President Mahinda Rajapaksa says he is ready to accept a South African style Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but stopped short of trapping himself into a deadline on its appointment in a specially commissioned infomercial that was aired on US television last weekend.
Thompson Advisory Group, a lobbying firm contracted by the Sri Lankan Government to carry out its image building in the US filmed the infomercial that aired on NBC on Sunday morning. The commercial is narrated by Gene Randall, a former CNN Anchor and PR consultant, who has carried out similar publicity campaigns for Chevron during an oil contamination scandal in the Amazon Rainforest.
Asked by Randall if he meant that he would appoint a TRC or if he was saying that there were commissions already in place, President Rajapaksa said: “No, no we are going to have it. We will we will. There are other commissions also. We want to know how much actually…that the people also come and give evidence there. Meanwhile we are, we want to appoint this commission too.”
“We have seen how Mandela did and we want to study that. When I was in the opposition I started this process. I went to Ireland, I met the Prime Minister,” he said.
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivaard Cabraal and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga also feature on the 30 minute commercial.
The promotional video is part of Thompson Advisory Group’s attempt to uplift its PR efforts on the Government’s behalf ahead of the UNHRC sessions in Geneva next month.
Netizen / February 6, 2014
WEonder why Jaliya Wicramasuriya,the tea vendor who functions as our man in Washington DC did not figure in this comic infomercial?
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Ward / February 7, 2014
Jaliya pays PR firms.
He has some neighbours in the US to help him:
”Give the Tamil minority a legitimate role in politics.
Give the Tamil minority a significant stake in the country’s post-war economic boom.
Push to end the ethnic and sectarian violence that keeps bubbling up.
Publicize policies that can specifically benefit the Tamil minority”
– Four steps to secure lasting peace in Sri Lanka, Maha Hosain Aziz, Professor of politics (adjunct) in the MA program of NYU’s Politics Department, a senior analyst at geopolitical consultancy Wikistrat and advisory board chairwoman of Afghanistan’s first university e-mentoring program (New Silk Road Generation), 13 January 2014, http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/13/four-steps-to-secure-lasting-peace-in-sri-lanka/
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Ward / February 7, 2014
Jaliya has decent Sri Lankans to help him:
”The Sri Lankan letters are distinguished by a third message, reminding President Rajapaksa of the need for good governance” – Fulbright Days And A Plea To Leadership, 13 October 2013, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/fulbright-days-and-a-plea-to-leadership-2/
”Citizens of this country, while they may have different political affiliations, must not legitimise this erosion of democracy…. Consenting to this type of governance as a legitimate function of the Presidency when the Constitution and the laws of the land do not confer such powers on the President can only lead to a breakdown of democracy in our land” – Authoritarianism or Democratic Governance? Savitri Goonesekere (Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Colombo), 27 January 2014, https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/authoritarianism-or-democratic-governance/
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Ward / February 7, 2014
Gene Randall
Please get us a picture of any village with IDPs returned from Menik Farm Camp.
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Ward / February 7, 2014
Gene Randall has tried to ”clean up” Sri Lanka.
A few years ago he tried to clean up Chevron: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/10/gene-randall-exreporter-h_n_201392.html
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sirimal / February 8, 2014
I cant imagine how he function as a diplomat ?
Would be great if we could all these directly from his staff :(
Dayan Jayathilaka made it clearly one of the key reaons why diplomatic missions not to function well is – deficiency in hands-on experience of the appointed skilled personnels… those who are really intersted in these issues should get them by contacting those offices directly.
As I feel – me as a healthy, sane person, that a mason would never be able to work as a medical doc, or clerical clerk would never have the same talent to function as an Electric Engineer. But we the general public
get to see – very many examples where our MAGICAL WONDER- UNIQUE PRESIDENT of today´s srilanka let all these go smooth. Most of all, highly educated prof. GLP as a minister for external affairs seem to be a CARICATURES by all means.
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sirimal / February 8, 2014
It is high time to hold an open debate on these appointments.
All those former senior diplomats should lead those forums. They may have thousands of questions that would never have answered about the way how ambassadors like Jaliya has performed their duties.
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sirimal / February 8, 2014
This is the only era in which numbers of unqualified got appointed to represent the nation in foreign countries. Former army men, tea tasters and other Rajapakshe relatives have been appointed foreign offices. Almost any counterparts would ridicule out about the lanken personnels. Foreign offices have become jokes. Thanks to wisdom of the leader.
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Davidson Panabokke / February 6, 2014
Pl put the cart behind the bull: first stop the ongoing oppression (political, economic, social, cultural and environemntal) by the armed forces of occupation and the Governor. Reconciliation may automatically follow.
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Davidson Panabokke / February 6, 2014
65 yrs of lying by successive governments have destroyed the socio-economic-cultural-environmental fabric of the ethnic minorities.
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Davidson Panabokke / February 6, 2014
True Buddhists don’t need PR firms.
Unbuddhist Buddhists can never have enough PR mantras:
”This report from Corporate Europe Observatory presents 15 recent examples of governments using lobby consultancies to influence the EU institutions, including Belarus, Botswana, Ethiopia, Jersey, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka. …. Bell Pottinger has since 2005 lobbied the EU institutions on behalf of Sri Lanka, whose government is accused of systematic human rights violations‘’ – Lobbying for governments in Brussels, 27 May 2010, http://corporateeurope.org/lobbycracy/2010/05/lobbying-governments-brussels
‘’The report comes to the conclusion that there are significant shortcomings in this area and that Sri Lanka is in breach of its GSP+ commitments’’ – Commission statement on Sri Lanka GSP+ report – Brussels, 19 October 2009, http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2009/october/tradoc_145141.pdf
Instead of implementing recommendations, the Sri Lankan government sent an inter-religious group(of shameless religious leaders) to Europe to earn trade concessions: http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2009/11/05/inter-religious-group-tour-win-gsp-sri-lanka
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Fanny Adams / February 6, 2014
A half decent account if not for the untruths inherent in anything the government says or does. Lalith says “show me any other example of a quicker path to reconciliation and I will do it”. Well Sir, go learn from South Africa if I may suggest that. The President is also now saying that he is “keen” to follow Mandela’s example, but what took him so long? Last I heard, the government lackeys led from the front by the brothers four, maintained that it is only a Sri Lanka based solution that will be countenanced, nothing else, so why the disconnect now, pray?
Lalith says also that reconciliation will take 10 years, no doubt to buy time for a not so opaque dynastic succession to be put in place! I say, go seek counsel from the Chief Minister of the Northern PC, a fellow Royalist and a far more credible and trustworthy individual, who has shown through both family example and judicial integrity, ‘how to play the game’ (to take a line from the school anthem). Shame on Lalith, a person I studied and played cricket with many moons ago. Shame on Mohan Pieris too, who for two years or so stained the portals of Royal College (featured in the tv advert above) after realizing that St Joseph’s just wasn’t going to teach him the dirty way to play his own game. For shame, for shame!
As for the articulate (let’s give him that) accountant turned economics maestro, Mr Cabraal, the less said the better…. never seen a more unctuous individual with that permanent smile on a face that carries such a crooked brain.
Guys, you all can make a real difference to the country that you all (and I certainly) profess to love… just decamp, seek protection from the goon squads, spill the beans and then let your collective conscience rest in peace…. you are all in the departure lounge and will inevitably have to go… Look at the legacy and example that SWRDB, JRJ and RP left behind – magnify that 100-fold and that is how you buggers will be remembered, never mind the riches you may have accreted…..is that what you wish to leave for your children and theirs? For shame (again) I say it resoundingly and again.
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Luxmy / February 7, 2014
“show me any other example of a quicker path to reconciliation and I will do it”:
”Three months after the holding of the Northern Provincial Council election, it is incumbent on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to make the Governor’s post-election role clear and thereby empower the Northern Provincial Council. As a former army general, Governor Chandrasiri will surely take his orders from his Commander-in-Chief. But so far alas, this does not appear to have been done’’ – Commander-In-Chief Must Give The Right Order For Constructive Transition, Jehan Perera (Chair, National Peace Council of Sri Lanka), 17 December 2013,
http://www.peace-srilanka.org/media-centre/political-analysis/753-commander-in-chief-must-give-the-right-order-for-constructive-transition-jehan-perera
Just listen to the Sri Lankans.
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chandra / February 7, 2014
Having watched the TAG presentation, i think it does more damage than good coming at this late stage.
There were contradictions and vagueness galore by the main participants.
It’s embarrassing to show this to educated and savvy diplomats at the UN
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Native Vedda / February 12, 2014
chandra
“There were contradictions and vagueness galore by the main participants.”
Please note, former deputy editor of the Times Louis Heren’s maxim that when a politician speaks you need to ask yourself “Why is this lying bastard lying to me?”
When listening to Sri Lankan politicians, bureaucrats, diplomats, policeman, members of armed forces, legal fraternity, ….. serving and retired prfessors, ….. you must always ask this question;
“Why is this lying bastard lying to me?”
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Thiru / February 6, 2014
This is a cunning ploy by Mahinda to buy time to destroy the Tamil nation and to save their necks from the gallows.
Tamils should not touch this crafty Truth and Reconciliation commission with a barge pole.
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Ben Hurling / February 7, 2014
Thiru,
Sri Lanka has not ratified the ICC treaty.
King will not go to Hague.
Relax. Your wet dream will not come true.
Cheers!
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Thiru / February 7, 2014
Relaxed Ben,
ICC is not the only way; did Gaddhafi go to the Hague? Did Saddam go there either, they went straight to hell!
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Luxmy / February 6, 2014
What ? Truth and Reconciliation?
Just let the elected NPC do its job.
Just curb the economic activities of the Army so that the locals have their livelihood so that they will stop committing suicide.
Just take the Army teachers off the schools so that the unemployed graduates of the North can have jobs.
Just stop erecting Buddha statues all over the place – all natural species need the soil directly and indirectly.
Just open your hearts and let the heads think.
Put the Buddha in your actions and not inside the concrete.
Just stop concreting the land.
Simply stop macerating the people.
What will they end up doing?
Reconciling with the others in the island !
Reconciliation cannot be forced on people you’re trampling – infants know it, but our leaders who refuse for decades to let the ethnic minorities prosper pretend to ”consider” Reconciliation.
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daisy daniels / February 8, 2014
brilliantly said!
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Native Vedda / February 6, 2014
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
I am sure when you listen to MR you would certainly turn in your grave. Please don’t, MR is only kidding.
I promise you I will keep you posted.
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Anpu / February 6, 2014
“At each and every turn, these clever diversion tactics of Commissions and Committee turned attention away from imperative legal and policy reforms, strengthening of the judicial system and restoring the constitutional balance of power which (make no mistake about this) are essential to handling Sri Lanka’s ‘accountability problem’ as is somewhat quaintly termed by some. And Sri Lankan governments, regardless of their political colour, are able to resort to these tactics time and time again and without challenge from this country’s so-called ‘intellectual’ community precisely because of this self serving blindness. Forget about Governments; we should be ashamed of ourselves” – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140119/columns/we-do-not-need-a-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-80310.html
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Rajash / February 6, 2014
was your UN team briefed on this. They wasted all thei time on PR this was not in their briefing.
This shows what a liar you are and your off the cuff style of dealing with critical issues
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OutRider / February 7, 2014
At last the GSL is doing what it should have done all along: counter the false propaganda and the disinformation campaign of the LTTE carried out with the help of western imperialists, Tamil Nadu racists, the human rights cartel, NGO industry and their local civil society agents.
The fascist Tigers have been following the Goebellian tactic of relentlessly repeating unconscionable lies and misleading the world. The western media was an easy prey as most of its practitioners were initially clueless about Sri Lanka, were self-castrated by “white peoples’ guilt over their colonial past,” and their reluctance to call a spade a spade in dealing with third world terrorist organizations because of their misguided political correctness. The diabolical Tigers knew this situation right from the beginning and took early advantage of it using their ample funds and overzealous long distance Tamil warriors. Corrupt politicians in the diaspora added credibility to the Tiger propaganda in return for the Tamil ethnic-vote.
The previous Sri Lankan governments beset with a lack of political will due to their siege mentality, self-doubts and corruption, failed to counter effectively this deliberate blackening of Sri Lanka’s image on the world stage – except for the brief but glorious interlude of the great Lakshman Kadirgamar.
It is the present regime that finally dealt the death blow to the Tigers militarily, also has the capability to win the information and diplomatic war against them as well if it acts in the same manner – with the courage of conviction.
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Piranha / February 7, 2014
What happened to the home grown solution? Why borrow a solution from from South Africa? A T&R commission will certainly help to veade the accountability issue and that’s the only reason Rajapaksa has latched on to this. Even then no time scale is given and no guarantee that the commission’s report will be published and its recommendations complied with. This appears to be another charade to prevent investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity. The world is wiser now to Rajapaksa’s deception and won’t buy his latest trick.
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Native Vedda / February 7, 2014
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
I wonder what David Blacker would say about appointing this Truth and Conciliation Commission.
As far as David is concern,
there is no evidence therefore no need for an investigation
Sri Lanka had won the war therefore no need for TRC.
Let me hear from the public War Crime Denier Dayan J.
I promise you I will keep you posted.
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truth / February 7, 2014
Instead if spending money on PR firms, the money could have been spent on “real reconciliation” and spent on real needs of the people. Only the liars got a chance to tell their lies in public!! But it was very pathetic to watch them tell lies. (You could see from their faces)
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Burt / February 7, 2014
T & R Commission is not a solution for the crimes committed in SL, this is looked at as an escape route not a genuine reconciliation process. Most of the murders and rapists or those that gave the orders as punishment were rewarded with positions and perks and not you cannot have a T & R to sweep everything under the carpet.
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punchinilame / February 7, 2014
Knowing the track-record of MR Broo. & Co.,do you expect the Americans
to give ear to this 28 Minute infomercial prepared at a cost by a PR
firm?
When USA suggested a ceasefire in May 2009 and it being turned down,
Pres. Obama made a very short Statement – the current activities are in line with his predictions.
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Rajash / February 7, 2014
After watching this video the following joke came to my mind
Human Resource Director (HRD) of a big multinational company passed away. Due to his good deeds on earth he was sent to heaven.
But he found heaven boring. Angles playing musical instruments and nothing much happening.
So he went St.Peters and said he was expecting somethong different.
St.Peters said well why not go and see hell for a day and you will realise
So next day the HRD was sent to hell. When he arrived at hell he was met by the Satan who showed him around.
He didn’t believe what he saw.
Semi-nude girls serving champagne and drinks and all sorts of food, golf course, discos, casino, bars night clubs massage parlours and beautiful women everywhere. He had a great time and went back to heaven.
Next day he told St.Peter that he prefer hell to heaven. St.Peters said it’s your decision and you are not coming back
So he went back to hell. Satan met him at the entrance and sent him to hard labour.
There was no Golf Coruse, no massage parlours no beautiful girls. But real dirty hell.
So the HRD asked the Satan yesterday it was so different.
Satan replied yesterday was our recruitment day.
Today we are back to Normal
This video is like that ….a video for recruitment
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Ajith / February 7, 2014
Dear President Rajapakse,
Your tactics is not going to work. Every one knows who you are, what you did and how did you do it. You may think you can cheat few but every one is clear about you and your power hungry criminal mentality. Truth will follow you and you have to face that today or tomorrow.
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Safa / February 7, 2014
Bad joke by MR. Tell it to the marines.
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Burt / February 7, 2014
What a waste of money. Do you think anyone gives a hoot as to what is happening in another country on the day of the NFL Super Bowl?
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Maveeran / February 7, 2014
I feel like smashing this Sinha-lame [Edited out] Goatbaiya Jarawapassa face in. The whole Jarawapassa family are a bunch of ugly ass hypocrite monkeys.
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Tamil from the north / February 7, 2014
Maybe in 2514?
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Palmsquirrell / February 7, 2014
A TRC is an attempt by Rajapaksa regime to exscape international pressure and justice. A TRC will just hand over immunity on a platter to all the GOSL war crimminals.
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manisekaran / February 7, 2014
International community is not so stupid to substitute this ploy of TRC to avoid war crime investigation! This crook is thinking, “all are fools”
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Rajash / February 7, 2014
The TAG propaganda Video is Titled Reconciliation and Rebuilding.
Lies Agreed upon Part 2 is more appropriate.
The video opens with the population statistics and religions. Gene Randall failed to mention that Tamils in the NE consider it as their traditional homeland. Whereas he says the Muslims and Christians came to Sri Lanka in the 15th Century respectively as Arab Traders and Christian Missionaries
Randall narrates that Buddhism is the majority religion but other religion are tolerated. Yes he use the word tolerated.
However he fails to say a word about the recent attack on Muslim mosques and Christian churches by the BBS that is patronage by Gota the defence secretary who is also on the video
Randall moves on to the Central Bank bomb and gives a vivid description. He fails to mention the 1983 race riots or the systematic riots against Tamils since independence
Nothing said about JVP uprising and the brutal violence from both sides
Randall then talks about Jaffana Railway Station. He says the LTTE destroyed it with little respect for its history and its future. But he conveniently forget to tell about the torching of the Jaffna Library by the Sinhala racist and in the process they destroyed one of the most invaluable collection of Tamil books in the world. In the process destroying the invaluable historic evidence of Tamil culture
Randall then move on to the NPC election. He says the Tamils won it with majority and then show pictures of, check this out, not Vigneswaran but Douglas Devananda who was wiped out in the election. What a joke and what a liar Randall is.
Then the video talks about the economic development in the NE. Our friend Cabraal appears in the scene and his turn to spell out lies agreed upon.
He says compared to rest of Sri Lanka NE has seen the highest economic development in the last three years. !!!!!
He then do a ahhhhhhhhh his eyes turn away from the camera to look at some one who may be holding the instruction, and says we invested 3billion dollars in the NE. (this is the figure Mahinda also told Al Jazeera)
Yes 3 billion dollars!!!!…more of this later.
And what have they got to show in the video for these 3billion dollars…nothing!
They could only show work going on to rebuild the Jaffana Railway station with Indian funds and then Randall goes on to say that Jaffana children are raising money to build the station!
So where is the 3 billion dollars if Tamil children have to raise money? The Sinhala children in the south are not raising money to build Ports and airports and express way?
The video then moves on to Chinese funded project.
Randall says that a new port city is being built at a cost of 1.7billion Dollars in Colombo. The video then shows an impressive shot of work going on to reclaim land from the sea and impressive activity of work going on there
But hang on a minute.
If 1.7billion can build a new port city in Colombo, where was the 3billion dollars invested in NE?
There was no video footage of any sort of development in Jaffans?
With 3billion dollar they could have rebuilt the whole of war destructed NE. But the video shows potholed walls everywhere.
So Cabraal where is the 3billion dollar ?
Randall also talks about the International Airport at Hambantota and the Harbour as vibrant Hubs.Vibrant hubs for wild animals?
MR wants to sweep away the war crime inquiry under the carpet of Truth and Reconciliation
Lalith Weeratunge says he needs another 10 years for reconciliation to take effect read to wipe out the Tamils.
I can go on and on shredding this propaganda video in to pieces
So Thompson Advisory Group and Gene Randall you have miserably failed.
You cant fool all the people all the time
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J.Thavarajah. / February 7, 2014
Truth and Reconciliation Commission?
Well,this is yet another visit to the Toilet.
A sitting,A report and the matter will be dropped.
This is what Pieter Keunemen told Parliament several years ago about commissions.
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Ward / February 7, 2014
Gene Randall
Pl show us any of the villages to which the IDPs returned from Menik Camp.
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Rama / February 7, 2014
it’s a bit stupid to expect from him until the home grown solution has been put in place. however, no one knows what this home grown solution is all about.
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Native Vedda / February 8, 2014
Rama
At least you should know something about Southern Consensus.
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Anpu / February 8, 2014
““Sri Lanka: Reconciling and Rebuilding”: Framing the lies” – http://groundviews.org/2014/02/07/sri-lanka-reconciling-and-rebuilding-framing-the-lies/
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Rajash / February 8, 2014
the opening text of this video
the material is disseminated by TAG
which is registered under foreign agents
registration act as an agent of Sri Lanka
The Material is filed with the
U.S.Department of justice where the required registration statement is available
for public inspection
registration does not indicated approval of the contents of the material by the united states government
—-
what is intriguing is TAG is an agent of Sri Lanka
not an agent of the Government of Sri Lanks
but an agent of Sri Lanka
that means basically you and me and the Sri Lankan citizen
did we give TAG the right to tell a pack of lies on our behalf?
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