28 March, 2024

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CBK, War Crimes & The Rule Of Law

By S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole

Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole

It is reported that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) has stated that there is no need for a war crimes probe and that the need is for a new constitution. It is a major flipflop for someone who publicly cried at the Justice K. Palakidnar Memorial Oration on 24.07.2011 over her son’s and daughter’s comments after seeing the Channel 4 documentary. Her son sobbed on the phone saying “how ashamed he was to call himself a Sinhalese and a Lankan.” Her daughter expressed “shock and horror that our countrymen could indulge in such horrific acts.”

To have no war crimes tribunals is to trivialize the deep shame felt by her children, and abort and reverse their growth she proudly and rightly boasted of about their growing up “to be the Man and Woman their father and mother wanted them to be.”

The Daily Mirror (02.02.2017) reports her criticism of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTFRM) headed by Manouri Muttetuwegama for recommending foreign judges. The CTFRM is merely repeating what all Sri Lankans know – that many of our judges are notoriously scared and take political decisions, or are corrupt and at times communal. Prof. S. Pathmanathan has pointed out that even the judgement on the de-merger of the North-East Provincial Council was politically motivated. In short, our judges are partial and can be bullied. They are unprofessional as evident in the withdrawal of foreign observers (i.e., the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons) from the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Human Rights Abuses in March-April 2008, finding a “lack of political will to find the truth.”

Therefore in calling for foreign judges in the light of the well known view of our judiciary, the CTFRM was merely repeating a promise before the whole world at the UNHRC. There this government under Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Maithripala Sirisena, affirmed the “importance of participation in a Sri Lankan judicial mechanism, including the special counsel’s office, of Commonwealth and other foreign judges, defence lawyers and authorized prosecutors and investigators.”

Those who wish to save our murdering soldiers know how politically partial our judiciary is and do not want impartial foreign judges. This seems to include our President Sirisena who is quoted in Economy Next (12.10.2016) as saying “military commanders who led a successful campaign to crush separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009 should not be humiliated by bringing them to courts.” In other words, total impunity and hero-status to those who butchered Tamil civilians in the tens of thousands.

These communalists see in the happenings of 2007 only the end of the LTTE. They are blind to the tens of thousands of civilians held hostage by the LTTE while the army bombed them into nonexistence, seeing their massacre as collateral damage. In communalist eyes, the murdering soldiers are heroes. The murdered civilians are nobodies.

The President of the National War Heroes Front, Sarath Weerasekera, says (Island 27.01.2017)

“Anyone who betrays the country should be charged for treason. […] [T]reason is an offense punishable by death. Unlike those who do not have any faith in the local judiciary we are fully confident that our judges are fully capable of defining Treason and punish [sic.] accordingly.”

Our judges? Recall the Bindunuwewa massacre where surrendered LTTE-ers in rehabilitation were massacred with the connivance of the police and the army, and a Supreme Court Justice repeatedly pointed out that a child soldier of 12 who had been killed was a terrorist. It was a rare case where the Attorney General had prosecuted the army but the judges freed all the accused although they had been found guilty by a Presidential Commission of Inquiry. Many Tamils feel that the prosecution was mainly a show put on for international donors. I suspect that as UNHRC is about to meet at month’s end, the government is getting ready to let the soldiers off because of upcoming elections.

I have travelled much in the North East. I have no doubt that massacres occurred. It was only this week that I visited a home run by the Sisters of Charity and heard of how the soldiers dumped 500 wounded persons on them after there had been wanton shelling from the army camp. My secretary told me how she was with her infant grandchild and gone to a place announced by the army to collect infant food, only to be shelled by the army. A driver spoke of bombs all round in a declared safe zone, and he could see little because it was a constant series of flashes. Tamils know!

These crimes were admitted with President Mahinda Rajapakse on the stage, at the election rally at Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna on 2 Jan. 2015 when both Douglas Devananda and EPDP MP Chandrakumar, admitted to the massacres of and use of cluster bombs on civilians during the last phase of the war in Mullivaikal. At the time, responding to President Rajapakse’s claim to fame for ending the war, CBK had countered that she had been the one to capture 70% of LTTE territory. That is when the EPDP duo felt the need to boost credit for Rajapakse in ending the war. Lacking in imagination, they asked whether CBK would also accept 70% responsibility for the massacre of Tamil civilians in large numbers during the war and for the use of cluster bombs, both stoutly denied by the government up till then. They went further. To blame challenger Sirisena, they alleged that the use of cluster bombs had been authorized by him, then Deputy Defence Minister, in the President’s absence. It was a volte face for Devananda who had earlier repeated President Rajapakse’s obviously untrue claim that troops had fought with the human rights charter in one hand, without even a single civilian casualty. It was the first time that there was official admission of the mass murders or of the use of cluster bombs by the government.

Except for a few, the Sinhalese are in collective, selective amnesia denying that all this happened. Anyone who says there is no need for a truly independent, demonstrably fair war crimes probe is essentially saying that those who deliberately murdered Tamils have a free pass. I do not think that CBK has thought through her new position.

President Sirisena might have good reasons for not wanting a serious probe of the war crimes that occurred because he himself could be investigated. But Madam Chandrika? I have respected Madam CBK over the years and supported her in many ways. However, in not wanting a real probe of war crimes as reported by Ms. Muttetuwegama and the CTFRM after canvassing opinions across the country, she is wrong; absolutely wrong!

CBK heads the Office of National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR). There can be neither unity nor reconciliation when there is no justice for those civilians who were butchered by both sides during the war for the simple reason of their being Tamil or refusing to remain as a human LTTE-shield.

CBK argues that the need is for a new constitution not a war crimes probe. We really need both. Good laws on paper are no good when we are a people who do not live by the law. For example, we have the Thirteenth Amendment. Of what good is it when it is not implemented fully? In a political situation where the state cheats and the Supreme Court and Presidential Commissions of Inquiry collaborate, only those guilty of war crimes will root for a piece of paper in the form of a constitution that is never obeyed.

For example, there were trumped up charges against me on the basis of Minister Devananda’s complaint in 2011 that I had started a riot by reporting (untruly he claimed) the rigging by him of elections in Kayts. Every few weeks I was in court where the court sergeant would pull me by my arm and make me stand where he wanted me. The Police Prosecutor would make lengthy statements in Sinhalese (which I never understood) asking for more time to investigate. This despite the constitution/law requiring Tamil to be the language of the courts in the North and a Supreme Court judgement to that effect! It was only last week, after 5 years, that the judge dismissed the case saying he has no jurisdiction and that the police keep saying they are investigating but he has seen no signs of such investigations and no longer believes that there is any investigation on. The fear of the old regime permeates the police and the judiciary.

Of what good then is the law when the people implementing the law are bad or fearful of retribution? Madam Kumaratunga: please do not waver from the correct positions you have taken in the past. Stay the course you boldly took in 2000 and in rooting for change in 2015.

Every crime needs to be punished as a deterrent. No probe means, a free hunting season on Tamils. Your government cosponsored a resolution calling for foreign judges. Why the sudden change? Did you lie then? If you persist in this, you will be giving proof to the claim of the separatists that the Sinhalese are always lying and that we Tamils must go our own way. Sensible people do not want that.

We want justice, not more words, empty promises and constitutions and laws that are never taken seriously. We want the rule of law, to return us to which your government was elected.

Killers need to be punished and not celebrated as heroes.

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Latest comments

  • 9
    8

    Dr Hoole

    So much is talked about ‘judges’.

    Can you enlighten us a bit about the process of ‘prosecution’?

    Even in the case of MP Jeyaraj ‘judgement’ was discussed at length. What of the prosecution? Could judges help if the prosecution was weak? Or deliberately made weak?

    Who will carry out the prosecution against the armed forces?
    Who will carry out the prosecution against the LTTE?

    Will those prosecutors be crdible, unbiased and professional? Will the evidence be cross examined?

    With this wooly situation I too tend to agree with CBK.

    Soma

    • 3
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      A `Monkey Court for South Asia`? would in all likelihood suffice.

    • 5
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      I worked as medico-legal officer in the war zone at early part of the war and is thus a medical witness to war crimes committed by security forces on non combatant Tamils. In 1982 a bill was passed in parliament which stated that dead body of a Tamil killed by a member of security forces can be disposed of without a judicial inquiry, in order to protect them from legal proceedings. Since then a green light was given to commit war crimes on Tamils. In April 1984 when war was officially declared with appointment of Lalith Athulathmudali as minister of national security, this was encouraged to cow down Tamil population.

      However in 1985 due to international pressure, government agreed to have postmortem conducted on victims to hoodwink them. Most of these cases never saw the courts. Some selected cases were transferred to Colombo citing security concerns of perpetrators to be heard under Sinhala Judges and jury. Despite difficulties in travel and finding accommodation in Colombo and braving the threats by security forces, Tamil witnesses gave evidence of the atrocities. The racist judges dismissed them and took the bogus report submitted by police and acquitted the culprits as justifiable homicide or collateral damage.

      Tamils never got justice for any crimes committed on them by Sinhalese since independence. Therefore to expect they will get justice in the future for war crimes committed by security forces is foolish, unless international community steps in as in Bosnia or Rwanda. Except for a handful of fair minded Sinhalese, rest do not want any inquiry at all regarding war crimes. They say that killing of Tamils in order to wipe out LTTE even done deliberately, cannot be considered as a crime. There is institutional racism in all walks of life in Srilanka – Legislative, executive and Judicial, which need to be corrected to deliver justice.

      Atrocities on Tamils was wide spread and not sporadic, institutional and not individualistic. Arbitrary arrest and summary execution with dead bodies displayed in prominent spots, revenge killings by entering houses and shooting people dead, indiscriminate firing into crowds, firing mortars from ships, rolling barrel bombs from helicopters onto houses, artillery shelling into dwelling places, areal bombardment from planes targeting civilian areas and places of worship etc. Surely these cannot be condoned by any civilized society. If anyone who denies these or stands in the way of justice is against peace and reconciliation.

      • 0
        0

        Dr GS

        So much is talked about ‘judges’.

        Can you enlighten us a bit about the process of ‘prosecution’ when the war crimes trials are initiated.

        Who will carry out the prosecution against the armed forces?
        Who will carry out the prosecution against the LTTE?

        Will those prosecutors be credible, unbiased and professional? Will the evidence be cross examined?

        Thanks

        Soma

        • 0
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          When Desmond De Silva was appointed to chair war crimes committed in Sierra Leone, no one questioned his credibility. UN will appoint persons with international standing with high integrity to the panel to hear war crimes committed by Srilankan security forces. Sinhalese people who are unwilling to face the truth, are coming out with various excuses to cover up these atrocities. Only silly persons who have no clue about war crimes investigations ask these questions. If you do not want any war crimes investigations on security forces, follow the example of East Timor and South Sudan, by withdrawing security forces from Tamil homeland and granting independence.

          • 0
            0

            LOL if you do not want investigations withdraw troops..lol

            Idiot if SLn government does not help UN can do NOTHING regarding the fake investigations. That is exactly why US did regime change to have a government which would agree to it. But if the current government also does not go ahead with it, the only thing UN can say is…oh SLn government violated us…LOL

            And again there is no substantial evidences to create a case against SL.

        • 0
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          Dr GS

          Please please tell us

          Who will carry out the prosecution against the armed forces?
          Who will carry out the prosecution against the LTTE?

          Soma

    • 2
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      somaasss

      “Even in the case of MP Jeyaraj ‘judgement’ was discussed at length. What of the prosecution? Could judges help if the prosecution was weak? Or deliberately made weak?”

      Find a judge who would deliver a desired verdict with a bit of Jury nobbling. People are not born yesterday.

      “Can you enlighten us a bit about the process of ‘prosecution’?”

      A truth and reconciliation process does not involve prosecution – Confess, Own up, Beg Mercy, Receive pardon from the commission, ….. move on.

      Prosecution would be the last resort for the state to pursue the smart ass patriots, for example you, GR, Dayan, MR, Kamal, Silvas, ……..

      No truth, No Justice, No peace of mind for the war criminals, …..

      Remember the war criminals with screwed up mind are living among the majority people, being their father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandfather, ….. neighbour, …

      • 0
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        NV

        Either you are confused or I am confused. They are talking about ‘war crimes trial’ and ‘foreign judges’. ‘Judges’ are needed only if there is a ‘trial’ which necessarily entail ‘prosecutors’ You Native Vedda, master of illogical constructs and deliberate confusion has single handedly decided to have a ‘truth commission’ not a ‘trial’.

        Will Sampanthan the head of the political wing of LTTE ever confess?

        Will YOU ever confess for trafficking cyanide capsules into the country for baby tigers?

        Soma

        • 1
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          somaassss

          This was my position before, during and after the war.

          As you know I don’t give a damn whatever others say about war and peace, however my position on every aspect of Sri Lankan politics is shaped by my Elder’s wisdom.

          Therefore you need to grow up.

    • 0
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      Soma this is a another die hard separatist. He needs no justice but revenge for eliminating their sun god. If there was massacres of ten of thousands as this die hard terrorist claims how come the Rad cross and the UNICEF and UNHCR who were on the ground through out didn’t know about it?

      you are right Prof. Tamils know! they know who fu**ed them and who held the lamp for them.their day of reckoning will come sooner rather than later.

  • 13
    3

    Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, Quite a forceful presentation!

    Your stand and the manner in which you have stated it earns you a bravery medal.

    Be on guard. I am concerned for your well-being.

  • 9
    6

    Any new information or argument here? In fact one of the paragraphs is exactly the same as the author’s previous article. A bit of carelessness or self-plagiarism?

    [ IEEE Policies document, Sections 6.4.1B(f) and 6.4.1B(h):
    “…
    The verbatim copying or reuse of one’s own… is considered another form of plagiarism or self-plagiarism; it is unacceptable.
    …”
    ]

    • 2
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      Dear Chithral,

      You may have point when you say:

      self-plagiarism? [ IEEE Policies document, Sections 6.4.1B(f) and 6.4.1B(h)]:

      And, of course you are aware that the writer is a Fellow of IEEE. You are obviously a very sophisticated man yourself.

      However, this also emphasises how even if a point is made over and over again, so little heed is paid by us to a very real problem that we must face up to. There are so many things wrongs around us that are never corrected.

      CBK’s about turn on this issue is most disappointing.

      • 0
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        Sinhala_Man

        A simple phrase “As I said in my previous article…” before the recycled paragraph would have been fine.

        But, in general those who advertise the number of words/ sentences/ paragraphs/ papers they have written as evidence of their superior intellect should be careful when they self-plagiarise.

        This is not a sophisticated observation.

  • 6
    20

    Same old drivel by an alien. Hoole, how come you don’t understand Sinhalese? Did you just arrived in Sri Lanka? Every Sri Lankan citizen (except babies and infants) must speak Sinhalese or they must be deported.

    CBK is always for herself. If she indicates left that means she turns right, and vice versa. CBK is trying to make her son the next executive president.

    The accusations of SL forces are false and exaggerated, everyone knows it. If Tamils stayed in their homeland Tamil Nadu, non of these would happen.

    Now Tamils must realize there will never be autonomy, Self- determination, federalism or Tamil nation on the island, learn Sinhalese and integrate or go back to Tamil Nadu.

    There were no war crimes to be investigated. The unpleasant things that happened during the WAR were all “TYPICAL WAR INCIDENTS”. MOVE ON!!!!!

    • 9
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      Johnny stupid English

      “Now Tamils must realize there will never be autonomy, Self- determination, federalism or Tamil nation on the island,”

      It is for the people to decide and not for the brainless Sea Anemone to determine.

      “learn Sinhalese and integrate or go back to Tamil Nadu.”

      You are right descendants of Kallthonies who now claimed to be Sinhala/Buddhists noisy minority should go back to their ancestral homeland South India.

      When are you leaving?

      When you go take soma, sach, Nuisance, Ranjith, jim softy the dimwit, Dayan, …….. Sinhala speaking Demela Ravi Perera with you.

      • 2
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        Native Vedda:

        Bray as lous as you can.

        • 5
          1

          Hmmm language is evolving among the Dalits

        • 5
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          jim shitty, have you learnt another language which no one understand? hahahahaha………..you are a real joker.

          Bray as lous as you can……you are a hoot.

        • 4
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          Braying is only for Donkeys. Is that your new language?

    • 4
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      John writes “The accusations of SL forces are false and exaggerated, everyone knows.”

      I think John meant accusations against SL forces. Here is Chandrika in her Palakidner Memorial Oration:

      “Let us have the humility to admit that we Sri Lankans have failed as a Nation. Let us look Truth in the face, have the honesty and the courage to accept our mistakes and the generosity to make amendments. Continued Denial of proven facts and abuse of our honest critics will not resolve the problem for anyone.

    • 5
      0

      No way, none of her children will join to lanken devious politics.

      There are no even signs of them. Both his son and daughter are academics and they do their way of life being away from the country.

      Unlike Paraya h children, none of CBK children did any harm to this nation.

      Namal Baby and the night car races tremoured colombo and kandy vicinities were some of unbearable sound exposure behaviours .. that Maharajas sons deliberately did for this nation. To that time, DJ or any others still on the licking mode to them had been so servile for some reasons.
      Even today, the very same bunch and all others stay in that mode for their own reasons.

      I think CBK and few others only feel it for all the communities. Just having got mixed the fedaralism with separatism, Mahinda and several other politicians have been rabble rousing the people – these folks are the vulnerable masses for them, if they are to come to power. They just focus on that only.

    • 2
      7

      John

      Hoole, how come you don’t understand Sinhalese? Did you just arrived in Sri Lanka? Every Sri Lankan citizen (except babies and infants) must speak Sinhalese

      What a country Sri lanka is.

      A Tamil had been educted, graduated and taught in a southern university yet he did not know the majority language.

      Can you do that any where in the world ? and will that be acceptable ?

      what is their christian morality or Ethics ?

      • 6
        1

        only people who must speak Sinhalese are Dalits, BBS terrorists , saree wearing teanninues and Kallathonis educated people speak Tamil.

      • 7
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        I’ve been edited out for exceeding the word limit.

        I was making two points:

        First, while trilingualism is what we should aim at through education for the younger generation, we can’t demand it. I don’t know any Tamil, and Prof. Hoole may have only enough Sinhala to comprehend.

        Secondly, I related a story about how I encountered one of those sentenced to death for the Bindunuwewa massacre. Inspector Karunasena turned out to be quite a nice man. He was probably a scapegoat is my view. Those at the top always seem to escape.

        That same episode, about five years ago, showed that there were political Buddhist monks, aligned to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who were really dangerous characters. Perhaps I should write it up as a separate article.

        • 4
          1

          Sinhala_Man

          “First, while trilingualism is what we should aim at through education for the younger generation, we can’t demand it.”

          Every Tom, Dick and Harry on this island should be given enough opportunity to learn at least four languages.

          The world is becoming increasingly competitive and the people of this island are not being prepared to face it. Being a lazy lot they expect a easy life on other’s expenses.

          Language learning is not difficult provided the state proactively pursue a language policy and allocate enough funds to transform linguistic landscape of this island.

          There are many schools in south of this island which would like to teach their predominantly Sinhalese student English and Tamil. However the state and education department seem not interested for reasons that only known to them.

          One school principle told me that they do not have enough trained Tamil teachers who are willing to serve in the remotest areas. The education department is unwilling to allocate enough funds to support extra costs though the students and teachers are initially very enthusiastic about learning Tamil and English.

          The ordinary people are willing to learn any number of languages however the state is unwilling to provide the much needed resources.

    • 5
      0

      John,

      “Hoole, how come you don’t understand Sinhalese? Did you just arrived in Sri Lanka? Every Sri Lankan citizen (except babies and infants) must speak Sinhalese or they must be deported.”

      Where do you think we can learn your language in the North? Especially good enough to understand an OIC prosecuting?

      Do you want to deport people who never had a chance to learn your language?

      The sad fact is that many here would be happy to be deported!

    • 0
      0

      [Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.

  • 0
    0

    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/

  • 2
    4

    Hooked,

    Write something about LTTE use of child soldiers and “COMFORT WOMEN”.

    • 4
      0

      Johnny English

      “Write something about LTTE use of child soldiers and “COMFORT WOMEN”.”

      We understand at this age you need some Val Katha to read and attain self actualization.

      However, here is something that already been published by The Sunday Times on 8th August 1999:

      Villages in these jungles

      And the women who live there

      Life for women in these villages is a nightmare. But
      the State ignores the problems
      By Farah Mihlar

      http://www.sundaytimes.lk/990808/plus7.html

  • 5
    1

    “…both Douglas Devananda and EPDP MP Chandrakumar, admitted to the massacres of and use of cluster bombs on civilians during the last phase of the war in Mullivaikal.”

    They conceded, yes, but “admitted to”? Were they party to the events referred to?

    • 4
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      As always Sivasegaram is with his masters. Dougie and Chandrakanthan were part of the govt. Anything they said about massacring and using cluster bombs is an admission.

    • 7
      5

      Dr.Sivasegaram,

      The EPDP was a paramilitary allied to the SL armed forces; they even operated from the SLA camps and did the then regime’s bidding in abducting and murdering people in Jaffna. So they were a party to war crimes in general–even though they were not in the Air Force bombers–and need to answer for it.

      In the face of the enormity their crimes, your question is weird and calls into question your real sympathies; but then these days many old Lankan Marxists do sound like weird creatures who have lost their marbles.

      What is more, the EPDP terrorized Dr. Hoole with a case, which he says was dismissed only after 5 years of harassment.
      He has shown courage in going back to Jaffna and facing it, and now in taking his brave stand on war crimes.

      There are all sorts of thugs and war criminals running around who might cause him harm. The public needs to be vigilant and notify him of any potential threats, no matter what petty quarrels some people have with him on other issues like religion.

      • 0
        0

        Agnos
        This is SJ speaking, Sivaseagram has been sent on leave.

        ‘Admitting to something’ has a specific meaning in English. I only sought clarification.
        If the statement is correct as it stood, information is forthcoming that is relevant to war crimes.
        If a careless utterance, I am sure that the author has the decency to say so.

        I have heard of many of the unsavoury characters that you are talking about, including those you have sentenced and are yet to sentence.
        I was fortunate not to got near any of them or seek any favour from them.

        Why are you getting agitated and going at a tangent? Calm down.

        • 2
          3

          When it comes to emotive issues like war crimes, in media settings as opposed to a court, people are allowed to have some leeway and don’t have to be precise in their choice of words.

        • 5
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          The author is not given to emotional outbursts and I only wanted a clarification.

          Also, I do not think that you are anybody’s proxy.

          If the author is hesitant to respond, I will leave it at that.

      • 1
        0

        “…EPDP terrorized Dr. Hoole with a case…”

        You happen to know the number of times Dr Hoole terrorised the universities in a similar manner?

        • 2
          2

          The positions Hoole adopted as an academic or UGC administrator might have caused anxiety to some people whom he might have deemed as lazy ( or his other negatives such as chest-thumping or muckraking might have caused pain of mind to deeply religious people) but he never had any mafia style power. It is ridiculous to compare anything like that with what the EPDP did. I will leave it at that and not waste my time.

        • 2
          1

          I wish all Tamil victims will do likewise, and fight their cause and the Administrations that play favourites through the courts like Professor.
          Why would a University feel terrorized by someone seeking justice for himself or his students and colleagues? You must answer that.

          Kuttramulla nenje kurukurukkum.

          All Tamils should have used the courts more. I know Jeevan from school, we were waiting for our AL results in 1970. I am surprised he has kids with all that kicking. I saw how he was kicked on the wayside by policemen with his brother and another classmate. He went to courts and we schoolboys were shocked by that then. He and Sivakumar would appear in front of Judge Thambithurai every time. Yet the policemen who beat up Jeevan or the policemen who charged Sivakumar would have been sent far away on duty on that particular day. This went on for a long time.

          Jeevan should be congratulated. The Universities should be cleansed of crooks who play favourites for the betterment of this country.

    • 0
      1

      Thuyil neengi Eluga Thamila!
      I only asked the author to clarify whether the persons named were party to the events referred to.

      It is a serious question needing a serious answer, and let the writer respond if he chooses to.

      Why may I know you are are getting your knickers in a twist?

    • 1
      2

      Quipping is low grade technique. It like playing “Koothukkai Koomaali” character. A real debater may go wrong in his points but fearlessly put forward his contents to be understood and challenged by opponents or accepted and praised by supporters.

      If SJ thinks that Dougie or Chandrakuamar was a party of loading cluster bombs to bombers, why can’t SJ say that openly?

      Say if Mr. Hoole is rejecting their participation, then will that satisfy SJ? Is this quipp to factfinding attempt or technique to drag for ever by throwing further quips in case if the answer is “no”?

      It is unfortunate Karumam our educated PhD is only wants to play this role, but no contributing part in debates.

      • 1
        1

        Cannot you understand simple language?
        I only asked for a clarification.
        If the author cannot, that is fine by me; and I say no more.

        You should soothe the frayed nerve endings of those who seem agitated.

        • 1
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          You sounds really weird SJ.

          Dougie and Chandrakumar are public figures. Why any proxy should not know better than the author?

          “It is a serious question needing a serious answer,……..I only asked for a clarification” You just quip silly things,you don’t like answers!

          Then you are writing to indicate that the either the author got into your Chess strategy trap, needs to ask an excuse from you to get out or a just a moran enough to not knowing the answer:If the author cannot, that is fine by me.

          Do you attempt to study weak points to hits instead of factual engagements with your opponents? You should soothe the frayed nerve endings of those who seem agitated. Let me guess something about you: Could you buy a bottle of Rogaine and out it your bald head? Then you may look like a smart gentleman.

          • 1
            0

            Dearest Malli
            Thanks for the kind advice:
            “Could you buy a bottle of Rogaine and out it your bald head? Then you may look like a smart gentleman.”

            But a little catch: can you also kindly suggest something to make me go bald in the first place– in case you have experience in the matter.

  • 1
    9

    This person is hallucinating.

    Collateral damage is not a war crime. As the ltte had attacked army after creeping into crowded areas it is the ltte that had violated laws. And Sri Lankan army can counter attack when it is attacked.

  • 8
    1

    Rule of law died in Sinhala Lanka when the British transferred power to a barbarian race incapable of running a civilised society. Since then law of the jungle took hold, letting loose serial killers and sexual predators who abuse and maim defenceless Tamil civilians with impunity.

    • 2
      7

      Mr Sinhala crimes against humanity

      The only ambition of majority Tamils is to continue to live among the Sinhalese once the Tamil homeland is created. I bet my last rupee that not a single Tamil will move out. There is an inherent superiority in the Sinhala Buddhist society. Ask a Tamil in the estate sector. Ask MP Sumsthitharan.

      Soma

      • 2
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        Inherent superiority of the SinHELLese due to achievements like being the first majority group to receive affirmative action because too lazy for competition. Getting ass kicked by out-powered guerrilla group for decades and begging for assistance of the entire world but still couldn’t do it right without committing genocide.
        Other Sinhala achievements include:
        – descending from bestiality
        – only state to bomb its own citizens after sudan
        – 2nd place in enforced disappearances after iraq
        – high rate of sexual violence against women and children
        – high rate of murder
        – high rate of suicide
        – high rate of alcohol consumption
        – necrophilia
        – gang rape
        – killing in the name of Buddha
        – burning one of the largest libraries in asia
        – committing genocide and war crimes

        • 0
          0

          Mr Sinhala crimes against humanity

          With all that your desire to live among the Sinhalese is inexplicable. What kind of inferiority complex is that? I couldn’t find any other explanation than there must be some inherent superiority in the Sinhaa Buddhist society. How do you explain the desire of the Muslims to migrate to Christian countries?

          Why don’t you get together with Native Vedda and Vigeswaran to educate the Tamil children in the Sinhala areas about the true nature of the Sinhalese. This will be very useful in peaceful transfer of Tamil in to the Tamil Homeland when the time comes.

          Soma

        • 0
          1

          Sinhala Crimes Against Humanity,

          “only state to bomb its own citizens after sudan”

          USA, UK, Syria, Yemen? US and UK citizens including minors have been killed in government approved drone attacks in for instance Yemen.

      • 3
        0

        somaass

        “I bet my last rupee that not a single Tamil will move out.”

        I will put you out of your misery by relocating all the noisy minority from Sri Lanka proper to your promised Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto.

        • 0
          0

          I lived in Colombo for 44 years since birth, and moved out selling my property for a song and foregoing my pension of 18 years service, to start life fresh, both in terms of career and finance. If I did it, certainly any self respecting Tamil will do the same.

          • 0
            0

            If a Tamil who served in Colombo moves to Jafna after retirement does he lose the pension? There must be a limit to ….. Dr SG. Good luck.

            I hope every Tamil who lives among the Sinhalese will be as self respecting as Dr.SG.

            Soma

          • 0
            0

            Dr Gnana S.

            “If I did it, certainly any self respecting Tamil will do the same.”

            Are you seriously suggesting that all self respecting Tamils should emigrate like you did? Especially badly needed professionals like doctors?

        • 1
          0

          Sri Lanka is the legitimate Sinhala Buddhist ghetto….TN is the legitimate Tamil ghetto

  • 4
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    The successive regimes during and after the war, beginning with CBK do not want International Judges to probe the war crimes committed by both sides during the war because they dare not incur the ‘displeasure’ of the military who even now keep Tamils under subjugation as ‘second class citizens’ in the north and east – the same military who court martialled a general – now promoted to Field Marshal – in a ‘sham trial’ and sentenced him to three year in jail.

    This, AFTER c0-sponsoring the resolution proposed by USA agreeing to such Judges to inquire.

    “It was only last week, after 5 years, the judge dismissed the case saying that he has no jurisdiction……………………”

    It took the “learned” judge FIVE YEARS to realise that he had no jurisdiction to hear the case!!

    This is evidence that our judiciary are masters of prevarication.
    They now even have a Minister of (In)justice to support them.
    Minorities, especially Tamils, will never get justice from any government dominated by southern Sinhalese dominated governments.

    Minorities, especially Tamils, will continue, under any constitution, to exist as ‘second class’ citizens.

    • 2
      0

      justice,

      “It took the “learned” judge FIVE YEARS to realise that he had no jurisdiction to hear the case!!”

      I believe that there were at least two judges due to transfers.

      Maybe the judges also did not understand the Sinhalese of the prosecuting police officer?

      • 1
        0

        The initial judge was of very dubious character who put out the arrest order to please Douglas D. I have seen that judge on DD’s election platform by my home in Muththirai-Chanthai. An MP told me that that this judge begged him for help in getting to the high court. That judge was made Trustee to a temple in one of the islands because ownership was in dispute. There expatriates would come and donate very expensive saris. Since the deity will not wear saris, they are auctioned. Because they are so expensive, the going rate is a fraction of real cost. The judge would take saris at a nominal price and according to a witness would put some in a bag in front of everyone without even bidding although that judge was the auctioneer. Now I see that judge practising. I hope it is because of being removed but I do not know.

        Then there was a judge, Mr. Lenin Kumar. He was a decent guy, a fellow Johnian. He immediately saw there was no case and no jurisdiction. He wrote to the Attorney General saying this but asked for advice saying he knew me and that dismissing the case as it deserved could be held as favoritism. The AG’s called for the file, sat on it for a good while and then returned it without comment!

        That is the kind of justice system we had.

        The present judge needs to be congratulated for ruling as he did, despite the political nature of the case. He is a senior man and it is said that he is where he is because of some political thuggery from the JSC because of his independence.

        • 0
          0

          Dr Jeevan Hoole,

          “Now I see that judge practising.”

          He maybe retired? Are you willing to give his name? Has be ever tried to become a politician himself?

          • 0
            0

            The Judge concerned is an idiot and a corrupt one.She is known by her nickname “Joy”. Judicial Service Commission should be ashamed to have appointed persons of that calibre to the judiciary.She was appointed Magistrate when she was well into her naughty forties,quite late for such junior appointment.It was said that elderly Tamils were appointed to such posts with the purpose so that they will never get the opportunity to enter the top echelons,but have to retire as District judges.Even now only few Tamil judges are serving in the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
            By the way,congratulations Dr.Hoole for the excellent article and for unmasking Madam Chandrika.

    • 1
      4

      Justice

      Minorities, especially Tamils, will continue, under any constitution, to exist as ‘second class’ citizens.

      some Tamils are not welcome in Tamilnadu. Even if they go there, they become refugees.

      On ther other hand, Estate Tamil politicians win Cars and rewards from Jallikuttu.

      That is why, Tamils any class to live in Sri lanka. If not, they would move back to Tamilnadu.

      • 3
        0

        Under the new constitution , monks will be upgraded to wearing sarong from sarees. Monks will officially become Dalits of Sri Lanka. Gacham Saranam Gachami.

  • 4
    0

    Good laws on paper are no good when we are a people who do not live by the law. For example, we have the Thirteenth Amendment. Of what good is it when it is not implemented fully? – you are irrefutably correct. An article well prepared and presented.

  • 0
    3

    Responsible authorities of the govt had said, that cluster bombs were legal.

    So, braying loud is not useful.

    • 6
      0

      So why the government is concealing the use of cluster bombs??

    • 5
      0

      Is braying a language of saree wearing trainny monks ?

  • 4
    1

    Dr Jeevan Hoole,

    “It was only last week, after 5 years, that the judge dismissed the case saying he has no jurisdiction and that the police keep saying they are investigating but he has seen no signs of such investigations and no longer believes that there is any investigation on.”

    Congratulations.

    Was the Lanerolle report you gave to the Nadesan library the full version with the long appendix?

    • 2
      3

      Lone Wolf:

      Thank you. The report had about 20 pages as I recall. I do not remember any appendix. Sorry. It was in 2004 and my memory is hazy.

      Jeevan

      • 2
        0

        Dr Jeevan Hoole,

        “The report had about 20 pages as I recall.”

        I think that we are looking for 800-900 pages.

        Thanks anyway.

        • 1
          0

          Attempts to get the 800 pages from someone who claimed to have them have a copy met with silence. However, a barely legible umpteenth-generation photocopy of the not terribly well typed final report (80 pages)), has been deciphered and made available for putting on the net. Hopefully this will happen in March.

          • 0
            0

            Manel Fonseka,

            “Attempts to get the 800 pages from someone who claimed to have them have a copy met with silence.”

            I suggest again that some of us visit Tissa J. and ask him to share his copy with others. He cannot meet visitors with silence can he?

            • 0
              0

              Please see my comments to sekara.

              Do you know me? Or, again, do I know you?

              It is not very nice to make hostile comments from the safety of a pseudonym.

          • 0
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            Manel
            An 80 page report will probably not be read by many so long after the event; and it could be selectively used by unscrupulous persons.
            It will be good if an itemized summary (with page reference to the main report) running into 2 pages maximum is published for ready access.

            This would achieve two purposes: (1) making the essence of the report available to a wide section of the public and (2) serve as a guide to those interested in particular aspects of the report of relevance to any context.

            How it comes out is for those working on the document to resolve. Mine is only a suggestion.

            • 0
              0

              sekara,

              “An 80 page report will probably not be read by many so long after the event; and it could be selectively used by unscrupulous persons. It will be good if an itemized summary (with page reference to the main report) running into 2 pages maximum is published for ready access.”

              Thank you for your sound advice. The problem is that the full report with the appendix is 800-900 pages long and that we don’t have the full report. According to others the appendix of 800 pages is more interesting than the rest of the report. I never saw the thing so that this is hear say.

              • 0
                0

                LW
                I was talking about the “not terribly well typed final report (80 pages)… deciphered and made available for putting on the net.”

                The 800 page document will be archival material, and if accessed should be preserved for future reference.

                • 0
                  0

                  Sekara,

                  I cannot comment on something I have not read. I have to trust others until the full report is available.

                  Why don’t you also make a request to obtain access to the only known full copy of the Lanerolle report?

                  • 0
                    0

                    From whom, may I know?

                    • 0
                      0

                      sekara — In answer to your question “from whom….? ) Lone Wolf mentions a Tissa J.

                      I think he is referring to Tissa Jayatilleke who used to run an American Outreach service here of some kind.

                    • 0
                      0

                      sekara,

                      “From whom, may I know?”

                      I thought that you knew already but here goes the information again.

                      Tissa Jayatilaka

                      http://island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=24471

                      “Prof. Halpé may be interested to know that among some of his books and papers that Mr.de Lanerolle presented to me prior to his death was a copy of his unpublished Report on Student Disturbances at the University of Peradeniya in 1983. The authorities at Peradeniya suppressed this Report and had advised him to destroy copies of it in his possession. He contributed a paper based on this Report titled Terror in the Hall A Lesson for Institutions of Higher Education in other parts of the Third World? to a journal (North-South Perspectives) that I edited in 1987. That suppressed and unpublished Report of 1983 forms a very valuable part of my personal archives today.”

                      Sinhala_Man and Manel Fonseka have more knowledge than I do.

            • 0
              0

              sekara

              Actually, quite a bit of the report is already on line on the website of the University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna)(UTHR J).

              As Lone Woolf once rather unkindly pointed out, I am an old woman now and retyping the 80 pages (which are in fact rather less when computerised — it was originally done on a manual typewriter) was a tiring enough task. I leave it to someone else to summarise but it is actually not such a long read. Especially for those hankering after the 800 paged edition.

              • 0
                0

                Manel Fonseka,

                “As Lone Woolf once rather unkindly pointed out, I am an old woman now and retyping the 80 pages (which are in fact rather less when computerised — it was originally done on a manual typewriter) was a tiring enough task.”

                I thank you for your typing, help and your comments.

                To my best knowledge I have never commented on your age or been hostile towards you. If I have I apologize. I think that you are referring to somebody else.

                “I leave it to someone else to summarise but it is actually not such a long read. Especially for those hankering after the 800 paged edition.”

                I am sure that somebody else can summarize the report and there are people interested in the full version.

                I sincerely hope that you read my comment.

                • 0
                  0

                  I came across your remark quite by accident long after you posted it. Sinhala Man had also noticed it and thought it rather uncalled-for and unkind. I believe you are in touch with him. He is very good at ferreting out these things. Ask him about it and I am sure he will be able to call up the posting of that comment.

                  You were impatient with me for not providing the Lanerolle Report to order.

                  Anyway, it made me believe that you know me or how would you guess my age.

              • 0
                0

                Manel Fonseka,

                “I think he is referring to Tissa Jayatilleke who used to run an American Outreach service here of some kind.”

                Executive Director of Fulbright US-SL, Board of ICES, Friday Forum and some other organizations.

              • 0
                0

                Manel
                You could have got it scanned and then cleaned it up, that was if the pages were not too gray or with scratches and patches.

                Too late now.
                Even your mechanical typewriter text can be scanned rather than retyped. It is is not cutting edge tech.

                If you can lay your hand on the 800 page text, please get someone to scan it for you.
                Try a page and then decide on the next step.
                There is software for cursive writing as well. I do not have it. But it could be located.

            • 0
              0

              In fact, I wonder if Lone Wolf actually knows me that he was able to refer to my great age, and in such a hostile manner.

  • 0
    0

    It has only been 8.5 years and there will be a time for investigations and war crimes tribunals after the US does the same for its white christian soldiers in Iraq and as far back as Vietnam no? Remember MyLai Professor Hoole? Can you name any American who was charged with war crimes for wholesale bombing, napalm, agent orange, rapes and massacres and tossing people out of Helicopters because they were Gooks, Charlie VC? All you guys now seem to get inspiration from the biggest war criminal nation no?

  • 2
    0

    The war crime investigation is trapped into Lankawe’s local and external Appa Diplomacy Political process. The current investigation period for OISL report was set up by Old King for LLRC. The purpose was to do a soft dealing and clear Old King names with CBK’s peace period. CBK’s War for Peace period was reserved by Old Royals to use to convict her on their proposed (war) crime. CBK’s claim of that she was the one who finished 70% of the war is accounted within this. So, CBK stayed out of Lankawe and its politics to escape out of this trap. Similarly Old Royals were calling for IPKF time for war crime investigation and keeping Sonia’s under control on their side too.

    Yahapalanaya’s biggest game on war crime investigation was gargantuan shouting in the 2015 election meetings “Read my lips; No leader, No commander, No soldier will be investigated”. This is telling if the September 2014 UNHRC’s resolution was not there, Yahapalanaya wouldn’t have been able to win. Ranil attempted to use the Darusman report to force Old King to form a National Unity government, but failed. Ranil has been using war crime investigation with other matters like “from Lasantha to Kathirgamar’s” murders to manage Old King. Ranil has been claiming he is the one saved the heroic soldiers from war crime by technically blocking ICC’s interfering in Lankawe. Many times, to keep an upper hand, New King has been claiming he, who eliminated the UN Electric Chair that was supposed to be rewarded to Old Royals, in case if UNHRC arrange the investigation by ICC or UNSC. For few years Lankawe politicians have been using war crime investigation for election victories, to issue internal and external threat along in their usual anti-minority sentiment arousal inside the country.

  • 2
    0

    Old King has been campaigning, after 2010, in all provincial elections that he was a man, who has been condemned to UN Electric Chair for the crime of having saved his nation. Wimal become popular by Lemon Puff hunger strike in front on UN embassy. Muslims played their role by Friday demonstration against UN and extracted maximum from Old Royals. To get out of his personal crime investigation Hakeem flew to Geneva and spoke against the war crime investigation. Then GOSL used the inverse of it against foreign governments, UNHRC and NGOs like HRW,AI….. If these international players raise concerns of minority rights like Tamils settlement or Muslim Women’s freedom, they cite inverse of this that Sinhala Mahajan is against for that actions. For Example, EU was said to ask Lankawe to fulfill about 57 general rights related matters for GSP+. Lankawe has done repeated negotiations and it is now 11. But Lankawe is refusing adamantly even to fulfill that. Lankawe politician are not able to sincerely allow the investigation to progress or even allow in the immediate feature it go dead. It is extremely hard to explain UNHRC official this use of the Lankawe new political tool.

    We saw how ex-State Secretary Kerry was doped with UNP – SLFP merger to create a joint (National) government. Sinhala Intellectuals told him SLFP-UNP split was the reason they could not solve the Tamils’ problem and as it had been overcome they were ready to solve problem together. But now they have split on the same philosophy, but on different names “Yahapalanaya & the Joint Comedies”. This is a game played by SLFP and UNP in cooperation of each other. Ranil is blocking many serious cases against Old Royal criminals. He is accused of encouraging this Joint Comedies split away from SLFP.

  • 2
    0

    Government is using this arrangement to marginalize the official opposition of TNA-JVP team. Government is immorally manning both, ruling and Opposition. New King has not fired the SLFP MPs broke the coalition agreement and sitting in opposition while the party leader he is in government. So, the one party proposing and one opposing is still alive, well, and stronger. So, once again, the story is “Palaiya Kuridi Kathavai Thiravadi”. GOSL is opening its hands for investigation or implementation of a new constitution.

    As we said earlier CBK’s period has its problems. Anything can be discounted, but Navali Church was bombed with her full consent. She knowingly got her into Chemmani murders. She never should have imprisoned Krishanti murderer, Rajapaksa, as he was a material witness to government. She personally ordered Chavakachcheri-Kaithady Thermobaric Shelling. It was an internationally banned weapon. Buying that is alone more than enough to convict her. We cannot list all of CBK deeds which are in the file of Old King. Sure they have had reasonable work done before they started to accuse her in war crime and Shelling.

    We vigorously opposed resolution 30/1 and demanded that UNHRC recommends the case to UN Security Council or directly request ICC to start its own investigation based on its President’s ability to select arbitrarily cases in vain. OISL report is more than enough for these purposes. The report had listed the accused criminals too. UNHRC, who has no ability to deal with it, should have passed it away to UN, but blocked it, altered the OISL report, and re-directed it to the criminal – The GOSL. This messing up the resolution was passed by the insistence of Previous Secretary of State John Kerry, who draw similarities between Lankawe and Burma, a misunderstanding of the political situation prevailing.

  • 2
    0

    UNHRC’s current shameless appearance looks like a toothless cobra only capable of dancing to Mangala Samaraweera’s pipe. Mangala, the world’s greatest liar, is born with an extra set of teeth to lie through them. If the resolution 30/1 is rolled back in March, UNHRC is going to stand accused of co- conspiring for the Old Royals impunity with Appe Aanduwa.

    GOSL co-signed the resolution 30/1 only to hold onto its power. There was no sincerity or resole to implement. Whether it is 18 months roll back or 18 centuries roll back, GOSL will never investigate their self-crimes. If they still do after a lot of pressure, it will be another Sinhala Jury case. As a solution for this, Sampanthar has said if the additional period is granted to GOSL to implement resolution 30/1, then the implementation process has to be under the supervision of UNHRC. I do not think that will do any good. The same rollback resolution must include a clause that stipulate that after the roll back period the case automatically handed over to the Investigation to UN SC. The end of the roll back period should function as the triggering mechanism automatic submission to UNSC. A copy of the resolution must be sent to UNSG to so he can initiate this action without the additional interference of UNHRC.

  • 2
    1

    “many of our judges are notoriously scared and take political decisions, or are corrupt and at times communal. Prof. S. Pathmanathan has pointed out that even the judgement on the de-merger of the North-East Provincial Council was politically motivated. In short, our judges are partial and can be bullied. They are unprofessional as evident in the withdrawal of foreign observers (i.e., the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons) from the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Alleged Human Rights Abuses in March-April 2008, finding a “lack of political will to find the truth.”

    Look at what former Supreme Court judges Gareth de Silva and Mohan Pieries did ti the honesty, integrity and neutrality as CJ’s.

    “Former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would not have become the President of Sri Lanka if not for the Supreme Court ruling to release him in the Helping Hambantota case.

    Mr. Silva said Mahinda Rajapaksa would not have either been able to contest the 2005 Presidential election or come into power if the Supreme Court bench headed by him did not clear Mahinda Rajapaksa of allegations of misappropriation of Tsunami funds.

    “We did this expecting Mahinda Rajapaksa in turn would safeguard the rights of the other people but it is not happening today,” the former CJ claimed. – See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/22730/ex-cj-says-if-not-for-his-order-mahinda-wont-be-president-today#sthash.h7qRRbMC.dpuf

    Here he admits he did a favour to his former friend MR.

    We all know how another MR’s friend behaved and conducted cases at SC (after the impeachment of CJ Shiranee Bandaranayake) and delivered judgements based on his personal opinions and attitudes towards the accused.

    How can Sri Lankan judges be expected to be fair in their deliverance of justice?

  • 0
    1

    Britain has recently announced that war crimes and violation of humanitarian law will not apply to British troops accused of deliberate killing of Iraqi/Afghan civilians. Would Mr Hoole want British judges as “impartial” British judges to conduct accusations against Sri Lankan forces? Obama dismissed war crimes committed by US troops as history. Mr Hoole, just because Tamils lost the hate war against the Sinhalese in a humiliating manner hence your thirst for revenge. Instead educate your brothers and sisters that thoughts of revenge will bring no dividends. There will not be foreign judges and no action against the brave soldiers who exterminated a band of racist thugs. Let the Tamil terrorists be held responsible for any, if any civilians died in the final showdown. Bad luck you guys lost, or would it be comforting to say you guys came second!

  • 4
    1

    lal,

    “There will not be foreign judges and no action against the brave soldiers who exterminated a band of racist thugs”.

    What would happen to ‘brave soldiers’ who murdered Lasantha Wickrematunge, Prageeth Egnaligoda , MP Raviraj and tens of thousands of other journalists, civilians , dissidents ? Or are they all come under ‘racist thugs’?

    Racism is a criminal offence in UK and you know what happened to the current president who banned Muslims from entering the country. It’s cheap of you to compare democratic countries that comply with court judgments with banana republics where the leaders impeach judges to appoint friends who toe their orders and encourage anti-Buddhist BBS thugs to burn businesses and worshipping places of different faiths.

    • 3
      1

      So, the US is a democratic country where laws apply!
      How come that white cops get away with foul murder of poor Blacks?
      I stop here as I risk passing the 300 word limit if I go on.

  • 4
    2

    Hoole on war crimes
    In his letter on February 4, Prof. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole says “Please do not tell us it is OK to kill Tamils and that the rule of law will be waived to let the killers escape”. If I say “ Please do not tell us it is OK to kill Sinhalese and Muslims and that the rule of law will be waived to let the killers escape”, is it wrong?
    People like Prof Hoole try to put the whole blame on killing Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils and even Japanese on Pirahabaran and let others who supported and backed him and still living escape. OK, if there should be War Crimes investigation bring all others, starting from Adele Balasingham, Rudrakumaran, Emmanual, Surendiran et al and our own TNA comrades to face it.
    All these people who were behind Pirahabaran encouraging him to engage in massacres and destroy national assets are now trying to be saints and punish the armed forces for destroying the LTTE.
    Prof Hoole also says that the SL army asked people to gather at certain points for certain purposes and bombed them. If the army wanted to bomb them, they would have done it without calling them to gather and also the army would have won the battle that way without sacrificing thousands of soldiers, country’s assets and without wasting precious years that would have used for country’s development.
    How can we achieve “Sanhindiyawa” while calling to punish one side (legitimately) involved in the conflict, even after eight years of finishing it.
    May be CBK has now realized the futility of that effort!

    • 1
      0

      Be fair.
      Whoever Hoole was with, it was never the LTTE.

  • 4
    0

    “War Crimes” is essentially a knotty political problem. I have done a bit of checking about language policy.

    At the Divisional Secretariat in my Uva town I found that there is something labelled “Bilingual Help”. I inquired from the National Unity Co-ordinator. All my conversation was in Sinhala, and she, Ms G.H.A.W. Muditha Kumari, told me that the label was misleading and that it is a “Trilingual Policy” that is in place in terms of 01/2014, there being a circular of 12.03. 2014 called the “Implementation of State Principles.”

    I had just written a letter in English; I was told that there was no problem with that, and the policy in place was for responses in the language used by the member of the public who had written in. There are people in the office who know English. I said that I would be able to manage quite all right with a response in Sinhala, which I said was just common sense.

    How about Tamil? Let me post this and then explain, because of the 300 word limit.

  • 4
    0

    As for Tamil, I found, when I enquired at the Uva Province Secretariat, that a Mr Sathya Kala, “Spokesperson for Agricultural Community Service” was on leave today, but that he, too, was attached to this so-called “Bilingual Unit”. I myself may have mistranslated some of those designations, but that may not matter so much – if you get the message.

    Mrs Muditha Kumari reported that it was rather frustrating not to get an opportunity to speak much Tamil since most of those coming to her could speak Sinhala pretty effectively. Her own Tamil is not perfect, but she is able to translate documents in to Sinhala. Her attitude was positive.

    She had studied at S. Joseph’s College, Bandarawela, which had once had Tamil students as well, and she longed for schools in which students of all backgrounds would study together, and spoke approvingly of Royal College, Colombo having all three media. She was vehemently against Muslim schools on the grounds that children should mix with each other. Learning languages is difficult, but why segregate in terms of religion? We agreed that the recent appointment of Jaffna people who knew no Sinhala to our local Post Office was irrational, but she was happy that those persons are now learning their Sinhala. I commented on how there was one Education Officer who had been sent here recently with whom I could not communicate at all, since he didn’t know even any English. We together lambasted the politicians for that.

    However, if all display that civic sense that the elder Hoole was talking about here:

    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/addressing-the-issue-of-community-dogs-in-sri-lanka/comment-page-1/#comment-2074270,

    and if the Jaffna people posted here get back home after a few years, then this irrationality may yet prove to have been not such a bad thing.

    We, that is this Ms Muditha and I, agreed that it was common sense for us to have exchanged ideas in Sinhala, and NOT in English, which is indeed THE world language that everybody HAD to learn. So, in actual fact, common sense prevails in most day to day interactions in this area.

    We know that problems in the North are different, and that us Sinhalese trying to administer that area in Sinhala is all wrong. But that is a political problem.

    • 4
      0

      Sinhala_Man, You, unwittingly I’d guess, disappoint me. Your, ‘But that is a political problem’, is alarming.

      In Sri Lanka there are no problems, except for ‘political problems’.

      Our politicians are a bunch of rogues, who deprive our land, blessed with abundant resources, both natural and human, of progress and prosperity.

      If only we could resolve to rid us of these scoundrels, even today, it is not too late, to gain for our land, a place of pride among global nations.

      But, the opportunity is fast receding.

      • 0
        0

        I’m sorry, Thappu.

        Yes, unwittingly. We do our best in our little sphere, but my acceptance of helplessness at National level may be disappointing.

        I’ll try to be with you in your noble efforts.

        • 1
          0

          Sinhala_Man, It takes a great man to accept an oversight; a greater man to express it publicly.

          Our future is still alive with men like you.

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