19 March, 2024

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Blustering Colombo Winds Up The United Nations One Too Many Times

By Rohan Jayasekera

Rohan Jayasekera

Rohan Jayasekera

I thought it would come to nothing, but I was proven wrong. I underestimated the power of Colombo’s bluster to lose friends and influence where it mattered. The UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva has voted to conduct an independent investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the closing years of its long and bloody war against murderous Tamil Tiger separatists.

The UN is a docile creature, but Sri Lanka registered its contempt for its work by pulling at its tail one too many times. Right to the end, as the UN session opened last week, Colombo was ordering the arrest of human rights activists interviewing survivors of the war, as suspected terrorists.

Detainees Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen Mahesan were just the kind of civil society observers that the UN’s independent investigators would approach once it landed. The threat was not lost on either Sri Lanka’s rights NGOs or the UN itself. UN senior human rights official Navi Pillay described the arrests as ‘provocative’ at a time when the world body was meeting to decide further action.

And provocative it was, to Sri Lanka’s disadvantage, with the members of the UNHRC voting 23-12, with 12 abstentions for the UN investigation today, and a $1.4m budget to run it. Sri Lanka’s ambassador, Ravinatha Aryasinha, slammed the resolution as a “serious breach of international law,an infringement of state sovereignty and (a) pre-judgement of the outcome of domestic processes.”

Yet a less confrontational approach might have seen off what Colombo saw, not wholly unreasonably, as a challenge to its sovereignty. Certainly plenty of other states saw it the same way, including its Asian partners China and Japan, the latter abstaining from Thursday’s vote, as did South Africa, whose handling of its own post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and human rights issues sets the gold standard for the process.

But the country’s war leader, President Mahinda Rajapakse, wanted his victory over the terrorists polished and shining a light on his post-war political future. No question regarding the conduct of the war was to be easily tolerated, whether by his own citizens or the UN.

Colombo has treated the UN with disdain from the start of its appalling final assault on the Tigers north-eastern stronghold five years ago, when Tamil civilians, aid workers and terrorists alike were blasted by government forces across a virtual free-fire zone. Maybe tens of thousands died.

United Nations officials had held silent during the final assault itself in 2009, but could not continue to do so as Colombo blindsided its calls for over three years for an evidence based process that would hold both fighters on both sides accountable for atrocities.

Twice the UN’s Human Rights Council in Geneva urged Sri Lanka in both 2012 and 2013 to investigate the events at the end of the war. Pillay herself found that the country’s own investigations were not delivering results, or its conclusions were ignored. What was lacking, she said, was not capacity, but political will.

In February she reported that continuing problems, including “continued militarisation and compulsory land acquisition… shrinking space for civil society and the media, rising religious intolerance and the undermining of independent institutions, including the judiciary.”

The stakes were high for the UN, which had called its own silence in 2009 as “a grave failure,” criticising staff who “did not perceive the prevention of killing of civilians as their responsibility”.

It triggered a shift in policy that requires UN officials to report rights violations and engage in just the kind of “quiet diplomacy” it has tried and failed with in Sri Lanka – or raise the violations with the UN in public – as it finally did on Thursday.

There were concessions. The UN’s proposed time period for investigation – 2002-09 – mirrored Colombo’s own choice of timespan in its own investigations, which had itself been largely ignored by Rajapakse’s government.

Former Indonesian attorney-general Marzuki Darusman, US law professor Steven Ratner and South African human rights campaigner Yasmin Sooka served as the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka in 2010-11. Jointly commenting before the vote they conceded the proposed investigation team lacked the formality of the UN’s freestanding commission of inquiry on Syria.

“With such a record, the denial by the government and LTTE (Tamil Tiger) sympathizers can finally be addressed, and the task of justice for Sri Lanka’s victims can enter a new stage,” the trio noted. But options to qualify the scope of the proposed mission generally ran flat up against Colombo’s blanket rejection strategy.

Colombo will not readily change its mind. The New York Times reported Rajapaksa ‘s clear displeasure while campaigning for upcoming provincial elections. “I don’t care if we win or lose in Geneva,” he said. “I don’t give a pittance. I know the people here will ensure our victory.”

The hardest of hardship postings awaits the UN official tasked to lead the investigation in Sri Lanka to come. It’s hoped that Sri Lanka will accept that it has come out worst in a diplomatic fight, and cooperate with the investigation. Most importantly there has to be no interference or intimidation of civil society groups who choose to cooperate, whether or not Colombo does. It doesn’t look very likely.

*Rohan Jayasekera is a British journalist researching the use of digital media tools in collecting evidence of human rights abuses in conflict zones and repressive states. He is the former deputy CEO of Index on Censorship . Follow him on twitter @rohanjay

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Latest comments

  • 13
    8

    “It doesn’t look very likely”

    I totally agree – the King will not budge. He will threaten those coming forward/ witnesses will disappear/ white vans will move from Colombo to North.

    Only likely scenario will be travel ban for the king and his princes. It will happen in end of 2015. Bodi puja/Thirupathi visit/audience with pope nothing will help you MARA and co.

    FUKUSHIMA/LEELA/KAS/LIBERAL ONE/JIM SOFTY get ready to pack your bags.

    • 4
      5

      Spot on RJ!
      The fact is that 3 countries that voted against the resolution last year abstained this time – so GoSL is losing ground despite India’s abstention..
      It would not have come to this – Sri Lanka risks ECONOMIC SANCTIONS next time around – f the OPPOSITION in Sri Lanka was stronger and provided leadership to the SINHALA PEOPLE who today lack decent and honest leaders. The opposition has been crippled under the OTHER SHAMELESS DICTATOR Ranil Wickramasinghe whose leadership is PUTRID because of his rejection by the Sinhala voter who he both fears and despises and treats with CONTEMPT.
      The shameless and cowardly Ranil Wickramasinghe has pldeged “full support to the Jrapassa regime at this time!
      What is to be done? Sinhala Modayas need VOTER EDUCATION and a NEW GENERATION OF HONEST LEADERS who will educate and lead them rather than treating them as if they were fools – as does Ranil Wickramasinghe.
      The Sinhala voter needs to know that the vote in Geneva is NOT against but FOR the people of Sri Lanka – and to save democracy and labour rights from the Corrupt and criminal Mahind Rajapaksa military dictatorship. The Geneva vote is ONLY against the corrupt and criminal Mahinda Rajapakse military dictatorship.
      The UNP under Ranil and Sajith who is a moron in any case have de-educated the people of Sri Lanka and kept the Sinhayala VOTERS as Moda yakka in order that Ranil and the other corrupt politicians can act like lords and mandarins. This is why POLITICAL CULTURE is rotten to the core in Sri Lanka which has an educated population today.
      This condescending attitude of UNP and SLFP to SINHALA voters must stop. Today thankfully the JVP’s Anura Kumara is doing an excellent job telling the truth about the regime and Sri Lanka’s rotten and corrupt POLITICAL CULTURE to the people. The JVP indeed is the only hope to EDUCATE THE SINHALA VOTER ON GOOD GOVERNANCE, its meaning and practice. There are no short cuts out of the mess in governance in Sri Lanka today.

      • 5
        11

        3 countries that voted against the resolution last year abstained this time because the big bully the US must have put immense pressure on them at least not to vote. We know how hard the US worked to get this resolution through.

        Jayasekara is blind to notice India abstained. He must read what Indian ambassador Dilip Sinha said at UNHRC before abstained. Singha said that “this resolution titled promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka at the UNHRC imposes an intrusive approach of international investigative mechanism which was counterproductive apart from being inconsistent and impractical.”

        Sri Lanka will not grant visa to Pilliya. Looking at India’s stance, she’ll have do her interviews and write her report in New York. When she present her one sided report to Security Council both China and Russia will veto it. End of the story. In the meantime, Rajapakse will win every election to come and stay put. Are neo-cons going to send drones to attack us or seals to pluck MR out like they did with Bin Ladden? Heeeeeeeeee.

        • 7
          4

          Mechanic, In the long run – India will take over North East Lanka and impose a Crimean Solution! This will teach a wonderful lesson to the silly Sinhala nationalists who vote for the criminal and corrupt Mahinda Rajapaksa family and cronies dictatorship / regime!

          India be following the example of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s good friend – Ruassia’s V. Putin and KGB agent – who has invaded annexed Crimea from Ukraine and annex northern SL so really you need start making sense!

          This would be easier since Govt. of India is worried about its own war crimes in Kashmir and northeast and against the Maoists!

          • 2
            2

            The North Eastern Provinces in India have been claimed as Chinese territory and appear as such in their maps. Remeber that they took the Indians on once. It could well be repeated.

            • 1
              1

              This time round, the Indians may claim the whole of Sri Lanka as Chinese Territory – ripe for plucking.

          • 7
            1

            It is the white van Goon Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is responsible for the Geneva debacle and for ‘winding up’ and playing fool with the UNHRC.

            This paranoid dictator, Gotabaya Jarapassa, likes to pretend that the LTTE is alive and well – in order to keep MILITARIZING Sri Lanka.

            This whole story about some born again tiger in a young girls house in Killinochci stinks of Gota’s paranoid and feverish imagination to DISTRACT the Sinhalaya Modyas – now that the LTTE is no more..

            • 1
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              Don’t forget that Gota and the whole team had to go against pussies like you and through your never ending insults to finish off the LTTE. You make it sound like LTTE experienced a natural death.

            • 1
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              Gota is playing all his Hambanthota comedy tricks to avoid going to Hague.

              Gobi and the false flag revival of LTTE are part of his game plan to stop UN investigation team from landing in Sri Lanka.

              But his tricks are not going to work as both Gota and Basil are US Green card holders.

              May be Navi Pillai, UN, UK and US have already gathered credible information on war crimes from the Tamil diaspora community and other local sources.

              Hambanthota comedy tricks will not work any more with Navi Pillai who has more experience in those areas.

              Better be frank and open than playing hallucinate GOBI monkey tricks with the world body.

              They have much more better tricks and bullets than Hambanthota Kabarayas.

              All we say is don’t humiliate Sri Lanka and it’s people any further. Enough is enough.

        • 2
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          Pathetic slaves like Rohan will certainly wish something like that. According to the pussy we should leave alone those campaigning for separatism just bc they happen to be human rights activists these days.

        • 0
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          mechanic,

          “..Heeeeeeeeee” Bloody rogue [Edited out] has taken the words of the Singha as the final truth! Bloody Indians have their own HR crimes to hide. They are playing a game here. They have set up everything against SL donkeys like you behind the scenes and telling a fake story in the open. This backboneless Indian govt. is going to change this year and a Pirabaharan typed leader will take over. You stupid [Edited out] with your stupid MARA will have to find culverts to hide your bovine selves when that happen. India will definitely follow Crimean precedent and MARA will become the worst betrayer ever on earth. And you [Edited out] will become the toilet cleaning slaves of Indian invaders.

      • 2
        5

        Do you know that Anura Kumara’s party thugs have attacked Ajith Kumara MP, who had crossed over to Pratugami party on the 26th night at Ganemulla? Ajith Kumara MP was on his way back in a motorbike after visiting Manawadu’s funeral where he was warned to leave the funeral house immediately by a gang said to be associates of Wijitha Herath.

        • 2
          0

          Well compared to the thugs of MR, JVP can be called a civilized party.

      • 4
        1

        Hi Don
        I am not sure what your ethinicty, but pretty obvious with your comments your hatredness towards sinhalese. I am not sure what you expect by writing like this. If we need true reconciliation and look for the future, we need to change our perceptions. The way we think, write and talk. We should promote SriLankans rather than muslim, burgher, tamil or sinhala. It doesnt matter what order I wrote these ethnicities, we should be bold enough to think act like that. Hope you understand – Pepiliyane Podda

        • 1
          1

          There is no such thing as a Sri Lankan when the GOSL and Sinhala masses support Sinhala Chauvinism.
          There won’t be reconciliation until Sinhala leadership and the masses that support them let go of their Supremacist mentality and yearning to destroy Tamils.

          • 1
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            Spoken like Mr Prabakaran himself. If anything Tamils were destroyed by your sun god while they were perfectly fine in south.

      • 0
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        Idiot! when did you wake up from your coffin. I will ask ranil to end you and the remaining idiots so be ready to travel to batalanda. RW is the next julius! 2015-2099

    • 3
      2

      Orissa man

      Rohan Jayasekera writes:

      “I underestimated the power of Colombo’s bluster to lose friends and influence where it mattered.”

      MR is just following VP’s footsteps.

  • 5
    2

    It looks like all kinds of characterless characters, like “British journalists” “researching the use of digital media tools in collecting evidence of human rights abuses in conflict zones and repressive states” (that is a mouthful of a NGO grant!)are sneaking out of the woodworks, poking fun at the government on their “Geneva Victory”.

    Since the writer “has been” the former deputy CEO of Index on Censorship, he will do well to realise that the resolution will be like a quiet fart on the ground in Sri Lanka – We ignore it.

    A message to all NGO kakkas who can’t seem to contain themselves at the moment.

    Let’s see who laughs last!

  • 5
    3

    The continued abuse of the UN and West did not help the Govt. The mood is confrontational and defiant. The results of the PC elections may reflect the mood of the people. The regime has lost credibility in its own electorate as well. A loss at the PC would help bring the regime to its senses.

  • 3
    2

    Time passes, nothing changes. As for MR and the regime, the show goes on at home with business as usual. There will be obfuscation, there will be denial, and there will be new stories of fresh threats from those evil empires in the west. The thankless job of the UN investigator will be carried out with all the familiar shortcomings; most of all non-cooperation. Nothing will deter the existing impunity with which MR, his regime and attendant ancillaries go about their business. The minorities, ethnic and religious had better fasten their seat belts; the ride is going to uncomfortably bumpy for the next few months.

    • 1
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      Spring koha who said that slaves taken by western colonists got a better deal at the end is claiming that minorities in Sri Lanka is having a hard time. What a hypocrite.

  • 7
    12

    Rohan Jayasekera,
    You have got your self upside down! You say, “Right to the end, as the UN session opened last week, Colombo was ordering the arrest of human rights activists interviewing survivors of the war, as suspected terrorists” Are you implying that Sri Lanka should forgo it’s security concerns because this UNHRC is in session? Do you really think that if there were no arrests the result would have been different?? What ever SL does is no good for the UNHRC and the west because they have already convicted SL based on Tamil Diaspora money and fictional stories and are all out to get us. Do you really think the West’s heart is oozing with compassion for a bunch of Tamils who were engaged in brutal suicide murdering?
    Go back and analyze every statement of Navi Pillay from the beginning. She had already tried Sri Lanka and found guilty since she became the commissioner. How can some one grasp the fact that a person who gave a scathing speech against Sri Lanka a day earlier now become an investigator of Sri Lanka? Why bother investigate and waste time, the UNHCR and the West can start punishing Sri Lanka now!
    If I am the President I wouldn’t allow access to Sri Lanka for any investigation. The reason is whether you give access or not the result will be the same.
    The bottom line is SL has to look after its security because no one else will. The dogs can bark, but the caravan has to move on!

  • 10
    3

    As usual the Sri Lankan media is fooling the people while talking about the UNHRC votes that many countries abstain from voting or voted against the resolution. The truth is the efforts of the Rajapaksa regime has no bearing on the final outcome. The reality is 23 countries voted in favor of the resolution, 12 against and 12 abstained from voting. The top United Nations rights body has approved an international war crimes inquiry into alleged crimes committed by both sides during Sri Lanka’s civil war. The question is what is next? Let’s not exalt the foolish regime’s useless efforts, but question the foolish regime how it is going to handle the next step.

  • 8
    3

    SRI LANKA’S DIPLOMACY WAS TO BLOCKADE THE UN ENTRANCE, GET FOOL WEERAWANSA TO MAKE A MOCKERY OF SRI LANKA SOCIETY IN THE INTERNATIONAL VIEW BY GOING ON A PRETEND HUNGER STRIKE, THEN GETTING ANOTHER FOOL IN KELANIYA TO SEND MARRIAGE PROPOSALS TO PILLAI AND LABEL EVERYONE WHO THOUGHT THE GOVT SHOULD ENGAGE IN A CREDIBLE INVESTIGATION AS TRAITORS OR TERRORISTS. THE GOVT CONTINUED ITS HARASSMENT OF ITS CITIZENS WITH IMPUNITY, ABDUCTIONS,STRENGTHENED THE EXECUTIVE VIA 19TH AMENDMENT, BROUGHT THE JUDICIARY AND AG UNDER THE EXECUTIVE VIA THREATS AND FINALLY BOUGHT THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH SHARMA SO AS TO BLOCK ANY IMPENDING CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION.

    MR IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTING UN RESOLUTION .

  • 5
    4

    As I predicted the momentum has started in favor of the West; the US backed UNHRC resolution would lead to a bloody disaster in the Indian Ocean. I really don’t think the Rajapaksa brothers can handle it from now on. If they do it will be the greatest miracle in the 21st century. The West has been ruling the world for the last 700 years; its knowledge and power are beyond the comprehension of the Sinhalese, Tamils, Indian and Chinese leaders. The West had defeated Germany, Japan, and almost Russia as well. Therefore, Sinhalese, Tamils, Indians and Chinese really can’t predict all of the West’s tricks in the future. Just wait and see how the West is going to spin the heads of Sinhalese, Tamils, Indians and Chinese through the resolution. Again the Sri Lankans will suffer more than the others due to the foolishness of the Rajapaksa regime. Sri Lankans are very unfortunate people in Asia, yet the Rajapaksas are fooling their own people as they are the greatest leaders of all time in the wonder of Asia.

    As usual the Rajapaksa regime and its funded media are fooling the people by talking about the UNHRC votes that many countries abstain from voting or voted against the resolution. The truth is the efforts of the Rajapaksa regime has no bearing on the final outcome. The reality is 23 countries voted in favor of the resolution, 12 against and 12 abstained from voting. The top United Nations rights body has approved an international war crimes inquiry into alleged crimes committed by both sides during Sri Lanka’s civil war. The question is what is next? Let’s not exalt the foolish regime’s useless efforts, but question the foolish regime how it is going to handle the next step.

    You think you know the West, but you don’t. Stop fooling yourselves. If you know the West well the Rajapaksa regime would have appreciated my sacrifices and knowledge, instead of sending its intelligence members behind me while I was in Sri Lanka in 2012. If the Tamils know the West well they would listen to me, instead of listening to the West and fought against the IPKF. I have been writing to the Rajapaksa regime, but it has been ignoring me. The regime has been ignoring the smart people. This is why they are in big trouble. The way you treated me is clear indication that the West is powerful, deceitful and far smarter than you. You have welcomed your ill fate by ignoring the smart people.

    When I was fourteen I have completed my first overseas trip on my own. When I was sixteen, I have finished reading about Mahatma Gandhi, President Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Junior. When I was twenty one, I have started to ask questions about the Australian government’s treatment of Indigenous people. When I was thirty I have finished reading about Nelson Mandela and completed two major research papers, equal to two PhD’s.

    I have chosen my own thesis and the authors carefully. Because, I know what the West teaches, and how sophisticated they are in fooling the world. Studying politics at the Western University to build Asia is foolishness. My first thesis was what are the stumbling blocks for the Asians to rule Asia and the world? I have read more than hundred books on this topic alone. My second thesis was what made the West so powerful, and what it takes for them to keep their power. I have read more than hundred and fifty books on this topic. Both researches are equal to two PhD’s.

    I have been writing to the Asian leaders, including to the Chinese leaders. When the West started the Arab spring I have warned the Chinese leaders that the Arabs spring’s final destination was China, in order to create an internal conflict to undermine China. Eventually, China increased its police forces by 20%, and stopped any uprising. Last year I have started Asia Unites to make Asia as a vibrant region. I wouldn’t have done these two great things, if I studied politics at the Western Universities. I have a Bachelor of Business degree from the RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. I have been working as an accountant, but my real job is to make sure that minority West thinks and acts as a minority, in due time. In fact, I was born for this particular task and I love it. I don’t know how much I can accomplish with divided and foolish Asians; but I am thankful, because I am starting to put a foundation. I really don’t think I can accomplish that much in my lifetime, because the West is too powerful, and the Asians are divided more than anyone’s imagination. That is why I believe that Asia Unites is the most needed and important organisation for Asia.

    • 0
      0

      You should write more for CT. write articles. The wisdom that you can give for others is immense. You are a true example of tamil intellect.
      It is sad SL is not fortuante enough to have service from great intellectuals like you.

      Write to CT more, that would be a pleasent addition to he melancholy in CT.

      :D

  • 6
    8

    Look, however you wish to spin this as the much awaited serving of justice against the Rajapakse govt., this is far from resounding victory for the US and its western lacky states. The math tells it all: 23 countries supported the resolution, while 24 countries chose not to suportit. Those who supported were the entire EU bloc and, with the exception of insignificant Mauritius, represented far away states in the Americas bloc. Nations that are of any significance within our immediate economic and security sphere either rejected this resolution or chose not to support it, thus making this outcome a much more significant victory for Sri Lanka. Navi Pillai will not set foit on Sri Lanka again, let alone conduct her “investigation”. What a joke?

    • 7
      4

      This Guy Paranawithana does not seem to have learned even basic arithmetic, wonder if he ever went to school. 23 countries supported the resolution, while 12 countries chose not to support it and the other 12 countries remained neutral. This fool cannot understand the difference between 23 and 12. He is adding the 12 abstentions to the losing side where as it should actually be added to the winning side.

      He thinks abstentions also amount to votes against the resolution, it is an indisputable fact that abstentions help a winning side, since resolutions at the UNHRC require only a simple majority to be adopted. Here it is 23 Vs 12, simple math.

      Will Sri Lanka grant Visa to ‘UN Investigating’ team & risk ‘Economic Sanctions’ just like Russia? Will Sri Lanka invite Navi Pillay again to investigate them? LOL

      • 5
        4

        James,
        It appears you not Guy Para is the fool here! 12 countries not abstaining means they do not support the resolution. If they do, they will vote yes for it. Look, two countries outside the eu block that have Tamils in their populations India and south Africa (home of Pillay and Tutu) even did not support this unwarrented resolution!

        • 0
          1

          Man this cant be.

          Abstentions mean yes and no (e.g 30%yes, 70% no or 30% No, 70% yes or etc) but they would not take part any side here thinking their future/advantage and the harm done between countries.

          Eusense@
          I dont think you are right here.

          This was the case with both SA and India.
          Intrinsic compulsions play a greater role indian politics with their elections ahead of them. This though is being interpreted by you, MR regime as a good sign, you have no gurantee that they opposed the resolution. SA is a sensitive kind of state. May be their intention is to help srilanken efforts inthe near future, as even lanken mission had sought their assitance lately.
          Most of all, to hear that the bugger to have released all fishermen calling it as goodwill gesture is heard as if things would be done regardless of the specificity of the those issues, but mainly focusing on the relationship between two countries. Latter is totally a failure if anyone woudl see it clear.

          • 2
            2

            Siri,
            Next time you post this kind of rubbish I will have to call you stupid Siri!
            If you really support something you vote “yes” for it. Imagine there is a referendum in Sri Lanka to create a Tamil Elam. You being an Elamist, would you vote “yes” or abstain from voting?

            Does your talk about “Intrinsic compulsions play” apply to India and South Africa only? What about all the countries (other than the US and UK) who voted “yes”? No intrinsic politics there?? Many countries openly said they were threatened by US and UK to vote yes! Plus the EU always go with the US and UK on what ever they do. This is not true justice, if the Tamils think these resolutions are to help them they are stupid, it is only to show the power of the west.

            • 1
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              What BS ?
              Do the US,UK or any other countries have millions of tamils as it is the case in India, SA, Malaysia, Singpore (apart from SL) ?
              Europe´s largest tamil population should be in Britain (and the fractions in Norwary(scandinavia) could be more than in the UK). I have no statistics but I roughly guess it over 300 000 live in canada.
              Now do you want me to compare the situation in TN-india with those of US, canada or any other country ?
              Correct to say that some regional elections held in some parts of Germany, France, Scandinavian countries, those candidates have to depend of few hundreds to thousands of votes (the case in great britain for example)and those intrinsic compulsions could be even more effetive in getting their candidates being elected, nevertheless situations in India and South Africa (Durban) are almost highly dependent on tamilian opinions than those of western coutnries.

              Not tamils, but anyone would feel it nothing else would work, International bodies should exercise the pressure on it. Right at the moment, yo talk about reducing corruption levels and people´s election about the appropriate leader. Do you honestly say that the atmosphere is free and fair an honest leader to be get elected in given circumstances in the country.
              This time alone, it is said record high election violations. I mean across the country. Most of them (over 60%) are from ruling thugs. Neverthess to argue with you on this thema, I tihnk it will purposeless. I know we all love the country and nation, but I would never support a man who is basically over corrupted.

        • 1
          1

          Both you and MR regime should have got it fully wrong. Right away release of all fishermen in lanken custody as a good will gesture is a seen as a joke ( typical MR style decisions
          like appointing former army men as ambassadors or higher officers – no take or care about any values based on the specificity of the problem)

          India´s abstention in yday´s voting is not smidgen of sign to have disgreed with US, UN and other countries. Rather not to express their opinion directly. But in the months to come, indians will expose their views through diplomatic ties between nations.

          Hope not days ahead he would release drug king pins already in custody as good will gesture for upcoming SINHALA HINDU NEW YEAR.
          These kind of steps are being taken very wicked leaders. Please check in Zimbabwe and several other dictatorships in Africa and Asia.- Absurd by all morals and ethics.

          • 4
            1

            Siri,
            I do not agree with most activities of MR except annihilating the Tamil terrorists. Soon he will see consequences of corruption if he does not shape up. But for everything what happened at the end of the war, I don’t hold him responsible. Civilians may have died but it wiped out terrorism and violence for ever, If he did not end the war imagine how many more citizens would have died of suicide bombing of public places! I want him to be swift in action against any sign of reemerging terrorism. As you already know Sri Lankan people have no UNHRC, Navi Pillay or Tutu on their side if terrorism sets in again.
            For your information, the majority of the Indian political parties and people of India not only don’t care about the Tamils but resent Tamil Nadu. This is known as the most corrupt state government.
            I am currently not worried about MR, if he does not get rid of corrupt activities people will get rid of him at the next election. What this UNHRC activities do is delay him getting unpopular and getting him out.

            • 2
              1

              If JRJ went ahead and finished this menace in 1987 we could have saved so many lives of civilians in north, south, the military and LTTE soldiers. That is why it is important to act swiftly against any emerging separatist violence even if it means economic sanctions against us. That is why it is important for ordinary citizens to support such determination of their leaders. In the end all those who give talks about human rights are either separatists or those who will leave the country if another war is to resume. Only the genuine ordinary citizen will suffer from another war.

        • 1
          0

          At the end of the day 23 voted in favor and 12 voted against. In anyone’s calculation, that was a win for the Yes votes.

          Abstentations can not taken for granted as No votes. Abstenttions are just Abstentations; neither a Yes nor a No vote.

          • 1
            0

            Abstention can be treated as Half “YES” and Half “NO”.
            That will mean 12 Abstentions will result in 6 “YES” an 6 “NO”.
            So in all 23+6>>>> 29, and 12+6 >>>>>> 18.
            Net result being 29 vs 18.

            • 1
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              Agree with you .. now they are on their efforts to interpret it saying that india supported srilanka .ha ha . this man and his administration is becoming a great joke to lanken politics.

        • 1
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          Ha, ha, ha…

          Another idiot eusense (or rather nosense) thinks Sri Lanka won the UN/US battle at Geneva for 2014!!!

          His mathematics is 12 ‘No’ plus 12 ‘abstain’, (12+12=24) is a count for SL and therefore 24 for SL Vs 23 for UN/US. So, SL and MR won the battle at Geneva for 2014, CHEERS!

          A few such modayas must be celebrating with a bucket full of Kavum. Enjoy!!!

          Ignorance is bliss!!!

  • 5
    1

    I have known Rohan for his candid and analytical writings. In his last paragraph he gave the most important advice “there has to be no interference or intimidation of civil society groups who choose to cooperate”. After all these bungling I do not think this government will heed Rohan’s advice.

    • 6
      0

      Prem De Silva

      “After all these bungling I do not think this government will heed Rohan’s advice. “

      Political Mullivaaikkal still exists for MR.

    • 0
      1

      Unlike you, I do not know Rohan jayasekera but his is an obviously objective assessment which has provoked the usual hydrophobic canine guards of the Jarapassas! What else is new?
      the only tragedy here is that these vicious characters are likely to escape the justice that should be theirs!

  • 1
    2

    Lanka says resolution dangerous

    The Government said that the draft resolution on Sri Lanka submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will not only constitute a serious breach of International Law, but create a dangerous precedent in the conduct of international relations within the established global order of sovereign States and could pose a grave threat to the sovereignty and independence of Member States of the United Nations, which is enshrined in the UN Charter. Sri Lanka s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva told the UNHRC that the resolution also erodes the sovereignty of the people of Sri Lanka.

    Minister Wimal Weerawansa today said that the United States backed resolution against Sri Lanka would ultimately lead to an Interim Administration in the North and East (N/E) Provinces under the supervision of the United Nations (UN).

    Will Sri Lanka grant Visa to ‘UN Investigating’ team & risk ‘Economic Sanctions’ just like Russia? Will Sri Lanka invite Navi Pillay again to investigate them?

    • 3
      1

      James,
      You should know the answers to your own questions! If I am MR no access will be given to anyone from the UNHRC. Why? with or without access the West and Navi Pillay has already found Sri Lanka guilty. They better start the next phase without wasting time, which is punishing Sri Lanka which boils down to punishing people of Sri Lanka.

      • 3
        0

        Don’t expect the brainwashed slaves left behind by the colonists to understand any of that or to side with their country over US/UK.

      • 1
        1

        It will be good if Sri Lanka rejects UN investigation because this will help the minority cause by getting the world continuously involved in the Sri Lankan HR violation and Law & Order affairs.

        If Modi and Jayalalitha come to power Sinhala gvt’s whoever they are going to be in for a really rough ride.

  • 2
    7

    The civil society in Sri Lanka is a bunch of crooks who would do anything for their neo-con pay masters to grab a sack of dollars. They have no principles or love for the country. Their agenda is the neo-con agenda. Most Sri Lankan know it. Like in Russia and many other countries, bastards should be banned from this country too. Sooner the better.

    • 5
      1

      mechanic

      “The civil society in Sri Lanka is a bunch of crooks who would do anything for their neo-con pay masters to grab a sack of dollars.”

      If they are bunch of crooks why aren’t the MR clan and its cronies and you not in it or part of it?

      Please explain what you mean by neo-con pay masters?

      • 2
        1

        NGOs been funded by the US state department. The same NGOs that were used to organize coups around the world. The same NGOs that were used to brainwash the Sinhalese that they are racist if they oppose any moves to divide their country. The same NGOs that were propelling the myth that LTTE was not militarily defeatable hence north and east should be offered to the tigers.

    • 1
      0

      On a positive note the [Edited out] receive so much dollars it should be helping our central bank reserves.

  • 0
    2

    This Don Stanly [Edited out] while writing about UN resolution against Jarapassas has lost his way and instead now writes mud about Ranil. It is this type of buffaloes who mislead the weak mined people and plunge the country into chaos.

  • 1
    0

    It is interesting that the Darusman panel had an American Law professor pulling the strings. And this is after Iraq and Abu Gharaib.

  • 7
    0

    Rohan:

    Sinhala Lanka is sliding down a slippery slope and it is gathering pace under gravity and unstoppable. MR cannot change course as he is drunk with hunger for Power. He cannot change course and he will not change course.
    GOSL are trying to see some bright spots of light in the Gloom but there is none. India deciding to abstain is understandable as India has a lot to hide including supplying Chemical Weapons and taking bribes. But Congress is a thing of the past and it was a last desperate act.
    Here is the Order of things to come.

    1) King Mahintha will receive a thumping endorsement from the Subjects and that will tell the World that it is business a usual with no let up.
    3) A three man committee will be set up to a) Gather Evidence on the Ground from the Victims b) To Guarantee the safety of those giving evidence c) Monitor harassment by security forces.
    All this will be done under the mandate given by the UN.

    Britain has already served notice to GOSL that they expect smooth passage for UN representatives to visit the North to gather evidence.

    Any attempt to block entry for UN personnel will result in sanctions and that will be done in stages same as what is going to happen in the Case of Russia.

    It is up to the people of Sinhala Lanka to spot the danger and ditch MR otherwise Factories will close, Transport will grind to a halt and Hunger will be the order of the day. The Nation will grind to a halt and it will be King Mahintha vs his Subjects.

    • 1
      0

      Kali,
      Good speculations!

  • 4
    2

    When LTTE lost the war, we call Sri Lanka won.
    When the UNHCR resolution lost, we call Sri Lanka lost.
    When TNA won the elections we call SRi Lanka lost.

    How do you characterize a Sri Lankan?
    A human or A Sinhala or A Tamil or A muslim or people who are citizen of the island of Sri Lanka.

    You don’t need to worry about UN resolution if you find a reasonable and rational answer to the above question.

    • 0
      0

      May be it depends on characterization of what TNA is.

  • 2
    0

    In the aftermath of the UN vote where Traitor India abstained it is obvious how an why it happened.
    The decision to abstain was most probably taken at the Meeting when Manmohan Singh met MR but it was kept secret so as not to fall foul of leaking that decision like last time when it back fired and India had to do a Somersault to please Tamil Nadu.

    But this was a decision India had to take as I am sure they had to finalise their Pension arrangements with MR. Moreover MR probably threatened Manmohan that unless India either voted against or abstained he would reveal all the account details in to which the bribes were paid.

    • 1
      0

      kali

      You disappoint me not that I had any confidence in your intellect in the first place.

      Who is your Guru, Dayan or Weerawansa?

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