By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
A man or woman must have the courage of his or her convictions. If you do something, do so because you think it is right. If you oppose something, do so because you think it is wrong. If you’ve done something because you think it is right, say so, defend your choice, and give reasons why you thought it was right, if only at that time. If you’ve opposed something, explain that opposition, giving reasons why, at the time, you thought it was wrong. If you’ve remained silent, give the reasons for so doing. If you’ve broken your silence, explain why. That’s the way to remain an essentially moral man or woman, to ascend the high ground, even if your reasons may be wrong.
Mr. Wigneswaran has sought to explain why the Northern Provincial Council passed the noxious ‘Genocide’ Resolution. In his attempt at explanation he gives the game away. His explanation is that the resolution was a reaction to State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardena’s statement that the Sri Lankan armed forces will not be withdrawn from the North. He says: “Recent public pronouncements that even a single Army Camp would not be withdrawn even if it was for the consumption of the Southern Electorate could have been avoided. It had the effect of our response by passing a Resolution on Genocide.” (‘We Feel Very Strongly Against the Continued Stay of Armed Forces’, by CV Wigneswaran, Colombo Telegraph, March 1st 2015)
However, in the course of another explanation given to Mr. Lakshman Piyasena the new editor of the state’s flagship Sinhala language newspaper, the Silumina, the Chief Minister reveals that the Genocide resolution was being mulled over for seven months, and had merely been ‘expedited’ by the remarks on non-withdrawal of troops.
“Question: When you were appointed Chief Minister of the Northern Province there was a general impression in the country that a moderate Tamil intellectual who was different from politicians who arouse communalism had entered politics. But the recent Council resolution adopted under your leadership seems to have turned that impression upside down. That resolution said Tamils in Sri Lanka had been subjected to genocide under the government for a long time. Why did you bring in such a resolution as soon as President Maithripala Sirisena who pledged to foster national harmony and reconciliation came to power? What was the need for such a resolution?
Answer: First of all I must say that this was not a spontaneous resolution. For seven months the Provincial Council had discussions about bringing such a resolution. Every member supported it including even the Sinhala members. It was thereafter adopted unanimously…
Q: Shouldn’t you have given the new government a time limit to work towards harmony and reconciliation?
A: Two weeks before the adoption of the resolution the Deputy Minister of Defence visited the North and said Army camps would not be withdrawn from the North. This caused immense pain of mind and grief to the Tamil people. Tamils consider these camps as an obstruction to their normal daily routine. This had been a longstanding problem. Just think the pressure the Sinhalese in the South would have suffered if they had to continue living in such a situation. It is the suspicion caused among the ordinary Tamil public by this talk about camps which motivated Provincial Council members to expedite this resolution.” (Chief Minister Wigneswaran on Tamil aspirations: ‘Independence and corresponding power within a united country’, Sunday Observer, March 1st 2015)
Now Mr. Wijewardene had not made the allegedly provocative statement seven months ago. Mr. Wijewardene was not the State Minister of Defence seven months ago. President Sirisena was not the President seven months ago. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe was not the PM seven months ago. So, we have to arrive at one of two conclusions. Either the Chief Minister is not telling the truth when he says the resolution was in retaliation for the statement made by Mr. Ruwan Wijewardene, or it was, and the resolution was not in the pipeline for seven months. Either way, he is not telling the truth.
That’s not the only untruth that the Chief Minister has uttered on the subject. He assured President Sirisena that the Genocide Resolution was not directed at the new Government but the previous one. If so, it cannot be true that the resolution was in retaliation for State Minister Wijewardene’s statement on the non-withdrawal of the Sri Lankan military from the North, for the obvious reason that Mr. Wijewardene belongs to the new government. If on the other hand, the resolution was aimed at the previous administration, then it should have been fired at it and not at the new one. So that’s the second lie that the Chief Minister has uttered in the recent past on this single issue.
If one is to be charitable and accepts Mr Wigneswaran’s composite explanation, the Genocide resolution was in the pipeline for seven months and was triggered, not by some remark uttered by the ‘hawkish’ Rajapaksa administration but rather a remark uttered by the ‘dovish’ Sirisena-Wickremesinghe one. So we all sound alike to them. What does this say about Tamil nationalist political behavior and the collective Tamil nationalist political mindset?
Another explanation by the Chief Minister’s camp followers is that the Genocide Resolution was the by-product of rivalry within the Northern Council and the TNA; rivalry between the so-called moderates led by Messrs. Sampanthan and Sumanthiran and unnamed radicals who were specifically critical of the presence of the former pair at the independence day celebrations. Here too, one cannot have it both ways. Either the Resolution was because Ruwan Wijewardene piqued Northern sentiments with his ‘no withdrawal’ statement or because intra-TNA/NPC rivalry peaked with Sampanthan and Sumanthiran’s attendance on Feb 4th.
Now let’s move from the manifest lies and contradictions to what lies beneath. What do those lies and contradictions reveal about the substance of things?
This year’s Independence Day parade was dismayingly downsized, with no fly past, no parachute drops and no patrol boats. President Sirisena spoke of a “barbaric war”. There was no mention in the entire discourse of the day, against secessionism/separatism (“bedum vaadaya”). A message of peace and reconciliation was read out. Now, that was the nature of the Independence Day celebration that Messrs. Sampanthan and Sumanthiran attended. If it was a political betrayal in the eyes of a school of Tamil nationalist politics, just how radical must that school of thought be? If Messrs. Sampanthan and Sumanthiran did not defend their attendance robustly and prevail within Tamil nationalism, how powerful must that radical current actually be? If it was necessary to compensate for that attendance on this downsized February 4th with a resolution that accused Sri Lanka of genocide, how supine must the moderates be and how extreme and extremely strong, the opposing current in Tamil politics must be?
Let me move on to the Chief Minister’s explicit excuse, namely the statement by State Minister Wijewardene. The State Minister had to win the confidence of the armed forces for the new administration. For this purpose he made some reassuring remarks. In any country on the planet, armed forces are stationed in border areas. This is more so, if there has been political hostility across those borders. If there are co-ethnics/ethnic kin across the borders of an area of the country which has witnessed a separatist struggle, then there is almost never a question of the withdrawal of the armed forces, and certainly not a mere five years after the end of the war. It took twelve years after the US Civil War for the Union armies (of the North) to leave the ex-Confederate states of the South.
This does not mean there is nothing to be negotiated. What remains to be discussed and resolved is the footprint of the armed forces in the North; their role and function. Their very presence cannot be the subject of debate, but that is exactly what Chief Minister Wigneswaran has signaled is the issue.
Furthermore, if the very presence of the armed forces in the North, a legitimate security need in any ex-separatist border zone anywhere on the planet, can be the subject, not of serious negotiation, but can trigger an 11-page resolution calling on courts throughout the world to try Sri Lanka under universal jurisdiction, on the charge of genocide, then we have a problem. If this can happen one month into a new, liberal administration which has engaged in serious confidence building measures, (downscaling Independence Day, appointing a dovish civilian governor) then we have a serious problem. If we have Tamil moderates such as Sampanthan and Sumanthiran who cannot robustly defend themselves from the radicals and actually go on to justify the Genocide resolution, then we have a very serious problem. That problem is the dogmatic, politically fundamentalist nature of Tamil nationalism.
Chief Minister Wigneswaran’s stated reason, namely that Ruwan Wijewardena’s remarks triggered the Genocide resolution clearly implies that hurling in a formal political manner, the very worst kind of accusation that can be made against a state – that of genocide—is, in the Chief Minister view, a perfectly understandable and acceptable reaction and way of being. So, Ruwan Wijewardene says something that ruffles the fine Northern feathers and we must all be sympathetic and understanding when the formal political reaction is to accuse our founding Prime minister and all others elected after him, of perpetrating genocide on the Tamils, and to call upon the world to haul Sri Lanka up before every possible tribunal on the charge of genocide. Who does the Chief Minister think he is? What does he think the Northern Provincial Council is? Where on the planet does he think he and the NPC are? And who does he think the rest of us are?
Given the recent exhibition of Tamil truculence in the Northern Province resolution, it is utterly unwise to downsize beyond a point, the strong Executive presidency and level the playing field between the parliament and the Northern Provincial Council. Thus the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is correct in its proposals to reform rather than drastically dispense with the executive powers of the Presidency. These are in line with the MoU signed by candidate Sirisena and the JHU.
The UNP, JVP, Ven. Sobitha, Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne and sundry civil society progressives are dangerously wrong. Constitutions are not made and unmade with a specific incumbent and the next five years in mind. Constitutions are the basic political architecture of the state; of a political community.
The Ancient Greeks were right as (almost) always: conduct is the expression of character. Given this character and complexion of Tamil nationalism, the Sri Lankan armed forces have to remain in the North for the foreseeable future, albeit with a smaller footprint. Someday, with the mellowing of Tamil nationalism as manifested in the election of a Northern Provincial Council that will repeal the genocide resolution, we may consider the graduated downsizing of our military presence. The NPC is lucky that President Sirisena is not the sort who would dissolve the Council, but it mustn’t push its luck. There should be a freeze on any discussion of enhanced devolution and/or troop shifts unless and until the Genocide Resolution is repealed. As the Sinhala saying goes ‘never give a monkey a razor”.
Arun / March 2, 2015
Sinhala racist state killed 100s 0f 1000s of humans just because of the ethnicity they belonged to and don’t want to call it GENOCIDE
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Samuel Jayaweera / March 2, 2015
Hate, Gossip -scare mongering of DJ nature cant help anyone but them to stay in media world.
Howver, I dont know almost many that had been then would say DJ is an analyst. We are so sad to have this kind of idiots – radicalists singing for the wrong ones that would only go on with nationalistic agendas.
Onlywayout for the current regime would be to punish all those sharks that make every effort to escape from the prevailing laws, let alone immediately after the reforms are made to the consittution. Now those sharks that abuse state funds dare to raise “whether those criminals were caught ?”. Latter alone should be a provocation to the current rule.
I hope those in respetive authorities would react soon.
Wimal Buruwanse the like can animate this society even more – in the days to come, those men born in the streets or road side toilets would have no shame. He dares to challege when asked how he has earned that much of assets. As Bududhadas MP pointed out – things must work on these kind of born culprits not allowing them to manipulate the poor for their abusive kind of existence.
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2015
Samuel Jayaweera
Disoriented and disillusioned Dayan types:
“The Ancient Greeks were right as (almost) always”
A section of ancient Greeks enjoyed benefits from the institution of slavery, denied democratic rights to large section of its population including slaves, women, foreigners, landless and passed Draco’s law (Draconian Law) ……
Now does this man Dayan want to impose the same kind of Athenian Citizenship and democracy on this island and the people of this island as 52% will be excluded from citizenship and periodical democratic exercise, ruled under Draco’s law, because “The Ancient Greeks were right as (almost) always”?
Does Dayan want to evolve this island back to Athenian democracy of 507 BC so that the chattering/idling classes could own slaves ideally from non Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist tribes?
I am confused.
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Thiru / March 2, 2015
Sinhala-Voice-for-Tamils;
the latest Sinhala version of No Fire Zone – the killing fields of Sri Lanka – coming soon.
Dayan the diabolical should read the following article instead of getting agitated about the NPC resolution on genocide of Tamils.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Next-Version-will-Win-Sinhala-Voice-for-Tamils-says-Macrae/2015/03/02/article2693525.ece
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Leelagemalli / March 2, 2015
But why a man of that kind to turn another wimal weerawanse should be examined by a doctoral thesis at the university of colombo… dont you think so ?
Either the laughing figure has gone fully mad or – his genetics is getting worst as no genetists could find proper explanation yet.
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Amarasiri / March 2, 2015
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
Keep the Genocide Resolution. Let the Tamil Mootals and Tamilss with Common sense prove that it was Genocide.
Let the Sinhala Mootals and Sinhala with Common sense prove that it was not.
Then weight the evidence.
Then, go after the war criminals on Both sides.
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Asaipillai / March 3, 2015
Well said Amarasiri, well said! Let the truth prevail and heal the nation!
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RICHARD / March 2, 2015
Arun, I like any other decent citizen of this country (be Sihala, Tamil, Muslim, Burger) like to see a full unbiased investigation of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Those violations are not limited to the Tamils as you imply. This will bring closure and healing to those who suffered. However, remember the indiscriminate killings started with the LTTE who allegedly had huge support in the areas they operated in and by those Tamils living abroad (and some still do). I schooled in Jaffna, my father had great Tamil friends and I still have very close Tamil friends and I can tell you quite simply your accusation that the SL Govt indiscriminately did ethnic cleansing is baloney. However, The LTTE did ethnic cleansing in both the north and the east and this is something you nor others like you don’t talk about. REMEMBER THE UN INVESTIGATION WILL COVER THE INDISCRIMINATE MURDER OF THE LTTE AND ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THIS DASTARDLY CRIMINAL OUTFIT TOO AS MUCH AS THE KILLINGS BY SL FORCES.
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Supun Jayawardhane / March 2, 2015
Until two years ago, nation s joker, about whom people spoke and even laught at most was Kelaniya Mervin Silva. Now he seems to have come to hi sense. To that time, I guess so called self proclaimed anaylst of MR regime was still in France. On his return from France, since then, he was not engaged in criticising the govt to the manner his beloved leader could get it right. But to this day, most of us are fed up of seeing
Dayan Jayathilaka the estraged creature of all times to have turned his cow dung filled head fully to the levels of Kelaniya Mervin – and has become like road side joker. I asked why ? What caused this man to become what he is today. Ane paw… I really dont know whether he represents the academic folks of the island nation.
HIs father then was reported to be a great man in lanken journalism. But if he had been live today, he would better commit suicide looking at the manner his own blood – Dayan Jayathilaka behaves. All these men to see it in that way and push the country into even more deeper is a more than sad actually.
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Raja / March 3, 2015
I appreciate Mr DJ’s analysis.
However, Arun’s comment is a typical racist fabrication. The fact is that the Sri Lankan army rescued over 300,000 Tamil hostages from the brutal clutches of the LTTE and provided them security, accommodation and food until they were resettled in their original properties, after demining such areas. Further Tamil LTTE terrorists who surrendered were also rehabilitated and released in to their families. This is NOT genocide.
Another fact is Prabakaran’s LTTE terrorists, targeted non-Tamils in Tamil majority areas to evict them or kill them and achieve a mono-ethnic region for Tamils.
This in my understanding is real genocide. Yes, genocide of Sinhalese and Muslims in Tamil majority areas by the LTTE.
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Thiru / March 2, 2015
Diabolical Dyan,
Stop confounding people with your crocked, convoluted logic. You say:
“A man or woman must have the courage of his or her convictions. If you do something, do so because you think it is right. If you oppose something, do so because you think it is wrong.”
Sounds good and logical, don’t they?
Now, whether the resolution is to be withdrawn or left standing, the facts remain.
Didn’t the events/actions that Wiggie enumerated happen? If they did happen, then let an impartial international panel of judges decide whether it is genocide or something else. Why are you jumping the gun trying to stop it?
Are you feeling guilty for all the lies you perpetrated in Geneva? You don’t have to:
Just forgive yourself, accept yourself with all your lapses of integrity and move on afresh – hopefully not being dishonest to yourself again! Denial never solves any problem psychologically, on an individual level, or at collective level.
Please don’t think people are fools, there are out there much more intelligent people among the readers than you, a mediocre third world academic:
Enough is enough of your preaching: If you must go and preach your Sinhala Buddhist supremacy in Nugegoda, Aluthgama or Mawanella!
Mahinda needs a Joseph Goebbels, and you fit the job perfectly!
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simon / March 2, 2015
Ask Courageous Dayan what he was doing when the cops were looking for gim in his early days of political activism.Courages Dayan was hiding in Colombo now he claims that he was hinding in zindia instead. So much for his courage.
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2015
simon
According to my Elders he was hiding in Hindia under EPRLF Padmanaba’s sarama (sarong) or his Castro cap.
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Thiru / March 2, 2015
What do you say to this Dayan the diabolical liar?
Next Version will Win Sinhala Voice for Tamils, says Macrae
by Express News Service
“CHENNAI: Callum Macrae, the reputed British journalist and filmmaker whose n/documentary, No Fire Zone – In The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka, helped galvanise the international community into seeking answers through the United Nations Human Rights Council, is back with an expanded version. This time, there will be a Sinhalese version as well.
“Enough Sinhala people saw through the corruption and nepotism of the [Mahinda] Rajapaksa regime to bring it to an end. If they are provided with the truth about what happened at the end of the war, then I am sure they will also become part of the solution to the terrible divisions and injustices which blight Sri Lanka today,” said Macrae in an e-mail conversation with Express.
According to Macrae, the earlier regime managed to deny the vast majority of Sinhalese population the truth about what really happened during the last few months of the war with LTTE. “I believe that when the facts are known and confronted, Sinhala people will have a vital role to play in creating peace and finding new ways and political structures which guarantee the rights of all,” he added.”
……………………
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2015
Thiru
Is your comment aimed at mine?
You know I have stood for truth, justice and then reconciliation. All investigation should cover the period from 5th April 1971 to date. Whenever I travel through out the island I meet victims and/or their relatives. irrespective of their region, religion or their race all of them want to know the truth, seek justice and some form of compensation.
A few years ago I met a fragile old lady deep in the South who lost her three sons in the Southern Madness. Her story was and is touching. She is the only one who looks after her bed ridden husband. If not for her sick husband she would have committed suicide just after death of her sons.
This is symptomatic through out the island.
By the way here is a news item which require serious consideration:
Tamil Kings Cut out, History Rewritten, Claim Lankan Tamil Students
By Gokul VannanPublished: 02nd March 2015 06:00 AM
Five years after the end of the ethnic war in Sri Lanka, Tamil minority students are still unable to acquire knowledge about the legacy of Tamil kings of yore through their History textbooks in schools.
Instead, they get to learn only about the glory of the Sinhala kings and their contribution to the growth of Buddhism in the island nation. “Our History textbooks up to Class X emphasise that the Sinhala kings alone are the legitimate rulers of Sri Lanka and only their clan has the ability to govern the country. If Tamil-speaking students requested their teachers to enlighten them on the Tamil kings and their contribution, the fellow Sinhala classmates mock them,” rued a student, who came with his family to the St Antony’s Church festival at the uninhabited Katchatheevu island in Palk Bay.
If the Tamil students persisted, they would be chided saying, “Why are you asking irrelevant questions. Just follow the syllabus.”
“Even our teachers back the Sinhalese students,” said another student, adding, “The irony is that our History teacher is a Tamil.”
The History textbooks glorify the achievements of King Mahasen Dutugemunu (who won a war against Tamil kings), Weera Parakara Maha Bahu and Kashyapan. They were the kings who ruled Sri Lanka before the colonial intervention. “The teacher tells us these kings were known for their valour and ruling ability. They also supported Buddhist monks and helped them construct Buddhist monasteries and stupas,” said a secondary school student.
“We were told by our teachers that some of these kings fought against the British hiding in the forest using traditional weapons skillfully,” said a student. The teachers emphasise that the power should be transferred only within the royal family.
“Five years have gone by since I joined school and not even one Tamil king’s name has been discussed in our classroom,” said a senior secondary grade student. “The Tamil textbooks also deal only with grammar while poems and contribution of Tiruvalluvar or Bharathiar are not elaborated or described,” said another student on the syllabus.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/
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Raja / March 3, 2015
There were invaders from around the world including South India.
These invaders ruled parts of Sri Lanka from time to time, and finally the British took over the entire country under a treaty with the last Sri Lankan king. Therefore, Sri Lanka did have not only temporary Tamil kings but also, temporary, Portuguese, Dutch and British kings and queens. In my time I read about all this in history books. Today Tamils are manufacturing new history books as there are no records anywhere in the world including Tamilnadu of a so called permanent Tamil nation in Sri Lanka ruled by Tamil kings.
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Native Vedda / March 3, 2015
Raja
“In my time I read about all this in history books.”
When did you read about whatever you read?
Please name the books.
“Today Tamils are manufacturing new history books”
Please name those history books.
“as there are no records anywhere in the world including Tamilnadu of a so called permanent Tamil nation in Sri Lanka ruled by Tamil kings.”
What was there instead of “a so called Tamil nation”.
Can you be specific and name places where you were looking for information on “Tamil nation in Sri Lanka ruled by Tamil kings.”
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truth / March 4, 2015
If what Raja says is true, why is there no monuments of old which is unique to Sinhalese? Every archaeological sites are copies of what you see in India particularly South India. Why is the Sinhalese language has so many Tamil words and also from other Indian languages?
Why is it that when Bandaranayake made Sinhala as the medium of instruction (for his political gain) there were no Sinhalese books to teach the Sinhala students?
May be the Jaffna library was burnt so as to destroy the old records, so that the Sinhalese can write their own version of history!
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Real Peace / March 2, 2015
Dayan J
This is the definition of genocide by the ICC:
“Article 6 of the Rome Statute provides that ‘genocide’ means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
The above definition does legitimise the genocide resolution of the NPC
Now, the readers can understand why you have become so restless since the resolution was passed by the NPC.
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Raja / March 3, 2015
Mr Real Peace, the above UN resolution you have quoted from, in fact absolves the Sri Lankan Govt of even an iota of genocide and points the finger squarely at the LTTE and its TNA defenders for the ethnic cleansing they carried out over 3 decades. Proof is that at the end of the conflict in 2009, the North was entirely Tamil populated and the rest of Sri Lanka had large populations of Tamils and Muslims living side by side with the Sinhalese. So who committed genocide? What happened to the Sinhalese and Muslims who lived in the North?
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Patriot / March 2, 2015
I’m sure that Justice Wigneswaran is pleasantly surprised at how much attention the “Genocide Resolution” has received. Our friend Dayan alone must have dedicated at least five articles just to discuss its contents. As they say, there is no such thing as bad publicity. The more people in the Sinhala south who read about the resolution and its damning indictment the better it is. It will prepare them for the months ahead. What’s also revealing is the complete lack of confidence the GOSL has in its own future. The NPC is figurehead council. It has zero powers and its existence is purely symbolic. The GOSL has an army that’s 500,000 strong. The NPC is comprised of a bunch of 60 year old retirees wearing veshtis! Yet a piece of paper they produce with some words written on it, is shaking the foundations of the Sinhalese south. The reason this is happening is because the GOSL knows that it is guilty as sin. It’s like someone who is guilty of murder becoming very angry and paranoid when his neighbors make statements to the cops. Dayan has to understand that the GOSL can’t run, and it can’t hide. Lady Justice is coming, and she is not in a good mood.
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sama / March 2, 2015
What you are doing is even quote what wIGGIE to create new kind of divisions instead of making every efforts the parties facilitate getting closer. HOw can a man who is self -concinvced to be the nation’s pundit at least in terms of Rajapakshe politics to move on this way ?
This man is aboslutely a square peg in a round hole. Together with his Siamese twin Mahindapala can only cuase further divions – so that they can enjoy publicity. However, people and readers will ask themselves before reading these gosspis – is becoming clear if you would listen to DAWASA regular program of Sirasa.
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Vibhushana / March 2, 2015
Lets for a moment assume the army was removed entirely. Come election time TNA will latch onto something else that is communal and unnecessary.
This is all because of elections. After 70 year experience surely everyone must know this is how this crude culture works. This is how they win elections.
Over 20,000 acres of lands has been handed back. There are 152 families without land. So 1000 acres was allocated from the last remaining 5000 to build their homes. The issue with land is also concocted out of thin air.
TNA has only spent 2% of the budget allocation for works. Although they lavishly use their personal ministerial allowances such as vehicles.
They do not do any work. Its a baron culture and a dud council.
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sach / March 2, 2015
Exactly the moment army is removed they will come up with another..
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sach / March 2, 2015
“There should be a freeze on any discussion of enhanced devolution and/or troop shifts unless and until the Genocide Resolution is repealed. “
Exactly!
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Burning Issue / March 2, 2015
such,
CM for reasons that he deems pertinent, published the Genocide article. It is out in the open for the Sinhala and those interested partied outside to digest. It is here to stay; if you want to disprove it, you need to do it through an investigation and introspection. The Tamils are not wielding arms; they are speaking through available democratic means. It appears that, no one can question the Sinhala Buddhists in SL; it is their land and they can do whatever they want and no question can be asked!
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sach / March 2, 2015
The ones who have the mentality that they can do whatever they want and hope to get not questioned are the GGP tamils, none else.
There is nothing in genocide resolution. It can be very well answered. My issue is there is none in SL government who does that fearing they will lose the so called reconciliation. Otherwise genocide resolution is not big deal.
And hilariously the very person who brought the genocide resolution had blocked the genocide word (pointing at legality) in 2014, brought it in 2015….with genocide word…Did it became legal after an year for wiggie?
And what does wiggie say? He says he brought it as a reaction to not removing military in north! so not because of a genocide?
These things point at one thing. Wiggie and tamil politicians use the word genocide (like many claims of war crimes) as a pressure point and not because it has any relevance. Wiggie is like child who throw toys at others when angry.
You see, you are trying to defend what you cannot defend. Wiggie himself has proved he is nothing but a bag of hot air. Genocide claim is simply a joke.
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Burning Issue / March 2, 2015
such,
“There is nothing in genocide resolution. It can be very well answered.”
Please educate Dr DJ about this; he has written about 6 articles so far on this subject! You on the other hand, do not need to write umpteen comments about it because you think there is nothing in the resolution.
But the reality is that the Resolution has stirred the hornets’ nest and Sinhala Chauvinists have taken exception to the Article! Who is this Tamil? What right has he to publish such articles about the Sinhala nation?
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2015
Thiru
Is your comment aimed at mine?
You know I have stood for truth, justice and then reconciliation. All investigation should cover the period from 5th April 1971 to date. Whenever I travel through out the island I meet victims and/or their relatives. irrespective of their region, religion or their race all of them want to know the truth, seek justice and some form of compensation.
A few years ago I met a fragile old lady deep in the South who lost her three sons in the Southern Madness. Her story was and is touching. She is the only one who looks after her bed ridden husband. If not for her sick husband she would have committed suicide just after death of her sons.
This is symptomatic through out the island.
By the way here is a news item which require serious consideration:
Tamil Kings Cut out, History Rewritten, Claim Lankan Tamil Students
By Gokul VannanPublished: 02nd March 2015 06:00 AM
Five years after the end of the ethnic war in Sri Lanka, Tamil minority students are still unable to acquire knowledge about the legacy of Tamil kings of yore through their History textbooks in schools.
Instead, they get to learn only about the glory of the Sinhala kings and their contribution to the growth of Buddhism in the island nation. “Our History textbooks up to Class X emphasise that the Sinhala kings alone are the legitimate rulers of Sri Lanka and only their clan has the ability to govern the country. If Tamil-speaking students requested their teachers to enlighten them on the Tamil kings and their contribution, the fellow Sinhala classmates mock them,” rued a student, who came with his family to the St Antony’s Church festival at the uninhabited Katchatheevu island in Palk Bay.
If the Tamil students persisted, they would be chided saying, “Why are you asking irrelevant questions. Just follow the syllabus.”
“Even our teachers back the Sinhalese students,” said another student, adding, “The irony is that our History teacher is a Tamil.”
The History textbooks glorify the achievements of King Mahasen Dutugemunu (who won a war against Tamil kings), Weera Parakara Maha Bahu and Kashyapan. They were the kings who ruled Sri Lanka before the colonial intervention. “The teacher tells us these kings were known for their valour and ruling ability. They also supported Buddhist monks and helped them construct Buddhist monasteries and stupas,” said a secondary school student.
“We were told by our teachers that some of these kings fought against the British hiding in the forest using traditional weapons skillfully,” said a student. The teachers emphasise that the power should be transferred only within the royal family.
“Five years have gone by since I joined school and not even one Tamil king’s name has been discussed in our classroom,” said a senior secondary grade student. “The Tamil textbooks also deal only with grammar while poems and contribution of Tiruvalluvar or Bharathiar are not elaborated or described,” said another student on the syllabus.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/
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sach / March 3, 2015
So what tamil kings should these tamil kids be taught? the south indian usurpers?
There is a place your eelamist history find hard to survive and that is the history class.
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2015
Burning Issue
“What right has he to publish such articles about the Sinhala nation?”
You got to be precise, its their Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto that the Sinhala/Buddhist Chauvinists are worried about, not about the people of this island.
The Sinhala/Buddhist Chauvinists don’t give a damn about the people, their dignity, life, habitat, lively hood, nor for their democratic rights.
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sach / March 2, 2015
“The Sinhala/Buddhist Chauvinists don’t give a damn about the people, their dignity, life, habitat, lively hood, nor for their democratic rights.”
I guess you were giving a damn about these when you funded LTTE terrorism.
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sach / March 2, 2015
No one has responded properly to the genocide resolution even DJ. I think many wrote about the act of passing resolutions damning the SL government. I hope you are old enough to differentiate the two.
There is a lot of things I said, which you ignored like
“And hilariously the very person who brought the genocide resolution had blocked the genocide word (pointing at legality) in 2014, brought it in 2015….with genocide word…Did it became legal after an year for wiggie? And what does wiggie say? He says he brought it as a reaction to not removing military in north! so not because of a genocide?”
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Burning Issue / March 2, 2015
such,
You really need to read and comprehend things before you rush to put pen to paper. DR DJ said that, the Genocide document was in the process of making for sometime; it was expedited as a result of the disappointment of the non-removal of the army occupation from private land. This is the crux of the issue. The fact the document was being developed must tell you that the Tamils feel very strongly about the treatments that have been meted out to the Tamils since 1948. It is important that you as a Sinhala to pay attention to the feelings of the Tamils objectively.
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sach / March 3, 2015
This shows what I said in my previous comment. “The ones who have the mentality that they can do whatever they want and hope to get not questioned are the GGP tamils, none else.”
I knew you would point that out. I did not rush anything I do read clearly and see clearly what you people are up to.
Genocide charge is a VERY serious charge that any provincial minister would not charge at the government which he is under. A person who was employed under this government all his life bringing such a charge is hilarious at one point. That charge is not anti Sinhalaa, it is anti SL.
The resolution was clearly under preparation for sometime. And rejected by the same person last year. Did he find ‘genocide’ legal all of a sudden? And the reason he expedited that resolution was a mere statement by the defence minister. Is he saying he will bring such a serious and false charge against SL state just because of a statement? What is he aiming at? what is he showing? If there is a SL gover with balls, they should dissolve the NPC and try wiggie for treason.
Wiggie did not attack Sinhala, he attacked SL. As always tamils are anti national when it comes to SL. They are always the tools of the outside powers that seek to destabilise SL.
If Tamils do not care about others and their feelings why should others care about tamils?
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Real Peace / March 3, 2015
Sach
The Genocide Resolution speaks about what Tamils went through since independence in the hands of the Sinhala majority.
The original resolution was moved by Sivajilingam but his draft resolution was not up to scratch and on this basis the CM did not accept it then. He said he needed to do some serious research and consult national and international legal experts. As the final draft was taking shape the senior members of the govt dropped a bombshell by saying that not a single army camp would be removed in the North. This act triggered the presentation of the improved draft by the CM himself. This is what happened, FYI please.
Let me ask you a simple question – how many acres of private land occupied by the military to defend KIA? None! How many acres of private land occupied by the military to “defend” Palaly airport? 6500 acres. You as another human being, just imagine the plight of people who are uprooted from these lands.
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sach / March 3, 2015
The people living around KIA did not fire mortars at SLA air crafts. Palaly never fell into the hands of LTTE and the single reason was army had captured land around the area. If civilians were allowed to live, the LTTE will always sneak through the civilians and target the airfore.
And in any retaliatory action people will die. Then SLG and airforce will have to face cries of Human rights industry with no mention of LTTE creeping inside civilians and attacking SLA. As this is the case in SL war.
These areas kept free of civilians is of paramount importance in SL defence. We cannot compromise our security concerns for some HR groups crying. No nation will ever do that and need not do that.
I have already commented about resolution to BI. These tamils talk as if they were scraping coconut all these years. Tamils waged a war and were defeated at war. That is not genocide. If you wage war, be ready to die. If you are scared to die (like Praba) dont start war.
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sach / March 2, 2015
Your point is when tamils throw at Sinhalese with their dastardly and ridiculous accusations Sinhala people have no right to point at foul play?
That too after tamils had waged terrorism against Sinhala people for 30 years?
Is that what you say?
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Alahakoon / March 2, 2015
I am glad that both UNP and SLFP leaders rejected this @#$@. Who thought that teaching monkeys to write could be more dangerous than giving them razors.
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Anpu / March 2, 2015
How The Rajapaksa Regime Gets Away With Murder ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrtnx6DkWEs
With the help of people like Dayan Jaytilleka
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Jaufer / March 2, 2015
Is all the talks stopped because of this resolution. This resoloution just apssed, but all talks discontinued 25 years ago.it looks like Dr Dayan’s selective Amnesia problems detoriating further. Please someone do something.
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sach / March 2, 2015
It is not dayan who has selective amnesia, it is you…Did you forget that there was a political and terrorist entity called LTTE for the past 30 years which made any ‘talks’ impossible and irrelevant?
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Raja / March 2, 2015
Why should the true statement need to be repealed. Can any one deny the facts in the Genocide resolution. if people not willing to accept facts one can not live together peacefully. We need to separate. Separation will not be given shall be taken even it takes hundreds of years like the Irish
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sach / March 2, 2015
why needs further repealing? Wiggie has already repealed and lost its validity twice…
:)
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simon / March 2, 2015
Dear Dayan, A few weeks a go you were feeling like the war hero of Nugeyagoda taking selfies..And that must have been a good feeling.Then you start whining about the Tamils and in this one you are winging and being openly racist -giving the monkey a razor.
This is what happens when you give a native racist opertunistic mutt an English Education.
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Mallaiyuran / March 2, 2015
“A man or woman must have the courage of his or her convictions. If you do something, do so because you think it is right. If you oppose something, do so because you think it is wrong. If you’ve done something because you think it is right, say so, defend your choice, and give reasons why you thought it was right, if only at that time. If you’ve opposed something, explain that opposition, giving reasons why, at the time, you thought it was wrong. If you’ve remained silent, give the reasons for so doing. If you’ve broken your silence, explain why. That’s the way to remain an essentially moral man or woman, to ascend the high ground, even if your reasons may be wrong.” – Ven. Thero Dhayan de Silva (preaching, not ready to practice.)
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ela kolla / March 2, 2015
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Rajash / March 2, 2015
Dayan “Repeal ‘Genocide’ Resolution Before Devolution Talks, Troop Moves “
Discussions and negotiations on Devolution Talks and requests for troops move has been going on for a long time The previous regime was just dragging it’s feet.
Thea Genocide Resoultion is pressure point.
Withdraw troops and lets have meaningful discussion on Devolution as a prerequisite to repeal genocide resolution.
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Candidly / March 2, 2015
It can safely be predicted that main consequence of this inflammatory resolution from the Northern Provicial Council and its Chief Minister will be to convince the rest of the country that the Tamil National Alliance cannot be trusted and is still out to sow ethnic conflict. If they are so concerned about the deaths of Tamil people why has there been no out and out condemnation from the TNA and the Northern Provincial Council of the murderous Prabakharan and the Tamil Tigers and why no aplogies and promises of compensation to the lower caste Tamils who had their children forcibly conscripted by the Tigers?
The rest of the island will now say: don’t rush to reduce troop numbers in the north, continue with the policy of encourging Sri Lankan loyalists to move to the north, go slow on any plans to encourage Tamilian Sri Lankan refugees in India to return to the island!
Meanwhile, what are the TNA doing about the millions of rupees in grants their Council members have failed to spend and risk losing? And what are they doing about the poaching by Indian fishermen into northern waters depriving their own fishermen of a livelihood?
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Burning Issue / March 2, 2015
Candidly,
I have encountered you on the Groundwiews; your ostensible comment is noted.
The TNA is the representatives of the people of the north; they mainly constitute Tamils. Hence, it right and proper to echo the concerns of the people. The Tamils feel that have been wronged since 1948; there is nothing wrong at all to document and present it to the Sinhala masses and for the interested parties. You may have objection to the word Genocide, and you have a right to do so. This does not mean the veracity of the claim is dismissed because many Sinhala object to it. The Resolution should be properly studied and countered within democratic means. There should be tangible steps taken to mitigate the feelings of the Tamil people.
“It can safely be predicted that main consequence of this inflammatory resolution from the Northern Provicial Council and its Chief Minister will be to convince the rest of the country that the Tamil National Alliance cannot be trusted and is still out to sow ethnic conflict.”
This is an irresponsible statement! What “trust” in this context? The TNA have openly and on several occasions explicitly stated that, they support one Sri Lanka. Both Sumanthiran and Sampanthan attended the Independence Day celebration after decades of absence. They are willing to work with the Sinhala to achieve a lasting peace. This does not mean that they have to be submissive! You as a Sinhala do not want the Tamils to be submissive, do you? You should want them to exercise their right to complain and seek remedy. This is what they are doing and I find it preposterous as to why you object to it!
“Meanwhile, what are the TNA doing about the millions of rupees in grants their Council members have failed to spend and risk losing? And what are they doing about the poaching by Indian fishermen into northern waters depriving their own fishermen of a livelihood?”
You should also inhibit from asking dump questions! What powers do NPC have? How can they spend their budget when spending would involve concurrence of several ministries as it stands now? What jurisdiction the NPC have about dealing with the Indian Fisher folks?
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sach / March 2, 2015
Where in SL are Tamils submissive? Don’t tamils enjoy all the rights that any other Lankan would enjoy?
What right are rejected for tamils as an individual? Is granting an ethnic enclave for a minority, discrimination? What sort of discrimination is that?
About Genocide…
SL never had a genocide. What SL had was a war since 1972 which you tamils started. When you start war, be ready for death. You cant kill others, target SL nation and expect others not to target you. When you become a threat to SL, you are a legitimate target.
The fact that Tamils who distanced themselves from LTTE and separatism flourished and that tamils who were associated with LTTE was targeted proves that.
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Candidly / March 3, 2015
Look at this objectively, dear Burning Issue, and ask yourself “Has Wigneswaran’s statement regarding alleged genocide hindered or helped the cause of peace in Sri Lanka?”
To help answer that we can ask “What have been the consequences of his allegation?” I would say that the principal consequences have been (A)to increase suspicion amongst the vast majority of Sri Lankans and the international community that the TNA and its dominant constituent parties do not want to see reconciliation; and (B)to indicate that Wignewaran has poor political judgement because no one outside the Tamil Tigers and their dwindling band of supporters in India and the West believes in the claim of genocide.
This claim of genocide has been doing the rounds for at least the last 6 years. Outside the ranks of the Tamil Tigers and their supporters, not a single government or authoritative organisation has supported the claim. If genocide had taken place in Sri Lanka tens of thousands of families and hundreds of villages and communities would have been exterminated, but so far, despite the passing of six years, no one has come with anything remotely resembling long lists of names of families and villages that have been supposedly wiped out.
That is not to deny that some dreadful murderous acts took place against Tamils, Sinhalese and Moslems during the 30 year period of the war. But to make exaggerated allegations of genocide without any evidence for it only reflects on the poor and immature judgement of those who make the claims, in my opinion.
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sach / March 3, 2015
TNA is never for reconciliation, actually no tamil is for reconciliation. It is disgusting that people who funded suicide terrorism in SL are talking about HR. Canada itself sent 2 million $ to SL monthly for terrorism.
According to BI every wrong a tamil does every murder, every racist act a tamil does is correct,. He is a racist GGP tamil who funded terrorism in SL.
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lynx / March 3, 2015
Thank you! A rare sensible comment in CT.
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cholan / March 2, 2015
Devolution talks ???????? for the last 60 years they are talking…..talking….talking ….and will talk …this SL is going to bleed forever…..this time with super power boxing……and modayas are going to suffer more
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raj / March 2, 2015
[Edited out]
Please write instead of posting web links – CT
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Anpu / March 2, 2015
Eleven commissions have been appointed by the Sri Lankan government over the past thirty‐ five years to investigate human rights violations. These commissions possessed similar mandates which have not materially changed over the last thirty five years. The mandate of each of the commission was to inquire into the following:
‐whether there were human rights violations and the reasons for such violations;
‐whether anyone or a group of persons was responsible;
‐whether those responsible for the violations need to be punished;
‐whether the victims need to be compensated; and
‐whether any changes have to be made in the government, especially whether institutional, administrative, and legislative measures are necessary to prevent the recurrence of such violations.
These noble reasons promulgated in the mandate did not turn out to produce effective solutions to those affected by human rights violations in Sri Lanka because there was no political will to provide redress to the victims. The following paragraphs summarize the detailed analysis of the various commissions in the report.
‐The Sansoni Commission failed because the Commissioner was unable to perform his duties due to political pressure from the government. Although Mr. Sansoni was the former Chief Justice of the Sri Lanka Supreme Court, he failed to exercise his independence in submitting his conclusions. Another issue that arose during the hearing was the dual role played by the Attorney General’s Office, which both defended and investigated the government entity.
‐The Kokkaddicholai Commission which inquired into the killings of fifty‐seven civilians by the army did not recommend any prosecution against the seventeen soldiers guilty of murder, rape, and arson. Contrary to international standards, the Commission recommended that the seventeen soldiers be tried under military law even though the killings were extrajudicial.
‐The Presidential Truth Commission was appointed in 2001, nearly two decades after the events of interest took place. By the time the Presidential Truth Commission was formed, many witnesses were either dead or had moved to foreign countries as refugees. Thus, the appointment of the Commission was futile.
‐The 2006 Presidential Commission of Inquiry folded because the mandate was not extended, and several Commissioners resigned. The IIGEP unilaterally suspended its mission citing the dual role of the Attorney General, inadequate witness protection measures, and inadequate funding for the Commission.
‐The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of 2010, which has no mandate to look into human rights violations, which cannot recommend prosecution against those who committed human rights violations, and which cannot provide witness protection to those making complaints, is already a failed Commission.
The latest Human Rights Report published by the United States State Departmentxxxiii has identified several issues in relation to Sri Lanka: “the government and its agents are 31 | P a g e
responsible for human rights violations; security forces continue to commit extrajudicial killings and kidnap citizens; the minority community continues to live in fear; the security forces continue to torture and abuse the detainees.” The list goes on. In such a situation, will a commission such as LLRC, whose members are past government employees, inquire into human rights violations? Citizens are arbitrarily arrested, and neither the civilian nor the military courts have convicted any police or military personnel for human rights violations. Will a commission such as the LLRC recommend that military personnel be punished for human rights violations? In the unlikely event the commission recommends prosecution of military personnel, will the Attorney General prosecute them, and will the court pass an impartial judgment because the Executive continues to influence the judiciary?
Therefore, an International Investigation by unbiased experts of human rights is essential to find out the truth of what happened during the last days of the war between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan Government where more than 40,000 Tamil civilians perished during the latter stages of the civil war in 2009. These experts should also be given the authority to recommend prosecution of any alleged violators of human rights irrespective of their positions with the Sri Lanka government. Those who have violated human rights shall also be brought to justice in front of the International Criminal Court to face charges.
http://www.sangam.org/2011/04/Track_Record.pdf.crdownload
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Saro / March 2, 2015
The NPC resolution defines the ‘genocide’ first and the following quotation reveals
In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Didn’t the governments in 1956, 1958, 1965, 1977, 1983 and 2009 intentionally kill ‘members of the Tamils’ – refer to (a) above.
Didn’t Gotabaya Rajapakse, the Defence Secretary in 2009, separate husbands and wives of those escaped from the shelling and bombing of ‘safe zone’ to ‘prevent births within Tamils’ – refer to (d) above.
DJ is a racist who advised the Rajapakse government to keep the murderer EPDP Douglas Devananda in the government, which in itself is genocidal, because he and his thugs were responsible for abduction of Tamils and extra judicially kill them.
Reading of the resolution will show that NPC CM Mr Wigneswaran is a highly principled gentleman unless DJ who in leftist clothing behaved like a wolf in moving the first resolution in UN HRC on Sri Lanka.
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alex / March 2, 2015
This article just shows how far DJ is from the contemporary conversation. Regardless of whether it was a genocide or not, the Sri Lankan state can’t continue to deny the basic rights of the Tamils. Its not a negotiation – the Tamils shouldn’t be expected to barter their fundamental rights for a few crumbs. I think DJ is clearly at the periphery now of mainstream thought – thankfully the rest of the world and to some degree it appears the new Sri Lankan government is focused on delivering those fundamental rights. If DJ wants to remain relevant to the conversation he needs to shed his nationalist, zero-sum, mentality. There is so much to be gained in Sri Lanka by accepting that all its nations and peoples have rights that are non-negotiable.
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justice / March 2, 2015
DJ cannot whitewash away the realities of massacres of tamil civilians in batches from soon after independence, nor the ongoing suppresson and oppression of the tamils, keeping them under subjugation.
A dead LTTE is the ready excuse for all these activities.
The ‘genocide’ resolution is a statement of truth and reality.
The so-called ‘truth & disappearences commission’ is an eye wash and DJ knows it.
The reluctance to lead evidence in courts of law against hundreds of tamils held in secret detention is ample proof of state repression.
Refugees still living in camps, six years after the war ended is totally ignored.
Does DJ think that the international community are all fools?
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Navin / March 2, 2015
Dayan,
Whatever the pundits or the rabid trolls may say you have been vindicated by the following comment from a regular commentator on CT (pseudonym Patriot) which appeared in response to Laksiri Fernando’s write up on the “Genocide Resolution”.
It has taken the wind off the sails of your detractors!
Thank you for your continued contributions on this matter.
Once again as a Sinhalese I take this opportunity to be profoundly thankful to our Tamil brethren for being so courteous.
QUOTE:
The purpose of the Genocide resolution can be found in the introduction to the United States declaration of independence: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.” The purpose of the resolution isn’t to seek political concessions from the Sinhalese south. The Tamil people understood the futility of this and abandoned all such attempts decades ago. However, the world has changed, and Justice Wigneswaran is smart enough to see that the wheels are in motion outside the island to bring real change to the NE. So the resolution was passed not to ask for anything from the Sinhalese, but rather as a courtesy, to let them know why the NE is going to separate and become independent.
END QUOTE
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2015
Navin
“to let them know why the NE is going to separate and become independent.”
Its you again.
Even if you are compelled to grant Independent Thamil Eelam out of your generosity have you obtained permission from Hindia?
Before the Sinhala/Buddhists agree/decide to separate this island it is incumbent upon them to apply for permission from Hindia, their big sister.
Tamil Eelam should be a matter for Hindia to deal with and not yours. Therefore you can go to bed and sleep peacefully for the rest of your life.
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Cyril / March 2, 2015
The Sri Lankan people have shown in the recent Presidential election that they reject racist/nationalist rhetoric whichever ethnic group it emanates from. So, let’s move on, but deal with the issues of the people across the ethnic divide in a democratic rather than a military manner.
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jansee / March 2, 2015
Just ignore this joker. The UNHRC has already stepped in. It has given a short reprieve to a new regime that has promised the sun and the moon and let us be focused on how the regime intends to keep its promise of a local independent and credible investigation. The speech in the UNHRC by Mangala Samaraweera does not mention even a single line that he has been telling the world of such an investigation. Let us see what transpires within the six months.
Dayan has hatched a clever plan, that is to raise the temperature between the current regime and the NPC. This sly fox is telling that Minister Ruwan made the offensive statement on the troop maintenance just as a jest, merely to appease the Sinhalese but that logic and reason has shied away from him in the case of CW’s resolution. With credibility completely stripped off, Dayan’s imputation of both Ruwan’s and CW’s is only his.
His advice to the Rajapakse brothers had got them into enough trouble. I believe the new regime does not even want his shadow anywhere near it. Talk is rife that the grand posturing by Ruwan had his wings clipped. Somehow Tamils will come to learn the contents of the UNHRC report. The Darusman and Petrie’s report had already implicated SL in a big way. The NPC has been critical of the behaviour of the regime of SL. Can this joker answer for the failure of the Rajapakse regime to fulfill the promises to the Tamils? How MR’s promise to CW on the governor was just a lie. Similarly, this guy too lied in the UNHRC. Imagine the UNHRC took three years with each resolution providing ample opportunity to abide by the terms of the resolution but the anwer by the regime was more and more lies. How this is going to play out will be seen in six months.
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Park / March 2, 2015
Dayan you are a Chameleon. You change colours bit too often. You are living in a bubble. You want Rajapakse back, thinking that he will give you the Foreign Minister post. Dream on!
If you have said the Genocide resolution was an ill timed resolution under Maithripala Sirisena rule we all would have agreed. But the truth of the matter is there was Genocide, even in 1983. But to pass the resolution at this time, that too proposed by Justice Wigneswaran is the biggest blunder Wigneswaran has created so far in his political life. The second blunder Wigneswaran did was not to mention the LTTE genocide of the Sinhalese villagers and non-combatants during various bomb blasts.
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burt / March 2, 2015
Before you ask for the resolution to be repealed you should prove the events described did not occur or get UN to change the definition of genocide.
If you cannot do either don’t waste the space.
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Jim softy / March 2, 2015
Sri lankan govts do not know how to play with Treibal politics of Tamils.
Take some of the things that they enjoy then they have so much to talk.
throw away and don’t expect Tamil votes.
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commando695 / March 2, 2015
This is the definition of genocide by the ICC:
“Article 6 of the Rome Statute provides that ‘genocide’ means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
This definition fits the LTTE far more that it does the GOSL.
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commando695 / March 3, 2015
“Article 6 of the Rome Statute provides that ‘genocide’ means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
This definition fits the LTTE ( the sole representatives of the Tamil people) far more that it does the GOSL.
Sorry to note that over 75% of the comments are personal ‘hacks’ on the author – rather than on the contents of his message.
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