10 November, 2024

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Sri Lanka At Geneva Big Match

By Vickramabahu Karunaratne –

Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratne

From the 83 riots, the Lankan state had to struggle in the international arena to justify the suppression of  the Tamil insurrection. At that stage there was public sympathy in India and in most of the Western democracies to the Tamil cause, and the Sinhala were always perceived as the oppressors. In fact India armed and extended training facilities to Tamil militant groups while the left or liberal Europeans and North Americans had their sympathies with the Tamil cause and funds were raised to finance this cause.

LTTE a terrorist organization

Even during the deliberations leading up to the listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation in the western countries, liberal officials and politicians objected to so listing the LTTE, as they perceived it as a liberation organisation.  Consequently interventions by the leaders of India and Lanka ensured that the LTTE was on the list. Lanka and India put forward the view that Tamil liberation should be separated from the terror campaign. Both claimed that terrorism should be eliminated by armed repression while the liberation aspect should be dealt with a political solution.

A deliberate and orchestrated strategy was pursued by the Lankan state to “brand” the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The LTTE countered and projected itself as a liberation organisation. The Lankan state won this contest as the international community under the pressure of India, listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.

But most of Lanka’s senior diplomats and pro government intellectuals maintained that the moral high ground of the Tamil cause was unassailable, and the new concept of “terrorism” only provided Lanka with a temporary respite.  Except chauvinists such as Nalin and Gunadasa, every body knew that at some point Lanka would have to address the issues of the Tamil cause.

However, majority of the Sinhala population got carried away by the Mahinda Chinthanaya propaganda, and failed to appreciate the underlying issues relating to the Tamil cause and the validity of the right of self determination of the Tamil people. Mahinda claimed that the war was won by Lankans, without foreign assistance.

But at the UNHRC, during the debate of the US backed resolution against Lanka, the Cuban delegate while supporting Lanka stated that 40% of the value of Lankan arms purchases was from the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel! Although the North Americans, the Europeans and India assisted and encouraged Lanka in its war against Tamil insurgency, the left and liberal forces in these countries had their sympathies with the Tamil cause. This political aspect has always been consistent, which led to millions of Tamil citizens fleeing Lanka to these countries.

Assistance not unconditional

Thus the assistance, political and military, extended to Lanka by North America, the European Union and India was not unconditional. There was the unwritten understanding between Lanka and global powers that after defeating the “terrorists”, the issue of the Tamil national problem will be addressed. After the end of the war, the world powers waited for some form of bourgeois balance to be introduced, but Mahinda was drifting.

Mahinda regime in Colombo thought that by concentrating on infrastructure development, the underlying issues of the national problem will fade away. However, it is a fundamental problem of democracy  and cannot be swept under the carpet. This reality was shown to the leaders by rational advisers but members of the Mahinda regime frequently labelled dissenting voices as “traitors”. That means even liberals who state, sovereignty must entail a government exercising its authority to uphold the rule of law, are traitors.

With the resolution passed Mahinda regime is devalued in the international arena. Resolution does not have much power but it is a resolution of shame to Lanka. There is a huge credibility issue with the Mahinda presidency. No one believes them any more.

But Tamils expected much more from global powers. They expected a war tribunal and serious constitutional changes through foreign intervention. As I said before, these are only day dreams. Justice can be achieved only by a revolutionary regime based on workers power and Tamil liberation.

Courtesy NSSP

Latest comments

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    If he earn Dollars, It nourishes the MRs economy without any conditions like IMF. :D

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    Tamils and other minority communities in Sri Lanka must be thankful for the services rendered by the Sinhalese progressive politicians and intellectuals. they show extreme courage in speaking the truth and courage despite facing the dangers of being branded traitors by their own people. Even though they are a minority in number, and always facing intimidation and threat to their lives by the state, they have to be praised for standing up against the state-sponsored propaganda of lies and falsehood in governance.

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    some how your comments repling to politicaly phychosis person just like valu pillay media in srilanka so poor to understand the mentality of journalism .tese people do act better, make money better,popularity better,die better with ceremonials but the man is a professor of sick.

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    Thank you for removing the comments from some [Edited out] and to offer a website as an inviting space to focus on intelligent discussion of topics

    Almost all comments from people like Max Silva, Bodinayake and Peter Casie Chetty are above a tolerable level

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      Thank you for moderation of comments.

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    One comment made here praising VK for his fearlessness says that he belong to a minority of Lankans. I wish to differ as I feel about 80% Lankans feel the same as VK. It is only about 20% that oppose a peaceful settlement and call anyone who promotes peace as a Traitor. We just passed the Independence day on 4th of February. The National fervour was at it’s best w,ith the MR regime requesting all to hoist the National Flag. How many houses hoisted the National Flag? Not even a 20%. Of this number too some were Tamil houses through fear. Of the business premises some were through compulsion. Thus I believe the Majority Sinhalese have no problem with the Tamils to be treated as equals. It is only a minority that have always blown this out of proportion with the help of bankrupt Politicians. Even during the ’83 riots how many Sinhalese saved Tamil families at the risk of life and property?

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      My family personally looked after more than 10 Tamil friend’s of ours in 83 riots. I personally witnessed a certain prominent Buddhist monk from Buller’s Road instigating people near Kanatte junction to riot. I agree that more than 80% of right thinking Sinhalese don’tapprove of state terrorism in one form or the other. Why can’t we sit down & talk things through to come some form of consensus without this constant confrontation with Tamil diaspora & the west. I lived & worked in the west for over 25 Years till three months ago, met many Tamil people & did business with them. Only 5% of them supported Tamil Eelam cause, but had to give into terrorists b’case of INTIMIDATION. Live & let live we are all human beings!
      “Appamado amathapadam
      pamado machunno padam
      appamaththana meeyanthi
      yepa maththa ythamatha.”

      (Dhamma pada)

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        The reason is that although we belong to the majority the 80%, we are not organised and we are passive. The 20% are better organised and very active. That is the difference.

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      Gamini,
      You say that 80% Lankans feel the same way as VK.Sometime back when VK contested the presidential election,he obtained less than 1000 votes,mind you that is out of a total of over 10 million votes.Meaning one in ten thousand had voted for him,thus ending as an “also ran”.

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        Max, first and foremost I thank you for being civil in interacting and engaing in arguments. Why VK did not get the 80% support is because of his political incline being a red. If you look at the 2005 Presidential election where Ranil lost by a mere 180,000 votes after being labeled as the TRAITOR who having conceded the NE to the LTTE and VP. He was lambasted with these accusations and the CFA alleging he had private agreements with the LTTE as alleged by Sripathi and Jeyraj. Yet people voted for RW because the public had faith in Ranil. If not for five votes in my family that was for RW that had been disenfranchised where a total of almost around a four hundred thousand votes in the South was denied to Ranil, you and everyone else knows the TRUTH as to who will be sitting as President in this country. The question that if RW was a Traitor who conceded everything to the LTTE and VP why they did not help to elect RW as president and sealed the whole deal? Instead VP helped MR to become the President by prventing the NE vote. If not for the US and India intervening, which they still do, not only here but the world over, there will not be conflict and loss of human life. How thereafter RW has lost consecutively is because the Election mechinary is in the hands of MR. That is why. None of us will be here in afew more years and all will be history. The unfortunate thing is toady people can be easily fooled and the mediocre rule the roost. Please forgive me, if I hurt your feelings with my remark of the Portuguese as I am even married to one and I consider all as human beings including the Tamils. It is the inability of some to look at the issue from a human angle that they strive for identity and position such differences are harped on to gain cheap popularity to come to power. Believe me such power is not long lasting and they will meet their waterloo someday soon. I trust there is no hard feelings. You are free to critisise me, but what I put on paper is through my intuitive knowledge. That is all. Even Lord Buddha said first to evaluate his Philosphy before believing. ‘Ehi passiko opaniko’

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        Gamini,
        I can’t help but agree with most of the things you said.It’s true that if not for VP,RW would have won in 2005.That was the biggest blunder VP made.The problem with the LTTE was that power was centred on a few.The choice in front of VP was a difficult one.RW or MR,which one was the least difficult.VP didn’t want RW because he wasn’t sure of RWs tactics,specially with Americans like Richard Armitage backing him.But in the case of MR,it was plain clear what was in store.So the known enemy was better than the unknown enemy.
        In the case of VK,he is not red anymore.This time around he is joining the UNP for the May day.I would say that he is a sort of technicolor,man of all seasons.But at least he sticks to his guns,unlike the other so called communists who ultimately ended up hanging on to the “Sari pota” or “satakaya”.May be he is better off earning his bread and butter through NGOs.

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    I find that my comments on this topic have been deleted.Elsewhere, on not less than five occasions,my replies have been deleted.It seems that anti Tamil Tiger replies is anathema.CT,can you please show me a single instance where pro Tiger replies have been deleted?The answer is none.CT,goes on to explain the reasons for deleting my replies.But still CT finds it good enough to post certain replies which are nothing but filth.Why is this sort of double standards?Well,the bat and ball belongs to you.So you can play the game according to your rules.But in that case i see no reason why i should waste my time here.Before concluding pl let me highlight a few instances of double standards.
    (a)Topic-Dr Brian’s,a bishop….-.Reply by one Donald Gnanakone,on 1.4.12 at 10.06,calling me a “PONNAYA”.
    (b)Topic-Uvindu’s,Balachandran……..-One DGUS replies on 26.3.12 at 9.07am,”MODAYATA KIMBA RATHARAN”.
    (c)Topic-Malinda’s Arrest this thug-One Krishana replies on 27.3.12 at 5.26am,”MERVYN IS NOT ARRESTED OR SACKED BY MAHINDA AS HE IS THE PIMP WHO PROVIDE HIM WITH WOMEN”
    CT,pl be fair when deleting replies without resorting to double standards.Until then i will use my time on more fruitful ventures.CT,it’s for you to decide,after all you own the bat and the ball.
    Thank you!

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      “You can take the man out of the GUTTER
      but however much you try you will never take the GUTTER out of the man!”

      Old saying Mr MAX(IMERVYN) Silva, but still works!
      (Sorry I normally don’t disrespect people but you take the biscuit!)

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    I agree with Max’s above comment but not with his “real comments”. Your policy of “moderation” should be applied equally in every instance!

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        CT,that’s great.You can be assured of my fullest cooperation.

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    I agree with Colombo telegraph view keep up your excellent job on abusers in this forum. Pro govt henchmen s have many blogs & forums, but dissent views have very few.

    People like Max Silva should be disciplined which I doubt whether he will adhere because all pro govt henchmen s behave in that manner that’s how they won election too, we saw how they conducted the presidential elections, using the entire state machinery in a thuggish manner, I amm a witness & a victim for their atrocity, they rigged the election in their favor by kidnapping the election commissioner issuing results in their favor such rogues they are. Even Ranil Wickramasinghe connived in that plot fearing no hope to realize his ambition of presidency.

    Max Silva is one of UPFA who sings for his supper, He is one of them who cant change their behavior. These Singhala radical fools do not know how this bogus patriot Mahinda Rajapaksa is trapping them in connivance with India & America for a separate state by creating a hate campaign against Tamils, finally the international community will say Tamils & Singhalese cannot re conciliate & live together, lets give them a separate entity under the guidance of India & America who will be most benefited. they will be solidly behind Tamils & Huppe for the singhalese who can scratch their head & bow down. in vain all the life lost. Mark my word & save this column.

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      Jim,
      You say that i need to be disciplined.Is it the way that the tiger terror machine disciplined thousands of civilians in hacking them to death?Jim,i’ll look after myself.You’d better look after yourself.I wish i could give you a detailed reply.Once i am convinced that CT is not just another mouthpiece of the defeated Tamil tiger terrorists,i will do so.Until then”keep on smashing clay pots in the abandoned house”.Pl make sure that the neighbors are not disturbed!

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    Thus the assistance, political and military, extended to Lanka by North America, the European Union and India was not unconditional…. Dear Bahu.. Are you stupid or What??? Did you even follow what happend during the war.. In 2009 the assistance, political and military from the west do you mean when they were preparing to send rescue boats to get the LTTE and its leader ship out of SL and to another country.. Is that the help you ment.And military help.. HAve you seen the Lankan forces equipment All or most are from China, Russia, Israel and Pakisthan… Do you even know this fact.. Thats whi After the UNHCR vote the next day USA said its lifting its ARMS SALE RESTRICTIONS… Now idiots like you and those who you preach to will believe your rubbish.. but ground facts tell us a different story.. And Indias role.. Did you ever read the news in 2008 when India sent us WW2 bullets which were duds.. And the Defence radar systems which were so old it cost GOSL more money to find the parts to get these items to function????? Then only assistance the west gave were to the LTTE..Did you see the made in USA and UK labels of their captured equipment.. Now how did these items get pass Customs???? What a joke.. So much for facts. BAHU

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