By Colombo Telegraph –
“Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa was sharply critical of international organizations in his final meeting with Ambassador. Rajapaksa said the ICRC’s job was essentially finished now that the conflict was over. He said the GSL is unhappy with the UN and ICRC for being critical of the GSL when they should have been working with the government to help resolve the conflict and address the challenges Sri Lanka faced. The Defense Secretary said the GSL doesn’t want the ICRC and UN involved in identification of those killed in the former conflict zone because of their ‘negative’ attitude. He claimed their reporting would likely inflame passions, exacerbate divisions, and be contrary to the goals of reconciliation and closure. Ambassador strongly disagreed, saying the ICRC was performing excellent work in assisting GSL efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.
Gotabaya
The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “Confidential” and recounts a meeting the US Ambassador Robert O. Blake had with Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The cable was written on May 20,2000 by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O. Blake.
The ambassador wrote; “Gothabaya insisted the ICRC and UN were not helping. He acknowledged some GSL shortcomings, but said international actors should understand the complexities of the conflict and work with the GSL and the military, rather than be antagonistic toward the government. The Defense Secretary said international organizations should include more Asians, such as Thais, Malaysians, and Japanese. They would then be better able to establish rapport and understanding with their GSL and military counterparts. Ambassador replied that the USG could not and would not dictate to international organizations the composition of their teams. Ambassador said that the GSL should strive to improve its cooperation with the ICRC and the UN. By demonstrating greater openness, the GSL could counter and minimize allegations that it has something to hide.”
“Ambassador argued strongly for ICRC access to the Tamil government doctors who were previously working inside the conflict zone, who have since been detained. The Defense Secretary said that the government just wanted to question them. He said it would be best if the Criminal Investigation Division of the police keeps them for the time being, as they would likely face a security risk from ‘reactionary groups’ if released now when passions are high. The police would then release them later when it was safer for them. Ambassador emphasized that that the doctors were likely under a great deal of pressure by the LTTE to report the way they did, and noted that they may have been coerced. Ambassador pointed out that the doctors had endured great hardship, that their heroic efforts had likely saved countless lives, and stressed that their release would be a magnanimous gesture by the GSL that would be recognized by the international community.” Blake further wrote.
Read the cable below for further details;
Related posts to this cable;
Wikileaks: You Managed To Do What No Govt Had Done Before – Blake To MR
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000549 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER), SCA/INS AND PRM STATE ALSO PASS USAID AID/W FOR ANE/SCA, DCHA/FFP (DWORKEN, KSHEIN) AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA (MORRISP, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, RKERR) ATHENS FOR PCARTER BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA (WBERGER) KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND POL (SBERRY) GENEVA FOR RMA (NKYLOH, NHILGERT, MPITOTTI) USUN NEW YORK FOR ECOSOC (D MERCADO) SECDEF FOR OSD - POLICY PACOM ALSO FOR J-5 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF MOPS PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE ECON SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 77 REF: A) Colombo 543 B) Colombo 539 C) Colombo 535 D) Colombo 533 E) Colombo 529 F) Colombo 522 G) Colombo 519 H) Colombo 514 I) Colombo 507 and previous COLOMBO 00000549 001.2 OF 004 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: President Rajapaksa declared May 20 a national holiday to celebrate the victory over the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). In Ambassador's farewell call on him, the President acknowledged the importance of reconciliation with Sri Lankan Tamils and with the Tamil Diaspora to ensure that Tamils would not support a comeback by the LTTE. The President said his initial thoughts on power-sharing arrangements with the Tamil minority included implementation of existing constitutional provisions on provincial council, plus the creation of a new upper house of the Sri Lankan Parliament to represent the provinces' interests. Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa was highly critical of recent UN and ICRC actions, and said the ICRC was no longer needed in the former conflict zone, even to identify bodies. He said international organizations should include more nationals of the region so situations such as Sri Lanka's fight against the LTTE would be better understood. India reportedly requested forensic evidence of LTTE leader Prabhakaran's death to close out court proceedings on Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. UN Envoy Nambiar's overflight of the former conflict zone was cancelled for the second day because of bad weather. The UN and aid organizations continued to have access problems to the IDP camps in Vavuniya because of new restrictions on vehicles. Approximately 40,000 IDPs are expected to arrive in the camps in the next two days; preparations are lagging as a result of restrictions. END SUMMARY. AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT --------------------------------------- ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador noted that his time in Colombo had coincided almost exactly with the fourth and final phase of the Sri Lankan conflict, from mid-2006 until the war ended on May 18. The President's government had managed to do what no government had done before: wrest all the territory of the country from the Tamil Tigers. Ambassador stressed that the reconciliation phase must begin now, with two vital components: the humanitarian side, providing the IDPs with what they need, and the political side - power-sharing arrangements to help Tamils have a future with hope and dignity. This was the way to defeat terrorism for good. ¶3. (SBU) The President responded that those were his intentions, but that there "certain people in the international community," abetted by "some in the South" (i.e., the opposition) who would try to undercut him. The Ambassador encouraged the GSL to think about how to engage with Tamil representatives. Ambassador said it was particularly important to reach out to the Tamil Diaspora so they would stop supporting the LTTE. He inquired about the government's plans for a political solution. The President said the basis of the plan would be the "13th amendment plus 1" - meaning implementation of the existing constitutional provisions for provincial councils, but adding an upper house to Parliament, modeled on the U.S. Senate, with numerically equal representation for each province. COLOMBO 00000549 002 OF 004 DEFENSE SECRETARY CRITICAL OF UN/ICRC ------------------------------------- ¶4. (SBU) Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa was sharply critical of international organizations in his final meeting with Ambassador. Rajapaksa said the ICRC's job was essentially finished now that the conflict was over. He said the GSL is unhappy with the UN and ICRC for being critical of the GSL when they should have been working with the government to help resolve the conflict and address the challenges Sri Lanka faced. The Defense Secretary said the GSL doesn't want the ICRC and UN involved in identification of those killed in the former conflict zone because of their "negative" attitude. He claimed their reporting would likely inflame passions, exacerbate divisions, and be contrary to the goals of reconciliation and closure. Ambassador strongly disagreed, saying the ICRC was performing excellent work in assisting GSL efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis. ¶5. (SBU) Gothabaya insisted the ICRC and UN were not helping. He acknowledged some GSL shortcomings, but said international actors should understand the complexities of the conflict and work with the GSL and the military, rather than be antagonistic toward the government. The Defense Secretary said international organizations should include more Asians, such as Thais, Malaysians, and Japanese. They would then be better able to establish rapport and understanding with their GSL and military counterparts. Ambassador replied that the USG could not and would not dictate to international organizations the composition of their teams. Ambassador said that the GSL should strive to improve its cooperation with the ICRC and the UN. By demonstrating greater openness, the GSL could counter and minimize allegations that it has something to hide. ¶6. (SBU) The Defense Secretary did not directly respond to Ambassador's question about problems the UN and NGOs were having with new rules on vehicle access to the IDP camps. Instead, he highlighted rifts between INGOs and Sri Lankan NGOs, saying that the NGOs complained they should have greater access to funding, since they have the local expertise to respond to the situation. "TAMIL DOCTORS" HELD FOR QUESTIONING ------------------------------------ ¶7. (SBU) Ambassador argued strongly for ICRC access to the Tamil government doctors who were previously working inside the conflict zone, who have since been detained. The Defense Secretary said that the government just wanted to question them. He said it would be best if the Criminal Investigation Division of the police keeps them for the time being, as they would likely face a security risk from "reactionary groups" if released now when passions are high. The police would then release them later when it was safer for them. Ambassador emphasized that that the doctors were likely under a great deal of pressure by the LTTE to report the way they did, and noted that they may have been coerced. Ambassador pointed out that the doctors had endured great hardship, that their heroic efforts had likely saved countless lives, and stressed that their release COLOMBO 00000549 003 OF 004 would be a magnanimous gesture by the GSL that would be recognized by the international community. AMBASSADOR TIES BETTER MIL-TO-MIL RELATIONS TO HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENT ------------------------------------- ¶8. (SBU) Ambassador told the Defense Secretary that progress on child soldiers and human rights would lay the basis for normalized military-to-military relations. He strongly hoped that extra-judicial killings and abductions would stop and that the media would be free from intimidation. Ambassador noted that UNICEF statistics showed there were still at least 34 child soldiers in the Eastern Province. The Defense Secretary said he had issued orders to arrest those holding child soldiers. He noted that so far three individuals had been arrested for doing so, and a case against them was pending. He added that he had issued orders for the disarmament of all armed groups, including the TMVP. The Defense Secretary said that security was now provided by the police for all officials in the region. He recognized that armed militias were a problem, and over the last few months he had been moving step-by-step to resolve it. He said with the end of the armed conflict, he now considered this to be his major task. INDIA SEEKING PRABHAKARAN EVIDENCE ---------------------------------- ¶9. (SBU) Media reports from India stated that the Indian Government would seek forensic evidence of the reported deaths of both LTTE leader Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman, his intelligence chief, in order to close their file on the investigation and prosecution of those involved in the 1991 assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi. In 1995 India formally requested extradition of Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman from Sri Lanka, if ever they were captured. UN, ICRC VISIT TO SAFE ZONE CANCELLED AGAIN DUE TO POOR WEATHER ------------------------------------------- ¶10. (SBU) UN Resident Representative Neil Buhne confirmed to DCM May 20 that for the second day in a row the UN/ICRC helicopter overflight of the former safe zone and visit to transit sites in Vavuniya was cancelled due to poor weather. Their military helicopter took off at 1100 but was forced to turn back due to heavy winds and low clouds. They will try again May 21 to have the UN Secretary General's Chief of Staff Vijay Nambiar overfly the former safe zone. The back-up plan is to either take a fixed wing aircraft to both places (an overflight of the safe zone by plane would be less useful, however, and would preclude touching down), or to travel by road to Vavuniya. The UN is also developing contingency plans for Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's travel on May 23 in case the poor weather continues. ACCESS TO CAMPS PROBLEMATIC; UN PROTESTING NO-VEHICLES RULE ------------------------------ COLOMBO 00000549 004 OF 004 ¶11. (SBU) Access to the IDP camps became an increasing problem due to new restrictions imposed by the GSL. While food and water are still getting in, as they are under the direct control of GSL at that point, all aid workers including UN personnel are being told they must walk into the camps. This rule severely limits the ability to oversee aid distribution and to get non-food aid in to the most recent IDPs, some of whom have literally only the clothes on their backs. Further to this rule change, International Organization for Migration (IOM) staff attempted to walk into Zones 1 and 2 at Manik Farm site on May 20 and were turned back by GSL personnel. ¶12. USAID/OFDA Regional Advisor reports no relief organization has been able to enter Zones 1, 2 or 3 since May 17. There are now 35,000 IDPs in Zone 4 of Manik Farm. Only a few organizations are working there: UNICEF, IOM and CARE. 16,000 persons are being processed at the former crossing point in Omanthai, and 25,000 will be processed tomorrow. Preparations are not in place for them. For example, there are no latrines prepared in Zone 4. UN agencies and others remained in discussions with GSL to try to resolve the access problems before UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrives the evening of May 22. ¶13. (SBU) NGOs and INGOs reported no access was allowed to IDP camps in the Jaffna area, in spite of an order from the GSL Security Forces Commander granting them such access. HEALTH PROBLEMS INCREASING IN CAMPS ----------------------------------- ¶14. (SBU) The World Health Organization has reported a resumption of disease monitoring in the camps, with more than 3,000 reported cases of severe diarrhea and 1,000 cases of hepatitis at the Manik Farm site camps. BLAKE
Michelle Brooks / March 11, 2013
Ordinairy people in Sri Lanka are looking forward now not back, it is important that the resources and political energy of the west is directed at helping Sri Lanka to achieve a better future not produce a thesis on the past that the west feels satisfied with. Little wonder that increasingly there is little patience in Sri Lanka for western based NGOs and government actors. Ultimately this isolation only hurts ordinary people who then will find themselves cut off from the benefits that such NGOs can bring in terms of welfare and expertise. Working in Sri Lanka myself and Sri Lankan by birth it is apparent to me and many others that a circular argument on how war was bad, oppressive, and resulted in torture and death is frankly stating the obvious. None of us will ever find security through war, we will find it through friendship, when will we ever learn? We must all of us in the world be a friend to Sri Lanka as it attempts the slow and difficult climb back to peace after 30 yerars of war, isolating the government at this important time is ridiculous, we should be strengthening ties with our trading and historical partners.
Can everyone please focus on the job in hand, which is working together to help this country which has suffered so much after war and the worst natural disaster in living memory. What is rarely understood from a distance but is acutely obvious on the ground is the damage to morale and motivation when a whole country becomes characterised by external judgements by those who have no idea of the politics and standpoints of the Sri Lankan people. There is some good work going on in Sri Lanka right now, let’s get behind that, let’s support the good stuff which will help to ensure that the future is one where human rights in Sri Lanka are embraced, not a dirty word that no-one dares utter or speak because it relates to harmful and reductive chrarcterisation coming from overseas. This then reduces the capacity of everyone to work on development. The issue of irregular detention in IDP camps need careful attention but this can be done more locally, we in the west have our own detention issues to resolve, we simply cannot afford the resources to resolve issues far away and increasingly the people of the west in Europe and North America are tiring of governmental action overseas in the face of continuing lack of action at home. We need to reduce the external pressure on Sri Lanka and instead reach out to them, for many of us love that country and it’s people and wish them well for the future; grateful that the war has ended and that the will for peace is there. There was a dirty, shameful and devastating war, and twas ever thus with war was/is it not? It’s over.
We need to focus on the existing peace, and the hope that now grows in Sri Lanka. We cannot build anything there if we are knocking stuff down all the time with the other hand.
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kp / March 11, 2013
if we dont look back and learn from the mistakes of the past, there is no future. Some people with the same mindset as you, stumble through life making the same mistake over and over and over again, each time puzzled as to why its happening again…
We have NOT learnt our lessons… If we did, clowns such as the BBS, Sinhala Raavaya and Soora Saradiel brigade would be openly condemned and reviled by the majority. The fact that there is no public outcry against these agitators shows plainly that we want yet more carnage and destruction. Future, you say? building airports and roads is not reconciliation or “future”.
Look forward after so much unaddressed violence? Only a man who has run over someone on the road would say that.
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Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / March 11, 2013
“Can everyone please focus on the job in hand, which is working together to help this country which has suffered so much after war and the worst natural disaster in living memory. What is rarely understood from a distance but is acutely obvious on the ground is the damage to morale and motivation when a whole country becomes characterised by external judgements by those who have no idea of the politics and standpoints of the Sri Lankan people.”
No Michelle, “the lesson of the path must provide the path to the future.” What have the Rajapaksas done since the war towards peace and reconciliation may I ask? Your plug for the Rajapaksa government, because the ‘Rajapaksas are Sri Lanka'(it is a family that is running the country, surely you should know that), would not be taken well by Tamils who are a Nation of people in the island, people, who may be inconsequential to you, whose interests not forming part of the “ordinary Sri Lankans” you talk about.
We need to restore the lustre of the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, that demands some work, sweeping the past under the carpet and pretending everything is fine is not going to work.
You haven’t mentioned anything about the autocratic rule of the Rajapaksa siblings, the 18th amendment, the death of democracy, the Devineguma Act that has robbed the provincial councils of control over its funds, the breakdown in the rule of law, the end of an independent judiciary and the blurring of separation of powers, the rampant corruption, the ongoing military centered and not people centered development in the NorthEast and many more. Factors that you have conveniently chosen to ignore but are critical to the future of the island and all of its people.
The Tamil people need closure by way of justice and need a political settlement that’s fair, just, reasonable and right. Have you thought about them? They are held captive in a highly militarised zone and can’t invoke their basic democratic rights to protest. For them the past is being re-enacted with no redress and the nightmare never seems to end.
You are trying to advocate to reduce Western pressures on Sri Lanka by saying the people of Europe and North America are tiring of the “lack of action at home”. In other words you want the Rajapaksas left to their own devices, to carry on with the culture of impunity that is their hallmark.
Coming to the article, see how the Rajapaksas covered up their tracks..from being found out …Gotabaya is a shrewd operator! But would the law catch up…on them? Sure it will. We all have to answer for our sins.
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Mango / March 11, 2013
Dear Ms Sri-Skanda-Rajah,
Thanks for that brilliant analysis of what ails Sri Lanka and some Tamil people in SL. If you really care for these people (as you claim to do), what are you doing in Canada? I’d like to see you demonstrating your commitment to the Tamil people by returning to SL and working in the war-affected areas in the North and East.
If you’re unable to do this, perhaps you could explain, why?
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Native Vedda / March 12, 2013
Mango
“If you’re unable to do this, perhaps you could explain, why?”
Perhaps she doesn’t want a fare free ride on a white van.
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Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / March 12, 2013
Thank you Native Vedda for coming to my rescue. I’d love to come back; in fact am yearning to come back, to live in that beautiful island when the NorthEast has equal constitutional status. I’d love to work with not only the war affected NorthEast but also help the war affected soldiers in the South; if I am allowed. I lost a lot of my Sinhalese friends because of the stand I have taken, I need them back. Life is short. But I can’t give up on my dream!
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Mango / March 12, 2013
Dear Ms Sri-Skanda-Rajah,
If you return to SL and work with the people MR won’t be able to touch you. In fact the mere fact of your presence will place him in an impossible situation. And we’ll all keep an eye on you to ensure that you’ll stay safe.
You want to wait until the North & East are united? That sounds like a feeble excuse to avoid having to act. In fact, if the North & East are united it won’t be due to your efforts, rather, due to the efforts of people in the country.
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost friends, but I’m sure they’ll forgive you when they see you again. After all, look at old enemies now in positions of power and influence.
NV: As white van fleet lies unused, it should be put to use to take care of the BBS.
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Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah / March 12, 2013
Thank you Mango – Oh it’s nice to know that there would be people who would take care, but I can’t come now, unless I am keen to visit the ‘4th floor’. I want to LIVE to fight another day! (not through violence)
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2013
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
“I’d love to come back; in fact am yearning to come back, to live in that beautiful island when the NorthEast has equal constitutional status.”
Actually I am campaigning to return both Sinhala/Tamil descendants of Kallthonies back to their mother land, India.
Please don’t put me in difficult moral dilemma.
Please stay wherever you are and make sure Mango stays put wherever he/she is.
Thanks.
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Punchinilame / March 12, 2013
This is the kind of foolishness of commentators. See if even the
duly elected M.PP can work within their own boundaries. No. Not
in the North. What can a returnee do – get killed by SLA henchmen?
The diaspora is very strong – both economically and intelligently
to serve their community for many more decades ahead. Do you
realize that aspect?
The Rajapakses will be housed in China when the end is nearing!
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Wuliangguobinjiu / March 13, 2013
M Brooks is the classic Pook. Pandan, Iti pandan.
“We in the west….” as if we dont know eastern boys and western girls.
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Waran Vaithilingam / March 11, 2013
“What is rarely understood from a distance but is acutely obvious on the ground is the damage to morale and motivation when a whole country becomes characterised by external judgements by those who have no idea of the politics and standpoints of the Sri Lankan “.
Reply :Your government have had enough chances from Banda- Chelva to Ranil-Pirabaharan, and then after Post-War Gestures you blew all. It is time SriLanka dance the other way around (those who have no idea of the politics and standpoints of the Sri Lankan).
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Piranha / March 11, 2013
Gota the man behind the atrocities committed on the tamils wants to hide what he urged his forces to do. He was worried that his hand in the carnage will be exposed. The Matale massacre is coming back to haunt him almost twenty five years later and I can assure him that justice will catch up with him some day.
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Waran Vaithilingam / March 11, 2013
Srilankan, please understand this Chief of Defence, you have hired, have done a bad job by allowing Soldiers with Cell Phones and camera on the battle field. Just imagine, would VP do such stupidity? VP only allowed Walikie Talkie that it, look what happened the whole nation is in trouble because just few, It is time that you sack those in charge…
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Punchinilame / March 11, 2013
The American Citizen now in S.L. and being a Public Servant will be
wanted after the presently Presidential Immunity issue is resolved in
USA Courts to answer the other alleged murders. This piece by Prof.
R.Hoole on 2-3-13 CT issue is relevant too, for the ever hidden hand:
“Last year, C A Chandraprema, the political writer, wrote ‘Gota’s War’ eulogising Gotabaya Rajapakse’s contribution to the crushing of the northern insurgency, indirectly rubbishing claims that Sarath Fonseka, as Army Commander, was the principal architect of the military victory. But that book was written and published before the discovery of the mass graves at Matale. In that book, in the twenty-eighth chapter titled ‘The Second JVP Insurrection’, the author makes an unintended revelation. He writes on Page 173: “On 1 May 1989, with Colonel Wimalaratne being promoted to the rank of Brigadier, Gota was made the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment…With this promotion, he was posted to Matale as the district coordinating officer tasked with bringing the JVP under control. The first Gajaba Battalion, which had been in Trincomalee for nearly one and a half years, was brought down to Matale. Lieutenants Shavendra Silva, Jagath Dias and Sumedha Perera were among his company commanders in Matale…(p 177) Gota remained the security coordinating officer of Matale until the end of the second JVP insurrection. In January 1990, he applied for three months leave and went to the USA to see his family.” In view of these facts, it becomes all the more necessary for an independent probe to be conducted so that Rajapakse and/or anybody else are cleared of any war crimes in 1989. It may be ironic that the persons being accused of war crimes now are the same persons who were then in charge of Matale. An independent probe may reveal they are innocent, But a probe by a body unconnected with these persons is necessary to show this”..
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Jayantha / March 12, 2013
May be Gota applied the same 1987 Matale tactics on 2009 Nanthikandal.
Gen SF sent on compulsary tour to China with his family and son in law to procure arms during final week, May 11 to 18th 2009…..and we wonder who needs to purchase more arms when the victory was in sight.
http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2009/11/29/sarath-fonseka-%E2%80%93-megalomaniac%E2%80%99s-tryst-fame-and-flame
It was learnt that the above arms shipment Gen. Sarath Fonseka ordered in his tour which came in August 2009, was sent back to China on Defense Secretary’s orders.
The Fonseka/ Gota rift started thereafter…….
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2009/12/06/%E2%80%9Cwhy-i-fell-out-with-the-rajapaksas%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-general-sarath-fonseka-explains/
It was GOTA with Shavindra Silva and Jagath Dias (Batch mates) who operated and executed final week of war.
http://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lanka-war-crimes-soldiers-ordered-to-finish-the-job
Also Hitler came to power through peoples democratic vote….but later became a world War Criminal.
How long Sri Lanka and UN going to tolerate and allow to roam …….a war ……….without giving justice to helpless, poor and powerless…..
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S.Thiagarajah / March 12, 2013
The Tamil Problem started soon after the independence with the removal of the clause given by the British Empire to protect the Tamils.And The US,European countries,Gt.Britain Canada and Australia stand for justice and for Human Rights unlike other countries like Japan,Indonesia and so on.The West had undergone a lot of war killings and they brought the Human Rights into the World based on the famous treaty with Germany.So they understand the Genocide of Tamils better than the countries like China,Indonesia,Japan,Russia and even India.So the inclusion of these countries in any investigation is not going to help as Sri Lanka says.The Western Powers are fully aware of what happened from their intelligence service.So inclusion of more and more Western Powers and NATO countries is essential to solve the problems.
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Karuna / March 12, 2013
KP HAS COMMENTED VERY WELL ON THIS SUBJECT,FIRST ALL THE SAID CLOWNS MUST BE REINED IN ,HOW CAN SRI LANKA PROSPER IN A TROUBLED CLIMATE OF HATE , DISCRIMINATION ,LAWLESSNESS,JEALOUSY,ETC,WITH PATRONAGE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
A GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE ,NOT FOR A SELECTED LOT.WE MUST TAKE SINGAPORE AS A EXAMPLE ,THE PEOPLE THERE WILL NOT SAY “I AM A CHINESE OR I AM A TAMIL OR I AM A MALAY BUT WE ARE SINGAPOREANS.WHEN WILL WE ALL BECOME SRILANKANS ? ONLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE MIGHT TO DO IT. BEAUTIFYING COLOMBO IS NOT DEVELOPMENT,BUT UNITING ALL AS SRILANKANS IS THE
REAL DEVELOPMENT.
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Native Vedda / March 12, 2013
Mango
“NV: As white van fleet lies unused, it should be put to use to take care of the BBS.”
Good suggestion.
No white van will be sent to deal with Government sponsored thugs.
Please note if and when white vans arrive to take away BBS thugs, political thugs and their brats, those vans would be definitely fitted with revolving doors.
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Mango / March 13, 2013
Dear Ms Sri-Skanda-Rajah,
I’m sorry to say that your stance explains the failure of the expat, pro-Eelam constituency to prevail over the State. i.e. you let others take the risk instead of risking anything yourself. Oh well, I suppose the TGTE circus will continue to provide MR with all the help he needs, domestically.
I was moved by your plea to the UN in 2008 to “Save Tamil Children”, using your own motherhood as a rallying cry. Oddly, you made no mention of the LTTE’s cynical use of Tamil children (for over 20 years) as cannon fodder and child hostages. Can you explain why it was OK for other (Tamil) mothers in Sri Lanka to sacrifice their children, but why you didn’t offer your children as a sacrifice in the battlefield?
http://www.sangam.org/2008/09/Usha_Speech.php
p.s. it’s still not too late to make amends and come back. I think you’ll do more good in the Vanni than in Vancouver.
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Native Vedda / March 13, 2013
Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
“I want to LIVE to fight another day! (not through violence)”
Gosh, it is refreshing to read a Tamil renouncing violence. Is it a tactical withdrawal or a moral compunction albeit late in the day?
How do you propose to fight another day?
Fight for what?
Fight against whom?
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Mango / March 14, 2013
The fragrant Mrs Sri-Skanda-Rajah only discovered a love of peace and non-violence after the war option didn’t work out as planned.
“We understand what they are doing, and we believe they have a legitimate right to do it,” said Dr. Sri-Skanda-Rajah, who says he has no connection to the Tigers.
“To us, they [the LTTE] are heroes,” said Mrs. Sri-Skanda-Rajah, who says she considers the Tamil Tiger leader to be on a par with Nelson Mandela.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tamils-force-ottawa-to-grab-the-tigers-tail/article1112521/?page=all
Mrs Sri-Skanda-Rajah believed the LTTE had a perfect right to do what it was doing (i.e. going for a military solution), so she can’t complain when the State, using its legitimate right of self-defence annihilated the LTTE.
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