The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has no mandate to speak on behalf of the rest of the Diaspora, says the senate of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)
Sending an advisory note to the TGTE parliament its senate made the remarks above on the recent London talks.
We publish below the TGTE Senate Advisory in full;
Following is a broad summary of suggestions and comments made by various members of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) Senate on the recent talks in London between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and Global Tamil Forum (GTF), ostensibly for developing ‘confidence building measures between all communities within and outside Sri Lanka’:
Action Points:
1. We can’t afford to shift from our goal – which is two-fold:
a. Succeed in urging UN to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court and ensuring the perpetrators are prosecuted;
b. Succeed in achieving an UN sponsored Referendum on an Independent and Sovereign Tamil Eelam.
2.We agree that the immediate needs of the people in the North and East must be met. However, we can’t let the Government of Sri Lanka to use it as a ploy to divide us, weaken us and force us to accept whatever crumbs they throw at us.
3. The immediate needs of the people must be addressed separately and firm action must be taken to alleviate the intolerable sufferings they are going through. It can’t be tied to our fundamental right of self-determination and reclaiming the sovereignty we have lost.
4. TGTE should call for transparency in public debate on any negotiation that takes place between the GoSL and any organization (elected or otherwise) concerning the future of the people of Tamil Eelam.
TGTE should:
a. Highlight the continued denial of justice to Tamils within Sri Lanka- whether it be rehabilitation of those who survived the genocide, political prisoners, war widows, sexual assaults on Tamil women, people whose lands and houses have been confiscated by the army, the militarization of the Tamil areas and so on.
b. Run an effective global campaign on these specific themes with data, human stories and colorful info-graphics, especially in the run up to the Human Rights Commission session in Geneva this September;
c. Contribute to the rehabilitation efforts (discussed in London)through various channels if there is any real merit in the proposals being discussed.
d. Call for the immediate admission of internationally credible Human Rights groups i.e. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group into the country NOW.
e. Carry out a well-organized and well conducted boycott of Sri Lankan goods as was done with Apartheid South Africa. 6.
f. The TGTE must raise its international profile in order to assert its point of view and also ensure it is not sidelined in any discussions on the future of Eelam Tamils, within and outside Sri Lanka.
ARGUMENTS:
1. The GTF has no mandate to speak on behalf of the rest of us in the Diaspora;
2. Going by public statements made, the TNA member in London taking part in the negotiations hasn’t got the full support of his own party members either;
3. No political solution was mentioned in this so called “confidence building exercise”! In the most part it was about raising funds!
4. SL governments have played these cunning and deceptive games all along and were successful in deceiving the Tamils, the Tamil politicians and the international community over and over again. They are aiming to i) by selectively inviting one or two diaspora groups cause division and weaken the diaspora, ii) blunt the call for an independent state and iii) show the international community that they are talking to the TNA and the Tamil diaspora and; iv) divert attention and try to postpone the presentation of the UNHCR investigation on war crimes in Sri Lanka due in September this year.
5. The GoSL/TNA/GTF meetings in London are only aimed at helping the Sirisena coalition domestically in the upcoming elections within Sri Lanka.
6. Those who are supposedly representing the expatriate Tamils are representing themselves and not the Tamil people.
7. If Sirisena and Wickremasinghe tell the UNHRC to take their Resolution and get lost, there is nothing that the HRC can, or will, do.
8. The Right of Self-determination for the Tamils is a Right, not a favor. As such a Referendum in the Tamil areas to assess what the Tamil people want is mandatory. This must be a proper UN conducted Referendum with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces replaced by the UN Forces.
9. The Prevention of Terrorism Act condemned by every human rights group in the world, will have to be withdrawn. The GoSL claims to have crushed the Tamil ‘terrorists’. If so, who are the terrorists to whom this Act applies? This hypocrisy must be exposed – something that is not being done.
10. A ‘domestic’ investigation into war crimes will be a farce.
11. The new Sirisena regime has so far done nothing to instill confidence that it has the will to resolve the ‘Tamil National Question’ or find a viable political solution in keeping with the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people.
12. The TNA has neither demonstrated the will and nor the courage required to endorse in full the NPC resolution on genocide nor demanded that the Tamil Nation be recognized as a first step towards finding a solution, that’s well within the law and not in breach of the 6th amendment.
MEMBERS OF THE TGTE SENATE ARE:
1. Mr. Ramsey Clark: Former US Attorney General: USA
2. Mr. Robert Evans: Former Member of European Parliament: UK
3. Mr. Daniel Mayan: Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM): South Sudan.
4. Mr. M. Manoharan: Former Member of Parliament: Malaysia.
5. Mr. Gilles Piquois: Attorney – at – Law: France.
6. Mr. David Matas: Human Rights Attorney: Canada.
7. Mr. Roy Chetty: South Africa.
8. Mr. Satya Sivaraman: Journalist: India.
9. Dr. Brian Seneviratne: A Sinhalese Physician from Australia.
10. Mrs. Usha Sriskandarajah: Writer: Canada.
11. Mr Sathesh Muniyandy: Secretary World Tamil Congress – Malaysia.
12. Dr. Nagalingam Jeyalingam: Former President Illankai Tamil Sangam and former president World Tamil Coordinating Committee: USA.
13. Professor Mrs. Saraswathi Rajendran: India.
14. Dr. Thani Cheran: First President of World Thamil Organization & former President of the Federation of the Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA): USA.
15. Mr. Rajaratnam Subramaniam: Educator – Canada.
lynx / June 19, 2015
The name is grand but seems to be composed of geriatrics and free-lancers who have nothing better to do than to play with the lives of Tamil people of the North and East.
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Babapulle / June 19, 2015
The GTF and the TGTE do not speak on behalf of the Tamils, diaspora or otherwise. Look at the roster of the so called TGTE Senate. Most are not Sri Lankan Tamils.
[Edited out]
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Amarasiri / June 20, 2015
lynx
Thre are 3 White guys, all other seem to be non-white.
Are are white Tamils, Tamil Suddho, Tamil Vella-Karans?
That is news to me. Did they pay them? Just Curious.
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David / June 19, 2015
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/contrast-between-inquiry-investigation/
Contrast Between ‘Inquiry’ & ‘Investigation’
Hi Ramsey Clark
You read this articles as well.
For further information, you ask PM Rudrakumaran about this article!!
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Vibhushana / June 19, 2015
When a bunch of bigots appoint a committee they always appoint a token donkey from the other side to appear “civil”.
The label “Sinhalese Physician” itself gives some indication what the donkey is used for.
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Kumaran / June 19, 2015
This maybe the ‘watershed’ moment. I am speechless. They clearly state that they want the country divided and “Eelam” established! maybe there must be a “GTF eelam” and a “GTET eelam”. While we are at it, lets have “PLOTE eelam”, “LTTE eelam”, “Canadian Eelam”, “Scandinavia Eelam, an eelam for each European, Australian and every other nation where these despicable separatists have found shelter.
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paul / June 19, 2015
So the much ridiculed Dayan J was right after all!
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Ram / June 19, 2015
According to the ‘Hindu’ most diaspora Tamils were anti-LTTE and are yearning to return to Sri Lanka. Is is too good to be true?
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Amarasiri / June 19, 2015
CT and Media, Please call a Spade a Spade.
RE: GTF Has No Mandate To Speak On Behalf Of Tamil Diaspora: TGTE
NEITHER GTF nor TGTE Has No Mandate To Speak On Behalf Of Tamil Diaspora, or For Tamils. They have DOUBLE STANDARDS.
They all are Former or Current Terrorists and War Criminals.
Forgotten People – The Evicted and Displaced North Muslims of Sri Lanka (English)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JV60McNQ9o
Published on Jun 1, 2013
The Evicted and Displaced North Muslims of Sri Lanka. The expulsion of the Muslims and other nations from the Northern province was an act of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Tamil militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization in October 1990. In order to achieve their goal of creating a mono ethnic Tamil state in the North Sri Lanka, the LTTE forcibly expelled the 72,000 strong Muslim population from the Northern Province.
They all are War Criminals, GTF, TGTE and LTTE.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crime
A war crime is a serious violation of the laws and customs of war (also known as international humanitarian law) giving rise to individual criminal responsibility. Examples of war crimes include:
initiating a war of aggression
murdering, mistreating, or deporting civilian residents of an occupied territory to slave labor camps
murdering or mistreating prisoners of war or civilian internees
forcing protected persons to serve in the forces of a hostile power
killing hostages
killing or punishing spies or other persons convicted of war crimes without a fair trial
wantonly destroying cities, towns, villages, or other objects not warranted by military necessity
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / June 19, 2015
The Friday comic page has been put up, right on time :D
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bo / June 19, 2015
What are these mug [Edited out]. A collection of criminals waiting to be extradited to Sri Lanka to face the Courts for waging war against SLK from remote locations. [Edited out]
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Rajan / June 19, 2015
The only problem is actually considering Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International to be credible organisations when they are both so clearly politically motivated.
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Peace Lover / June 19, 2015
jokers mind your own business and stay out of SL affairs and as a Tamil I have every authority to tell you to mind your own business in your foreign soil
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paul / June 19, 2015
Why isn’t Adele Ann Balasingham (nee Wilby) not part of the GTF or TGTE? She did more than anyone to train young Tamils and send them to their deaths.
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Naga / June 19, 2015
The only thing I agree with the statement of the so-called Senate of TGTE is that Global Tamil Forum has no mandate to speak on behalf of the Tamil Diaspora. By the same token TGTE has no mandate to speak on behalf of the Tamil Diaspora either.
TGTE may claim that a voting among members of the Tamil Diaspora was held to elect members of Parliament of the TGTE. However,it is common knowledge that the so-called election to the TGTE Parliament was not held among entirety of the Tamil Diaspora. It was organised by LTTE front organisations and LTTE activists and those who participated in it were overwhelmingly LTTE supporters. TGTE has no moral right to say that they have a mandate from the Tamil Diaspora or that they are elected members of the Tamil Diaspora. They can only claim to be the successors of the terrorist organisation called LTTE.
It is also a fact that TNA back-door MP Sumanthiran who participated in the London talks was acting on his own will on behalf of the UNP led Sirisena Government. Suresh Premachandran is on record saying the issue of London talks had never been discussed with the constituent parties of TNA. Sumanthiran, an arrogant Colombo Tamil and an unelected TNA MP nominated by Sampanthan, helped create the Sirisena Presidency and he was the one behind Sampanthan’s decision that TNA should support Sirisena’s candidature at the January 8 Presidential Election. Though not a member of Sirisena Government outwardly, Sumanthiran is for intents and purposes part of the UNP led Sirisena Government. This fact was clearly demonstrated when President Sirisena nominated him as a member from his Government’s side to negotiate with the SLFP opposition MPs to push through the passage of 19A in the Sri Lankan Parliament. Sumanthiran was in fact participating with Foreign Minister Mangala Samarweera at the London talks with GTF as part of the UNP led Sirisena Government. Suresh Premachandran, in his capacity as the TNA’s official spokesman, has rightly disowned TNA’s participation in the SL Government-GTF talks in London. Neither the TNA leader Sampanthan nor Mavai Senathirajah, the Leader of ITAK (the main constituent party of TNA) have so far disputed Suresh Premachandran’s denial of TNA’s involvement in the London talks.
TGTE is calling for the withdrawal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act. But, according to news reports, a Tamil Magistrate in Jaffna has used the very same draconian legislation to remand all the suspects of the Pungudutivu rape and murder case. No Sinhala Magistrate had previously dared to use this piece of draconian legislation to deal with murder cases in other parts of Sri Lanka. Now that this Tamil Magistrate has created a precedent,other judges may follow this dangerous precedent. I cannot understand how this Tamil Magistrate thought of using PTA which had been used time and again by the Sri Lankan goverment at various times to incarcerate Tamil youths in their hundreds and thousands. Many innocent Tamil youths remained incarcerated under PTA for months and years. PTA, the most hated criminal legislation by the Tamils of Sri Lanka, is a stumbling block to any meaningful reconciliation between the SL Government and Tamils.
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Heretic / June 20, 2015
Naga,
”a Tamil Magistrate in Jaffna has used the very same draconian legislation to remand all the suspects of the Pungudutivu rape and murder case.”
What is your source? I do not believe that this news is correct.
Why would PTA be used in the criminal cases of rape, killing and unlawful assembly? These cases have nothing to do with the PTA.
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Donald J Gnanakone / June 20, 2015
I tend to agree with most of what “NAGA” has said.
TGTE itself was formed by Rudrakumar and KP to compete with GTF and Nediyavan Group, since the few involved did not want to lose the “funding” and support of the Tamils in the diaspora.
There are over 1 Million members of the diaspora, and only a very small portion of them support the TGTE of the Cyber Space, due to desperation and hope of taking legal issues against the GOSL and the War Crimes. But TGTE is reduced to just making statements after the fact, like a similar Unit -Tamils For Obama in Washington.
USTPAC and TAPI also are operated by the same people, but they have copied the way Tamils For Justice has operated and hired a powerful lobbying group in Washington to canvass support. It is sad that none of these small groups cannot work together but keep sabotaging each other, similar to what they all collectively did in sabotaging Tamils For Justice and their attorney Bruce Fein.
As for Sumanthiran who has come under severe criticism among the Tamils in Sri Lanka and the diaspora, but should not be accused of working with the UNP, PM Ranil, President Sirisena and Mangala. That is a bad rap and unfair. Well, this is politics within the Tamils and he should not have undertaken such a trip to participate in such useless discussions. Being a good attorney does not necessarily mean he knows what is best for the Tamils all the time politically.
But he too is a FRCS. PM Ranil’s club- Former Royal College Student. Most of Ranil’s appointments are Old Royalist including Uncle -Nephew connection -Arjuna Mahendran and CM Wigneswaran. Sumanthiran and Sampanthan were the only TNA members who were supporting the Wigneswaran candidacy against Mavai Senathirajah and C V K Sivagnanam.
Watch the US trip of Wigneswaran. It won’t be as many are expecting despite the Washington lobbyist firm has arranged “High Power” meetings which I am unable to disclose. Politics and issuing court decisions are two different ball games.
http://www.ceylontoday.lk/69-96004-news-detail-npc-chief-minister-vs-tna-mps.html
Donald Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice
Founder.
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K.A Sumanasekera / June 19, 2015
How on earth did Suren Surendran and the Reverend roll this mighty TNGTE which has so many heavy hitters around the World,
Although some are gone past their Use by Date, they have been the real deal,
Where as Suren Surendran and the Reverend have not much on their CV, except the loyalty to Pirhaparan and the LTTE.
But then this duo have demonstrated their prowess even earlier,when they stopped the ex President landing on British soil , although he was carrying a Veralu Branch.
They even drove fear in to the Scotland Yard who warned the President to keep away.
How do they wield so much power?.
Although our Sinhala Buddhist President acts as Sargent Schulz and say ” I know nofthing I see nothing ” PM Rudrakumarn’s Senators have confirmed that the BTF held Talks with the Srilnakan Government on behalf of the Diaspora..
So officially now. the British Tiger Forum ( BTF )is the official representative of the Diaspora and it is the undisputed fact, after reading the Senators joint statement here..
How did this Suren and the Reverend Duo have achieved so so much so soon after January 8?
Is it because the British Diasporians are the best among the lot?.
Or is it the Dosh?..
Of course they got the dosh in bucket loads, good jobs and even class in their own words.
They even pump mega bucks in to the British Coffers. plus perhaps UNP and TNA coffers in London as well..
All because they got their Protection Visas in the 80’s unlike the rest.
Now that most of them are in their retiring age, they want peace, harmony and good life to retire to without eating in to the Nest Egg too much.
They can get all these plus Nalloor as well, at budget rates in Jaffna.
They are not interested in reviving the LTTE,
Nor they want to stir up the Armed Forces by demanding they be taken overseas to please the Diaspora and our new Bedouin UN Chief..
Last but not least the TNA, which arranged this happy marriage between Ranil, Mangala , Suren and the Reverend want to claim the Northern Province Govt ASAP.
And populate it with the these British Tamils, instead of getting riff raffs as some of their own in the TNA are causing enough trouble there already through ex LTTE cadres like Mrs Elillan.
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Dimi. / June 19, 2015
There is no difference between the BBS and the TGTE. Both extremists with absolutely no love for Sri Lanka.
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kumaran / June 19, 2015
What is said in the Holy Bible (quoting the Lord Jesus Christ) “a house divided will fall” “A house built on soft sand will fall whereas a house built on solid ground will never be shaken”
It is very sad that instead of doing whatever they can do to contribute to SOCIETY as a whole and be a part of one nation, these separatist groups as well as their splinter groups will continue to support separatism and chaos. Such a shame!
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Sapumal / June 19, 2015
Hoooooooooooooooo…..what else we can say. These bunch of clowns are a real joke. If you really wantto resist or stand against injustice , come up with love and compassion. All these people are merely believing what Rudra Kumaran says and accepted their invitation to appearon behalf of them with their own personnel connections. Sri Lanka has come up with real solutions and strugling to win hearts and minds of the people to sort out diffrences. What you guys doing is opposit of it. Creating more and more rifts, hate and unnecessary untrustworthy actions. Those who so called attorneyies and big wigs must immeditely get away this corrupted practices and respect the laws and democratic practices. We have change the govt. of Sri Lanka with a Rainbaow revolution. Weare awaiting for good governance and fair play. What you need? Follow the path of Ghandi. Not the Harakiri Morsi!
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Sapumal / June 19, 2015
Another thing… I strogly rejectedthe claim that Brian Senewirathne or someone is Sinhalese. He must be namely Sinhalese , but he may be he was belong to urban class in between Sinhalese who even cant speak proper sinhalese. Race is not a problem. But I just mentioned here because they use race to identify him as sinhalese physician from Australia. ( Unfortunately I have to say Shame on this man!)
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Rajash / June 19, 2015
Agredd GTF Has No Mandate To Speak On Behalf Of Tamil Diaspora.
TGTE has no mandate from the Diaspora to tell GTF that they have no mandate.
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Paul / June 19, 2015
Rajash has no mandate to tell TGTE that they have no mandate to tell GTF that they have no mandate to speak…..
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Rajash / June 19, 2015
Paul -“Rajash has no mandate” ofcourse I dont have a mandate I am expressing my opinion that has no mandate either from the “diaspora”
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Sellam / June 20, 2015
No one has any mandate for the diaspora or even the Tamils in Sri Lanka. All are rouges trying to benefit in the name of the Tamil People. Mr.Rasiah, you would have heard or read about the dirty news that some of the TNA Members have obtained large amount of money from the UNP in the name of development in the North. These fellows inclusive of Sambanthan, Sumanthiran and Mavai are for money now. Whom to trust and whom to believe.
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Rajash / June 20, 2015
who is this Rasiah
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Sellam / June 20, 2015
Sorry Rajash
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Nediyavan / June 20, 2015
Rajash
GTF is evolvement of a body that has its roots to the LTTE’s formation. So you too have a stake in it.
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Rajash / June 20, 2015
Nediyavan “GTF is evolvement of a body that has its roots to the LTTE’s formation. So you too have a stake in it. “
Don’t speak for myself.
No! I do not have any stake in GTF ot TGTE or NRT SL or Nediyavan group etc.
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Nediyavan / June 20, 2015
Rajash
‘Don’t speak for myself’? Correct your English you half cast British.
‘GTF is evolvement of a body that has its roots to the LTTE’s formation. So you too have a stake in it’. Don’t you understand this simple sentence. GTF has its roots to the LTTE you belonged to, so therefore you have a stake in it. It doesn’t matter if you are not involved with the GTF as the root of the LTTE you were evolved as one of its stakeholder.
Good luck to you.
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Rajash / June 20, 2015
I was supposed to say “speak for yourself” didn’t bother to correct the error unlike Facebook there is no edit facility in CT ….any way you got the message.
“…GTF has its roots to the LTTE you belonged to” dont make assumptions about others.
“..so therefore you have a stake in it” and dont make decisions on behalf of others
have a nice day
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Nediyavan / June 21, 2015
[Edited out]
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Native Vedda / June 21, 2015
Nediyavan
“[Edited out]”
For a tall man, your comment seems very short. However its a brilliant contribution towards discussion and I am happy that you have made your point.
Keep up the good work.
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Yakkadaya / June 19, 2015
Busker Rajash Kumar alias……
You said you are a very strong British Vellai Kaaran/ Sudda. Who are you to speak about the Tamil Diaspora?
[Edited out]
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Rajash / June 20, 2015
[Edited out] Yakadaya
I was honest and open to admit I am a British Citizen
so now your turn…
if not you are a coward
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Yakkadaya / June 20, 2015
Busker Rajash Kumar alias……
You are a sickening[Edited out] to be awarded the cheap British statehood that does not take into account your glorious past. Having got the British passport you think you are a real Suddha.
Unfortunately, my appropriate response to you have been edited out by the editor. If you had read it you would have crawled like a worm out of this site.
Unlike you, I am a Sri Lankan and always will be a Sri Lankan. Born in the motherland of Sri Lanka and will die and buried or burnt in the land of Sri Lanka.
Cowardice is your birth right property and not mine. Cowardice is your succulent spineless philosophy on which you endlessly hurt others.
Tell me when can I drive up to your home and say hello to you. Indicate the date and time for the meet. If you are reluctant to state it herein, please send an email to me or pass a message through one of your friends whom I know.
You are such a shambolic crawl.
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Rajash / June 20, 2015
Yakkadaya failed the new British immigration test. I am not surprised.
Yakkadaya “You said you are a very strong British Vellai Kaaran/ Sudda. Who are you to speak about the Tamil Diaspora? “
Are you saying the so called members of TGF,TGTE NRT SL are not citizen of the countres where they reside.?
Please give me your address I will come and educate you, so that you can pass your UK immigration test.
But on the other hand what contribution can you make to Britain even if you become a citizen? Zero!
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Lanka Liar / June 19, 2015
Toy government has recruited some old people. Have plenty of toy manddate. Jokers don’t take them seriously.
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thomas / June 19, 2015
Who are they to say that the Tamil people living in the North are suffering. It is not so or it doesnt appear so. I travelled around there. No checkpoints and no army patrols to be seen anywhere. Life in villages and towns goes on pretty normal like everywhere else here in the country.
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Thanga / June 19, 2015
If GTF cannot speak for the Diaspora, so is the TGTE. The elections they hold to elect representatives borders on farce. In fact except elections to the first parliament, there was no election to the second parliament. Everyone who filed nomination got elected. In fact in some countries there were not enough people to fill the slot. TGTE should stop barking at others and do what ever they wish in a constructive way. In fact the GTF is recognized by a few countries like S Africa, Switzerland, UK etc. In contrast there is no a single country that recognizes or deal with the TGTE. The TGTE also should leave the TNA alone. What TNA do or not do is an internal matter for that party. If the TGTE wants to pick holes, we can also return the compliments.
To recap, R. Sampanthan, Suresh, Selvam and Sumanthiran met with the GTF (Suren Surendran and Fr. Emmanuel) in South Africa in January 2011 for four days. It was after this meeting that the GTF publicly announced that they will back the TNA on a political solution, since they were the REPRESENTATIVES of the Tamil people living in SL. It was at the end of that meeting that Suren from the GTF and Sumanthiran from the TNA were appointed to work together on future international initiatives.
Therefore, the London conference that have earned the ire of a few expatriate groups is an ongoing process.
The London conference did not discuss politics. According to the joint press release signed by both Sumanthiran and Suren Surendran only the following subjects were discussed and agreement reached.
(1)The need for constructive engagement by the Sri Lankan Diaspora including the needs of displaced people. It was agreed that a further meeting will be called to present the requirements to various High Commissioners and Ambassadors based in Sri Lanka, with the aim to raise funds for housing of over two thousand families in these newly released lands.
(2)The release of prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in the light of the review by the Ministry of Justice was also discussed. The TNA and the GTF further raised the issue of listing of Diaspora organisations and individuals by the previous Government.
(3)Ideas of ways in which the Sri Lankan Diaspora could assist by bringing its exceptional capacity and capabilities were explored.
TGTE should confine itself to its utopian aims and objectives like holding referendum in the Northeast, arraigning Rajapaksa and others before the ICC
etc. At the last presidential elections the Prime Minister of TGTE issued a ludicrous statement claiming that there is no difference between Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mythripala Sirisena!
Finally, let me ask the TGTE Senate Advisory Committee as to what happened to the embassy it opened in South Sudan? Also whether there is any country in the world that is sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the TGTE. Just name one country!
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thondamannar / June 19, 2015
Who said the GTF does not have a mandate ?
GTF do have a mandate and it confered from Heaven to Emmanuel because there need to be another round of Martyrs created due to a shortage.
Rudra Kumar backing MR to tilt the balance in his favour.
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Native Vedda / June 20, 2015
thondamannar
“GTF do have a mandate and it confered from Heaven to Emmanuel because there need to be another round of Martyrs created due to a shortage.”
You got a point there.
Is it similar to Buddha wishing this island to remain a Sinhala/Buddhist Kingdom for another 2400 years?
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Thanga / June 19, 2015
If GTF cannot speak for the Diaspora, so is the TGTE. The elections they hold to elect representatives borders on farce. In fact except elections to the first parliament, there was no election to the second parliament. Everyone who filed nomination got elected. In fact in some countries there were not enough people to fill the slot. TGTE should stop barking at others and do what ever they wish in a constructive way. In fact the GTF is recognized by a few countries like S Africa, Switzerland, UK etc. In contrast there is no a single country that recognizes or deal with the TGTE. The TGTE also should leave the TNA alone. What TNA do or not do is an internal matter for that party. If the TGTE wants to pick holes, we can also return the compliments.
To recap, R. Sampanthan, Suresh, Selvam and Sumanthiran met with the GTF (Suren Surendran and Fr. Emmanuel) in South Africa in January 2011 for four days. It was after this meeting that the GTF publicly announced that they will back the TNA on a political solution, since they were the REPRESENTATIVES of the Tamil people living in SL. It was at the end of that meeting that Suren from the GTF and Sumanthiran from the TNA were appointed to work together on future international initiatives.
Therefore, the London conference that have earned the ire of a few expatriate groups is an ongoing process.
The London conference did not discuss politics. According to the joint press release signed by both Sumanthiran and Suren Surendran only the following subjects were discussed and agreement reached.
(1)The need for constructive engagement by the Sri Lankan Diaspora including the needs of displaced people. It was agreed that a further meeting will be called to present the requirements to various High Commissioners and Ambassadors based in Sri Lanka, with the aim to raise funds for housing of over two thousand families in these newly released lands.
(2)The release of prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in the light of the review by the Ministry of Justice was also discussed. The TNA and the GTF further raised the issue of listing of Diaspora organisations and individuals by the previous Government.
(3)Ideas of ways in which the Sri Lankan Diaspora could assist by bringing its exceptional capacity and capabilities were explored.
TGTE should confine itself to its utopian aims and objectives like holding referendum in the Northeast, arraigning Rajapaksa and others before the ICC
etc. At the last presidential elections the Prime Minister of TGTE issued a ludicrous statement claiming that there is no difference between Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mythripala Sirisena!
Finally, let me ask the TGTE Senate Advisory Committee as to what happened to the embassy it opened in South Sudan? Also one single country that is sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the TGTE. Just one country!
Naga
MP Sumanthiran participated in the London talks with the full knowledge of TNA leader R.Sampanthan. It is not a secret that TNA is supporting the Sirisena led government from outside. It is TNA that delivered 394,991 votes in the North and 40% of the 583,120 votes in the East at the January 8th 2015 elections . Suresh Premachandran is only a spokesman whose job is to inform the media the decisions taken by the TNA as a whole. Apparently he is suffering from short memory. The decision that TNA and GTF work together was taken at a meeting held in S. Africa in January 2011. Your insinuation that Sumanthiran is an arrogant Colombo Tamil and an unelected TNA MP is very unbecoming of you. He is a full fledged member of the parliament having elected from the total votes polled by the TNA in the North and East. There were several MPs from the National list in the past as well. To mention two names (1) A.Amirthalingam and (2) Joseph Pararajasingham. The decision to back Sirisena in the presidential election was taken by the TNA as a whole. Not by Sumanthiran on his own. The strategic decision to support Sirisena has paid off. Naga is questioning the verdict of the Thamil people. A total of 75.83% of voters in the North voted for Sirisena. So please don’t insult the intelligence of our people by writing rubbish. It is an honour for the Thamils that Sumanthiran was nominated as a member from the government side to negotiate with the opposition.
MP Sumanthiran participated in the London talks with full knowledge of TNA leader R.Sampanthan. There is no secrecy that TNA is supporting the Sirisena led government from outside. It is TNA that delivered 394,991 votes in the North and 40% of the 583,120 votes in the East. Suresh Premachandran is only aspokesman whose job is to inform the media the decisions taken by the TNA as a whole. He seems to suffer from short memmory. The decision that TNA and GTF work together was taken at a meeting held in S.Africa in January 2011. Your insinuation that Sumanthiran is an arrogant Colombo Tamil and an unelected TNA MP is very unbecoming of you. He is a full fledged member of the parliament having elected from the total votes polled by the TNA. There were several MPs from the National list in the past as well. To mention two names:A.Amirthalingam and Joseph Pararajasingham. The decision to back Sirisena in the presidential election was taken by the TNA as a whole. Not by Sumanthiran on his own. The strategic decision to support Sirisena has paid off. Naga is questioning the verdict of the Thamil people. 75.83% of the voters in the North voted for Sirisena. So please don’t insult the intelligence of our people by writing rubbish. It is an honour for the Thamils that Sumanthiran was nominated as a member from the government side to negotiate with the opposition. Whether you like it or not Sumanthiran is one of Sri Lanka’s top human rights and constitutional lawyers.
Sumanthiran has appeared in civil litigation cases in the supreme court, court of appeal, commercial high court and district courts. His successful cases include the privatisation of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation, privatisation of Lanka Marine Services and the closure of Pramuka Bank. He has appeared in a number of fundamental rights cases and judicial reviews of parliamentary legislation and executive action including the charging of levy for water and establishing a revenue authority. He prevented the forced expulsion of Tamils from Colombo and successfully challenged an anti-conversion bill which the courts struck down as being unconstitutional. He has also appeared for petitioners against the proposed 18th and 19th amendments to the constitution which were found to be unconstitutional and required two-thirds majority in Parliament and a referendum. He has worked on a number of public interest cases including the ongoing attempt by residents of the Valikamam North High Security Zone to get their land back from the Sri Lankan military. His human rights work has led to him being threatened and being branded “traitors in black coats” by the Sri Lankan military during Mahinda’s rule.
I wonder what is the motivve behind Naga to denigrate Sumanthiran and TNA. Does he want racist Mahinda Rajapaksa to re-capture power? He is vocal these days in maligning Sirisena’s administration as follows:
(1) Out out of 159 army camps in the Jaffna peninsula 59 had been removed. (In fact the 59 camps were closed prior to January 8 and during his time as president)
(2) The government was in the process of releasing some LTTE cadres in custody at present.
(3) Present government’s pro-Ealam foreign policy would have to be defeated or the country would be in danger.
(4) China and Russia had helped Sri Lanka defeat the LTTE, but the present government had stopped all Chinese-funded projects.
(5) No one can bring me down by levelling false allegations against me. Asked the people to be ready to come forward to prevent the LTTE from raising its head again.
In the circumstances we will do everything possible to prevent racist Rajapaksa from staging a come back. Thamils and the 51.28% Sinhalese will not permit Rajapaksa to stage a come back.
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Heretic / June 20, 2015
Thanga,
”There were several MPs from the National list in the past as well. To mention two names:A.Amirthalingam and Joseph Pararajasingham. ”
Very true but let us NEVER forget what happened to them.
”MP Sumanthiran participated in the London talks with full knowledge of TNA leader R.Sampanthan.”
Last Sunday official TNA spokesman Suresh P. from EPRLF claimed that he knew nothing about these meetings in UK and Singapore. He says that he read about the meetings in the media.
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Naga / June 20, 2015
Thanga
It appears you are trying to hold a brief for Sumanthiran here and trying to defend him.
You mentioned:
“He is a full fledged member of the parliament having elected from the total votes polled by the TNA in the North and East.”
No one could deny the fact that Sumanthiran is a full fledged member of parliament. However,the fact remains he was nominated by the TNA to the slot allocated to TNA under the National List of MPs based on the votes polled by TNA nationwide. That was why I called him a “backdoor MP” meaning not elected by the people. But you should not use the term ‘elected’ here because he was not elected by the Tamil voters but nominated purely I understand on Sampanthan’s decision. Your man Sumanthiran until then was an unknown quantity in the Sri Lankan political scene. He was a Colombo lawyer holding briefs for the Bishop House. Has he ever appeared for any Tamil political prisoners leaving aside those who were directly accused of LTTE activities? Did he ever raise his voice against the human rights violations committed both by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and by the LTTE? To my knowledge, ‘none’.
It was well known at that time that Sampanthan, knowing well that the lot elected as TNA MPs were mostly mono-lingual and without high educational or professional credentials, decided to bring in Sumanthiran to help him conduct TNA’s parliamentary affairs. Sumanthiran had earned Sampanthan’s respect as a lawyer and I heard that Sampanthan had been hiring Sumanthiran to appear in his court cases. There is no doubt that being an experienced lawyer he proved to be a good Parliamentary debater and to his credit I could also say that he is the only current TNA Parliamentarian, apart from Sampanthan, who is able to make any useful contribution in the Sri Lankan Parliament. Compared to the likes of Amirthalingam, Sivasithamparam and Sampanthan of the past era, the present lot of TNA MPs like Mavai, Suresh,Selvam, Sivasakthi Ananthan,Noharathalingam, Yogeswaran, Selvarajah,Ariyanenthiran etc. are all mostly mono-ligual and their contributions to parliamentary debate had been almost nil. In that sorry state of affairs Sumanthiran do doubt shines as one TNA MP who makes useful contributions. However, the fact remains that Sumanthiran is very arrogant and I have noticed this in many of his statements and media interviews.
You mentioned that Amirthalingam and Joseph Pararajasingham had also been nominated MPs. You should have added Mavai’s name to that list. But, the difference between these three and Sumanthiran is that these three former nominated MPs were very experienced Tamil politicians who were elected Tamil representatives at one time or another. Sumanthiran was a novice to Tamil politics and had never been a member of any Tamil political party until he was parachuted into Parliament on the basis of Sampanthan’s decision.
You are saying that Sumanthiran participated in the London talks with the full knowledge of Sampanthan. In that case why don’t you ask Sampanthan to come out with a public statement to that effect? Sumanthiran is refusing to disclose the details of the London discussions. Why this secrecy? Why this selective discussion among GTF, Sumanthiran and Mangala? They were of course reportedly discussing the Sri Lankan Tamil people, their problem and about reconciliation. Why then should the details be kept a secret?
You are listing many achievements of Sumanthiran in his capacity as a lawyer. As a lawyer it is his job to appear in all sorts of cases. Your list may be good for his CV as a lawyer. Those public interest cases relating to Jaffna you have mentioned are recent ones which I presume had been initiated by him because he is now grooming an electorate for him in Jaffna.
Sumanthiran before the January 8 Presidential Election had aligned with Ranil and Chandrika and joined hands with them in their efforts to unseat Mahinda under a master plan designed and operated by the US government. In my opinion,Ranil,Chandrika and Sumanthiran are US lackeys and US agents acting for and on behalf of Washington which wanted to see the back of Mahinda who had proved a thorn in the US interests in South Asia. US wanted China out of Sri Lanka and with the help of the likes of Ranil, Chandrika and Sumanthiran had achieved a temporary success. The coming Parliamentary election if held sans US influence may reverse the present trend. The danger here is that the election may result in a hung Parliament and a recipe for destabilization. That would create the ideal atmosphere for US to re-enact an Arab Spring in Sri Lanka. In that event these US lackeys and agents may be again given a major role by Washington. A lurking danger is that any US instigated Arab Sping in Sri Lanka may lead to the end of democracy in Sri Lanka and as in Egypt there may be a military take-over.
Personally I have nothing against Sumanthiran and my comments were not aimed at denigrating him. I only made fair comments about Sumanthiran in relation to the London talks with GTF. As a leftist, I hate the likes of Sumanthirans who can easily become pawns in the hands of US and the US backed Ranil government to control the Tamils and defeat the genuine interests of the Tamils. His role in aligning with Mangala in the London talks is seen by many Tamil commentators as against the interests of Tamils.
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Rajash / June 20, 2015
“Naga Personally I have nothing against Sumanthiran and my comments were not aimed at denigrating him”
Sorry mate you do.
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Yakkadaya / June 21, 2015
[Edited out]
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Eusense / June 19, 2015
How many in this TGTE mug shots have lived or visited in Sri Lanka during the last 30 years?
All of them should be extradited to Sri Lanka to face the law for terrorism.
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Leelagemalli / June 20, 2015
No more the kind of comments. We are all the same. Go andhave a blood test please. .. there you will see no difference … even other primates have almost the same genome .. (98% of the genome is the same).
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Native Vedda / June 20, 2015
Nuisense, sach the stupid
“All of them should be extradited to Sri Lanka to face the law for terrorism “
Of course they should be sent back to Sri Lank in exchange for extraditing all those war criminals to ICC.
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Eusense / June 19, 2015
Sri Lankan gov. should talk ONLY with Sri Lankan Tamil citizens who have lived in SL for more than 40 years and never gained citizenship in another country.
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Native Vedda / June 20, 2015
Eusense, sach the stupid
“Sri Lankan gov. should talk ONLY with Sri Lankan Tamil citizens who have lived in SL for more than 40 years and never gained citizenship in another country.”
Why?
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Naga / June 20, 2015
Thanga
It appears you are trying to hold a brief for Sumanthiran here and trying to defend him.
You mentioned in your comments:
“He is a full fledged member of the parliament having elected from the total votes polled by the TNA in the North and East.”
No one could deny the fact that Sumanthiran is a full fledged member of parliament. However,the fact remains he was nominated by the TNA to the slot allocated to TNA under the National List of MPs based on the votes polled by TNA nationwide. That was why I called him a “backdoor MP” meaning not elected by the people. But you should not use the term ‘elected’ here because he was not elected by the Tamil voters but nominated purely I understand on Sampanthan’s decision. Your man Sumanthiran until then was an unknown quantity in the Sri Lankan political scene. He was a Colombo lawyer holding briefs for the Bishop House. Has he ever appeared for any Tamil political prisoners leaving aside those who were directly accused of LTTE activities? Did he ever raise his voice against the human rights violations committed both by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and by the LTTE? To my knowledge, ‘none’.
It was well known at that time that Sampanthan, knowing well that the lot elected as TNA MPs were mostly mono-lingual and without high educational or professional credentials, decided to bring in Sumanthiran to help him conduct TNA’s parliamentary affairs. Sumanthiran had earned Sampanthan’s respect as a lawyer and I heard that Sampanthan had been hiring Sumanthiran to appear in his court cases. There is no doubt that being an experienced lawyer he proved to be a good Parliamentary debater and to his credit I could also say that he is the only current TNA Parliamentarian, apart from Sampanthan, who is able to make any useful contribution in the Sri Lankan Parliament. Compared to the likes of Amirthalingam, Sivasithamparam and Sampanthan of the past era, the present lot of TNA MPs like Mavai, Suresh,Selvam, Sivasakthi Ananthan,Noharathalingam, Yogeswaran, Selvarajah,Ariyanenthiran etc. are all mostly mono-ligual and their contributions to parliamentary debate had been almost nil. In that sorry state of affairs Sumanthiran do doubt shines as one TNA MP who makes useful contributions. However, the fact remains that Sumanthiran is very arrogant and I have noticed this in many of his statements and media interviews.
You mentioned that Amirthalingam and Joseph Pararajasingham had also been nominated MPs. You should have added Mavai’s name to that list. But, the difference between these three and Sumanthiran is that these three former nominated MPs were very experienced Tamil politicians who were elected Tamil representatives at one time or another. Sumanthiran was a novice to Tamil politics and had never been a member of any Tamil political party until he was parachuted into Parliament on the basis of Sampanthan’s decision.
You are saying that Sumanthiran participated in the London talks with the full knowledge of Sampanthan. In that case why don’t you ask Sampanthan to come out with a public statement to that effect? Sumanthiran is refusing to disclose the details of the London discussions. Why this secrecy? Why this selective discussion among GTF, Sumanthiran and Mangala? They were of course reportedly discussing the Sri Lankan Tamil people, their problem and about reconciliation. Why then should the details be kept a secret?
You are listing many achievements of Sumanthiran in his capacity as a lawyer. As a lawyer it is his job to appear in all sorts of cases. Your list may be good for his CV as a lawyer. Those public interest cases relating to Jaffna you have mentioned are recent ones which I presume had been initiated by him because he is now grooming an electorate for him in Jaffna.
Sumanthiran before the January 8 Presidential Election had aligned with Ranil and Chandrika and joined hands with them in their efforts to unseat Mahinda under a master plan designed and operated by the US government. In my opinion,Ranil,Chandrika and Sumanthiran are US lackeys and US agents acting for and on behalf of Washington which wanted to see the back of Mahinda who had proved a thorn in the US interests in South Asia. US wanted China out of Sri Lanka and with the help of the likes of Ranil, Chandrika and Sumanthiran had achieved a temporary success. The coming Parliamentary election if held sans US influence may reverse the present trend. The danger here is that the election may result in a hung Parliament and a recipe for destabilization. That would create the ideal atmosphere for US to re-enact an Arab Spring in Sri Lanka. In that event these US lackeys and agents may be again given a major role by Washington. A lurking danger is that any US instigated Arab Sping in Sri Lanka may lead to the end of democracy in Sri Lanka and as in Egypt there may be a military take-over.
Personally I have nothing against Sumanthiran and my comments were not aimed at denigrating him. I only made fair comments about Sumanthiran in relation to the London talks with GTF. As a leftist, I hate the likes of Sumanthirans who can easily become pawns in the hands of US and the US backed Ranil government to control the Tamils and defeat the genuine interests of the Tamils. His role in aligning with Mangala in the London talks is seen by many Tamil commentators as against the interests of Tamils.
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Unreal / June 20, 2015
‘Personally I have nothing against Sumanthiran and my comments were not aimed at denigrating him’.
‘the fact remains that Sumanthiran is very arrogant’.
?????
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Afzal / June 20, 2015
House of senes !
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Tilak de Silva / June 21, 2015
These parasitic goons do not have a right to speak on Tamils, thet lived off eelam war like some of Sri Lankans politicians now in power, look at the roster of supporters, except just a mere few of them are Sri Lankans, never mind tamils. These goons are talking of a UN sponsored referendum/election to form eelam’ They are living in cuckoo land, GOSL should never get into any agreement with these buffoons.
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Tilak de Silva / June 21, 2015
These parasitic goons do not have a right to mandate or speak on Tamils, they lived off eelam war like some of Sri Lankan politicians now in power, look at the roster of supporters, except just a mere few of them are Sri Lankans, never mind tamils. These goons are talking of a UN sponsored referendum/election to form eelam’ They are living in cuckoo land, GOSL should never get into any agreement with these buffoons.
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Jim softy / June 21, 2015
Only Mahinda Rajapalse knew how to respond to Tamils. [Edited out] in the present govt know only to bend to Tamils.
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Thanga / June 23, 2015
I don’t want to engage in a slanging match with people who deliberately twist facts. I don’t have to defend and I don’t hold a brief to defend
Sumanthiran. He is eminently suited to defend himself. He is not a second grade lawyer like Gajendrakumar who never goes to courts. Having said that I don’t want Naga to get away with his idiotic arguments.
(1)However,the fact remains he was nominated by the TNA to the slot allocated to TNA under the National List of MPs based on the votes polled by TNA nationwide. That was why I called him a “backdoor MP” meaning not elected by the people.
Answer
The names of people in the national list are filed with the Commissioner of elections at the time of filing nomination. Since MR. Sumanthiran name was on the top of the list he got elected based on the total votes TNA polled island wide. He was not nominated by R.Sampanthan. He certainly was instrumental in placing his name on the national list. There is nothing wrong with that. Sampanthan choice of Sumanthiran for the national list MP has proved dead right as you grudgingly concede. Today Sumanthiran is an asset to the TNA.
(2) But you should not use the term ‘elected’ here because he was not elected by the Tamil voters but nominated purely I understand on Sampanthan’s decision. Your man Sumanthiran until then was an unknown quantity in the Sri Lankan political scene. He was a Colombo lawyer holding briefs for the Bishop House.
Answer
Don’t play with semantics. Sumanthiran was ELECTED based on the total votes polled by TNA. For your information there are 29 such National list members in parliament including G.L.Peiris, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Sinhalese have no problem with national list MPs, but leftists like you do.
(3) Has he ever appeared for any Tamil political prisoners leaving aside those who were directly accused of LTTE activities? Did he ever raise his voice against the human rights violations committed both by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and by the LTTE? To my knowledge, ‘none’.
Answer
He appeared for several cases involving LTTE cadres arrested by the army and police. For your information Sumanthiran filed several cases related to Sampur IDPs in the Supreme Court in 2007 long before he became an MP. He was the legal advisor to the TNA. Of course Sumanthiran has co-signed several human rights petition against both the government and the LTTE. LTTE supporters have not excused him for committing those cardinal “sins”!
(4) You are saying that Sumanthiran participated in the London talks with the full knowledge of Sampanthan. In that case why don’t you ask Sampanthan to come out with a public statement to that effect?
Answer
The TNA does not respond to each every piece of criticism. Unlike you Sampanthan has many other serious matters to attend to. After nearly two decades he donned the black coat and appeared at the Supreme Court to defend the interests of Sampur IDPs in the case filed by Gateway Industries.
(5) As a leftist, I hate the likes of Sumanthirans who can easily become pawns in the hands of US and the US backed Ranil government to control the Tamils and defeat the genuine interests of the Tamils. His role in aligning with Mangala in the London talks is seen by many Tamil commentators as against the interests of Tamils.
Answer
Don’t shed crocodile tears for the Tamils. You are not in a position to do anything except to cry foul. Interesting, probably you are the only leftist extant now. Other so called leftists and rathu sahotharayas like JVP/LSSP have proved they are the worst racists and reactionaries. How do you account for Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s blind support to a corrupt and authoritarian ex president Rajapaksa? The matters discussed at the London conference was in the interests of the Thamil people. There is no doubt about that
(A) release of political prisoners
(B) de listing of organizations and individuals in the terrorist list of Gotabhaya.
(C) Help to those resettled IDPs.
My advice to you “please don’t be cynical! Be practical!”
It is due to the herculean efforts of the US government and it allies that the problems facing Thamils have taken a centre stage at the UNHRC.
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