President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday provided New Delhi with a ready excuse for a likely vote in favour of a US backed resolution at the UN Human Rights Council Session this month, saying electoral compulsions in the country were understandable.
“Last year they voted against us. This year we do not know what they will do. But they have to face an election and must think about the future. As politicians we understand other politicians,” President Rajapaksa told the Foreign Correspondents Association at Temple Trees last afternoon.
He acknowledged that he was “uncomfortable” about the resolutions against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC, and said he believed there should not be any resolutions against the country at all.
Asked if he believed the US was aiming at regime change by bringing resolution after resolution at the Council, Rajapaksa responded that there could be a ‘hidden agenda’. “As long as the people are with me, I am not afraid,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s president on Friday acknowledged his discomfort at the prospect of being censured by the UN’s top rights body, as he accused Washington of treating Colombo like Muhammad Ali’s “punching bag”.
External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris who also attended the meeting with the foreign correspondents said that the Sri Lanka issue was becoming a “nuisance” for member states of the UNHRC. “There is no appetite for this type of disproportionate resolution in Geneva,” Peiris said.
Rajapakse’s unease at the likely upbraiding in Geneva was echoed by his Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris who told the gathering: “We feel acutely uncomfortable by the pressure brought on us by a powerful country.”
*Photo credit – Facebook Page – Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka
Burning_Issue / March 1, 2014
“We feel acutely uncomfortable by the pressure brought on us by a powerful country.”
We the Tamils in Sri Lanka feel exactly the same that the majority Sinhala Buddhists put undue pressure on us; we are being treated as second class citizens deprived of our language and freedom.
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Babanis / March 1, 2014
as if the pressure on the country is for no reasons ?
Tricks – “As long as the people are with me, I am not afraid,”
Donkey folks would get deceived this time too to win Southern and Western provinces – then he will go on saying ” look people still like my administration”. These peoples should raise more questions in terms of unbearable abuses in tax payers’s funds in the name of so called concrete developments. At least how much they spent for CHOGM circus, president should have to inform his nation. COPE should screen them since people have lost the faith in money matters of the current regime.
Poorest of the poor should struggle for the survival while these politicians make fat their pockets.
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sun / March 2, 2014
These people make money hand over fist by abusing the funds of tax payers of this country to the core.
I think if anyone would change the constitution, they should amend it to the manner that any presidential, ministerial or other law maker candidates must have declare their assets before taking the office. So that transparency and acocuntablitiy of their assets could be made clear at the end of eachone´s termination of the office.
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Sama / March 3, 2014
Nation´s meeharaka (wild buffaloe) would guide us ruining the country.
If worst comes to worst, we the nation have to face long held economic or other forms of sanctions. Rajapakshes looted everything, so they will leave the country for better destinations.
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Piranha / March 1, 2014
Acutely uncomfortable? More discomfort brought upon this regime the better. Nothing else will work. The war criminals are trying to escape punishment and that cannot be just or right.
Rajapaksa is trying to hide behind the people but that won’t work. Gaddaffi and Saddam also had the people behind them and we know what happened to them. They died like dogs at the hands of their own people.
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aratai / March 1, 2014
.
MaRa is absolutely correct…
Politicians understands Politicians….
but Politicians does not understands the Ordinary Citizen.
:-)
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MrRetort / March 1, 2014
But politicians in Sri Lankan government have the know how to fool citizen in Grand Style.
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DrThalanabtu / March 2, 2014
And the let me put it in that way too; folks in sl though literate but very stupid to get caught repeatedly by political thugs supporting to MR regime.
Dont you guys feel that any leader could bring today´s kind of road developments. Go to Kenya, Go to Nigeria, Go to several other far poor countries in African continets, then you will see how the Chinese have been going on with their projects. Chinese are clever at making long term bridges with rest of the world intending theiR future targets.
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R. Varathan / March 1, 2014
The learned and articulate Prof. G.L. Peiris should also educate the President and the country the UNHRC meeting at Geneva deals with
issues in many countries – although the Rajapakse regime wants
to mislead the country – notably the Sinhala electorate – that the
meeting in Geneva in a few days is held only to punish Sri Lanka. In fact, the bigger issue is Syria, CAR and many others. The well-informed Foreign Correspondents cannot be taken for a ride although, for the sake of courtesy, they may have maintained silence.
R. Varathan
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mike / March 1, 2014
Day in and day out Hitlerpassa appears to be wanting to go to the LOO. He might even consider cancelling the opening of all public toilets bearing his name!
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Amarasiri / March 1, 2014
Politicians Understand Politicians,
“Last year they voted against us. This year we do not know what they will do. But they have to face an election and must think about the future. As politicians we understand other politicians,” President Rajapaksa told the Foreign Correspondents Association at Temple Trees last afternoon.”
And Thieves and Crooks understand other Thieves and Crooks.
Have you heard about Raigamaya and Gampolaya Mr. Singh? They are well-known in Sri Lanka.
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Rationalist / March 6, 2014
“Birds of a Feather, Flock Together”!
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / March 1, 2014
‘ Paambin kaal , pambariyum’ – Tamil proverb, meaning, snakes can recognise the feet of other snakes.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / March 1, 2014
” As politicians we understand other politicians”.
Oh Yes, No need to do Boasting.
further more, As a Thug Boss, He Understand The Other Under world Kudu dealers And killer Thugs too,
Good Example Is ME, ” THE JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA”.
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K.A Sumanasekera / March 1, 2014
Does Manmohan want to give Jayalalitha a free kick in the dying days of his Administration?.
Gandhis and Nehrus fought to keep India on the Middle Path,by standing up to the Americans, and worked hard to keep the country together.
US in recent times has hijacked the Indian Govt to serve its interests.
Recent Indian Govts have watched the US and her Western buddies destroying Iraq, Libya and Syria. who were the allies of India…,
Now the Indian Govt is helping the US and the West to wreak havoc in Srilanka .
The anti Muslim Modi ,will drive India totally into the US orbit.
And stir up anti Muslim sentiments among the Hindians to consolidate his power.
Modi will need the US to control the Muslims.
US may help Jayalalitha too if she decides to fulfil the Diaspora dream of Eelaam.
Politicians may understand each other,
Whether this sort of politics is in the interest of the poor inhabitants in their respective countries is the question?.
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Paul / March 1, 2014
Prime Minister Cameron and President Obama are sitting in a bar …
A Sri Lankan guy walks in and asks the barman, ‘Isn’t that Cameron and Obama sitting over there?’
‘Yes’ says the bartender ‘that’s them’
So the Sri Lankan walks over and says, ‘Wow, this is a real honor! What are you guys doing in here?’
Cameron says, ‘We’re planning regime change in Sri Lanka.’
The guy says, ‘Really? What’s going to happen?’
Obama says, ‘Well, we want Sri Lanka to be democratic so we’re going to kill about half a million innocent people and one blonde with big boobs’
The guy exclaimed, ‘A blonde with big boobs? Why kill a blonde with big boobs?’
Cameron turns to Obama and says, ‘See, I told you. No one gives a shit whether Sri Lanka is democratic!
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Javi / March 2, 2014
(゜゜)～ “”‘A blonde with big boobs? Why kill a blonde with big boobs?’
Cameron turns to Obama and says, ‘See, I told you.
No one gives a–“shit”– whether Sri Lanka is democratic!”” (゜゜)～
bomb ●～*,I don’t know but “I wouldn’t try smelling” it. ●～*bomb…●～*bomb
The walls of the bar echoed “Lanka cooperate corruption is infectious”
All Lankans would love to have their money back. ◕‿◕
Mahinda the Mad loses his support and the ‘dictators’ assets’ and return them to Lanka : there is a long list of despots who have hidden money in Swiss Banks.
______________
When America used human rights violations and lack of democratic governance, countries under attack used to mobilize their people to protest against America and take refuge under the shield of nationalism.
However, since of late America has learnt that the best way to counter nationalistic fervour stirred up by recalcitrant political leaders in such countries is to use their corruption as a weapon to attack and suppress them.
When the common masses in such countries become aware that the leaders they have vowed to protect from American attacks are in reality plunderers and squanderers of their country’s wealth, they feel the Americans are justified in trying to expel them from power for the greater good of the people.
In such a scenario, people will give their seal of approval for the American actions to get rid of such leaders. In recent times, several media reports revealed details about secret bank accounts of Sri Lankans maintained in Swiss banks.
Investments by Sri Lankan individuals, companies, or the Sri Lankan Government in secret Swiss accounts totalled more than 85 million Swiss Francs in 2011. While liabilities listed against Sri Lanka were 44 million Swiss Francs in the same year, official data from the Swiss National Bank show.
In orchestrating the events leading to the downfall of Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Gadaffi in Libya, America used their corruption as its main weapon for attacking their dictatorial regimes.
Recently, UNP Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella declared in Parliament that about 400 powerful government henchmen have stashed away plundered money in Swiss Bank accounts.
Biswal had included corruption charge against the Lankan government, presumably being fully armed with extensive and reliable information about the widespread corruption for which the present government is responsible.
Imagine the undervalued dollar; the Middle East woman loses he rupee due to corruption. The money that your grandchildren have to pay the Chinese to relieve you of your assets (over 50% corruption banked) the jail bird and corrupt Chinese left- 60 years on it was a local job like a cricket team external management. Like Premadasa stadium this would sink.
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Spark / March 1, 2014
“Washington of treating Colombo like Muhammad Ali’s “punching bag”
The tamils were also a punching bag under the Rajapakse regime specifically during the last stages of the war where 40,000 innocent tamil civilians are presumably bludgeoned. As Lord Buddha preached “you reap what you sow” and Rajapakse justly deserves the punching, this time from the international community.
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Sally Wilson / March 1, 2014
Yes – you reap what you sow.
The time has come to avenge the blood of innocents.
”The moving finger writes and having writ
Moves on, nor all thy piety or wit
Shall lure back to cancel half a line
Nor all thy Tears wash out a word of it ”
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Sally Wilson / March 1, 2014
Yes ” you reap what you sow”
The time has come for Humanity to avenge the blood of innocents.
” The moving finger writes and having writ
Moves on, nor all thy Piety or wit
Shall lure back to cancel half a line
Nor all thy Tears wash out a word of it ”
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Sandy / March 1, 2014
‘Every lie has a consequence.. you cannot escape that’- Gary King.
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Javi / March 1, 2014
““As long as the people are with me, I am not afraid,” he added.”
The very people who support you passa would ditch you when the hidden wealth is exposed by the US. You are just another stupid gaas gemba, meeharaka.
To the surprise of all politicians including Tamils on this site the US will get the regime on corruption and display a spread sheet of ill begotten wealth the same way they got Egypt, Tunisia.
After 9/11 it has become ill legal even for offshore bankers to permit banking from the sale of drugs, crime and terror. This money would be sent back to the people once they topple the regime.
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Ajith / March 1, 2014
What is the difference between Powerful Nation US and Powerful President Rajapakse?
The powerful Nation US has a healthy and powerful democracy, rule of law and independent justice system
The Powerful President Rajapakse has corrupted, undemocratic, law of jungle and injustice justice system run by his Family.
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whywhy / March 3, 2014
Why not,why not!All crabs are well trained to walk
STRAIGHT!!!
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