject matter – you will see that they are replies to posts that are not in line with the topic, hence, the replies not being in line with the topics.
I also wish you would see that the questions that I have asked have gone unanswered from AI as well as you guys,
Now again you you that Neanderthal brain of yours to figure out who is uncivilized.
Thank you for understanding in advance…
Peace be with you !!
In Hell !!
Impeccable Jim Gons, sri lankan propaganda agent, changed many names to write comments.
Yep – I had to do it because I get blocked by AI for talking in line with the subjects and also trying to reply you guys who write off subject. And may be because I post questions that go unanswered from AI & you guys… anyways, for what ever reason that has not been explained to me as yet. – Is that an issue ??? I know of you guys who do it too… I though that the idea was to let the thoughts out and not to look at names… – Brighter way of thinking ha ??
You proved that u r one typical buddist sri lankan who always call terrorist others, whoever talk the truth. SL forces killed over 50,000 Tamils last year including many children. see the children, pregnant mothers….
FYI, I am a Sri Lankan Devoted Christian with British descends. – OH Yeh !!
I call those who get involved in terror acts and those who support such acts – Terrorists… – The LTTE, The Taliban, The Al Quaida – yes Terrorists.
I call Terrorists the people who killed the great Tamil Alfred Doraiappa to start a war for a Tamil Homeland.
I call Terrorists to those who plant bombs in public places and sent suicide bombers to kill innocent civilians
I call terrorists to those who killed National leaders
I call terrorists to those who killed Many Tamil leaders who opposed the concept of LTTE
I call terrorists to those who destroyed Shrines and Temples and Mosques
I call terrorist to those who killed members of the clergy including Hindu Priests (Pusari's and Swamies)
I call terrorists to those who engaged in armed conflict with a democratically elected government
I call terrorists to those who recruited innocent children as soldiers instead of sending them to school or letting them enjoy their childhood.
I call terrorists to those who sent pregnant ladies as suicide bombers to kill innocent people.
AND MOST IMPORTANT I call terrorists to those who are cowards who would use peace talks to recruit and build armies and engage in cowardly tactics and planting bombs etc, instead of coming face to face..
And do you ask me to forget these crimes the LTTE and their supporters should be blamed for ?? – Is getting rid of them the crime that a Sri Lankan government did ?????? Is that what you are trying to frame me for ?????
In Hell,
Sorry I missed out on one point of you telling that 50,000 were killed last year.
You need to let me know of that number, how many were killed by the LTTE ? The civilians who were trying to escape to government controlled areas from the terrorists who used them as a human shield. In a war situation, civilians do die – Take Afghanistan for example. Though our good friends of AI – Jim and clan won't talk of them, Americans did and do kill hundreds of thousands in war. BUT, the LTTE actually shot those who tried to escape – civilised act ???
You again talk of pregnant mothers – the only ones I know of getting killed are those who got shot by the LTTE – your saviors. The instances I know of, The army guys lifted them on their shoulders to take to hospitals – not forgetting the old and disabled.
I kindly request you to refrain from posting lies – it's not good for either for us…
In Hell !!
Impeccable Jim Gons, sri lankan propaganda agent, changed many names to write comments.
Yep – I had to do it because I get blocked by AI for talking in line with the subjects and also trying to reply you guys who write off subject. And may be because I post questions that go unanswered from AI & you guys… anyways, for what ever reason that has not been explained to me as yet. – Is that an issue ??? I know of you guys who do it too… I though that the idea was to let the thoughts out and not to look at names… – Brighter way of thinking ha ??
You proved that u r one typical buddist sri lankan who always call terrorist others, whoever talk the truth. SL forces killed over 50,000 Tamils last year including many children. see the children, pregnant mothers….
FYI, I am a Sri Lankan Devoted Christian with British descends. – OH Yeh !!
I call those who get involved in terror acts and those who support such acts – Terrorists… – The LTTE, The Taliban, The Al Quaida – yes Terrorists.
I call Terrorists the people who killed the great Tamil Alfred Doraiappa to start a war for a Tamil Homeland.
I call Terrorists to those who plant bombs in public places and sent suicide bombers to kill innocent civilians
I call terrorists to those who killed National leaders
I call terrorists to those who killed Many Tamil leaders who opposed the concept of LTTE
I call terrorists to those who destroyed Shrines and Temples and Mosques
I call terrorist to those who killed members of the clergy including Hindu Priests (Pusari’s and Swamies)
I call terrorists to those who engaged in armed conflict with a democratically elected government
I call terrorists to those who recruited innocent children as soldiers instead of sending them to school or letting them enjoy their childhood.
I call terrorists to those who sent pregnant ladies as suicide bombers to kill innocent people.
AND MOST IMPORTANT I call terrorists to those who are cowards who would use peace talks to recruit and build armies and engage in cowardly tactics and planting bombs etc, instead of coming face to face..
And do you ask me to forget these crimes the LTTE and their supporters should be blamed for ?? – Is getting rid of them the crime that a Sri Lankan government did ?????? Is that what you are trying to frame me for ?????
My Dearest Ganesh !
I trust you could read the previous post I have posted. (I.e. Impeccable Jim Gons Says:May 13th, 2010 at 12:35 am)
I also trust that you could read out the list of my thought process of who Terrorists are.
Then I would want you to kindly use the Analytical part of your brain and decide whether it’s me who is uncivilized or whether it’s you and your brotheren here who support such acts are uncivilized.
Then also start reading the posts made in this forum from top to bottom. Then read the AI’s code of conduct for this forum.
Now again get the “Analytical” Part of your brains to understand the difference between my posts and the others. Just see for your self as to who has been in line with the topic.
Then also try to understand the posts that I have made which are not in line with the subject matter – you will see that they are replies to posts that are not in line with the topic, hence, the replies not being in line with the topics.
I also wish you would see that the questions that I have asked have gone unanswered from AI as well as you guys,
Now again you you that Neanderthal brain of yours to figure out who is uncivilized.
Thank you for understanding in advance…
Peace be with you !!
In Hell,
Sorry I missed out on one point of you telling that 50,000 were killed last year.
You need to let me know of that number, how many were killed by the LTTE ? The civilians who were trying to escape to government controlled areas from the terrorists who used them as a human shield. In a war situation, civilians do die – Take Afghanistan for example. Though our good friends of AI – Jim and clan won’t talk of them, Americans did and do kill hundreds of thousands in war. BUT, the LTTE actually shot those who tried to escape – civilised act ???
You again talk of pregnant mothers – the only ones I know of getting killed are those who got shot by the LTTE – your saviors. The instances I know of, The army guys lifted them on their shoulders to take to hospitals – not forgetting the old and disabled.
I kindly request you to refrain from posting lies – it’s not good for either for us…
Impeccable Jim Gons
You have been making a big noise in this forum almost always repeating the claim. that we are LTTE
I challenged you to specifically point out that claim.
Without listening to them you publicized that “untruth” repeatedly to defame us and undermine our arguments.
With so many attempts, you can combed through all Pro-Tamil posts to find such a statement and you will miserably failed. Now what do you have to say about unethical damage done to our characters and our arguments by frequent quoting of something which we had never said as our statements?
Please as civilized men we request your explanation in this regard.
Impeccable Jim Gons
You have been making a big noise in this forum almost always repeating the claim. that we are LTTE
I challenged you to specifically point out that claim.
Without listening to them you publicized that “untruth” repeatedly to defame us and undermine our arguments.
With so many attempts, you can combed through all Pro-Tamil posts to find such a statement and you will miserably failed. Now what do you have to say about unethical damage done to our characters and our arguments by frequent quoting of something which we had never said as our statements?
Please as civilized men we request your explanation in this regard.
Tens of thousand souls forever perished in those early months of 2009, not just on that sombre May. Our agonising cries, to the world we appealed. Our kith and kin crushed, scattered like the ash of withered leaves on their native soil. Our ebbing hopes clung to the morality of leaders and nations; we tried in vain to save them from unabated carnage. Oh, land of Vanni, once our refuge, why has your life been sacrificed?
With unforgettable sadness, we grieve for the children of Eezham who died longing for dignity, struggling for justice, and fighting for freedom. We also remember those who languish in open prisons even today. A once self-reliant, self-sufficient and dignified Tamil nation suffers in silence behind Sri Lanka’s barbed wires.
“Never again”, said the civilised world to genocide. But what we witnessed in Mullivaikal were not only mass atrocities against a distinct ethnic group but also an obituary for the very treaties adopted to protect the rights of all human beings – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On this first anniversary of Mullivaikal
Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds' morality’
Behind Barbed Wires…….
Languish Tamil Pride……..
Bold and brave're our people of Eelam
Fought to be free, they rode fear of death
Raw guts, did not stand in good stead by them
Crawl they didn't, though bullets pierced their breath
Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds' morality
Hearts of steel stood our people against
Armies of several nations of little dignity
Blood bath of gory details ensued in silent
Clouds above shied away on scale of violence
Once proud people of rigour and valour
Trounced at battle by world of dishonour
Today Tamils languish behind barbed wire
Heydays of Tamil honour in pitiful disarray
Hands that fed visitors to brims of their bowels
Hang loose on barbed wires begging for hand outs
Rancour run deep, pain suffered hard to bear
Despair in the air, morrows seem bleak and bare
Land of plentiful stand idle, cracked and barren
Seasons come and go farms see no plough on
Ocean farers sit still by beach no fishermen to return
Soon be straighten, we pray to Gods, this humiliation
Homes and domes of temples remain bombed
Humour and piety which filled'em been emptied,
Huge bulldozers bring to ground what still stand
Burial grounds that honour sons of soil too're desecrated
Tamil pride bleeds, watching it hurts our soul
Mild mannered mandarins of world see no quarrel
Wild orchids will soon blossom on Eelam soil
Riled kids too may once again rebel if world today fail
Tens of thousand souls forever perished in those early months of 2009, not just on that sombre May. Our agonising cries, to the world we appealed. Our kith and kin crushed, scattered like the ash of withered leaves on their native soil. Our ebbing hopes clung to the morality of leaders and nations; we tried in vain to save them from unabated carnage. Oh, land of Vanni, once our refuge, why has your life been sacrificed?
With unforgettable sadness, we grieve for the children of Eezham who died longing for dignity, struggling for justice, and fighting for freedom. We also remember those who languish in open prisons even today. A once self-reliant, self-sufficient and dignified Tamil nation suffers in silence behind Sri Lanka’s barbed wires.
“Never again”, said the civilised world to genocide. But what we witnessed in Mullivaikal were not only mass atrocities against a distinct ethnic group but also an obituary for the very treaties adopted to protect the rights of all human beings – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
On this first anniversary of Mullivaikal
Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds’ morality’
Behind Barbed Wires…….
Languish Tamil Pride……..
Bold and brave’re our people of Eelam
Fought to be free, they rode fear of death
Raw guts, did not stand in good stead by them
Crawl they didn’t, though bullets pierced their breath
Oh! Gods of Mercy, cried angels with pity
Seeing the carnage on beeches of Vanni
Seeds of shame spilled all over humanity
Strewn across Vanni were worlds’ morality
Hearts of steel stood our people against
Armies of several nations of little dignity
Blood bath of gory details ensued in silent
Clouds above shied away on scale of violence
Once proud people of rigour and valour
Trounced at battle by world of dishonour
Today Tamils languish behind barbed wire
Heydays of Tamil honour in pitiful disarray
Hands that fed visitors to brims of their bowels
Hang loose on barbed wires begging for hand outs
Rancour run deep, pain suffered hard to bear
Despair in the air, morrows seem bleak and bare
Land of plentiful stand idle, cracked and barren
Seasons come and go farms see no plough on
Ocean farers sit still by beach no fishermen to return
Soon be straighten, we pray to Gods, this humiliation
Homes and domes of temples remain bombed
Humour and piety which filled’em been emptied,
Huge bulldozers bring to ground what still stand
Burial grounds that honour sons of soil too’re desecrated
Tamil pride bleeds, watching it hurts our soul
Mild mannered mandarins of world see no quarrel
Wild orchids will soon blossom on Eelam soil
Riled kids too may once again rebel if world today fail
Dear Nayagam,
First of all let me tell you that this is the first time I am encountering you and I am not quite sure what your previous names were, but surely you seem to know me and what my thought processors are – which is good.
Lemme see what I can do to answer you and most important, thank you for trying to make conversation than posting nonsense.
You have been making a big noise in this forum almost always repeating the claim. that we are LTTE .I challenged you to specifically point out that claim. Without listening to them you publicized that “untruth” repeatedly to defame us and undermine our arguments.
I actually call you Terrorists and not LTTE – I do use the word LTTE seldom. Anyways, This is purely due to the fact of you (I mean all most of you who post here) sharing the same thought process as the LTTE (Terrorists). Since I trust that you have been around for some time, you would remember a person called Alfonso ( I think he is still around as Rohan) who openly admitted that the LTTE was the saviors for Tamils – Now I do not quite agree with this as the LTTE killed many Tamils and as I have repeatedly said, started their killing spree with a Great tamilan named Alfred Doraiappa.
Now, I have listed in my previous post as to whom I would label as Terrorists. hence, who ever supports them also belong to that category as far as i am concerned and which most would agree – I mean who follows Christianity is a Cristian and so on, so, Who are in line with LTTE = Terrorists. Is my equation right ??????
With so many attempts, you can combed through all Pro-Tamil posts to find such a statement and you will miserably failed. Now what do you have to say about unethical damage done to our characters and our arguments by frequent quoting of something which we had never said as our statements?
Again – I think I explained above as to why you fall in to that category.
Now I am willing to give an exception to you and publicly apologize to you if you could answer the following questions.
1. Why did LTTE kill Alfred D, Lakshman K and all other Tamils who opposed their way of doing things ?? Do you agree with the LTTE killing Tamils like this ?? (Now Alfonso and a few others said that there OK with it as they understand the reasons behind it)
2. How can you call genocide in SL when a load of Tamil people in Colombo are living peacefully and mixing with all other people and having fun ??
3. Why did you ask the SLA to stop the war against Terrorists than pressure the LTTE to release the innocent civilians they held as human shields?? Do you agree with the LTTE having people as Human shield and killing who tried to escape to government areas ??
4. When majority of Sri Lankans which means it includes majority of Singhales, are not against any Tamils why do you try to show the world that Singhales are out there to kill any tamil that they come across ?? (As far as I am concerned this is a cowardly act which is directly linked to terrorism. Terrorists = Cowards) – This question is because in any country you would get haters of any opposing thing of their liking – like Black haters in USA and UK, Christian haters in Arab and Arab haters in Europe) – so if anyone can't understand the truth of there will be haters are complete idiots – we need to ignore them and move forward with the majority who are not haters.
5. Did you ever make a payment to support the LTTE ? (OK you can lie here if you want to, but then again, I am only asking expecting to see the Lion in a fellow Sri Lankan than a pussy)
6. What exactly are you in here for?? Is it to talk against the Emergency Law ? Is it on behalf of the journalists ? Basically, What rights of Humans ??
7. What do you demand from the GOSL ?? (not that I can get this for you, but at least I can clear your name from LTTE (Terrorists list)
Please as civilized men we request your explanation in this regard.
I hope my answer is civilized enough and explained why I put you in to that category. Now I expect a "civilized" answer from you to my questions.
BTW, I am kind of fascinated by the fact of you using the word "Civilized" in different forms and the tiny meaning you have given to the word in your question 🙂 🙂 🙂 – Thanks !!
BTW, Nayagam, The not so rhyming poem posted before by Another Pappa is kind of directly coming from the tigers mouth don't you think (i.e.e LTTE)
So, do you think that it is still not right for me to call this Pappa a Terrorist ????
Impeccable Jim Gons
What a scatter brain!!
I have immense difficulty reading your jigsaw puzzle 🙂
Call your self educated????? Someone near you should call the ambulance asap!!!
All around you are in danger !!!
You should really see a doctor!!!
You are losing your marbles!!! Seriously!!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁
Dear Nayagam,
First of all let me tell you that this is the first time I am encountering you and I am not quite sure what your previous names were, but surely you seem to know me and what my thought processors are – which is good.
Lemme see what I can do to answer you and most important, thank you for trying to make conversation than posting nonsense.
You have been making a big noise in this forum almost always repeating the claim. that we are LTTE .I challenged you to specifically point out that claim. Without listening to them you publicized that “untruth” repeatedly to defame us and undermine our arguments.
I actually call you Terrorists and not LTTE – I do use the word LTTE seldom. Anyways, This is purely due to the fact of you (I mean all most of you who post here) sharing the same thought process as the LTTE (Terrorists). Since I trust that you have been around for some time, you would remember a person called Alfonso ( I think he is still around as Rohan) who openly admitted that the LTTE was the saviors for Tamils – Now I do not quite agree with this as the LTTE killed many Tamils and as I have repeatedly said, started their killing spree with a Great tamilan named Alfred Doraiappa.
Now, I have listed in my previous post as to whom I would label as Terrorists. hence, who ever supports them also belong to that category as far as i am concerned and which most would agree – I mean who follows Christianity is a Cristian and so on, so, Who are in line with LTTE = Terrorists. Is my equation right ??????
With so many attempts, you can combed through all Pro-Tamil posts to find such a statement and you will miserably failed. Now what do you have to say about unethical damage done to our characters and our arguments by frequent quoting of something which we had never said as our statements?
Again – I think I explained above as to why you fall in to that category.
Now I am willing to give an exception to you and publicly apologize to you if you could answer the following questions.
1. Why did LTTE kill Alfred D, Lakshman K and all other Tamils who opposed their way of doing things ?? Do you agree with the LTTE killing Tamils like this ?? (Now Alfonso and a few others said that there OK with it as they understand the reasons behind it)
2. How can you call genocide in SL when a load of Tamil people in Colombo are living peacefully and mixing with all other people and having fun ??
3. Why did you ask the SLA to stop the war against Terrorists than pressure the LTTE to release the innocent civilians they held as human shields?? Do you agree with the LTTE having people as Human shield and killing who tried to escape to government areas ??
4. When majority of Sri Lankans which means it includes majority of Singhales, are not against any Tamils why do you try to show the world that Singhales are out there to kill any tamil that they come across ?? (As far as I am concerned this is a cowardly act which is directly linked to terrorism. Terrorists = Cowards) – This question is because in any country you would get haters of any opposing thing of their liking – like Black haters in USA and UK, Christian haters in Arab and Arab haters in Europe) – so if anyone can’t understand the truth of there will be haters are complete idiots – we need to ignore them and move forward with the majority who are not haters.
5. Did you ever make a payment to support the LTTE ? (OK you can lie here if you want to, but then again, I am only asking expecting to see the Lion in a fellow Sri Lankan than a pussy)
6. What exactly are you in here for?? Is it to talk against the Emergency Law ? Is it on behalf of the journalists ? Basically, What rights of Humans ??
7. What do you demand from the GOSL ?? (not that I can get this for you, but at least I can clear your name from LTTE (Terrorists list)
Please as civilized men we request your explanation in this regard.
I hope my answer is civilized enough and explained why I put you in to that category. Now I expect a “civilized” answer from you to my questions.
BTW, I am kind of fascinated by the fact of you using the word “Civilized” in different forms and the tiny meaning you have given to the word in your question 🙂 🙂 🙂 – Thanks !!
BTW, Nayagam, The not so rhyming poem posted before by Another Pappa is kind of directly coming from the tigers mouth don’t you think (i.e.e LTTE)
So, do you think that it is still not right for me to call this Pappa a Terrorist ????
Impeccable Jim Gons
What a scatter brain!!
I have immense difficulty reading your jigsaw puzzle 🙂
Call your self educated????? Someone near you should call the ambulance asap!!!
All around you are in danger !!!
You should really see a doctor!!!
You are losing your marbles!!! Seriously!!!! 🙁 🙁 🙁
Nayagam,
I see that you are again trying to runaway from my questions. You have posted some other matter in a different post and again, talking rubbish here.
You asked why I call you Terrorist (LTTE) and I have given you reason in answer 1 and then I ask you whether you support certain acts of LTTE in part 2, you no answer – what mann??? Very bad mann !!
I was actually trying to give you a chance to get my public apology and you no take it !!
Nayagam,
I see that you are again trying to runaway from my questions. You have posted some other matter in a different post and again, talking rubbish here.
You asked why I call you Terrorist (LTTE) and I have given you reason in answer 1 and then I ask you whether you support certain acts of LTTE in part 2, you no answer – what mann??? Very bad mann !!
I was actually trying to give you a chance to get my public apology and you no take it !!
Dear AI drones & LTTE fellow travellers,
It is not your place to decide if Sri Lanka extends or revokes its Emergency Regulations.
If SL had listened to AI's useless advice (e.g. 'negotiate with the LTTE' and ) the SL HR outlook would've continued to be one of "heavy suicide bombings, a little light ethnic cleansing (courtsey of the LTTE) with occasional light shower of body parts"
The continuing campaign by delusional diaspora Eelamists, using HR as a tool to further their goal of creating an ethnically 'pure' separate state means that certain aspects of Emergency Regulations will remain active. Good.
Dear AI drones & LTTE fellow travellers,
It is not your place to decide if Sri Lanka extends or revokes its Emergency Regulations.
If SL had listened to AI’s useless advice (e.g. ‘negotiate with the LTTE’ and ) the SL HR outlook would’ve continued to be one of “heavy suicide bombings, a little light ethnic cleansing (courtsey of the LTTE) with occasional light shower of body parts”
The continuing campaign by delusional diaspora Eelamists, using HR as a tool to further their goal of creating an ethnically ‘pure’ separate state means that certain aspects of Emergency Regulations will remain active. Good.
Sinhalese hate the Tamils because they are taught to hate the Tamils. They are taught in the schools and they are taught in the Buddhist temples. When the children are born to different races in Sri Lanka they are born pure and innocent.
As they grow, they start to look into the eyes of their mothers and rest in the arms of their fathers and they feel secure and confident no matter whether they were born to Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher parents.
When they get into the schools, they are taught that the land belongs only to the Sinhala Buddhists and the rest were invaders and aliens.
If my parents had taught me that my next door neighbour was born to a monkey and he was an invader in our family land, I would have grown up hating this poor neighbour. Thankfully my parents never did that.
Buddhist Sinhala extremists in Sri Lanka are very much like the Nazi regime that preached hatred against the Jewish people, and the rulers of Sri Lanka are like reincarnations of Hitler because they are doing exactly what Hitler did sixty five years ago.
Why do they persecute the Tamils in Sri Lanka?
Persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka is more to do with an attempt by the Sinhala Buddhists leaders to fulfil the myths and fantasies written in an ancient book called Mahavamsa.
Mahavamsa was originally written in Pali language because the Sinhala language was not well developed at that time.
Mahavamsa is considered as a kind of bible by the Sinhala Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Although this book has historical records, there are many fabricated stories, myths and fantasies that make this book completely unreliable.
It talks about a pure Sinhala race that descended from a lion which is obviously a four leg animal. No wonder why the minorities find the Sri Lankan lion flag very offensive.
great importance is given for flying the Sri Lankan lion flags in Tamil concentration camps , than feeding the hungry or treating the wounded. Even the Nazi regime in Germany was very serious about displaying swastika flags in the Jewish concentration camps.
Mahavamsa also preaches hatred against the minority Tamils.
Sinhala Buddhist politicians and military leaders of Sri lanka believe every word in this book and they are on a mission to fulfil the desires of the kings and queens that are portrayed in this book.
This is a sample text from Mahavamsa which was written in the 6th Century. This verse talks about a desire of a Sinhala queen who wanted drink water, mixed with the blood of a Tamil warrior.
“Then she longed to drink the water that had served to cleanse the sword with which the head of the first warrior among Tamil king Elära's warriors had been struck off, and she longed to drink it standing on this very head, and moreover she longed to adorn herself with garlands of unfaded lotus-blossoms brought from the lotus marshes of Anuradhapura”
No wonder why the extremists act like the way they act, when they meditate such verses. Words of many racist politicians and military leaders in Sri Lanka are spoken straight out this book. Even some of the well known former presidents of Sri Lanka are not the exceptions.
They want to make Sri Lanka as a Sinhala Buddhist nation by wiping out the minority Tamils.
For more than sixty years, successive Sri Lankan governments backed by racist Sinhala extremists have been oppressing the Tamil minorities. They brutally killed thousands of innocent Tamils, burnt their properties and sent the rest in ships as refugees to the North of the country in the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties.
An investigation into the last months of Sri Lanka's bloody civil war released yesterday claims that government forces were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands more civilians than previously estimated, and targeted hospitals and humanitarian operations as part of their final onslaught on the rebel Tamil Tigers.
According to the International Crisis Group study, many thousands more people may have died in the operation than UN figures have suggested, with as many as 75,000 citizens unaccounted for, and almost all of the deaths in the so-called "No-Fire Zone" due to government fire.
The study also claims that the government shelled hospitals where it knew international NGO staff and civilians to be working or receiving treatment. "The Sri Lankan government committed war crimes with top government and military leaders potentially responsible," it says. "An international inquiry into alleged crimes is essential."
The Sri Lankan government has refused to comment on the report, the most comprehensive account of the violence that ended a year ago today. Senior officials have insisted in the past that there were no civilian casualties in the last months of the war.
At the weekend the Sunday Observer newspaper, widely considered a government mouthpiece, claimed that the report was part of a plot to promote former army head Sarath Fonseka at the expense of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Fonseka was imprisoned after he lost the post-war election to Rajapaksa, accused of participating in political activity while still in uniform.
Yesterday the government gave details of its own proposed 'reconciliation commission', which would suggest methods for promoting national unity and determine compensation for those affected by the war with the Tamil Tigers, or Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE).
The proposals stop short of any investigation into violations of humanitarian law. "The only chance of credible scrutiny is by outsiders," said Alan Keenan, Crisis Group's Sri Lanka project director. "There has never been a credible internal process."
Although the US Permanent Representative to the UN, Susan Rice, last week welcomed Sri Lanka's planned reconciliation commission, she cautioned that it did need "to probe violations of international standards during the final stages of the conflict", and there has long been scepticism about the Colombo government's willingness to sanction a full investigation. One foreign diplomat based in Colombo is quoted in the Crisis Group report as saying in November last year: "The regime isn't going to disembowel itself."
The long-running civil war in Sri Lanka reached its zenith in the early months of 2009, when the government pinned the rebels down in an ever-shrinking "No-Fire Zone" (NFZ) on the country's northern coast. The death toll has always been murky because reporters and independent observers were barred from the area. The UN put the toll before the final period of fighting at around 7,000, while Crisis Group points out that around 365,000 civilians were known to be alive in the NFZ in February last year – and only 290,000 survivors registered in government-run camps three months later.
Slim hopes of a UN-led inquiry now rest with the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, since both the Security Council and Human Rights Council have declined opportunities to take Sri Lanka to task.
According to Crisis Group's president Louise Arbour, the lack of consequences for President Rajapaksa makes it more likely that other conflicts will be conducted in similar style in future, and provides no incentive for the draconian Sri Lankan regime to change its approach. "The means are so attractive," she said. "Why would you restrict yourself to doing it just once?"
Crisis Group also suggested that India and the United States failed to do enough to discourage Rajapaksa at the time of the conflict.
Why UN was silent? because of india or china? or vijay nambiar? Ban relationship with Basil Rajapakse? or ???
May 18 Remembrance Day
The Government of Sri Lanka was attacking the hapless and defenceless Tamil people assembled in a small area in the Vanni nearly year ago.
We must tell the world of the sheer criminality of Sinhala politics and why the Tamils cannot hope to get justice from the politics of the abattoir practiced by the ruling elite.
It is this tendency to political and racial violence that the Sinhala politicians have exploited to keep the Tamils under their heels. The tragic story of a cultured and educated Tamil people desiring to live in peace with the Sinhalese but requesting equality in education, employment and development of their land being massacred and violently thwarted by government thugs and the security services for over 60 years has now been told to a largely sceptical world. The Sinhala government propaganda machine has bought the support of British MPs with all expenses paid junkets to Sri Lanka to sing the praises of the tyrannical government with Tamil blood on its hands and to traduce the claims of the Tamils for self-government as international terrorism.
So it was that the world conspired by its silence at the mass genocide of the Tamils and looked askance when the elderly Tamils and their children were mown down by artillery shells, cluster bombs and chemical weapons. The leadership of the Tamil resistance was encouraged to surrender carrying white flags to the Sri Lankan army and was shot down in cold blood while doing so.
Over 100,00 Tamils killed in a racist and genocidal war in the Vanni. The UK Times provided satellite photographs of the evidence of trenches and mounds where more than 20,000 Tamils were killed and buried in the final days of the war last year. Some even say that as much as 48,000 Tamils were killed by the Sinhala armed forces in the last three days of the war. Reliable eye witness accounts have reported that weak, infirm and injured Tamil people were buried half alive in trenches and shot by the Sri Lanka army. There was deliberate and mass starvation and destruction of the few hospitals left standing to cater to the people.
The souls of these thousands of innocent Tamil victims seek justice and closure and we, the survivors, have to keep their avenging cries in the forefront of our moral crusade and political campaign to bring the war criminals Rajapakse and his blood-letting gang to justice.
We will remember all Tamil victims on this solemn occasion , even the Black July victims
July 1983 was a paradigm shift in terror. Thirteen soldiers were killed by the LTTE. Anti-Tamil riots ensued and lasted for ten days with property being destroyed and up to 3,000 people being killed and 200,000 displaced.
From President Jayewardene’s residence, shops could be seen going up in flames but no curfew was called and police disappeared from the streets. Marauding gangs armed with axes and cans of petrol went around Colombo with electoral rolls identifying Tamil homes and businesses. The inhabitants were doused in petrol and set alight.
A Norwegian woman tourist recalled seeing a mob setting fire to a bus with about 20 Tamils inside it. Those who climbed out the windows were pushed back in and the doors were sealed while they burned alive, screaming horribly. In another incident, a mob chopped two Tamil girls aged 18 and 11 with knives; the younger girl was beheaded with an axe, the older one raped by 20 men and then doused in petrol and burned alive in front of joyful Sinhalese crowds
Sinhalese hate the Tamils because they are taught to hate the Tamils. They are taught in the schools and they are taught in the Buddhist temples. When the children are born to different races in Sri Lanka they are born pure and innocent.
As they grow, they start to look into the eyes of their mothers and rest in the arms of their fathers and they feel secure and confident no matter whether they were born to Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher parents.
When they get into the schools, they are taught that the land belongs only to the Sinhala Buddhists and the rest were invaders and aliens.
If my parents had taught me that my next door neighbour was born to a monkey and he was an invader in our family land, I would have grown up hating this poor neighbour. Thankfully my parents never did that.
Buddhist Sinhala extremists in Sri Lanka are very much like the Nazi regime that preached hatred against the Jewish people, and the rulers of Sri Lanka are like reincarnations of Hitler because they are doing exactly what Hitler did sixty five years ago.
Why do they persecute the Tamils in Sri Lanka?
Persecution of Tamils in Sri Lanka is more to do with an attempt by the Sinhala Buddhists leaders to fulfil the myths and fantasies written in an ancient book called Mahavamsa.
Mahavamsa was originally written in Pali language because the Sinhala language was not well developed at that time.
Mahavamsa is considered as a kind of bible by the Sinhala Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Although this book has historical records, there are many fabricated stories, myths and fantasies that make this book completely unreliable.
It talks about a pure Sinhala race that descended from a lion which is obviously a four leg animal. No wonder why the minorities find the Sri Lankan lion flag very offensive.
great importance is given for flying the Sri Lankan lion flags in Tamil concentration camps , than feeding the hungry or treating the wounded. Even the Nazi regime in Germany was very serious about displaying swastika flags in the Jewish concentration camps.
Mahavamsa also preaches hatred against the minority Tamils.
Sinhala Buddhist politicians and military leaders of Sri lanka believe every word in this book and they are on a mission to fulfil the desires of the kings and queens that are portrayed in this book.
This is a sample text from Mahavamsa which was written in the 6th Century. This verse talks about a desire of a Sinhala queen who wanted drink water, mixed with the blood of a Tamil warrior.
“Then she longed to drink the water that had served to cleanse the sword with which the head of the first warrior among Tamil king Elära’s warriors had been struck off, and she longed to drink it standing on this very head, and moreover she longed to adorn herself with garlands of unfaded lotus-blossoms brought from the lotus marshes of Anuradhapura”
No wonder why the extremists act like the way they act, when they meditate such verses. Words of many racist politicians and military leaders in Sri Lanka are spoken straight out this book. Even some of the well known former presidents of Sri Lanka are not the exceptions.
They want to make Sri Lanka as a Sinhala Buddhist nation by wiping out the minority Tamils.
For more than sixty years, successive Sri Lankan governments backed by racist Sinhala extremists have been oppressing the Tamil minorities. They brutally killed thousands of innocent Tamils, burnt their properties and sent the rest in ships as refugees to the North of the country in the fifties, sixties, seventies and eighties.
An investigation into the last months of Sri Lanka’s bloody civil war released yesterday claims that government forces were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands more civilians than previously estimated, and targeted hospitals and humanitarian operations as part of their final onslaught on the rebel Tamil Tigers.
According to the International Crisis Group study, many thousands more people may have died in the operation than UN figures have suggested, with as many as 75,000 citizens unaccounted for, and almost all of the deaths in the so-called “No-Fire Zone” due to government fire.
The study also claims that the government shelled hospitals where it knew international NGO staff and civilians to be working or receiving treatment. “The Sri Lankan government committed war crimes with top government and military leaders potentially responsible,” it says. “An international inquiry into alleged crimes is essential.”
The Sri Lankan government has refused to comment on the report, the most comprehensive account of the violence that ended a year ago today. Senior officials have insisted in the past that there were no civilian casualties in the last months of the war.
At the weekend the Sunday Observer newspaper, widely considered a government mouthpiece, claimed that the report was part of a plot to promote former army head Sarath Fonseka at the expense of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Fonseka was imprisoned after he lost the post-war election to Rajapaksa, accused of participating in political activity while still in uniform.
Yesterday the government gave details of its own proposed ‘reconciliation commission’, which would suggest methods for promoting national unity and determine compensation for those affected by the war with the Tamil Tigers, or Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE).
The proposals stop short of any investigation into violations of humanitarian law. “The only chance of credible scrutiny is by outsiders,” said Alan Keenan, Crisis Group’s Sri Lanka project director. “There has never been a credible internal process.”
Although the US Permanent Representative to the UN, Susan Rice, last week welcomed Sri Lanka’s planned reconciliation commission, she cautioned that it did need “to probe violations of international standards during the final stages of the conflict”, and there has long been scepticism about the Colombo government’s willingness to sanction a full investigation. One foreign diplomat based in Colombo is quoted in the Crisis Group report as saying in November last year: “The regime isn’t going to disembowel itself.”
The long-running civil war in Sri Lanka reached its zenith in the early months of 2009, when the government pinned the rebels down in an ever-shrinking “No-Fire Zone” (NFZ) on the country’s northern coast. The death toll has always been murky because reporters and independent observers were barred from the area. The UN put the toll before the final period of fighting at around 7,000, while Crisis Group points out that around 365,000 civilians were known to be alive in the NFZ in February last year – and only 290,000 survivors registered in government-run camps three months later.
Slim hopes of a UN-led inquiry now rest with the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, since both the Security Council and Human Rights Council have declined opportunities to take Sri Lanka to task.
According to Crisis Group’s president Louise Arbour, the lack of consequences for President Rajapaksa makes it more likely that other conflicts will be conducted in similar style in future, and provides no incentive for the draconian Sri Lankan regime to change its approach. “The means are so attractive,” she said. “Why would you restrict yourself to doing it just once?”
Crisis Group also suggested that India and the United States failed to do enough to discourage Rajapaksa at the time of the conflict.
Why UN was silent? because of india or china? or vijay nambiar? Ban relationship with Basil Rajapakse? or ???
May 18 Remembrance Day
The Government of Sri Lanka was attacking the hapless and defenceless Tamil people assembled in a small area in the Vanni nearly year ago.
We must tell the world of the sheer criminality of Sinhala politics and why the Tamils cannot hope to get justice from the politics of the abattoir practiced by the ruling elite.
It is this tendency to political and racial violence that the Sinhala politicians have exploited to keep the Tamils under their heels. The tragic story of a cultured and educated Tamil people desiring to live in peace with the Sinhalese but requesting equality in education, employment and development of their land being massacred and violently thwarted by government thugs and the security services for over 60 years has now been told to a largely sceptical world. The Sinhala government propaganda machine has bought the support of British MPs with all expenses paid junkets to Sri Lanka to sing the praises of the tyrannical government with Tamil blood on its hands and to traduce the claims of the Tamils for self-government as international terrorism.
So it was that the world conspired by its silence at the mass genocide of the Tamils and looked askance when the elderly Tamils and their children were mown down by artillery shells, cluster bombs and chemical weapons. The leadership of the Tamil resistance was encouraged to surrender carrying white flags to the Sri Lankan army and was shot down in cold blood while doing so.
Over 100,00 Tamils killed in a racist and genocidal war in the Vanni. The UK Times provided satellite photographs of the evidence of trenches and mounds where more than 20,000 Tamils were killed and buried in the final days of the war last year. Some even say that as much as 48,000 Tamils were killed by the Sinhala armed forces in the last three days of the war. Reliable eye witness accounts have reported that weak, infirm and injured Tamil people were buried half alive in trenches and shot by the Sri Lanka army. There was deliberate and mass starvation and destruction of the few hospitals left standing to cater to the people.
The souls of these thousands of innocent Tamil victims seek justice and closure and we, the survivors, have to keep their avenging cries in the forefront of our moral crusade and political campaign to bring the war criminals Rajapakse and his blood-letting gang to justice.
We will remember all Tamil victims on this solemn occasion , even the Black July victims
July 1983 was a paradigm shift in terror. Thirteen soldiers were killed by the LTTE. Anti-Tamil riots ensued and lasted for ten days with property being destroyed and up to 3,000 people being killed and 200,000 displaced.
From President Jayewardene’s residence, shops could be seen going up in flames but no curfew was called and police disappeared from the streets. Marauding gangs armed with axes and cans of petrol went around Colombo with electoral rolls identifying Tamil homes and businesses. The inhabitants were doused in petrol and set alight.
A Norwegian woman tourist recalled seeing a mob setting fire to a bus with about 20 Tamils inside it. Those who climbed out the windows were pushed back in and the doors were sealed while they burned alive, screaming horribly. In another incident, a mob chopped two Tamil girls aged 18 and 11 with knives; the younger girl was beheaded with an axe, the older one raped by 20 men and then doused in petrol and burned alive in front of joyful Sinhalese crowds
I am still waiting for Nayagam to let me know which part of my post he did not understand, but, may be he changed his handle again to runaway. At least if I am a scatter brain, let me cordially invite my friend Reductio to explain why we call them Terrorist or LTTE.
My Answer in very short form is that "You share the same thoughts" and also some of you actually wrote in these forums openly supporting the movement. (Was in In Hell who actually claimed to be one?)
TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AND MODERATORS
I have seen the same Cut and Paste post of Tamil in 3-4 forums now. Is it allowed ?? Can I do the same ?? Please advice as the rules and regulations I read does not quite permit me to do so.
If not you should remove these unnecessary and off the line and most importantly "LIES" from these forums.
I am still waiting for Nayagam to let me know which part of my post he did not understand, but, may be he changed his handle again to runaway. At least if I am a scatter brain, let me cordially invite my friend Reductio to explain why we call them Terrorist or LTTE.
My Answer in very short form is that “You share the same thoughts” and also some of you actually wrote in these forums openly supporting the movement. (Was in In Hell who actually claimed to be one?)
TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA AND MODERATORS
I have seen the same Cut and Paste post of Tamil in 3-4 forums now. Is it allowed ?? Can I do the same ?? Please advice as the rules and regulations I read does not quite permit me to do so.
If not you should remove these unnecessary and off the line and most importantly “LIES” from these forums.
The crime committed on Humanity http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid6…
The crime committed on Humanity http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid6…
The crime committed on Humanity http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid6…
The crime committed on Humanity
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid69900095001?bctid=86382573001
Government Inquiry Inadequate; UN Should Establish International Investigation http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Government Inquiry Inadequate; UN Should Establish International Investigation http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Government Inquiry Inadequate; UN Should Establish International Investigation http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Government Inquiry Inadequate; UN Should Establish International Investigation
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31791
Nayagam – Hello Hello !! Nayagam !! – Base station calling Nayagam !! – R U there ???
Nayagam – Hello Hello !! Nayagam !! – Base station calling Nayagam !! – R U there ???
Genocider visit US?
Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-OH), a senior member of the United States National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asked her to "urge the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to conduct an investigation into reported human rights violations," in Sri Lanka. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
How long UN will be silent? world remained silent when thousands of women and children experienced painful slow death in the killing fields of Sri Lanka http://www.sankathi.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt…
Genocider visit US?
Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-OH), a senior member of the United States National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asked her to "urge the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to conduct an investigation into reported human rights violations," in Sri Lanka. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
How long UN will be silent? world remained silent when thousands of women and children experienced painful slow death in the killing fields of Sri Lanka http://www.sankathi.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt…
Genocider visit US?
Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-OH), a senior member of the United States National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asked her to "urge the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to conduct an investigation into reported human rights violations," in Sri Lanka. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
How long UN will be silent? world remained silent when thousands of women and children experienced painful slow death in the killing fields of Sri Lanka http://www.sankathi.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt…
Genocider visit US?
Congressman Steve Driehaus (D-OH), a senior member of the United States National Security and Foreign Affairs Committee, in a letter to US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, asked her to “urge the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to conduct an investigation into reported human rights violations,” in Sri Lanka.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31806
How long UN will be silent? world remained silent when thousands of women and children experienced painful slow death in the killing fields of Sri Lanka
http://www.sankathi.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=9093&cntnt01origid=52&cntnt01returnid=51
War on your own self !!
You realise that the legal entities are willing to meet up with GOSL officials and discuss stuff?? Why don't they meet the new leader of LTTE (Oh I forgot, he is under custody of GOSL and willing to work with the GOSL) Also any other of your representatives ??
Because you are Illegal and we are Legal !!! – 🙂 🙂 🙂
Get it ??
Legal entities talk to legal entities – not terrorist groups !
War on your own self !!
You realise that the legal entities are willing to meet up with GOSL officials and discuss stuff?? Why don’t they meet the new leader of LTTE (Oh I forgot, he is under custody of GOSL and willing to work with the GOSL) Also any other of your representatives ??
Because you are Illegal and we are Legal !!! – 🙂 🙂 🙂
Get it ??
Legal entities talk to legal entities – not terrorist groups !
Dear AI mods,
I know you don't like my posts because I take issue with your pronouncements, so please why I'm being prevented from posting. Or is it simply that AI don't like to hear from opposing viewpoints and only from their fans in the LTTE diaspora who are not prevented from spamming this topic!
omitted the word, "tell me why I'm being prevented.."
Reductio ad Absurdum
Your cruel and unreasonable rants are not conducive to the fair debate.
You ask the same question many times. It feels like Chinese Water Torture
Dear Ganesh,
Please point out one instance of a 'rant' of mine. Which question do I ask, repeatedly? Is it because none of the pro-Eelam posters are brave enough to provide an answer.
Don't be shy. After all, you're keen to tell us of every little facet of Eelam, HR abuses by the SL govt etc .. 🙂
Dear AI mods,
I know you don’t like my posts because I take issue with your pronouncements, so please why I’m being prevented from posting. Or is it simply that AI don’t like to hear from opposing viewpoints and only from their fans in the LTTE diaspora who are not prevented from spamming this topic!
omitted the word, “tell me why I’m being prevented..”
You are highly biased mouth piece of the Sri Lankan government, spitting constantly copious hog wash here and always saying this ridiculous .. rubbish from the perspective of a rabid Sinhalese racist
Dear Ganesh,
Of course I'm highly biased – against Eelamists & the pro-LTTE diaspora. I'd never be a paid SL govt agent. They don't pay well, unlike your Transsexual Provisional Intergalatic Eelam Govt.
Again, provide some evidence of my supposed 'racism' or anti-Tamil statements or sentiments. I'm waiting……
Reductio ad Absurdum
Your cruel and unreasonable rants are not conducive to the fair debate.
You ask the same question many times. It feels like Chinese Water Torture
Dear Ganesh,
Please point out one instance of a ‘rant’ of mine. Which question do I ask, repeatedly? Is it because none of the pro-Eelam posters are brave enough to provide an answer.
Don’t be shy. After all, you’re keen to tell us of every little facet of Eelam, HR abuses by the SL govt etc .. 🙂
You are highly biased mouth piece of the Sri Lankan government, spitting constantly copious hog wash here and always saying this ridiculous .. rubbish from the perspective of a rabid Sinhalese racist
Dear Ganesh,
Of course I’m highly biased – against Eelamists & the pro-LTTE diaspora. I’d never be a paid SL govt agent. They don’t pay well, unlike your Transsexual Provisional Intergalatic Eelam Govt.
Again, provide some evidence of my supposed ‘racism’ or anti-Tamil statements or sentiments. I’m waiting……
Ganesh !!!!!!!
As per http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racist racism means !!!!!
rac·ism
/ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled[rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
I am not surprised how you will Apes still would not be able to see the light on who makes Racists remarks on this site !
However, for clarifications purposes let me put it this way so that you apes could understand..
1. We talk for Sri Lankans as a whole – not Singhala, Tamil, Muslim or the other 32 ethnic diversities living in the country.
2. We have a lot of Tamil friends and also friends from other Ethnic communities.
3. We don't single out any Ethnic group in our posts.
1. You only Say Tamil, Tamil and more Tamil people – but, Tamil people no talk for you – so you actually talk for eelam terrorist and not Tamil people.
2. You kill Tamil people
3. You stop education of Tamil children and give them guns
4. You give them cyanide
5. You make them suicide bombers
6. You kill lot of Tamil people and other people
So ganesh, with the little bit of blessings from the mighty lord Ganeshwara, may you and your Ape community understand that you are the racist and not me or Reductio.. !
Ganesh !!!!!!!
As per http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racist racism means !!!!!
rac·ism
/ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled[rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
I am not surprised how you will Apes still would not be able to see the light on who makes Racists remarks on this site !
However, for clarifications purposes let me put it this way so that you apes could understand..
1. We talk for Sri Lankans as a whole – not Singhala, Tamil, Muslim or the other 32 ethnic diversities living in the country.
2. We have a lot of Tamil friends and also friends from other Ethnic communities.
3. We don't single out any Ethnic group in our posts.
1. You only Say Tamil, Tamil and more Tamil people – but, Tamil people no talk for you – so you actually talk for eelam terrorist and not Tamil people.
2. You kill Tamil people
3. You stop education of Tamil children and give them guns
4. You give them cyanide
5. You make them suicide bombers
6. You kill lot of Tamil people and other people
So ganesh, with the little bit of blessings from the mighty lord Ganeshwara, may you and your Ape community understand that you are the racist and not me or Reductio.. !
Ganesh !!!!!!!
As per http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racist racism means !!!!!
rac·ism
/ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled[rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
I am not surprised how you will Apes still would not be able to see the light on who makes Racists remarks on this site !
However, for clarifications purposes let me put it this way so that you apes could understand..
1. We talk for Sri Lankans as a whole – not Singhala, Tamil, Muslim or the other 32 ethnic diversities living in the country.
2. We have a lot of Tamil friends and also friends from other Ethnic communities.
3. We don't single out any Ethnic group in our posts.
1. You only Say Tamil, Tamil and more Tamil people – but, Tamil people no talk for you – so you actually talk for eelam terrorist and not Tamil people.
2. You kill Tamil people
3. You stop education of Tamil children and give them guns
4. You give them cyanide
5. You make them suicide bombers
6. You kill lot of Tamil people and other people
So ganesh, with the little bit of blessings from the mighty lord Ganeshwara, may you and your Ape community understand that you are the racist and not me or Reductio.. !
Impeccable Jim Gona !
N-E Tamils are encountering Sinhala Racism on daily basis
The Colonial Masters are subjugating them.
They are the slaves without any human rights
Ganesh !!!!!!!
As per http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racist racism means !!!!!
rac·ism
/ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled[rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2.
a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3.
hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
I am not surprised how you will Apes still would not be able to see the light on who makes Racists remarks on this site !
However, for clarifications purposes let me put it this way so that you apes could understand..
1. We talk for Sri Lankans as a whole – not Singhala, Tamil, Muslim or the other 32 ethnic diversities living in the country.
2. We have a lot of Tamil friends and also friends from other Ethnic communities.
3. We don’t single out any Ethnic group in our posts.
1. You only Say Tamil, Tamil and more Tamil people – but, Tamil people no talk for you – so you actually talk for eelam terrorist and not Tamil people.
2. You kill Tamil people
3. You stop education of Tamil children and give them guns
4. You give them cyanide
5. You make them suicide bombers
6. You kill lot of Tamil people and other people
So ganesh, with the little bit of blessings from the mighty lord Ganeshwara, may you and your Ape community understand that you are the racist and not me or Reductio.. !
Impeccable Jim Gona !
N-E Tamils are encountering Sinhala Racism on daily basis
The Colonial Masters are subjugating them.
They are the slaves without any human rights
Inginiyakala massacre 05.06.1956
In the 1940s, the Minister of Agriculture at that time created several Sinhala settlements in the Amparai district using state funds. The minister created the Galoya development scheme in the Amparai district and the Kantalai and Allai development scheme in the Trincomalee district and brought Sinhala settlers for these schemes from other districts. They were given several incentives. Police and military protection were given as well. Buddhist temples were built and big bells were fixed to these temples. An arbitrary declaration was made that wherever the ringing of these bells could be heard are lands belonging to Sinhala Buddhist people. In this land grab, land belonging to Tamils and Muslims were confiscated. Thikavabi is a Sinhala settlement created in this manner. In the parliamentary elections of 1956, S W R D Bandaranayake was elected as the new prime minister.
He submitted to the parliament the Sinhala Only law which was his campaign promise. The main Tamil political party of that time decided to protest this law peacefully. On 05.06.1956, it launched a Satyagragha protest in front of the old parliament building in the Gale Face beach in Colombo. Tamil politicians from all political parties joined in this protest. Fr Thaninayagam, a priest and a world famous Tamil language expert also joined the protest. This protest was attacked by Sinhala thugs on that same day it was launched. Following this attack shops in Colombo owned by Tamils were looted and then the shops were burnt down. Tamil people were attacked. Echoing this violence, pogrom
against Tamils broke out throughout the island. In the Amparai district the recently settled Sinhala thugs started violent attacks against the Tamils. 150 Tamils working in a sugar cane farm and factory in Inginiyagala under the Galoya scheme were killed. The bodies of the dead and injured were thrown on a fire. This is the first large scale massacre of Tamil in the island and many more followed over the following decades. The book “Emergency 58” by Tarzi Vittachi stated that 150 Tamils were killed in this pogrom.
1958 pogrom
In 1956, peaceful portests by Tamils in Colombo, against the Sinhala Only Act that was recently in passed by the parliament, was attacked by Sinhala mobs. Tamils followed this protest with a long march to Trincomalee and held a large meeting. At this meeting some demands were placed for the Sri Lankan government regarding equal status for Tamil language and re the development of Tamil areas. It was after this the Banda-Chelvanayagam pact was signed. This was quickly abrogated when the opposition party, the UNP, launched an anti-Tamil campaign.
In May 1958, plans were ahead for one of the Tamil Political Party conference to be held in Vavuniya. Tamils travelling by train from Batticaloa and Amparai for the conference were attacked by Sinhala mobs in Polonnaruwa. Following this incident, further violence against Tamils were let loose throughout the island. Women were raped and Tamil property was damaged. A priest was burnt alive inside his Kathirvelayutha temple in Pananthura. The Sri Lankan government looked on as the violence against Tamils continued. Many Tamil homes were set alight. Babies were dropped in hot tar. Well known journalist Tarzi Vittachchi wrote the famous book, Emergency 58, about this pogramme after he was expelled from the country.
More than 300 Tamils were killed in this pogromme
Tamil research conference massacre 10.01.1974
Tamils were preparing on a grand scale to hold a Tamil Research conference in Jaffna during 3-10 January in 1974. The government of Sri Lanka at that time did not like holding this Tamil research conference in Jaffna. The government continued to place hurdles to the organizers in Colombo and also in Jaffna through the Mayor of Jaffna. Permission to construct the open air platforms for the conference was held back until the very last minute. Many researchers who wanted to travel to Jaffna for the conference from other countries were refused visa.
In spite of these hurdles, the conference organizers and the Tamil people were determined to persist with the arrangements. Seeing the support of the Tamil people for holding the conference the
government came down a little and issued visas to a limited number of researchers. The President of the conference organizing committee, Thambaih, did not like holding the conference in Jaffna. He, therefore, resigned from his post. Prof Vidhyanandan took over the responsibility of the President. The conference started on 3 January. Hundreds of thousands of people from different parts of Jaffna came into town to attend the conference. Conference proceeded on a grand scale. No conferences of the past were conducted in such a scale and with such enthusiasm. The entire Jaffna town was in festival mood. 10 January was being celebrated as the final day of the conference. The last item was speeches made by experts in Tamil language about the greatness of the language and the culture based on it. Prof Naina Mohammad from Tamilnadu in India was delivering the final speech. At that instant, the police lead by the Deputy Inspector of Police for Jaffna, Chandrasekara, started to attack the people at the conference. The police also opened fire. Nine civilians were killed, the stages were destroyed. The same Inspector of Police Chandrasekara was later promoted to the post of Inspector of Police by the then Prime Minister Srimavo Bandaranayaka.
Inginiyakala massacre 05.06.1956
In the 1940s, the Minister of Agriculture at that time created several Sinhala settlements in the Amparai district using state funds. The minister created the Galoya development scheme in the Amparai district and the Kantalai and Allai development scheme in the Trincomalee district and brought Sinhala settlers for these schemes from other districts. They were given several incentives. Police and military protection were given as well. Buddhist temples were built and big bells were fixed to these temples. An arbitrary declaration was made that wherever the ringing of these bells could be heard are lands belonging to Sinhala Buddhist people. In this land grab, land belonging to Tamils and Muslims were confiscated. Thikavabi is a Sinhala settlement created in this manner. In the parliamentary elections of 1956, S W R D Bandaranayake was elected as the new prime minister.
He submitted to the parliament the Sinhala Only law which was his campaign promise. The main Tamil political party of that time decided to protest this law peacefully. On 05.06.1956, it launched a Satyagragha protest in front of the old parliament building in the Gale Face beach in Colombo. Tamil politicians from all political parties joined in this protest. Fr Thaninayagam, a priest and a world famous Tamil language expert also joined the protest. This protest was attacked by Sinhala thugs on that same day it was launched. Following this attack shops in Colombo owned by Tamils were looted and then the shops were burnt down. Tamil people were attacked. Echoing this violence, pogrom
against Tamils broke out throughout the island. In the Amparai district the recently settled Sinhala thugs started violent attacks against the Tamils. 150 Tamils working in a sugar cane farm and factory in Inginiyagala under the Galoya scheme were killed. The bodies of the dead and injured were thrown on a fire. This is the first large scale massacre of Tamil in the island and many more followed over the following decades. The book “Emergency 58” by Tarzi Vittachi stated that 150 Tamils were killed in this pogrom.
1958 pogrom
In 1956, peaceful portests by Tamils in Colombo, against the Sinhala Only Act that was recently in passed by the parliament, was attacked by Sinhala mobs. Tamils followed this protest with a long march to Trincomalee and held a large meeting. At this meeting some demands were placed for the Sri Lankan government regarding equal status for Tamil language and re the development of Tamil areas. It was after this the Banda-Chelvanayagam pact was signed. This was quickly abrogated when the opposition party, the UNP, launched an anti-Tamil campaign.
In May 1958, plans were ahead for one of the Tamil Political Party conference to be held in Vavuniya. Tamils travelling by train from Batticaloa and Amparai for the conference were attacked by Sinhala mobs in Polonnaruwa. Following this incident, further violence against Tamils were let loose throughout the island. Women were raped and Tamil property was damaged. A priest was burnt alive inside his Kathirvelayutha temple in Pananthura. The Sri Lankan government looked on as the violence against Tamils continued. Many Tamil homes were set alight. Babies were dropped in hot tar. Well known journalist Tarzi Vittachchi wrote the famous book, Emergency 58, about this pogramme after he was expelled from the country.
More than 300 Tamils were killed in this pogromme
Tamil research conference massacre 10.01.1974
Tamils were preparing on a grand scale to hold a Tamil Research conference in Jaffna during 3-10 January in 1974. The government of Sri Lanka at that time did not like holding this Tamil research conference in Jaffna. The government continued to place hurdles to the organizers in Colombo and also in Jaffna through the Mayor of Jaffna. Permission to construct the open air platforms for the conference was held back until the very last minute. Many researchers who wanted to travel to Jaffna for the conference from other countries were refused visa.
In spite of these hurdles, the conference organizers and the Tamil people were determined to persist with the arrangements. Seeing the support of the Tamil people for holding the conference the
government came down a little and issued visas to a limited number of researchers. The President of the conference organizing committee, Thambaih, did not like holding the conference in Jaffna. He, therefore, resigned from his post. Prof Vidhyanandan took over the responsibility of the President. The conference started on 3 January. Hundreds of thousands of people from different parts of Jaffna came into town to attend the conference. Conference proceeded on a grand scale. No conferences of the past were conducted in such a scale and with such enthusiasm. The entire Jaffna town was in festival mood. 10 January was being celebrated as the final day of the conference. The last item was speeches made by experts in Tamil language about the greatness of the language and the culture based on it. Prof Naina Mohammad from Tamilnadu in India was delivering the final speech. At that instant, the police lead by the Deputy Inspector of Police for Jaffna, Chandrasekara, started to attack the people at the conference. The police also opened fire. Nine civilians were killed, the stages were destroyed. The same Inspector of Police Chandrasekara was later promoted to the post of Inspector of Police by the then Prime Minister Srimavo Bandaranayaka.
a.savage
We should calll on UN to investigate Sri Lanka rights violations.
Amnesty International need at least 50,000 signatuares, but so far only 5446 signatures obtained.
Please forward this link to all your contacts and encourage them to sign.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call…
a.savage
We should calll on UN to investigate Sri Lanka rights violations.
Amnesty International need at least 50,000 signatuares, but so far only 5446 signatures obtained.
Please forward this link to all your contacts and encourage them to sign.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call…
a.savage
We should calll on UN to investigate Sri Lanka rights violations.
Amnesty International need at least 50,000 signatuares, but so far only 5446 signatures obtained.
Please forward this link to all your contacts and encourage them to sign.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call…
a.savage
We should calll on UN to investigate Sri Lanka rights violations.
Amnesty International need at least 50,000 signatuares, but so far only 5446 signatures obtained.
Please forward this link to all your contacts and encourage them to sign.
http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-un-investigate-sri-lanka-rights-violations
Tamil Kovil,
It shouldn't be too difficult to forge 50,000 signatures. AI aren't too fussy about this sort of detail.
The LTTE are world leaders in credit card scams & identity theft. You guys must have plenty of spare signatures. Good Luck with the campaign.
Have you any news on anything your group have done for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka, about whom you pretend to care for (other than sending explosives and weapons)?
Tamil Kovil,
It shouldn’t be too difficult to forge 50,000 signatures. AI aren’t too fussy about this sort of detail.
The LTTE are world leaders in credit card scams & identity theft. You guys must have plenty of spare signatures. Good Luck with the campaign.
Have you any news on anything your group have done for the Tamil people of Sri Lanka, about whom you pretend to care for (other than sending explosives and weapons)?
Following the disclosure of five male corpses in a toilet pit in Ki’linochchi Monday Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had ordered all skeletal remains of persons assassinated or killed in war lying visibly in Mullaiththeevu district in Vanni, an officer of a humanitarian de-mining organization who had personally seen some skeletal remains along the roads in Mullaiththeevu and the frantic efforts of SLA soldiers to burn them without any trace, said. Colombo government has sent in a team of Sinhalese officers from Vavuniyaa to survey the areas and evaluate the extent of de-mining that has to be done, with the assistance of SLA, sources in Vavuniyaa said.
Colombo has permitted de-mining in Mullaiththeevu district but no de-mining will be ever allowed by SLA in Mu’l’livaaikkaal and Puthukkudyiruppu area which were the places where the massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians has been systematically carried out by SLA.
Normally, officers of the humanitarian de-mining organizations carry out the survey and evaluation before engaging in de-mining.
The Sinhalese evaluation officers had been sent instead of the local de-mining officials in North who are Tamils in order to conceal the facts about skeletal remains of Vanni victims from being exposed to the world. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Following the disclosure of five male corpses in a toilet pit in Ki’linochchi Monday Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had ordered all skeletal remains of persons assassinated or killed in war lying visibly in Mullaiththeevu district in Vanni, an officer of a humanitarian de-mining organization who had personally seen some skeletal remains along the roads in Mullaiththeevu and the frantic efforts of SLA soldiers to burn them without any trace, said. Colombo government has sent in a team of Sinhalese officers from Vavuniyaa to survey the areas and evaluate the extent of de-mining that has to be done, with the assistance of SLA, sources in Vavuniyaa said.
Colombo has permitted de-mining in Mullaiththeevu district but no de-mining will be ever allowed by SLA in Mu’l’livaaikkaal and Puthukkudyiruppu area which were the places where the massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians has been systematically carried out by SLA.
Normally, officers of the humanitarian de-mining organizations carry out the survey and evaluation before engaging in de-mining.
The Sinhalese evaluation officers had been sent instead of the local de-mining officials in North who are Tamils in order to conceal the facts about skeletal remains of Vanni victims from being exposed to the world. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Following the disclosure of five male corpses in a toilet pit in Ki’linochchi Monday Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had ordered all skeletal remains of persons assassinated or killed in war lying visibly in Mullaiththeevu district in Vanni, an officer of a humanitarian de-mining organization who had personally seen some skeletal remains along the roads in Mullaiththeevu and the frantic efforts of SLA soldiers to burn them without any trace, said. Colombo government has sent in a team of Sinhalese officers from Vavuniyaa to survey the areas and evaluate the extent of de-mining that has to be done, with the assistance of SLA, sources in Vavuniyaa said.
Colombo has permitted de-mining in Mullaiththeevu district but no de-mining will be ever allowed by SLA in Mu’l’livaaikkaal and Puthukkudyiruppu area which were the places where the massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians has been systematically carried out by SLA.
Normally, officers of the humanitarian de-mining organizations carry out the survey and evaluation before engaging in de-mining.
The Sinhalese evaluation officers had been sent instead of the local de-mining officials in North who are Tamils in order to conceal the facts about skeletal remains of Vanni victims from being exposed to the world. http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&art…
Following the disclosure of five male corpses in a toilet pit in Ki’linochchi Monday Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had ordered all skeletal remains of persons assassinated or killed in war lying visibly in Mullaiththeevu district in Vanni, an officer of a humanitarian de-mining organization who had personally seen some skeletal remains along the roads in Mullaiththeevu and the frantic efforts of SLA soldiers to burn them without any trace, said. Colombo government has sent in a team of Sinhalese officers from Vavuniyaa to survey the areas and evaluate the extent of de-mining that has to be done, with the assistance of SLA, sources in Vavuniyaa said.
Colombo has permitted de-mining in Mullaiththeevu district but no de-mining will be ever allowed by SLA in Mu’l’livaaikkaal and Puthukkudyiruppu area which were the places where the massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians has been systematically carried out by SLA.
Normally, officers of the humanitarian de-mining organizations carry out the survey and evaluation before engaging in de-mining.
The Sinhalese evaluation officers had been sent instead of the local de-mining officials in North who are Tamils in order to conceal the facts about skeletal remains of Vanni victims from being exposed to the world.
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31880
Tamils in Sri Lanka have been subject to ethnic discrimination by successive Sri Lankan governments since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.
Aja Says: June 1st, 2010 at 3:14 am
Less than 12 hours the UN is desperate to investigate the 19 Palestinian human rights activities death Israel’s raid on a flotilla but more than 12 month pass by around 40 000 deaths caused by Sri Lanka’s government are not investigated . Why?
When sri lanka its allies tested its weapons on tamils, 200 billions dollars on war, 3000 times air strike-more than the explosive used in Hiroshima, cluster bombs, chemical bombs, 5000-6000 shelled daily, over 50,000 people were killed within three month, No security council meeting held, but when North korea tested one bomb underground, immediate meeting held. Now
Less than 12 hours the UN is desperate to investigate the 19 Palestinian human rights activities death Israel’s raid on a flotilla.
Why??
Tamils in Sri Lanka have been subject to ethnic discrimination by successive Sri Lankan governments since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.
Aja Says: June 1st, 2010 at 3:14 am
Less than 12 hours the UN is desperate to investigate the 19 Palestinian human rights activities death Israel’s raid on a flotilla but more than 12 month pass by around 40 000 deaths caused by Sri Lanka’s government are not investigated . Why?
When sri lanka its allies tested its weapons on tamils, 200 billions dollars on war, 3000 times air strike-more than the explosive used in Hiroshima, cluster bombs, chemical bombs, 5000-6000 shelled daily, over 50,000 people were killed within three month, No security council meeting held, but when North korea tested one bomb underground, immediate meeting held. Now
Less than 12 hours the UN is desperate to investigate the 19 Palestinian human rights activities death Israel’s raid on a flotilla.
Why??
Thanks all the Stars who decided to boycott sri lanka, Please expose the war crime against Humanity which should not happen to Human anywhere in the World. War criminals are still touring the world.
Stars pull out of Bollywood Oscars amid Sri Lanka ‘war crime’ protests http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/…
Top Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan have pulled out of the Indian equivalent of the Oscars, which begins in Colombo tomorrow, following protests over alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war with the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lanka had hoped to repair its battered international image and revive its tourist industry by hosting the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, just over a year after the Tigers’ defeat last May.
The absence of several Indian stars is now throwing a fresh spotlight on alleged rights abuses in the last stages of the war, during which rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed, many by army shelling.
Most damaging of all is the apparent withdrawal of Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA’s brand ambassador and patriarch of Bollywood’s first family, who met Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Colombo in April to help promote the event.
Thanks CH 4 & AI
Sri Lanka coverage success for Channel 4 News at Amnesty Media Awards http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entert…
In the TV News Category, the team behind Channel 4 News' Sri Lanka coverage won against stiff competition from Sky's "Falujah Babies" report and another Channel 4 News piece – Nick Martin's report from Ciudad Juarez on child trafficking across the US border.
Thanks all the Stars who decided to boycott sri lanka, Please expose the war crime against Humanity which should not happen to Human anywhere in the World. War criminals are still touring the world.
Stars pull out of Bollywood Oscars amid Sri Lanka ‘war crime’ protests http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/…
Top Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan have pulled out of the Indian equivalent of the Oscars, which begins in Colombo tomorrow, following protests over alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war with the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lanka had hoped to repair its battered international image and revive its tourist industry by hosting the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, just over a year after the Tigers’ defeat last May.
The absence of several Indian stars is now throwing a fresh spotlight on alleged rights abuses in the last stages of the war, during which rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed, many by army shelling.
Most damaging of all is the apparent withdrawal of Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA’s brand ambassador and patriarch of Bollywood’s first family, who met Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Colombo in April to help promote the event.
Thanks CH 4 & AI
Sri Lanka coverage success for Channel 4 News at Amnesty Media Awards http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entert…
In the TV News Category, the team behind Channel 4 News' Sri Lanka coverage won against stiff competition from Sky's "Falujah Babies" report and another Channel 4 News piece – Nick Martin's report from Ciudad Juarez on child trafficking across the US border.
Thanks all the Stars who decided to boycott sri lanka, Please expose the war crime against Humanity which should not happen to Human anywhere in the World. War criminals are still touring the world.
Stars pull out of Bollywood Oscars amid Sri Lanka ‘war crime’ protests http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/…
Top Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan have pulled out of the Indian equivalent of the Oscars, which begins in Colombo tomorrow, following protests over alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war with the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lanka had hoped to repair its battered international image and revive its tourist industry by hosting the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, just over a year after the Tigers’ defeat last May.
The absence of several Indian stars is now throwing a fresh spotlight on alleged rights abuses in the last stages of the war, during which rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed, many by army shelling.
Most damaging of all is the apparent withdrawal of Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA’s brand ambassador and patriarch of Bollywood’s first family, who met Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Colombo in April to help promote the event.
Thanks CH 4 & AI
Sri Lanka coverage success for Channel 4 News at Amnesty Media Awards http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entert…
In the TV News Category, the team behind Channel 4 News' Sri Lanka coverage won against stiff competition from Sky's "Falujah Babies" report and another Channel 4 News piece – Nick Martin's report from Ciudad Juarez on child trafficking across the US border.
Thanks all the Stars who decided to boycott sri lanka, Please expose the war crime against Humanity which should not happen to Human anywhere in the World. War criminals are still touring the world.
Stars pull out of Bollywood Oscars amid Sri Lanka ‘war crime’ protests
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7142345.ece
Top Bollywood stars including Shah Rukh Khan have pulled out of the Indian equivalent of the Oscars, which begins in Colombo tomorrow, following protests over alleged war crimes during Sri Lanka’s civil war with the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lanka had hoped to repair its battered international image and revive its tourist industry by hosting the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, just over a year after the Tigers’ defeat last May.
The absence of several Indian stars is now throwing a fresh spotlight on alleged rights abuses in the last stages of the war, during which rights groups estimate that tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed, many by army shelling.
Most damaging of all is the apparent withdrawal of Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA’s brand ambassador and patriarch of Bollywood’s first family, who met Sri Lanka’s President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, in Colombo in April to help promote the event.
Thanks CH 4 & AI
Sri Lanka coverage success for Channel 4 News at Amnesty Media Awards
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/arts_entertainment/sri+lanka+success+for+channel+4+news+at+amnesty+media+awards/3666637
In the TV News Category, the team behind Channel 4 News’ Sri Lanka coverage won against stiff competition from Sky’s “Falujah Babies” report and another Channel 4 News piece – Nick Martin’s report from Ciudad Juarez on child trafficking across the US border.
Blood on water http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?…
After the death of Prabhakaran, peace still evades thousands of Tamil refugees living camps in Sri Lanka. And they are treated like Prisoners of War every single day.
Blood on water http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?…
After the death of Prabhakaran, peace still evades thousands of Tamil refugees living camps in Sri Lanka. And they are treated like Prisoners of War every single day.
Blood on water http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?…
After the death of Prabhakaran, peace still evades thousands of Tamil refugees living camps in Sri Lanka. And they are treated like Prisoners of War every single day.
Blood on water
http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=143808
After the death of Prabhakaran, peace still evades thousands of Tamil refugees living camps in Sri Lanka. And they are treated like Prisoners of War every single day.
‘Lessons Learned committee announced by Rajapaksa cannot be trusted’ http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&art…
Kandy district United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Luxman Kiriella on Wednesday said that the 8-member Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation (CLLR), recently announced by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, cannot be trusted to achieve the goals it claims. Citing the fate of the earlier 8-member presidential Commission on Inquiry (CoI) to inquire human rights violations headed by a former Supreme Court judge Nissanka Udalagama, the UNP parliamentarian said the new commission also seemed to be a deceptive measure adopted by Mr. Rajapaksa to avoid implication in allegations against war crimes.
Rajapaksa has recently announced the new commission, CLLR, to report lessons learned from the events that took place during the period between 21 February 2002 and 19 May 2009.
Responding to Rajapaksa’s announcement, UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay, who noted previous experience and new information, responded by saying that such objectives would be better served by establishing an independent international accountability mechanism that would enjoy public confidence.
Elaine Pearson, the acting Asia director at Human Rights Watch noted: “Yet another feckless commission is a grossly inadequate response to the numerous credible allegations of war crimes.”
The previous commission by Rajapaksa came in the aftermath of international outrage over the execution-style killing of 17 aid workers from the French-based Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in eastern Moothoor, in August 2006.
On 04 September 2006, Rajapaksa initially announced that his government would “invite an international independent commission to probe abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.”
However, within two days of his announcement, he deviated from the claim saying that he would instead invite an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) ‘to act as observers’ of the activities of the Commission consisting of ‘Sri Lankan nationals,’ which will investigate alleged abductions, disappearances and extra judicial killings.
In November 2006, Rajapaksa set up the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which was later referred in Sri Lankan press as Udalagama Commission.
Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have criticized from the very beginning that the Commission of Inquiries (CoI) lacked credibility and confidence of parties to the conflict and sections of the society to be able to conduct meaningful investigations, obtain critical testimony or information from witnesses and gain the acceptance of its recommendations by all relevant parties.
The IIGEP, consisting 11 members meant to monitor the CoI was fully formed in February 2007.
An year later, in March 2008, the IIGEP terminated its mission reasoning that the proceedings of the CoI have not been transparent and have not satisfied basic international norms and standards, and blamed the Government of Sri Lanka for “absence of will” in the present Inquiry to “investigate cases with vigour, where the conduct of its own forces has been called into question.”
One more year passed and the Udalagama commission ceased to function without completing its mandate as its term was not extended.
‘Lessons Learned committee announced by Rajapaksa cannot be trusted’ http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&art…
Kandy district United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Luxman Kiriella on Wednesday said that the 8-member Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation (CLLR), recently announced by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, cannot be trusted to achieve the goals it claims. Citing the fate of the earlier 8-member presidential Commission on Inquiry (CoI) to inquire human rights violations headed by a former Supreme Court judge Nissanka Udalagama, the UNP parliamentarian said the new commission also seemed to be a deceptive measure adopted by Mr. Rajapaksa to avoid implication in allegations against war crimes.
Rajapaksa has recently announced the new commission, CLLR, to report lessons learned from the events that took place during the period between 21 February 2002 and 19 May 2009.
Responding to Rajapaksa’s announcement, UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay, who noted previous experience and new information, responded by saying that such objectives would be better served by establishing an independent international accountability mechanism that would enjoy public confidence.
Elaine Pearson, the acting Asia director at Human Rights Watch noted: “Yet another feckless commission is a grossly inadequate response to the numerous credible allegations of war crimes.”
The previous commission by Rajapaksa came in the aftermath of international outrage over the execution-style killing of 17 aid workers from the French-based Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in eastern Moothoor, in August 2006.
On 04 September 2006, Rajapaksa initially announced that his government would “invite an international independent commission to probe abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.”
However, within two days of his announcement, he deviated from the claim saying that he would instead invite an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) ‘to act as observers’ of the activities of the Commission consisting of ‘Sri Lankan nationals,’ which will investigate alleged abductions, disappearances and extra judicial killings.
In November 2006, Rajapaksa set up the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which was later referred in Sri Lankan press as Udalagama Commission.
Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have criticized from the very beginning that the Commission of Inquiries (CoI) lacked credibility and confidence of parties to the conflict and sections of the society to be able to conduct meaningful investigations, obtain critical testimony or information from witnesses and gain the acceptance of its recommendations by all relevant parties.
The IIGEP, consisting 11 members meant to monitor the CoI was fully formed in February 2007.
An year later, in March 2008, the IIGEP terminated its mission reasoning that the proceedings of the CoI have not been transparent and have not satisfied basic international norms and standards, and blamed the Government of Sri Lanka for “absence of will” in the present Inquiry to “investigate cases with vigour, where the conduct of its own forces has been called into question.”
One more year passed and the Udalagama commission ceased to function without completing its mandate as its term was not extended.
‘Lessons Learned committee announced by Rajapaksa cannot be trusted’ http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&art…
Kandy district United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Luxman Kiriella on Wednesday said that the 8-member Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation (CLLR), recently announced by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, cannot be trusted to achieve the goals it claims. Citing the fate of the earlier 8-member presidential Commission on Inquiry (CoI) to inquire human rights violations headed by a former Supreme Court judge Nissanka Udalagama, the UNP parliamentarian said the new commission also seemed to be a deceptive measure adopted by Mr. Rajapaksa to avoid implication in allegations against war crimes.
Rajapaksa has recently announced the new commission, CLLR, to report lessons learned from the events that took place during the period between 21 February 2002 and 19 May 2009.
Responding to Rajapaksa’s announcement, UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay, who noted previous experience and new information, responded by saying that such objectives would be better served by establishing an independent international accountability mechanism that would enjoy public confidence.
Elaine Pearson, the acting Asia director at Human Rights Watch noted: “Yet another feckless commission is a grossly inadequate response to the numerous credible allegations of war crimes.”
The previous commission by Rajapaksa came in the aftermath of international outrage over the execution-style killing of 17 aid workers from the French-based Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in eastern Moothoor, in August 2006.
On 04 September 2006, Rajapaksa initially announced that his government would “invite an international independent commission to probe abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.”
However, within two days of his announcement, he deviated from the claim saying that he would instead invite an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) ‘to act as observers’ of the activities of the Commission consisting of ‘Sri Lankan nationals,’ which will investigate alleged abductions, disappearances and extra judicial killings.
In November 2006, Rajapaksa set up the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which was later referred in Sri Lankan press as Udalagama Commission.
Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have criticized from the very beginning that the Commission of Inquiries (CoI) lacked credibility and confidence of parties to the conflict and sections of the society to be able to conduct meaningful investigations, obtain critical testimony or information from witnesses and gain the acceptance of its recommendations by all relevant parties.
The IIGEP, consisting 11 members meant to monitor the CoI was fully formed in February 2007.
An year later, in March 2008, the IIGEP terminated its mission reasoning that the proceedings of the CoI have not been transparent and have not satisfied basic international norms and standards, and blamed the Government of Sri Lanka for “absence of will” in the present Inquiry to “investigate cases with vigour, where the conduct of its own forces has been called into question.”
One more year passed and the Udalagama commission ceased to function without completing its mandate as its term was not extended.
‘Lessons Learned committee announced by Rajapaksa cannot be trusted’
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=31886
Kandy district United National Party (UNP) parliamentarian Luxman Kiriella on Wednesday said that the 8-member Commission on Lessons Learned and Reconciliation (CLLR), recently announced by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, cannot be trusted to achieve the goals it claims. Citing the fate of the earlier 8-member presidential Commission on Inquiry (CoI) to inquire human rights violations headed by a former Supreme Court judge Nissanka Udalagama, the UNP parliamentarian said the new commission also seemed to be a deceptive measure adopted by Mr. Rajapaksa to avoid implication in allegations against war crimes.
Rajapaksa has recently announced the new commission, CLLR, to report lessons learned from the events that took place during the period between 21 February 2002 and 19 May 2009.
Responding to Rajapaksa’s announcement, UN Rights Chief Navi Pillay, who noted previous experience and new information, responded by saying that such objectives would be better served by establishing an independent international accountability mechanism that would enjoy public confidence.
Elaine Pearson, the acting Asia director at Human Rights Watch noted: “Yet another feckless commission is a grossly inadequate response to the numerous credible allegations of war crimes.”
The previous commission by Rajapaksa came in the aftermath of international outrage over the execution-style killing of 17 aid workers from the French-based Action Contre la Faim (ACF) in eastern Moothoor, in August 2006.
On 04 September 2006, Rajapaksa initially announced that his government would “invite an international independent commission to probe abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.”
However, within two days of his announcement, he deviated from the claim saying that he would instead invite an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) ‘to act as observers’ of the activities of the Commission consisting of ‘Sri Lankan nationals,’ which will investigate alleged abductions, disappearances and extra judicial killings.
In November 2006, Rajapaksa set up the Commission of Inquiry (COI), which was later referred in Sri Lankan press as Udalagama Commission.
Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have criticized from the very beginning that the Commission of Inquiries (CoI) lacked credibility and confidence of parties to the conflict and sections of the society to be able to conduct meaningful investigations, obtain critical testimony or information from witnesses and gain the acceptance of its recommendations by all relevant parties.
The IIGEP, consisting 11 members meant to monitor the CoI was fully formed in February 2007.
An year later, in March 2008, the IIGEP terminated its mission reasoning that the proceedings of the CoI have not been transparent and have not satisfied basic international norms and standards, and blamed the Government of Sri Lanka for “absence of will” in the present Inquiry to “investigate cases with vigour, where the conduct of its own forces has been called into question.”
One more year passed and the Udalagama commission ceased to function without completing its mandate as its term was not extended.
Philip Alston, Special UN Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in his annual report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council (HRC), has said that there is a need for an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka.
He was referring to the allegations that as many as 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka last year in the closing months of the conflict between Government forces and Tamil rebels and that grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law were committed.
“In this case also there is a need for an independent international inquiry,” he said. “While the Council rejected this proposal a year ago, there is now a great deal of new evidence which would warrant effective action.”
In many instances, domestic commissions of inquiry had only resulted in “comprehensive impunity,” Philip Alston said. “Overall, the track record of such inquiries is remarkably poor,” he added.
In such cases, the international community will often need to insist that an international inquiry takes place where particularly serious allegations are made and where domestic practice has been “unconvincing.”
To assert in such circumstances that matters should be left entirely to a domestic inquiry will generally be tantamount to an “abdication” on the part of the international community, said Mr. Alston, who cited the recent Israeli attack on the humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza as one example of such a situation, the UN media unit reported.
Alston wants foreign probe http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/4134-als…
Philip Alston, Special UN Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in his annual report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council (HRC), has said that there is a need for an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka.
He was referring to the allegations that as many as 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka last year in the closing months of the conflict between Government forces and Tamil rebels and that grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law were committed.
“In this case also there is a need for an independent international inquiry,” he said. “While the Council rejected this proposal a year ago, there is now a great deal of new evidence which would warrant effective action.”
In many instances, domestic commissions of inquiry had only resulted in “comprehensive impunity,” Philip Alston said. “Overall, the track record of such inquiries is remarkably poor,” he added.
In such cases, the international community will often need to insist that an international inquiry takes place where particularly serious allegations are made and where domestic practice has been “unconvincing.”
To assert in such circumstances that matters should be left entirely to a domestic inquiry will generally be tantamount to an “abdication” on the part of the international community, said Mr. Alston, who cited the recent Israeli attack on the humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza as one example of such a situation, the UN media unit reported.
Alston wants foreign probe http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/4134-als…
Philip Alston, Special UN Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in his annual report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council (HRC), has said that there is a need for an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka.
He was referring to the allegations that as many as 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka last year in the closing months of the conflict between Government forces and Tamil rebels and that grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law were committed.
“In this case also there is a need for an independent international inquiry,” he said. “While the Council rejected this proposal a year ago, there is now a great deal of new evidence which would warrant effective action.”
In many instances, domestic commissions of inquiry had only resulted in “comprehensive impunity,” Philip Alston said. “Overall, the track record of such inquiries is remarkably poor,” he added.
In such cases, the international community will often need to insist that an international inquiry takes place where particularly serious allegations are made and where domestic practice has been “unconvincing.”
To assert in such circumstances that matters should be left entirely to a domestic inquiry will generally be tantamount to an “abdication” on the part of the international community, said Mr. Alston, who cited the recent Israeli attack on the humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza as one example of such a situation, the UN media unit reported.
Alston wants foreign probe http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/4134-als…
Philip Alston, Special UN Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions in his annual report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council (HRC), has said that there is a need for an independent international inquiry in Sri Lanka.
He was referring to the allegations that as many as 30,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka last year in the closing months of the conflict between Government forces and Tamil rebels and that grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law were committed.
“In this case also there is a need for an independent international inquiry,” he said. “While the Council rejected this proposal a year ago, there is now a great deal of new evidence which would warrant effective action.”
In many instances, domestic commissions of inquiry had only resulted in “comprehensive impunity,” Philip Alston said. “Overall, the track record of such inquiries is remarkably poor,” he added.
In such cases, the international community will often need to insist that an international inquiry takes place where particularly serious allegations are made and where domestic practice has been “unconvincing.”
To assert in such circumstances that matters should be left entirely to a domestic inquiry will generally be tantamount to an “abdication” on the part of the international community, said Mr. Alston, who cited the recent Israeli attack on the humanitarian flotilla headed for Gaza as one example of such a situation, the UN media unit reported.
Alston wants foreign probe
http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/4134-alston-wants-independent-probe.html