Nelson Mandela passed away earlier today, an announcement just made by South African president Jacob Zuma. Nelson Mandela, the towering figure of Africa’s struggle for freedom and a hero to millions around the world, has died at the age of 95.
South Africa’s first black president died after years of declining health that had caused him to withdraw from public life.
aratai / December 6, 2013
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R.I.P., Salute to a great leader… hope our ‘so called’ leaders learn from him.
:-)
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Ben Hurling / December 6, 2013
“During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” – Nelson Mandela-
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John / December 6, 2013
Undisputed Legend of last century, may his soul rest in peace.
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Dodo / December 6, 2013
Indeed, the best of the best – may Mr. Mandela’s soul rest in eternal peace!
The man who ended the long war in South Africa and brought peace with JUSTICE to that country – what a contrast with the corrupt, RACIST and criminal wanna-be savior of the Sinhalaya Modayas of Lanka!
If Mandela was a blessing on South Africa, Mahinda Rajapassa and his greedy and corrupt family are a curse on Sri Lanka- much like Prabakaran. Rajapakse and Prabakanra TOGETHER epitomize the curse of Kuveni on this benighted island. And it only once BOTH are gone that Lanka will be LIBERATED and see peace with justice – which is the only peace there is!
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Amarasiri / December 7, 2013
Nelson Rohilaha Mandala.
……………………………………. ..May your soul rest in peace, in the belief you had. Nelson Mandela was a Great Liberator of the South African People, A Great Egalitarian, who rescued millions from from bondage. Mahatma Gandhi was the first thought that came to my mind when I first heard the sad news.It is great loss, and the world needs more such men, more Nelson Mandelas towards getting to a truly Egalitarian World, devoid of the dogmas of religion and race. Sir, we all salute you. Rest In Peace…………………..
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My first real exposure to the South African Apartheid was in 1974 when I watch a 2 hour long documentary of life of native Africans, the mixed race, the Indians and the whites done by a Scandinavian country TV Channel. (Nelson Mandela was in prison then). It was truly appalling. In comparison, the Indian Caste System looked far more civilized. I was wondering when will South African Apartheid end. Of course, South Africa was under the UN Sanctions, the Arab and OPEC Countries refused to sell Oil, but they were trading with two Racist countries, Israel and Japan (The Honorary Whites)…………………………….
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Nelson Mandela, along with many others were the liberators of the South African people. In my memories of South Africa, it takes me to the 1974 Scandinavian documentary, and a good feeling permeates my body and mind……………………………………………………….
Amarasiri wonders how long he has to wait until Sri Lanka becomes a truly Egalitarian state, free from Religious and Racist Bigotry?…
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela …….
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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: [xoˈliːɬaɬa manˈdeːla]; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician and philanthropist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the first black South African to hold the office, and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid through tackling institutionalised racism, poverty and inequality, and fostering racial reconciliation. Politically an African nationalist and democratic socialist, he served as President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997. Internationally, Mandela was Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.
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The Penetrator / December 6, 2013
Finally you have gone to another place, back home where truth exists. The struggle that you must have come across in your prison years, no one would and can understand…… The truth will prevail and as you are the truth that kept this light burning you will be remembered among all that seek and know the truth…. The Fire will never be extinguished, only that another flame will be lit for the next generation…
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Piraña / December 6, 2013
A great leader, a great man and a great human being of our times. May his soul rest in peace.
Mandela made the despossed , the under privileged , the down trodden to have hope and faith in humanity. We Tamils who long for freedom and equality salute him and should emulate his resilience and intransigence until we achive our goal of Tamil Eelam. Long live mandel’s name.
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Piraña / December 6, 2013
A great leader, a great man and a great human being of our times. May his soul rest in peace.
Mandela made the despossed , the under privileged , the down trodden to have hope and faith in humanity. We Tamils who long for freedom and equality salute him and should emulate his resilience and intransigence until we achive our goal of Tamil Eelam. Long live mandela’s name.
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bo / December 6, 2013
Mandela sought freedom from invaders and he got it eventually. Piranha, as the name suggests, wants to bite the hand that feeds it. He wants natives to make way for the invaders, just the opposite of what great Nelson Mandela struggled to achieve. It wonbt work his way.
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Burning_Issue / December 6, 2013
Sri Lankan Tamils are native of Sri Lanka too! Your racism is embedded in your statement. You will never understand truly what Mandala stood for.
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Burning_Issue ……… “Sri Lankan Tamils are native of Sri Lanka too!”…….. I am sorry not so. ….. “You will never understand truly what Mandala stood for.”………. Neither do the Tamils.
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Burning_Issue / December 6, 2013
The Sri Lankan Tamils are as much native as their Sinhala Cousins; if this is agreeable to you! You need to decipher people’s comments in the context of where they are aimed at. It is no good you shoot from your hip! When I said “You will never understand truly what Mandala stood for”; it was aimed at “Bo”and not at the entire Sinhala race! So you comment fall well short as you have generalised it to mean the “Tamils” as a whole!
By the way, you do not need to comment on everything as you seem to be doing as if you are a policeman around here though some of your contributions are amusing at time.
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Burning_Issue ……….. I firmly believe neither Sinhalese nor Tamils have the historical evidence/rights to describe themselves as Natives. …………….. I simply call them descendants of Kallathonies for the purpose all discussions. The starting point is neither 3,000 nor 2,500 years, but 36,000 years. ……….. We must get the concepts right otherwise we would go in circle. ….
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M.Sivananthan / December 8, 2013
Why cant you think the Tamil and Sinhala languages were evolved from the language of Veddas. I hope many Tamils and Sinhalese were Veddas.
Invaders or immigrants cannot be avoided in any nation.
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Native Vedda / December 8, 2013
M.Sivananthan ………. “If you believe that many Tamils and Sinhalese were Veddas”. I would disagree with you. If that was the case why would the Sinhala/Buddhist establishment carry on perpetuating Vijaya myth. ……… The so called eminent professors of History too start their history writing Vijaya myth……… I suggest you get your friends in the Ministry of Education to remove that part of myth from educational text books and insist them include what you have just suggested…………….
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whywhy / December 8, 2013
Native,your era is over.Democratic Socialist Republic
of Mihin Lanka has already embarked on a mission
irreversible of felling trees for ETF and EPF fund for
its workers.Monkeys will escape and join other happy
monkeys of the republic but all my worry goes to the
poor Veddas.Any idea of going Hameedias?
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M.Sivananthan / December 10, 2013
NV:
Vijaya story cannot be a myth because the Hindu Kshatriya invasions created many new languages.
Sinhalese got a “KING” from that invasion. The concept of King, Queen and Country were born in India.
Sinhala is NATIVE to Sri Lanka and it has nothing to do with any Kings of lanka. The same issue for the Tamils also! They too cry Chera, Chola, and Pandiaya kings but Tamils never explains the Tamil meanings of these words. Pallavas ruled more centuries than any others but Tamils dont add Pallavas as Tamil kings.
Vijaya and Pandiyas came from the same place. One settled in Lanka and other was in Tamil nadu. Check the meaning of TAMBA PANNI and TAMIRA BHARANI!
Kings or Royals have nothing with the commoners. Look at the Royals of Brits. They can be traced to Germans and Russians.
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Lanka Liar / December 8, 2013
You are the present day Vedda not the Tamils or Sinhalese. They all got civilized since.
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Tamil from the north / December 8, 2013
Native Vedda, I agree with you as a Tamil. The Veddahs of SL can claim this to be their land. But not the Sinhalese and Tamils. Maybe MP Azwer and Dr. Merwyn Silva are natives of this country………….:)
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I am no muslim / December 8, 2013
Tamil from the north, You’ve said it, this pseudo Native Vedda is an eastern Tamil.
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Upasiri de Silva / December 7, 2013
What Mandela did was to get the Majority Black South Africans the FREEDOM to live like equals. He spent 27 years behind bars for fighting for the RIGHTS of the majority. The situation in Sri Lanka cannot be compared to what happened in SA, as the minority trying to overpower the majority and to separate the country.
As a Sinhalese after working in Africa for many years, became the Secratery Of the Anti Aparthied movement we started in Sydney, and after Mandela was released from prison he paid his first visit to thanks those who helped him. I was invited to meet him and he thanked everyone who did a yeoman service to establish the sanctions on White Botha regime.
If any one try to take the struggle the ANC did as equal to what LTTE did is sadly mistaking the main course of the ANC struggle. Freedom is essential but the oppressor has now become the master and unless we establish reconciliation methods suitable for both parties and Rajapakasa establish democracy in Sri Lanka the differences between Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese cannot be settled.
If any one trying to emeluate the way ANC and Mandela did to SA as equal to the terrorist actions of few Tamil militants, then they are disgracing the memory of that great man who did spent 27 years at the Ruben Island prison.
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M.Sivananthan / December 8, 2013
Tamils and LTTE goons hang on to Britain even today. British PM Margaret Thatchar branded MANDELA as a terrorist and communist.
That time Canadian conservative PM Brian Malroney completely disagreed with Margaret Thatchar and Regan on Mandela and backed the sanctions against South African regime of Botha.
Current British PM Cameroon was a conservative youth activist and pasted the posters against Mandela.
The same Cameroon now barks at Sri lanka for destroying British/USA backed LTTE. Tamils who support LTTE or EELAM are not for any policies of mandela but for the British racist policies!
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Native Vedda / December 8, 2013
M.Sivananthan …………
“Tamils and LTTE goons hang on to Britain even today. British PM Margaret Thatchar branded MANDELA as a terrorist and communist.”
Are you implying that had Sri Lanka jailed VP for 27 years he would have become a Tamil Mandela at the age of 82? ……. It is an interesting thought. ……… I am not so sure.
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M.Sivananthan / December 8, 2013
VP was a cooli boy of USA/UK and not asked “equality”. He was a smuggler by profession. Dont try to compare a vermin with Mandela!
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Lanka Liar / December 8, 2013
But your are a cleaner boy for Douglas who is a wanted criminal in many countries.
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M.Sivananthan / December 10, 2013
Can you tell few countries?
DD was given a pistol by Indian government for his self protection.
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Joe / December 8, 2013
Hope Mr.Sivananthan is not smoking drugs. The Global community is prasing and praying for the great hero Mandela.
Hope you have TV at home.
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Lanka Liar / December 8, 2013
You failed to see the terrorism unleashed by the Sin Hal Lease oon Tamils Muslims and the others. Yes LTTE cannot be compared to ANC but the Sri Lankan government can be compared to the Apartheid South Africa. Sri Lanka is much worse than the apartheid South Africa which had Apartheid Rules Laws and constitution and they stuck to it where in Sri Lanka there are no such things and all the perpetrators were above the law.There were many whites who were tried and found guilty for committing criminal activities against the Blacks. Can you find one such incident in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is not only lawless it is uncivilized too. There were laws good enough to prevent these criminal activities but Sri Lanka failed to implement them. There were no mass bombing concentration camps kidnapping etc in South Africa. I don’t know why you were invited to meet Mandala, you should be invited to meet Mahinda.
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M.Sivananthan / December 10, 2013
Learn the meaning of apartheid!————-
No laws of apartheid in Sri lanka but LTTE followed a NAZI style killings and burnings and torture camps.
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whywhy / December 8, 2013
Upasiri,my assumption about present political freedom
is that,later generations will define it in a quite
different way and we won’t be living to see them.The
very word freedom itself is a prisoner and no doubt
Nelson Mandela was a great human of our time but to
say that he got freedom for South Africa,his future
generations will have to say something about it.At
the moment we all are going with the flow.
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jansee / December 6, 2013
bo:
Even the slightest of thoughts of Mandela evokes the deepest and unassailable spiritual reserve one may withhold and that he had entered, not only in the hearts of millions around the world, but also in the sane and benevolent chapters of history, is the testimony of a great leader who forged a lasting friendship and peace. He won the peace. At the height of his popularity and power, he walked away from it all, not to be corrupted by such pomp and glamour. Today, never ever happened before, the Security Council, a house that symbolifies divisions and indifference, stood for a minute silence in memory of that historical icon. He won the peace, he won the hearts, and he won the world. For robbers and murderers, who deprived a race of its possessions and dignity, the claim that “wants to bite the hand that feeds it” is the hands that continue to thump their own chests in a cunning belief that the whole world is asleep. If what happened during MR’s visit for the Oxford Union address was a disaster, the way he was torn in bits and pieces, prolonging his pain and anxiety, in his own backyard during the CHOGM, would finally clear the mist that murderers don’t deserve the accolades that they dearly long for with blood in their hands. The defining moment came when an exasperated Richard Uku from the Commonwealth Secretariat begged finally with this: “”Does anyone specifically have a question that’s not on Sri Lanka or human rights?” Need I say more?
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M.Sivananthan / December 8, 2013
Mandela strongly refused the superiority of Whites or Blacks. Where are you standing?
When did you become a “Human Rights activist”? After the defeat of the LTTE or before?
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PalmSquirrell / December 6, 2013
Sinhalese ethnicity was founded by the genocidal Prince Vijaya who originated in what is no Bengal and invaded Lanka about 2500 years ago. –Sinhalese are also from the Indian Subcontinent and are not the aboriginal people of Lanka. –Why do you Sinhala Supremacists keep lying about history, trying to claim you are native to Lanka, when everyone knows the truth .
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Ben Hurling / December 6, 2013
PalmSquirrell & all others,
Take a break from Sri Lankan racist wrangling today. We are eulogising one of the finest men ever to have walked on this earth.
May I also remind you Mandela was all about forgetting the bitterness & cruelty of the past. Forgiving & reconciliation. Something all of us in Sri Lanka find so hard to do.
Besides, in all honesty, who gives a damn about who came to SL first? Freakin’ 2500 years ago guys? I don’t.
We only live for a few decades each. And that’s about it. Then we have to go Sinhalese or Tamil my friend. That’s it. Think about it.
Learn from Mandela’s life. He forgave those who imprisoned him for 27 years.
You are whining about some crap. Really, that happened 2500 years ago.
Now pelase..! Go get a life. If you have one alerady, please live it. In harmony with all others, while you can.
Never mind who arrived first in SL, how & where 2500 years ago.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Ben Hurling:………… You have already forgiven the armed forces for massacring Sinhalese and Tamils. When will you forgive LTTE and JVP for their part in inhuman acts? ……….. By the way I see a lot of positive changes in your comments lately. …….. Keep it up one day you might catch up with my Elders. ………
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mechanic / December 8, 2013
Native Vedda is an eastern Tamil period
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Palmsquirrell / December 6, 2013
So it is quite telling that you didn’t reposnd to Bo’s post directly even though he brought up the issue of Native Status but instead choose to respond to me who was responding to Bo,the original instigator . –Just typical , and a microcosm of the Sinhala Nationalist mind that wants to forget their Anti Tamil pogroms and their genocidal history but want to criticise those seek to hold GOSL accountable of their war crimes.–Easy for you to act all sanctimonius and speak about forgiveness when it you Sinhala Supremacists who carried out the largest mass slaugther in Lanka and still to this day continue to oppress the Tamils.– So save the sanctimonious soap-box crap for someone who actually gives a dam, and don’t use Mandela’s name to buttress your Sinhala Nationalist sympathies, it is an insult to the great man.
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Ben Hurling / December 7, 2013
Brother Palmsquirrell,
Man, you are more paranoid than that king of Paranoia, Gota.
I did not pay any attention to Bo’s comment.
Boy, before I know it you’ve cast me as racist Sinhalese “scumbag”.
Take it easy brother. One day at a time, if you wish.
Life is short. Do not waste it on hatred based on stuff that happened 2500 years ago.
We will all be dead soon. We will all be food for worms. Sinhalese or Tamil. Does not matter. Worms do not discriminate.
Choose love not hate! While you are still alive.
Cheers!
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Palmsquirrell / December 7, 2013
The reason I bring up 2500 years is because there are a few posters on here who routinely state that Tamils should go back to TN , and the Sinhala Nationalists justify their attempts at hegemony on the premise that they are son of the soil while Tamils are invaders from TN.
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Ben Hurling / December 8, 2013
Real problem is extreme nationalists galore on both sides. Arguing over dumb ideas such as who came to SL first freakin’ 2500 years ago. Need of the our is to bring extremists on both sides firmly under control. Cheers!
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Native Vedda / December 8, 2013
Ben Hurling ………. Extremists on both sides complement each other. …….
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I am no muslim / December 8, 2013
Vedda says that every minute yet you keep quiet why
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M.Sivananthan / December 11, 2013
President Mahinda or his party never..never ask Tamils to go back. He was the first leader to speak in Tamil in the UN. But it is convenient for the LTTE criminals to make a political capital from the racist Sinhalese!
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Girigoris / December 6, 2013
Anthropology defines only 5 Races in the World (use your favorite search engine). The Caucasoids, Negroids, Mongoloids, the Dravidic, and the Austronesians. Any other species is merely a combination of the above 5 main groupings.
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M.Sivananthan / December 8, 2013
Idiot! No trace of any SINHALA in Bengal or Gujarat but traces of Sinhala are available in Malayalam.
Learn malayalam and Sinhala before you bark.
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Lanka Liar / December 8, 2013
Everybody please see the level of education of this fool. That is why Doglas recruited him as the clown general.
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M.Sivananthan / December 11, 2013
Level of education.. hahaha What is your level of education?
You wanted a grade seven drop out smuggler-criminal Prabhakaran as your leader.
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Piraña / December 6, 2013
Bo is a tree which has no brain. In short Tamils are sons of the soils
Who belonged to Eelam long before there was any smell of any Aryan Sinhala
shit. You vandals , illegal immigrants from Bagal or wherever
you come from can piss off there.
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Ben Hurling / December 6, 2013
“During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realized. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”
– Nelson Mandela-
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Senguttuvan / December 6, 2013
One of the finest species of the human race has gone to join his maker. To use the eloquence of President Obama “he now belongs to the ages” There can be few tributes more poignant than that to a man who rightly claimed Gandhi’s principles of non-violent political action was born in South African soil.
More relevantly to us, what lessons does Mandela have for us in Sri Lanka at this point of time in our history? I can think of two of
the great man’s thoughts – “Reconciliation and not revenge” something in which he succeeded so handsomely and we seem to have failed.
The other is “decisions should be made by love and not hate”.
Senguttuvan
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Senguttuvan ………… “Reconciliation and not revenge” something in which he succeeded so handsomely and we seem to have failed.” …………. I have consistently argued for a Truth and Reconciliation which is the only way forward because it is a great way of forgiving your enemies while bringing out the truth. ………. As you know those who didn’t want the truth to be out berated me and like minded people, mostly by those who had everything to hide. …….. This is an ideal opportunity to revisit this “Old Wise Man’s” …….. legacy. …Hope many will…….
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Senguttuvan: it should reads: This is an ideal opportunity to revisit this “Wise Old Man’s” …….. legacy. …Hope many will…….
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Senguttuvan / December 6, 2013
Editor – CT
I wish to echo the request of many other commentators. Your current format for “replies” appears to have no room for paras.
Please rectify asap. Tku.
Senguttuvan
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Banda / December 8, 2013
Senguttuvan, Mandela, after nearly thirty years in jail (1964-1990) forgave his jailors and those who would have preferred to see him hung. Obama committed to closing Guantanamo, an election pledge, the prisoners still self starve in desperation as their lives rot away, without hope. And you praise President Obama for the eloquence. Not appropriate for the occasion.
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Senguttuvan / December 9, 2013
Dear Banda,
You and I differ in the matter of those held in Guantanamo Bay.
I travel often in planes and fear any one of them can get blown
away by those who want to conquer the world by religious fanaticsm. Some of these who are capable and committed to such crimes are held in the Bay. The difficulty is to separate the clearly dangerous from the innocent and uncommitted from the communities they come from.
Madiba says those who make a profession of getting people to hate others, in our context clearly for political gain, can also get their same flock to love “the other” Do you agree with me our hate-gangs in the political – and religious – spectrum who call upon their to hate “the other” should, at least now, be asked to like them – if not learn to love them. Mandela visiting the widow of that super racist Henrik Verwoerd – after 27 years in abject misery – to signal he is prepared to forgive and forget. There is divinity in this thought of one who was only 3 decades ago was called “a terrorist” Will our people ever cross the rubicon?
Senguttuvan
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whywhy / December 11, 2013
Senguttuvan,the point Banda raises here is not about
how he or you feel about running Guantanamo but about
an election pledge to closing it, so far not being
carried out.Obama himself felt it not right and that’s
why he made a pledge.People are now travelling with
confidence and your excuse on behalf of Obama is not
the right answer I suppose.You are looking at the
issue as always,from extreme Hindu point of view
against Muslims just because they are Muslims.The point
here is Obama and all those who voted for him,voted
on his pledges.
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Senguttuvan / December 6, 2013
Dear Native V,
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa was born
in a honest and sincere nation-wide wish for reconciliation. Due to the remarkable leadership of men like Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Walter Sisulu and others S. Africa reconciled. Look at what F. de Klerk had to say today “Mandela was a great man. The legacy he left for all of us in S. Africa is reconciliation and to go forward” The very man who was forced to call our own LLRC (it is ironic the word “truth” was left out) packed the Commission with his “yes” men and then, after it was presented, hid it for a long time. He refused to implement the recommendations of his own cringing Commission. It is only after international pressure, he reluctantly agrees to implement some of them. If the Public Services, Police, Judicial Services, Election, AGs Commissions etc are paralysed where is accountable and just governance in the country? Therefore, the comparison between the S. African T&RC and our own LLRC is a joke. We are now a Mafia society – run by the clan. See the amount of drug-traffickers, murderers and extortionists prominently in the Rajapakse band-wagon. It shall not be long before you and I are asked to surrender unconditionally to Omerta. What was the free media already has.
Mendela went about in strengthening the many instruments of democracy and the rule of law in his country to create the Rainbow Society. We went the other way and are terrorising the minorities. Mandela left his plum office while he had decades more to go. His idea of his politics was not personal plunder
and crass nepotism. We have violated our own Constitution and have given our rulers unlimited “reign” Democracy lies buried in this country for years now. Will it ever be resurrected? That is the question.
Senguttuvan
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Senguttuvan ……….. Thanks.. Do I take it that there is no hope?
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Ben Hurling / December 7, 2013
Senguttuvan,
I hate to be a pessimist about the future of my country. Yet, I have to agree with you.
Worst part is not that Rajapassa has taken personal plunder and crass nepotism to an alltime high. It is that all opposition parties are also plagued by this terrible problem as well.
Sri Lanka is truly cursed.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / December 7, 2013
Ben Hurling ………..”Sri Lanka is truly cursed.”….. Don’t blame Kuveni, it was just a figment of Mahanama’s immagination. …… There has never been a curse. …………… It is about how does state treat its people. ………. Its about how state has been constructed. ………. Its about the purpose of state….. Its about the philosophy of state… We can go on ………. You should try and write an alternative manifesto and constitution which should enshrine the ideals of unity in diversity. Give it a try.
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M.Sivananthan / December 11, 2013
Minority whites never opposed the T&RC and participated in the process and contributed but what happened in Sri lanka? TNA and their LTTE criminal gangs refused to participate in the LLRC. They simply said “LLRC” is an eye-wash!
So, dont try to mock here! Mahinda is still ready to welcome TNA to talk jointly and solve the problems. Samabnthan gang want to talk the Tamil problem to British and not to Rajapakse. Then what the hell you expect from the government?
Tamils want a mafia society under the VVT smugglers.
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WINSTON DEVALLIERE / December 6, 2013
I seem to remember that the white racist government did not deny its crimes. A far cry from that obtaining in Sri Lanka.
I think acknowledging the truth need to be the first step towards any genuine effort at reconciliation. Barefaced lying can hardly underpin any effort at sincere reconciliation. Only the truth can heal the wounds.
Had I raped or killed your wife it would first be required that I admit my crime and seek your forgiveness, and provided that forgiveness is forthcoming, I can then seek reconciliation with you.
This prerequisite is missing in Sri Lanka.The wounds continue bleeding. The denials make stronger the demand for truth. Simply not the climate in which even Mandela would have held out his hand of forgiveness.You need two to tango, you need humility, you need truth.
I like what Ben has to say, idealistic and very nice.Exactly my own inner sentiments.
But do we have the ingredients to produce that heady cocktail of truth, forgiveness and reconciliation. I’m realistic enough to believe that the opposite of this is what we have in Sri Lanka.
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Tamil from the north / December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela was a great warrior who died for his people whom he loved immensely.
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srilal / December 6, 2013
“who died for his people whom he loved immensely. “
he did not die for his people , he was there for everybody !
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Tamil from the north / December 8, 2013
Brilliant Srilal, you are indeed a genius. You had to stick your filthy nose in a simple comment I made about Great Mandela? Go and get a life.
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essie / December 6, 2013
Mandela’s greatest achievement was not the struggle for freedom. He achieved it in spite of the cruelties, the bitterness and the anger on both sides, because the so-called ‘free world’ isolated South Africa. His greatest achievement was ‘reconciliation’-where the majority stretched out their hands to the minorities. We tend to forget that.
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Shantha / December 6, 2013
Well said, essie!
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AVB / December 6, 2013
Mandela was mostly respected for what he did after defeating the apartheid. He stopped the probable bloodshed, true and most humane reconciliation process and affectionate effort to build the harmony between majority victors and minority defeaters in the struggle..
There are incidents where both offenders and victims cried together in Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
After Gandhi, Mandela should be the most respected human being in the recent times.
Anura
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Candidly / December 6, 2013
Two statements from Nelson Mandela that are worth reflecting on:
“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom [after being released from prison], I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
“You will achieve more in this world through acts of mercy than you will through acts of retribution.”
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srilal / December 6, 2013
indeed ,this statement is an eye opener for everyone !
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Burning_Issue / December 9, 2013
But it did not work on MR though!
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truth / December 6, 2013
If you think that Tamils are invaders, then Sinhalese are “out castes” from Bengal who were banished from there!!! And time and again they have shown their true colours and proved that theory is right!!
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PalmSquirrell / December 6, 2013
Greatest world personality that ever lived. –M. Ghandi pales in comparison to the incomparable Mandela.
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srilal / December 6, 2013
yes you are right , M.Gandhi is said to have a skeleton in the cupboard !
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Javi / December 6, 2013
“|”pales in comparison.”|” looking for god among the dead??
(@_@)
◕ ¸ ◕
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Palmsquirrell / December 6, 2013
Have no idea what your post means.
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Javi / December 7, 2013
Past and Future is imagination of the mind of fear.☻|☻
Peace is the state where you no longer have to act courageously because there’s no need. It’s the calm, the rest, the inner tranquility where you don’t just kill the resistance; you realize it doesn’t even exist.
The only occasion we were governed and education imparted was through missionary schools and Calcutta.☻|☻ _________________
We need a system like Bahrain where the minority governs the uncivilised, circumcised majority.◕‿◕ ◕‿◕
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Uthungan / December 6, 2013
The Sharpville massacres, Sweto uprising,the killing of Steve Biko all come to mind on hearing about the passing away of a great leader like Nelson Mandela affectionately referred to Madiba who symbolized the relentless struggle the apartheid regime in SA.
He was imprisoned for over 27years in apartheid South Africa’s Robben Island prison following a kangaroo court show trial.
The conscience of the world was awoken and following a spate of trade sanctions and boycotts in trade or sport South Africa became an objectionable emblem of disgust the world over.
The result was the dismantling of a vicious s system of racial segregation and pass laws based on the colour of skin between the Africaner settlers and the indigenous people who were the rightful inhabitants in the south of the African continent.
Any one who has read Madiba’s “Long walk to Freedom” would know the sacrifices he made for the peaceful liberation of the people of his people to become a Rainbow Nation uniting it’s different cultures and languages and making it a respectable middle income country.
R.I.P.MADIBA.
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Voice of Justice / December 6, 2013
We don’t have a “Father of the Nation”
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Voice of Justice ………. How about MR father of one nation?
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Palmsquirrell / December 6, 2013
Mahinda is certainly trying to build himself as the father of Sri Lanka, what with all the public infrastructure named after him and the posters with his face on it.
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MrRetort / December 7, 2013
With BBS.?
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truth / December 6, 2013
We have tons of “ROBBERS” of the nation!! Ha Ha!!
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Kakille / December 6, 2013
Compair Mandela with our so called ‘peoples leaders’
Mandela practiced what Buddha taught. Compair him with our three musketeers (Mahinda Rajapakse, Ranil Wickramasinghe and Somawansa) who talk somethig in public and practice completely the opposite.
Mandela had love care and compassion to his fellow citizens. Our three musketeers only talk these qualities in public and practice complelely the opposite
Mandela refused to cling to power and when right time comes he voluntarily retired from politics. Take Ranil. Lost almost all elections but refused to step down. Take Somawansa an old feeble figure refuse to make way to a young dynamic leader. Take Rajapakse, a Tirany, refused to step down and went on to amend the constituion for his private benifits and for a third term.
Mandela respect the fundamental freedom and human rights including right to life. Whereas our three musketeers talk about these in public but do not hesitate to take away the life of others who they consider would expose their true character and hence a threat to their well being. Ranil Wickramasinghe boasts that he refused to ratify the Rome Treaty that brought in to charge in the International Criminal Court, those who commit criminal offences against their own countrymen and Rajapakse too ignore the treaty that provides him no immunity like the Consitution of Sri Lanka that affords him total immunity from both criminal and civil prosecution.
Mandela refused to cheat and deceive his fellow citizens. Our three practice complete the opposite, they embazelle public funds in billions and abuse public property to prosper their private life at will.
Mandela learned and practice simple contended life with commitment to guard what his sences demands, our three practice complelely opposite.
Mandela refused to lead life that would unmatched to the life of fellow citizens, he never waste public fund for his benifits. Once invited to attend a meeting with the Eurorean Union, he refused to accompany his spouse with him saying that thoughts are with the downtrodden people who lead a very hard life. See our three and Rajapakse in particular. He knows that poor struggling to meet their ends but take a charter flight filled with 100s of his henchmen with him at the cost of the tax payer.
Mandela is a magnanimous character and he practiced a life full of Metta to other beings, our three simply do not hesitate to get rid of any body who they consider a threat to thier life filled with utter faslehood.
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EW Golding / December 6, 2013
It was moral authority and great dignity that made it possible for Madiba to tie the Rainbow Nation together. His dreams are still from fully realised, but what he has put together no man will be able to pull asunder. Such men are rare – as we poor Lankans know, very rare.
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Truth / December 6, 2013
The greatest tribute Sri Lanka can pay to this illustrious leader is to accept the offer made by President Zuma to help Sri Lanka in appointing a Truth & Reconciliation Commission, to implement recommendations of LLRC regarding alleged Human Rights violations during the last stage of the war.
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Sudu Banda / December 6, 2013
As Sumanthiran pointed out DAY BEFORE Y DAY clearly, the greatest would be I think, our leader could become more honest with his promises made to India after the war is over. Just putting off them today to tomorrow cant bring proper reconciliation in the country.
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Saro / December 6, 2013
You are great because you fought against injustice and enslavement of your people. You fought and won the freedom of your people. Your unjust opponents were supported by powerful nations such as US and Britain but your honesty and sacrifice humbled them to the extent of taking photograph to impress their and improve their standing in the world arena. At last you conquered your mighty opponents with your words of wisdom and liberated your people resulting in freedom and equality of all countrymen. We hope other countries such as Sri Lanka whose leaders claim superiority of their ethnicity wake up treating all just the same.
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Uthungan / December 7, 2013
Saro
What you say is true, during Mandela’s struggle against the apartheid regime both US and UK while condemning the racist aspect in an undertone permitted the undermining of trade sanctions with a wink and nod during the years when Regan and Margret Thatcher headed the administration in their respective countries.
In fact Maggie tried to obstruct the struggle against apartheid by attempting to create divisions by supporting the Inkhata movement by the Zulus which was aligned to the PAN African National Congress.
During the that time JRJ held the reins of power in SL and he permitted the Lankan cricket team to play matches in SA in defiance of the sport boycott by the rest of the world.
Margret Thatcher even went to the extent of describing Nelson Mandela’s ANC as a terrorist organization.
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Sudu Banda / December 6, 2013
If srilanka produced a leader near to Mandela, we could long have solved the problems in terms of tamil issue.
Mandela is the great human being that the world produced in our era.
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Ricky Breeze / December 6, 2013
He was great because he did not take revenge. His white captives and their families became his closest confidants in his life even when he became President. He practiced what he preached once he became the most powerful person in South Africa. There is no comparison as yet. He is a example to us all and politicians. May he R.I.P.
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Ajith / December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela is a great world leader. His dedication is not comparable.
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
Ajith
Why couldn’t the Tamils produce a great, humane, wise ….. leader such stature as Mandela? …………………………………………….
……..Why couldn’t the Sinhalese produce a great, humane, wise ….. leader with such stature as Mandela?
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Ajith / December 6, 2013
Native,
Buddhist Fundamentalism is the key barrier.
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Native Vedda / December 7, 2013
Ajith ………. Your people played into their hands. ….. Think about it.
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Palmsquirrell / December 7, 2013
Not Tamil or Sinhala but racially from the same SubCon stock is Ambedkar, who converted to Buddhism and who is the person who should really be compared to Mandela, instead of Ghandi.
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Saro / December 7, 2013
You can find both the Tamil liberation fighter Tamils never had and the Sinhalese Sri Lankan leader voters never voted for in one Nelson Mandela. As a liberation fighter he united the blacks without killing leaders of other groups and alienating those who joined the then regime for ministerial posts or perks and as the president made peace with those who fought and made all the citizens equal. In contrast Sri Lankan leaders enslave the ethnic minorities in order to keep the whole population in poverty and debt.
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J.Muthu / December 6, 2013
Mahinda Rajapakse:- Nelson mandela’s life and legacy as the champion of reconciliation will always remembered by srilankans.
Leave it you CT and your readers.
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Native Vedda / December 6, 2013
J.Muthu:……….. Mandela connected with people across all colours and tribes. ….. Whites were fighting for a united South African cause, not just for blacks but for all of its people. ………… I can see the stupidity of VP and MR. …… Do you also see what I see?
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Mohamed Marzook / December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela was a ‘traitor’ before the eyes of those who opposed the freedom struggle he led for his people but later hailed as a ‘hero’ when he won that struggle. Leaders with honesty of vision for their people face various obstacles in their mission but if they are steadfast in their commitment they satisfaction they gain is marvellous.
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Javi / December 7, 2013
a ‘traitor’ before the freedom he led but later hailed as a ‘hero’(@_@)
_____________________________________________________________
Thanks to education imparted through missionary schools. o-o ◕‿◕
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Bensen Burner / December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela was the greatest of all modern leaders. He was in prison for 27 years but was not prepared to capitulate or compromise his position in the struggle against Apartheid even when offered concessions midway for personal advantage. Upon the defeat of apartheid, he was prepared to forgive the oppressors of his people but not forget their oppression. Let us hope that South Africa will in the future select good leaders and go from strength to strength. May God bless him. Bensen
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Javi / December 6, 2013
No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.
(^‿◕)naked fakir- Mahatma Gandhi
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Maveeran / December 6, 2013
Rest in Peace Mr Mandela.
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Kiri Yakka / December 6, 2013
We are un-evolved bunch of racist morons – its part of our culture. Both Tamils and Sinhalese are no different. Their crime rates compete with each other. Its time to bury the hatched – because we have now chopped each others balls off and the word knows about it.
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Native Vedda / December 7, 2013
Kiri Yakka…….. “because we have now chopped each others balls off and the word knows about it.”………….. My bal,, are safe because my partner is the custodian of both. ……… There is a difference between fathers mourning about their lost children and mother’s wailing. …..Had we listened to the mothers who wail and silently suffer we would have made better choices. Therefore culture, heritage and sanity should be the preserve of women. … Men clang their balls and do silly things, humanity would be better of without them. …. Hence the need to keep them in a safe place, who would be the better safe keeper than your partner.
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Men clang / December 7, 2013
NV
That would make women very very unhappy and they will start to tear, their hair poor things no?
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Native Vedda / December 7, 2013
Men clang ………… Don’t the women demand total control over our bal..? Let them have it.
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M.Sivananthan / December 8, 2013
Now the government informed to “count” the missing, kidnapped and killed in the war with written inquiries.
But the LTTE supporters, mainly the criminal Catholic Church, are refusing the process of counting. Why? if the actual numbers come out, the LTTE propaganda will be in garbage.
Even in some quarters of LTTE, they cry the government cannot do it correctly.
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Native Vedda / December 8, 2013
M.Sivananthan ………. Didn’t your Army chief say there was no civilian death only about six month ago? Now you seem to be enthusiastic about counting………… Don’t the army men know how to count? ………. I don’t the blame the army. This the best the education system could do. …….
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Lanka Liar / December 8, 2013
Mokkan Sivananthan cant answer this type of question. You have explain word by word.Mokkan is a specialist cleaner. You know what he cleans.
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M.Sivananthan / December 10, 2013
Ade madaya! You dont know how the counting will be done. Cleaning is a good thing instead of barking for LTTE smugglers!
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M.Sivananthan / December 10, 2013
But Tamils voted Sarath Fonseka! Can you explain? —-You can ask the LTTE appointed MP S.Kanaratnam to know how the Tamil civilians were killed by LTTE.
You have to tell why the Tamil morons crying against “counting”. Further the counting process is through Grama Sevakas and not by army!
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radish.S / December 6, 2013
“It is my responsibility to heal the wounds of the past”
Nelson Mandela (Madiba) after 27 years in prison and on assuming duties as the first democratically elected Black President of South Africa.
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John / December 6, 2013
Tory mates poster “Hang Nelson Mandela” says volumes about David Cameron’s & likes hypocrisy
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