Protest stage in front of the Commonwealth Secretariat office in London against the speech to be delivered by the President Rajapaksa.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxk_7BJfHYI
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEFTRRjrHo8&feature=player_embedded
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0OT-K7oEec&feature=player_embedded#!
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / June 5, 2012
Its really cool that none of these demonstrators seem to have a problem rallying under the flag of the fascist LTTE!
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Bruno Umbato / June 6, 2012
It’s not so cool because the Scotland Yard had tricked them at first …
Tamil net reports “….The Scotland Yard allegedly leaked news that Rajapaksa would be arriving on Sunday night by a Sri Lankan Airways flight, DELIBERATELY to mislead the demonstrators, where as he arrived at London only on Monday morning, Tamil activists sources in UK told TamilNet….”
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PresiDunce Bean / June 5, 2012
@ Dr The Yarn
When will you ever learn that one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter? As long as an independent investigation is not carried out into last days of the war, these people will continue to protest all over the world. Where ever Rajapaksa goes he will be hounded. The truth shall prevail one day. :)
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Rory Winter / June 5, 2012
I do not support terrorism, nor do I support what Dayan Jayatilleka calls the fascist LTTE. Anyone who has read The Broken Palmyrah will know how just how terroristic the LTTE was, even against the Tamil people.
But I can understand how some Tamils may feel proud of an organisation which was able to use Shock and Awe tactics against the GoSL and the majority Sinhalese. For decades the Tamils of Lanka were persecuted and, more often than not, found themselves isolated and defenceless against the mobs and the Sinhala majority. Those Sinhalese who attempted to protect lone Tamils were themselves made victims of a murderous hysteria. For decades, the word ‘demala’ was used as a pejorative term, almost an insult by racist chauvinists. Finally the Tamils were subject to state-sponsored terrorism in 1983. After all that the Tamils turned to separatism and Eelam. However fascistic they might have been, the LTTE was able to hit back and to be held in awe for doing so.
So it doesn’t surprise me at all that some Tamils might feel proud of such an organisation, in the same way that many Jews were proud of Jewish terrorist organisations which were able to hit back and cause fear amongst their perceived enemies.
The process of reconciliation must begin with an understanding of one’s erstwhile foe. Dayan Jayatilleka’s uncomprehending attitude is all too common among too many amongst the majority Sinhalese. It does not bode well for reconciliation.
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walter fernando / June 6, 2012
Your comments are applauded.you have described the mentality of the majority of Sri Lankans very politely and exactly.
I would have been more graphic with evidence.
Before Independence we did have sparodic riots and civil commotions.
But after Independence from 1948 the incidence of riots and civil commotions were directed by the respective elected Governments and and their Ministers against the Minorities,that is, against the Non Buddhists and Non Sinhalese.
This is well documented.
The climax being the end of the Civil war in 2009 where thousands of the minorities were killed without Mercy and with total impunity against all civilized norms.
To make matters worse the Political heirarchy are making statements to the effect that the Minorities have no place of their birth and origin to call their own. THEY CAN LIVE ANYWHERE THEY WANT WITHOUT ANY CLAIM.
Since Independence the Minorities lived and conducted business all over the Island untill they were hounded out killed and burned.
That is why the Minorities want to live in a place secured as their HOMELAND.
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Niran W / June 6, 2012
Will the good doctor please enlighten us whether he felt ‘hot’ or ‘cool’ when the state run television station, the very appropriately named “Independent Television Network” repeatedly showed an LTTE flag being carried by someone at the UNP/TNA May Day procession in Jaffna. And, why no ‘investigation’ has been carried out as yet at this type of ‘Deshadrohi’ act within the territory of liberated Sri Lanka ?
……and in the often used phrase of the good doctor’s illustrious father – “IF NOT, WHY NOT” ?
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Desha Premi / June 6, 2012
Such negative publicity does not do any good to MR or the Tamil diaspora. Both sides must come to terms with the past and move on.If the deep wounds of apartheid could be healed in Soth Africa, there is no reason why Sri Lanka should not do the same.
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Basil / June 6, 2012
LTTE is a terrorist group, but a petty 30 year group, and now quit dead and gone, grieving, moaning…
Our racism and discrimination is far older, as old as our nation
One is the child of the other, we know which is which.
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Basil / June 6, 2012
They are burning king Kanasamy’s flag
Our king of Nayaka Balija group
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