Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
The Navy at Casuarina Beach
We in the North fear troops. It is just not Tamils. We have seen viral videos of the IGP assaulting a staff member and the Navy Commander a reporter. In a democracy, troops must be kept out of civilians lives. However, not in our democracy. In 1970, I was assaulted for no reason by a group of policemen. In the early 1980s troops on their way to buy cigarettes in three trucks swung a bicycle chain at me and other passers-by. Soon, our guardian troops were murdering us.
Last Saturday, I went to my favorite beach, Casuarina Beach, in Karainagar. During vacations, we used to bicycle the 13 miles from town regularly to go to there. The beach was there just for us. This time it was crowded with many people. It was under the care of the Navy. There were several mangy stray dogs that seemed to be looked after by the Navy. The Navy spoke to us in Sinhalese. Casuarina Beach has been commercialized with entrance fees for our car and for each passenger. Thank God there was no fee for my two dogs and cat.
Boat rides were on offer by “Kasurina Boat Service” spilling oil into the water and spewing carbon monoxide. We were told we could not bathe the dogs because it was unhealthy for other bathers. But their mangy dogs were taking their dips in the sea and dirtying the beach, the same beach where our children played building sand castles and burying our dogs. It was all by the Piratheysiya Sabai. I spoke to the Vice Chairman and asked why use the Navy that should be confined to barracks in a democracy, especially when there are so many unemployed people in the locality. His reply was revealing: “Tamil people will not obey Tamils but will obey Sinhalese.”
Kasurina Boat Service by Navy
Numbers Game: Sinhalese Troops in the North
The Karainagar Piratheysiya Sabai’s position on the preference for Sinhalese troops in the North is rather unique. As the UNHRC reminds Sri Lanka on our obligations under Resolution 30/1, the government is in a dither. The office of Missing Persons was established only recently but the delay that accompanied its establishment is telling on the government’s commitment to recognizing Tamils as people with the same rights as the rest of the citizenry here.
The other shortcoming concerns demilitarizing Tamil areas. Poor progress has been made. However, under Foreign Minister Tilak Marapona the same damning information is being presented and it takes the form of spinning. The intention is to say “We made significant progress. Give us time again to complete the good work we are doing.” Sheer bluff!
Enjoying the Beach after Banning from the Sea
The Real Numbers
Jaffna District today has 93 naval bases occupying 2946 acres (exceeding 12 sq. km), 54 army bases and 1 air force base occupying 1000 acres. These together with the 30 police stations rule us with an iron hand. However what they are doing is not clear except for bullying people at Casuarina Beach and stopping motorists to make money. Our fishermen have to pass the naval bases into the deeper seas for their fishing.
It was recently that the police announced that they have brought the sword wielding Ava Group under control by arresting 50 of them. Yet, on 22 Aug., in the Suthumalai, Inuvil and Thaavady areas 12 sword wielding men had arrived on 5 motorbikes and attacked householders in three houses. On the 20th, a doctor’s house was attacked. In Mannar, 22nd’s reports today say that a boat of 6 persons from India had sunk but all rescued. Unconfirmed information is that the boat was rammed by the Navy but the fishermen say their boat and the navy boat collided. The drugs trade is hitting record heights despite the heavy presence of troops. The police with their 178 stations having 50,000 armed policemen are unable to say how any amount of Ganja may be bought in Jaffna. If that is protection, no thanks. Despite this force, the government is unable to establish even a semblance of law and order except to prevent my children from enjoying our beaches as I did.
As the international community asks our government about demilitarization which we promised under Resolution 30/1, the numbers from Jaffna seem commendable, but that was under compulsion. Jaffna is unique in that most lands occupied by the forces are private lands with deeds. These are estimated to constitute 90% of Jaffna lands. A case initiated by Mavai Senathirajah, the ITAK Secretary General in the High Court led to the judgement that they ought to be released to their owners. The government had no choice.
The story is very different in the Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu Districts where private lands are less than 25%. The rest comes as reserved lands for forest, wildlife, irrigation etc. These are occupied by the forces although they are not intended for them and the reservations are intended for civilians – even the jungles of Wilpattu which are for our edification watching wildlife in their natural habitat.
In Mullaitivu only some 22% of the lands are private. Eight ponds and two crematoria are on army camps. In Mannar, 12800 acres of coastal lands are claimed by the Navy. The World Bank asked for a mere 3000 acres for livelihood projects for the people and Rs. 3 billion is ready to be used. However, the project cannot start because even the 3000 acres will not be released. It shows the two faces of the government. One thinks up these generous projects to show the world that it cares for Tamils, and the other blocks them. This project cannot start because troops will not budge
In truth, even today Jaffna Peninsula has 4,507 acres occupied by the forces. There are 9,564 families with 33,286 members awaiting resettlement. Of these 580 families with 2,204 members are in temporary shelters awaiting resettlement. It is this truth that the government wants to hide from the international community.
Manal Aaru
When the cry for resettlement is so loud and heart-rending, the government has created a separate District Secretary’s division of 108 sq. km in Mullaitivu reserved for Sinhalese settlers. This is the dreaded Manal Aaru Division which was depopulated of Tamils through massacres by the army in 1984 to settle Sinhalese in what is now Weli Oya. In better days, in 1965, it is good to recall, it was PM Dudley Senanayake who allocated these lands to Tamils of the area. The recipients, in times when we had no bulldozers to clear lands, cleared them by hand for cultivation for two-season paddy.
As these Tamils cultivated these lands, the UNP lost the 1970 elections and the new left government created what it called the Land Army of unemployed youth for whom the lands were repossessed. The consent of the Tamils who worked hard on the land was never sought.
However, Tamils there believed that they would get their lands back with the next change of government. Notwithstanding, when the UNP returned in 1977, it started an open prison in Thimpulaakal in the Kalkuda Electorate. Mr. Devanayagam, MP, as the only person from the UNP to win a seat in that area, prevailed on J.R. Jayawardene to shift the prison since the locals feared it. The Sinhalese prisoners from there were the first colonists to settle in Manal Aaru, now Weli Oya.
Many opposed the move then. Sriskantharaya, President of the Jaffna University Students’ Union, launched an attack on the guards of the Open Prison. That attack was used to justify attacks on Tamils of the area. Following this in the years 1983 and 1984, surrounding villages were depopulated of Tamils. Established farms serving as homes for people displaced from the tea estates, namely Dollar Farm, Kent Farm, and Railway Farm each with 3000 acres of farmland were taken over. These have been subdivided into 25 acre plots and given to Sinhalese, including to Minister Nimal Sripala de Silva’s sister. Everyone profits from Tamil misery.
That take-over for Sinhalese settlers is continuing today at Kokkulaai, Pokkuthoduvai, Nayaaru, Karunaattukerni, Palampaasi, and Thenmaravadi. Outside this region 72% of the land even today is jungle. As such they belong to departments for forest reserves, animal reserves, etc. Only the remaining 28% may be used for humans. Even this little land has been grabbed by troops.
As a result, today the army controls much agricultural land. Further 8 ponds are under military control. Based on information provided by the LLRC, in Mullaitivu there are 110 acres of private lands, and 7,937 acres of government land under the military. Even that information has been questioned. In Oddisuttaan Piradeysiya Secretariat area 8,400 acres, from Karupattmurippu to Iranimadu 3,500 acres, and near Muruhandy (West of A9) 1750 acres are with the army.
Lying to the World
As the next sessions at UNHRC near, the government is preparing to spin these numbers. Minister for Foreign Affairs is reportedly touring the North personally asking for acreage under occupation. The trick is to say that so many acres out of so many acres of occupied private land have been released, when most of the occupied land is in the reserves for departments. The land continues to be occupied.
The enthusiasm in spinning seems to border on lying. We know for a fact that according to Marapona’s figures 991 acres in Mullaitivu are occupied. The same GA responsible for the data, responding to a request under RTI has stated 1331 acres are under occupation. What happened to the difference of 300 acres? Figures given by Ms. Sriskantharajah, MP for Mulaitivu in 2017 suggest that the figure for occupied lands is upwards of 35,000 acres. The same was confirmed by Mr. Raviharan of the NPC.
From sources friendly then to the LTTE, we also know that 3500 acres in Iranaimadu, 1200 acres in Viswamadu and 2200 acres in Kepapilavu constituted LTTE farms (pannai as they called them). I know from people who travelled West of A9 into the jungles that they are still occupied by the army and air force. Why are these not listed in the GA’s figures?
Likewise, in Mannar even as the government claims that its forces occupy 640 acres, the GA responding to RTI requests says 2,346 acres are occupied by troops. Even this is untrue because, like in Mullaitivu, occupied lands account for more than 8000 acres.
Similar discrepancies exist in Kilinochchi between government pronouncements and RTI revelations.
The Truth and Democracy
There is no terrorism in the North except for the bullying armed forces and bribe-seeking police. In a democracy, we expect the government to be truthful and accountable. These prevarications diminish us as a democracy and cause severe problems at the Election Commission in registering displaced persons in their real homes even as refugees now well-settled in new places are bused to vote in their former homes. We are no democracy when people live under the military.
Douglas / August 25, 2018
HALLELUJAH ! The ” MESSIAH” of the Tamil “Tribe” will arrive soon. Mr. Wigneswaran- The present Chief Minister of the Northern Province: Please spread the “Good Tidings” especially to all those sword swinging “Bandits” – (The AVA Group) “Rapists”; “Wheeler Dealers” engaged in “Drug & Liquor Business”; “Poachers” – All who have gone “Mad and Crazy” without proper “Guidance” to be in readiness to witness the “Arrival of MESSIAH” who would redeem them of all SINS and conduct them to the High Heavens. History repeats – Think of the very many of such categories who were redeemed by Jesus Christ. With ARRIVAL of this “MESSIAH” all the Armed Forces including the Law Enforcement Members (who speak nothing but Sinhala) can have a sigh of RELIEF and join their loved ones in other parts of the country. HAIL MARY! HALLELUJAH !
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Laxmi / August 25, 2018
Douglas, don’t you think that the sword wielding Ava group sounds like a paramilitary outfit from India’s famous RAW, IB (that set up LTTE and various armed groups all those years ago), or SL forces, to de-stablize Jaffna again?
This is the strategy of divide, distract, colonize and rule with Hinduthwa nationalism, Ravana Myths and Hanuman Status..
This justifies the large SL military presence and land colonization there!
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Burt / August 25, 2018
Laxmi:
Ava Group is a product of the Sri Lankan Military created to terrorize the civilian population by the military without actually using the military in the open. Whether they have now lost control of this group is a different issue.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 27, 2018
Sword wielding groups were created by military intelligence from EPDP and rehabilitated LTTE cadres, with the connivance of the government. This is why no action is taken by police despite handing over some of them. This is to terrorise Tamils so that they will be occupied with safeguarding themselves and forget about demanding their rights. This tactics is similar to Janjaweed militia unleashed on south Sudanese by Sudan and Ninja turtles unleashed on east Timorese by Indonesia. Unless and until armed forces are withdrawn from Tamil areas Sinhala terror will be unleashed on Tamils like what happened in Mullaitivu.
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sach / August 28, 2018
yes, you can always blame others for your faults. Tamils never learn.
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K.Pillai / August 25, 2018
Laxmi ~ “……… don’t you think that the sword wielding Ava group sounds like a paramilitary outfit from India’s famous RAW…….”.
No. They are clumsy. Most likely local para-military. People know who they are but scared to go to Police. Says it all!
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Dinuk / August 25, 2018
SL Navy has all the foreign support to occupy civilian lands in north-east Lanka.
Lots of Fake Humanitarian and disaster prepardness operations are on going by a Superpower that called UNHRC a “cesspit” recently!
Todays Island paper has a photo of USS Anchorage a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock arrived in the Trincomalee harbour yesterday. The US Navy personnel and US Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit onboard the ship, will participate in partnership building exercises with the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lankan Marines, with a major focus on increasing efficiency of joint relief efforts during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions (Pic courtesy US embassy)
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wannihami / August 25, 2018
Burying a dog alive for fun, how is that for human rights, oh I forget its only a dog, even though it is not a mangy one, those should not even be fed, right , Mr Hoole, what rubbish! Why shouldn’t Navy guard the Sri Lanka’s coast line from millions waiting to cross over from the mighty “brother” to the North. There are no Army or Navy on the streets of Jaffna district so how can you say it is militarized? Navy manages several recreation/resorts in the South as well, your rabble rousing helps no one.
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Gratiaen Hewa / August 25, 2018
We have observed that Mr.Hoole never talks an iota of the good of the armed forces and our Police force. In most of his articles, he is criticising the Police or the armed forces. You will notice this point if all his articles are scrutinized. We like to hear some genuine reports from Mr.Hoole who is a good writer, about the arduous performances of our armed forces and Police in the Northern range.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear Mr Gratiaen Hewa,
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I’m afraid that you can add me, too, to the same list as you have placed this Mr Hoole in.
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However, on this subject of the performance of the armed forces, the man who writes really balanced stuff is his brother. I must warn you that it is really painful reading, and there is a lot of it. You could sample this:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-operation-in-jaffna-july-1979-what-was-wrong/
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If you have the courage to reply me, I will tell you more. If not, what’s the point pouring water on a duck’s back?
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Dr Rajan Hoole is very much the scholar. I cannot assess Prof. Jeevan Hoole as a Computer Engineer, but he’s a fearless fighter for what he thinks is right. I think that I’ve tried to balance the good and the naive in him in this earlier article of his:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/indian-consulate-general-buys-into-jaffna-universitys-communalism/
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Just see the very last comment there. CT has stopped accepting any more.
I’d like to have your views, Gratiaen.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear Gratiaen,
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This current article by Prof. Hoole is particularly good. But it’s not the only one:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/code-of-ethics-for-the-election-commission/
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How many people do we have in Sri Lanka who are as bold?
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His ascetic brother may be a saint, but it doesn’t always make sense to be Sri Sanga Bo.
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shankar / August 26, 2018
wannihami
“Burying a dog alive”
can’t you see the head pokin out.It seems quite happy with all the attention it is getting.What is a dog rights violation is not allowing it to have a bath in the sea.When these kind of military take over the country we also won’t be able to have a sea bath one day.They will say to get permission first from their commandant.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
Hoole says that Navy should not feed the street dogs, is that Okay Shankar, to starve the street dogs? And the street dogs don’t run into the water, I’ve been there only a few weeks ago. In a human bathing space dogs should not be allowed to swim, there is so much coast line beyond the Casuarina Beach why not take Hoole’s non mangy dogs there.
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Meenachchi / August 26, 2018
Wanni the bogus hamy,
” Why shouldn’t Navy guard the Sri Lanka’s coast line from millions waiting to cross over from the mighty “brother” to the North. “
What BS you type. There are more refugees running away from Sri Lanka than India. There are already 100,000 Indians working here, inspite of your forces being “on guard”. They are here because the lazy Sinhala bums want to sit in 3-wheelers or wear fancy uniforms.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
Meena dear imagine how many 100 thousands more would be here if the Navy was not there!
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meenachchi / August 27, 2018
Wannihamu
Its the other way around.
Actually, are you so ignorant that you don’t know there are still 150,000 SL refugees in India who DONT want to come back.
Don’t type nonsense just because you have a keyboard.
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Native Vedda / August 27, 2018
meenachchi
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“Don’t type nonsense just because you have a keyboard.”
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It is his nonsense which he is free to express as long as CT allows him to. As far as I am concerned we need such closet racist to make fool of themselves and in the process if we are being entertained its an added bonus to us.
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Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2018
Dear wannihami,
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You lack good humour, understanding, and tolerance.
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That certainly is an interesting photograph. The dog seems to trust those two young humans so much that he doesn’t look at all scared. Nor is the other dog too bothered.
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Had somebody else posted that photograph, responses would have been different. The Hooles probably love the dogs that they own, and those dogs are happy. This is an article that probably indicates that Jeevan Hoole has at last realised that he’s not omni-everything. Let us welcome that, and appreciate the main points made in the article. Personally, I’m hoping that he’ll now start turning his attention to elections in the Maldives. Please check this out:
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http://eptoday.com/the-edge-of-the-chasm-threats-to-maldivian-democracy/
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and on a daily basis, this link:
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https://maldivesindependent.com/politics/maldives-elections-body-publishes-voters-registry-140567
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95,000 possible fraudulent registrations in an electorate of 262,135 is huge. Why bother about a foreign country, you might ask. For you, it might matter that it was a 100% Buddhist country. As for me, do you know that passage from Donne: “No man is an island . . .”?
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Thanks.
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Unreal / August 25, 2018
S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, Thank you for a sane article.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 25, 2018
We have to salute Ratnajeevan Hoole for exposing the truth without fear of repercussion. Whatever government comes to power it will be a Sinhala racist one. The biggest terrorists in Sri Lanka is the government with its armed forces and goon squads. It is when this state terrorism is defeated that Tamils will have peace. There is no effort for reconciliation even by this government, and there will never be any Justice to Tamils unless there is foreign intervention.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam,
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Please don’t say “never”. Haven’t some of your past assessments been proved wrong?
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You sound a born pessimist.
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However, I respect you as an honest man.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 25, 2018
Thank you Ratnajevan Hoole
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John Cyril / August 25, 2018
You are full of s.. my friend no matter how much you get its still not good.
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Eagle Eye / August 25, 2018
These are all exaggerations by Hoole. He is not representing the views of ordinary folks; particularly low caste people in Yapanaya. They want Army to stay because they feel more secure with their presence.
Regarding a statement made by Vigneshwaran about war memorials, Mangala said that the Army did not fight a war with foreigners but with fellow citizens. Although foreigners were not in the front line they were behind. LTTE was used by foreigners who wanted to destabilize Sri Lanka. According to historical records, there have been 17 invasions from Hindusthan and Sinhalayo fought back and defeated them. The war fought with LTTE is the 18th one. As happened in the past, Demalu lost. So learn to face it.
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Uthungan / August 25, 2018
Eagle Eye
Then, to prevent 19th invasion of SL in the future, the best is for you to lead the Sinhalayo’s to take over Hindustan?
For that get the assistance of Pakistani military mullahs to contact the Asgriya and Mallwatte shaven headed yellow robes and discuss plans?
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Uthungan,
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Can’t you let sleeping dogs lie?
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I know that you have suffered much, but try not to provoke unnecessarily.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
Uthunagan mate, Pakistan? Too messy! But apparently China has already been recruited for that.
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Native Vedda / August 27, 2018
wannihami
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Chinaman is not going to fight the Hindian for the stupid racist Sinhala/Buddhists.
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Be careful, the Chinese male female ratio is 106 :100. China’s organised crime fraternity is kidnapping women for order.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear Eagle Eye,
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As a fellow Sinhalese, I’m disgusted with your continuing efforts to divide our country. Many of us are trying to re-build it; you are clearly trying to de-stabilse it.
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How can you defend your use of the word: “Demalu”.
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Mamath Sinhalayek. Kavru hari “Demalu” kiyala kivvoth, ese kiyanne, kotawanna, yahalu kamakin nove.
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In case that transcription doesn’t make sense, what I’ve said is that I myself am a Sinhalese, and well I know, that when a guy uses the form “Demalu”, he does so to provoke.
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Please accept my apology on behalf of all of us Sinhalese who harbour no dislike of our Tamil brethren.
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Fathima / August 26, 2018
Eagle Eye:
Yea the foreigners are always destabilizing us out of fear that we will soon become a developed nation with our high quality of democracy with honest and highly educated smart politicians , quality of education and brainy graduates, and our natural resources like we have oil in the north while the South is full of gas – purr…purrr…purrr
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sach / August 26, 2018
Most of the countries west has established don’t have oil or any of the things you mentioned. Just read more.
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Native Vedda / August 27, 2018
Eagle Blind Eye with Deaf ears
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“According to historical records, there have been 17 invasions from Hindusthan and Sinhalayo fought back and defeated them.”
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When did VP the psychopath become a Sinhalayo?
I knew all along VP was working for the Sinhala/Buddhist fascists from the day he first wore his military pistol belt.
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Kabaragoya / August 25, 2018
Thank you very much for writing this. It is a courageous piece bringing to light the plight of the Tamils under occupation. Here is to hoping that you will continue to write in this way looking at the problems that are common to all Tamil people in the North and the East.
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Usha Candappa / August 25, 2018
Hoole, your articles are creating a bad impression on Tamils as a whole as a race
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Sinhala_Man / August 25, 2018
Now look who’s talking?
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Usha, you’ve recently been doing a lot of harm to the “chetties”.
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Lone Wolf / August 25, 2018
Sinhala_Man,
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I have heard that there are some people describing themselves as Chetty Vellalar in Jaffna and some (all?) of them are Hindu. This group/caste/sub caste appears to be diversified.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear Lone Wolf,
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I have come to identify you as one of the sincerest commenters on CT.
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But please, could we keep off caste.
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Real Siva Sankaran Sharma / August 26, 2018
Lone Wolf, as I had posted in another thread, the Chetty Vellar came into being in parts of Jaffna due to the Chetty Caste gradually intermarrying into the more powerful and numerous Vellalar caste in Jaffna and getting assimilated into them. Just like the previous powerful North Indian origin Madapallis( Maghadha Palli) caste that was closely associated with the Jaffna Royal Family gradually intermarried and got assimilated into the Vellalars. Originally both these castes were rivals and then they gradually intermarried and to assimilated into the Vellalars. There was a sub caste called Madapalli Vellalars at one time and now even they have vanished. Around Araly there is a place called Chettiar Madam , where all the Chetties lived. Now only the name is there but no more Chetties, as they have all intermarried into Vellalar families and a few still call themselves Chetty Vellalar, but most of them have given up this name like the Madapallis have done and just call themselves Vellalar. They are all not Hindus, there are a few prominent Christian families amongst this Chetti Vellalar group( not the Colombo Chetties). I know of one prominent Protestant Tamil Christian family belonging to this sub caste or group. Their surname starts with N. This is all I can say.
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Steve / August 25, 2018
Usha
Mr. Hoole is giving facts and figures and relating his own experiences. People in the North may have different experiences. However, how is it creating a bad impression on Tamils as a race who are living in various parts of Sri Lanka and India and many other countries. Could you please enlighten us readers.
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wannihami / August 25, 2018
Usha, I agree totally. The common man both Sinhala and Tamil has no bone in this dog fight, it is the so called educated Tamils (and the Sinhala extremists) who are rabble rousing. The so called low cast Tamils are happy to have the military in the North, it is the ones who want to keep them “in their place” as the elitist Tamils did for centuries who are unhappy.
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Thappu / August 25, 2018
wannihami, You say, ‘low cast Tamils are happy to have the military in the North’. Are you one of them; if not, need attestation. If you are unable to provide any attestation, you need to apologise.
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FYI, Usha is yet to respond to my two simple questions, put to her under the article, ‘Indian Consulate General Buys Into Jaffna University’s Communalism’, of August 15, 2018.
Here they are again:
Usha, You speak Tamil at home. You consider yourself a Tamil. How sweet that is!
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– When you Chettis meet each other in public, which is your language of communication?
– Have you ever communicated in Tamil in the presence of Sinhalese?
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You may want to know why I asked these questions. I promise to respond when I receive your reply.
Thank you.
wannihami , The questions were put to her on August 21, 2018. She is yet to respond. If you could get Usha to answer those two questions, you may not even partially agree with her!
Have a nice day!
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear wannihami,
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I can agree with only some of what you say.
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Most of what Prof. Hoole says is true.
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Agnos / August 25, 2018
Yes, in the minds of chauvinists among the Sinhalese and their ignorant appendages in other communities like you.
If speaking the truth about the victims in the North-East conflicts with your comfortable life in the South, that speaks volumes about you and the fear you have internalized as a result of past violence unleashed by those chauvinists.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
Agnos, I do live in the North from time to time, that is why I am comfortable to comment on Hoole’s manufactured reality. Hoole himself says the Pradeshiya Sabha is happy with the situation in the Casuarina Beach. Agnos, rather than shedding crocodile tears why don’t you do something to improve the economics of the North?
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Agnos / August 27, 2018
Wannihami,
My comment was in response to Usha Candappa.
I do my part to help the people economically but economic issues are a red-herring here. Your assertion that the ordinary people are happy to have the military in the North is arrant nonsense. No one wants the suffocating presence of a military that acts like an occupying force in their midst. The fishermen, the daily workers, the widows and single women all live in constant fear and the military presence affects their livelihoods.
It is your majoritarian attitude akin to that of a rapist vs victim that prompts you to make your claim. Let the military release all private lands and reduce its presence to a level that is not suffocating. That is the first step to any reconciliation.
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Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2018
Dear Agnos,
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I agree with all that you say.
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K.Pillai / August 25, 2018
Usha Candappa ~ “Hoole, your articles are creating a bad impression on Tamils as a whole as a race”
Usha Usha Usha. Tamils are NOT a race but is an ethnic group. You have grown up in a world not knowing what Tamils have gone through and are going through. Ever been N&E?
The description of life in N&E described by SRH H is really real. How do these create ‘bad impressions’?
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R. Varathan / August 26, 2018
I presume Usha Candappa is a Colombo Chetty. While the Colombo
Chetties in most of the country considered them as Tamils until recent decades, they now identify themselves with the Sinhala community. They are a small, peaceful and useful community.
Earlier their ladies dressed like Tamils (with Pottu etc) but they have since given this up. There may be a few Colombo Chetties in the NEP who still go as Tamils but in the rest of the country it is the other way about. Almost the entire community now do not speak Tamil at home. One cannot blame them because they have to take steps for their own safety and survival in this country that has become racists to the extreme. Some of them have changed their names to sound Sinhala.
R. Varathan
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Mallaiyuran / August 25, 2018
Yahapalanaya is talking about Reconciliation. But what are they doing is splitting the Tamil.
First, they appointed only Sinhalese and Muslim to Northern Development. That was a not hidden colonization project. NPC CM,CV was in that that. They know CM is always under the discipline of Renald d Corey. No elected MPs of Tamil Parties were there in the Gazette list. CV did not go. Now, without gazette they are inviting TNA MPs. TNA, for the time being, doesn’t want NPC to do the developments but it wants to bypass NPC and take the hand of Yahapalanaya. After all NPC, which has become TNA step child, is the one forced the Yahapalanaya to send invitation to TNA too. It is now stepped over by TNA. What is the lesson for CV from Yahapalanaya? If you talk you will be crushed! This the same trick Ranil did in 2015. He paid to the TNA MPs all the development money NPC ( CM, CV) should have received. That time, there was only one person accepted reeving money from Ranil – Suresh. Even Mavai denied that they did get any money from Ranil.
So far Vijayakala is the only Tamil elected person has talked about the crimes in North. There is CID, AG and Parliament inquired are going on her, but no conviction by anybody. In the Yesterday’s meeting, there was a chair allocated for her in the North to sit next to Rice Muthalali. She is most Senior Tamil minister from North East – Both provinces. Muthalali sent her somewhere else and made Mavai to sit next to him. What is the lesson Vijayakala getting here? If you talk you will be crushed.
Instead of unification, they are splitting. Even within that nasty game they have acting like Tamils Friends. Do they think Tamil Modayas have no other way but pretend like believing them, which Sampanthar, Sumanthiran and Mavai doing?
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sach / August 26, 2018
And soon we will get rid of Wiggie using UNP sumanthiran :))
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Steve / August 25, 2018
Troops (especially indisciplined) are feared not only in the North but all over the country. They have a vital role in security and peacekeeping but with the war have got involved in business and other activities in the North. Occupation of land that belongs to the people is unfair and needs to be resolved as soon as possible. Pulling out troops from the North has to be a gradual process, otherwise it will create a law and order vacuum that will be filled by gangs and warlords and the people of the North will be the ones who will suffer.
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sach / August 26, 2018
what is the end result of pulling out? What do Tamil nationalists suggest? Do they want all of the armed forces pulled out from North?
It is common sense, given Jaffna’s enviornment with little islets, Navy would have a bigger role to play. But what the Tamil political class requests is a total demilitarization of the armed forces in North. How realistic or even reasonable is that?
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Sinhala_Man / August 31, 2018
Dear sach,
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Forget “total”; why don’t you advocate gradual normalisation? Why all these rhetorical questions?
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Those words “pulled out” suggest what is wrong. If Panagoda is discussed, or Diyatalwa, nobody uses the words “pull out”. Let’s say that my aversion to all armed forces is a bit abnormal. Why? – Nobody ever tries to answer me on that sort of question.
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We need nothing more than 20% of present numbers – even if one sees things from a hawk’s point of view. And they must be drawn from all backgrounds AND they must be disciplined.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 31, 2018
Sach, there is a solution for this. Tamils are hating Sri Lanka armed forces because of what they did to Tamils such as murder by indiscriminate fire and summary executions, rape, assault, abuse, arresting of innocents, damaging houses by barrel bombs, artillery fire and later aerial bombardment, bulldozing house to make the way clear for army to move, robbing houses and transporting loot to the south by ships arranged by government, ethnic cleansing of Tamil areas, and forcefully occupying lands belonging to Tamils. To find a solution, you must first accept that these had occurred, and find out why this took place. When Sinhala army fought JVP, other than murdering of JVP cadres and supporters, they did not do anything to non-combatants or their properties. This is because the people were also Sinhalese. Whereas in the case of fight with LTTE, the people were Tamils and revenge was taken on them. Therefore if you convert the present Sinhala murderous racist armed forces into a truly Sri Lankan outfit according to ethnic balance and station in Tamil areas only those who are prepared to accept rights and aspiration of Tamils and act according to the wishes of Tamils, then there will be no problem. Also if Tamils have full police powers similar to what Sinhalese enjoy, then these policemen can keep Sri Lanka armed forces under check to prevent them from committing atrocities on Tamils. If you really want justice and reconciliation, this is the way out and if you insist that Sinhala armed forces should remain as it is and keep on harassing Tamils, then forget about it.
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Thanos / August 25, 2018
Yes, it IS an occupation! Just imagine the government coming in and taking your rightfully owned houses and land for “national security” reasons. If you want to have military outposts then acquire the land at higher than market prices and then build bases on them. At least compensate the rightful owners at twice the market rate or give the property back to the rightful owners and get the ***K OUT!
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wannihami / August 25, 2018
who own those lands Thanos, surely not the non Vellalas, the poor Tamils of the North are not going to get a perch of the released land, if Hoole is so concerned he should publish who owned which land now occupied by the military.
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sach / August 26, 2018
Armed forces have NOT taken any lands after the end of war. The armed forced acquired lands during the period of war and possess the lands forcefully acquired by LTTE as well. And SL government is releasing the lands step by step. When one reads Hoole’s diatribe against the army (who protected his life when LTTE was there), he or she would think SL government has NOT released even an inch. The reality is the government has released lands continually. At the same time it is common sense that the government will not remove its military there.
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Don Stanley / August 25, 2018
Right on Dr. Hoole. Thanks!
Sri Lankan civil society and academics must stop expecting the International community to do our work.
The military-business model of post-war Fake Development was pioneered by US citizen Gotabaya Rajapakasa who privatized the SL Navy’s lucrative Indian Ocean service as “Avant Guard”, a global surveillance and security outfit gun running from Israel and Ukraine. This was done on the bidding of his foreign handlers.
Tilak Marapona and Wijedasa Rajapaksa drafted the “Avant Guard private security co” legal work and the had a holiday is LA – City of Angles. US Marines are on Fake humanitarian operations against China in Indian Ocean counties like Lanka, while the recently invented “Indo-Pacific ocean” is militarized with its buddies India (peddling Ravana myths and building Hannuman Statues to weaponize Hinduism). All with Bondscam Ranil’s 200 percent support. Bondscam Ranil BTW should be impeached for grand larceny at the Central Bank, which was done with help of IMF and Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Post- war Lanka is being militarized, colonized and religion and culture weaponzied against China today by members of International community who play “Human Rights Games in Geneva.
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Plato. / August 25, 2018
Thanks for this exposition of the ground reality in the North Prof:Ratnajeevan.
The reason why Mangala Samaraweera was replaced by Tilak Marapona @ The Foreign Ministry is now. clear. The former is a Liberal. The latter from his school days is rather …..!
When Wijayakala says all what is highlighted in this essay, did not take place earlier, a hue and cry was made to the effect that she is espousing the cause of the return of the LTTE! The spirit of what she said was taken out of context and made worse with a lop-sided translation.
Perhaps,the role of a one-time Attorney-General Tilak Marapona is to espouse the cause of the Govt:
Suppressing the Truth and projecting the False!
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R. M. Appuhamy / August 25, 2018
We should look at what prompted this piece from the point of view of the dog community. There are some who are kept as pets in nice homes, looked after and fed well, taken for a stroll each morning by the master and get to play with his children returning home on holiday. They get to ride in cars to beeches where the master or his children may throw a ball as far as they can for the dogs to run after and retrieve. Good exercise they get.
Then there are others that are stray dogs, scavenging on the beeches and roadsides with nobody to care for them. They may even encounter an occasional urchin who finds fun in throwing stones to hurt these dogs. Running away to dodge the stones is the exercise they get.
So, now at the Karainagar beech is a new, socialist dog order evolving, thanks to our valiant troops, stationed there on the invitation of the elected local government. The stray dogs are looked after and the posh ones that arrived by car don’t get to bathe.
Why, sir, is this an issue?
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Sinhala_Man / August 25, 2018
We had a Bloody War, but on our (victorious) side, we were supposed to call it a “Humanitarian Operation” by us, against “Terrorists” arraigned against us. The end result is a militarised country, and there obviously has to be de-mobilisation. De-mobilisation is difficult, a delicate operation that has to be well-planned.
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We voted for all that in January 2015, and, with 51.28%, we only just managed to defeat the “hawks”. What have the “doves” been doing for close on four years? Expanding the armed forces, if you please. Also attempting to increase the salaries of the 225 guys in Parliament.
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We voted for freedom, we voted for peace. 47.58% of our population may have voted against all that – stressing that when our “doves” were in control, we had to ensure positive change, so as to ensure that our gains are safeguarded. Instead, they gave all government servants a 10K per month salary increase, a populist measure creating huge economic problems for the country. Petrol prices lowered; now we have so many vehicles that travelling is more difficult, not easier. Protecting the Environment; cutting emissions – all forgotten. Then the Central Bank Bond Scam. More economic woes.
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And now these Old Men want to contest again. Will they keep to none of the promises that they gave us?
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Sri / August 25, 2018
Prof. Hoole,
The Sinhalese do not and will never share our resentment. They do not know the ground reality. The Jaffna peninsula and surrounding Vanni area are some of the most heavily militarised places in the world. Yet all this presence has little or no effect on the rising crime levels. One should ask the question, who is committing the crime and who is protecting who.
The war ended in 2009. But the country seems to have gone down pothole ever since. We rarely see politicians from either side of the ethnic divide, highlighting this issue.
If there is a god, he has forsaken this country since 1956. We are no longer his children.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear Sri,
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Note the unqualified praise that Prof. Hoole lavishes on Dudley Senanayake.
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Some issues are more complex. You don’t understand that 1956 was necessary – but not in the form it finally took.
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soma / August 25, 2018
Tamil political class is taking the liberty of good natured attitude of the Sinhalese in not raising an issue of +50% Tamils (all Tamil speaking people) occupying areas outside North. With the implementation of federalism Sinhalese will begin demanding physical relocation of these Tamils into the North. It is the duty of people of the category of this author to educate the Tamils over this possibility well in advance. At all costs we must leave out of any potential Rohingya like situation. It is the responsibility of the Sinhala political class to educate the international community of the geomorphic distribution pattern of Tamils (Tamil speaking people) across the island.
–
Soma
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Ajith / August 25, 2018
Very reasonable with full of facts and truths article. Unfortunately, there are only a few Sinhalese who can understand and accept the truth but majority of the Sinhalese people are not worried about what is going on in the real world to Tamils. In fact, it is a well planned, well organised genocide that is taking place since the British left the power of this island in the hands of the Sinhalese. Sinhalese should understand that the brutality or genocidal acts against Tamils will not bring them safety & peace. In contrast, it will one day bring an end of the Sinhalese race in this island and from the world. Presently their enemies are Tamils and it is now turning against Muslims and it will turn against India soon where they learn lesson.
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sach / August 26, 2018
Tamils must be the only race that multiply its numbers facing a brutal genocide then. There is NOT a single district in Sri Lanka where Tamils do not live when Sinhalese are forcefully limited to South. Yes, we Sinhalese face an existential threat from our age old enemies who are Tamils. Our past enemies tried to rob our lands and today the same enemies try to rob us our lands, history, heritage by creating a fake history. So yes, if we Sinhalese do not rise up and faced Tamil chauvinism we will be finished. The war against Indian funded and later Norwegian supported LTTE was an existential war for Sinhalese which they went close to losing because of UNP and NGO idiots.
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Kumaran / August 25, 2018
There is a Reuter report that China is going to build railroads and roads along with 40,000 houses in the North. Professor, think about that. The Chinese are in Hambantota, Colombo, Sigiriya and soon in Jaffna. We Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims have been fighting each other on a meaningless issue of language and culture. The Chinese bided their time and this is the result. May God bless us all.
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JD / August 25, 2018
KUMARAN: It is a huma rights violation to build houses and raqil roads to people in the world. but, IT is human right promotion killing muslims in the middle east and in Africa. IS it OK handing over land parcels to american companies by Mangala and Ranil, bow Ranil went to vietnam and Japan to find the next steps of Econimic Revival Sri lanka to suit western needs and how to hand over the TRINCO tO JAPANESE DEFENCE FORCES. IT is because of you Tamilnadu Migrents every thing goes wrong for Sinhale.
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shankar / August 26, 2018
kumaran
what is wrong with the chinese building houses in the north?The person living in the house cound’t care who built it.They are not building military facilities,the way you are talking.FOI a chinese company won the bid and is building it and we are paying for it.They are charging 1.28 millon rupees for a 650sq.ft house,which is very reasonable.
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justice / August 25, 2018
All this information and more has been/is being given, daily in the popular Tamil website(s) with facts, figures, diagrams and photographs.
The SL Tamils’ pathetic situation is thus known worldwide, in addition to information given by kith & kin abroad who are in contact with those left behind – including truth minded Sinhalese.
The Army of Occupation brooks no dissent/protest, and those who dare are given ‘lessons’ which they will never forget. Many have therefore left Sri Lanka and their contacts abroad know the truth of the situation.
The ‘terrorist’ State has given falsified information in successive UNHRC meetings.
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Kumar R. / August 26, 2018
Good: Finally, an article highlighting a social issue on its own merit, strenuously restrained from, and uncontaminated with, religious, racial or other bigoted whingeing
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Bad: Truly sad if the wisdom on ground reality came solely from the personal experience of the two incidences – fee for child to play at beach, and, no sea bathing for the pet! Had the army allowed the child to play in the sand without a fee, and if the dog was allowed free access to the sea, are the social issues still relevant?! Would it have been better if the army had well-fed stray dogs rather than mangy ones? Or, should the army have got rid of them “Gota style”?! I may be wrong, but I think these side-stories of tangential triviality only go to distract if not weaken the seriousness of the fundamental social issue of the citizenry, namely, living in fear with continued oppression and abuse by unrestrained armed forces.
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And the ugly: The write up lacks any objective proposition, discussion or insight on working with the administration to progressively lessen the highlighted hardship of the citizenry. The expectation from an intellectual champion of societal issues is way beyond a run-of-the-mill complaint! As Justice’s comment above notes “All this information and more has been/is being given, daily in the popular Tamil website(s) with facts, figures, diagrams and photographs.”
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More ugly(?): Does the article’s reiteration reflect new enlightenment of the author on ground realities that is not new to almost any other, local or diasporic, or is it an “also played” effort to regain local sympathy, in the hope it would help mask the history of past support to even more suppressive regimes of Chandrika, MR and even Devananda!
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Sri Lankan / August 25, 2018
Learned people of Sri Lanka and Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, please enlight me how about the south and central Sri Lanka, where our majority community is living. Dont we have military camps and people living in these area’s. Can you tell me how many forces are living in these camps.
The North we have several postions vacant in unskilled labour and unable to fill the labour positions from local community and is it true that people from outside jaffna are doing these task ?
Looking forward to your statistics which will enlight ordinary people.
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Frank N. Stein / August 25, 2018
The more one reads these comments from Tamil friends, the more depressed one becomes as to the extent we are divided The hard fact is both Sinhalese and Tamils consider each other as enemies – in the North East, the South and the hill country as never before. The Govt introduces a few cosmetic “concessions” – albeit reluctantly to fool the donors, the international community and the world media. The occupying uniformed men and visiting Sinhalese consider them as victors of the war and look at the Tamils in the North and East as defeated subjects.
The immediate future to both sides is going to be far from normal or peaceful. The daily diminishing economy makes the situation worse.
Frank N. Stein
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Thanks, Frank N. Stein,
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The detached impartial observer is always useful.
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“O, wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An’ foolish notion.”
― Robert Burns,
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wannihami / August 30, 2018
Stein, Is that your real name, if so you must be a math wiz. Anyhow, these hostilities will not end until the Tamil leaders and the Tamil elitists stop demonizing the Sinhalese and the armed forces, and until the Sinhalese elitists stop their crocodile tears which are politically motivated.. There are army camps in the south, Sinhalese and Muslims and may be Tamils too live next to them and they don’t care. After 26 years of a bloody war Sri Lankan government has a responsibility to keep a strong military presence in the North, albeit in the camps. The Casuarina beach is a red herring, I ‘ve been their many times and the Navy keeps their distance, they make the place safe for everyone, no hooligans, no alcohol, no drugs, safe swimming etc, and the ladies and girls in our party never felt threatened by the Navy presence. If at all only negative thing I saw was the attitude of the private boat owners who were Tamil and were rude to both Tamil and Sinhala customers.
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Lone Wolf / August 25, 2018
Dr Jeevan Hoole,
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Thank you for your report.
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“This time it was crowded with many people.”
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That is the reason I stopped visiting the place. All the tourists are taken there.
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“It was under the care of the Navy.”
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There is a Navy camp, day time police&police life guards but it is “run” by the PS who charges the fees.
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“Boat rides were on offer by “Kasurina Boat Service”.
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“I have seen two boats there but your picture shows three. I believe that the first two boats were owned by local fishermen and if the Navy has added a boat that is wrong. Earlier the boats had no life jackets. There is a Navy owned small restaurant but since I never found it open they may have closed it permanently.
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“We were told we could not bathe the dogs because it was unhealthy for other bathers.”
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I have taken a dog for a swim there but not very recently.
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“The Real Numbers”
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Sources please!
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“The police with their 178 stations having 50,000 armed policemen”
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According to Wikipedia there are around 77000 members of the police force.
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I am not certain about what the problem of armed forces occupying government land is. It may be better for the environment.
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wannihami / August 25, 2018
Hoole, you know very well about the NATO forces and the “Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF)” that is in Europe, although the second world war ended 75 years ago and the cold war ended 28 years ago, and in addition US has 50-20,000 troops in Japan, S. Korea and Germany. Why is that? To prevent a recurrence of a another global war, and in the same sense why shouldn’t SL government place troops in the wanni and the north, to stop seeds of another bloody civil war from taking root. It is good for the Tamils and Muslims and Sinhalese.
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Real Peace / August 26, 2018
Rubbish! Japan wants the US to keep its force in Japan. US is not staying in the countries you mentioned against their will. Clarify facts before posting.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
I did Real Peace, have you checked what Japan’s military option were after second world war. I think you should read history before you post.
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Raman / August 26, 2018
Wannihamy,
You know damn well that that there is an external enemy in both Japan and China.
Do you mean that the North is a different country? If so, let them vote.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
Raman, are you a bit slow today? There is an external enemy for Sri Lanka, it is called the LTTE sympathizing Tamil diaspora (oh I am sure you are not one of them, but are you?) and the TEGE and the western NGOs who are waiting to make a buck from another war.
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K.Pillai / August 25, 2018
There were (and still are) a large section of Lankans who say “We do not have second-class-Lankans”. The SRH Hoole’s article describes the daily life of the second-kind under occupying Armed Services of the first kind.
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The advent of an election slogan based on language/religion-divide led to the strengthening of the Armed Services. MR permitted the Armed Services to take up hospitality, tourism, vegetable/groceries etc (to earn pocket money). The Armed Services took the offer enthusiastically but (for obvious reasons) applied it in N&E. Land grab, take over of business etc occurred as a result. The once detested N&E posting soon were much sought after. The Armed Services have grown into a behemoth and mono-ethnic.
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Successive Foreign Ministry of GoSL portrayed (had to) the Armed Services as angels. SRH H describes the GoSL efforts as ‘sleight of hands and lies’. The sleight of hands is clumsy and slower than slow motion. The lies are of primary school level.
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Thank you SRH H for the article. Serious reads are necessary. The seventy-year grievance will not go away.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Dear K.Pillai,
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I’m sure that your unqualified praise will help us all.
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That statement is deliberately quixotic, while yours doesn’t seem to be so.
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Even Kumar R, has some faint praise for this article. One learns to be grateful for small mercies.
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wannihami / August 25, 2018
And another thing: Hoole conveniently forget to mention is that Kent and Dollar Farms as well as other Farms of more than 1000 acres each were leased around 1965 to 14 or so Tamil individuals and that lease was subsequently cancelled. One wonders what kind of shares Hooles held on these lands. Shedding crocodile tears are we M. Hoole?
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Vannisaamy / August 26, 2018
Interesting name, wannihaamy= vanni+saami, = Lord of the Vanni. More likely you are one of the famous 14 saamy=haami= land holders.
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wannihami / August 26, 2018
Was in another carnation in 1965, so who knows
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sach / August 26, 2018
Thanks for revealing that. I did not know the land was leased which Hoole does not say
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JD / August 25, 2018
What Hoole says as the bible says everything that Sri lanka does is Lies.
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Lester / August 25, 2018
There are 80 million Tamil speakers worldwide. What is so special about Jaffna Tamils? Notice, the focus of the article is on Jaffna Tamils. These fellows got some privileges from the British, namely, access to English-level education. Some of their elite were so desperate to hold on to the privileges that they sponsored a low-caste member to start a separatist war. Now that the war is over, Mr. Hoole (elite) is again campaigning for the privileges. I suggest Mr. Hoole take the following into consideration: (1) many thousands of Sinhalese also died at the hands of Sinhalese during the JVP uprising (2) LTTE destroyed the economic potential of Sri Lanka for decades and chased the intellectual capital away (including Mr. Hoole), (3) the Government must take extraordinary measures to ensure there will never be another separatist uprising. Colonization and militarization are perhaps a “necessary” evil (4) the fastest growing demographic in Sri Lanka are Muslims, not Sinhalese.
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Sinhala_Man / August 26, 2018
Lester,
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You are wrong. these guys have suffered much.
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However, I do agree with those who say that they must be more conscious of Tamils elsewhere in the country (who never had it good), and also poor Sinhalese villagers.
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Also, one doesn’t have to be a racist to say that the world is terribly over-populated (Jeevan having contributed much?)
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shankar / August 26, 2018
Lester the village jester
sponsored a low-caste member
karaiyar/karawe will never consider themselves as low caste.They will always consider that they are higher than vellala/govigama cos the sinhalese kings permitted them to have their own flag.Also during portuguese times they held sway and were the dominant caste.It was the british that removed them from that position and gave the top jobs to vellalar /govi.I think if they were treated as a equal caste by govi and vellalar w would not have had them trying to come to power through the bullet instead of the ballot.It is the caste ridden society of ours that threw out karaiyar prbha and karawe wijeweera on their murderous rampage.
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Lester / August 27, 2018
There is no caste among Sinhalese. Only a few Kandyans use the title now. When Sinhalese go overseas they marry Europeans in great numbers without horoscope, dowry, or other nonsense. Anyway, Sinhalese are not pretenders like you (dark-skinned) Muslims, who claim to be Arabians, but are really low caste Tamil converts.
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Sinhala_Man / August 27, 2018
Lester,
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There is so much caste among us that I know clearly what my caste is. Such knowledge is forced upon us. I can’t now “unlearn” what I know. However, I choose not to talk about it.
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I had a horoscope; I burnt it when I was a teenager. I can’t get one made now, (even to satisfy curiosity) since I don’t know the exact time. I know the date and place of birth – in my BC actually.
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Many Tamils are exactly like me in those respects.
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However, if we must compare communities, caste seems to matter more in the Jaffna peninsula than elsewhere in the island. Let’s hope that changes, but let Jeevan Hoole not try to do it. Let us hope that he has come to understand the difference between “ballage weda” and “booruwage weda”.
He has huge contributions to make elsewhere.
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And we have to put many things right in our own spheres of activity.
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Lester / August 27, 2018
Dear Sinhala_Man,
Some of the Tamils (not Mr. Hoole) made a huge bet with the LTTE and lost. There is a saying among gamblers, “never bet against the House.” I think this explains the Tamil predicament today. The “House” is taking its cut (colonization, militarization, etc.) and the Tamils are without proper leadership or representation, so they are frustrated by what they see as “injustice” here and there. It is an unfortunate situation, but as gamblers know, be aware of your potential loss before rolling the dice!
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shankar / August 28, 2018
“There is no caste among Sinhalese”
Ha,ha,ha.Lester,you donkey,why don’t you look at the matrimonial columns.Look at our leaders from independence except for premedasa.who had to go and fight and fight in JRJ’s house every day to become his successor and one days mrs.JRJ had enough and asked him not to come anymore as her husband is not well.
What happened to CP.De Silva of salagama caste.If he was given the top job at that time this country won’t be what it is now.A extremely able man.Governor general oliver goonetilleke axed him because of the pressure from the govigama.
Though the govigama keep on whingeing about the corruption in the country,non corrupt JVP is always stuck on 500000 to 700000 votes which is mostly their caste karawe,durawe.salagama etc.It is better to let their own govigama plunder the country than giving a foothold for the karawe to take over.
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punitham / August 26, 2018
We cannot thank you enough fr this tireless service.
Can RTI discrepancies be brought t the attention of that department/office?
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