By Sanjana Hattotuwa –
Sanjana Hattotuwa
The Rajapaksa government will fall and several in it will have to answer allegations of war crimes. There are many who will disagree with both assertions, indeed, violently and with the usual rhetoric. The animating logic behind regime longevity, seen from within government, is that the international community will forget Nandikadal in May 2009.
This is unlikely.
Phaidon’s colossal ‘Decade’ is the sequel to ‘Century’. It’s not available in Sri Lanka, but at Waterstones or Barnes and Noble there is usually a display copy one can peruse. Sri Lanka is featured, from memory, twice in the tome. One photo features the LTTE’s attack on Katunayake Airport. The other is a far more interesting photo. It is one taken when Prabhakaran’s freshly killed body is being taken on a stretcher across a ditch in May 2009, with dozens of soldiers looking on. The photo in and of itself is a revealing frame, but if one looks closely, there are over 13 cameras – including camera phones – captured in that single shot. It is improbable that the soldiers, after the zenith of war, rushed back to their homes and returned after picking up their cameras or mobile phones to capture this moment. It is logical to assume they had these cameras and mobile phones with them throughout the final weeks of war. What are personal digital trophies of war are in fact records of intent, orders and action in the frontlines. They will go public.
Former BBC correspondent Frances Harrison has just released a book with harrowing testimonies by those trapped in and around Nandikadal. It will be progressively released globally, and with each launch, add to scrutiny on Sri Lanka. With each review of the book – good, bad or indifferent – attention on Sri Lanka’s bloody secrets increases. Channel 4, it was noted on Twitter recently, is working on yet another documentary on the end of the war. High-resolution satellite imagery that can be commercially acquired based on initial scoping, for zero cost, via Google Earth can highlight instances of shelling, and through more rigorous analysis, direction of fire. Inferring by extension which party shelled where, when and how often is possible. The UN Human Rights Council is not going to forget its March Resolution. The real nature and extent to which cluster munitions on the ground have been discovered, though obscure and very contested now, will in the months and years to come, invariably filter out. One reason why some openly supportive of and close to the former Army Commander haven’t met with fatal accidents post-war is possibly because in the event of their death or disappearance, it has been made known that content will be released to international and domestic fora, including media, which can put the government in an uncomfortable and untenable position. It is unlikely all the information submitted to and acquired by the UN Panel of Experts was reflected in its final report and released publicly. This information can months and years hence, by strategic design or sheer carelessness, leak. Individuals who have not been paid for their work and never travelled to Sri Lanka have interviewed those on the ground in the final weeks of war in duty stations like Haiti, beyond Government scrutiny. The resulting reports again highlight horrific ground conditions at the end of war. With every single international event Sri Lanka hosts – be it cultural, film, sports, literary or political – sections of the diaspora will raise the volume on human rights abuses. The more Sri Lanka engages with the international community on bilateral and multilateral issues and agreements, the more these alternative narratives will persist, pique and propagate.
Several staples bind these disparate information release points over an extended temporal arc that weaves through many capitals. One, they will be predominantly against government. LTTE atrocities will be noted in passing, at best. Two, there is no one left in Sri Lanka the government can kill to thwart the release of this information or analysis. In fact, such moves may accelerate their release and dissemination. Three, each release or leak will be increasingly graphic and therefore more telegenic. Four, released predominantly online, this content will have a long-tail – that is, it cannot be erased and will be used and useful long after first publication or release. Five, accountability will take the form of domestic and international public shaming long before any IHL is brought to bear. Five, regime instability can be fermented from within. The discussion and release of inconvenient truths can over time and cumulatively become a body of evidence too hard to defend publicly or be associated with. After all, regime apparatchiks also have a basic survival instinct.
In the fullness of time, whether the underlying mechanics of illiberal governance and not just government is changed remains the only open question.
Courtesy Sajanana’s blog
Celerati Editorial / October 19, 2012
I deeply thank you for this article. Especially because of the way you address the concept of regime change. It is not a move against the Sri Lankan citizens or state, it is not even targeted in particular at the Rajapaksa administration, but it is a firm statement that the price of war crimes and atrocities is paid by all Sri Lankans. For their own good, accountability and justice must be enforced. All Sri Lankans should champion human rights. It is not about Tamil Eelam, or even lesser about LTTE. But it is neither for the Tamils alone. The right of living in peace, protected and not harmed by the government must apply to everybody.
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Pathola / October 20, 2012
There are lots of open questions that this fellow, Sanjana in his usual COCK sure manner of course overlooks..
The fact is that the UNP headed by Ranil W is dead in the water – destroyed by Ranil W and there is no alternative to Rajapakse (TINA) at this time, so all this prating about war crimes trials is useless.
Sanjana the brash brat should take on Ranil the other dictator – but then these Colombo NGO types love to befriend him..
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Leela / October 22, 2012
Not just silent on RanilW now, Sanjana and co were totally mum when TNA appointed LTTE meaning Tamil dictator Pirapakaran as the sole representatives of Tamils. They couldn’t careless so long as they please their pay masters and get their buck in a cool way.
Leela
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CountryonDogs / October 22, 2012
Leela,
why not you better concentrate on the substance of the article and leave your comments basing on that ?
If you re on drug, please try to seek the healing – and then come and join those who feel the Regime change is a must in saving the country from marauders – bunch of thieves – continuing not giving the highest priority to the education – latter is alone an indication for sane person to see why we should go against the rulers.
Wake up and help hand the FUTA to save the nation – this you may better judge having had your education on the WEST. You can better compare the situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKQk54-A1Ug&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezXvdeas-fs&feature=related
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Native Vedda / October 22, 2012
Leela
When people were being butchered in the war you too were silent and you did stuck to your obsession with Vaddukkottai.
“as they please their pay masters and get their buck in a cool way”.
Who got what from whom?
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Leela / October 22, 2012
…Dogs,
As far as I could see 6% and other demands of FUTA are not practical for us right now. Even if FUTA is correct in what they say, their style of agitation could only have brought chaos to this country. It is obvious that FUTA wanted ‘regime’ change.
Ongoing localized agitations are different. They have no political undertones. Agitators leave political parties and its radicals out. Affected people talk directly with the authorities and get their problems solved without Lalkatha type? Because; they want government to remain and ongoing peace to prevail. Sanjana and co doesn’t understand this reality for theirs and FUTA aim is different. FUTA of cause had started to fail, and they failed.
Supposing FUTA succeeded as you guys want. And who would rule us after their ‘regime’ change exercise. RanilW or Fonseka or Amila? Or are we to let the US to propel their chosen johnny forward like they did in those countries where they manipulated Arab spring.
How could FUTA save the nation when they do not have a political party or a leader who could keep the country together let lone run it.
Leela
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CountryonDogs / October 22, 2012
Leela,
Your NAIVITY is becoming clearer hina hina hathara hina :) I can even laugh from the other end when I read this.
Baby girl, :( though you are in your late 60 or 70 ties by now, WILL YOU please just let the following chain go through your head: then perhaps, will help rethink about the need.
MORE INV ON EDUCATION-> THROUGH MORE RESEARCH -> MORE LOCAL INDUDSTRIES -> MORE LOCAL PRODUCTS -> LESS IMPORTED PRODUCTS -> GROWTH OF ECONOMY
I wish any expert could please add few line in terms of the relation between economic growth and increase of local products. Then Leela and her ilk will finally realize – the need of the hour is nothing else than investing MORE on education. It must not necessarily be 6% at once, but within next few years also respecting don´s INSTRCUTIONS. SB (Supiri Boru) can NO WAY help in this regard, should be clear to the masses atleast today- if OUR intention is to see the future in high eduction sector. He should better leave the office as it is the usual case for an incable ministers on EU soils. The man with no SHAME have no brains to realize the value of Uni Dons.
If Leela and the other applogists of current rulers will FURTHER help collosal billions of peopleS funds that have been WASTED through state corruption to become doubled – as COPE report CLEARLY reveals – the OUR POOR nation will end up – before long with what pakistan and egypt face today.
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Mike Hammer / October 19, 2012
Now let the pro LTTE lobby hail this writer :)
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gamini / October 20, 2012
For some pea brains, if someone talk of factual evidence, they are LTTE lobbyst, working for $. What rationale, what Logic?
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Mike Hammer / October 20, 2012
that’s rich coming from an unabashed apologist LTTE with little or no grey matter
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Peter / October 20, 2012
It’s even richer coming from an apologist for the regime – like you – who’s ill-logic infers that anyone critical of the regime has to be sympathetic to the LTTE.
RW? No, not Ranil W. Surely you can do better than that?!!
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srilal / October 20, 2012
Peter ,
Don’t waste your time on this guy, he is none other than our very own Mark webber=kalu albert=TT=DB
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David Blacker / October 22, 2012
Sorry to see your foolishness continues to dog you like a bitch in heat, “Srilal”. Unlike you, I’m not ashamed to use my real name :D
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warELephant / October 21, 2012
This was a war. It is unfair that people who died at the end of the war should get justice. Innocent people died throughout the war, especially the ethnic cleansing carried out by the Ltte in 1991, when they massacred Muslims during Friday prayers.
I say leave this matter alone. And let us forget And assume the identity of Sri lankans.
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Java Jones / October 20, 2012
It doesn’t look like the “hailing” is restricted to any particular “lobby”. For those of us interested in the truth, as most of the commenters reveal, Sanjana’s view is eminently appreciated.
Mickey Spillane would be appalled that his detective’s name be so misused – so ‘liberally’ to boot!!
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Gini Appu / October 19, 2012
@ MikeHammer – Why don’t we just kill the messenger? We can then deny the LTTE lobby the pleasure and comfortably bury our heads in the sand till the next sandstorm passes by.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 19, 2012
The truth usually lies in between the extremes, which in this case means it lies between Hattotuwe and ‘Hammer’. A vast majority of cases the world over show that the likely outcome is one of replacement or evolution (Spain, Portugal, USSR/Russia, the Philippines, Myanmar etc), which outflanks and neutralises the issue of full-on accountability. Hardly any successor regime risks moving beyond specific, individual cases of criminal prosecution and punishment, to full-frontal accountability even in the case of an unpopular war– let alone a vastly popular one. No successor regime could survive such a course of action. Sanjana’s scenario is an outlier, with few if any precedents; ex-Yugoslavia not being one, because in that instance, the state– the country– had itself disappeared.
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Native Vedda / October 19, 2012
Dr Dayan Jayatilleka
Please ask the diplomatic community in France for information on countries where serious war crime investigations are taking place after many years of denial.
For example, investigations are being carried out in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, African countries, South American, Europe countries,………………etc.
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Mike Hammer / October 19, 2012
I see a major flaw in Sanjana’s analysis. That is he seems to assume that a concerted International Action ( which he has not insinuated yet we can safely assume would take form of economic sanctions engendering from whatever will happen in March 2013) would automatically lead to Regime Change , in short outside influence could act as Syntocinon facilitating birth of a liberal democracy. Nothing could be far removed from ground realities.
Let’s face it. As Solheim correctly pointed out, the acts of terrorism, carried out by LTTE against civilian targets , made majority Sinhalese largely apathetic to the plight of the Tamil civilians ( and atrocities committed by security forces made Tamils vice versa) . The malaise of terrorism which dominated Sri Lankan polity for 30 years ,came to and end in May 2009 and with it an overwhelming majority of Sinhalese across party lines supported Rajapakse administration. Therefore to think such sanctions regime detrimental to Tamils and Sinhalese would carry the day is sheer fantasy.
With its demonstrated use of sheer adaptability I’m sure the regime would try to use International pressure to own advantage further legitimizing outlandish claims made by ultra nationalists.
Let’s also look back at the history. Despite it’s huge unpopularity and in spite of the presence of a strong left wing nationalist lobby, JRJ Administration could not be thwarted by mass action on the streets as the anti regime types regrettably learned in 1987. If anarchy reigned then could not dislodge a regime with superior fire power nothing of that sort could be expected now with trenchant militiriation that we see today with more to come and opposition in tatters.
What is needed is not a regime change but a paradigm shift in the entire political system to undo the damage made to democracy of this country from 1972 onward.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 19, 2012
Sanjana’s interesting analysis and progonistication are based on at least two false assumptions: (i)that the domestic consensus on the war is limited to the support base of the incumbent regime, when it is in fact considerably wider (ii) that the photos of the dead Prabhakaran– and the effect of those photos–are in the same category as others such as those of Isapriya. It is doubtful that the photo of Prabhakaran with a hole in his head will ever be considered as evidence of a crime, or even negatively, by the vast majority of Sri Lanka’s citizens, whichever administration or regime wields power.
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Beyond surprised / October 19, 2012
Dayan Jayatilleka:
Are you seeking charter membership in the Koheda Yanne, Malle Pol brigade? Read what Sanjana has to say about the CAMERAS BEING CARRIED by those observing VP’s body instead of deliberately misinterpreting what he says to mean that they are taking pics of VP’s body. But then nobody has every accused you of intellectual or any other kind of honesty in the past and why should they now?
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Native Vedda / October 19, 2012
Beyond surprised
I am surprised to read your comment “But then nobody has every accused you of intellectual or any other kind of honesty in the past and why should they now?”
I have said so and time and again I questioned his intellectual honesty. Man never responded.
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srilal / October 19, 2012
What a moron, where did you get your P.hD ? is it similar to Mervin silva’s P.hD ?
what Sanjana says , there were ample evidence to show, soldiers did carry their personal cameras /mobiles and did shoot/take compromising incidents during the final days of the war .
Sanjana would not have written such details without any hard evidence to back his claims ,you on the hand as usual get offended by the real facts / claims and try to ridicule him.
by the way how was Sajin vas’s medicine for you , digested and cured I suppose , ready to leave on February ? i’m sure many people like me having the last laugh …Hoooo
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David Blacker / October 25, 2012
So where is this “hard evidence” everyone claims they possess but no one is willing to produce? :D
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srilal / October 20, 2012
Dear Dayan ,
What is your next laundry assignment my dear Dayan , or are you planning to go back to NUS where you can couple with the other bogus professor .
i have a suggestion for your accommodation , there is a place called Dhobi(MRT station ) in Singapore , that place exactly matches your line of work , so please think about it , if you were to go back to Singapore again.
Best regards
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Leon / October 19, 2012
A new precedent would be created as the Tamil Diaspora which is over a million strong,highly educated and motivated, though disunited,will make every effort, however long it takes, to bring those responsible for the “unimaginable human catastrophe” to justice for war crimes and crimes against humanity.The wheels of justice may grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine.As Aldous Huxley said “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history”
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Dominique / October 19, 2012
Jovial article, full of imagination.
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gamini / October 20, 2012
It is indeed Jovial for those blood thirsty, to see Humans being massacred as long as they are on the otherside. No Pain and No Shame!
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punchinilame / October 19, 2012
The front life defence witness will be made up Dayan, Rajiva, Rohana
Kohana followed by KP and others is one guess. They are over-anxiously
waiting directions. The time is not ripe for such activity.
Photographic evidence as described by the No. of mobile phone cameras
used is nothing compared to what the embedded Videographer of SLA Mr.
Ramawickerma has hidden in Gotas archives at the MOD, which includes
all what was shown on Channel4 todate?
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Mike Hammer / October 19, 2012
PunchiNilame
Are we to assume that you were given a tour of the MOD complete with access to it’s archives or is this a figment of your fertile imagination ???
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gamini / October 19, 2012
I wish that this whole thing orchestrated by the Patriots and their foreign counterparts are exposed and dealt with sooner than later. Afterall it is said that TRUTH will surface one day. That day I ilke to see the bloody perpetrators being marched for judgement and the apologists made to eat their vomit. Till then we will endure.
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Native Vedda / October 19, 2012
gamini
Let TRUTH surface.
We have seen rivers of blood in the past 40 years. Let us endeavour to seek justice for the war victims. However retribution is not the right path to reconciliation.
Those who confess to war crime should be forgiven. Those smart arsed war crime deniers/and perpetrators should be sent to “rehabilitation and Reeducation” boot camps where they can learn all about humanity.
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PresiDunce Bean / October 21, 2012
@gamini
The Buddha said it the best…Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth… :)
…the Mike Hammer’s of this world will realise one fine day. :)
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renu / October 20, 2012
Dayan Jayathilake You have Tamil blood in you though you got position through this Government, Everyone in Sroi-Lanka knows what happend in the last week of the war, Justice has to prevail and must be done by this Government or the next or by the International Fora
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Peter / October 20, 2012
Mike Hammer aka RW, chief apologist for the GOSL sounds decidedly nervous. Wonder why?!!
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Mike Hammer / October 20, 2012
Peter
Who on earth is RW ??? Ranil Wickremasinghe ? :)
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Bedrock Barney / October 20, 2012
RAJAPAKSE FALL = TIGER VICTORY!, This false dichotomy permeates the thought process of the rural people of this country. The government has done well to solidify this position. It enables impunity, arbitrariness, graft etc. Any external interference will be successfully used by the GOSL spin doctors as further proof of the above mentioned equation. Any regime change will depend on how well this perception can be countered.
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PresiDunce Bean / October 21, 2012
@Bedrock Barney
…you are correct…it will take a long time for people to realise.
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Saman Wijesiri / October 20, 2012
Reconciliation leading to lasting ethnic harmony and national unity will never be a reality as long as we hush up the war crimes said to have been committed by both parties during the final phase of the war. Let us know the truth. It may hurt a few people in the short run, but will help pave the way for the healing of ethnic wounds in the long run. The Sinhala majority should be magnanimous enough to say `sorry’ to Tamils for the misery and suffering caused to the non-combatant Tamil civilians. The Tamils too will then, no doubt, apologize to the Sinhalese for the death and destruction caused by terrorism in the South.Of course,the Muslims too suffered and they too owe an apology. Let the Sinhalese majority first extend the hand of friendship. If the Tamils in the North and East are compelled to continue to suffer various acts of injustice under a heavily militarized rule, they will, no doubt, come round to the collective view: Prabhakaran was right after all. Our liberation lies only through the gun barrel.The 18th Amendment, Divineguma Bill and various other measures taken by the government that militate against democratic governance will certainly lend support this collective view. I think a sizable section of the educated Sinhalese prefer skirting the reality and living in a dreamland to knowing the bitter truth. The facts revealed by Sanjana help bring them down to terra firma.
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genga / October 20, 2012
Dayan you were a POW during the time of JRJ and we know who were protecting you, touch your heart and atleast tell the truth about what happened during the end of the war. Do not waste talking about LTTE and their past. what is the way forward, if you talk about reconciliation then the war crimianl need to be punished/face justice
Ranil can not rule the country as even he cant keep his own party united under his leadership. If we keep avoiding justice to innocents who suffered, then there will be an intervention that you or even any pandits can not avoid. if Mr realy think of avoiding foreign intervention then he must leave and face justice and work hard of power sharing with the TAMILS. new constitution and 50-50 is the solution and you hyave to accept that otherwise you face the consequence. do not talk your theories that will not work with the fast moving world that want to see real action no more talking and fooling people
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gonapidurukewa / October 20, 2012
All those ‘bakapandithayas’ who have tried to split the hair above, I will ask you just one question. Do anyone of you know a method to win a war without civilian casualties, when the enemy purpously take them with him for obvious reasons, live and fire at you from among them?? Sanjana Hattotuwa, I doubt is born with an iota of Srilankan gene in him or he is one of those who has never ever studied in a srilankan school during the past 30 years, one who travelled in a train or a public bus during that period or even lived in this country. If he did so, he wouldn’t have written such an article, forget what is right or wrong. ARE YOU A SRILANKAN????????????
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Chandra / October 20, 2012
The question is not just about civilian casualties; it is if civilians died in cross-fire or civilians (and terrorists/fighters) were killed after they surrendered. Don’t you think that is of interest? If you were in control, what would you want to do with a terrorist whom you have captured alive — kill him, or put him on trial and make him answer for deadly actions he did? As a Sri Lankan, which do you think is behavior consistent with our values? Which of the two do you think is the right standards by which we should build the future of our society and country?
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Justice / October 20, 2012
Chandra,
The SLAir Force boasted of 25,000 bombing missions.Bombs did not kill only LTTE cadres. They were not ‘precision weapons’.
SL maybe the only country which bombed its own citizens.
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Leela / October 22, 2012
If SLAF Kafir and a MIG could pin point and target only Tamil Selven bunker dug inside a safe house in the midst of civilian houses and demolish it and kill him with no collateral damage which idiot says; Kafirs and MIGs, the back born of SLAF are not ‘precise weapons’. Also I say to such people, towards the end of the war, our pilots were as good as any other to take out targets precisely.
Willing or unwillingly, if civilians become ‘makkal padai’ and sentries to Pirapakaran and co and die in air raids or other raids, surely, it cannot be ‘war crimes’. After all Eelam 1V was not initiated by MR. Pirapakaran asked for it ever since MR became president through various acts. When he closed the Mavil Aru, forced thirst and dehydration on thousands of people, MR had no choice. MR ordered the army to open the Mavil Aru and continue the war to finish.
Which commentator here says, Pirapakaran is not a racist and a megalomaniac terrorist. He trained Tamil men and women as human bombs and got 364 of them blasted in our buses, trains and public places. He had killed or tried to kill all Tamil leaders other than those who chose to be his puppets. Not just elected Tamils chose Pirapakaran and his LTTE as their sole representatives and made MR negotiate with him but likes of Sanjana and co and their paymasters blessed his tactics tactically.
Makkal padai were like Dad’s army in WW11; but unlike Dad’s army, Makkal padai always wore civilian attire. For one thing, towards the end of war, LTTE enlisted every able Tamil as Makkal padai, trained them and used them as guards. If that is true, killing any man who a carry weapon in war zone or elsewhere cannot be a war crime. But likes of Sanjana and co are quiet.
Sanjna and co and the so-called diaspora Tamils who shed gallons of tears here and elsewhere for Tamil civilians should have cautioned LTTE at that time about safety of civilians. They should have used every available channel to free them; but they never thought of saving civilian life or anything like that then. They only wanted to win the war and get Eelam. Just like what LTTE proxy TNA wants now. And that’s the truth.
This is getting too long. You can follow me if you like as I shall write here in detail why Sanjana thoughts are a pipe dream.
Leela
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Fedup_HORROR REGIME / October 20, 2012
Gona@
Read about the writer´s details correctly and leave your comments considering the facts. That can then help readers understanding you and your ilk of people better even if you guys want to focus ONLY on the crush of those Ltters together with all innocient civilians.
Now the the RULERS`reaction towards the rest of the population even more reflect of the REAL NATURE OF Rajapakshes. So called people loving leaders – let 100 days to go with FUTA strikers with their demos although every average raise the question why clear delination of 1.8% GDP for allocation for education is observed by 2012.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / October 20, 2012
GONA ,
You can share another barn of hay with your gona type Axx licker called Mike Hammer
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Mango / October 20, 2012
There’s already a well-established Western (=”international community”) method of internal accounting for war crimes. Prosecute a few low-ranking soldiers/functionaries and then free them after a few years or quietly suspend the sentence. This is called an “administrative reprimand”.
GoSL stubborn as ever, won’t learn from this ‘best practice’ and haven’t even said “sorry”.
http://tinyurl.com/73cl4y2
Regime change through external intervention? Day dreaming again..
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Mike Hammer / October 20, 2012
Exactly and it is sad to see an extremely talented person like Sanjana letting his emotions take precedence
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / October 20, 2012
The arocities committed at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad by US mercenaries and military personnel after the fall of Saddam Hussein were slowly released via “war trophies” that included compromising pictures of public masturbation, nudity, sexual poses, dogs terrorising naked prisoners, electric shock treatment of bound and gagged prisoners etc.
While the powerful US and its allies the UK and EU escaped with minor punishments meted out to the perpetrators and their commanding officers (a few bad apples, they said)the entrenched barbarity, racism and evilness of their occupations of impoverished and subjugated nations continues unabated.
That is the nature of absolute and unchallenged hegemony as exercised by the US and its allies in any war theatre of the world. Whether the international community comprising of moderate states actually have the motivation to seek “justice” in a small and insignificant corner of the world as against maintaining cordial diplomatic and trade ties is quite another issue.
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Silva / October 20, 2012
Patholaya, Mike Hammer et al, this is the usual song buffalos like you sing for supper! Pick up your metal plate and march to Araliya Dansala to get your next meal! Horikada fuckers!
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Siri / October 20, 2012
At present, we have a set who are there not due to ability but to the gratitude of the people for having won the war. But they have to spend most of their time and the Country’s money to defend themselves in a variety of forums. In the meantime, there is no planned development, the economy sinks and the people are futher impoverished.
If this country is to move on, we have to find leaders who are not tainted by the war – on either side.
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Jayalath / October 21, 2012
Hello, do not worry about what people are talking of you , if you can make money ,make money which isn’t wrong . Because, all the politicians in the world has ruined it ,and has robbed all of us , specially in Sri Lanka , so ,what is wrong of you doing that my friend . I only know that many people sell idiotic societies and make money ,that is why we do not get truth and right ,instead , delution and misleading .
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Jayalath / October 21, 2012
To sanjana .
I took it very easy before , but after considering the scale of comments that I wanted to unleash my bombardment . I do not know much about you Sanjana, because I m out this thieves and bigotary country for 10 years now .this country is in a mess ., I wish if I could figure out it what scale it is shambolic , but it is pity , shameful , and vicious .the agony I have to say in this way Is disgraceful , but I should say as it is ,and it will be outspoken .
I remember you were on tv some time ago questioning politicians . He probably should be a crony of the politicians , unless he wouldn’t be there , this is how I thought about you when i saw you that day .
You also should have had written or taught a report or letter by the politicians all the time rather than you made yourself to express freely what you want to express . If it is not right you won’t be there , I know that .
So , let’s all leave behind for a second & see what you have done to the politicians . I feel you have betrayed them , do you know why ? Because you have changed the tune . You have solely right to say what you want , it can be offensive or defensive to others , but you have right to say in the right time , therefore , you can be severely punish for not keeping it in your mind .
Do you know in old days in europe the Christianity was very powerful and they had an establishment to punish people who do not faithful or follow the christianity , although people were right or not . Gallileo Galilei ,Socrates were few out of many who punished by the authority of christianinity for giving the right information .
Therefore, Mr, you may right but , you are not suppose to unveil those , unless , you have powerful hand .
Be careful when you want to write truth .
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David Blacker / October 22, 2012
“It is logical to assume they had these cameras and mobile phones with them throughout the final weeks of war. What are personal digital trophies of war are in fact records of intent, orders and action in the frontlines. They will go public.”
In this sentence, it is assumed that there actually were crimes against humanity to be recorded on camera phones. It is this assumption of guilt that drives the false logic behind many of the hopefuls such as Sanjana. As long as one’s energies are focused on an assumption, it is very unlikely that there will be light at the end of one’s own little tunnel.
All of these hopeful pilgrims are yet to explain how, three and a half years post-war, not a single photographic image or frame of video has emerged showing even one crime against a civilian. Not a single image or frame of a civilian being killed, raped, tortured, or otherwise abused. In fact, not a single image or frame has emerged of anycivilian being killed or injured by the GoSL forces — not even accidentally. The only footage we have — and even that subject to a lot of questions — is of captured combatants being executed. No photographs even from the UN personnel claiming to have been deliberately fired on by the SL military. No photographs even from the Tigers.
This total lack of any such photographic evidence, three years on, is gradually eroding the credibility of those crying wolf, and predicting this miraculous appearance of evidence. They are pathetically left to collect and display satellite images which show absolutely no sign of any crimes against humanity in spite of the hollow narrative imposed on these images.
This need to find dramatic Hollywoodesque evidence out of thin air rather than do the hard work necessary is why this cause too is a lost one. Success is rare with the lazy unless blessed with remarkable talent; and even of the latter there is little evidence. and certainly not photographic ;)
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Brian de Bois Guilbert / October 22, 2012
Well said DB
As usual ,the people sans grey matter of the pro-LTTE lobby, who cannot debunk seasoned arguments, are resorting to mud slinging.
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Peter / October 22, 2012
From Mickey Spillane to Sir Walter Scott!! Whose character will you pick next? How very transparent you are!! And the reason being…???
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srilal / October 22, 2012
Hey DB,
Do you expect every body to be dumb like you , srilal may or may not be my real name , that is none of your damn business , what’s important, i am always consistent with my name /pseudonym ,unlike you I’m not hiding behind fancy, fake ,borrowed numerous English names every other day , who do you try to please ? mind you, I do not get paid from rouge masters like you do , remember DJ introducing you as an independent defense analyst couple of years ago in ground views , wow what an independent defense analyst ! indeed you have done a splendid job, proving beyond any doubt , well done mate ! do you know that you have no credibility at all to be an independent , let alone a defense analyst ,guess how many readers would ever brother to read DJ,Rajiwa W, Malinda S,Rohan G’s el at articles ? Same apply to you.
DB i expected Mike Hammer to holler at me? Here is another chance for you to do that pal.
Ps.Vast majority of CT readers are very intelligent, we all know who Mark Webber, Mike Hammer is , so please do not insult at our intelligence Blacker .
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David Blacker / October 23, 2012
“Do you expect every body to be dumb like you
Lol, no, “Srilal”, whenever you comment, you demonstrate quite clearly that you are much dumber than me. Thanks for confirming it once more.
“srilal may or may not be my real name , that is none of your damn business”
And is it your “damn business” whether Mike Hammer etc are me or not? As I have pointed out many times, beyond repeating this absurdity, you seem to have nothing else to say for yourself.
“i am always consistent with my name /pseudonym”
So you are proud of being consistent in your deceit?
“,unlike you I’m not hiding behind fancy, fake ,borrowed numerous English names every other day , who do you try to please ?”
I have told you many times that I only comment under my own name with my picture there for all to see, unlike cowards such as yourself. If you choose to believe that these other commentators are me, that is your own delusion; but whenever I notice you trying to accuse me falsely of it, I will call you on it. Do you have any explanation for why I would bother to do such a thing, given that Hammer, etc are not saying anything particularly unusual? I don’t expect any sensible answer from you, but I am curious about your delusions :D
“mind you, I do not get paid from rouge masters like you do “
Firstly, why would anyone pay you, except perhaps as a sad clown? Why don’t you stick to English and try and master that first instead of attempting French. I have no masters, rouge, blanc, or any other colour. Again, making unsubstantiated accusations like this just reveals the childishness of your nature and your inability to engage with the argument instead of the arguer. I am not paid by anybody, and I quite understand that intellectually bankrupt individuals such as yourself find this difficult to handle because it forces you to face the reality that many Sri Lankans do not agree with you. It is much easier to pretend that all detractors are paid by the GoSL, is it not?
“remember DJ introducing you as an independent defense analyst couple of years ago in ground views , wow what an independent defense analyst ! “
Shouldn’t you put that question to DJ since I myself have never described myself as such?
“guess how many readers would ever brother to read DJ,Rajiwa W, Malinda S,Rohan G’s el at articles ? Same apply to you.”
In spite of your loud denials, however, you continue to read my comments and respond :D
“Vast majority of CT readers are very intelligent, we all know who Mark Webber, Mike Hammer is , so please do not insult at our intelligence Blacker .”
Sadly, you seem to be in the minority.
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srilal / October 23, 2012
Hey Dumb B,
i will not waste my time on replying to your utter rubbish here ,my purpose of writing this particular comment was to expose you to the others , but in this instance , this particular topic is little bit obsolete , thus readership would be bare minimum. i promise you , should you come up with another fancy name , make no mistake i will expose you.
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David Blacker / October 24, 2012
“i will not waste my time on replying to your utter rubbish”
How many times have you said this same piece of rubbish, and yet continued to address me, like the cowardly loser that you are :D
“i promise you , should you come up with another fancy name , make no mistake i will expose you.”
And I promise you in return that every false accusation you make will expose your own intellectual nakedness.
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Justice / October 24, 2012
DB,
You were named as the Defence Analyst at the seminar on the “Darusman Report” at the Marga Institute.
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srilal / October 24, 2012
Defense analyst!!!! Give me a break, please. …
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David Blacker / October 25, 2012
Justice, as I said to Srilal, I myself have never claimed to be anything other than an interested observer of military history. Poor old Srilal seems to be upset that I have been called a defense analyst. Perhaps his usual ignorance of most things leads him to believe that this is some official title like “doctor”, or “professor”; when in reality it can be applied to anyone who is interested, knowledgable, and capable of analysing situations within that subject. Not having any of these abilities, Srilal is obviously mystified and annoyed by it. The ignorant are often angry at what is beyond them.
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SamK / October 22, 2012
I have seen Sanjana’s articles about Google images and found not a shred of evidence that conclusively shows the military intensionally shelled civilians.
SL military was not composed of aliens but mostly Sinhalese like Sanjana himself. There is no antipathy among Sinhalese people to commit genocide against Tamil civilians. In that context it is simply not possible to use the SL military to commit mass atrocities as suggested by
Sanjana. Before there can be a crime there needs to be a motive. There is no reason for Sinhalese people to vanquish Tamil people. There is nothing they gain in doing that.
If LTTE used hospitals to fire shells at military and then military retaliated that certainly is not a war crime. When US military fired at Osama, they were not required to protect his life even if he was unarmed if they thought there was danger to their own lives.
However, in Sanjana’s world SL military should not fire even a single bullet if there is even a remote possibility of it hitting a Tamil civilian. Sanjana of course does not seem to mind if LTTE were to use that window of opportunity to creep in some suicide carders to the South and blow up several buses of Sinhalese civilians.
Sanjana can today continue to write and travel without fear of a road side bomb blowing him to pieces because of the soldiers who laid down their lives. For god’s sake please show some gratitude!
I don’t understand whether people writing this type of nonesense are idealists who have gotten their own logic messed up or diabolical minds who would do anything even disgracing their own country to archive their petty political ends.
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Native Vedda / October 22, 2012
David Blacker:
“This total lack of any such photographic evidence, three years on, is gradually eroding the credibility of those crying wolf, and predicting this miraculous appearance of evidence.”
I am sorry being bit thick I cannot argue against your assertion. However, I am told that there are things called satellites, man made moons, which can photograph and survey the whole of the earth. Most countries including USA, UK, India, Russia, China,……………have several of these circling the earth.
They tell me it is the spy in the sky and not pie in the sky.
Is it true?
If you happen to know about these man made moons please give me the essence of what it can do and what it can’t. I am sorry to bother you.
I would be much obliged.
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David Blacker / October 22, 2012
You should direct that question to Sanjana Hattotuwa, Jungle Boy. He recently displayed a collection of these satellite images you speak of, claiming with many long paragraphs that they indicated war crimes. Nevertheless, these images showed nothing beyond large numbers of civilians camped in the Tiger territory during the fighting, and then vacated after the fighting. If — like Sanjana’s expected camera phone evidence — your satellite evidence exists, where is it? What are these being kept for, the Second Coming?
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Native Vedda / October 23, 2012
David Blacker:
“Nevertheless, these images showed nothing beyond large numbers of civilians camped in the Tiger territory”
I know you are stupid it does not mean you have to prove your dim wit in all your comments.
If you haven’t seen the satellite pictures can you assure me that the International Community does not posses other incriminating evidence bearing pictures taken by satellite or otherwise?
If and when the IC decides to find out about your bowl movement there is nothing that will stop them from doing so. Of course the IC does not have to enter your house. I am not saying that your bowl movement is their concern.
Therefore the IC would chose the time and place to produce the pictures. It could be next year, 10 years down the line, or many many years from now.
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David Blacker / October 24, 2012
“I know you are stupid it does not mean you have to prove your dim wit in all your comments.”
I’m just dumbing it down for you, to avoid the usual confusion you suffer from. looks like even that is slightly too much for you ;)
“If you haven’t seen the satellite pictures can you assure me that the International Community does not posses other incriminating evidence bearing pictures taken by satellite or otherwise?”
How does one assure someone that something doesn’t exist? Simply by pointing to the lack of evidence of its existence. The absence of evidence is the evidence of absence. Can YOU assure me that they DO exist, when you haven’t seen them either? I can assure you that the satellite images produced in the Darusman Report, and the ones published by Sanjana, contain no evidence.
“If and when the IC decides to find out about your bowl movement there is nothing that will stop them from doing so.”
My what? :D Are you now suggesting I am telekinetic to be able to move bowls here and there?
“Therefore the IC would chose the time and place to produce the pictures. It could be next year, 10 years down the line, or many many years from now.”
Really? You mean like we are assured Jesus Christ will return one day of his choosing? OK, so why bother talking ’til that day comes? But perhaps you could explain WHY the IC would delay justice indefinitely when it has the evidence you claim it does. What are they waiting for? A bowl movement? :D
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Mango / October 22, 2012
The US KH (“keyhole Class) satellites can resolve to 5” which means they can see something 5 inches or larger on the ground. They would’ve definitely seen Prabha’s corpulent form attempting to surrender.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question529.htm
The US (and other superpowers) can also intercept mobile and satellite phone communications. So, if they have evidence of Gota phoning through illegal orders, they would’ve used it to pressure GoSL into doing their bidding. Why the delay? What are they waiting for?
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PresiDunce Bean / October 23, 2012
One day when the Rajapaksa regime falls, there will be problems like there is in Libya for sometime. Rajapaksa and his regime will leave behind a country that will have to go through a tumultuous political and economic transition that will take a couple of years to get back to normal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20026583
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PresiDunce Bean / October 23, 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19966059
…and one day just like what happened to Gaddafi, people might ask “The Rajapaksa clan: Where are they now?”
Most Rajapaksa apologists might think that this is wishful thinking, but anything is possible in the future. History has proved over and over again that most dictators lives have ended violently.
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David Blacker / October 24, 2012
Really? Then how come Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Josef Stalin, and so many other dictators died peacefully in their beds? Looks like your grasp of history is as shaky as your grasp of current events, Shehan :D
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Beyond surprised / October 24, 2012
David Blacker:
The only ones more incompetent and of less use to man and beast are the David Blackers of this world. The Sycophantic Rajapaksa chorus wagon must be pretty crowded these days, though, with Dayan, Malinda and co. sending comments in to CT even!
Also, let me quote back to you what you’ve said: “Then how come Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Josef Stalin, and so many other dictators died peacefully in their beds?” Examined against how each of those men spent their last days, at least two of them in hiding, it speaks volumes for your knowledge (or propensity to tell bare-faced lies)
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David Blacker / October 25, 2012
My comment was in response to Duncy’s claim that most dictators have died violently; I pointed out that they haven’t, and gave you examples of many who died peacefully. I’m sorry if reality upsets you with its inconvenience, but rather than attempting to play the man, you should play the ball. If you can find it.
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srilal / October 24, 2012
Dear Dunce,
Be careful! If (…
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David Blacker / October 25, 2012
Lol, Srilal, you should not forget your pills in the morning. They might help you type more coherently and avoid you being censored by CT :D
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 23, 2012
1. Dear readers, never mind the pathetic if vitriolic name-calling, character assasination and speculation, conducted behind the masks of pseudonymity/anonymity…rather like suicide bombers. Focus on the debate; the issues. Please name the countries/societies which have undergone regime which, and the proceed to open up to international or national investigation, the entirety of a war or victorious final offensive by its armed forces– as distinct from highly specific acts of criminality by individuals or units. Egypt after military dictatorship since 1952? Indonesia after the bloody dictatorship which killed a million in 1965? Nope. Libya doesn’t even wish to hand over young Said Gaddafy to the ICC!
2. Do you people really believe, that even with all the ‘footage’ available, or with all the stuff on every camera phone in the vicinity of the battlefront being freely sent to every household in sri lanka, the vast majority of voters would not still cheer the final outcome? Do you folk really think that if it were a matter of making the same choice again, even while knowing the human/collateral cost, the vast majority of Lanka’s citizens would not endorse the choice that was made, saying ‘ go ahead , finish off this thirty year curse’? Do you think they would not say ‘thank you’ all over again?
3. There are two alternative methods of regime change: internal or external. No internal regime change will touch the armed forces. Do you expect a popularly elected government to do so? Do you think any party which was even suspected as being willing to do so by the voters would stand a chance of election? Do you think the Lankan voters — almost two thirds of whom are Sinhalese–would opt for a president whom they did not trust on issues of sovereignty? Isn’t obvious that a successful presidential challenger would be one who is trusted — or at the least , whose track record does not evoke mistrust –on issues of security and sovereignty? what would be the fate of any party/presidential candidate who promised to protect the armed forces and when elected, caved into external pressure and permitted full-spectrum accountability on the final offensive?
4. Do you think that any externally induced/propelled regime-change would survive the nationalist backlash that would ensue? You don’t recall 1987-1990 do you? Or the fact that the insurgency could only be stopped by the ‘pro-sovereignty’ Premadasa?
5. Since many of you seem to be speculatively concerned about my present and future, I have maintained in practice the stand I announced in the newspapers ( eg. SundayLakbimaNews) six months ago during the controversy of those days, namely that I shall neither seek nor accept any extension or fresh ambassadorial posting. As such I have informed the relevant Govt authorities well in time– with three months notice– that I intend to leave Paris on Jan 7th, after my two year contract expires on Jan 6th, without the traditional practice of seeking the usual third year’s extension. I have already booked my ticket. So the stance I am taking on ‘accountability’ is the one I have taken over the years, even when I was at the NUS in Singapore or when I made a presentation at Yale last year, and is quite irrespective of whether or not I am in or with government. It remains consistent even now when I am in transition to the end of my relationship with GoSL as a representative and am headed for the exit. It is what I believe and shall continue to defend.
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Native Vedda / October 23, 2012
Dayan Jayatilleka says:
“Dear readers, never mind the pathetic if vitriolic name-calling, character assasination and speculation, conducted behind the masks of pseudonymity/anonymity”
Don’t you think you deserve it?
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Native Vedda / October 23, 2012
Dayan Jayatilleka
“Libya doesn’t even wish to hand over young Said Gaddafy to the ICC!”
Libyans will kill him eventually by their own home grown judicial system.
Saddam was hanged until his death in Iraq by its victorious civilian government. Gaddafy was killed by lynch mob. Those who were behind South American coups are now facing justice. So are the victorious Pol Potists. Bangladesh has initiated its own investigation after 40 years under the auspices of ICC. Liberia, Congo……….are some countries where due process of ICC law is being applied.
So what is your point if there is one?
You say:
“Do you think that any externally induced/propelled regime-change would survive the nationalist backlash that would ensue?”
Nationalist backlash is always there. What is new? It is going to be there in one way or another.
You say:
” Do you think the Lankan voters — almost two thirds of whom are Sinhalese–would opt for a president whom they did not trust on issues of sovereignty?”
Going by past history gullible Sinhalese would vote for any party that promises 8 measures of free grain.
You say:
“Or the fact that the insurgency could only be stopped by the ‘pro-sovereignty’ Premadasa?”
You don’t need Premadasa it is India which played major role in curtailing all three insurgency over the past 40 years. Without India there is no Sri Lanka as we know it.
You say:
” I intend to leave Paris on Jan 7th, after my two year contract expires on Jan 6th, “
Is it time for you to jump ship? You can return to UNP.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 23, 2012
PS: To clarify, my view on the final offensive, civilian casualties and accountability are identical to the LRRC’s and I support the implementations of the recommendations of the LRRC report. I have always done so. On accountability, I am willing to bet that no successor regime in Sri Lanka would go beyond the parameters of the LLRC report and recommendations. That’s as good as its gonna get, camera phones and satellite photos notwithstanding. Wanna bet, anyone?
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Andre / October 23, 2012
Bit confusing, I would say, what makes it different – or an error ?
LRRC´S AND LLRC… was there an another called – LRRC ?
Computer programs focusing on simuations of the satellite images can reveal if there re discrepancies of the numbers of casualties ? Experts can identify them on enlargements much clearer.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 23, 2012
Sorry, typo: LLRC.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / October 23, 2012
Sorry for the typographical errors and ommissions: point one should read ‘undergone regime change’…
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PresiDunce Bean / October 24, 2012
The following joke is only for those of you who love democracy and the rule of law and detest abductions, murder, corruption, thuggery, nepotism and one family rule. ;)
HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A SMILE….
1. Open a new file on your computer.
2. Name it “Mahinda Rajapaksa.”
3. Send it to the Recycle Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5. Your PC will ask you: Do you really want to get rid
of “Mahinda Rajapaksa?”
6. Firmly Click “Yes.”
7. Feel better?
GOOD – Tomorrow we’ll do “Gotabaya Rajapaksa.” ;)
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Mango / October 24, 2012
Finally a decent joke worthy of your pseudonym. Brilliant. My only concern is that UNP staffers will spend their time doing this instead of being a decent opposition.
For those of us fortunate enough not to have to use Windows, the same task on Mac OSX generates the following statement:
“Are you sure you want to permanently erase the items in the Trash? You can’t undo this action.”
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David Blacker / October 24, 2012
Sadly, like all of Duncy’s comments, this too is an old joke — it was said about Saddam, George W, and recently about the Brit PM. In actuality, MR must be getting up each morning and thanking whatever gods may be that his enemies are so incompetent.
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Beyond surprised / October 24, 2012
David Blacker:
The only ones more incompetent and of less use to man and beast are the David Blackers of this world. The Sycophantic Rajapaksa chorus wagon must be pretty crowded these days, though, with Dayan, Malinda and co. sending comments in to CT even!
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Mango / October 24, 2012
So, Duncie’s been copying jokes off the internet? How low can you sink, no? :) :)
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David Blacker / October 25, 2012
Incompetent at what, Beyond? And can you quote me saying anything sycophantic? Only the very foolish see all detractors as the enemy ;)
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Andre / October 24, 2012
Good morning to you all from Swtizerland:)
This is fine :)
But how many times you ll need to open “a new file” before putting them onto a thrash – is the sad reality :(
Is there any single person in the cabinet today to be considered as genuine ?
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shankar / October 24, 2012
The only way to have regime change is for Ranil to step aside.Surely the UNP can do a survey of its supporters countrywide to see who they want as their leader.That is democracy.A leader should never impose himself on the people.The main question to be asked is whether the people want Ranil as the UNP leader or do they want someone else.
Unless this is done you can kiss goodbye to a regime change and keep on attacking the president and wasting your time.For Mahinda it must be like manna from heaven to have Ranil as his opponent.The first step towards regime change is to look inwardly and change the UNP leader.Then steps 2 and 3 and 4 etc can follow.
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