President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to appoint a notorious alleged war criminal as Chief of Army Staff is a shocking new low for Sri Lanka. Major General Shavendra Silva was named by a United Nations investigation for his part in commanding the 58 Division, which was the unit responsible for repeated and deliberate attacks on hospitals, food distribution queues and displacement camps in 2009, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian deaths in a matter of months. Units under Silva’s direct command are also alleged to have been involved in summary executions including of women and children, hundreds of cases of enforced disappearance, as well as torture and sexual violence.
“Sri Lanka now has a chief of army staff who risks arrest every time he travels abroad, if any country is foolish enough to give him a visa” said the executive director of the International Truth and Justice Project, Yasmin Sooka. “We have prepared a substantial dossier on Major General Silva which we shall be releasing shortly; we believe there is more than enough evidence to charge him for international crimes should the opportunity arise. This is arguably the most wanted man in Sri Lanka – a decade on, tragically, he is being promoted instead of standing trial”
Tamil survivors of the 2009 war, thousands of whom have been driven into exile since, have expressed horror that Silva has been chosen for such a senior military position.
“This is an incredible affront to the victims of that war – and jeopardises any reconciliation attempt in Sri Lanka,” said Ms. Sooka. “We cannot imagine what the President is thinking in promoting a man who brings the whole country into disrepute and is a close ally of the former secretary of defence, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, serving in the same regiment together.”
Silva is alleged to have been personally present at the location of the so called “white flag” surrenders on 18 May 2009, and has confirmed that he was in overall command of the area. An eyewitness says he saw Silva shake hands with the political leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as they surrendered to him; their corpses were seen on the roadside a few hours later. The UN’s Investigation said the leaders were summarily executed, despite assurances from the Government that they could safely surrender under a white flag.
During the final phase of the war, Major General Silva reported directly to General Jagath Jayasuriya. In 2017 the ITJP filed a lawsuit against General Jayasuriya in Latin America, where he was based as a diplomat, in connection with his command position in 2008-9. Both Brazil and Chile found there was jurisdiction to accept the case; Jayasuriya fled the country on the eve of the filing, rather than test his innocence in an independent international court of law.
Shavendra Silva’s alleged role in war crimes has also been extensively reported in the media for many years. In 2011, a war crimes lawsuit was filed against Silva in New York but failed because he had diplomatic immunity. In 2012, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, reportedly raised concerns with the UN Secretary General regarding Silva being an alleged war criminal. In 2012, Silva was removed from a top UN peacekeeping advisory committee because of the allegations of war crimes. A South African NGO also threatened litigation when it was reported that Silva was to be posted as a diplomat to their country.
“This latest development might have been avoided,” said Ms. Sooka, if Major General Silva’s promotions had been scrutinised and criticised more closely in recent years. In 2017, Silva was promoted to Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army – ironically putting him in charge of the directorate of human rights and humanitarian law. He even received funding from coca cola and CEAT to run sporting events to raise money for the men in his regiment who fought with him. “The Attorney General of Sri Lanka should seriously consider indicting him for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Sooka.
Silva’s official army biography says he was trained in the USA, Israel, Netherlands, Greece, Italy, France, Pakistan and India and was instructed in psychological operations by the US Army. It added that he taught an International Humanitarian Law Course for the Sri Lankan Army. (Truth & Justice Project)
Joseph Kumaran / January 10, 2019
These Sinkhole la bastards think that they defeated the LTTE.
22 countries supported and gave the best weapons to MR sinkhala govt to ethnic cleanse the tamils.
War criminals your end is near.
/
Desperate Sinhalaya / January 10, 2019
Behavior incumbent SLPresident is beneath contempt:
We the many are speechless today. Above all 62 lacks of people incl me cant even imagine today’s situation. What made SIRISENA this wired.
He is back to his usual silly business- his name is NONE other than Gamarala ge Maithreepala Sirisena. Compared to the incumbent PM, Prez Sirisena is self-made CLOWN to the many in the country and international community. Nevertheless, few men very obsequious to him for some selfish gains, seem to be with him today.
Day before yesterday, it was commemoration of SWRD, that was celebrated without him being amongst the gathering. May well be that he has lost his face not being see the eyes of gathered family members of Bandaranayake family. All in all, Sirisena’s popularity is sinking to zero credibility whatever being made by him as country ‘s first citizen as there have been no leader so far whose respect was diminished to the level he experiences it today.
To everyone’s surprise, Sirisena makes the world laugh by his inexplicable steps taken one behind the other. No signs of him having learnt anything from supreme court verdict which was published just 3 weeks ago.
to be contd
/
Don Stanley / January 11, 2019
How about ITJP asking US govt. to arrest US Citizen Gotabaya Rajapaksa for war crimes when he travels to California where he is a property owner?! CIA has a big file of Gota..
All these so called Human Rights organization, owned and operated by Trumpland who are working on Sri Lanka with the Peace Corps. to destroy ECONOMIC RIGHTS and JUSTICE and Lanka’s economic sovereignty, are a big joke.
The are part of the Divide, DISTRACT with Fake news by weaponising ethnic and religious difference and Rule to asset strip corrupt banana republics like Lanka, and benefit America First and the global 1 percent. This is Washington’s security project in the Indian Ocean Cold War on China.
/
Thiagarajah Venugopal / January 11, 2019
Dear Don
The North then the East then the rest of the provinces by pecking order being the ‘Sacrificial Cathode’ not fully understood by the lot who sacrificed their children to be mercinaries for someone else’s venture/neighbourly needs/breeding program. How dare they even light a candle to our Mother Lankan Children………….Crocodile tears…we found no Tamil Global Forum children from around the world in the front line when the unfortunate dying in the war/no one want to come back to rebuild/no one gave their termite residing homes to the war affected/displaced…………..Tamil people being sold off totally by the TNA. Laying foundation for conflict riden future when all the opportunity exist out of this misery for a revisit/rethink/revaluate past mistakes……..and let others exercise democracy???…….deliver justice…..one would have thought……..when that does not happen is a proof beyond reasonable doubt a different intent from day one. A historical fact 1977198119832009……….I juts wonder how the same managed the 1956???? well before I was born…except I respect Hon SJV for his respectful dealings away from thuggery I have learned from my Father.
/
Desperate Sinhalaya / January 10, 2019
Part 2.
UNHRC and the related bodies were well aware of the facts that this Shavindra Silva had various allegations in the lanken army on the war crimes. Former president sent him exile allowing him diplomatic impunity. These issues were highly criticized by numerous world bodies in the post war scenario. By the time, Rajapakshe was defeated by a larger majority of 6.2 mio of voters, entire western countries and America, Australia, Candara and other likeminded countries became enemies of srilanka just because Rajapakshe’s was akin to that of Zimbabwean Mugabe. His failed let alone to safeguard basic human rights in the country. Common wealth countries make every effort to corner us srilankens thanks to Rajapakshe family politics. Hegemony was maintained by Rascals hand-picked by Rajapakshe family. Countries such as Belarus, Swaziland, Iran and the like countries were seen as Rajapkshe supporters.
Rajapakshes misbehaviors were beyond all ethics and morals. White-vanning patronized by Rajapkashe brother- Gotabaya (US CITIZEN) then known as country’s mastermind of extrajudicial killings (Wadakaya- brutal killer) tremored the nation through his idiosyncratic affinity to abductions, physical assaults, disappearances, persecutions, killings to anyone who stood against Rajapakshes. These brutal activities became their daily routine in the authoritarian brutal regime of Rajapakshe.
Current act of appointing any guys SIRISENSA thinks is right is an another step of provocative and ludicrous acts of our estranged president (now behaves as if he is the siamesian twin of murderous Rajapakshe) to appoint Shravindra Silva for a LEAD staff position in the army. Instead of searching for proper means to resolve the problems, his actions of this nature proves that he is becoming insane day by day.
/
JD / January 10, 2019
Paw Da French Tamils. Lot of Brigadiers, who escaped the final assault and ran away to EU, are there
/
Amarasiri / January 10, 2019
Colombo Telegraph,
Of course, criminals, war criminals, sex criminals, constitutional criminals should be rounded up, prosecuted, and if found guilty, punished.
Right now, there is a constitutional criminal, who is at large, called Sirisena, who is protecting all sorts of Criminals and they are at large, including Sirisena himself. To add insult to injury, Sirisena is the President.
/
Amarasiri / January 11, 2019
Colombo Telegraph,
Sri Lanka’s New Chief Of Army Staff Shavendra Silva Should Be Prosecuted For Alleged War Crimes If He Travels: ITJP.
For Alleged War Crimes? He is still a suspect, not proven beyond any reasonable doubt, because the evidence is either hidden, destroyed or silenced.
However, we have a suspect, called Sirisena, who was actually proven to be guilty by the parliament and the supreme court, who is at large, to add insult to injury, he is the sitting president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Should not Sirisena Be Prosecuted For Crimes If He Travels, ITJP.?
Why the Double Standards? One for Alleged Suspect, and one for the Actual suspect found guilty by the parliament and the supreme court?
A Land Like No Other!
/
Bubbuladewi / January 10, 2019
Sirisena’s stupidity and ignorance towards country s constitution became black and white few weeks ago. Country s court verdict cleared it and petitioners stood against his authoritarian actions and they ended up having won for democracy.
.
If this country is compliant with rule of the law, he should be not in his seat by today, but grass eaters dominated SRLANKA seem to be indifferent with that. The kind of first citizens would have been stoned to death, if that was in arabic world, put into jail if it was in Europe not waiting an hour, but in a bannana republic of our nature, where crooks of Rajaakshe nature have twisted the eyes of the gullible people – can do anything and can still stand out so long those media would not make the least effort to send the message across to the masses.
What we experience today it is, of contempt for mankind, most ridiculously a man elected by us. His rule smashes democratic institutions, the spirit that hates everything that is not how it would like it to be.
/
Taraki / January 10, 2019
Ten years and still nothing ?????????!
/
Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
Taraki
–
“Ten years and still nothing ?????????!”
–
Ten years and counting, the Sri Lankan authorities, members of armed forces, … OMG, …………… are still learning how to count beyond five, while the body count at Mannar had already reached 280 or more.
–
/
cholan / January 11, 2019
@Taraki
UN and ICC grind slowly.
Heard what happened to Taylor of Liberia and Slovaden Milosevic and his gang?
Do you know why Murderpakse is Opposition leader and this guy is chief of Army now?
Your” bruders” are trying to hide under these positions he he he
Your carrot brain can think only about your Mahavamsa law.
Cheers
/
Real Revolutionist / January 11, 2019
Joseph Kumaran
Shut up your mouth, the brain washed fool.
How can you be alive if there’s ethnic cleansing?
/
Doratupala / January 11, 2019
???
It’s really funny that these very same “22 countries “ ( co-sponsored by the accused themselves) are clamoring for war crime investigations – isn’t it?
/
Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
Doratupala
–
What is funny about it?
/
cholan / January 11, 2019
@ Doratupala
This is why poverty India always support to Sinhala government in the UN.
BTW not 22 but 134 countries helped Murderpakse because the history is cardboard Sinhala army pissed when they heard the name LTTE for 33 years.
Fake.. borrowed. artificial victory celebrated by modays for free liquor
Cheers
/
gamini / January 11, 2019
The above article starts with,
President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to appoint a notorious alleged war criminal as Chief of Army Staff is a shocking new low for Sri Lanka. Major General Shavendra Silva was named by a United Nations investigation for his part in commanding the 58 Division, which was the unit responsible for repeated and deliberate attacks on hospitals, food distribution queues and displacement camps in 2009, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian deaths in a matter of months. Units under Silva’s direct command are also alleged to have been involved in summary executions including of women and children, hundreds of cases of enforced disappearance, as well as torture and sexual violence.
Why did the UN nor the world Policeman US take action against Shavendra Silva while serving in the UN Head Office in NY, all this while????????
/
Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
gamini
–
“Why did the UN nor the world Policeman US take action against Shavendra Silva while serving in the UN Head Office in NY, all this while????????”
–
Come on.
Hindians and Yankees were part of the war game and peace game. All resolutions that were passed by Geneva were drafted, reviewed, amended, supported, and passed essentially by these two countries.
–
Look at the first draft resolution and the latter ones, almost all were gradually watered down which amounted to UN approved impunity on paper.
/
Leslie / January 13, 2019
If 22 countries supported Sri Lanka it just shows that they believed that the LTTE was an illegitimate criminal organization.
/
Champa / January 10, 2019
If Yasmin Sooka visits Sri Lanka, she should be arrested for promoting LTTE which is a terrorist outfit proscribed in 32 countries.
International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) headed by Yasmin Sooka which is funded by LTTE diaspora should also be banned for aiding and abetting exiled LTTE terrorists overseas.
If any country refuses to issue visas for Shavendra Silva or any other military officer, Sri Lanka should also REFUSE ISSUING VISAS for any governmental or military officials of such countries.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Let’s RECIPROCATE by refusing visas to their officials, too.
/
cholan / January 10, 2019
@ Chompa
He He He He
Ganja Chompa thinks SL is a superpower.
Anyone can talk about war crime by Sinhala Card Board forces.
Ms.Yasmin Sooka is an international personality and Chompa is living in London shanty.
cheers
/
Champa / January 10, 2019
cholan
Yasmin Sooka works for LTTE diaspora money same as Chandrika Bandaranaike.
Military should not remove their camps anymore in North and East as obviously it is LTTE which still rule that area. Otherwise Chandrika will not receive a rousing welcome in Mullativu by Tamil government officials.
/
Cholan / January 10, 2019
@ Chompa
You urgently need a Psychologist…if you have no money ask Tamils in London
they will help you.
Tamils today don’t care about this Chandrika or Murderpakse et al plus Ranila & Co.,
The rousing welcome is possible for you in Mullaitivu.
Do you have the backbone to visit there coward?
When N-E was under LTTE even girls were able to walk alone in the midnight today
Cardboard Sinhala Soldiers & Police openly sell drugs and loot.
Modayas love to live under Chinese but not like to share power with Tamils.
Already half of this cursed country is under Chinese even street signs are now in the Chinese language.
Cheers
/
Champa / January 11, 2019
Cholan
Hoooooo…. when N-E was under LTTE, girls may have walked alone in the midnight because there were no men or boys on the road, as all of them were kidnapped and forcibly recruited to LTTE.
It is time to expose exile LTTE cadre live in London.
/
cholan / January 11, 2019
@ Chompa
Go ahead and collect details of SL Tamils in UK if you have the backbone.
Note that SL cardboard army and police are in London to protect you fool.
Idiot even men and boys were on road but never made any funs at girls but today with SL cardboard army and police kudu sale…prostitutes from south all are there.
Today even a grandmother can’t walk in the midnight..this is the peace in N-E.
everywhere robbery and thuggery cardboard sinhala forces are there to. maintain order Hooooooooooo.
Cheers
/
Champa / January 12, 2019
cholan
By law, Security Forces are not entrusted to stop robbery or thuggery. It is not their job.
Go and talk to the Police and then they will give you the names of culprits all are of Tamil origin.
/
shokka chamopa / January 10, 2019
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shokka chamopa / January 10, 2019
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
Champa ….
–
“If Yasmin Sooka visits Sri Lanka, she should be arrested for promoting LTTE which is a terrorist outfit proscribed in 32 countries.”
–
This was what your fellow little islanders demanded when Cameron, Navi Pillai, … visited this island. Some of your comrades wanted to drag Cameron all the way to Hague for committing war crimes in various part of the world. Your learned Dr Mervyn Silva PhD went even further proposing to marry Navi Pillai.
–
What a cultured, wise, compassionate ….
–
Please ask your pimp Wimal to commence farce onto lemon puff.
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cholan / January 11, 2019
He He He
This joker with a fake Doctorate even proposed marriage to the then UN humanitarian Chief simply because she was a Tamil.
This alone exposed the culture of these barbarians
Cheers.
/
Vijekumar / January 11, 2019
People who are against justice and equality assume all are LTTE. I write daily about the equality and justice and retarded may call me LTTE., I was a member of Sri Lankan Tamil sangam. I stop to attend the meeting from 1983 because there were many who supported LTTE. We are in diaspora should unite to Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism.
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Chitra / January 11, 2019
So would you refuse the aid that we beg from them too? We have been their charity case for decades. What arrogance.
/
Pandi Kutti / January 10, 2019
Yes this President and the Chingkallam government is rewarding war criminals and anti Tamils with various high posts so that can continue their anti Thamizh activities with impunity. A Chingkallam war chief looking just like Idi Amin has been promoted as chief of the armed forces. A Thullukan from the east who has admitted to destroying and vandalising Hindu temples in the east and converting them to shopping centres and beef stalls now distributed to his fellow Thullukans , has been promoted to the governor of the east, instead of arresting these criminals , as usual the Chingkallams and their government is rewarding these useless creatures for their anti Thamizh activities. South Indian origin Thullukans arrived in the east begging for refuge from the eastern Thamizh because the Portuguese were killing them and the Chingkallams also did not want more of them n Kandyan areas and were attacking them and killing them. Now they have bred like rats and are joining the Chingkallams who do want them and do not like them in their own areas, to kill Thamizh, steal their lands and destroy Hindu temples to build Mosque , shopping centres and open beef stalls. All these Chingkallam and Thulluka wankers should be locked in a dungeon fore ever for their crimes but this will never happen in racist Sri Lanka Chinkallams will reward anyone who kills destroys Thamizh and Hindu kovils
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Raj / January 10, 2019
Sirisena’s reputation, just like Rajapakse’s, is in taters as a respected leader of a country in the eyes of the world. Like a desperate man clinging to anything to save himself, Sirisena is only concerned about staying in power as long as he could & not about his international reputation as a leader of a country. Therefore, his strategy is to play to the gallery, just like his predecessor & most politicians. By promoting a man with a dubious reputation as a vigilante, he believes he has the support of the (bigoted) masses & maybe, the loyalty of the armed forces, just in case there is an uprising like in the middle East.
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Raj-UK / January 10, 2019
Sirisena’s reputation, just like Rajapakse’s, is in taters as a respected leader of a country in the eyes of the world. Like a desperate man clinging to anything to save himself, Sirisena is only concerned about staying in power as long as he could & not about his international reputation as a leader of a country. Therefore, his strategy is to play to the gallery, just like his predecessor & most politicians. By promoting a man with a dubious reputation as a vigilante, he believes he has the support of the (bigoted) masses & maybe, the loyalty of the armed forces, just in case there is an uprising like in the middle East.
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Saro / January 10, 2019
The LTTE was defeated in May 2009 with the help of many countries including US, China, India and EU group . The case is against an alleged war criminal. Sri Lanka is pushed behind in its reputation by appointing as the head of the army in the light of UN panel of experts found him accused of being behind many murders and sex offences against fellow citizens. The president behaves irrationally recently in alliance with ex-president whom he accused of conspiracy of murdering himself on the night of the presidential election on 8th January 2015.
/
Native Vedda / January 10, 2019
Saro
–
“The LTTE was defeated in May 2009 with the help of many countries including US, China, India and EU group . “
–
Actually VP destroyed LTTE before it was defeated by Hindia, USA , ……………..
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SJ / January 10, 2019
Saro
Active logistic support was by India and the US.
Others only supplied arms.
War Crimes concerns came up out of the bitterness of the US about MR regimes ‘lack of gratitude’.
Whatever the motives, when one is under the microscope, until his name is cleared it is improper to appoint him to sensitive positions.
*
The President is keeping his pledge: “I will not serve as President if Ranil W becomes Prime Minister.”
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Native Vedda / January 10, 2019
SJ
–
“War Crimes concerns came up out of the bitterness of the US about MR regimes ‘lack of gratitude’.”
–
Hindians and Americans were part of the resolution making process, hence from the beginning both kept watering down the resolutions to keep Sri Lanka free of immediate, serious and comprehensive charges.
/
Cholan / January 10, 2019
@ SJ
Sell your cons to Modayas.
There were many soldiers in SL CARDBOARD ARMY uniform but spoke Hindi plenty of witnesses available for this.
Pakistani pilots were here .it seems Modayas scared to fly Tiger area.
Indonesia troops were here.
Poverty India supplied Telugu Radar operators.
Muderpakse went to poverty India and kowtow, Italian ex-bar girl, almost every month.
It is an international law that in any war zone people surrender with the white flag should be treated well….what happened to Nadesan (his wife is a Sinhalese) and Pulithevan and 1000s of others?
This is a serious war crime and rape is more serious.
Hope to see so-called Modayas here one after another at ICC in the Hague.
Even today in a Western Country if an affected Tamil girl identifies this new so-called General and lodges a complaint he will be arrested once he landed there.
Do you know why ex-President George Bush and his gang never travel outside the USA?
This is not a Mahavamsa law …there are international laws respected by many countries.
Cheers
/
SJ / January 11, 2019
C
“Sell your cons to Modayas.”
*
Thanks for introducing your customers.
But I do not have any in stock, so they have to do with yours.
/
JD / January 11, 2019
SARO: I do not know how to Translate properly. Otherwise, we say DUKATA KIYANA KATHA. I know you lost your dream.
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Real Revolutionist / January 10, 2019
End of the UN?
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shokka chamopa / January 10, 2019
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thondamany / January 10, 2019
22 Countries were against the LTTE and 22 Countries assisted SL to commit war crimes .”Vicarious Liabilities on 22 Countries who aided and abetted SL to commit war crimes.”
Ammata siri.. Amarasiri has missed out on Bond Criminals.
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Mama Sinhalam / January 10, 2019
He looks a proper thug. I would not want to tangle with him. Hope the Americans get him and try him as a war criminal for the good of humanity. I wonder what he teaches as international humanitarian law. he must be teaching people techniques of genocide and rape of civilian women without getting caught. Arsehole.
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Rohan / January 11, 2019
So is Sampathan also an alleged war criminal for material and moral support of LTTE?. Shavindra Silva has not been convicted of a war crime. As such he is innocent. Therefore he can be appointed to any position, just like how Sampathan and his LTTE supporters are parliamentary MPs.
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
Rohan
–
“Shavindra Silva has not been convicted of a war crime.”
–
Because Hopper Sirisena would not dare charge the so called “Ranavirus” even if they raped him, his wife, his daughter, his son, his mother, his grandmothers, his sisters, aunts, ………………
–
Where did you learn to ask such clever witty question?
You should be working for Dr Mahinda as a strategist.
/
Cousin George / January 11, 2019
You should apply for the job of cleaning his back end after morning ebullition.
–
Not confident you are good enough even for that job. But you seem to have lot of time to pour your lansi hatred here, so worth applying just to keep yourself occupied outside Arl.
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sach / January 11, 2019
So what is the accusation against him?
Is the simple fact of participating in military operations against the LTTE a war crime?
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
sach
–
“So what is the accusation against him?”
–
He is wearing ugly sunglasses.
Looks like he is eating more than 5 times a day and snacks.
He looks like an armchair general.
He is not married to you.
He is not married to Champa.
He was hiding behind his women folks when IPKF was fighting the LTTE.
….
….
….
You can add yours and pick any of the above.
/
Vejekumar / January 11, 2019
1976 I was a active member of amnesty international. I was heavily involved in overthrowing Salvador Allende, Ferdinand Marcos, and South Africa white regime. Every week we send thousands of letters to US law makers and other countries. We succeeded . 1983 as a VP of the student Union we financed Senator Aquino to come to our university unfortunately I went to SL for my sisters funeral and I could not neet him. We diaspora Tamils should do this . In west ballot speaks we failed because we relied on bullet. We can blockade the SL by sending 35 CT’s stamps.
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AshyD / January 11, 2019
The LTTE was given ample chances to tow the mainstream political and social path, BUT they did not heed it.
Years of Peace Talks under every Sri Lankan government failed due to the obstinate attitude of the LTTE leader VP. He thought he was invincible and went on his merry killing sprees of all and sundry. He did not care whether they were Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Women, Children. Babies, the elderly etc etc.
He unleashed his suicide cadres wherever he saw an opportunity. He did not target the Sri Lankan Security Forces but killed innocent civilians.
In such a context he had to be exterminated if our country had to return to a peaceful one. In such a war it would be only the line on the sand that would divide the good from the bad.
Karuna Amman who also has blood in his hands returned to mainstream politics and social life in the nick of time and is today living among us.
The other leaders below in hierarchy in the LTTE could have opted to do so when the Security Forces were on the forward march, BUT they DID NOT do so. They decided to stay and fight with their leader VP, hence no quarter should have been given to them to surrender and fight another day. Their elimination along with their leader VP, was totally justified, and if it was Major General Shavendra Silva who commanded the last death knell to VP and his cohorts, so be it and let history record so.
It was just bad timing, as the surrender came when the chips were down for them and if they had been spared we would have had hell to pay today.
It was just GOOD RIDDANCE OF BAD RUBBISH.
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ajith / January 11, 2019
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Burt / January 11, 2019
People can pretend any amount they want as to what Sri Lanka is but the reality is that is an under civilized bigoted country where crimes against minorities even to the extent of WAR CRIMES and crimes against humanity turns into a gift that keeps on giving.
This is such a gift that military men that came from families that were striving to have three square meals a day today are the richest people in the country.
/
Roahn / January 11, 2019
Native Veddha,
I know you post responses frequently on this site, and all you comments are just derogatory and makes no sense to move Sri Lanka forward. So what’s is your solution?. Should all Army personnel accused of war crimes, be prosecuted for war crimes?. How about the other side?. Should Sampathan stand trial for material support to LTTE?. Should Adela Balasingham stand trial for child soldiers?. This can be a very long list. What shouldn’t happen is selectively accuse only Army personnel while ignoring the LTTE terrorist.
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Native Vedda / January 11, 2019
Roahn
–
“all you comments are just derogatory and makes no sense to move Sri Lanka forward.”
–
Am I single handedly preventing Sri Lanka moving forward with all my derogatory comments?
There are alternatives to punishing all war criminals.
–
Can we not set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission fashioned on South Africa’s successful Truth and Reconciliation Commission to facilitate confessions of all war crimes and crimes against humanity, ……………………….. eventually through a process pardon them for truth telling and imprison others for not telling truth, or being smart asses ….. ?
–
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSIONS
A common response to widespread human rights violations, particularly following internal armed conflict, is the establishment of a governmental or independent commission to investigate and record the violations, potentially—although not necessarily—with a view to enabling criminal prosecution. Although documenting every single violation may not be possible, establishing patterns, practices, and chains of command is crucial to identifying the purposeful and systematic nature of such abuses.
Truth and reconciliation commissions, perhaps more than any other function, serve to answer the many unanswered questions generated by enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions and other crimes committed in times of State unresponsiveness and secrecy, that leave relatives wondering what happened to the victims and where they might be.
https://ijrcenter.org
–
You should pull your head from Sampanthan’s bum.
Have you ever heard of South African Truth and reconciliation commissions?
Visit their website learn about the principles, actions, …. what they have achieved.
Then we can sit down and talk about it.
I have commented on TRC many times over.
/
Rohan / January 12, 2019
Native Vedda,
Finally you said something I can agree with you 100% . This should happen, similar to SA, but the extremist on the Tamil side wants their pound of flesh. That’s the problem. Yes a truth and recon should be setup going back to the beginning of the war. Then we can all move forward. Tamil people should learn to live in a united country without asking for a separate state, or claims of right to self determination. Sinhalese should also should go the extra mile to make all minorties feel sri Lanka is their home. ??
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Native Vedda / January 13, 2019
Rohan
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“Finally you said something I can agree with you 100% . This should happen, similar to SA, but the extremist on the Tamil side wants their pound of flesh. “
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You should stop bullshitting yourself.
How come the majoritarian other side never consult and seek agreement with Tamils or the other minorities and does everything unilaterally now seeking agreement from Tamils for the setting up a TRC?
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This may be the first time you are hearing about South African style TRC, however I had kept mentioning the necessity to set up the commission for more than 10 years even before the war had ended.
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“Tamil people should learn to live in a united country without asking for a separate state, or claims of right to self determination. “
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Tamils never demanded separate state until they were pushed to the corner. Don’t tell this forum you were born yesterday hence didn’t know the history as to how the Tamil Eelam demand galvanised into a serious arms struggle.
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“or claims of right to self determination.”
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Seriously what do you know about self determination and why do you think the Tamils should demand the right to Self determination. If you haven’t got any idea that’s alright.
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“Sinhalese should also should go the extra mile to make all minorties feel sri Lanka is their home.”
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So you want the Sinhalese to do a favour to the minorities by going extra mile. Come on they didn’t have to do any favour to the minorities instead they stop being big stupid bullies and let the minorities enjoy their birthright, as being equal citizen.
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By the way please explain what is Sri Lanka, why should people accept the name SRi Lanka, ………….. what does the name bring to the people?
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Why do you have special status for Buddhism in the constitution?
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leslie / January 13, 2019
Shavendra Silva was one person who played a courageous and direct role in destroying the LTTE. He was serving his country and should not be made a scapegoat just because some wild allegation is made against him. If he wanted to, he could have got a job in the private sector and earned a lot of money but chose a military career. how can you possibly compare this brave officer with a bunch of terrorists, criminals. drugs smugglers, human smugglers who lied in every possible way to advance their cause? LTTE terrorists should understand that when you take up arms against the State, there is a strong possibility of getting killed. In fact the LTTE used to boast that its members’ cyanide capsule was proof of their commitment to commit suicide rather than be captured and interrogated. Now their supporters are complaining as if the army killed unarmed civilians. I sincerely hope that we will not heed to the lobbying of the rascals who survived punishment.
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Rohan / January 13, 2019
Native vedda
From you response I see you are not interested in a real solution. You are just an extremist Tamil masquerading as a moderate . People like you are the ones holding Tamil people back in Sri Lanka. No worries though there is a new young Tamil leadership developing in Sri Lanka. They are not interested in self determination, war crimes etc. Sri Lanka will move forward without idiots like you.
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Native Vedda / January 13, 2019
Rohan
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Please stop your usual bull and try answering my questions:
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“Seriously what do you know about self determination and why do you think the Tamils should not demand the right of Self determination. If you haven’t got any idea that’s alright.”
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” No worries though there is a new young Tamil leadership developing in Sri Lanka. They are not interested in self determination, war crimes etc”
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I also happen to know there is new generation of Sinhala youth with consciousness increasingly rejecting your bull, crap, majoritarian mindset, special place for Buddhism which people like you continue to destroy, against culture of impunity, ………………..
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Why don’t you for a change take some time from your polluted mind and think afresh?
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Lester / January 14, 2019
Major General Silva deserves a NOBEL Peace Prize for putting a final end to the fascist LTTE.
“An eyewitness says he saw Silva shake hands with the political leaders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as they surrendered to him; their corpses were seen on the roadside a few hours later. “
There was a time when a LTTE bomber touched the feet of Rajiv Gandhi, a few seconds later….
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Native Vedda / January 14, 2019
Lester
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“Major General Silva deserves a NOBEL Peace Prize for putting a final end to the fascist LTTE.”
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Of course he should.
Barack Obama, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Rabin, Yasir Arafat, Menachem Begin, Anwar Sadat, … too won Nobel Peace Prize, why not Silva.
Perhaps Nobel committee should consider giving him Nobel Peace Prize every year throughout his lifetime, retrospectively too.
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