28 March, 2024

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Govt. Lost The Media War – Rohan Gunaratna

Ranga Jayasuriya

Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, terrorism expert, suggests that the Sri Lankan government should view the recently held Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) conference as a failure of its diplomacy. “Those are indications that the media war has been lost. The government has won the war in the battlefield, but lost it at the table,” he opined.

Gunaratna is the head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Nanyang Technological University,Singapore. He spoke to Ranga Jayasuriya of LAKBIMAnEWS.

Excerpts:

The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) conference, patronized by DMK leader Karunanidhi, was held last week.  Given the sheer number of Tamils in the South Indian state and Karunanidhi’s and DMK’s traditional relationship with the Eelam cause, do you see  the revival of TESO, which was initially set up in the early 80s as an effort by the Eelam lobby to revive the campaign for a Tamil Eelam cause within Tamil Nadu? Or should it be simply ignored as a mere publicity stunt driven by electoral considerations of the DMK?

Rohan Gunaratna

The timing of this event is due to the fact that DMK leader Karunanidhi needs a hot issue to galvanize and generate support. Karunanidhi believes that the Sri Lankan Tamil Eelam issue would ignite support for him. He is electorally weak at the moment, whereas Jayalalitha Jeyaram, (his main political opponent) is in a strong position. Whenever politicians are in a weak position, not only in Tamil Nadu, but even inSri Lanka, politicians play either the race (ethnic) card or religion card, both of which have a very close appeal to any human being. At this instance, Karunanidhi chose to play the ethnic card. This is a political gimmick by Karunanidhi and it has nothing to do with the ground realities of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamils have a much better quality of life than Tamils in Tamil Nadu. And during the last three years since the end of the war, (economy of) Jaffna is growing at 22 per cent annually, and the rest of the country is growing at 7 per cent. There are huge development projects in the north and the east. Therefore, there is no reason for Karunanidhi, who was a past sponsor of terrorism inSri Lanka to raise this issue. Most Sri Lankans regard Karunanidhi as a crook and a clown and he has no standing in Sri Lanka.

 

The Sri Lankan Tamil issue has a sympathetic audience in Tamil Nadu, which has prompted, given electoral considerations, even the moderate political parties such as the Congress party branch of Tamil Nadu to express a degree of solidarity. There is an old adage that ‘every politics is local’ and understandably, those local or provincial concerns tend to influence the Central Government in New Delhi. How should the Sri Lankan government handle this delicate situation?

The Government of India has many years of experience in managing politicians like Karunanidhi. That is why the Central Government of India took a very decisive step in preventing Karunanidhi from holding this conference. Police in Tamil Nadu filed a motion preventing this conference, but theTamil Nadu Courtoverturned that order. The position ofNew Delhiwas to prevent this conference because India does not wantSri Lankato be a venue to discuss Kashmir or Khalistan separatist causes. If the Indian soil is being used to harm any neighbouring country, it could happen vice versa.

In fact, the Union government of India dismissed the DMK led Tamil Nadu state government in January 1991 for colluding with the LTTE. If not for this collaboration, Rajiv Gandhi, who was killed by the female Tiger suicide bomber, Dhanu, in May 1991, may not have died. The DMK allowed the LTTE to establish a base in Tamil Nadu. They turned a blind to LTTE activities. Today, it is important that the Jayalalitha government takes firm action against the LTTE and if there is no firm action, Tami Nadu will again become the operational base of the LTTE.

The strategy of the Sri Lankan government should be to invite Jayalalitha and other Tamil Nadu politicians to visit Sri Lanka and to show them the unprecedented development in the north and the east; and engage the Tamil Nadu politicians of both DMK, AIADMK and other parties and explain to them that there is a huge propaganda machinery that is operating in Tamil Nadu.

 

According to your assessment, how strong is the overseas LTTE network in Tamil Nadu? What are the main front groups and personalities representing the LTTE agenda in Tamil Nadu and other Indian states? And how do they coordinate with LTTE front groups in the West and North America and the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, headed by Rudrakumar?

The LTTE has built three structures globally. One is the Global Tamil Forum led by Father Emmanuel. The second is the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam led by V. Rudrakumar and the third is Nediyavan alias Perinbanayagam Sivaparan, who heads the Tamil Coordinating Committee and Tamil Youth Organization. All these three organizations have built their front organizations in Tamil Nadu. They are operating through mainly four politicians. They are:  Muthuvel Karunanidhi, M.K. Stalin (Karunanidhi’s son), V. Gopalswamy (Vaiko) and Seeman (pro LTTE film director). All LTTE front organizations have strong relations with Tamil Nadu politicians and they have representation in Tamil Nadu.

 

How effective are they in shaping Tamil Nadu public opinion and influencing their policy makers?

Most Tamils do not want to associate with the LTTE. They still have memories of a foreign terrorist group coming to their soil and killing the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi. Those memories are still fresh.  But in Tamil Nadu, there is a group of Tamil fanatics or Tamil chauvinists. It is this narrow band of Tamil fanatics that have been engaged by the remnants of the LTTE. It is this group that wants to create a greater Tamil Eelam (Dravidistan) one day. The Central Government of India always had those fears. In fact, the idea of separatism came toSri Lankafrom Tamil Nadu. The hardcore Tamils have not given up that idea of creating a Dravidistan.

 

Given the heavy militarization and the stepped up security in Sri Lanka, the reorganization of the LTTE within Sri Lanka is a long shot. This leads to the possibility that the LTTE remnants and its support network could use Tamil Nadu, reminiscent to the early 80s, as a rear base to reorganize and revive the LTTE. Are you aware of any LTTE activities, be it military or political, taking place in Tamil Nadu ?

In the 1980’s there was a geopolitical dispute between Sri Lanka and India.India was within the Soviet sphere of influence and Sri Lanka was within the western sphere of influence. The Indian government, therefore, made a decision to arm, train and finance terrorist groups in Sri Lanka. The first batch of Tamil Tigers was trained in the Uttar Pradesh, the second batch was trained in the Himachal Pradesh and all the other batches were trained in Tamil Nadu.

Politicians like M.G. Ramachandran and Karunanidhi supported terrorism in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is very important for the Sri Lankan government to engage politicians in Tamil Nadu. If the LTTE is to strike Sri Lanka, they should have a rear base in Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka should send its best diplomat to Tamil Nadu. The one posted to Chennai should be the best diplomat and not the one in Washington DC or London. The Government of Sri Lanka should view the TESO conference as a failure of Sri Lankan diplomacy. They must now develop a strategy to engage Chennai, akin to the relationship they had earlier. During the war, there was a very good relationship, which has since then deteriorated and that is partly whyIndiavoted againstSri Lankaat the UNHRC. It is important to revive that relationship with Tamil Nadu andNew Delhi.

 

Are there sleeper cells of the LTTE based in Tamil Nadu, according to your knowledge? 

There are a few hundred LTTE cadres based in Tamil Nadu. Some have relocated to Canada,Australia and Europe; still a significant number of them are based in Tamil Nadu. This is a matter for the Indian and Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies to handle. Some of the leaders of the LTTE living overseas are engaged in illegal activities such as human smuggling. It is important that this matter is viewed as a law enforcement issue.

 

In order to shape the Tamil Nadu public opinion, isn’t it advisable for the Sri Lankan government and its Diplomatic Corp to build a greater rapport with local actors in Tamil Nadu? And what else can we do to create a better perception of Sri Lanka in Tamil Nadu?

Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs should create a diaspora engagement division and it should work very closely with the Ministry of Media and Information to produce information in Tamil and constantly engage the main protagonists in Tamil Nadu. And the Sri Lankan government should appoint their best diplomat not toWashington, not to London, but to Chennai. Also a new organization should be created in Sri Lanka to restore the image of the country that has been gravely damaged by the LTTE. Today, the LTTE has transformed from a terrorist group to a criminal group and a propaganda organization. Police and law enforcement agencies can fight the criminal component of the LTTE. But, there is no organization currently operating inSri Lankato fight misinformation and disinformation activities of the LTTE. Therefore, a new organization should be created and it should be a combined effort of the Information Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry. If they do not do it, there will be many more resolutions against Sri Lanka, many more conferences againstSri Lankaand many more protests against the president and other dignitaries whenever they travel overseas. These are all indications that the media war has been lost. The government has won the war in the battlefield, but lost it at the table.

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    To Ranga,
    this self styled terrorism expert, Rohan Gunaratna has many mistaks in his statements.
    He did not realize that the ethnic conflict was /is created by Indira Gandhi and her government bureaucrats to destabilize sri lanka before becoming a economically powerful country like Singapore and Hong kong.
    They were afraid that looking at Malaysia becoming a dependent of Singapore.
    So they Hatched a Coup in New Delhi to make Sri Lanka become a hell of south Asia.
    And Our Brainy Politicians also became Yes men to India believing as a close friendly country.
    Still, now also Indian Government with the help of RAW FOREIGN BRANCH trying to take sri Lanka as the 28 state of India. Because They wants to find money and employments to maggots like population in india.

    Example as Pakistan, NEPAL< BHUTAN, Bangladesh,Maldives, and now Afghanistan, and Tibet.
    All those countries have political, religious and ethnic unrests .Inflamed By Indian RAW.
    Indian Tamil Do not Care about Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi,
    They have Their own problems.
    JUST IMAGINE THAT , IF ONE INDIAN TAMIL COLLECT AND GIVE ONE RUPEE, HOW MANEY MILLIONS THEY WILL COLLECT TO FUND LTTE COPPERS.

    Jaffna is growing because of the foreign funds send by relatives of jaffnaites.
    otherwise what development , government build roads and politicians collect commission.
    from 100000 Rs spend on roads, 90000 Rs goes as commission.
    "you call it development".[Of course Politicos and Henchmen]
    There is no Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Sri Lanka.
    Only A Dumb Ass Piggery.

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      Rohan G is like Kumar Rupesinghe – a disaster capitalist who profits from the arms industry and other peoples wars and misery in Singapore which also profits from other peoples misery and is DISNEY LAND WITH A DEATH SENTENCE!

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    I have my doubts over Riohans analysis on the subject having listened to his speech at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute on a different subject last month. It was about women and reconciliation and being the head speaker he made complete mockery of himself . He was not only ignorant but insensitive to the subject as well. His perception of women’s empowerment and especially for these women who have undergone so much due to the war was about learning beauty culture and looking good. He had the audacity to say that these women look beautiful after following these courses which are sponsored by the State.
    Just because a person is holding high position doesn’t mean that he/she is capable of articulating any subject and especially with regard to ethnic issue and gender. These issues need to internalize and the person must be extremely sensitive to the subject. But with Rohan’s background as a person who bum sucks the present regime one can hardly expect an unbiased and justifiable analysis on the subject.

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    What an Idi-o……………this con artist Terrorism expert Rohan G is?

    Absolutely moronic and typical of a crony and racist-chauvinist, who wants to defend and justify the State Terrorism, War Crimes, and crimes against Humanity..Military Oppression, Repression and Suppression is the main problem in the last 3 and a half years, together with rape and molestation of 80,000 war widows (Thanks to the Rajapakses and Fonseka), arbitrary arrest , torture and Grease Devils.

    The white vans are very active in the North, as well as the Paramilitary and corruption of the PTF and local government under Devananda, and the military. This is just in a nut shell.

    The civil war started from the early seventies, with discrimination, standardization, and denial of fair share of employment and foreign aid. The FTZ was to be in Trincomalee but changed because the UNP fools wanted the jobs of stitching “Jungies for the Suthies” to the Sinhalese girls. The bigger industries never came to Colombo in 30 years. There is over crowding.

    Mahaweli was never diverted to the North and very limited to the East. Now the bad Karma, the Parakramasamudram has gone dry, and crops are failing. Who said there is “No God”?

    When successive governments steal the foreign aid, finally it has it’s toll. India did not advise standardization, or discrimination, colonization, or burning of public libraries, homes, shops, lorries, vans, cars and the Tamils themselves in July 1983.. The GOSL organized it and executed it. Hence India had to do something, when 200-300,000 refugees arrived in July-August 1983 and continued to arrive. It was there region of influence, and the GOI assisted the groups, due to their own necessity with the hope of controlling the situation within 3-4 years with the Indo-SL accord of 1987.

    But the Sikh terrorist (The Man Mohan Clan), had different ideas and they murdered the Indian PM Indira Gandhi. If the LTTE murdered Rajiv, then GOI should extradite KP instead of ignoring KP who is now the best friend and ally of Gota and Rohan, like Karuna, Pillaiyan and Perumal!!!

    Rohan G’s advise to MOD and GOSL is nothing but flawed and will have disastrous results, which I am not complaining. Let them follow their moronic adviser…

    Who is this best diplomutt the Ministry has?
    Why doesn’t GOSL send the monitoring MP the defacto FM Sajin Vass there?
    Or Rohan G himself to Chennai? ha ha.
    He won’t last 3 months there.

    Or are the going to send Tamara from Cuba or Pandithasena Dyan Jayatileka, or tea taster cousin Jaliya Wickramasinghe from DC, or Businessman Nonis from London? Or Major General Shavinda De Silva, or the latest unemployed diplomat who desperately was begging for the job at 76, Nanda Godage? What a bunch of jokers they have and Rohan G things it will resolve the War Crimes and Tamil Nadu headaches for the GOSL…

    More later…

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      “India”??No, not India, Congress Administration..Just like Obama, Bush administration!

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      Donald,
      You say “with rape and molestation of 80,000 war widows“.

      How were these unfortunate women raped? Was it done individually, or were there mass rapes? Where did these rapes happen? In their homes or were they taken to Army camps?

      How many soldiers were involved in these “80,000 rapes”? A section, or a battalion or entire regiments or even divisions?

      With modern communication and medical technology, it won’t be difficult for Eelamists to provide cast iron proof of these “80,000 rapes”. Why so shy?

      The world demands that you provide proof of the “80,000 rapes” unless of course it’s a figment of your diseased imagination.

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        You say LTTE bombed the buses and trains and killed innocent children.

        Now what evidence lead you to believe the parcel bombings in and around Colombo were done by LTTE?Was there a CCTV footage of ltte cadre placing the parcels in bus, how did you know it was the work of LTTE, was this person arrested?

        With regards to killings of senior minsters during war, like LK, Jeyaraj, you blame LTTE, were the persons involved arrested?Did they plead guilty and confess to the court that they are from ltte?

        You see, during war and with all the hype around it, it is natural to believe all the crap Government says, but the world demands evidence not some fairy tales..

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    SERUVILA SENARATH, Yes I fully agree with you. There was not so much of a western trend in Sri Lanka for India to promote terrorism against Sri Lanka. The beggars of India did that solely due to jealousy and exploitery motives towards Sri Lanka. This terrorism expert unto himself thinks there is a Foreign Affairs Ministry in Sri Lanka whereas the truth is a herd of dumb fools, loiterers and MARA boot-lickers have been dumped into a place whose name contains the word “Foreign” and they do not even know the meaning of foreign affairs and diplomacy. This so called expert finally accepts that they have lost the war on the table but thinks won it on the battle field! There is no war won by these timid fugitives; war victory was purely an act of the armed forces, of those who went into the battle field, of those who designed the war plan. The stupid politicians cannot claim credit for it. If there is any victory they must claim it is political, propaganda, media, ideological and international war which they have lamentably failed to win and now accept the defeat of! Sri Lankans, Sinhalese, Tamils, other communities, India and the International can no longer depend on Rajapaksha government to solve the ever multiplying and ramifying harrowing problems in Sri Lanka and it is time this government go home and a new government with a democratic outlook assumes power. Until such time these people would come and write post-mortems, self-confessions and about failed missions!

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    Not only Rohan G, but all the racist-chauvinist advisers including people like Malinda and others need to realize is the problem is the Rajapakses and in the NorthEast. Not Chennai or the Tamil diaspora.

    260,000 Tamil homes were destroyed and many more were damaged.
    Not one home has been built despite all kinds of false claims by the GOSL.
    They even prevent India from building the 50,000 homes that were promised 3 years ago… Now Muslims in Puttlam and people in Uva want India to build homes there… A super power like India is unable to building the cheapest homes for $5,000 each in Sri Lanka, but the military is building tens of thousands of homes for themselves from Point Pedro to Pottuvil-Panama by acquiring private and government land and people’s hard earned money.

    The roads and by roads they are building is mainly to connect their existing and new camps since the military wants to permanently stay there for the next 100 years and are terribly paranoid of the dead LTTE. They are still having nightmares of the Tigers even during the day, although not a single incident in 40 months have been reported that is due to the Tigers.

    The huge military has to go home on leave, and return, and the hundreds of thousands of Sinhala tourist wants to visit Jaffna every month. They need to repair the A 9 and other roads, as the 90% of the poor Tamils cannot afford any kind of road travel, and they are not interested in the A9 either. The railway is also for the military, their needs and the tourist, as unlike b4 Jaffna man is not working in the South anymore, unless he is ready to leave the country and come for his visa..

    KKS port is a military port. Pallali is a military airport, and so is Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, and Amparai. I am a retired pilot and I have flown those routes more than 45 years ago…

    Trincomalee is the best port which is undeveloped in the whole world. Instead these morons go digging the land for 3 Billion dollars to create a port, where no ships are coming… Trinco could have been developed for 5% of that cost and the rest of the money could be spent to build homes for the poor island wide, which is more for the Sinhalese. But then there won’t be commissions of 30%?

    This 22 % growth in just one year is because the previous 3 years have been negative growth, and if one averages the economic growth in 4 years the answers are staggering. The development of the economy is the military and public services the last 3-4 years….Destruction via bombing and shelling and rebuilding, in addition 101 Buddhist temples…, military shops all over the A9 denying the locals their small business, including barber shops, vegetable stores etc.

    Most of the contracts are given to their Sinhala contractors from the South, and even if there is construction the labor is from the South, and therefore the unemployment rates are high, fisherman have no boats, nets and ice factories, as well as homes. Farmers and dairy farmers have lost a lot and cattle has been slaughtered or stolen after the end of the war. Even when the NGO gifts tractors to the farmer -Namals gangs go stealing them using their powers…

    State Terrorism is the problem, and of course the military.

    GOSL should engage the elected representatives of the Tamils, TNA and not the unelected Tamil activist in Tamil Nadu, or DMK which lost virtually all their seats in the assembly. CM Jayalalitha will simply spit at any invitation from the Rajapakses, so forget about even trying to even invite her. That bus or train has long past left the station, and only now Rohan G has woken up to give advise. OMG.

    It is time the GOSL, to become sincere, honest, and straight forward if they want peace in Sri Lanka, or at least peacefully travel in the civilized travel. President Rajapakse has experienced Oxford, London and the Olympics… Ha ha .. What a joke…

    When did the war criminals (alleged) who are US citizens and residents visited their countries last? There is a reason they don’t come to the US. Because they don’t have immunity… Now they don’t want to go to Europe or Geneva…or even London. Olympics or Test Matches are all No No and No Go venues…

    Lastly, there has to be accountability, truth and justice to the 40 or 100,000 civilians that were killed, and the use of chemical bombs, weapons, cluster bombs and phosphorous bombs. Or else, this is a cancer that is growing, and it is growing in Sri Lanka and not in the Tamil diaspora..

    BTW the Tamil diaspora is now sending well over 2 Billion dollars of the 6 Billion inward remittances which comes into the country, which helps the GOSL foreign exchange reserves. And this is every year. That sustains thE Tamils in the NorthEast and the Western Province and prevents Sri Lanka becoming a Greece or Iceland.

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      Donald J Gnanakone

      “A super power like India”

      Since when?

      When did India become a super power?

      Does USA know about this sudden change in India’s International status?

      Please note India altogether won 6 medals at Olympic. Do these six medals automatically give India the status of a super power (population is mere 1.45 billion)?

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        Hay Vedda, Do not groan like a brainless pig! Look back about 20-30 years and compare India’s progress as at present day, also compare Sri Lanka in the same period and get the readings. Where do you think India would end up and where is Sri Lanka heading? In fact during MARA tenure SL has actually retarded 100 years back! Be a buffalo if you want but do not bellow in public!

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          Silva

          Inappropriately comments:

          “Do not groan like a brainless pig!”

          I am neither a Tamil nor a Sinhalese.

          You say:

          “Look back about 20-30 years and compare India’s progress as at present day”

          Scientifically speaking the world has moved on. India is trying to catch up with the west’s 50 year old technology. I am not sure whether India ever has any aspiration to achieve anything at all.

          Where is Chandrayan? The lunar rocket which is missing since its launch? Even the Indian scientists do not know the where about of this imaginary lunar vehicle. Did they really launch this rocket?

          Out of 1.5 billion people they could barely manage six second and third class medals at Olympics. No gold medal.

          What is the progress India has made since Independence?

          Please let me know the progress they have made under the following heading:

          Human rights
          Democracy
          Empowerment
          Accountability
          Rule of law

          Dealing with land grab – protection provided to my cousins in the North East of India. More than 18,000 of my cousins are languishing in police custody for more than 2 years with being charged.

          Record on human rights in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country is appalling.

          Why could not Indian state afford building of toilets? At the same time the state and its leaders have 200% tolerance on corruption which allow them to accumulate wealth.

          I am bit thick therefore I have no understanding of Indian Foreign policy achievements, if there is any.

          It is surrounded by Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Burma, Bangladesh, Butan, Nepal and China. Does India have friendly relation with any of these countries?

          The grooming of Tigers (and its eventual demise) by the Indian establishment is a great chapter in its foreign policy which tells us what not to do under the pretext of Diplomacy. Not all South Blockers are Chanakkyas.

          What do you mean progress in Indian context?

          I have more questions?

          Please do not compare India with Sri Lanka. India has more potentials and the humanity expects more from India than Sri lanka. Therefore India is a disappointment.

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          Native Vedda.., “…Scientifically speaking the world has moved on. India is trying to catch up with the west’s 50 year old technology. I am not sure whether India ever has any aspiration to achieve anything at all.

          Where is Chandrayan? The lunar rocket which is missing since its launch? Even the Indian scientists do not know the where about of this imaginary lunar vehicle. Did they really launch this rocket?
          …”

          In the true sense of your name-and you have done justice to the semantics-you seem to inhabit in the abode of aborigines in the jungle and hence seem to project your blurred and limited understanding of India as the reality out there! I am not going to elucidate extensively on this but point out only two points of importance one being it is the basic foundation of a country upon which it builds and expands itself into innumerable social, economic, governance, educational, military, industrial, ideological, constitutional etc. that determines its future. Although there are shortcomings and imperfections India is far ahead of Sri Lanka and on course for better things for its people. It has built its own nuclear facility which is a giant leap and the deciding factor to become an economic and political giant in the world nuclear disaster not pondered on here. India has not destroyed its democratic system of governance, the judiciary is independent, the rulers are not thieves or murderers or rapists and if one becomes one the law of the land takes care of that. They are diligently working towards making their country a success and a developed country. Vedda’s limited world view sees India’s rocket failure as a cause for joke but what about Right Bros’s limbs breaking world’s first flight tests? Are there babies who walked outright without first creeping on the ground? May be Vedda may not have walked on the ground but skydived like a monkey-and the monkeys are scheming to build houses while the rain is raining but suddenly jettison all the plans and go on their merry ways and playful frolics once the rain ceases! The other point I would like to ask this Vedda pandith is what about India across Polk Strait targeting Vedda on the other side of the Strait by Agni missiles-7 or 8 of them- including Vedda’s hero king in Araliya Dansal Mandiraya and Army Headquarters, Kelanitissa, Kerawalapitiya, Norochcholai, Ratmalana, Katunayake and Mattala airports? This India who cannot afford building toilets for its population is building nukes and missiles and mounting them targeting assholes of native indigineous veddas in a wonderfully brave, triumphant nation who worship a king who wears a Kurakkan Shawl to bundle together pakis donkeys like Veddas and looting ancient treasures and looking for ancient mystic power impregnated ancient swords to wield continuous despot powers for life! I personally see no reason why India should not release those missiles to exterminate this nation of donkeys because no amount of rational reasoning would make them understand anything of truth and value! I don’t mind getting killed in the holocaust process because at lease the truth would stand a chance to survive!

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    THESE DIPLOMUTTS WILL NOT LAST 3 MINUTES NOT 3 MONTHS IN CHENNAI

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      Godage,the sincere,naive,unsuspecting diplomutt was fired for asking about the ‘plight of tamils’ at the diplomutts’ conference.
      The poor chap forgot that times have changed since his days.
      All the others kept silent,listened to the b.s dished out and survived.

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    This joker, wants us to believe TESO is Karunanithi’s plan and his politics and Congress had nothing to do.I have to say..he does a fine job for his masters and his master’s masters(congress), TESO was and is and will be a plan by Congress to bring MR to the table and sign that CEPA agreement….

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      Jegath

      “TESO was and is and will be a plan by Congress to bring MR to the table and sign that CEPA agreement….”

      It is not Congress’s plan. This is a plan by Hindian establishment Hindian mandarins, corporate India, corrupt India………

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        Does Sri Lanka need a better recipie for destroying itself than having Pundits in the calibre of this Rohan Gunaratne? By the time the Moda Upasaka and Upasikawas of Sri Lanka pay homage to the bones of the Buddha, CEPA will be signed.

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        “Hindian establishment, Hindian mandarins, corporate India, corrupt India”.

        I think the word “Congress” sums it all…Only party to rule India

        for 50 years..

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          Jegath

          thinks(?)

          “I think the word “Congress” sums it all…Only party to rule India

          for 50 years..”

          Congress part of the political arrangement.

          Congress is not India.

          India is not Congress.

          The right wing Hindu BJP was in power for some time. Didn’t you smell rat during their rule? Teleka incident exposed them being part of corrupt practices which I think (?) are common to all parties including different shades of communists, Naxalites, Maoists,…..

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    Joker says”LTTE operates thorough four people:Karunanithi, Stalin, Vaiko and Seeman(pro-ltte)”

    and only tags Seeman as pro-ltte, my common sense tells me they are all pro-ltte as they operate for LTTE, so why this “selective” tag?Why not tag Karunathi and Stalin as pro-ltte?

    Is it because they are secret buddies of your master?

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      JAGATH AND DEAR READERS.
      We did farming at Maavil Aaru area in seruvila in1970s.
      eastern farmers [ specially from Seruvila ]supplied paddy to jaffna and smuggled to tamil nadu.
      it was my young age.
      what they have done to seruvila since 2009 after wining the tera’s war.
      nothing for Sinhalese and Tamils.
      but to Muslims.
      because of Votes.
      they made roads to Sampoor and going to sell fertile trinco district to Rascal India.
      this R G is Nothing But Record of H M S.
      HIS MASTER’S VOICE

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      Ape Hamuduruwane (Seruwila Senarath),
      When did you last visit Seruwila ? I am no way a sympathizer of this stupid government, yet I want yourself be updated what changes exactly have taken place in and around Seruwila after the war in the economic & development front !!!

      1) Completely re-laying Allai – Kanthalai Road (B10). It was never before repared after construction in 1956 now you can reach Muthur in 2 hours instead of 5 hours during & before war time.

      2) Supply of electricity to almost all the villages in Seruwila

      3) Construction of rural hospitals in Seruwila, Kiliweddi, Championpaththu, Kallar, Sampur & Neelapola (In fact I did visit Kiliweddi hospital when I was there last time in 2011 as my both sons fell ill & facilities were as good as any other rural hospitals)

      4) Seruwila/ Somawathiya road being built (118kms)& one can visit both these important places in no time now

      5) Laying many rural roads made of concrete

      6) Construction of Kinniya bridge which said to be longest in the Island

      7) Renovating Lankapatuna Chathya,

      8) Construction of Seruwila Museum

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        When you are hungry Please eat a piece of road.
        We have long and big every things in sri lanka.

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        Kapila Kahapola, UAE,
        I was with Teritorial Civil engineering organisation [ T C E O] and S D & C C since 1975 in the eastern province.
        So no need to tell me about roads and bridges.
        That is incumbent government’s duty to develop infrastructure of the country, but Fist comes the people, that is what i point out,
        If D S Senanayaka did not implement the The Padviya, Allai, Ampara + Iginiyagala + central camp Schemes, we still asking and begging for foreigners aids.
        Now These POLITICIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WANTS TO PAWN THE COUNTRY TO India AND CHINA.
        OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES LOOKING TO GET ADVANTAGES ON THAT.
        AND SELF STYLED TERRA EXPERTS AND ADVISERS [SOME ARE KUDU MUDALALIS AND GANGSTERS] ARE MISGIDING THE RULERS AND GIVE FALSE INFO TO MASSES.

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    To Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, terrorism expert, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Nanyang Technological University,Singapore.

    YOU SAID;
    Therefore, a new organization should be created and it should be a combined effort of the Information Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry. If they do not do it, there will be many more resolutions against Sri Lanka,

    O/L educated, I am asking;
    In 1980, 1990s,2000,2010. Why did not you advise, ask Sri Lankan Government or now your present masters to mobilize and start a ministry of propaganda like HITLER THE KILLER did , combining of the Ministry of Information , Ministry of Foreign affairs and Ministry of Defence.

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    The govt lost the media war because they’ve lost credibility. The national anthem disaster as just one example.

    The Sinhala extremists are too influential and to coin a phrase, “you can’t polish a turd”. So unless MR demonstrates some real leadership, they’ll continue to lose the media war.

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    People like this guy call him self as an experts is really a curse to our country. misleading our country people and policy makers just to earn money and survive…

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    This expert says:
    “And during the last three years since the end of the war, (economy of) Jaffna is growing at 22 per cent annually, and the rest of the country is growing at 7 per cent. There are huge development projects in the north and the east”.

    Of course if he defines “DEVOLOPMENT” as construction of roads, buildings, military bases, houses for the military families, which activities are lesser at present in the south compared to the north.

    This type of propaganda is made to the international community to show that LLRC recommendations are being implemented.
    Perhaps Akhasi may be impressed when he visits the north.

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    Rohan Gunaratna who describes himself as a terrorism expert, is an anti-Tamil spokesman for the Singhalese extremism and terrorism and an apologist for war criminals.

    Of course if he defines “DEVOLOPMENT” as construction of roads, buildings, military bases, houses for the military families, which activities are lesser at present in the south compared to the north.

    Land grabing by the Sighalese in the NorthEast and the military rule of Tamils three years after the end of the civil war, is not beneficial to the Tamil community.

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    Is this bad Karma for the Pollonoruwa and Anuradhapura district farmers and inland fisherman?
    220,000 acres of Paddy cultivation ruined?
    Other crop losses are still under investigations.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19328170

    During the war, 25,000 head of cattle from the Eastern Province Tamils, was stolen and brought to Pollonoruwa by the military and GOSL. Most of the owners died, injured or were displaced due to the indiscriminate attacks by the military on the Tamils.

    Other colonization projects under the Mahaveli scheme are also affected and the Sinhala farmers are abandoning their land and getting back to the South.

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    Hey coward Mango, hiding under false identity like many of the bayagullahs. Even President Rajapakse and Gota have repeatedly said no civilians died, and then changing their story, saying only 9,000 died.

    Do they have the list, and what ever happened to the bones?

    The military stole all the gold that was found buried and only a small percentage was given to the Central Bank.

    You want to know the modalities of the RAPES that are going on in the North by the young Sinhalese soldiers? FYI there are several organizations and groups which are making copious reports about the RAPES and MOLESTATION that is going on. These are made available to the appropriate authorities worldwide. This is not the forum to disclose such details.

    You all can worry about how the Sinhalese children are exposed to rapes and other sex crimes in the South. How the Sinhalese children are being sold on the beaches for pedophiles to have sickening fun so that the GOSL can boast so many foreign tourist came to Sri Lanka..

    The child sex, trafficking and pornography has been going on for more than a decade, and you guys are ignoring it and asking for details now? The same relatives are part of the sex starved society who are serving in the military in the North.. They have no hesitation in attacking women and children in the North with impunity that they will not be punished.

    Rapes are very sensitive and emotional to the women, girls and their families. Do not belittle those suffering women, and even if there are no police or medical reports, there is a God above watching what (WTF) is going on. Whether it is Buddha, Jesus, Allah, Shiva or Kalli.

    Please remember that while you are hiding with your false identity. This same government said that there were only 30,000 civilians in the Vanni and denied the Red Cross and other NGO’s providing food, water and medicine from January-May 2009 to 400,000 Tamils. Finally, the truth unwailed when 310,000 Tamil civilians who were incarcerated in the concentration camps where rapes, torture and disappearance was a daily occurrence for over a year. The Gosl denied the atrocities.

    It is Lies, Lies and more Lies. That is what Rohana G does not seem to understand or he too is keep lying.

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      Dear Donald,

      Rape is an extremely serious crime and your false accusations of rape only serves to diminish that crime and belittles genuine victims of any rape, regardless of who commits the rape.

      You say that “80,000 war widows”” have been raped. Where’s your proof? Who’s doing the raping?

      Some Eelamists are claiming there are 89,000 widows? Yet you now claim only 80,000 war widows, all of whom have been raped. What’s happened to the missing 9,000 war widows? Have they come to live in your house?

      Let’s deal with one hysterical outburst by you, at a time.

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      Mango lives in London.. He dont have to deal with the brutal Rajapaksa Regime like most of us have to.

      It seems to me that, Mango is holding a grudge against the Tamil community in Sri Lanka and worldwide..

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        Dear Satish,
        I hold no grudge against anyone. Life’s too short :) :)

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          Mango

          is forgiving:

          “I hold no grudge against anyone. Life’s too short”.

          Join the Veddas.

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    Dr Bahu confirms 90,000 WIDOWS IN THE NORTH IN HIS SPEECH IN INDIA.

    He too has details of RAPES AND MOLESTATION:

    http://www.lankanewsweb.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2275:90-thousand-widows-in-elam-region-teso-speech-made-by-vickramabahu-karunaratne&catid=1:general&Itemid=29

    The problem is not the Sri Lankan ambassadors in Chennai and London..
    It is the War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and RAPES are the problems GOSL faces now in India. The GOI is forced to act, and they are part of the UNHRC appointed TROIKA on UPR on SL.

    India has a consulate in Jaffna where a Tamil is in charge.. He reports everything to Colombo and Delhi and he neither deaf nor blind. Or a LIAR like Rohan G who is the expert on State Terrorism and Fraud.

    Rohan G, is totally clueless of how the Tamil diaspora is functioning. I am not going to educate him either…Make no mistake that with so much suffering of the Tamils in the NE, the humiliation and lack of dignity or respect to them, there is a lot of anger is building up with the frustration.

    How such anger will manifest itself in the diaspora, India, as well as in the NE is a difficult guess, but there would be consequences and repercussions, immaterial who runs the mad house at the Foreign Ministry asylum, or who the diplomats are in India, UK, France, UN, of US.

    Rohan G will get paid and he will spin another “yarn” but it is the country and it’s people who will continue to suffer and bear the burden. Already 1.5 Million Sinhalese and Muslim women are slaving in the Middle East and their families too are suffering. Yes, there is a shortage of females in the other 7 provinces and excess in the NE due to the war, and another reason these soldiers with machine gun in hand “Go berserk” sexually, Mango and behave like wild animals.

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      Dear Donald,
      You still have not provided any proof of “80,000 raped war widows”, “89,000 raped war widows” or “90,000 raped war widows”.

      Dr Karunaratne makes allegations (“90,000 raped war widows”) without providing proof, a very Sri Lankan trait.

      My good friend, Jim McDonald (Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka country specialist) said: Anyone can make a charge at any time against anyone; that doesn’t require the person being charged to have to prove their innocence.”

      So, I ask again, where’s your proof of “80,000 raped war widows”?

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        Mango, the rotten fruit !!

        It’s not enough for you to abuse the Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka country specialist !!!

        Now you crawl out again… with your usual shameless lies and racist’s rants….spitting venom on this fine forum..

        Know your facts before you open your ignorant mouth…. you are a sorry excuse of condom failures.

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          Dear Satish,
          I quoted exactly what the wonderful, totally un-biased Amnesty Int’l country specialist Jim “Cluster Bomb” McDonald has written. Please provide instances of my alleged racism on this or any other forum.

          In the meantime help confused old Donald Gnanakone by providing hard evidence of “80,000 raped war widows”, and find out where the the missing 10,000 ‘raped’ war widows have gone. Are they in your house?

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          Mango

          It is very easy, tell your masters to allow the UN along with
          reputable HR organizations like Amnesty and those from China and Russia to investigate the whole episode Mullivaikal.

          When it was said remains of cluster bomb was found those in the
          sinhala establishment like “mango” panicked, instead of going
          against the evidence they went against the messenger Amnesty.

          Mango its been 3 years since war “finished” let Navi Pillay
          talk to the people in N/E, that will help the highly confused sinhala establishment who maintain the hilarious “zero civilian casualty”..

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        Mango

        There are 89,000 young war widows in the North East according to goverment published sources.

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          Native Veddah,
          I’m not arguing about the accuracy of the figure 89,000 war widows, but merely asking our esteemed, highly educated, super-smart Donald Gnanakone, to provide any sort of proof for his stunning allegation that “80,000 war widows have all been raped.”

          If Donald’s claim is true, you must agree, this is a truly terrible crime and no stone must be left unturned to find, prosecute and punish the rapists.

          If Donald is just lying, he’s bringing shame and opprobrium on 80,000 female citizens of Sri Lanka who will find their lives made even more difficult if everyone thinks that they’re rape victims.

          Can you imagine if they wish to re-marry? Families of their new husbands will prevent a marriage on the basis of the war-widow also being a mass-rape victim.

          Donald is the CEO of something called “Tamils for Justice”. Justice demands that he either proves his statement or withdraws it as a foul lie and libel.

          We’re still waiting for Donald to provide any proof of these hideous mass rape atrocities.

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    While Rohan Gunaratna tries to produce a neutral narrative, he gets caught in his earlier deceptive preachings to GoSL leaders and the Army where he was considered some sort of an “expert”

    Arming of a few hundred Tamil youth had little to do with global power play. It was more of a form of shock therapy by Indira G – now that Sri Lankan leaders (both SLFP and UNP and their coalitions) continued to ignore the peaceful agitation of the Tamil leadership for political sharing of power and resources from the 1960s.

    Gunaratna, however, is right on target when he says we should have concentrated in sending an influential official to man our post in Chennai. I agree with him that we should concentrate more on Chennai
    while not diluting our importance to the Delhi mission.

    I know of an instance when someone personally known to Mahinda Rajapakse – as someone with good connections in the Indian HC in Colommbo, Madras society and Delhi was suggested to make peace between India and Sri Lanka. The gentleman concerned lived both in Chennai and Sri Lanka from 1980s and had a wide network in Chennai in the political, social, commercial and cultural areas. He had friends close both to Karunanidhi, Jayalalitha and many other Tamilnadu politicians in addition to his familiarity with the academic and journalistic community there. Rajapakse did not get the message and chose to appoint another diplomat from a minority community, who made more enemies for Sri Lanka than otherwise. He chose to be a Yes man
    and played safe during his brief period in Chennai. The candidate (60s) concerned, a well to do businessman, offered his services more to bring goodwill between the two sides – but felt dissappointed the offer was not
    properly employed. Young Krishnamoorthy, from the hills, did a better job but he was somewhat junior for the job and lacked the necessary network. Those who appointed Krishnamoorthy gambled on the theory since he was of Indian origin and a Tamil he can make a difference. That would have been bad judgement. Mangala Moonesinghe is another who would have brought the results Sri Lanka yearned for. But the Rajapakses have a different criteria in appointing square pegs in round holes in most of their appointments. The country continues to suffer as a result.

    It is regretted Gunaratne calls Karunanidhi a “crook and clown”
    Certainly there are many faults in Karunanidhi’s long political life but a little more sophistication from the part of Gunaratna would have helped. This shows the lack of experience, finesse and diplomacy from a man styling himself an academic and expert – that is widely questioned in academic circles in India and elsewhere. Even, within Sri Lanka, Gunaratna’s academic credentials are a subject of discussion something he should clarify as soon as possible.

    Senguttuvan

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    Rohan Gunaratne is a certified fraud (http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/07/20/1058545648013.html) who continues to work the ‘goni billa’ story… The LTTE is long gone and Sri Lankans don’t have to worry about those terrorists any more.

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    @Senguttvan… You have made the point.
    But what is the point?
    Who ever this well connected and well qualified friend of yours and many others in India’s offers are great.

    But the problem is elsewhere.. GOSL/SLA have to perform on the ground in the North and the East. Not on Daily News and Rupavahini and election Platforms.. The problems I wish to reiterate are

    War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity.
    Military Oppression, Suppression, and Repression.
    Cruelty and inhuman treatment of the Tamils.
    Wrong development projects without the input of the elected officials.
    Tamils want houses, fishing boats-nets, ice factories, tractors, small agricultural machinery, Goats and Cattle for the dairy farmers, etc.

    Hospitals, medical clinics, schools repaired and rebuilt, libraries, temples and churches repaired, and above all freedom to celebrate, mourn, speak, write and think, living their lives with dignity and pride.

    Railways, Highways, byways, byroads, bridges, culverts, ports and air ports which help the military, and movement of the Sinhala tourist can come later. Building hundreds of new Buddhist temples where Buddhist do not live is provocative.

    Colonization of land, beaches, waters, and illegal shops is also provocative.

    So having the best diplomat if they have any, in Chennai and Delhi is not the real problem. It is their economic, political and military policies with the High Security Zones using Tamil land and homes are the major problems.

    Put it bluntly, Mahinda Chinthana, Rajapakse brothers, Rajapakse sons, and family are the problem for Sri Lanka. That is why India and the international community including the UN are putting limited pressure. This is also not due to TGTE, GTF, Nediyavan Group or any other Tamil group either.. Of course poor diplomats create problems and make it worse…

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    As for Bad Karma in and around Pollonoruwara and Anuradhapura districts in the NCP, there is additional evidence or is it just coincidence?

    http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/08/study-links-kidney-disease-in-sri-lankas-farm-belt-to-agrochemicals/

    Boasting about the Seruvila electorate in the Trincomalee district (EP) and the major development where 80% of the population are Sinhala colonist of the last 60 years in the various irrigation projects also indicates the sign of the times. All Tamils in Sampur and Chennaiyoor have been forcefully evicted, have lost their land, homes, cattle and livelihood are rendered homeless in the last decade or 7 years of Mahinda Chintana..

    And nearby Parakramasamudra runs dry!!!!!

    The poor people should not suffer due to the crazy rulers and politicians. !!! God should be merciful…despite the new and big Buddhist temples being built in the NP, NCP and EP…

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      Dear Donald,

      This is all very interesting, but I’m waiting for your proof of the “80,000 raped war widows”. These unfortunate victims need justice.

      You’re the CEO of “Tamils for Justice”. Why are you making them wait for justice?

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    Jegath

    is obsessed with “the whole episode Mullivaikal”.

    Mullivaikal is not the only incident that took place in this island. Since independence there had been four major violations namely 1971, between 1987 and 1991, over 30 years in the North East and the IPKF’s atrocities, not to mentions periodic riots against the minorities.

    I think(?) you are bogged down on Mullivaikal. Please don’t loose sight of the pattern of State’s behaviour.

    I would like to remind you there is an on going genocide of my people by both the Sinhalese and Tamils. This started 2,500 years ago. If and when an investigation by UN into genocide of my people is carried out I am sure both the Tamils and Sinhalese would work closely together to discredit such investigation. In this respect Tamil Diaspora would come very handy for the Sinhala/Buddhist establishment.

    There are precedent to their close corporation, Sinhalese/Muslim riots 1915, Repatriation of hard working up country Tamils, VP’s helping hand to Premadasa,……………

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    “They still have memories of a foreign terrorist group coming to their soil and killing the grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi. Those memories are still fresh”
    This author reminds the assasination of Rajiv with a purpose viz: to make Indians (not only Tamils) fear and hate LTTE.
    However there was no conclusive proof that those accused were responsible since there were doubts raised by some lawyers.
    Also this author may think that Indians have forgotten the rifle attack on Rajiv by a SL Navy Private in Colombo at a guard of honour given to Rajiv and the attacker was released without any punishment.

    The killer of Indra Ghandi (daughter of Nehru) was a Sikh and although there were attacks on Sikhs immediately after the killing, Indians have
    given the most powerful job in India as Prime Minister to Manmoham Singh.

    Rajiv’s assasination was capitlised by MR to get Govt. of India’s support to fight the LTTE, and in the process killed thousands of innocent civilians.

    Rajiv happened to be named Ghandi, though his father was Feroze Ghandi (a Parsi) and no relation of that Mahathma.

    He was responsible for the massacre of innocent civilians (including Tamil Doctors Nurses and patients by IPKF forces and Karma had dealt with him.

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    Jagath,

    I’ll gladly support an international investigation into how AI, HRW and other INGOs knowingly and unknowingly prolonged Sri Lanka’s bloodbath by doing their utmost to prevent a victory against the LTTE.
    Please provide proof of any cluster bomb usage by the SLAF.

    My good friend Jim McDonald (Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka country specialist) claimed cluster bombs were being used in early 2009, but when proven to be wrong, made a mealy-mouthed retraction. : ): :)

    GoSL know that cluster bombs leave unmistakeable, tell-tale evidence due to their relatively high failure rate (i.e. failure to explode) and would remain in place, long after the war ended. If their vehement denials of their use was just simple lies, they would be found out sooner or later.

    The “zero-casualty” claim was idiotic, stupid, dumb and no-one believed it.

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      Mango

      wants evidence here comes loads of it:

      “Please provide proof of any cluster bomb usage by the SLAF.”

      Cluster bombs found in Sri Lanka, UN expert says

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17861187

      You say:

      “The “zero-casualty” claim was idiotic, stupid, dumb and no-one believed it.”

      Lets start the war crime investigation, shall we?

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        Dear Native Veddah,
        A good discovery with one tiny little flaw. Alan Poston, the UN expert quoted in that BBC story hasn’t produced any further evidence to back up his initial claim. No pictures, no shrapnel, bomb casings, nothing. This was all thoroughly dissected on Groundviews and we’re all waiting for final proof which … er.. isn’t available.

        http://groundviews.org/2012/04/26/cluster-bombs-in-sri-lanka-from-denial-to-discovery/
        Also, note that cluster munitions (whether air-delivered or artillery delivered) are not illegal weapons, Sri Lanka is not a party the Cluster Bomb Ban Treaty, so why would GoSL deny using them, if they’d used them?

        War crimes investigations? Absolutely agree. Let’s get the UN to start with the US, UK, Russia, India etc and eventually they’ll get around to us.

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          Mango

          is being generous:

          “War crimes investigations? Absolutely agree. Let’s get the UN to start with the US, UK, Russia, India etc and eventually they’ll get around to us.”

          I agree all these countries should be investigated. The people of the respective countries and those victims will deal with them in the future as has happened in Cambodia and Bangladesh after many years. Please feel free to help those victims.

          However I am more concerned about things closure to home. Sorry I am unable to spare any time to help you take on those countries. Perhaps you are the only one who is willing to take on US, UK, Russia, India etc all at the same time.

          You are not only brave but also generous indeed. However I believe charity begins at home. Therefore I will stick to Sri Lankan war crime issues.

          Good luck with your gargantuan effort. Please let me stick to where I am, a tiny island mostly populated by stupid people.

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    Mango says:

    “We’re still waiting for Donald to provide any proof of these hideous mass rape atrocities.”

    Being a young war widow is difficult enough.

    Young war widows and rape victims have still stigma attached to them.

    Whether a young war widow is also a rape victim is hard to prove. Only the rapist and the victim know what had happened on the fatal day.

    Under the political climate and a culture of impunity the victims have no recourse to justice.

    Therefore please urge the Sinhala/Buddhist state, its rulers and their defenders to set up an independent investigation into war crimes and crime against humanity modeled on South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

    The commission not only would unearth truth but put Donald’s accusation to rest. You would be relieved of your heavy burden of defending the Armed forces.

    It will

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      Dear Native Veddah,
      I refer you to what my my good friend, Jim McDonald (Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka country specialist) said: Anyone can make a charge at any time against anyone; that doesn’t require the person being charged to have to prove their innocence.”

      So, Donald has to provide evidence of these horrible crimes (“80,000 women raped”) and then the accused (GoSL and its armed forces) can defend itself.

      p.s. Rape is a horrible crime and hard to prove, but not impossible. Recently a Ven. Somaratana, a Buddhist priest in London was convicted by jury of four counts of indecent assault and cleared of rape. And those crimes happened in the 1970s. A damned good verdict, no?
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-17937106

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        Mango

        Forget about Donald, although I am far removed from the theature of action I still receive first, second, third hand information from various sources. It take time for news and views to reach me deep inside my jungle nevertheless the reach me in pristine condition.

        There is widespread accusation of sexual violence, even some men were sexually violated by the armed forces. If you want to put the whole thing to rest as I said before we need an independent investigation.

        I am not sure as to why you want to hide behind evidence. Even if the Armed forces are angels if you want to clear their name you need independent investigation, so that it will instill confidence and faith in the armed forces.

        You should be ashamed of yourself for comparing UK with Sri Lanka. Please let me know as to how many monks have been punished for their crime against people in the past 62 years.

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          Dear Native Veddah,
          This jungle you live in, is a concrete jungle, urban jungle or a real jungle? :) The malign influence of section of the Buddhist clergy in SL politics is a disgrace. If they want to take part in politics, they should leave the Sangha. Eventually, a crisis similar to that which happened to the Roman Catholic church in Ireland will happen to Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and the power of the Sangha will be broken.

          As for international investigations, no fully sovereign country will allow ‘independent investigations’ by an external organisation. Do you honestly believe there exists an ‘independent’ organisation capable of satisfying both the expat LTTE and GoSL? :) :)

          I’m not comparing the UK to Sri Lanka, merely pointing out that successful prosecutions for rape can be brought, even 30 years after the event. Monks do get arrested for rape and similar crimes in SL, but too many still get away with it.

          http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2011/08/110820_mihintale_monk.shtml

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    More than one writer in this page asks for evidence of the allegedly large number (80,000?) of civiliansb killed/missing during the last stages of the “War”
    during April/May 2009. How many have forgotten the charge of the TNA and other leaders of the Tamil community one major reason of the army and the Govt not allowing people to settle in their areas – years after the war – was to remove all traces of mass burials of these people. This still continues. There were many reports of heavy digging equipment being suddenly used by the army in hundreds of sites in the North clearly with calculated design to remove all traces of the dead. Then there were the widely reported media announcements, more on international pressure, for the rights of relatives to visit Police centres in Vavuniya, Killinochchi and other areas. When the people went they were turned away once for the reason the List has not reached them and still at other times with various flimsy excuses. These were all time-buying exercises to destroy evidence. Why is the Govt fighting shy of the demand of the people from the Army, Police and the Govt for exact proof of their relatives (to show the persons if they are alive, what and where they lost their lives – if they are dead etc) The Tamil Nation notes with horror
    the Govt’s reason “compassionate offer” the State will be pleased to issue valid Death Certiticates for all these missing???? How more sordid than this can matters get to.

    Senguttuvan

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    Silva

    Sorry I am bit thick. Could you explain to what you said above.

    Thank you

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    @Senguttavan. I fully agree with your representation of facts.

    @Mango and Native Veddah: Tamils and the IC will never trust any Sinhalese investigators. Even the Sinhala UNP did not give any evidence to the LLRC although Bulla De Silva the chairman was at Royal and Ranil knew him from small age. So were many of the members of the commission.

    There has to be the Independent International Investigation and all what I have said and much more will be unraveled. Even many Sinhalese will be shocked and ashamed of what the Rajapakses and Fonsekas did and that is why the IC entertains the idea of Crimes Against Humanity and not just War Crimes.

    This is not the forum to share evidence of Crimes Against Humanity, torture and rape that occurs in the North as we speak and the years ow war and after in 2008-2009.

    Senguttavan, The Simhala murderers are yet to announce that they have found one Tamil bone since May 2009 and that is why the Rajapakses and Fonseka boldly say there is zero death of Tamil civilians in 2009.

    The numbers of Fonseka is more confusing.. That is why the MOD needs 20% budget than during the war years of 2009, and it is $2.2 Billion. Day light robbery of the people’s money….

    Sri Lanka is a very poor country and cannot afford such wastage and expenses…The loans the Gov. has incurred in the last 7 years is frightening and the infrastructure development is fraudulent and bogus.

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      Donald J Gnanakone:

      I have been demanding independent investigation for war crime & crime against humanity for many years.

      The investigation should cover the period from 5th of Apil 1971.

      Sri Lankan armed forces, JVP, IPKF, LTTE, EPDP, EPRLF, EROS, PLOTE, Home Guard, ……..etc should be subjected to Investigation.

      Would you agree with me?

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    Rape by Sinhalese on Sinhalese, Child molestations, incest are happening daily in the South. Just because evidence has not been provided to you, and Police are not prosecuting these crimes are not taking place?

    Underage sex in the South both boys and girls have been taking place for decades and covered up,. I published a letter written to the UNICEF a decade ago.

    Only now the Sinhalese are waking up about such crimes and how many arrest have been made?

    80,000 widows are being raped or majority of them and some or many multiple times and it is human disgrace… There will be divine Justice.
    Karma is a Bitch is all I can say, and yes we are really helpless to prevent such rapes and molestation.

    I don’t accuse the army and forces in the East or West doing that to the Tamil girls or women.. Or the Tamil women and girls in the upcountry who are also poor and helpless. But they are exploited in different ways like your tens of thousands of JUKI GIRLS…

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      Dear Donald,
      First you say “80,000 war widows”” have been raped and “some or many multiple times.” Where’s your proof? Who’s doing the raping?

      Then you say “This is not the forum to share evidence of… rape that occurs”

      If CT isn’t the forum to ‘share evidence’ of alleged mass repeated rapes, why make the initial allegation?

      Then you say “I don’t accuse the army and forces in the East or West doing that [rape] to the Tamil girls or women..”

      So, if the Army isn’t engaged in wholesale and repeated rapes of “80,000 war widows”who is engaging in these multiple rapes?

      Is it rehabilitated ex-LTTE cadres? Grease Yakas? Rape Tourists from Tamil Nadu?

      Why would innumerable NGOs and INGOs currently operating inside Sri Lanka all remain silent about this hideous explosion of “mass repeated rapes” of “80,000 war widows”?

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        Mango says:

        “Why would innumerable NGOs and INGOs currently operating inside Sri Lanka all remain silent about this hideous explosion of “mass repeated rapes” of “80,000 war widows”?

        May be they don’t like free escorted travel by white van.

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          Dear Native Veddah,
          Even if it wanted to, neither GoSL or its security forces can keep track of every NGO and activist in SL. And you know how easy it is send picture messages by mobile, via internet etc.

          If there was even a shred of truth to our esteemed Eelam Zero, Donald Gnanakone’s fatuous claim that “80,000 multiple-raped war widows” were being raped and tortured, AI, HRW, Tamil Nadu politicians, the UN etc would be on the case.

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    This article is spot on. GOSL won the battle of bombs and bullets but continues to lose the battle of words. It needs to create an organization to counter the most effective propaganda organization the World has ever known. If Al Qaeda’s propaganda department was half as good as the LTTE’s, America would be in deep trouble.

    Donald wrote:
    “The white vans are very active in the North” causing me to ask: “If so, why are you still able to carry on your work?”

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      American Lanka Lover

      Where are those war crime deniers?

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    I am in the USA and not in Colombo or Jaffna.

    80,000 widows are in Jaffna.

    There are thousands of Tamils wanting to flee from the North nearly 3 and a half years later due to the State Terrorist and War Criminals.

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      Donald J Gnanakone:

      I have been demanding independent investigation for war crime & crime against humanity for many years.

      The investigation should cover the period from 5th of Apil 1971.

      Sri Lankan armed forces, JVP, IPKF, LTTE, EPDP, EPRLF, EROS, PLOTE, Home Guard, ……..etc should be subjected to Investigation.

      Would you agree with me?

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      Dear Donald,

      From the comfort of your armchair in the US you create lies about “80,000 multiple-raped war widows” in Sri Lanka. You’ve got the perfect qualificatiion to take over from “Dr” Mervyn “Merv the Perv” Silva when he retires.

      Return home. Sri Lanka needs more talented liars.

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