Respect for basic rights and liberties has declined in Sri Lanka in the four years since the government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This week marks the fourth anniversary of the brutal civil war’s end.
Since the end of the 26-year-long civil war, the Sri Lankan government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has resisted taking meaningful steps to investigate and prosecute alleged war crimes by government forces and the LTTE, end the crackdown against the independent media and human rights activists, and stop ongoing abuses against suspected LTTE supporters. Government pledges to address the concerns of the ethnic Tamil population have gone unfulfilled.
“Four years after Sri Lanka’s horrific civil war ended, many Sri Lankans await justice for the victims of abuses, news of the ‘disappeared,’ and respect for their basic rights,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Instead, the Rajapaksa government has rejected investigations, clamped down harder on the media, and persisted in wartime abuses such as torture.”
Rajapaksa’s assurances to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to investigate allegations of war crimes by all sides remain unmet, Human Rights Watch said. The government simply disregarded the Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts report, which found that up to 40,000 civilians had died in the final months of the fighting, many from indiscriminate government shelling. The government has similarly not implemented most of the accountability-related recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which was called for by the UN Human Rights Council at its March 2012 and March 2013 sessions.
Since 2009 the government has increasingly restricted fundamental liberties, imperiling Sri Lanka’s democratic system, Human Rights Watch said. Government officials have threatened, and unknown assailants have attacked, members of the media, civil society, and the political opposition. Activists who advocated for the 2012 Human Rights Council resolution were publicly denounced and threatened by officials. The Rajapaksa government orchestrated parliament’s impeachment of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake in December 2012 after she had ruled against the government in a major case.
Publications − including electronic media − that are critical of the government have been subject to government censorship, and some have been forced to close down. The leading Tamil opposition newspaper, Uthayan, has faced repeated physical attacks against its journalists and property.
Tamils with alleged links to the LTTE remain targets of arbitrary arrest and detention, and are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. Sri Lankan security forces have used rape and other forms of sexual violence against alleged LTTE supporters, as documented by Human Rights Watch in a February report. On the strength of the evidence presented by Human Rights Watch and other organizations, since 2012 several courts in the United Kingdom suspended the deportation of Tamils considered to fall within this risk category.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) continues to be used to detain individuals for long periods without charge or trial. In May, the authorities detained Muslim opposition politician Azad Salley under the PTA for warning about the dangers of fanning ethnic hatred. Following his release after a couple of days, the powerful secretary of defense, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, said publicly that Salley “could never be another Prabhakaran.”
“The Rajapaksa government seems to be hoping that broad-based repression will dampen the exercise of fundamental freedoms,” Adams said. “But Sri Lankan activists and journalists who showed incredible resilience during wartime to bring forth the truth, will undoubtedly find a way to do so when the country is at peace.”
While there has been considerable economic development in Sri Lanka’s war-torn north, much hardship remains for the predominantly Tamil population. Many families seek to learn the fate of loved ones, some of whom are still detained as LTTE suspects without charge or trial. Government security restrictions and an intrusive military presence in the north have hindered freedom of movement among the local population. Long-awaited provincial elections in the north have yet to take place; the government has announced that they will take place in September while at the same time talking publicly about the need to get rid of the 13th amendment to the constitution which devolves power from the center to the provincial governments.
Human Rights Watch urged governments to demonstrate their concerns for Sri Lanka’s deteriorating human rights situation at the United Nations and other international venues. This includes continuing to press for an independent international investigation into wartime abuses, speaking out against ongoing abuses, and providing support for Sri Lankan civil society.
“History has shown time and again, most recently with the conviction of Guatemala’s former president, that hiding the truth is an impossible exercise,” Adams said. “Concerned governments should not let the poor human rights environment in Sri Lanka deter them from promoting accountability and greater rights protections.”
Human Rights Watch
manisekaran / May 20, 2013
How long you keep talking rather initiating action? All UN, Asian human rights watch seems to be folly for MR and his government.
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Ajith Kumara / May 21, 2013
You idiot
As your racist leaders keep hiring this type of body counting buffoons (Moon, Kallum Mc., Darusman, Petrie, KN, JJ to name few) who make their living on foolishness and ignorance of yours who have no idea of how the institutions behave, constitutions of legitimate regimes and actions on their collective decisions. As the case of LTTE you have been victimised to your own propaganda which keep criticizing the GOSL with storm of short term lies and conspiracies while desperately trying to hide the LTTE atrocities and the fact of Tamil separatism based on Vaduccodei (86) pact which initiated Tamil terrorism that continued for 33 years till 2009 in SL.
You should realize that any fingering in internal matters of SL in the name of so called international independent investigations is not at all possible and not tolerated by the people in any sovereign state either. So the only other option you have is integrating with the majority leaving your foolish leaders behind.
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manisekaran / May 21, 2013
I consider you as a frog which thinks “it is the well that is the world”. Srilanka or India or any country regimes are legitimate as long as people endorses it, I think you dont know what is even the meaning of soveriegn. I am not surprised at soemone who is brought-up in such a hatred land to have understood the meaning of it. Nations are for people who endorse it and soveriegnity is the safegaurd of that very nation when people endorse it. People are not for nations, it nation integrated or disintegrated for people.
“You should realize that any fingering in internal matters of SL in the name of so called international independent investigations is not at all possible and not tolerated by the people in any sovereign state either.” – very stupid sentences. if so UN need not be present in world,
Final point, unless you proove that there were no war crimes, you are not legitimate to speak that.
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manisekaran / May 21, 2013
to be read as ” it is nations taht are integrated or disintegrated for people” instead “it nation integrated or disintegrated for people”
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Peter Casie Chetty / May 21, 2013
Frog in the well? Bloody hell look who is talking. I have seen the difference between what the Tamil people faced when the VTT butcher and his men were around. At least they can now get on a boat to Australia or Canada. What liberty did they have then even to travel to Colombo or even buy a few torch batteries? They have new houses and roofs over their heads damn it. Go and see what is happening. As long as you wave your flags and scream your slogans in the west you can go on and on dreaming about Eelaam. In reality not even you mercenaries in the UN can make you foremost in their minds. Now the focus is shifted onto the oil wells of the middle east and the flags and the terrorism there. Al Kaidha was always the focal point of the West. The Tamils are chicken feed and will soon be in a historical dustbin.
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Manisekaran Thangavelu / May 21, 2013
I see your frustration and understood. Scolded me enough, go to sleep, no one is assured of what tomorrow will be. So dont be over confident in life like VP
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Manisekaran Thangavelu / May 21, 2013
Where my post mentioned demanding eelam. That is the matter for Tamils in SL to decide, I mentioned acting on war crimes.
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SAROJINI / May 26, 2013
This man is in denial . Go see for yorself the progress in SL . stop having hallucinations and get a life !.
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Ajith Kumara / May 22, 2013
You proved your foolishness
You think SL’s are frogs or at least Buddhists are fools while you actually live like frogs in a well made out of your own false propaganda. Tamils lived in a VP made land of hatred for 33 years and now they are free. SL is also a part of the UN and UN is not a separate entity but a collection of independent nations.
You poor idiot do not even know what the law is. You brought the false accusations and allegations. So you prove it in a legitimate court.
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manisekaran / May 22, 2013
I talked about the war crimes of SL and not defended anywhere LTTE. So, you emotional idiot, if GOSL had not done war crimes, why not subject to UN independent investigation and come clean? Is n’t best step for reconciliation and to prove the world you are right? And moreover is n’t that UN body human rights initiated the issue against GOSL?
What law you are talking about gentleman?
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Ajith Kumara / May 23, 2013
You and the LTTE has the same sources. LTTE did war crimes and got self-destroyed in their own foolish and false propaganda you still foolishly hold as true. I repeat, the UN is not an independent body to decide on behalf of any country. UN, London, Paris and New York is not the world either and real world knows that we are right. UNHRC actions are going on and we can face and win any of those as an independent country and will not allow any outsider to control it.
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manisekaran / May 24, 2013
nodrog,
join BBS they provide better entertainment for you. Sorry I am not that sort of person.
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Suq Madique / May 22, 2013
The only frogs are the minorities who refuse to assimilate with the majority and still live the lies instilled in them for the past 30 years. You have been brainwashed and cannot think for yourself other than what was drilled into your numb skulls. Time to look at the bigger picture and move on instead of lagging behind and then complaining you are not being treated well.
Do you even know the UN is not an independent body and controlled by the US?
As for the war crimes allegations…thats all they will be ever be unless and until you can substantiate your accusations with credible proof and not the the kind being dished out like manure by the diaspora and endorsed by the greedy NGOs.
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manisekaran / May 22, 2013
I pick the words embedded within your statement,”the minorities who refuse to assimilate with the majority ” did you asses why minorities refused to assimilate? Did you compare similar problem that happened in India was wisely resolved in 1965?
“As for the war crimes allegations…thats all they will be ever be unless and until you can substantiate your accusations with credible proof and not the the kind being dished out like manure by the diaspora and endorsed by the greedy NGOs.” _ this is GOSL current government false propaganda to misguide you people, between why for just 20 people of MR family, whole srilankan choose to be sinful? I know not all of srilankan to be blamed but then equally it is people responsibility to punish the perpetrator and come clean, so it is fairness to allow independent investigation and punish the guilty. But you like it or not, that will surely happen one day.
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Suq Madique / May 22, 2013
They refuse to assimilate because they are waiting for the promised eelam where they supposedly can live as kings and be masters of their own destinies…..a day-dream soon to be a nightmare, sadly for them.
As for govt propaganda, well most SL’s do not endorse the policies of the MR clan but they also don’t appreciate the propaganda spread by the diaspora and other tamil groups because it reflects on the nation as a whole. See for yourself…. the comments have not been selective but branded us in general as a country of racists savages.
If/when MR and family are found guilty they will pay for their crimes sooner or later but till then they will remain as allegations. Even the C4 videos could prove nothing conclusive against the govt other than expose their desperation by doctoring the pictures and civilian statements to make the Army look guilty.
As for an independent investigation tell me which country will allow it?? Anyway, considering the many countries who have already condemned us as guilty do you seriously think we will get a fair trial?
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manisekaran / May 22, 2013
If they wanted separate country , they would have expressed before even 1948 where the chances were more bright. did people ask during independence of srilanka like Pakistan from India? So your statement does not hold water, it is Sinhalese based government instead of making progressive country, made sinhala only and all non-sense which caused problem unlike India which realized and made necessary amendment and solved all political problems with different ethnicity.
In Investigation, it is not that only people from other country is involved, it also includes certain persons from Srilanka as well alongside of people from other nations. – Truth will come out. Independent does not mean excluding srilankan personnel. It is independent of state aided investigation.
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manisekaran / May 22, 2013
If they wanted separate country , they would have expressed before even 1948 when the chances were more bright. did people ask during independence of srilanka like Pakistan from India? So your statement does not hold water, it is Sinhalese based government instead of making progressive country, made sinhala only and all non-sense which caused problem unlike India which realized and made necessary amendment and solved all political problems with different ethnicity.
In Investigation, it is not that only people from other country is involved, it also includes certain persons from Srilanka as well alongside of people from other nations. – Truth will come out. Independent does not mean excluding srilankan personnel. It is independent of state aided investigation.
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Nodrog / May 23, 2013
Mani…you bore me!
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sbarrkum / May 25, 2013
Suq Madique,
Nice name/pseudonym.
Is your real name sundara-lingam.
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Suq Madique / May 26, 2013
sbarkum…repeat my name slowly…one syllable at a time!
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manisekaran / May 20, 2013
I will see atleast 10 comments calling you LTTE rump or agent? Adams, what is the bet?
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Ajith Kumara / May 21, 2013
I made the first.
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manisekaran / May 21, 2013
You will make entire world as such if one stands to speak wrong of srilankan government. Between how would you call soniaji who termed atrocitres on Tamil by srilankan as unacceptable to human standards?
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Ajith Kumara / May 22, 2013
Dear poor poor Manisekaran
Soniagi’s husband and MIL sponsored terrorism in SL and paid the price for their biggest mistake bringing a historical shame and harm even to India. GOSL (people and defense forces) saved 20 million of SL Tamils from LTTE atrocities and now they live in peace and harmony all around the country.
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manisekaran / May 22, 2013
So you freed them after killing possible amount of civilians and barbed them in wires? Barbing them inside wire and under the military shoes are called “living in peace”. You should get Nobel prize for this doctrine of peace, why don’t you propose this new doctrine of peace to world?
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Ajith Kumara / May 23, 2013
Civilians were killed by the LTTE who hid behind them barbing them inside wire at gunpoint and this way is still practiced in many countries but no more in SL. Military is an essential part of a Government and your attempt is nothing but removing the military from the North to facilitate a possible rebirth of the LTTE/ Tamil separatism which was eradicated exactly 4 years back. Military solutions are also political solutions and do not estimate SL as such a stupid nation to be trapped in this type of cheap tactics.
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manisekaran / May 23, 2013
So in order to curb the separatism you will place entire northern under military for ever; is that so? I understand your level of understanding of governance for people. I dont want to argue with people of this sort.
(last reply)
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Nodrog / May 22, 2013
…and a 100 more comments from the LTTE cheering squad calling you savior of tamils!!
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“LTTE cheering squad calling you savior of tamils”
We very much enjoy intellectual heavyweights such as yourself labelling Tamils speaking against the govt as LTTE supporters as if it is impossible to be against both Percy and Prabha. Such a position is possible if one’s IQ can stretch above double figures therefore discounting the Bodu Sena and the Mahinda faithful.
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Nodrog / May 26, 2013
ramanan…what would you know about my IQ. I’m surprised you manage to spell that right…good for you! You have been brainwashed for decades so nothing more or better can be expected from you. Anyway, keep on rebutting if it makes you happy and dreaming about your eelam because thats the only place it will ever exist in.
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Nodrog / May 26, 2013
ramana….you spelled IQ correctly. Good for you!
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Ben Hurling / May 20, 2013
Brad Adams,
Appreciate your concern for us.
But, you got it wrong. AGAIN!
There was no Progress for 30 years. Even before 2009.
There was an Erosion Of Rights, Absence Of Accountability etc.
PS: Where have you been all this time? We were getting bombed, maimed, killed, tortured all over our tiny Island. Funds came from where your HQs are in the West. Have you done anything to haul in LTTE war criminals at large in the West? If so, how many have you lined up so far? Might help improve your credibility over here in Sri Lanka.
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manisekaran / May 20, 2013
Wrong or you dont know facts. Many of them banned LTTE and stopped funding especially after 2001. Otherwise you would have not defeated LTTE.
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J.muthu / May 20, 2013
” Otherwise you would have not defeated LTTE “.
You spot on, Now all supported this Sinhala budhist, hope they will regret. Sinhala budhist terrorist never going to change, they deceived the world long time. Hope it will all end soon…
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Scarlet / May 20, 2013
Sour grapes again?
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Native Vedda / May 21, 2013
J.muthu & manisekaran
Both of you are always wrong.
LTTE was defeated/destroyed/annihilated/expunged/exterminated ….
by VP.
Pottu Amman, Vaiko, Seeman, Nedumaran, Tamil Diaspora, accelerated the process.
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Manisekaran Thangavelu / May 21, 2013
Yes, I got your latent intent in the post.
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J.muthu / May 22, 2013
Native certain extent u r right, All Tamils blindly believed VP. Yes Vp was stubborn in his believes and his blind followers. He may be right because of Sinhala budhist evil barbarians. These stone age scavangers believed mahanama modaya who wear only kovanam, I don’t know the exact word of kovanam. This mahanama mongrel fucked up 21 st century Sinhala Buddhist brainless idiots. Look now whats happening this rajapakse illiterate clan still fool all Sinhala Buddhist. I knew as long india around we tamils cant have our own state. Who knows, one day indian crooks realize importance of tamil state, and indian security…
Any way wish your people freedom from thease all kallathonies…
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Native Vedda / May 22, 2013
J.muthu
Please tell me whether your Tamil Eelam is going to be the answer to all your real and perceived problems in this island.
Now look at the Sinhala Eelam, its been in existence for at least sixty five years and the Sinhala/Buddhist have demonstrated their inherent ability of creating more problems than solving the previous ones.
Your people are no different to your Sinhala/Buddhist brethren in genetics as well as in thinking or lack of it. Both are enviably self destructive.
You want me to believe you, that you are indeed going to find solutions to all your problems within your Tamil Eelam Ghetto.
Like your Sinhala/Buddhist brothers
your people are full of rage 24/7/52 for no apparent reasons.
You sit on your brain 24/7/52.
You always fail to see the bigger picture.
Individually each of you believe you are born to rule
You also believe each of you should be awarded at least one Noble prize for each category.
Even if the door is left open you still want to walk through the wall breaking it with bare head
You believe that without your presence in this world the sun won’t rise in the mornings
You are a self serving racists.
I can add another thousand and one reasons as to why both Tamils and Sinhala/Buddhists are not “Peace Loving People”
Tamils can’t live with them. Tamils can’t live without them.
Both stupid people are made for each other, a perfect match rarely seen outside the island.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / May 22, 2013
Native Vedda,
Truth told as blunt as it could ever be! Thanks.
I would identify the bigger problem in this country is the noise of minuscule minorities within all communities being amplified a million times over and made to appear the voice of the larger communities per-se. This is a fundamental problem. Goebels could not have lied more than his local counter parts and their external amplifiers. The truth is buried in a pile of garbage. Goebels could have learned a lesson or two from us!
There are problems here no doubt. There are achievements here too. But the problems are not on the scale being projected. There is also subtantive improvements in the lives of the Tamils in the north and east since the war. This is rarely recognised and commended. The difference is as stalk as between noon and midnight on a new moon day.
Unless we recognise facts ( truth) and separate them from the chaf of exaggeration and propaganda, this country will not be able to progress as it could and should. We are as a nation fighting non-existent and imagined ghosts as a matter of policy and that too in the name of peoples whose travails are not the ghosts that are being shadow boxed. Irrationality and madness have been enthroned and, objectivity and rationaliity thrown overboard in our politics. Ignorance is a virtue, objectivity a sin and truth a curse, in this blessed land of ours. This phenomenon is drowning the peoples of this beautiful isle.
Dr.RN
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Ben Hurling / May 22, 2013
J.muthu
Consider reading Native Vedda’s response every night. Before you go to bed 24/7/52.
PS: When you are done, please pass it to Donald Gnanakone. He might need to read it twice. In the morning and at night. 2×24/7/52.
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J.muthu / May 23, 2013
Dear veddah,
Thanks for response, such a very harsh indeed. What’s u r solution for this country. we tamils not open our mouth, or keep quiet and stay silent. After 4 yrs mad praba gone what else u think we have to do…go on man let clear my mind once and for al..do you think Sinhala budhist respect tamils and their way of life…answer me man u jungle boy or man or old ma…
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Native Vedda / May 23, 2013
J.muthu
Forget parochial nationalism.
Put faith in natural justice.
Aim for the democratisation of the whole island.
Restore democratic rights of all people, voting in elections is the beginning of the process, not the end.
Work with like minded people from other races and communities.
Share pain,pleasure and resources.
Take a deep breath and prepare for long haul.
I hope by now you would have realised that violence brings total destruction and not peace.
Wisdom is a rare commodity in this island therefore you should make it a point to meet my Elders to learn some universal truth.
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Dev / May 20, 2013
Is ignorance always bliss?
Read their reports prior to May 2009 -the very reports that the government was happy to cite and use !
Whose reports clearly and categorically proved the use of child soldiers??? Not the government but reports by AI/HRW…..
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Peter Casie Chetty / May 21, 2013
That is to keep the Emergency on… buddy. They have better control over mad dogs with the emergency on. The cops will carry guns and they will visit houses at anytime of the day or night. You will have to get used to not making love to you sister if you are in Jaffna because the cops could find you and then you will be in big trouble.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“You will have to get used to not making love to you sister if you are in Jaffna because the cops could find you and then you will be in big trouble”
Will you be providing any supporting evidence as to why you believe Dev is engaging in incest or are you one of those disturbed people who writes the first thing that comes into your head?
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Ajith / May 20, 2013
Ben Hurling,
Where have all these people gone even before 30 years? We were killed in the streets like dogs in the streets of Colombo, Upcountry and in all parts of Sri Lanka? Who funded those killings? Have you ever spoke anything to haul Sinhala and State thuggery on peak? Have you done anything to stop the bombing of Navali church with full of refuguees or have you done anything the massacre of KOkadicholai? have you done anything to stop white van abductions and murders? Have you done anything to stop killing of 40, 000 innocent civilians by your state?
It is the west helped you to eradicate LTTE? It didn’t ask to kill civilians or use chemical bombs against Tamils? The fact is Tamils were the target of Sinhala since independence? What right you have to call LTTE as a terrorist or criminals while the same atrocities carried out by your state before, during, and after LTTE?
If you are gentleman and you have conscience and tell me whether there was a state terrorism in Sri Lanka or not? Why you Sinhalese are afraid of international investigation to find out who killed those 40,000 Tamils?
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Kris / May 22, 2013
Your stat’s don’t show the peolpe kill by the LTTE. Hu also surely the LTTE was mainly responsible for using tamils as human sheilds Which resulted inthe deaths of civilians and it was the govrnment who saved them. West did not help eliminate the LTTE but was making the best effort to save the LTTE leadership, US or UK and the so called international community was trying to save a bunch of criminals at the cost of SriLankan people! Mate get a life, LTTE is history. There won’t be investigations or space for people like you…
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“but was making the best effort to save the LTTE leadership”
So let me get this right- you think the West i.e. USA was trying to save VP but was thwarted by SL army? This same USA went into nuclear-armed Pakistan and took out Bin Laden in a town near the Pak military academy yet was thwarted by a smaller army like SL with no nukes? And you’re expecting people to take you seriously?
Please oh wise one explain to us as well why your lord and master Mahinda is wasting your SL taxpayer money on american PR firms in 2013 when he was able to overcome the US govt so easily in 2009?
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dirty seththu / May 20, 2013
This brad scum never ceases to amaze me.
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JimSofty / May 20, 2013
Human right watch is another organization that lives on blood money.
You people are the reason why the world has this many problems.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 21, 2013
Jim, To these honorable men and women, we of the third world are nothing but Collateral Damage in the sinister schemes of attaining World Supremacy.
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Suq Madique / May 21, 2013
If there was no conflict they’d be out of a job. These shameless people will sing any tune for anyone provided the price is right.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“These shameless people will sing any tune for anyone provided the price is right”
Do you mean like the time Mahinda was making trips to human rights council in 1990 with reports from Amnesty International about atrocities committed by UNP govt on sinhala youths alleged to be affiliated with the JVP?
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 20, 2013
Brad Adams/HRW/UNHRC. One needs a magic wand to heal the destructive path of the LTTE Terrorists over the last 26 years and if added a few years of its infancy, a wound of about 30 years or more.So, You Gentlemen and the Ladies of these Organisations have to take into account the size of the Country,its population and the mayhem unleashed by the Terrorists and its supportive NGO’s,Governments and Heads of State when talking about healing and to seek normalcy.
Look around the World and its destruction caused by various Countries and Individuals and Heads of states’like the Palestinian/Israel issues which is over 50 years, the Afghan/Iraq ,the Burmese junta’s iron fist rule, the silent echoes of the north/south Koreas’the uneasy peace between the Japanese/Chinese over the Kuriel Islands in dispute , the recent Arab spring which destabilized many a rule.
Your Organisations have been very active with the CIA/KGB/MI6 and so on so forth is creating this insecure World over the years.So, please be sincere in treating the lankan issue and undo the mayhem caused to many a nation by your false notions via the United Nations and other Watch dogs whose teeth are sharp but the bite is mellow.
A human life is worth the same whether he she belongs to the high or low caste,whether black or white and immaterial they belong to the North, south, East or West.If one uses the same spoon to dispense the medicine to cure these wounds, the healing will be more speedy and only the scars will remain as a mark.
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Ajith / May 20, 2013
So, you agree that attack on Muslims by BBS is reasonable?
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 21, 2013
Ajith…’ Kohede yanna! malley pol!..?
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Nelun Gunasekera(nee Jayewardene) / May 20, 2013
How long did it take for a ‘coloured man to become President in the USA?Women have been given a place only in the last twenty years or so.The situ here is by no means perfect but it certainly is better than when the misguided groups in the community, some of our brothers and sisters were given ammunition by….. to use against their own people.We need to be grateful to the armed forces who lost so much who have made it possible for us to to have a peek at what peace could be. Now Peace must be maintained if we we are going to move forward and grow in all areas.Too many mistakes on all sides and by almost everyone has cost the country much.Specially the communities in the North and the East suffered the most.It is the effort of many not just one or two people as is made out that brought about the end to the war.After 30 years it will take much longer than 4 yrs to get back to normal-saying that we still haven’t learnt from tha mistakes we have made. Media while reporting the truth a more positive and encouraging attitude is necessary from you.We are a multi- religious and multi cultural society.We are capable of doing ‘the right thing’ in ALL AREAS.HELP EACH OTHER WHEREVER WE CAN.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“We are a multi- religious and multi cultural society”
Yes but where buddhism has the foremost place and where extremist monks of the BBS can enjoy the patronage of the ruling family to vent their hatred of religious minorities
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punchinilame / May 21, 2013
Almost all comments find fault with Adams activity which he is duty
bound to Report on despite whatever he/NGO did do or did not do
in the past. The SL Govt. must bear the blame as it has been in a
denial-mode for all/any accusations, even with so much of alleged evidence in circulation.
Why does not Govt. ask the original evidence used by Ch.4 be entrusted
with a mutually accepted party for verification, instead of asking it
for themselves? Even the LLRC heard this part of the evidence only “in Camera” – for some good reason.
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Lester / May 21, 2013
What progress? 70,000 people have been killed in 2 years by Sunni terrorists in Syria and these Western human “rights” organizations have said NOTHING. Does anyone remember the famous Channel 4 execution video? Here is the Sunni Al Qaeda version. 11 men being executed point blank:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kTWFk4wa9HA
Now where is the outrage from those jokers Navi Pillay and Brad Adams?
Leave Sri Lanka alone. It can take care of its own business.
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Rajo / May 21, 2013
Lester! look after your own BB if you have any?
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manisekaran / May 21, 2013
Oh Now Channel 4 video is not comdy film and truth, when it comes to Srilanka, it is a sponsored film
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Kris / May 21, 2013
Is it Brad Adams or the LTTE Money doing the talking… SriLanka is a better and a safer place now since the end of the war.. Were were you guys when LTTE was killing innocent sinhala and musilim people in the boarder villages?
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Ramanan / May 23, 2013
“Is it Brad Adams or the LTTE Money doing the talking…”
Can you provide us with evidence that human rights organisations are being bribed by the LTTE? Just because they are making critical remarks against your lord and master Mahinda does not mean they are pro-LTTE. Your master was not afraid to use these same human rights organisations and their evidence when he was masquerading as a quaker peace activist at the UN human rights council in 1990. Because he is now the one committing the crimes, he is encouraging his sycophantic followers to believe it is the human rights organisations who are in the wrong not him and being the top-class idiots that they are, they have kindly followed his orders whilst making brain-dead claims like the US favoured the LTTE (whilst also happily banning them and convicting their members in court)
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Kris / May 24, 2013
Mate get life without being the mouth piece of LTTE. DO a bit of gogle you will find!
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Ramanan / May 25, 2013
“Mate get life without being the mouth piece of LTTE. “
Kris I regard my interactions with you more as a teacher would an errant student as opposed to viewing you as a fellow debater. Please attempt to comprehend that it is possible for a SL Tamil to hold an opinion other than fanatical hero worship of Prabha. Also please try to acknowledge this fact in reference to the next time you heroically attempt to reply to my comments
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 21, 2013
Shouldn’t Mr Brad Adams be in Bagdad right now?.
Isn’t it the parmount duty of the HRW to protect Human Lives as well as Human Rights?.
With yersterday’s Suicide Attacks killing 60 and maiming 200, the toll for this month is going to be pretty close to last month’s record of 200.
Does the HRW priortize their work based on political and geographic parameters?.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 21, 2013
K.A.Sumna….I certainly would like to see Brad Adams with the North Korea and with its leader KIM DING DONG! Trying a game of PING PONG!
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Peter Casie Chetty / May 21, 2013
Dead right. Go on you bloody American idiot and look out at the war crimes your own Government is committing in Libya, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Iraq and Yemen with their regime changing antics. We can look after ourselves and our people without your interference. You guys got kicked out of Vietnam, now Afghanistan soon you will be kicked out of Africa Latin America and where then will you go with your poison?
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“We can look after ourselves and our people without your interference”
Obviously it is pure coincidence that this change of heart occured after the LTTE was defeated as opposed to beforehand when as much help as possible was needed from western nations to defeat VP and company. Then some fools are wondering why the western nations are unhappy at being used so shamelessly by Percy and his brothers
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Native Vedda / May 21, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera
“Isn’t it the parmount duty of the HRW to protect Human Lives as well as Human Rights?.”
You should direct your question at MR one time human rights campaigner of Sri Lanka who took it upon himself to defend democracy and also spent some quality time in Geneva demanding UNHRC took measures necessary to prevent state’s Human Rights violations against its own people.
As a friend of Palestinian people he should be spending some time in Palestine preventing Israeli Human rights violations against mostly Muslim inhabitants of the land.
He should mount the world’s biggest rescue mission to free Palestinians.
Would you advise him accordingly?
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Ajith Kumara / May 23, 2013
Shut up you stupid Mus Vedda
You just fooling all around without any idea of what is going on. Go back to your Mahiyangana jungle and eat hay meat raw or half burned with hay shit for another 2500 years Or join the Sinhala race atleast now leaving your native Ambude and arrow behind.
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Native Vedda / May 24, 2013
Agitated Kumara
“You just fooling all around without any idea of what is going on”
What is exactly going on?
“Go back to your Mahiyangana jungle”
Whether I go back to jungle or stay put in this urban jungle is non of your business. In fact I would be much happier if you could go back to your mother country, North/South India or Tamilnadu/Bihar.
“Or join the Sinhala race atleast now leaving your native Ambude and arrow behind.”
So would you like me to wear a G string?
Joining the Sinhala/Tamil race is the ultimate insult to my people.
You know very well that I will refuse to become another brick in the wall.
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dilshan F / May 21, 2013
yes we had all the freedom of expression and all the rights he is speaking about. We also had JVP twice over and LTTE for over 3 years. I am 52 and in my life after 15 yrs I have seen all of this. If I have cancer I will cut a part of my body to let the other parts live. There are no rights for life threatening cancer cells. My body fights cancer cells everyday, when undergoing radiation good cells die too.
HRW and Amnesty International has no credibility as they are one sided. Many have asked the question where were all these do gooders when we were getting bombed and maimed on a daily basis. I saw separatist flags flying high in the recent London demonstrations. Its better for a few of us to die than let all of suffer. We have had enough. Please write about somewhere else. There is plenty to write about.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“HRW and Amnesty International has no credibility as they are one sided”
Yes but the exception to that rule is if the annointed king of Sri Lanka Mahinda deems their work to be useful like the time he was making trips to UN human rights council in 1990 and asking this same Amnesty International to make visits to the country to assess the military action carried out by the SL army on sinhala youths in the South
“Please write about somewhere else. There is plenty to write about”
I think there is plenty to write about in Sri Lanka especially as Mahinda seems keen to grandstand in the international arena via hosting commonwealth summits and events whilst his brother runs a police state on his behalf
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dirty seththu / May 21, 2013
Worst day in Iraq…. 13 May 2013.
HRW….. Hilarious Rightful Watch
America and the West achieved great Peace there by deposing Saddam.
Don’t send Brad Adam to Bagdad… WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO THEIR?
COLLECT BODY PARTS FOR HRW ????
He is not interested in Bagdad casualties………
Send him to the Wanni as the Land Mines are now cleared.
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Candidly / May 21, 2013
HRW @:
“Respect for basic rights and liberties has declined in Sri Lanka in the four years since the government defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).”
With their very first sentence Human Rights Watch demonstrate that either they know nothing about what Sri Lanka was like 4 years or more ago, or else they are trying to deliberately mislead people.
Four years ago there were 300,000 homeless Tamils living in refugee camps recovering from being used mercilessly as a human shield without shelter, food, water or medicine provided by the people who claimed to be protecting them, the Tamil Tigers. Now those people have returned to their villages, are getting new schools, hospitals, jobs etc and no longer have their children forcibly recruited by the Tamil Tigers. Soon they will be able to participate in local elections with freedom to vote for the candidate of choice for the first time in 30 years. The rest of the country is securely free from terrorist attacks against ordinary civilians for the first time in 3 decades.
If HRW want to have any credibility outside their western-based press conferences, with shock-horror quotes readily lapped up by uncritical western journalists, they have ditch their amateurish, elitist, racist and political approach and begin to understand the horrendous experiences that the people they so glibly make judgments about have actually been through.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“or else they are trying to deliberately mislead people”
Indeed. People need to understand that Lasantha was shot in the head by a bullet sent from heaven and not on the orders of Gota. Fonseka arrested himself and went to prison whilst the chief justice agreed to her own impeachment.
“300,000 homeless Tamils living in refugee camps recovering from being used mercilessly as a human shield “
I think you mean 300000 Tamils facing collective group punishment after being subject to an artillery assault by the own govt.
“Soon they will be able to participate in local elections with freedom to vote for the candidate of choice for the first time in 30 years.”
This was definately a natural process and not the result of India pressurising Rajapaksa before the CHOGM meeting
“The rest of the country is securely free from terrorist attacks against ordinary civilians for the first time in 3 decades.”
Indeed whilst leaving them exposed to the whims of Gotabhaya and his white van squad complete with PTA legislation to arrest anyone he doesn’t like (which is strangely still in place after terrorism was resoundly defeated on the island)
“they have ditch their amateurish, elitist, racist and political approach”
Indeed they need to focus on the good side of lankan society like the enlightened Bodu Sena who enjoy patronage from the ruling family. Hopefully the monetary funds Mahinda has set aside for western PR companies can also help counteract this amateurish approach
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 21, 2013
Brad Adams, Further, as an after thought, i thought to clarify from you and other HRW buffs as to when and where you guys do get all these reports whilst being comfortably perched on highback stools and perhaps Cognac in a glass.Reports i say, because they are all in the negative aspect and against the majority Sinhalese and Muslims actrocities.
The July ’83 riots is a sorry piece of history and one which will be etched in the minds of those who were Victims and those other peace loving citizens who helped the innocent and some uppish tamils in saving their lives and estate as much possible.
Now, i’ll come to the point. There is this little municipal ward know as Wellawatte famously known as ‘Kutti Jaffna ‘ and the immediate surroundings called Bamba… and Dehiwela. Before the riots these areas were the place were most tamils lived in peace with the Sinhalese,muslims and burghers etc.It was a quiet haven were i with many of my friend of multi -ethnicity played cricket, swam the seas and lazed on the side of the railtracks until our parents sent our servants to remind us of our studies or dinner or bed time.
The unfortunate riots of ’83 disturbed this trend for a couple of months, but within the next few years this little ward saw influx of Tamils from many other riot effected areas and the muslims and tamils who escaped the escalating war and mayhem from the north and east.
It is now seen as peaceful co-existence of tamils and other citizens for the last twenty five years.Many tamils in this area have grown economically and the trade is mostly in their hand.this is also the case in most of the other areas in the western province.the tamils are not complaining of any economical or housing or hunger woes.
The only time their peace was disturbed or put off balance was when LTTE & Co unleashed their deadly cyanide loving suicide bombers and attacked the skies and the seas with their human bombers. Yet,the responsible Governments of the time to measures to safeguard and instill peace at all times.
WHY IS THAT YOU AND YOUR KIND HAVE CONVENIENTLY FORGOTTEN OR NEGLECTED TO HIGH LIGHT OR MAKE A DOCUMENTARY OF THE PEACEFUL LIFE THESE TAMILS WHO HAVE BEEN IN COLOMBO AND ITS SUBURBS HAVE ENJOYED AND CONTINUE TO ENJOYED. COME,BRAD.YOU HAVE AT LEAST 20 YRS OF RICH HISTORY TO REPORT ON.
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Kris / May 22, 2013
HATS OFF MY FRIEND… Well said.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“whilst being comfortably perched on highback stools and perhaps Cognac in a glass”
Is this not Mahinda and his brothers at a govt cabinet meeting?
“because they are all in the negative aspect and against the majority Sinhalese and Muslims actrocities”
Do you think this might be because the LTTE has been defeated as a military organisation yet the Rajapaksa regime is still in power? Are you suggesting the author puts down his cognac and build a time machine to retrieve Prabhakaran and his commanders for trial?
“only time their peace was disturbed or put off balance was when LTTE & Co unleashed their deadly cyanide loving suicide bombers”
You seem to be painting a picture of SL as a wonderful harmonious place that was disturbed for 3o years by the LTTE. Are you choosing to develop memory loss about the anti-tamil riots which occured regularly after 1948 before the LTTE was formed? Also what is your opinion as a muslim about the Rajapaksa brothers patronising the Bodu Sena? Are you happy that they been given an important place by the ruling regime?
“Yet,the responsible Governments of the time to measures to safeguard and instill peace at all times.”
Do you mean like the Syrian govt is doing now? Please direct me to the part of the universal declaration of human rights which states it is a right for govts to abuse their own people with no fear about the consequences?
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 22, 2013
Ramanan. you dimwit! my response was in context to what Brad has scrapped about. If you cannot understand the subject and the reply in its context please keep quiet.
You are nothing but loser like the LTTE and its lost ideals.
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“my response was in context to what Brad has scrapped about”
My apologies mohammed, it was just that all I saw in your original post was some nonsense about Tamils living unmolested in Wellawatte so I naturally got confused what relevance this had to the original piece by Brad Adams about the worsening militarisation taking place in Sri Lanka along with the breakdown in law and order where even govt MPs like Duminda Silva can do quadruple homicide in broad daylight with no fear of punishment
“you cannot understand the subject and the reply in its context please keep quiet”
So says the intellectual heavyweight who believes the activities of a group Tamils living in 1 part of the capital is clearly indicative of their treatment elsewhere on the island like the militarised north.
“You are nothing but loser like the LTTE and its lost ideals”
Indeed whilst you are clearly a winner. Can I ask how much money you are getting from the ruling regime because some other people have asked (along with myself) why you are keeping quiet about the Bodu Sena and their actions towards your fellow muslims? Will you answer the question or continue to expel more hot gas about me being a dimwit whilst deluding yourself into thinking you are a great philosopher and thinker
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NAK / May 22, 2013
This is a man singing for his supper,not a begger,but worse a pauper.
We all know who and what he is.
I ask all those who champion the Tamil cause here on the web to come out of their shell and tell us what they have done for the Tamil people who have been suffering under the the cruel LTTE with their blessings and continue to suffer to date.
Tell us what have you done? what are you planing to do for them?do you have any plans for them, other than plans to use them for your ends?
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 22, 2013
Nak,Not only does this man trumpet the LTTE horn, the others like Rudrakumaran, Usha,Newman, the TGTE ministers and the other of the diaspora do the same.
Look at their flashy suits, saris, dancing damsels in cultural dresses and not forgetting or assuming their posh offices and jobs with pretty incomes and financial supports of many Governments whose double standards in stabilising the Country.
DO THEY GIVE A TUPPENCE TO SEE OR FEEL THE WAY THEIR BROTHEREN IN CAMPS AND SORDID MUD HUTS AMIDST THICK JUNGLE AND OF COURSE THE LOCAL POLITICAL DRAMA UNLEASHED BY THOSE TAMILS LEFT BEHIND TO SERVE THEM AND THEN ALL THE GIMMICKS BY THE RULING GOVERNMENTS AND IN EPT OPPOSITIONS.
EVEN IF ‘EELAM’ IS GIVEN ON A PLATTER YOU WILL NOT FIND ONE WILLING TO COME AND RESIDE IN ‘EELAM’
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Ramanan / May 23, 2013
“at their flashy suits, saris, dancing damsels in cultural dresses”
Yes Mohammed and we know very well how humble the Rajapaksa clan are in comparison. Mahinda is very down-to-earth and definately does not have a massive ego naming vast monuments after himself or putting his face on the currency. His sons definately do not drive around in Aston Martins (when they are not cheating in law exams or assaulting rugby referees)
“YOU WILL NOT FIND ONE WILLING TO COME AND RESIDE IN ‘EELAM’
Thank you for writing in Caps Mohammed because obviously this makes your arguments more persuasive as opposed to typing like a normal human being. Support for Ealam will end very quickly if Tamils get a good political settlement which ensures no militarisation or paramiliatary activity, freedom of the press and allowing people control over police and land.
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mohamed fazly ilyas / May 23, 2013
Ramanan, It is indeed difficult to drive some common sense into people who are biased and of a set mind.
By the way, i am apolitical and carry no torch for politician big or small of the rulers or the opposition because they are scum. and you the and the TGTE are just helping them to acheive their ‘NIRVANA ‘
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Ramanan / May 22, 2013
“We all know who and what he is.”
Exactly he is an LTTE supporter fully in favour of suicide bombing, ethnic cleansing and personality worship of Prabha. It does not matter if this has no basis in fact for it is better to delude oneself than face reality. Also this LTTE excuse card can be used indefinately to ward off criticism and suppress dissent even as we stretch further and further away from 2009 and the demise of Prabha.
“Tell us what have you done? what are you planing to do for them?do you have any plans for them, other than plans to use them for your ends?”
Well Nak we were rather hoping that they can lead some semblance of a normal life free from interference by thousands of soldiers who dont speak their language or pro-govt paramiliataries who are on Gota’s payroll. It would also be nice for mothers to find out if their children are actually dead as opposed to ‘missing’ or being raped at leisure in a military camp. Also it would be great if some time would go buy without the uthayan paper being mysteriously attacked again whilst the army watches on in surprise.
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Jay / May 28, 2013
This shows the power of Tamil diaspora, everybody should understand the horrible period of 30 years under the LTTE threats and destruction. The livelihood have been destroyed, killed civilians and security personnel. These human rights organisations look through a narrow window of past 4 years. By destroying militarily hasn’t finish the government job, still there are pro-LTTE cadres operate in the fringes of North and East and openly in the international sphere. LTTE indoctrinated thousands of Tamil youths over the 30 year period and screening them takes a while not few years.
LTTE was successful in carrying out war not only because of their strength and the lobbying power of Tamil diaspora but have infiltrated every possible areas within Sri Lanka, bribing security personnel and civilians gathering intelligence and work for them – this was their success. Therefore the government has to take necessary steps to completely expunge re-emergence of such forces.
Outsiders may think GOSL has violated the international norms and guidelines but one should understand LTTE was the most cruel terrorist outfits have seen in the 21st century. Therefore these organisations should assist the government rather than criticising in every UN forums and sessions.
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