By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
At the High Level Segment of the UNHRC Geneva, Prof GL Peiris did something I haven’t seen him do in a quarter century. He read out from a text, looking up only once or twice. It was on a perfect continuum with Mahinda Samarasinghe’s clumsy, bellicose speeches at the same venue in 2012 and 2013 (which raised the curtain on Sri Lanka’s successive defeats) and GoSL’s recent written response to Navi Pillay’s report. It is certainly not the superb and convincing extempore speech Prof GL Peiris made to a distinguished diplomatic audience at a top Parisian think tank, when I served as Ambassador.
GL’s truculent address, demonstrating rejectionism and political immobility, slammed the door. It won’t bring Sri Lanka any votes and probably increased the number of abstentions from our side, thereby increasing the margin of our defeat and the magnitude of the manifestation of our dangerous international isolation. It was a depressing disaster.
The only hope is that Sri Lanka’s friends in the Council will intercede, functioning as a buffer and a bridge, bringing amendments or launching a fresh diplomatic initiative.
The problem is that for some years now, Sri Lankan diplomacy has been characterised by obduracy. In late 2011, having helped Sri Lanka deflect a Canadian attempt at a resolution in the UNHRC, the Indian delegation suggested to the Sri Lankan side, which included Prof GL Peiris and Mahinda Samarasinghe, that in 2012, Sri Lanka should offer to report to the Human Rights Council on the progress of the LLRC implementation. The Sri Lankan side rejected it as compromising the purely internal status of the LLRC process. Ironically, in 2014, Lalith Weeratunga was briefing the members of the Council on precisely the progress of the LLRC, but it was no longer enough.
By contrast, in 2007-2009, Sri Lanka even organized an event on the sidelines of the Geneva sessions which was chaired by the representative of Amnesty International.
In 2009, Sri Lanka stood ready to host a briefing at a side event at which High Commissioner Navi Pillay would be a panellist and which would be chaired by the Permanent Representative of Brazil. It was an attempt by our friends to bridge the gap between the contending sides, though we were confident of the numbers for a win. In 2009, Sri Lanka had the self-confidence to engage, to debate as part of the striving for a constructive compromise —and was willing to go the extra mile. It was the dogmatic obduracy of the West that led to the abandonment of that Brazilian initiative.
Today, by contrast, Sri Lanka is snarling in Geneva, its back to the wall, when it does not need to be. With GL’s speech, or the speech that GL delivered, it is Sri Lanka that has painted itself into a corner.
That said, I would urge the West against pushing through any resolution that insists on an intrusive external inquiry. While it is positive that the discourse of war crimes and the slogan of an international inquiry have been held back, if even for the moment, and while it is deplorable that the Sri Lankan government has not seen fit to use this opening, resorting instead to a rhetoric that is somewhere between Netanyahu’s Israel and Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, it must be recognised that there is a dualism, a parallel track running through the West’s draft resolution. A call on the Sri Lankan government to institute an independent and credible inquiry coexists with a request to the Office of the High Commissioner to investigate abuses by both sides.
Thus the drafters of the resolution have to make up their collective mind: is the resolution calling for a Sri Lankan state-led process or an OHCHR-led one? One can envisage a hybrid, but not a model which is anywhere as much a hybrid as the Cambodian investigations because that was an inquiry into atrocities by a hated defeated enemy, the Khmer Rouge (the equivalent of which would clearly be the LTTE, not the Sri Lankan army). The only reasonable and realistic resolution would be one which is Sri Lankan led but has a strictly ancillary role for the OHCHR.
Of course the Government of Sri Lanka which has a fundamentalist view of state sovereignty— disguised as national sovereignty—will probably reject even a Sri Lankan state led, OHCHR supported exercise, but such a resolution will have the positive effect of occupying the moral high ground and opening up the Sri Lankan public space and shifting the social discourse in a positive direction which can feed into the democratic electoral process of the next two years.
On the other hand a resolution which calls for an external inquiry either by the OHCHR or any UN mechanism, will generate a reverse shift in Sri Lanka— not only at the obvious level of the State but also that of society. It will set Sri Lanka on a negative course.
Surely what is important is an unfreezing of the domestic situation and progress on the ground? This can be achieved by smart pressure which doesn’t raise the collective hackles of the overwhelmingly predominant ethnic majority—not just those of the Government or the armed forces.
The TNA leader Mr Sampanthan and Chief Minister Wigneswaran have, with characteristic imprudence, signed a call by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, for a UN Commission of Inquiry. In the mind of Sri Lanka’s large and popular military, this would seem on a continuum with the call by Bishop Rayappu Joseph and the 205 Christian priests for an international investigation which identifies specific units and officers of the armed forces. In turn this would segue into the CPA led call for an international inquiry mechanism.
The GoSL speech as read out by Prof GL Pieris in Geneva may well provoke the West into escalation and a call for an international/OHCHR inquiry. But what would be its results? It is almost certain that there would be no political dialogue with the TNA. Instead there would be a freeze; a hardening of attitude and behaviour. It cannot be ruled out that Sri Lanka would exit from the UN HRC and adopt a policy of de-linking from the international system or zones of it. As a response to an overbearing and biased stance on the part of the West and attendant triumphalism on the part of Tamil nationalism, such a shut down, however unsustainable over the longer term, will reflect the popular mood and its darkening.
Sri Lanka needs to rejoin the global mainstream, starting with the Asian one. The country will eventually emerge from the tunnel into the light. But if the West and the Tamil nationalists overshoot the mark in Geneva, the interregnum, however short, is bound to be nasty and brutish. Is that really what any of us, apart from the isolationists want?
Robert.R / March 5, 2014
Oh no, not more free advice ! You have had your 15mins of fame.
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Used Condom / March 6, 2014
Indeed!
Obduracy vs. sucking up to Amrican thieves?
Obduracy please, every time.
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Ravi / March 6, 2014
I am wondering who gave this man a doctorate. Even an insane person may do a better political analysis than this.
NO political dialogue with the TNA is exactly what the Tamils want. A freeze; a hardening of attitude and behavior is even better. With nearly 60 years of bitter experience in political dialogues, the Tamils do not want any kind of political dialogues with any SL governments anymore. Instead, they should always create conditions for International community (including India) to interfere. Any dialogue on Tamil issues should be between the International community and the govt. or with an International mediator (US, UN, etc) if the TNA is to take part.
Sri Lanka exiting from the UN HRC and adopting a policy of de-linking from the international system or zones and even getting much closer to China is extremely good for the Tamils, that is exactly what the Tamil are looking forward. That will make India and the West Anti-Sri Lanka or rather pro-Tamil. That will make India and the West to directly involve in saving/protecting the minorities (Tamils) from an Anti-Tamil dictatorship (GOSL). With Jayalalitha as king maker in India and a very good possibility of Hilary as President of US in 2016, it is all happening in the right direction for the Tamils. If the GOSL stops political dialogue with the TNA and move away from the West and get even more closer to China, it is the best thing that can happen to the Tamils.
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Palayang yako! / March 7, 2014
Robert R:
You have summed up this guy!
He says: “That said, I would urge the West against pushing through any resolution that insists on an intrusive external inquiry. While it is positive that the discourse of war crimes and the slogan of an international inquiry have been held back, if even for the moment, and while it is deplorable that the Sri Lankan government has not seen fit to use this opening, resorting instead to a rhetoric that is somewhere between Netanyahu’s Israel and Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, it must be recognised that there is a dualism, a parallel track running through the West’s draft resolution. A call on the Sri Lankan government to institute an independent and credible inquiry coexists with a request to the Office of the High Commissioner to investigate abuses by both sides.”
Dayan de Silva should be given another doctorate for inventing the ability of finding another side of his mouth to speak out of, having already spoken out of both sides of it!
Not only are these rats looking for floatation devices, it seems like they are trying to invent some.
Dayan de Silva provides some entertainment at least, which is more than can be said of MsLinda Seneviratne etc.!
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Amarasiri / March 5, 2014
Dayan,
“At the High Level Segment of the UNHRC Geneva, Prof GL Peiris did something I haven’t seen him do in a quarter century. He read out from a text, looking up only once or twice. It was on a perfect continuum with Mahinda Samarasinghe’s clumsy, bellicose speeches at the same venue in 2012 and 2013 (which raised the curtain on Sri Lanka’s successive defeats) and GoSL’s recent written response to Navi Pillay’s report.”
GL Penis is a shill now. A lapdog. He does what he is told. Read from the paper. Read what you have been told,. If there are lies , just read the lies.
After all that is what Monk Mahanama “Buddhism” Taught you.
Just read the lies. Forget Buddha’s teachings/.
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Kwanga Bazingi Umbato / March 5, 2014
God…………Only God knows what this bugger is talking about.
Sometime back DJ talked about how he would pick MR from the entire lot of politicians (i.e. Scoundrels)as the only successive “Political Animal” who is a seasoned scoundrel of 40 yrs experience plus a Racist blood that runs through his nose towards his end point in the back, the suitable person to run this wretched country.
With all his 40 yrs experience, what did he do? Killings, Robbery, Corruption, Nepotism & Lies…
Is this is what DJ saying all along????
Just look at the dumb things he and his henchos did and where it brought our country to….
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Siri / March 5, 2014
Just personal grudges MR.DJ
What do you have against GLP ?
We are against MR regime, but personally,I would not go against GLP.
In your turn, you had the chance but you also read your written speech :(
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aratai / March 6, 2014
.
It was 2010…..DJ was praising Pieris in an article, I believe it was on DBSJ site.
He praised so much it looks like a joke.
I remember writing a comment as ‘ I think DJ hopes Pieris fails’.
:-)
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sirimal / March 5, 2014
Mum’s the word!
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Jayantha / March 5, 2014
Sri Lanka could have been at a much admired, well respected and in a trusted position Internationally, in Politically, economicaly and socially by now if we had Visioneries like Dr.Dayan working in our foreign ministry. GOSL removed the scholars and installed mere uneducated puppets and as a result we Citizens are paying the prize today. Barking dogs do not achieve anything, both Internally and externally. Only Educated scholars and visioneries will achieve objectives.
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Leelawathie / March 6, 2014
what kind of visionaries areu refering here ?
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Jayantha / March 7, 2014
Leelawathie,
Please remember that donkeys are born and never be corrected.
They neither know that they are muts and neither listen to others ADVISES nor be corrected.
Only outside world know that they are donkeys.
GOOD LUCK.
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aratai / March 5, 2014
.
This is what Mr.Pieris said, “The Court of Inquiry appointed by the Army is now addressing the second part of their mandate, comprising the Channel 4 allegations, which commenced in March 2013. The identification of potential witnesses is currently in progress and, once identified, they would be formally called as witnesses…”.
All these years we wasted time saying CH4 video is fake, but now after pressure, we have started the inquiry.
Same with Trinco5 murders, ACF Mutur murders, etc. etc.
We never do anything (except murders) on our own.
:-)
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Richard / March 5, 2014
Sir,
Even you are not thinking that matters is the real situation in the North and East and not long, long readouts that matter for the International Community?
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Quaero / March 5, 2014
DJ has an itch. It is his desolation from the Teams asked to handle SL Diplomacy. He finds it hard to believe that MR is unabashed at humiliating him. Result: He scratches more when UNHRC convenes.
DJ has a weakness. He esteems his record, – No SL diplomat has ever achieved what he accomplished in 2009 – too high!
2009 was very fluid. No one really wanted to appear anxious to take SL to task. Today, in 2014 SL has dragged itself into the place where everyone thinks SL belongs, – a pariah State!
There are saner souls and minds within SL. But, they are too intelligent not to burn their fingers associating with a regime that is unwilling to see reason.
DJ is smart, but not intelligent. He is living in the past!
What is required is an overhaul of the diplomatic approach that has so far failed SL. DJ cannot show that path, – he doesn’t see that path. He is blind to reason himself!
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mike / March 5, 2014
Geneva Loss Peiris, are you still batting and aspiring to be Prime Minister under Hitlerpassa at least for a few months? Mahinda Samarasinghe won’t like it!
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Babansincho / March 6, 2014
ROTFLMAO
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CG / March 5, 2014
While Dayan brays about “Majority” Sinhala population wishes to steam roll any tamil demand for autonomy of any semblance, why does he oppose the same MAJORITY of nations voting in favor of UNHRC investigating war crimes & monitor domestic accountability process ???
What is good for Tamil Goose is not good for Sinhala Gander if the majority of votes is to be accepeted in UNHRC.
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Banda / March 7, 2014
Sovereignty stupid, sovereignty.
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Unity / March 5, 2014
Dayan, if you love your country Sri Lanka, why dont you give all your advices to the delegation representing Sri Lanka. Youre upset, because you were not chosen to go to Geneva.By the way in 2009 you were not successful, that is all nonsense. You were lucky, the LTTE at that time were not ready at all with all the evidences they had to charge the SL Governement.
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Patriot / March 6, 2014
Many commentators have misinterpreted operating paragraph 2 which calls on the GOSL to perform a credible independent investigation. This does not contradict with the separate call in paragraph 8 for the OHCHR led investigation. Even Navi Pillai’s report had a recommendation that the GOSL perform a credible independent investigation.
The NE is part of the territory over which the GOSL s writ extends, at least for now. So of course the GOSL still has a solemn responsibility to “credibly and independently” investigate allegations of serious crimes. The establishment of an international investigation mechanism does not automatically absolve the GOSL from its responsibilities of good governance.
What’s going to happen in 2015 is that the OHCHR will report back that based on its investigation (mandated by the council) the GOSL committed the most heinous crimes in 2009. Perhaps the “G” word will be introduced to the international discourse on SL for the first time. If true to form, the GOSL would either have not complied with the call for an independent investigation or would conduct one that finds itself not guilty. That will only make the GOSL look worse. The UN system will have no choice but to act on the results of the investigation done by one if its own organs. Not doing so would diminish the credibility of the UN system itself, which is no one’s interest (including China/Russia).
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Park / March 6, 2014
I have been kindly requesting you to be honest in your statements. If you DJ are a honest person, first of all you would have mentioned the lies Pieris read at the UNHRC. More than the style of his delivery the lies he told to the world audience were more damaging. Your posting clearly shows that you are attacking GLP and others so that you can get his position or at least a High Commissioner’s position. Do not waste your time. You are not a honest person, if you are honest there were many other points you could have argued on, in fact every few sentences GLP read (with a shivering voice) were lies. How can a person tell so many lies in such a short period? Does GLP think that the international players can be treated like the masses in Sri Lanka who are lied to on a daily basis?
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Babansincho / March 6, 2014
Was evident to everyone, DJ used this way, after all his attempts to be the one to lead delegation to Geneva this went in vain.So this kind of political analysts, former diplomats, political writers are not rarity in the country.
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lanka.lover / March 6, 2014
oh What has happened to our infamous Doctor Disk Jockey.
Change of pace or stoped taking the regular stuff?
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Ajith / March 6, 2014
Dayan,
Don’t you think that it is not diplomacy that need to be changed, it is the real political culture of the Sinhala leadership that need a fundamental change? Don’t you think honesty and respecting the human values are important for those who govern the nation and people? It is not a war between Sri Lanka and West. It is a war between truth, honesty and LIES and THREAT. There are times LIES and THREAT (INJUSTICE) WIN but that is NOT JUSTICE.
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Wickramasiri / March 7, 2014
You are quite right. This is in fact a war between right and wrong, good and evil, a war that has been going on for centuries. Sri Lanka’s government is on the side of evil. International interventions of any sort cannot make them good. The solution does not lie with UN resolutions, armed interventions, invasions, etc. It lies only with the citizens of Sri Lanka. They are the ones who have to be persuaded by Sumanthiran.
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Bruz / March 6, 2014
Quote “….Cambodian investigations because that was an inquiry into atrocities by a hated defeated enemy, the Khmer Rouge (the equivalent of which would clearly be the LTTE, not the Sri Lankan Army” unquote-
So, the hated, defeated enemy is LTTE and NOT the Sri Lankan Army ?
Nice joke Mr. DJ. I think it’s the other way around as far as majority of the North/East people are concerned.
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Leelawathie / March 6, 2014
I have the feeling DJ believes that he should leave this kind of notes thinking that he is the most senior person in the field. Pitty for him, nobody seems to take him serious today. Two parts of videos were not even criticised by the govt.Nor are they writing against his views. This is the reason why he feels that GLP´s speech was not smart enough. Every second line, he will remind any audience the way how he persuaded UNHRC member states in 2009. As if some UFTA politicians (PC candidates ) hold speech about themselves these days. One Ajith Prasanna, former army soldier turn politician was describing his qualifications all along last week. Latter was the case with DJ too, looking back.
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Leelawathie / March 6, 2014
But something fundemental is forgotten by DJ. GLP is/was a well recognized prof. Alas, he is standing for the dogs. Latter is the problem for me, not the PERSON GLP.
If DJ´s credentials come near to GLPs, DJ should long have been appointed as a Prof in his field. All these self proclaimed buggers have destroyed the nation. Actually DJ should stand for Opposition right at the moment, by criticising the incumbent president as much he could. In that way only, his could work on the rascal administration. Else, those who know how to get on with Wanathamulla or any other thugghish environment (best known example – UPFA coalition filled with all variety of crooks) can do anything and paint a good pic.
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mechanic / March 7, 2014
A report said; 150 Tamil girls have joined the volunteer force of the SL army last month.
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Antany Peter / March 6, 2014
The Rajapaksa regime would have hired more intellectuals; if it really appreciates and values G L Peiris’s brain. Prof G L Peiris is a puppet, he follows the order of Gota and other fools. The Rajapaksa fools think that the world is full of idiots as the LTTE leaders. The Rajapaksa brothers have defeated the LTTE; but will not defeat the world.
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Ratakapu_Rajapakshe_Justice / March 6, 2014
It is situation like caught by devil.
True was that Gota´s mediation could eliminate LTTE terror. But his interference in other areas have reached beyond all bearing to this day. Here, I guess as a senior academic – GLP has no other choice than nodding his head further and stay calm. We the commnetators on this and other forums feel that these politicians (I mean the genuine and able ones) could behave better, but they fail do so for the very reason that Rajapakshes interfere even in everyone´garbage bin.
See, the fate of that Minister of Justice, they the rulers succeeded Hakeem continue his silence even if his fortpolios were grabed by minister of Defence (Mahinda Rajapakshe himself) giving no entities him to function as his counterparts from any other democracies. So right of recourse is taken by President, so Hakeem is seen as a the problem here not the president. This is how Rajapakshe politics works. And again, we the many anti-MR regime feel that Opposition does nothing enough – but they do whatever they can but nothing is appeared to be working… it is all because 18th AMD, and all other tricks that MR regime has played to paint for them a good picture in the same time the worst for the opposition.
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mechanic / March 7, 2014
Anto, Rajapaksa brothers have won the war with LTTE. They are at war with anti nationals now to develop the country and they are winning. They are not at war with the world you idiot.
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Bruz / March 6, 2014
I’m sorry to see Dr. DJ being criticized left and right. The main problem with Dr.DJ is that he is an educated and racially biased person. Never condemned the atrocities of the forces but only LTTE and never felt sorry for the butchered civilians (not the tigers, who were ready to fight and die) His selective condemnation is basically born out of subtle racism unlike his great and respected father Mervyn de Silva or Dr. Brian Seneviratne. There are many other respectable, honest, non-racist, educated and uneducated great Sinhala people who feel very bad and couldn’t do anything but watch all these horrible unjust things happening in our once wonderful nation. Dr. Dayan De Silva-Jayatilleka is nothing but a fake patriot or a real racist in disguise.
Looks like no one likes him or appreciate his writings. He is only wasting his education and talent in a useless way trashing his reputation as an educated one time ambassador. He should be faithful and true to himself first and try to be unbiased and non racist, to be respected .
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Siri / March 6, 2014
It is his nature. He has proved this again and again. He has never been consistent with anything on lanken MR politics. Surrprisingly, he keeps quiet, about levels of impunity promoted by govt and appalled states of the injustice governed in the country today. Never has he criticised MR as a person. If he is not accoutable for all the chaos that are seen today, who else ?
So friends, I believe, It is high time Uni of Colombo to work on a Dissertation (or atleast a Magisterarbeit) naming “political analysis of DJ”
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sirimal / March 6, 2014
But have you read anywhere, that Brian Seneviaratne changed his views back and forth to the same frequency as DJ has been… please add reference if there were… for me, learning to know how DJ´s brain works; once upon a time, his writings contained meaningful contents, but today it has unforutnately reduced to tittle-tattle.
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sirimal / March 6, 2014
Bruz@,
applogies.
my last comment is mistaken.
Yes, DJ´s inconsistent views are not comparable to the critics of his father. May be DJ is a mutated SON born to that family :) Genetically, DJ´s gathiguna (person) is totoally the opposite of his father.
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Kumar R. / March 7, 2014
Dear Bruz,
A fundamental correction: It is not that “he (DJ) is wasting his education”. Rather, “education was wasted on him!”
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Leel / March 6, 2014
Comments are more valuable and interesting than the main article. If he reads these he will never write again. If GLP reads these he will resign from his post.
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mechanic / March 7, 2014
But the buggers who write most of these comments are by far the minority in the country that is, if they happen to live in Sri Lanka.
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kali / March 6, 2014
Dayan:
You are back to your old ways and you were the defender of GOSL 4 years ago and you now seem to be or give the impression that GOSL have blown it this time round. But it is too late. You cant fool the World any more. MR vehicle is stuck in the MUD ( his own Mud) and he cant move forward not for want of trying but he is a prisoner of his own actions and he knows what happened during the last stages of the war and since.
*** That said, I would urge the West against pushing through any resolution that insists on an intrusive external inquiry. While it is positive that the discourse of war crimes and the slogan of an international inquiry have been held back, if even for the moment, and while it is deplorable that the Sri Lankan government has not seen fit to use this opening, resorting instead to a rhetoric that is somewhere between Netanyahu’s Israel and Mugabe’s Zimbabwe, it must be recognised that there is a dualism, a parallel track running through the West’s draft resolution. A call on the Sri Lankan government to institute an independent and credible inquiry coexists with a request to the Office of the High Commissioner to investigate abuses by both side.
I am not sure what your message is from the above is. Are you saying that if you nudge MR along for another few more years he might see sense and order an inquiry. He wont do it and he cannot do it. How do you expect a Criminal to admit to his Crimes without paying a heavy price.
The problem with you lot is the pathetic argument to inquire into the abuses by both sides when Karuna is your bed fellow. If you have prosecuted Karuna you may have a point but you made him a minister.
But MR is an Elected Leader still roaming the World preaching the virtues of life.
There is a Maxim ” He who comes to Equity Comes With A Clean Hand ” MR knows that his hand is full of Tamil Blood and that is why he is reluctant to put himself to the test.
***Sri Lanka needs to rejoin the global mainstream, starting with the Asian one. The country will eventually emerge from the tunnel into the light. But if the West and the Tamil nationalists overshoot the mark in Geneva, the interregnum, however short, is bound to be nasty and brutish. Is that really what any of us, apart from the isolationists want.
Are you saying just like Weeratunga that if the Tamils ask for more what MR is prepared to grant which is Frankly nothing then there will be more riots and thousands of innocent Tamils will be killed.
Which simply means more of the same but after a change at the top in India no one is going to resist a call for an International Inquiry.
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Bruz / March 7, 2014
@ srimal: No worries, but thanks.
Liked many of Dr.DJ’s earlier analysis and serious, unbiased writings in the past but his inconsistent and biased columns these days are not worth reading. His mocking of Professor G.l. Peiris’s Geneva ‘reading’ is in bad taste in my opinion. GLP is doing his job reading all lies, he pretty well knows about. He is paid to lie and doing it for survival, hence we cannot blame that poor professori. No one shook his hands or applauded for his ‘victorious’ speech reading. We all know DJ is some what jealous for not having an opportunity to ‘read’ his papers and shake hands with some of the world’s worst human right offenders. It’s time GLP and DJ take a break, keep the left over respect intact and enjoy some retirement in peace without indulging in dirty politics.
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Wickramasiri / March 7, 2014
One of the best from Dayan Jayatilleke, straight from the gut. I have heard GLP speak many times and have always admired his fluency in the English Language. It is said by his admirers that even in a lengthy speech he rarely uses the same word twice! So when DJ expresses surprise at the text reading by GLP he is merely implying that he, GLP, has been over ruled and a speech given to him to deliver! DJ is in fact empathizing with GLP. Probably Sajin Vas Gunawardene set the tone.
Many of the Tamil diaspora commentators are out of touch. They still smart at the LTTE defeat, but more, the anger, anguish, and despair still burn in their hearts. Only revenge will satiate their thirst, which is why Indian and/or international interventions are sought as a remedy for the Sri Lankan condition. They little realize the harsh consequences for the 20m people, Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala. This is not a digital war game. Real people, perhaps a million, will die. Are we insane?
Sri Lanka’s obduracy is due to the pathetic mindset of Mahinda Rajapaksa, a man whose thinking is 500 years behind time. In any decision, he can still carry the population, and the armed services with him. He can be just and fair. But he will not. He will take the country to total destruction with insufferable loss of life if he has to meet external intervention. That is the reality. So is it not time we thought of the people of this country?
Instead of criticizing Dayan Jayatilleke the person, let us critique what he has to say. This country belongs not only to a few but all of us.
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Surathalbanda / March 8, 2014
why is that DJ only criticises the ones surrounded by MR.. why does not he scare to criticise MR all these blunders ?
If Germany´s external affairs did not do the due, they would have taken every action to find why.. they means the topleader ship of the govt..
but why does DJ still cover up for MR but not his external affairs ?
External affairs of the govt = mirror image of topleadership or not ?
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Bruz / March 8, 2014
Dear Kumar R & Wickramasiri:
Let me share some of my thoughts with you decent gentlemen;
The general expectation, especially from well educated great men are non-bias, common sense, non- racist expressions,respect for humanity, human values, honesty and sincerity. Their views should not be blurred by cast, creed, race, language or religion. They must behave well, understand matters clearly, approach and see things without prejudice, without taking sides, just like an honest and sincere judge, so that people can respect them and their impartial views or writings. They should be an exemplary example to the other people and will be respected, no matter what they write or say. We are in short supply for that kind of great people today among us. Our problems are deep rooted and can only be solved by mutual understanding, acceptance, respect for human and humanity. We cannot go on fighting, killing, blaming each other and destroying the country and ourselves. We know that all the Lankans went through many hardship, death, destruction and untold misery. We also should accept the fact that minorities are very badly affected in every way, whether they live in the country or living outside. The diaspora now living away from catastrophe and with some affordable facility, went through hell before attaining the status they enjoy today. It was not something they achieved just like that. They know how hard they worked and earned all that. They miss their country of birth, they miss their relatives, kith, kin, their food, fruits, vegetables, the water, the soil, the weather, the air etc., They are not really enjoying all the so called comforts and even money available to them in those adopted countries. Every family has a sad or a terrible story to share. One should be in their shoes to understand their past and pathetic experiences they faced and still going through. Nothing is forgotten even after so many years. Their own suffering, loss of kith and kin, property, the enormous trouble they underwent, escaping death. loosing their own things, loosing limbs etc., are smarting them more than LTTE loss. They only wanted equal justice, equal treatment, equal opportunity without discrimination and nothing more. Was it too much to ask for ? When that was not forthcoming for years and more and more pogroms, organized riots were the only things they were getting, they lost all confidence in the successive governments and Tiger movement began and many of them started supporting Tigers to get their fundamental rights and dues, whether they liked Tigers or not or forced to do that. Put yourselves in their place and see what you would have done. Their grievances are legitimate, legal and they never asked for anything more than what the others have. This was the core problem for all the chaos and the Governments only did the opposite and things started going from bad to worse. Still the Government and many majority citizen think that the minority Tamils and now Muslims are asking for too much. They think these minorities are given more than enough and the country is Sinhala nation, and these other people are invaders and all unreasonable blah blah…
If the Britishers gave back the kingdoms they captured to the legitimate owners, there won’t be all these problems. India got kingdoms back, made it into one country, gave ownerships to state Governments and governing effectively with not much disputes. Our majority did a total blunder marginalizing minorities, dis-enfrancizing estate Tamils, making Sinhala only, alienating all minorities and creating disharmony and destabilized the country. The country belongs to all who lived and still living here and it’s not the sole property of any single race. That should be remembered and accepted for all to live in peace. If not, anything can happen and that will be ugly, unwarranted and unnecessary. People who have some sense and responsibility should do something before UN, UNHCR, USA, UK, IC, India or anyone interfere. Do not blame Diaspora or even LTTE for the blunders made by all the successive racist Governments. Diaspora and the really affected Tamils will not just stay idle without doing anything constructive. They have lost the most in every sense and they will not give up their fight for justice. Their determination will never fade away until they get their own things back, normalcy restored, and let them live in peace. Certainly there will be no peace otherwise.
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Jayantha / March 9, 2014
Well said Bruz.
All I could say is as long as Sinhala Buddhist Racists Govern our counry, It will never progress. 99.9% of our Pariament Ministers and MP’s including the President, the Judiciary, Police, Media are all fall into this category who are thieves, rogues, rapists, murderers,Heroin drug and kasippu king pins, bribers and cheaters. There’s no place for honest,qualified, Hardworking, respectable and ambitious citizens to bring out their talents and come up in life. Rajapakse Family Mafia state has taken over all of them. Only the parliament political goons have that opportunity.
This is the pathetic situation in Sri Lanka today. No place for honest and hardworking people in Rajapakse governing body who are dreaming to achieve life objectives.
If so CJ Shirani Bandaranayake,Weliamuna,Dr,Dayan,Ms.Tamara, Sumanthiran and Wigneswaran could have been representng Sri Lanka at this year’s UNHRC in Genewa and could be winning the UNHRC Vote for Sri Lanka by now. Sending mere Parrots to UNHRC will never bring any results.
It is the false Pride of Sinhalaya which brings his ultimate down fall. They should learn to be humble like Mahathma Gandi of India, Mandela of South Africa,Abraham Lincoln in USA and Mother Teresa of India.
Not the oxy Moron Rambo type which is a short life span.
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Boru Shok / March 8, 2014
Sour grapes DJ. You tried your best to get
on board the government band wagon. Now that
it has not worked, you are barking again. This
time heroically to ask the west to go slow.
You are suffering from an illness – I me and
myself syndrome
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