Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha told the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday (25 September 2013) “Sri Lanka strongly repudiates the High Commissioner’s assertion that if certain concerns are not comprehensively addressed before March 2014, she believes the international community will have a duty to establish its own inquiry mechanisms”. The Ambassador said High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay had “no mandate to make such a claim”. He said having accomplished the task of bringing normalcy to the lives of the civilian population, GOSL has put in place “multiple mechanisms” to address concerns relating to accountability.
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when as the Leader of the Sri Lanka delegation to the 24 Session of the Human Rights Council, he responded to an ‘oral update’ on “Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka” held during the ongoing session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. He made clear that notwithstanding Sri Lanka’s rejection of resolution 22/1, the Government has continued with its commitment to the reconciliation process within the framework of the National Plan of Action on the implementation of the recommendations of the LLRC and had kept the Council informed on developments.
In a comprehensive statement which outlined Sri Lanka’s position on a range of issues that were raised, the Ambassador detailed action underway to probe alleged killings including the 5 students in Trincomalee where the case commenced earlier this month and 30 witnesses have been summoned to appear on October 29th, the lines of investigation into the ACF case, the status on the Army Court of Inquiry into the Channel 4 allegations, investigation into custodial deaths of prisoners in Vavuniya and Welikada. He also provided details on the 3 member Commission appointed to Investigate Allegations of Abductions and Disappearances related to the conflict, cooperation with the ICRC on missing persons and the engagement with the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearance (WGEID).
With regard to the vulnerability of women and girls to sexual harassment and abuse in the North as referred to in the ‘Update’, the Ambassador who deplored all such acts of violence against women and girls, said the inference that the presence of the military contributes to insecurity of women and girls in the former conflict affected areas is baseless and disingenuous. He noted that a comprehensive study undertaken of incidents of sexual offences which have occurred in the North had revealed that out of a total of 375 reported incidents during the conflict and in the post conflict periods (2007-2012), only 11 incidents (involving 17 security forces personnel) can be attributed to the security forces.
Noting that the government had at no time “downplayed” allegations of attacks against religious minorities, he strongly rejected accusations of “state patronage or protection given to extremist groups”. He said, such generalizations lack credibility. It is for this reason that the GOSL has requested specific information on such allegations. He added, that while the existing provisions in the Penal Code and the ICCPR Act criminalise ‘hate speech’, steps are underway to further strengthen the law against hate speech through a new amendment, under which those found guilty will be liable to imprisonment for a period not less than five years and not exceeding twenty years. He said Sri Lanka welcomes any technical assistance on the scope of such legislation from the OHCHR on the scope of such legislation. On the issue of intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders, he said the Government is fully committed to the protection of human rights defenders and had requested the OHCHR to provide it with specific information with regard to the allegations, so that they could verify their credibility. On complaints regarding harassment and/or assassination of journalists, he said whenever credible evidence is available, steps have been taken to prosecute the offenders.
He noted that while the ‘Update’ refers to the abolition of the Constitutional Council via the 18th Amendment, it must be remembered that the legislature enacted the 18th amendment to address the infirmities that had rendered the Constitutional Council non-operable. The fact that several Commissions and high offices have been operationalized since the 18th amendment and their robust functioning today, demonstrate its efficacy. Similarly, all constitutional stipulations inclusive of due process rights were followed in relation to the impeachment proceedings of the former Chief Justice. Sri Lanka reiterates that similar provisions exist in other countries in relation to the removal of higher judiciary, and the impeachment process was in keeping with the constitutional imperatives. In the above context, he said She Lanka strongly rejects the unsubstantiated claims in the Update that the rule of law and democratic institutions are being undermined and eroded.
Pointing out that over the years Sri Lanka has demonstrated its commitment to be constructive and proactive engagement with the mechanisms of the Council including special procedures, treaty bodies and the UPR, Ambassador Aryasinha said the government has already scheduled a visit by the Special Rapporteur on IDPs in December this year, and extended an invitation to the Special Rapporteur on Education to visit in January 2014. Sri Lanka will continue to schedule visits of special procedures mandate holders in the future following a consultative process. The Ambassador noted that GOSL welcomes consideration of technical cooperation in the process of reconciliation and detailed possibilities in this regard. Sri Lanka however notes that technical cooperation provided in full cooperation and consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka, must complement the ongoing reconciliation process. We also note that the unwarranted call for a truth seeking mechanism would only be tantamount to duplication and multiplication of existing institutions and initiatives.
Emphasizing that no doubt that there remains work to be done to complete the ongoing reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, the Ambassador said given the High Commissioner’s own admission while in Colombo that her visit was her “longest visit”, and that she was able to “go anywhere and see anything” that she “wished to see”, there was legitimate expectation in Sri Lanka that the High Commissioner would adopt an objective and unbiased approach to the country in her Oral Update to the Council. It is unfortunate that this was not the case. He strongly refuted the High Commissioner’s view that “the human rights situation in Sri Lanka remains critically important”. The Ambassador said, “the disproportionate attention paid to Sri Lanka, largely at the behest of parties with vested interests, considerably complicates the on-going delicate process of reconciliation. Sri Lanka is not a situation that requires the urgent and immediate attention of the Council. Sri Lanka needs to be encouraged, not impeded.”
Read the full statement here
Jim softy / September 26, 2013
Why did they allow the wife of a terrorist in Sri Lanka ?
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Don Stanley / September 26, 2013
The ground work for and international investigation of the rajapassa war crimes has been done by the UN report that details the UN failure to intervene in the last stages of the war when many war crimes were committed. Since the UN says it failed once it follows that either:
1) a group of countries may push for intervention as in Syria, or
2) UN may push for a war crimes trial of Lanka. If and when the UN resolves to investigate Sri Lanka China and Russia will fall in Line..
The time that petulant, crude, greedy and uneducated petty dictators hid behind “sovereignty” which is a fig leaf, an fiction given that we live in a globalized world – is over!
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Lasantha / September 26, 2013
Madam Navi has obviously done her work! Gota the White Van Goon and Balu Sena patron who attacks minorities and women journalists, and who has set up the Rajapassa DEEP STATE which runs the military dictatorship in Sri Lanka with a FACADE of DEMOCRACY – will soon be bound for a war crimes trial in the Hague.
Raninatha, please save you breath and stop trying to defend the indefensible regime (like Dayan J). You sound like the Egyptian ambassador before he defected from the Mubarak dictatorship.
Ravi, the time to join the Lanka Spring and fight the corrupt, murderous and criminal Rajapassa family that is looting Lanka and DIVIDING its MULTICULTURAL communities in order to promote its military dictatorship- will come soon!
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jansee / September 26, 2013
Is there a worst terrorist than Gotabaya?
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jansee / September 26, 2013
Have you asked Mahinda mama? When the sword hangs over his head (or neck) then even the gallant Ariyasinha cannot protect him. He will make a few heart-warming speeches and collect his cheques.
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Silva / September 28, 2013
Every word and every letter this “Anatha” bugger has uttered is a lie and a carefully selected set of lie words that have been thrown at the allegations leveled at them. Now that Sri Lanka has replied and refused the allegations, what remains is the necessity of establishing a permanent office of the UN high commission for HR here in Sri Lanka and then establish an international tribunal to hear the cases so that the truth can be extracted from the two schools of opinions. Nobody will just listen to what the “Anatha” bugger says like a parrot and go away saying everything is ok. The truth must be found and for that to happen an inquiry has to happen.
For example the “Anatha” bugger says “”that the government had at no time “downplayed” allegations of attacks against religious minorities, he strongly rejected accusations of “state patronage or protection given to extremist groups”. He said, such generalizations lack credibility. It is for this reason that the GOSL has requested specific information on such allegations..””
But what is apparently and starkly clear and obvious to everybody is that government run BBS, Ravana, Sinhala Ravaya are doing all this under government protection in front of the Sri Lanka Government Police Personnel! Since the regime keeps on denying the allegations the only option available now is to set up an impartial independent international mechanism to look into the allegations of “both parties” and come up with the truth.
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Jim softy / September 26, 2013
They are pushing Sri Lanka more towards China and Russia.
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Thiru / September 26, 2013
They must push harder.
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Ravi / September 26, 2013
There is nothing to push, already Sri Lanka is sitting on the lap of China and Russia.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / September 26, 2013
You can tell / Teach Gota and M R how to Push.
Gota trying American Push,
M R trying Malabari Push,
No avail??????.
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jansee / September 26, 2013
Good. Noted for their slippery abandonment, these two countries will eventually give up on SL.
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Rajash / September 27, 2013
they are not pushing China is pulling
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Chandra Seneviratne / September 26, 2013
As a failed nation ruled by a despot the international community has a role to play to see that system set up here falls in line with world accepted norms of civilized governance.
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Thiru / September 26, 2013
War criminals must be punished before the victory parade.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 26, 2013
He’s absolutely correct – just ask Ban :-)
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 26, 2013
War criminals were punished back in 2009 at Nandikadal.
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Native Vedda / September 26, 2013
Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon
“War criminals were punished back in 2009 at Nandikadal.”
Ah ha, lot of them escaped and now serving as diplomats, governors,…..
Are you worried now?
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 26, 2013
“Diplomats” and “governors”? Sounds like Transsexual Government of Tamil Eelam is really spreading its wings :-)
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Rev:Devil / September 27, 2013
Sarma,
How do you address the one that we have here !!?
Democracy,Republic, Monarchy, Aristocracy, Dictatorship, Democratic Republic !!?
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Silva / September 27, 2013
Siva Sankaran Sarma,
“..“Diplomats” and “governors”? Sounds like Transsexual Government of Tamil Eelam is really spreading its wing..”
Of course! And the list also includes “The President” because his peanuts have been removed due to gangrene set in as a result of dipping in the dick in every latrine hence a castrate, and “Presidential Advisers” like “Sakka Vassa” who supplies prostitutes to the former and therefore a “pimps”.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 27, 2013
Did you check under his amudey while he was lying wide eyed on the banks of Nandikadal or did you find this out during one of those intimate nights you spent together in his bunker? :-)
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2013
Siva Sankaran Sarma Menon
“Diplomats” and “governors”? Sounds like Transsexual Government of Tamil Eelam is really spreading its wings”
You couldn’t resist your sexual preferences could you.
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Silva / September 28, 2013
Siva Sankaran Sarma,
The galquarry army whose bum you suck found out to their much dismay that VP had something your castrated MARA did not possess and covered it with a loin cloth. But your eunuch has no such a tool of reproduction and therefore he tries to cover the flaw by bazaar habits, conduct, deeds like carrying a magic ball! The traits you display suggests you too are such a eunuch!
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Hela / September 29, 2013
Totally agree with Siva Sankaran Sarma.
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kris / September 26, 2013
Navi Pillay is not qualified to do the job as UN HR head , if she can’t understand what is her role as HR head , how come other people follow what she said
What ever she says will increase the fantasy world of tamil terrorists
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jansee / September 26, 2013
I agree with you. I propose either Mervyn Silva or Wimal Weerawansa, the perfect guardians of human rights, you can be the seconder.
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kris / September 27, 2013
Another bankrupt UNP junta commented here
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Lapatiya / September 26, 2013
Read this article carefully and finally you will find Ravinatha Aryasinha has some link with “King Chethiya” Raja Parapura.
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Hela / September 29, 2013
Lapati mole (brain)…….
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RajasH / September 26, 2013
whether you like it or not , she has set it.
so comply or else….
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Ajith / September 26, 2013
Dear Ambassador,
Have you forgotten that March 2014 is the next UNHRC meets to discuss and assess the resolutions passed on Sri Lanka’s human rights violations. There were lot of allegations against your government, and military and you have proved very well that your military was responsible for the violence even during elections. Just imagine how they would have behaved during the war. You always maintained that you are very honest and your military is very very clean. It is simply an advise to protect you from facing future consequences. It is difficult for you because the perpetrators of violations are the top (Head and his brother) of the ladder. Is there any way you can avoid this? There are alternatives but that is also dangerous.
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Hela / September 29, 2013
Obama had to retreat from attacking Syria. This is a lesson for Sri Lanka to take note of when facing Obama-Manmohan axis….i.e. they can be made to retreat. The Tamil woman pillai is just a pen pusher. The strings are held elsewhere.
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Anpu / September 26, 2013
You idiot Aryasinha and other rajapakse followers
UN says – https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/systemic-failure-of-the-un-in-last-days-of-lanka-war-says-un-chief/
Tamil says – https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/tamils-vote-overwhelmingly-for-self-determination-in-the-npc-election-british-tamil-forum/
Don’t you get it? It means your days are numbered.
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lal / September 26, 2013
Have I heard before “your days are numbered, and victory is around the corner”? Yes, Mr V.P. I hope you are doing well. Now you have sent your grandma, Nazi Pullai to finish the job for you. Soon Nazi Pullai will be sipping champagne with Lankan diplomats, Aussie and British ministers in New York. The jokes are on LTTE losers.
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Thiru / September 26, 2013
Aryasinha,
Sri Lanka got a model democratic setup in 1948. Successive rulers have managed to degenerate the system into a quasi-military dictatorship today.
Now UNHCR wants to have an international investigation on war crimes and crimes against humanity/genocide. Hopefully the MARA junta will be dismantled afterwards and true plural democracy restarted in the near future.
Thiru
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I am from Sri Lanka / September 26, 2013
Reading Fellows,
Ariyasinghe sounds like a GOVI GAMA VEDDAH. this political leaders act educated and trying to defend failed nations and no matter they wear Hugo Boss Suites and etc useless as they will be punished. This is all becasue of their BIG MOUTH.. Heil Heil Helil Pillay.
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Native Vedda / September 26, 2013
I am from Sri Lanka
“Ariyasinghe sounds like a GOVI GAMA VEDDAH”
I am sorry I haven’t met one of them in my life time. Could you describe in your own words how do the GOVI GAMA VEDDAHs sound.
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Anpu / September 27, 2013
Ariyasinha = Ariya + Sinha = Is it AryanLion?
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george jilmart / September 26, 2013
Ariyaena, your responses are pathetic and display the stooge and puppet mentality that you guys have to follow to get these perks from your corrupt leader.
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george jilmart / September 26, 2013
Jim softy is definitely a permanent member of the retarded club along with his admirers, the thugs and criminals who are ruling the wonder of Asia.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 26, 2013
He’s absolutely correct – just ask Ban :-)
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 26, 2013
Yes, he is always correct isn’t he LOL
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 26, 2013
Are you still mad that I caught you masquerading under multiple names and replying to your own comments :D
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J Fernando / September 26, 2013
LOL both of you have Indian names ! Doesn’t India have enough problems (like a lack of toilets LOL) to comment on?
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lal / September 26, 2013
Judging by the comments of its readers, CT has become a forum for disgruntled LTTE supporters to vent their anger and frustrations. Shall we say that LTTE didn’t lose the war they started but, they came second? Hope that will help the healing and reconciliation process.
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Anpu / September 26, 2013
Lal, Sinhalese leaders actions from 1948 gave birth to LTTE. You can call us disgruntled LTTE supporters or whatever you like. We are simply fighting for justice and we will win. CT is doing a great job.
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Hela / September 29, 2013
Yes Anpu. We know the agenda of CT. Thanks for reminding us.
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Piraña / October 2, 2013
Don’t disturb the sleeping Tiger it is not good for you. Don’t day dream that the striped feline variety is totally extinct. It may be crouching and giving peace a chance but it’s patience is definitely not indefinite . Nanthikadal jokes aside take this as a warning. I am a son of the soil from nanthikadal area and I know fully well what happened there on the 17 of may 2009. We want to make sure that it never happens again. Make no mistake when one thalaivar goes down a thousand new ones were born on that day thanks to Nanthikadal. Time is running out for peace . Clowns like Arya( kiss my arse) sinhas are joking when any spark could ignite the powder keg that may make what happened at nanthikadal Look like an evening tea party. Tamils are no fools , Tigers are no fools. If you rely on these so called diplomatic clowns the racist Sinhala govt will live to regrett. I have nothing against ordinary Sinhalese people but these corrupt so called leaders are definitely sowing once again the seeds of discontent amongst the Tamils. This is not going to Harbinger peace but war.
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Leon / September 26, 2013
This guy is trying to hide a huge pumpkin in a small plate of rice.
He wants “specific” instances and “evidence”. Does he know what will happen if specific instances and evidences are provided to the Gotabhaya Government?, the white van will be at the door step and the specific instances and the people who provide the evidence will disappear.SL has reached a stage that no one believes what comes out of the mouths of people like Mahinda ,Basil Gotabhaya and GL Peries.
To begin with publish all the reports formulaed by the many commissions that were appointed.
What Navi Pillai says has greater credibility than what Ariasinghe says.The day is fast approching for an international investgation for war crimes and crimes against humanity not to mention genocide.
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Citizen / September 26, 2013
Dear Ambassador,
You cannot hide a full size pumpkin within a plate of rice. Can you give an account why MR lost the election heavily in the North and how come three ballot boxes were found in the District of Puttalam. How is an ordinary woman (Ananthi) managed to get more than 80,000 votes whereas powerful & influential MR’s candidate could not get even one-tenth of her votes. I think the Tamils in the North are brave for a change. They have proved ‘Yes, we can’. What Navi Pillai said was absolutely correct. It is time to investigate and take action like in Syria.
In the meantime, it won’t be a surprise that MR may bargain to return Kachchativu for the annulment of the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord with the view to suppress the Tamils.
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Rama / September 27, 2013
ravinattha aryasinha is a parta [Edited out]
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Native Vedda / September 28, 2013
Rama
Very clever comment, thanks
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Luxmy Silva / September 27, 2013
What’s going on?
On 8 April Prof Pieris, Minister for External Affairs told the Sri Lankan parliament: ”Sri Lanka doesn’t concur with UNHRC resolution”.
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Luxmy Silva / September 27, 2013
UNHRC Chief isn’t setting the mandate – it’s the UNHRC members who have already set it, Your Excellency. She is only reminding you of that.
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douglas / September 27, 2013
Ms Navi Pillay must understand her position as the Commissioner and she should be careful in making oral or written statements as regards assigned to her. In the first place she could report back to the Commission and seek a mandate. If the Commission gives directions, she must strictly be guided by such guide line.
I don’t think it is appropriate to issue such dead lines to a member state who enjoys sovereign status. It is no doubt stepping out of her authority. In short who the hell is she to demand and issue ultimatums to a members state? This action on her part goes well beyond her mandate and also goes beyond doubt to prove the accusation of her being bias towards Sri Lanka. In my opinion, she cannot escape this accusation and she has messed up the issues altogether.She has failed to measure up to the standards expected of her position.
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Jim softy / September 27, 2013
Sri Lanka should have allowed the US military helicopter to load Prabhakaran and the Gang to a safe destination even if India did not want it.
Then all these problems would have been solved.
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lal / September 28, 2013
A helicopter landed to take fatso Prabha, the moron to a safe destination. The moron came towards the helicopter with a grin of joy, carrying bags of gold, stolen from his Tamil sisters. Too much weight for the helicopter to carry, and the pilot decided to take the gold only. The moron being very fat was left on the ground. How the moron acquired a hole in the head is another story.
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Piraña / October 2, 2013
I have given an answer to a fool like you above do take that seriously. Your jokes about piraba are taken very seriously don’t ignite another unfortunate situation.
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Rajash / September 27, 2013
she doesn’t need a mandate ….it’s her duty and her right entrusted to her by virtue of the office she is holding
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Fathima Fukushima / September 27, 2013
Don’t worry this Tamil woman can do nothing.
Without UN security council approval nothing works.
The best Tamil women can do is roll over public roads and howl.
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Rama / September 27, 2013
who gives a monkey about para [Edited out]. they are too smelly and ugly. madam navi is the head of unhcr. [Edited out] are clkeaning toiles and wiping and mopping arab homes. arab masters regularly beat up the para [Edited out] becuse they are thieves.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 29, 2013
who gives a monkey about para [Edited out]. they are too smelly and ugly. madam navi is the head of unhcr. [Edited out] are clkeaning toiles and wiping and mopping arab homes. arab masters regularly beat up the para [Edited out] becuse they are thieves.
The edited out bits originally contained references to Rama and his family :)
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Senguttuvan / September 27, 2013
Mrs. Pillay, as an individual, does not set time limits or time frames. There is a detailed process in the OHCHR in the UN manned
by experts, lawyers and administrative officials. The polemical
approach is once again going to land us into trouble again.
The Ambassador has a poor brief to defend. The Trinco Youth killing
is about 8 years old and so the French ACF volunteers massacre. This panacea of the LLRC now regularly trotted out is nearly 3 years old.
Why did not the Rajapakses implement the recommendations as they were announced. Relying on mendacity and deception to engage respected and
able world bodies is going to be disastrous.
Senguttuvan
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Hela / September 29, 2013
Read the complementary comments made by number of Asian, African and South American delegates at the session regarding GOSL efforts in finding durable solutions.
Attrocities committed in Northern Ireland took much longer to investigate. The yardsticks and benchmarks have to be comparative. In many other countries where USA and the West intervened with disastrous results, no systematic efforts are in place to investigate hundreds of attrocities resulting in millions of deaths. The Ambassador is absolutely right….there is no emergency situation in Sri Lanka. Pillai must be focussing on much more critical situations around the world rather than trying to pay floral tributes to mass murderers.
USA has set the UNHRC wheels in motion in cohorts with India against Sri Lanka (pillai is just a pen pusher). But every time they have to make considerable effort to win when Sri Lanka situation is put to vote. Sri Lanka possess considerable international support from many smaller nation states and huge popular support domestically in it’s fight against injustice meted out to it by USA & India.
Ultimately it will boil down to the will of the people of the country.
The struggle against Western imperialism and Indian expansionism continues.
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Fair N Square / September 28, 2013
” He added, that while the existing provisions in the Penal Code and the ICCPR Act criminalise ‘hate speech’, steps are underway to further strengthen the law against hate speech through a new amendment, under which those found guilty will be liable to imprisonment for a period not less than five years and not exceeding twenty years. “
Wonder if the same PENAL code law is applicable to the BBS… whose Galabodatthe is guilty of such hate speech… All what the court has to do is google his name and on Youtube too… to take a glimpse of his hate speech. Since he is donning robes, he should serve more than the maximum 20 year term in jail prescribed for other laymen so that a serence environment in SL is witnessed….
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Fair N Square / September 28, 2013
” He added, that while the existing provisions in the Penal Code and the ICCPR Act criminalise ‘hate speech’, steps are underway to further strengthen the law against hate speech through a new amendment, under which those found guilty will be liable to imprisonment for a period not less than five years and not exceeding twenty years. “
Wonder if the same PENAL code law is applicable to the BBS… whose Galabodatthe is guilty of such hate speech… All what the court has to do is google his name and on Youtube too… to take a glimpse of his hate speech. Since he is donning robes, he should serve more than the maximum 20 year term in jail prescribed for other laymen so that a serene environment in SL is witnessed….
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george jilmart / September 28, 2013
Jim softy and gang need to update their knowledge of the OHCHR- please wait till your corrupt regime is soon brought before the international courts. Softy can get a job wiping the Rajapakse family arses.
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Rama / September 28, 2013
i tell you i just can’t stand this geezer. he looks so annoying.
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