By Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran –
Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran
Mahinda Rajapaksa is none other than the man who, as the leader of the Sinhala State, was overseeing the genocidal assault by that State on the Tamil people for a decade, which has left in their collective memory the pain and blood stains of the Mullivaaikaal Genocide. The Tamil people ensured his defeat in the Presidential elections by purposefully exercising their opportunity to vote. Such a decisive vote also sends out the loud signal that the Tamil people would never be prepared to forgive or forget the perpetrators of such international crimes.
We do not consider that Mr. Sirisena’s ascent to the position of President of Sri Lanka will bring any change to the status of the Tamils. We believe that it is the Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinist structure that is the basis of the Tamil national crisis. In our view, the election has enabled only a face change such that the very same chauvinist structure could reassert itself further.
It is hard for the Tamils to brush away the thought that that the new President, Maithripala Sirisena, too has stains of Tamil blood in his hands. He carries the burden of responsibility for the Genocide of Tamils by virtue of having been the Deputy Minister of Defence in the final days of the war in Mullivaaikkal, when Mahinda Rajapaksa was overseas. He was in fact given credit for this during the election campaign. We could very well ask, therefore, why he too could not be summoned for an inquiry on his alleged role in the Genocide of Tamils perpetrated by the Sinhala armed forces.
With all that as background, it is the bitter reality of the Tamil people that they could not confer any faith in any one of the Sinhala leaders.
We would, therefore, like to bring to the attention of the Tamil leadership in our homeland, and indeed the international community, a set of pre-conditions that we consider as essential for the protection of the rights and identity of the Tamil Nation.
- The Genocide being perpetrated on the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan State demands an international investigation on Sri Lanka. While welcoming the demand made by the British Prime Minister, Hon David Cameron, on the new government of Sri Lanka that it should extend its full cooperation for the international investigation, we call upon the UN Human Rights Commissioner to go to Sri Lanka now and complete the investigations there.
- We cannot accept the idea that the 13th Amendment, which is built on a unitary Constitution centralizing all powers, including the power over land and the police, as the one that would pave the way for the resolution of the Tamil National Question. Instead, the first steps towards a viable political solution should be taken on the basis of an Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) that was on the table when the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government and the LTTE were negotiating.
- The Tamils feel that they are under military occupation as long as the Sinhala armed forces are present in their traditional areas. Therefore, as a prelude to creating civic space in the Tamil homeland, we call upon the Sri Lankan army to be withdrawn forthwith from the Tamil areas.
- All forms of land appropriation by the Sinhala regime in the Tamil homeland should be stopped immediately.
- All political prisoners detained because of their involvement in the Tamil liberation struggle should be released immediately and unconditionally.
- All information pertaining to Tamil political leaders in the struggle such as Balakumar, Puthuvai Rathnathurai, Yogi and Thilakar, and other cadres who were taken in during the last stages of the war in Mullivaaikkal, should be released immediately.
- A mechanism for the participation of Diaspora Tamils without any fear in the various development activities in the war affected homeland should be developed in cooperation with the international community.
- The 6th Amendment to the Constitution that denies the rights of the Tamil people to speak, discuss and express their political future should be repealed, followed by efforts to arrive at the permanent resolution to the Tamil National Question.
It is only when the Government of Sri Lanka moves forward to acknowledge the above as a set of just and democratic demands that the Tamil people will be convinced that the search for a permanent political resolution based on their democratic rights to the Tamil National Question would become a reality.
*Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran – the Prime Minister of the transnational Government of Tamil Eelam
Park / January 21, 2015
You have got it wrong Rudra. People in the North and East have wholeheartedly voted to Maithripala as requested by TNA.This proves, especially to you the LTTE flag carrying diaspora that the Tamils and Muslims in the NOrth and East do not want anything to do with you guys, who are never going to live in Sri Lanka, not even your children. So BUTT OUT!
TNA has proved beyond doubt that they can look after the interest of the people in the NOrth and East. You LTTE remnants back off.
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Amarasiri / January 21, 2015
Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran –
RE: Tamil Votes Amounted Not An Endorsement Of Sirisena
Remember, in Sri Lanka, in Addition to Tamils, there are other Citizens. They voted too.
The Tamil Votes were divided between Tamils with Common sense
and
those without much Common sense, generally called, Muṭṭāḷs(முட்டாள்), Madus (மாடு ),Water Buffaloes ( எருமை மாடு) Fools., Modayas.
Those Muṭṭāḷs(முட்டாள்)were used by various “Tamil Leaders” in the past, However there are fewer and fewer of them left in Sri Lanka and they did not vote or voted fot Mahinda Rajapaksa.
However, thgose with Common Sense voted for Mr. Maitripal Sirisena, top put an end to the MaRa Dynasty.
/
Javi. / January 22, 2015
Amarasiri, Badagini Wenasak,
(Transexual Government- racist-tom-toms-and-electoral-statistics)
Common problems are for Common people,
Common sense is for the Middle class,
Nonsense is for Aristocrats,
TRO’s are empty causing a heartache to admin.(no vote)
NGOs’s are the gravy train previously run by suicide bombers.
It’s only pain….
____
The best of investigative journalist on CT has this to say with easily verifiable statistical evidence.
“”Mahinda Rajapaksa lost in 2015 not just because he lost the minority vote.
Mahinda Rajapaksa lost in 2015 also because a large chunk of Sinhala voters who supported him in 2010 voted for the Opposition in 2015; and because an absolute majority of first-time voters voted against him.””
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/racist-tom-toms-and-electoral-statistics/
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Amarasiri / January 22, 2015
Javi.
Yes. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran is losing sight of the forest for the trees.
Approximately 45% of Sinhala Buddhists, about 3.7 miiilion voted for Maitripala Sirisena.
From TG write up:
“Mr. Rajapaksa’s dangerously faulty election analysis is an inevitable by-product of his retrogressive and reactionary worldview: Sinhala-Buddhists are the sole owners of Sri Lanka; minorities are not co-owners but mere guests. In his eyes he was defeated by ‘minority-guests’ and not by ‘Sinhala-hosts’. Therefore, in his eyes, his defeat is an illegitimate one. This racist interpretation indicates why Mr. Rajapaksa did not work towards reconciliation and a consensual peace post-war and why he allowed BBS et al to terrorise Muslims and Christians. Rajapaksa-security depended on the majority fearing minorities and minorities fearing the majority.”
“Divide and rule was indeed the Rajapaksa way. That is why their loss is the country’s gain”
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Javi. / January 22, 2015
Amera thanks,
Chinese kids are taught the fallacy of divide and rule at kindergarten because couple of emperors practiced to a devastating extent so their 42 ethic’s stay together and look antisocial to us.
/
whywhy / January 21, 2015
Park
In voting,if you want to say NO to someone,you got to
say YES to someone else!Simple as that.Tamils and
Muslims heartily endorsed My3 and Ranil and sent MARA
home.
/
Good Governance / January 21, 2015
Rudrakumaran,in asserting his position, should not insult the intelligence of the average Sri Lankan Tamil. The Tamil people almost en-block voted for President Sirisena for what? Is it just for the sake of voting? No. Any voter is aware that he has a choice to make depending on the alternatives offered by the candidates. If the choices offered were no good then they could have abstained.
/
Dutugamunu / January 21, 2015
Sorry Mr. Diaspora. The genocide you talk about did not happen. There were a handful of civilians killed, which is regrettable. Keep blowing smoke up your behind with genocide stories. The SL Tamil folks who live do not believe your diaspora stories. They voted for the president with love and affection.
/
Anpu / January 21, 2015
Dutugamunu,
“Sri Lanka’s bloody armed conflict ended over five years ago, killing tens of thousands of Tamil civilian men, women, and children. During the conflict, the international community expressed serious concerns regarding the “fate of civilians caught up in the conflict zone during the final stages of the war, the confinement of some 250,000 Tamil refugees to camps for months afterwards, and allegations that the government had ordered the execution of captured or surrendering rebels.”[1]
Despite the war’s end, however, there has been no accountability or justice for the deaths of innocent Tamils. This article will analyze the Sri Lankan government’s violations of international law relating to the crime of genocide, drawing primarily from U.N. reports and other public materials. The article begins by examining the legal definition of genocide and jurisprudence applying and interpreting the definition of genocidal intent. The article then provides a comparative analysis of Srebrenica, an internationally-recognized genocide, with the crisis in Sri Lanka. The article offers an overview of the evidence demonstrating the Sri Lankan government’s genocidal intent against Tamils, and establishes the need for an international investigation into Sri Lanka’s genocide.”
http://hrbrief.org/2015/01/the-legal-case-of-the-tamil-genocide/
/
Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
Dutugamunu
“There were a handful of civilians killed, which is regrettable.”
It seems you are well informed please let us know exactly how many civilians were killed? Could we have the details of the victims, name, address, where they were killed, how, …………… I would be grateful.
Let us also have full details of innocent civilians killed since 5th April 1971.
Much obliged.
/
Lanka Watch / January 22, 2015
Native Veddah – The bishop of Mannar is the authority on this matter as he was in the area where the final stages of the war took place and has records of the events.He puts the casuality figure down to 160,000 innocent civilians ,killed or maimed.
Some one has to answer to this mass killings and UN will not
get them go freely, despite govt.’s attempts to thwart the investigations on war crimes.
/
jansee / January 21, 2015
Dutugamunu:
Surely you would have read about Sampanthan’s latest call for the full implementation of the 13A and meaningful devolution. The Tamils voted for this. They simply voted out MR, and also for the refusal. So, don’t have any wishful thinking.
While every effort to hold an internal credible & independent investigation is welcome, the Tamils want the UNHRC investigation to continue. There cannot be any lapse on that. It is only through the UNHRC investigation the world has any possibility of learning the truth, not through some humbugs like you.
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aia / January 21, 2015
“Tamil Votes Amounted Not An Endorsement Of Sirisena”
Didnt want even read the content when read the Title. How does he knew while sitting in a cool room in NY. He seems to imagine that he represents the poor folks who does toil every day for their living, either working in the paddy fields or going for fishing every nights.
What is his maturity even as a politician. Even it is not an endorsement, a person with deplomatic aumen would say otherwise. Do nt they? So much for his representation of the Tamils.
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Kumaran / January 21, 2015
Rudra
Far more of us Tamils voted for Sirisena then they ever voted for you!! You do not speak for us. so just go back into hibernation in New York where you hardly have a legal practice and leave us alone.
At least S.J. Emmanuel was different in that he urged Tamils to vote.
/
jansee / January 21, 2015
It is not certainly incorrect for Rudra to say that the vote against MR was not an endorsement for MS. That was the position of the Tamils in the North. Silence, as was prescribed by LTTE during the 2010 cannot be an option. That, in fact, paved the way for MR to be elected as the president and Tamils saw what that meant. It was sheer ignorance and stupidity for people like Ananthi Sasidharan and others to maintain a stand that Tamils should stay nuetral and not vote for either candidate. To me, it even looked like a repeat – that Basil bought over these people to turn the tide in favour of MR.
The past regimes have not given the confidence to the Tamils to believe that anything will come easy for the Tamils or if anything will come at all. That bores the sceptism Rudra has expressed. Promises by earlier regimes have come a cropper and the Tamils view any promise with utmost distrust. We all share the same view. However, even though it looks like small steps like the change of the Governor, the new govt ought to be given a chance to prove that it is different from past regimes.
It is during the time of RW premiership that Tamils got the best deals and there is no point in defending Prabhakaran for screwing those opportunities high time. If what Mangala had said during a recent interview is true and is in good faith, then the new govt should be given a chance to prove their sincerity. The CM had made a pertinent point that opportunities in tourism and other businesses in the North need to be given to Tamils to revive the sagging economy. We have to trust that with Sampanthan and the CM around, the Tamils have the eyes and ears on the ground. Let them say that the new govt is faltering and then we can take it up from there. We own this to the Tamils living there who have faced the worst nightmares and a very bleak future. The utmost importance is for them to rebuild their lives.
As for the govt’s insistence to initiate a home based investigation, this will depend on whether the Tamils see such an exercise as credible and independent. It has been suggested that it will done with the consultation and guidance of the UNHRC and with foreign experts participation in an independent manner. If that is true and is proven to be true, then it will be a welcome in the right direction. Convictions or otherwise will be easier to secure. Of course, the govt has one-off chance to prove its worth and hope it will not screw this up this time. The Tamils will be watching with both sceptism and hope. It will build trust and will bring the communities closer.
One of the most pressing need is that regarding to the lands snatched by the army through the Rajapakse regime. That issue has been mentioned by Mangala and it is hoped that the issue receives the govt’s urgent attention. These are issues, if solved fast and to the satisfaction of the residents of the North. This will build trust and confidence.
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Richard Kaz / January 21, 2015
The percentage of Tamils who voted for Sirisena in the Presidential elections in 2015 and those who voted for the TNA in the Sept 2013 NPC elections were approximately the same. Yet, the Sirisena had nothing to offer the Tamils in 2015 other than good governance while the TNA had a lot more to offer. How does one explain Tamils voting in large numbers for two different political entities who offered them something completely different, or in the case of Sirisena, very little.
It is more likely that the TNA’s position that good governance was needed for all the issues Tamils are facing to be addressed was the swaying argument rather than the very little Sirisena was offering. For good governance to be given a chance (don’t assume Sirisena will deliver good governance) Rajapaksa had to be defeated. In that sense, the Tamil vote for Sirisena was more about anti-Rajapaksa than pro-Sirisena.
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Un Jong Kim / January 21, 2015
The only genocide there is, is your stinky genetically mutilated mouth. You can take all the preconditions and stick them up your rear. The diaspora should stay out of SL. The Tamil folks who live in SL can decide what they want. The new government will have no corporation with Diaspora demands. TGTE I hear is the same as LGBT. The only summons you will get is from LGBT chapter in NY.
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
Un Jong Kim
“You can take all the preconditions and stick them up your rear.”
If he doesn’t will you do it for him?
Are you the expert who drilled VP’s posterior with hot iron rod as part of exploration of oil and gas?
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Un Jong Kim / January 21, 2015
Native Vadda,
“If he doesn’t will you do it for him?”
Sure sure.. I will do it..
Yes, I am the expert who drilled the VP for Gas.. I found nuclear waste..
Something tells me you have LGBT proclivity.. and you are an expert in rear entry..
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Javi. / January 21, 2015
“I am the expert “
Ex_(s)pert- has been; has had a splash in Goo`ta Boo`ta’s ding a ling from rear.
what a face like a baboons stuck by lightning.
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
Un Jong Kim
“Something tells me you have LGBT proclivity..”
Rear or front entry does not make much difference to a loner like you as long as you are addicted to self-actualization.
Make sure your hands are safe.
/
Sapumal / January 21, 2015
As I said earlier “you are a isolated looser”. We have nothing wrong with our people either they are Tamil, Muslim or Sinhalese. But we have a difference with people like you who try to sell Innocent peoples soul’s for a part time hobbey. There is no difference between you an Gota or MR. Get lost!
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Javi. / January 22, 2015
Cold Head the Freaks of Civilization.
Hindian Buddha Has Hair to Go.
man/woman who believes in a Cold Head
than a Warm Heart is a Fool..
Do you folk ever reflect at the end of the day?/ i doubt it.
The same gello (as in sherlock holmes)cold heads.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / January 21, 2015
How long can Ven Rathne hold, before the Elite, Anglican and Vellala Steam Roller run him over.
May be LTTE proxy TNA leader had a copy of this , before he made his first speech in the Elite, Anglican ,Vellala and SLMC controlled new Parliament.
That is why TNA leader demanded power sharing with Ranil, under a Federal System..
PM Rudrakumaran’s timely reminder to Ranil about the ISGA, which Mr Ranil negotiated with Mr Prabakaran is a master stroke..
(Did PM Rudra also go to Royal College in Kurunduwatta)
Now all Ranil has to do is dust off a copy and give Sira to sign.
And Ranil doesn’t need Wijedasa or Sobitha to waste their time trying to reinvent the wheel.
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
“How long can Ven Rathne hold, before the Elite, Anglican and Vellala Steam Roller run him over.”
Are you willing to operate the steam roller for the simple joy of Sinhala/Buddhist racists?
No doubt you are racist. We would like to know how deeply feel and value your racism. Give us a percentage.
Where is Gota the brave heart?
Is he wearing burka even while at home? Saffron clad thug must be wearing it too.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / January 21, 2015
Dear Native,
Isn’t your PM Rudrakumaran already in the Driver,s Seat?…
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
No doubt you are racist. We would like to know how deeply you feel and value your brand of racism. Give us a percentage.
Where is Gota the brave heart?
Is he wearing burka even while at home? Saffron clad thug must be wearing it too.
/
Javi. / January 21, 2015
`K.A Sumanasekera`
Baiyo, spill the beans there is enough to pay you from his loot.
That is of concern. If you don’t dig all his foreign accounts would be pilfered by foreigners not his relatives because they would be checked too.
It’s blood money of all irrespective of ethnicity.
He is hiding at Israel?? He must bear in mind he would be handed over because he thought he could live with a submarine.
Hindia wont let him down.
What is Fonny upto making Bacaka_moona’s at home.??
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Tamil from the north / January 22, 2015
KA Sumanasekeram, he is back. Lovely, I have not seen your stupidity for a while. Did your wife put you inside the dog kennel?
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Native Vedda / January 23, 2015
Tamil from the north
“Did your wife put you inside the dog kennel?”
Sorry to disappoint you he does not have a partner, as a loner, he puts himself in the kennel all day every day . .
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Rajan / January 21, 2015
The comments made in response to Mr Rudrakumaran’s clear and precise statement alone show that many Sinhalese are still don’t get it. Perhaps you may want to revisit the report on how the people reacted when Ms Kumaratunge referred to Mr Prabakaran and the LTTE.
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n.ethirveerasingam / January 21, 2015
The TNA had advocated for items 2 to 8 in substance during the campaign this year and continuing to do so. TNA did and continue to insist on International Investigation. Tamils in the North-East voted on that promise.
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Anpu / January 21, 2015
NDTV: What about the question of prosecution of war crimes?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Our position has always been that whatever we do has to be within our domestic jurisdiction.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/sri-lankan-prime-minister-ranil-wickramasinghe-s-interview-to-ndtv-full-transcript-650555?curl=1421831128
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Burning Issue / January 21, 2015
Anpu,
SL is not a signatory to the international criminal court; hence, Hague does not have jurisdiction over SL. It is a thorny issue when trying to prosecute MR and siblings for war crimes with overwhelming Sinhala are against it. By contrast, Serbia is a signatory to Hague and Slobodan Milassovic was handed over despite overwhelming objections within the country. I do not see some will happen in SL. We will have to wait and see for the outcome of the UN investigations.
MS government will cooperate with the UN investigation. However, I feel that the MS administration will set up an internal mechanism with international participation, but not sure how things will pan out from there. I feel there will be some house trading with TNA on this point placing TNA in a quandary!
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Javi. / January 22, 2015
“However, I feel that the MS administration will set up an internal mechanism with international participation, but not sure how things will pan out from there.”
Oi villagers,
You need the water pipe and wanathe boys
internal means death sentence unlike Den Hague.
Get all their extended family wealth first then hound the prick- then there is cash in hand to search.
We don’t believe in killing for you don’t know when you need them.
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Backlash / January 24, 2015
Ranil has this habit of boastfully claiming because he did not sign the Rome Treaty the Rajapakses are safe from international prosecution. Little does the man, who has made so many political
errors in the past 20 years taking the UNP down with him, realise
if things went the Rajapakse way on Jan 08th in due course there was a chance he himself would have been eliminated like Lasantha and others – as dictatorships normally tighten their grip after a little scare.
What was wrong in signing the Rome Treaty – as most democratic countries have. Sri Lanka has the decent record of being party to almost all progressive legislation under the UN. Saving a bunch of murderers from international punishment for War Crimes, HR abuses and mass murder is no reason to feel proud about.
Backlash
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Saman / January 21, 2015
Rudra…..
Be very patient and be very positive.
Leaders of TNA Mr. Sambanthan,Mr. Wigneshwaran, Mr. Sumanthiran and many others have positively stated the trust and endorsed Mr. Maithreepala Sirisena.
Because of their strong words brothers and sisters of our Tamil community have casted their valuable votes, I may say they have endorsed their TRUST for Mr. President Maithreepala Sirisena, and I may add also Mr. Ranil Wickramasighe.
My kind request for Rudra is…..
Be positive and Be Patient.
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Rabok / January 21, 2015
Rudra
Still you are day dreaming of an imaginary Eelam – I think many educated tamils with balance mind set will not approve your logic anymore – because most of them except few radicals just want to live peacefully in this country as citizen of this country – they are basically demanding equal rights as citizen of this country – Unfortunately GR’s LTTE/Tamil phobia and Islamophobia did not allow MR to take steps towards meaningful achievement of this goal – GR always saw LTTE tigers under every bush in north and east and jihadist everywhere – and promoted headless donkeys like SVG to promote “Ado api sinhale Api katade baya ” foreign policy – finally we became a international laughing stock – Rudra had to understand there are no “Sinhale State” only Sri Lankan state where Tamils are equal partners – and are ready to play a constructive role for its development – So have nice time in you dream kingdom in US – now your show is over now – one day you will find only you are remaining s the king /subject of your kingdom
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Abimanu / January 21, 2015
I was tempted to comment on this so called “prime-minister’s(Oh! what a title!!) article –but then I thought it is a waste of time with this bloke who is a self appointed non-entity representing no one but himself and a few self-effacing cohorts living in a dream -land and immersed in illusions of grandeur with the title of “Prime Minister”–
Real joker he is!–Look at the long list of ‘pre-conditions’ he has listed. He is another “Alice living in a wonder-land”!
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Javi. / January 22, 2015
” “Alice living in a wonder-land”! “
Cold Head from freak civilization, Alice in wonderland is Time Travel.
So would that not be nice??
They across the west have elected him with official elections of 260k monitored elections like over there.
Of entrance into a quarrel but being in bear’th that….
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MirakRajBanda / January 21, 2015
Rudra the President of no land-no man,
It’s shame on you speak the arocities, genocide or whatever you write about Mahinda regime which I have no doubt committed but Prabaharan neither Gandhi nor Mandela. He is the face Hitler; full of arrogance and a pure racist and YOU represent HIM.
It’s this way the world see them:
Mahinda=Prabaharan=Hitler.
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dcn / January 21, 2015
All of you Tamils who migrated from Srilanka mainly for economic benefits using the ethnic war as an excuse. Now that you all well settled want it be better for all of you to mind your business and be faithful to the country of your adoption. You all want to see a continuity of the problems between ethnicities in Srilanka so that you can use this for your benefit and mislead even the ordinary Tamils who have settled down in an overseas country and continue your pretended leadership.
I myself a Tamil living amidst a large amount of Sinhalese see you all5 (diaspora) as a hindrance for peace and to live in amity with the Sinhalese. The Tamils in SriLanka whether they are from North, East or Hill country want to make a peaceful coexistance with the Sinhalese and Muslims. We will maintain our cultural difference as much as the and Sinhalese and Muslims would do. The present political climate is building up slowly but steadily towards same and therefore we appeal to you all not to disturb and be a hindrance.
It would become a beautiful country once again, with multi racial, multi religious community.
Most of you would have acquired the citizenship of the country of your adoption, and therefore, would now be an American, Canadian, Australian, New Zealander, Finish, Norweign, Danish, French, Italian, etc.
Similarly we are happy to be a SriLankan, the country of our birth and we do not welcome any interference in our political lives by any Americans………..Italians etc though their ethnicity may be Tamils. If you all to engage in politics, please do so in your country of adoption.
Srilankans, irrespective of the ethnicity voted for either Maithree or Mahinda and Mathree won with a majority and you living in an alien country need not have to analyse the results and on ethnical basis.
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Anpu / January 21, 2015
dcn,
“All of you Tamils who migrated from Srilanka mainly for economic benefits using the ethnic war as an excuse”
It is a nonsense.
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Anpu / January 21, 2015
George Alagiah (BBC Broadcaster) – “Up to when I was six, we lived in Sri Lanka, then my father got a job for the government in Ghana. It was when legislative discrimination against the Tamils was beginning in Sri Lanka.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/17/george-alagiah-family-values
Legislation which George is talking about is the Sinhala only act – Sinhala was declared as the official language in 1956 (8 years after independence). English was the official language till this act was introduced.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 21, 2015
Venerable Rathne, Sobitha and Champika have not only given the Elite, Anglicans , Vellalas and the SLMC Muslims, total control of the 5.6 Million Sinhal Buddhists and their extended families.
But also given a turbo boost to the LLTE Diaspora PM Rudrakumaran to, dictate terms to their appendage , the LTTE proxy TNA.
How clever is PM Rudrakumaran to dig up Ranil’s ISGA from the LTTE Archives,which Ranil signed with Rudra’s Boss Praba, dust it off and present to our new PM on the very day our new Parliament opened .
Obviously the Vellala Sambandan couldn’t call it ISGA. directly , hence he spun it in to his new Federal System which is worse than the 13 A Plus..
Wonder how Ranil is going to get out of this, without upsetting the Vellalas and the SLMC Muslims?…
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Aia / January 21, 2015
Ruthira
If you come back to Jaffna and win at least the mayoral position, and make this call whether Tamils endorse MS or not then it has some credibility. Doing your work and writing this sort of none sense articles when you have past time will not do any good for Tamils living here.
You made a call during the election that our voters should carefully think and vote as they see appropriate. They didn’t give a damn about what you and your elks pleaded, but voted what is best for them. AS I observed, that Ananthy carried away by you folks and betrayed her voters who voted for her. Not sure if she learnt a lesson. Maybe the benefits she gets from your guys outweigh every things else she gets internally.
Why do you think our elderly statesman Sampanthan together with Sumanthiran, Wigneswaran and others cannot see what is best for Tamils. They don’t interfere with your Government or advice overseas voters how to vote in your election because they didn’t want engage in your hobby. Your issue seems to be that you are so badly missing MR. Without the presence of MR and Gotta, it will become very difficult to justify your existence.
Now you pick a fight with the new President to make lives miserable for those who are living here, playing into the hands of the extremists. As long as your children are safe, you can utter anything and everything, no matter whether be it rational or not. People who lives here and particularly those who lived under LTTE’s rules and faced the war knew what was LTTE up to. You seems to assume the same LTTE that used to be when you took the photo with VP. You know what they did when the tough got going, they were hiding in the bunkers leaving the untrained conscripted kids who barely struggled to carry a gun to defend not the Nation you refer but these cowards. Did you ponder where was Pottu or his Cyanide. Where was VP’s cyanide while our kids had bitten and ended their lives. You didn’t want to provide your unsolicited advice to our people when LTTE asked to boycott the 2005 election because you knew it was not worth risking your lives even in your country but want to do so against TNA. If you want to do something to be popular amongst your community, do in such a way that would not jeopardies future of those who live here. They have had enough, and your help didn’t reach them at time of their needs, now one of your pre-conditions reads as follows-“for the participation of Diaspora Tamils without any fear”. Fear of who?. Did our people have the luxury to even fear, didn’t they run through bombing barrage to fetch the bodies of their loved ones?. Such was the life, not big apple like.
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Lanka Liar / January 21, 2015
Hon Prime minister is Mahinda Pala related to you.
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Ram / January 21, 2015
” The Sole Representative of the Tamils (worldwide)” has spoken, and has put the TNA in it’s place.
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Ponkoh Sivakumaran / January 21, 2015
We still do not know whether the LTTE was paid money to force the Tamils not to vote and thereby get MR elected. If this story is true, those in the diaspora who support the LTTE has no leg to stand on. The overwhelming suspicion is that the story is true.
It would be best for the diaspora to keep quiet for the 100 days at least. The LTTE left the Tamils not at square one but at square minus 15, having spoilt every opportunity for a negotiated settlement. Had they grasped these opportunities and negotiated for more, they could have achieved much. Instead, all they knew was brutality of thugs.
If the TNA can get something more than the 13th Amendment and get the army out, or at least get the 13th Amendment and reduce the army numbers, they would have achieved far more than the LTTE achieved with no loss of life.
So, please give a chance for peace to work.
Certainly, if all fails, the pressure that the diaspora can bring to bear will be relevant. But,as the Tamil saying goes, please don’t break the pot when the butter is beginning to set.
There is a reasonable opinion within the Sinhalese which must be given a chance to work. If it doesn’t, Sri Lanka will continue to be a hapless country, for the Tamils wil,l a generation down the road, use force again. You cannot keep a people down forever. History teaches us that much. The Sinhalese did conquer the North before but it did not last. The Tamils will surely then get what is theirs and there will be plenty of people, including a successful diaspora that will help achieve this.
But, for now, a tired people in Tamil lands need peace without the agitation that people living in comfort in rich lands seek to bring.
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Native Vedda / January 21, 2015
Ponkoh Sivakumaran
“We still do not know whether the LTTE was paid money to force the Tamils not to vote and thereby get MR elected.”
Here is the latest:
Asia Mirror
CID To Probe Tiran’s Revelation On Money Deal Linked To LTTE Influenced Election Boycott
Tuesday, 20 January 2015 15:12
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is to commence an investigation on Parliamentarian Tiran Alles and the alleged transaction with the LTTE which led to an presidential election boycott in the North in November, 2005.
Alles made a public revelation in 2010 saying Basil Rajapaksa personally handed over, at his office, Rs. 180 million to the then LTTE financial controller Emil Kanthan to ensure that the people of the north refrained from voting at the 2005 presidential election. Alles added that the deal took place at the request of the then presidential candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Following a request by the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to introduce him to a person capable of doing a deal with the LTTE, Allaes said he had introduced Emil Kanthan to Basil Rajapaksa. The meetig between Rajapaksa and Emil Kanthan, according to the Parliamentarian, was held at Alles’s office.
After consulting the LTTE leadership, Emil Kanthan had come back and said the outfit wanted Rs. 180 million to buy boats. Basil Rajapaksa said they only wanted the LTTE to get the people of the north to boycott the presidential polls.
He said he had revealed all these in his statement to the TID in 2007 subsequent to his arrest by them, and as a result the Attorney General had withdrawn all charges against him. Alles also said he had informed president Rajapaksa on February 14, 2007 about all these through a sworn affidavit signed by Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera who supports the president.
CID To Probe Tiran’s Revelation On Money Deal Linked To LTTE Influenced Election Boycott
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Mallaiyuran / January 22, 2015
How many negotiable settlements you guys, the Sinhala Intellectuals, missed and the situation went up to temple tree house coup?
At the temple Tree house, on January 9, 2015, the New King obtained his position by a negotiated settlement to protect the Old King on all his crimes or is it by winning an elections and demanding the Old King to resign his post?
The 13th A is negotiated by LTTE’s leaders with Rajive Gandhi. TNA did not exist at that time. When TNA came to existence, it rejected the 13A (still so). In the east, it even refused to stand for the election, under 13A. India forced TNA to stand for NPC election, because NPC election was conducted by India. Last five years, TNA refused to go to PSC and refused to negotiate with the Old Royal Government on 13A.
The New Royal Government, after 100 days, will have only one word to TNA that is “As we do not have 2/3, you come and support in all our programs so that we can make JHU, JVP, Fonseka, SLFP&UNP hard factions to vote for the TNA’s national issue. Then TNA will have no other way but to support the New Royal Government, unconditionally, to achieve everything it wants to do as the way. This is how TNA was forced to support them in the election, too. Once the game is over, after six years, TNA will have to support another EP election, if at the time a territory as Tamils’s one remained and TNA can muster some Tamils’ votes.
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Adrian / January 21, 2015
Rudra
If you wish to continue to survive, by writing nonsense like this akin to the clear message that you are an invalid coin by now, execute one or all of the following.
1. Fight to bring back MR & Gota back to power, if not your shedding may not have any sense.
2. Conspire to promote illegal activities by MY3 regime which you could align as a Tamil grievance
3. Ask corrupted TN politicos to bark towards Fork straight round the clock(No need a valid reason for the time being Modi visit to SL seems applicable) as TNA will keep quiet as they may not have any cause to fight, soon, due to the regime change & it’s color. Be careful with Modi as he is a smart statesman.
Sadly it is not Tamils survival but your survival in jeopardy, at present, which needs quick Saline to reinstate.
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Nihalka / January 21, 2015
I am sorry to see that the groups living outside of Sri Lanka who have little touch with reality and failing to understand the significance of this vote, try to diminish it by such pointless arguments. I have spent last 3 days in Jaffna and Kili meeting, talking to real people (something I have done for 10 years several times a year) and cannot let the value of this victory to the Tamil people diminished by such rhetoric. Having been the people who cast the decisive vote that changed the course of Sri Lanka’s future, the person on the street seems to feel that they have managed to save the country from going down a path of destruction and have elected a President that they can also call theirs. The feeling of goodwill and hope for living in a peaceful country as dignified citizens has never been higher. Their expectations for positive change under the new administration is such, my worry is how can the south deliver on this fast enough to keep the goodwill and hope alive. So, instead of putting roadblocks the diaspora elements should now unite to help their own people achieve their goal.
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Sellam / January 21, 2015
I fully agree with Mr. Rudrakumaran, The Tamils in Sri Lanka are a distinct race as that of the Sinhalese. The Tamils needs their basic rights restored, which had been refused by the majority Sinhalese since early times. Had the majority rulers granted their demands without asking, there would have been no problems. Still the Sinhalse wish to keep the Tamils as second class citizens. I yet doubt the present government would solve the problems of the Tamils. The Tamils voted for Sirisena not to support him but with only intention of defeating Rajapaksa, I still pity the Sirisena group as to why they came to the North and East to canvass for the votes from the Tamil people. The Tamil leaders at the last minute sent a message to the Tamil people to vote for Sirisena but the Tamil people had already decided how they would vote.
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Ranjith / January 22, 2015
Forget about what Rudra saying for a moment. How many of you believe that there were war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by Srilankan Armed forces during the last stages of the war? The UN panel has put the civilin death toll during the last stages anywhere between 40,000 – 70,000. But, according to Mannar Catholic Bishop, Rayappu Joseph, the casualities are actually much higher than UN estimation. Close to 146,000 Tamil civilians gone missing at the end of the war. But all this time, MR and GR were adamantly refusing any civilian casualties and kept saying the war was fought with “Zero civilian casualty”. And even they called the entire military operation a “Humanitarian rescue mission”.
The Sinhala mindset will never accept that their forces carried out war crimes on Tamils. They even call people traitors and terrorist whoever talks about war crimes and crimes against humanity. I have seen videos of war booty been circulated among my friends in South. It was a popular topic in our funerals and wedding parties. Those were far more graphic and gruesome compared to Channel 4 videos. We knew exactly what was going on and we accepted that it is the way of handling a minority uprising. We were prepared to win the war at any cost. Loss of Human lives were not a matter of concern to us those days and now. The stories the returning soldiers told us were very sickening, hard to digest. But we still listened to them at the name of defeating Tamils. We never listened to Tamil cries when they were under our soldiers’ boots. We never looked at them as equal citizens. We wanted them to be annihilated and humiliated. And that is what our soldiers did in 2009.
Now we are claiming that Tamils are our brothers and sisters. Who are equal to to us. Who never had any issues at all with Srilankan state. Who have never lost a single life by us. Who have elected a president for the sake of the country.
But the truth is, Tamils voted for MY3 not because he is going to be their saviour, but to send MR home. Tamils rejected MR for what he did in Mullivaykkaal in 2009. Tamils rejected MR for continuous Sinhalaisation of their land. Tamils rejected MR for his continuous military occupation in their homeland. What is the role played by Samnathar’s TNA in this election, absolutely nothing! If anyone says Tamils voted for MY3 just because of TNA said so, it is absolutely rubbish. TNA did not have a choice. They were forced to take this stand by powers outside Srilanka. India put pressure on Sampanthar and TNA to support MY3. TNA kept postponing their decision till the last moment. But Tamils have already decided who they going to vote in the elections. They wanted to teach MR a lesson for what he has done to their loved ones. They were prepared to vote whoever contesting against MR. All TNA and Sampanthar doing now is claiming the victory for something they never had any influence on.
What might have happened if TNA asked Tamils to vote for MR? I am pretty sure the Tamils still voted for MY3.
What about Tamil diaspora? They are from this country too. They lived here too. They had to leave the country to save their lives from ethnic aggression. They still have kith and kin in Srilanka. I think they have the rights to talk on behalf of their relatives when the relative’s’ voices were violently silenced by the state. Anyone trying to downplay diaspora’s sentiments is downplaying Tamil sentiments in Srilanka. If the diaspora is still living in Srilanka they would have voted against MR too.
Finally, what about Rudra? Is he representing all Tamils, I doubt it. He hasn’t done enough to claim it so far.
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Mallaiyuran / January 22, 2015
Last November (2014) I was in a place, with my friends and relatives, where was a celebration was going on. The one organized it, when saw us one hour late, asked what would be our problem as even our kids had already grownup. We had to tell some kind of explanation to make the guy put that talk aside. Around 9:00PM, a Tamil, who is here for short time to do higher studies, came and join us, accompanying with some others. He looked for me on the memorial celebration that going on the same day, same time, and a few miles away that was where he and other new arrivals were until 9:00PM. He came to me and said he missed me there. I said I was expected here from 5:00 PM. He showed an unpleasant face.
In the Lankan Political market, which thrives on divide and rule, diaspora is a high price fetching, special terminology. Exclusively, it is used to divide Tamils, not Sinhalese nor Burgers. The leveraging factor behind it is the laws developed by the successive Sinhala Intellectual’s governments to divide the peoples of one family (ies). The Burgers who left the land, substantial time earlier no longer looking for to return to Lanka and they do not consider them as still one in one of the communities of Lanka. Sinhalese are considering themselves living in alien lands only as a temporary settlement in those foreign lands for Job, education, hide out time for the party politics when their opponents on the power and so forth. They are comfortable home as equally as they are in the foreign land. Again, issue behind it is the Lankan laws, which are not artificially dividing the emigrants Sinhalese and the islanders.
But that is not the case with Tamils. Tamils do not know their future so they have no idea of where they belong.
In 1970s, the standardization inserted wedge between the Tamil Parents and their children. Until then the Tamils who had their customs old classical society attributes, like strictly extended family culture, deep religious culture and century old modern educational cultures, with many college level high school and a private tutories in every corner of their village junctions, suddenly did not know what to do. Parents were not able to guide their children; Children left their parents without education or proper guidance for progressive and protected lead of their life. After 1983, it is said JR actively exported Tamil youths as refugees to separate them from their families and mother land. Then anybody returned back to families were stringently prosecuted. The 6th Amendment was introduced. This is to make sure that the local Tamils will never, ever be able to associate them with the Tamils who live in the “Free Expression” lands. Whenever they manage to settle in a foreign land, without their consent, their home country citizenship was plugged out. With an aim of sucking off their hard earned money, in additions to the handsome handouts for the corrupted embassy officials, artificially high prices were introduced for those who sought to regain their lost status. Not one time or two time, these laws were kept changed on annual basis to fine tune with the changing environment to create most possible harsh condition to Tamils. They called the migrated peoples as ruthless terrorist that is LTTErs, they are not freedom fighters in the Sinhala Intellectuals’ language. The migrated Tamil community is same with the ones stayed back at home if that had expressed a need that can be associated with the freedom fighters, like in the case of Jeyakumari, who sought to meet her son who was arrested by the Army. The complex relationship, these Intellectuals invent between Jeyakumari and the migrated community is they fund Jeyakumari to reform and re-emerge the LTTE. It did not stop there. It is keeping evolving, revolving, growing and expanding. They Labelled the Tamils democratic organizations operate in foreign lands with the approval of the domicile counties as “Terrorist organizations”, using a UN provision, even over and above the UN’s and IC’s protest on that. They brought a 2nd tier visa system to go to their families for Tamils who lived in foreign lands. Then they recruited paid Tamil coolies (like Chandrikathasan, Douglas, Kauruna-who one time tried become a diaspora but deported) to launch media assault on them, separating them as Diaspora.
We saw, in the last election, even after all Sinhala governments doing all atrocities against them, the Tamils united and beat the leader who was overwhelming elected by the Sinhala Buddhists, with their votes against to Sinhala Intellectualism. It is the same case with the boy that I met here. He is new to the land, fresh from Tamils’ land, to do some studies in the foreign land. He actively sought the news item of the election during the last election. A dedicated voter to TNA; does not vote for TNPF. He accepted that it was wrong for TNA to write in an election statement that TNA has got promises from MY3 to solve some of the Tamils problems, when it could not produce evidence for it. He seeks out and participates in “Freedom” activities. He felt I was not contributing more to the freedom fight. He expressed his opinion to my face by evaluating that day was as an example. The truth here is, until he is in a foreign land, the corrupted Media and the Collies call him a diaspora. When he returns back to home and vote for TNA, they take him as a “turn the face away supporter” to Tamil Genocide along with TNA. This successful double interpretation has been made possible by the Sinhala Intellectuals’ laws of dividing the ones settled in foreign lands and the ones without an escape route still caught in the home land and enduring the tortures and genocide to make hide their minds and opinion. So the diaspora is renamed political word in Lanka, which a country renamed UN SG’s panel of Experts’ report as Dharusman report. But for the Jew, for whom the new meaning of the terminology launched, the Israelis and the foreign dwellers are one and the same.
TGTE’s position seems to be that they did not abandon the negotiations LTTE did for the peace, for which LTTE’s leader Pirapharan was a signatory with Ranil. Now, it is time for the new government to reinstate the equal status of Tamil emigrants with others. There is no need for a special procedure for it in the 100 day programs or postpones it for after the 100 days. There is no need for anything that to be said in anybody’s elections manifesto to recognize Tamils emigrants to same with others. The Ban using UN’s provision on TGTE and other democratic organizations should be repealed right away. The personal ban on PM Rudrakumar, Father Emmanuel, Suren Surenthiran and else who are recognized as peaceful citizens in their dwelling countries, must be repealed. That ban is not so far recognized by UN or IC community. 6th amendment, which was described by IJC as draconian act, should be repealed to enable the Home Tamils to talk for their right in parity with the emigrant community. The emigrant society leaders must be allowed to visit the inland Leaders like TNA, TNPF .. and develop a solution that will allow the emigrant society to reclaim their taken away right to live in their ancestral homes.
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Jim softy / January 22, 2015
I heard, there are more than studies done and the number of dead including LTTE was about 7000 and that included 5000 LTTE.
So, these Tamils to prove this number 40,000.
Otherwise, it is just an accusation.
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pran / January 22, 2015
You all were in bed with MARA and tried to make Jaffna people boycott this vote as and For you all making MARA the president like you did in 2005 is beneficial. For your narrow political goals and for MARA’s power hungry goals. You both are peas of same pod. So people voted to both of you off. Let the people solve their problem the way they want. People of Jaffna should be able to share their opinions, what they want, what they expect without a middle man. Let their local politicians come in media and express their views. Mr Sumanthiran was explaining very well in Satana a week ago that people generally voted to restore good governance, and democracy and they expect Mathree will work tireless to integrate national unity and he insisted that new government take it seriously this new trend to rouse Racism in SL to destabilize the country. Let people will get a solution locally designed by the local people and not import international solutions.
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Lanka Watch / January 22, 2015
Mr.Rundran must accept that TNA is the accredited leaders of the Tamils
of N/E and as instructed by them, the Tamil people wholeheartedly voted
for Mr. Sirisena. You may have heard that TNA took a longer time to advise as to whom Tamils should vote and it was because TNA would have
had series of secret discussions with the opposition leaders including Gen.Sarath Fonseka. You may also would have heard that Mr. Sambanthan
was in India during the election time and he would have consulted the
Indian govt. as well. Due to utterances of the Diaspora overseas, The
Tamils suffered under the hands of the former regime and please do not throw challenges to the current govt.at a time reconciliation process
is moving slowly but steadily and what you could do is,help the poor
of N/E financially as you know that there are thousands & thousands
of widowed women with children needing financial help to survive
Tamils voted in large numbers for Mr.Sirisena expecting withdrawal of army or restrict the number,permitting the N/E provincial govts. to function normally and this is left to be seen after the parliamentary
elections in March as the honey moon period is on and many promises are
made but this time the Tamils have a hope as the govt. is in the hands of decent people and our request to your organization is not put a spoke into the wheel as reconciliation work is in progress to unite
all people and treat them alike. Firstly, Tamils should feel free to
live in N/E by removing the obstacles that affects them currently and
take the serious matters with the govt.at a later stage once the country settles down to democratic rule.
Tamils of course thankful to your organization for exposing the former
govt’s. wrong doings in the international arena, and continue to do so
if the current govt.fails to deliver to the Tamils but do not interfere
with the local administration in SL. and drop the slogan that you are
the reps. of Tamils living in N/E, which annoys the majority and they
may bring back the old regime due to this misunderstanding. In other
words, the Tamils are saying,enough is enough and leave us alone.
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