Prof. S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole
In 2015 nearly all Tamils had hoped for a new era.
The government co-sponsoring UNHRC Resolution 30/1 increased our hope that we Tamils would be included in Sri Lanka and that those who murdered us and raped our women (including our murdered women) would be punished.
Soon however our hopes were dashed. “No foreign judges” we were told in reversal. We were reminded of the torture trial where the local judge gave a 7-year prison sentence and immediately suspended the sentence; and of the Supreme Court upon appeal by the Attorney General saying that such suspension in a part of judicial discretion. It all seemed a parody of justice.
After the myth about soldiers liberating us with the gun in one hand and the human rights charter in the other put out by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we are treated to some characteristically propagandist good news every time the UNHRC is to meet. This is such a time.
After foot dragging on the Truth Commission, there is some move towards establishing it. Or so they say! Chandrika Kumaratunaga on the eve of the current sessions of UNHRC openly admitted to war crimes by our troops. As we were lulled into the hope for justice, Rajapaksa as if to challenge Chandrika’s efforts at reconciliation, repeated that there were no war crimes by troops. As if in tandem, Champika Ranawaka introduced a cabinet paper offering amnesty to all who committed war crimes.
Why amnesty if no crime was committed? Welcome to Sri Lanka’s UNHRC season theatrics where all kinds of false promises of peace and justice are trotted out. The drama will soon subside once a reprieve for non-implementation of Resolution 30/1 is won again. We will then go back to doing nothing about the resolution and Tamil-bashing until the next UNHRC sessions.
For my part I no longer believe in any promise to us Tamils by the government – every law, every promise, is good but it all seems a farce in reality. Every promise to Tamils seems just one more lie to avoid action by world bodies on trials for murderers and rapists and our necrophilia-afflicted troops.
In proof of the government’s forked tongue on reconciliation, I raise a particular racist government circular. In that circular dated late February pictured here, the Ministry of Internal and Home Affairs (an important ministry) has an innocuous title about data gathering. Then it ominously asks its officials in the text of its body to report every village with even one Buddhist family or one Buddhist temple for the purpose of declaring it a Buddhist village. By this definition, every village in Sri Lanka is Buddhist.
Can any reconciliation come through a government that stoops so low? If the UNHRC thinks so, I must sadly conclude that it also is an organization focused on form rather than substance. It is time to take concrete action against a brazenly untruthful government that sponsors a resolution and now wants to withdraw from it. At stake are not only the twin goals of justice and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, but also the firm faith of people worldwide in the UNHRC as an organization that dispenses human rights.
As I write (Friday night) Jaffna is abuzz with the rumour that Northern Province Governor Suren Rāghavan has been recalled for discussions. He is travelling to Colombo. Many Tamils wondered skeptically upon receiving news of his appointment why the government was appointing a Tamil for the first time. It seemed so uncharacteristic. In the event Dr. Rāghavan proved himself at ease with the people. He launched into returning lands taken over by the army, helping University of Jaffna recover its academic standards and war widows put their lives back together, and tackling the massive problem of sexual harassment of schoolgirls and every blight that afflicts us.
Recall that Dr. Devanesan Nesiah was put on the Disappearances Commission by Mahinda Rajapaksa, and when the mild-mannered Nesiah was seen to be taking his job seriously, his house in Colpetty was turned inside out fishing for anything incriminating, and finally even after finding nothing (naturally!), he was asked to quit. Did Dr. Raghavan also make the same mistake of taking his job very seriously, doing good things for the people rather than for the SLFP? Are Tamils welcome in the service of government only if they are willing to stooge? I hope the President will tread carefully with wisdom rather than communal partisanship when Dr. Rāghavan reaches Colombo.
If Sri Lanka is to progress and her people are to have a future, Tamils must receive justice and fair play, and be welcome for who we are rather than only after we are forced to re-label ourselves and our villages as Sinhalese.
Victor / March 3, 2019
Dr Jeevan,
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“He launched into returning lands taken over by the army, helping University of Jaffna recover its academic standards and war widows put their lives back together, and tackling the massive problem of sexual harassment of schoolgirls and every blight that afflicts us. “
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Can you and others explain what a Governor of any province can do with a university, a National School and private schools? My understanding is that universities, National Schools and private schools have nothing or very little to do with the province. A Governor can demand action from Child Protection and Probation or/and Provincial Ministry of Education but it is somewhat unclear what these authorities can do.
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Punchi Point / March 3, 2019
Mr. Hoole, do you have any proof of our soldiers “raping the murdered” ? The disgusting Tamil mind with most obnoxious allegations human decency cannot tolerate. Take your malicious rumours and go back to Tamilnadu. You are talking of “us Tamils”. Let me tell you about “us Tamils” – You Tamils have come here murdering and slaughtering the Sinhalese, ethnic cleansing us and chasing us away from the north of our island. When the European invaders came, you Tamils collaborated with all the European invaders and more of you Tamils were imported here. Then you Tamils did a majour act of “boot licking” of the White Masters (Suddas) and got into positions in the colonial administration and subjugated the Sinhalese. You Tamils aided and watched the massacre of the Sinhalese by the British, and used the Sinhalese resistance to get into the good books of the Suddas. You Tamils have no shame. You Tamils disgust me, Hoole. You Tamils have ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT to a separate country in this island. This is the island of the Sinhalese.
You Tamils have raped our mother Lanka. Look at the state of the north and east. Everything is dried up and dirty. Until you Tamils took possession of the area, that area was a prosperous area where alot of cultivation was done. Now look what you Tamils have done to it. You Tamils just sit on your backs and want, want, want… You Tamils with your foul mouths and sick minds make up these horrendous stories and rape our Mother Lanka. Get out of our Mother Lanka and go back to Tamilnadu. There’s no way we can cater to your totally unjust Tamil needs and Tamil claims or cure you Tamils’ of your mental illness and the Tamil liking for violence.
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Spring Koha / March 4, 2019
Punchi Point
Whoa! what’s this then about troops raping?
You write….do you have any proof of our soldiers “raping …
Well, I don’t know about Mr Hoole, but the UN Peace Keeping Secretariat has.
Check it out Punchi Point!
So,………When the European invaders came, you Tamils collaborated with all the European invaders…….Ha bloody Ha. What about the Mudlayars in the South?
Plenty; the leader of the ‘Sinhalese’ (and there were many) who sucked up to the British Mastah was a certain Sir Solomon Bandaranaike. Oh, he loved the British so much that when his first born was christened in the Church of England, Governor Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, GCB, GCMG, KCSI, PC (Ire) was the Godfather and the little boy was named Solomon West Ridgeway Dias Banda……..Now that is sucking up, big time…..
Check it out Punchi Point!
……….This is the island of the Sinhalese……Ha bloody Ha.
You really cannot be serious, can you Punchi Point. The Tamils almost certainly started coming before or about the same time that first wave of those who became Sinhalese arrived (they became Sinhales because most were trouble makers who were kicked out of their Indian tribes.) All the other minorities, like us, are creatures of circumstance. The smart thing is to see where we go from here. The Sinhalese may be the majority but we ALL have to get along whether you like it or not. Being the majority the Sinhalese have a special responsibility to be gracious, and I have sadly not seen much of that in the years from just after independence.
And finally, Punchi Point, remember that people who live in glass house should not throw stones.
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Punchi Point / March 10, 2019
I asked the man who call our army “necrophilia-afflicted troops” for evidence of our army “raping the murdered”. And you make it into “proof of our soldiers “raping … ” . This means that there is no proof of our soldiers being “necrophilia-afflicted” and “raping the murdered” Tamil women. Even more importantly this proves how Tamil propaganda against the innocent Sinhalese people is constructed and propagated and how you Tamils twist and turn anything to make abhorrent hoaxes – the most unjust Tamil cause is also such a hoax. Whatever it is, a few individual rogue soldiers raping Tamils cannot and should not be presented as if all our soldiers are rapists and take it even further to accuse the army of this most macabre crime of raping Tamil women whom they have first murdered!! This is most appalling and disgusting.
P.S I checked the “UN Peace Keeping Secretariat” but cannot find any such evidence there. Do you have the evidence? Even in the most unlikely event of this happening, what is the point in writing about it over and over again, without taking legal action? Please note that spreading this type of rumours and propaganda constitutes slander, defamation and hate speech against a people, which is also a crime, and is punishable by international law.
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sach / March 8, 2019
Hoole was asking for security as a cry baby from Sri Lankan armed forces when LTTE was around. This is the nature of the man
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SJ / March 3, 2019
Tamils who are aware of the politics of the UNP had little reason to hope for anything from a UNP-led government. Those who do not know or prefer not to take notice have only themselves to blame.
The ones who sought to raise Tamil hopes have much to answer for.
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Why not challenge the TNA to withdraw support for the government— for a start voting against the budget.
The TNA may privately protest the circular, but it will not take up the issue of the Governer/NP, if there is any intention (so far no visible signs) to remove him.
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punitham / March 3, 2019
Dear Prof
What is the exact date of the circular please?
Those who don’t know Sinhala will have to look at Englis or Tamil.
Thanks
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Uncommon man / March 3, 2019
The date of the circular is 22nd February and should be implemented on or before 27th February. It is under the signature of M.AP.B.S.Wanninayake, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Intereor and Local Government. This is sent to all Divisional secretaries to be distributed to each and every GS division.
Gist of the letter is as follows:
“Please make inspection of the area which comes under you and if you find even one single Buddhist place of worship or one single Buddhist in the area, categorize them each as a Buddhist Division and report the same in the format table given below.”
What a shame! These SLAS bastards who have studied only Sinhala and Pali and Buddhist Civilization(sic) have no other way to operate other than resorting to unabashed racist ways.
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Anan / March 3, 2019
I never heard that Tamil raped Sinhala women, but In 1940/50 , Tamils do business in up country they’d 2nd wife, for example, there were good Sinhala women want to Tamils, there was no difference between Tamils Andy Sinhala,( only Religion) if you study ( Buddhism) , it tell good advice , who don’t teach Buddhism to Tamils, ( Aryan) , but Sinhala people worried that they will lose Srilanka, but my point ! Tamils ( Mayan / Sumerian/ Summer/ Elamist/ Aboriginal) all this People once Tamils, but they gone away, only ( Tamils / Assyrian/ Sinhalese —) still lived in this earth, if go through ancient Srilanka history ( in Deutsche) , before Jesus. Sinhala and Tamil lived, and talking one language, ( in Greek – Tatha/ tithe= Sinhala ( Father) + Tamil ( grand father), one language but fight for ?
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sach / March 8, 2019
Please, as a Sinhalese who is against narrow nationalism is very much against associating me with ultra nationalist Tamils. Dont tell we are the same people.
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Spring Koha / March 3, 2019
Malanie Perera
I cannot pass by without commenting on what you have written.
Re ..You are out and out to punish Sri Lanka and her people after they suffered enough from ruthless terrorism……
Before independence we all got together in our efforts to push the British out. The moment the Brits were ousted, devious politicians (SWRD, JR and others too) with an eye on the Sinhala-Buddhist voter started to divide us with their spurious claims and promises to ‘make the Sinhalese great again’. Decent politicians tried their best – but it was evident that the nationalistic groups had the upper hand, and made the Tamil community the scapegoat. That is what led to the ugly pogroms I witnessed, in 1958 and 1983 (and on a smaller scale at other times). Ever since the early 50’s I witnessed the senseless violence against innocent Tamil folk. It was ugly, and unnecessary. Where were you then Malanie? It took the Tamils many, many years before young Tamil hotheads took matters into their own hands. The result was 30 years of misery – for ALL of us.
Do you think we have learned our lesson? In recent years, and particularly since the ‘end’ of the ‘war’ we have witnessed a surge in nationalist anti-minority rhetoric and violence. Some senior politicians openly support these groups, particularly the obnoxious BBS led by the odious Gnanasara, garbed in a saffron robe. Is the Sangha ashamed? What chance do we have for reconciliation?
Finally, the Tamils and Sinhalese have one thing in common: their love for caste. You really should know how important this is – it permeates each day of our lives. So please don’t single out the Tamils for something that is part of our common DNA.
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Peter Schalk / March 3, 2019
This time you are right. Hope to have chat with you. Peter Schalk
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sach / March 8, 2019
Nazis joining each other
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Kathir P.Chandra / March 3, 2019
The learned professor has gained some wisdom and insight into how the “Tamil issue” has been managed all these years. He and his colleagues have played a part in perpetuating this myth of fairness and reconciliation. The cast issue is used as an excuse all these years and it will not wash. It is a legacy of old fashioned thinking not much different to how those who refused to convert to Christianity were treated by the church and many denominational schools. Partiality takes many forms and one in the name of religion is not much different to the one based on birth. Both are evil and need to be understood for what they are so that the next generation can eradicates all forms of partiality and discrimination from our society.
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Mr Kathir Puvanachandra / March 3, 2019
The learned professor has gained some wisdom and insight into how the “Tamil issue” has been managed all these years. He and his colleagues have played a part in perpetuating this myth of fairness and reconciliation. The caste issue has been used as an excuse all these years to hammer down the aspirations of the Tamils. It is a legacy of old fashioned thinking, not much different to how those who refused to convert to Christianity were treated by the church, colonial powers and many denominational schools. Partiality takes many forms and one in the name of religion is not much different from the one based on birth. Both are evil and need to be understood for what they are so that the next generation can eradicate all forms of partiality and discrimination from our society.
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Kumar R. / March 4, 2019
Kathir
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Sinhala youth lost all hopes by 1977. Most Tamils lost hope much earlier and more regularly – every six months of each election since 1957. And, collectively and unequivocally by 1983! By the end of the war Tamils lost not just hopes but every sentiment even distantly related to fairness. That is All Tamils, except a miniscule minority enticed by potential Royal crumbs!
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You are correct that the learned miniscule-minority played a critical part in “perpetuating this myth of fairness and reconciliation” using caste issue shielding the Regime from international and local condemnation. So, it will be foolish not to add a very generous pinch of salt on this abrupt enlightenment, so late in the game, about the state of Tamil’s hope — enlightenment only after no-show of Royal crumbs!
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“Buddhist village circular” issue needs to be resolved amicably as a secular issue by harnessing and educating towards a consolidated majority opposition – not a Sinhala-Tamil issue. Wiser counsel needs to prevail to carefully avoid it morphing into a seemingly anti-Buddhist effort – else risk playing right into the hands of the fringe gleeful mad-men!
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Politics (and education) needs to be secular. Challenge and educate the majority of the gross constitutional illegitimacy of identifying villages by religion, with or without this tremendous stupidity of the “single Buddhist” criteria. It serves no purpose other than as complete mischief. Informally identifying villages by a particular religion, based on majority residents, has practical implications for traders, developers and some economic entities – but politics and academics need to be secular.
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On that count, it is also absolutely necessary that while being aptly outraged by this Buddhist village initiative, one needs to be equally incensed by notions such as “Christian majoritarian advantage” and “Christian University of Jaffna”! Else, it is simply bigotry.
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New Jersey / March 4, 2019
A tiger view of the situation.
Jesus said” those who raise the sword die by the sword”. Prof. Is a Christian. He like SJV is for a non violent solution. Taking life is wrong. Jesus commanded St. Peter to put the sword back into it’s case.
All those against non violence called him a traitor for that.
Professors voice was always the same.
The propaganda machionery of the Tamil groups puts out lies. They destroyed the true leadership of the Tamil people. I was a graduate student after the 83 riots. As editor of the New York Tamil Sangam Prof published letters in the papers and participated in seminars to defend the Tamil cause. He went to vice President senator Biden s office to ask help.
Where were the other so called Tamil Patriots.
The pen is more powerful than the sword. It is the traitors to the Tamil cause who attack people like Prof. Hoole.
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Kumar R. / March 4, 2019
New Jersey,
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The foolish, if not asinine attempt to singularly credit one religion for non-violence in “Prof. Is a Christian. He like SJV is for a non violent solution” merely exposes ignorance at many levels. Heard of Ahimsa’s prime role in Buddhism and Hinduism? Ever learnt as to which religion was responsible for the concept of “Just war” or its elevation to “Holy war?” Ever read about the role of Christian missionary’s role in decimation (“non-violent” ? Really) of an entire native population in the American continent?
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It is sans any sensible explanation that you find yourself repeatedly resorting to “blame it on the LTTE,” not unlike the “blame it on Tamil’s caste issues” that Kathir mentioned! Not unlike the dog that routinely raises its hind leg, never mind where the hurt was!
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Any explanation why MR and Gota, who were hell-bent on destroying anything-Tamil, seemed to accommodate these miniscule-minority, going as far as intervening in academic appointments?
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Question: In anticipating favours from MR & Gota, what hold did the miniscule-minority have, if not the shield these respected, learned, yet gullible professionals were willing to give the regime against international condemnation – up until they themselves realized first-hand the condom-principal that underlies MR’s operations?
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Siddhartha / March 4, 2019
Thanks for the early update.
Hope the Tamils can get together and think and act upon their future. Yet you need power to gain any power. With the forces in the North and East acting as good as demons nothing can be achieved by the Tamil people.
Read the comments
All their energy appears to be spent on shooting down the Professor.
In reality these comments are only from the same paid beggars working for some interested parties who are scared Tamils will recover and prosper.
So people should look above these low attacks on the writer and post smart comments about helping themselves.
What a white wash by the government at the UNHRC.
May Dr. Rahavan be retained in Jaffna.
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Hela / March 4, 2019
Just a rant by a Tamil racist……….He knows that how many Sinhala villages in the North have been re-labelled as Tamil and forced Sinhalese living there to either flee or assimilate. Single largest ethnic cleansing occurred in the North. What he wants is the continuation of that cleansing project to expand the mono ethnic Tamil character in that part of the country while ensuring Tamils ability to live every where in the country. North cannot be mono ethnic while rest is multi ethnic. Action must be taken to make North multi ethnic too.
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Native Vedda / March 4, 2019
Hela
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“He knows that how many Sinhala villages in the North have been re-labelled as Tamil and forced Sinhalese living there to either flee or assimilate. “
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Could you name the villages with historical evidences.
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“Single largest ethnic cleansing occurred in the North.”
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Let’s look at the population census:
Tamils in Northern province
1981 – 1,098,108
2012 – 1,060,023
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Net change in population reduction of 38,085 excluding the natural annual increase over 31 years.
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Estimated population including net increase @2% per year over 31 years from 1981 to 2012 (years census estimates are available) in 2012 — 1,932,347. However population count in 2012 -1,060,023.
Net decrease 1,932,347 – 1,060,023 = 872,324
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True the total estimated cleansed over the 31 years is about 872,324.
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Where did the state send all these Tamil people?
By the way the state has been ruled by mad Sinhala/Buddhists fascist mutants since 1948. Can you account for the missing Tamils just from Northern Sri Lanka?
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Did you kill them all (872,324) during the 31 years, cleaned them from the island, ……….. or just in 1983?
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shankar / March 7, 2019
raghavan was not called back to be sacked as hoole surmised,but to be sent as one of the three UNHRC envoys .That is why i say hoole should report matters dispassionately like a reporter,but obviously he can’t do that because he is emotionally involved with tamil grievances and gets biased.wolf.wolf.
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sach / March 8, 2019
Hoole is a Tamil nationalist who likes to trample upon the majority community and wanted to maintain a minority over majority rule.
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sach / March 8, 2019
I hope Hoole is right on Ragavan’s dismissal as the president of this country has committed a blunder by appointing a staunch Tamil nationalist as governor of Northern province. As we faced separatist terrorism for decades in the Northern province, it is of utmost importance to have a proper man as the governer, but yahapalana idiot appointed another Wiggie there.
I would like to know how Hoole exactly knows the purpose in the government in sending circulars. Hoole who was crying for safety and support from Sri Lankan armed forces when LTTE was around, is now calling the very force that provided him security as criminals. That is a different issue, shows the character of the man.
Hoole says, “Then it ominously asks its officials in the text of its body to report every village with even one Buddhist family or one Buddhist temple for the purpose of declaring it a Buddhist village”………….Can Hoole explain how he got to know the purpose of this action? Did any government official reveal it to him? Or is it simply brain fart in his head just like Ragavan’s dismissal?
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sach / March 8, 2019
New era in 2015..LOL Tamils are very similar to LTTE in character. They are very maximalist people. Tamils think only Tamils are human. Tamils are superior to everyone else others are brain dead zombies who have no feelings. So tamils will always end up in the same fate. Did tamils actually believe, any Lankan government elected by a Sinhala majority can and will prosecute armed forces in this country to satisfy their ethnic egos that too on baseless accusations?
UNHRC has nothing to do with so called murdered and raped people. UNHRC report accuses Sri Lanka of systematic crimes which has no basis. And as any sovereign country Sri Lanka has the right to defend itself against these charges. And it is very easy to do that. It is simply SL gov does not do that. I dont think Tamils including this engineer who is very vocal about his education level do not get that. They do understand that but being extreme Tamil nationalists, and true to their LTTE nature they are very maximalist.
And did not this Hoole call a satirical English language play on a Jaffna Tamil was cultural genocide in desguise? This is the mentality of people we are dealing with. By the way, how did he get appointed in an important commission being a dual citizen?
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