28 March, 2024

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Tamils’ Right To Memorialization Continuously Under Assault

Preparations are underway in many parts of the Northern and Eastern provinces to commemorate the brutal end of the civil war in 2009. Religious leaders, politicians and members of the civil society in the two provinces have organized several events in the two provinces today, the 18th of May. Eight years ago, thousands of Tamils were brutally massacred in eastern coastal region of the Vanni as the government intensified its war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Although the Rajapaksa government described the military operation as a humanitarian mission to liberate the Tamils from the clutches of the LTTE, it was an international secret even then that Sri Lanka’s military and the political leadership in Colombo did not have an iota of concern for the people trapped in the war zone. The LTTE, for its part, prevented the Tamils who wanted to leave the No Fire Zone contributing to the rising death toll.

Until 2014, the Rajapaksa government with the aid of the military had used various strategies to ban the commemoration events that had been organized in the North and East. With the regime change in 2015 and the subsequent expansion of civil space for political action in the North and East, public commemoration events took place on May 18 in the years 2015 and 2016 with the participation of the families of the victims, politicians, civil leaders and religious dignitaries. Activists from the South also joined some of these events. The Great Heroes’ Week for the slain LTTE carders was also observed in the regions in 2015 and 2016, with a significant number of people participating in public commemoration events held in the latter year.

Despite the loosening of restrictions on political activities taking place in the Tamil-majority areas by the Good Governance Regime, the people in the region and political activists are continuously under the surveillance of the military. The current regime has not done much to put an end to the military’s interference in the political and civil activities initiated by the people.

In a statement issued on May 17, 2017, the Jaffna-based Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR), a not-for-profit research think-tank that works on public policy issues in Sri Lanka with a special focus on issues affecting the Tamil polity in the island, notes that Tamil civil society activists involved in memorialization work, including some who work with their organization, have been repeatedly visited and interrogated by military intelligence and police. The statement further says: “On May 16, two civil society activists were summoned to the Mullaitivu police station and questioned about their work on a memorialisation project carving the names of Tamils killed in Mullivaikkal on stones. One day later, on May 17, police issued a letter from the Mullaitivu Magistrate’s Court ordering a stay of the memorialisation event Tamil civil society was planning for May 18th on the grounds that it “threated unity and national security.” The statement contends that [the] repression of May 18 commemorations of the tens of thousands of Tamils killed is a massive infringement of the Tamil community’s right to collectively mourn and is contrary to the path of good governance and reconciliation the Sri Lankan government continues to state it is on to the international community. The government’s opposition to memorialisation underscores the lack of political will they have for accountability and reconciliation efforts and once again points out the government’s double-speak. The center has urged the government of Sri Lanka to put a stop to all harassment, intimidation, surveillance, reprisals and interference by security forces (military, police and military intelligence) in relation to memorialisation efforts by Tamil civil society and communities. It emphasizes that the government should adopt a position on memorialisation that explicitly acknowledges the right of Tamil and Muslim communities in Sri Lanka to mourn loved ones who were killed during the war.

In the meantime, dissident Tamil activists who spoke to Colombo Telegraph note that while the state is merciless in its repression of the Tamil people’s right to memorialization and arrogant in its treatment of the activists who are organizing the memorial events, the Tamil nationalist civil society and politicians have shown hardly any interest in inaugurating a dialogue on the role of the LTTE and various other Tamil actors who are complicit in the tragedy that the Tamils went through during the 30-year civil war. One of them said even though various testimonies by the people in local and international forums demonstrate that large number of civilians were detained by the LTTE in the No Fire Zone without their consent at the peak of the war, the organizers of the memorial events are still reluctant to talk about this repulsive side of the tragedy.

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  • 13
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    I think Sinhala people also should join any celebrations on May 18th. Because, that is the heroic Day that Sri lankan forces saved Tamils as well as Others from LTTE brutality and got rid of LTTE.

    • 4
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      RE: Tamils’ Right To Memorialization Continuously Under Assault—————————————————————————————————————————-

      “Despite the loosening of restrictions on political activities taking place in the Tamil-majority areas by the Good Governance Regime, the people in the region and political activists are continuously under the surveillance of the military. The current regime has not done much to put an end to the military’s interference in the political and civil activities initiated by the people.” ————————————————————

      It is good for memorialization, because it also memorializes the sheer stupidity of the Para-Sinhala and Para-Tamils, with an average IQ of 79, with imported languages and beliefs from their Para-Homeland, India, Bharat, Damba-Diva, in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho, after the Para-English left them.—————————————-

      Indeed. there is long list to memorialize, including the many war crimes…………….

      —– It is high time, the Paras call it a day and move on…—–after hanging a few war criminals…——and declare we all are Paras in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho!

      • 3
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        The Moda Sinhala politicians are corrupt to the core and sinking in Garbage and Financial crime and they use BBS and Hate speach to distract people
        There is no political will to investigate or put right anything – never mind the delusional demands of Tamil nationalists!
        Deluded Sinhala masses who have been fed a diet of Hate Speech against minorities by their Sinhala corrupt leaders in order to Distract the masses from the political leaders corruption/
        DIVIDE, DISTRACT the moda Masses and RULE the SInhala Modayas is the motto of Ranil Jarapaksa and Sira. o get rid of their corrupt and criminal leaders.. leaders!

      • 1
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        All Terrorist Commemorates should be arrested.——-

        Nowhere in the world, a government allows this. Prior to that Tamils commemorated “a genocide week”. Tamil politicians who ran away to India for fear of Terrorists leaving other civilians to suffer, were seen there shedding crocodile tears. I don’t know who is the idiot who allowed Tamils to commemorate ‘unsubstantiated genocide allegation” against us, in our own country, in our own soil.——

         

        Tamils commemorating Terrorists is unacceptable. They should remember that although they are their relatives, they were the World’s Most Merciless Terrorists. Commemorating Terrorists only encourage other youth that the path taken by Terrorists is correct and that Terrorists are treated as martyrs by Tamils.——

         

        If all those Tamils who were killed at the battle were civilians, where were the terrorists? How could barbarian Sun God, Prabhakaran’s Terrorist cadre disappeared in the thin air and become civilians once the war was over?——

         

        Are Tamils trying to make Sinhalese repent for sending their Army to save Tamils from LTTE terrorists?——-

        This is the time for Sinhalese to cry for the loss of lives of beloved soldiers who fought against Terrorists to save Tamils. Wasn’t their sacrifice in vain, if Tamils themselves think that they shouldn’t have been rescued?——

        The Tamil civilians in the North were savaged by their own Tamil Terrorist barbarian Prabhakaran, not by our Army.—–

        Tamils show their true colours now. The soil in the North were soaked with the blood of our Army. They paid a heavy price to save Tamils from the Tamil Terrorist Prabhakaran. Over 30,000 of our beloved soldiers sacrificed their lives while 20,000 or so lost their eyes, legs and limbs and forced to live with haunted memories of the war or the visions of their dead fellow soldiers.——

        Contd’….

        • 2
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          Dear Champa,
          You say: ” Nowhere in the world, a government allows this. Prior to that Tamils commemorated “a genocide.”
          Dear dear Champa, don’t get so excited. Did you look around you on April 5th and see who was commemorating what, including your hero Wimal? Yes, they were commemorating a terrorist leader called Wijeweera and those who followed him. But you don’t call him a terrorist,even though he tried to take over the ENTIRE country by killing lots of people. In contrast, Prabhakaran wanted only the North and East.
          Prabhakaran was a terrorist because he was a Tamil. Wijeweera can be commemorated because he was Sinhala.
          Can you please explain, dear lady? I an not waiting breathlessly.

          • 1
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            Old Codger —— Sorry for my tardiness in replying.—- Rohana Wijeweera was not a Guerilla Terrorist like Prabhakaran. He was a Marxist Rebel. More accurately an icon of Stalin model. At the same time he seemed to have inspired by Argentine Revolutionary Che Guevara.—-

             

            Wijeweera tried to initiate a revolt but failed. He tried to capture the power but he never wanted a separate state by dividing the country like terrorist Prabhakaran. He never had a suicide army nor he recruited child soldiers.—–

             

            Wimal is a Marxist Revolutionary. He fights for a unitary country as a Nationalist. Contrary to Wijeweera’s destructive political path, Wimal has chosen a constructive political path. He is obviously NOT inspired by Che Guevara but Cuban Revolutionary Fidel Castro.—–

             
            There are “Immortal Heroes” in the world. Both Che Guevara and Fidel Castro come under that category same like Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Their followers are all over the world who tried in the past and will try in the future too, to change the political equation in their countries.

            • 2
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              Dear Champa’
              “. He tried to capture the power but he never wanted a separate state by dividing the country like terrorist Prabhakaran. He never had a suicide army nor he recruited child “
              So what you are saying is that Wijeweera was not a terrorist because he wanted the WHOLE country, and because he had no child soldiers? Well, the definition of a terrorist is someone who attacks civilians in public places. Wijeweera attacked the Dalada Maligawa before the LTTE. That alone is enough to qualify him, isn’t it?
              What if Wijeweera was a Tamil? Or if Prabhakaran asked for the whole country, would he be one of your “immortal heroes”?

              • 1
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                Do you need more explanation?——

                Capturing governmental power can be defined in many ways. In some countries, it has been achieved through military coup. There is no Sinhala or Tamil issue here. The same way LTTE was defeated, Wijeweera was also killed and a large number of his followers were also killed or imprisoned.—–

                Wijeweera didn’t attack Dalada Maligawa. One of his people attacked the Police Post at the Dalada Maligawa. The plan didn’t succeed and no one was harmed.——

                Prabhakaran, who was a separatist and a terrorist leader wasn’t carrying a cyanide by himself at the time of his death, though he made it a law to carry cyanides to his cadre.——

                Wijeweera was a Rebel. Prabhakaran was a Terrorist. The difference between them was their intentions and targets.—-

                Prabhakaran targeted innocent civilians. Wijeweera targeted the Police and the Army.——

                Wijeweera tried to capture the governmental power while Prabhakaran tried to separate a certain part of the country through general terror, chronical terror, enlightened terror and then inflicting a fear psychosis.——

                Though he was a Terrorist, Prabhakaran was given many opportunities by the successive Sri Lankan governments to negotiate, form a political party and be elected to the Parliament and finally surrender before the final phase of the war. (The white flag story was bogus).——

                Wijeweera, though he was a Rebel, never enjoyed such luxury. He was never given any chance to negotiate, join the political stream or surrender, as far as I know.—–

                I am sure, if Prabhakran gave up arms, ceased his killer spree and joined the legitimate political stream, he could have been an Immortal Hero to Tamils.

                • 0
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                  Champa,
                  You are either blind to the truth or you are so barainwashed that you can’t admit it. Were you even alive in 1971 and 1989? I was.
                  ” Wijeweera targeted the Police and the Army.—— Wijeweera tried to capture the governmental power while Prabhakaran tried to separate a certain part of the country through general terror, chronical terror, “
                  You say your hero targeted the police/ army. Well, that is what Prabhakaran did too. 26000 soldiers and police were killed, but only about 2000 Sinhala civilians.
                  Wijeweera did terrorize the public. He had many UNP politicians shot. He forcibly collected people’s ID cards. He ordered businesses to be closed and killed those who resisted. You seriously think that was not terrorism?
                  “Wijeweera, though he was a Rebel, never enjoyed such luxury. “
                  Well then, what was he doing pretending to be Attanayaka the planter, surrounded by whisky bottles?
                  I do condemn the way your hero was killed ,though. BUT, a big BUT, how was his family treated? Why was Prabhakaran’s family simply murdered out of hand?
                  Even you should find it difficult to explain that. My dear Champa, it was due to RACISM. Get it?

        • 1
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          Champa ———————– What else is new and in order apart from your selective history and hypocrisy?

          • 1
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            Native Vedda

            I think it is high time Sinhalese pay their serious attention to rapid Muslim Colonization in the East. I shall see you at one of the relevant articles.

            Selective history? It was old codger’s choice, not mine.

            You call me a hypocrite, Native Vedda? Then when I look at the mirror, how did I see you there with your mouth wide open. :D

      • 1
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        How do you explain Tamils who are alive today commemorating their butcher, barbarian Prabhakaran and his Tamil Terrorist cadre and not their savior our beloved Army?—-

        Tamils seem to think that they have a right to be killed by Terrorists.—–

        Our Army gave adequate warning for the civilians to move away from the battle zone, including declaring “No Fire Zones” and took many measures to remove them from danger while fighting with life against the World’s Most Ruthless Terrorists Organization – the LTTE. There were many instances our Army carried children, the sick, wounded and elderly Tamils in their own hands for medical treatment. And in another, a wounded Terrorist Woman was helicoptered to Colombo for medical treatment. Our Army took utmost care, not only of civilians but also of wounded terrorists! if it was not for the sacrifices made by our beloved Army, none of those idiotic, self-centered Tamil Politicians would be alive today.——

         

        All the Tamils living in the North and the East are in debt to our beloved Army for saving their lives.——

         

        I commemorate with a heavy heart but with immense pride of our beloved Army for all the sacrifices they made, loss of lives, loss of eyes, limbs and legs, loss of memory, all other sufferings they had to undergo in order to save Tamils in the North from the Barbarian Terrorist Leader Prabhakaran who massacred Tamils mostly, during his 30 year terror era.—–

         

        We hold high regard of our beloved Army and salute for their exceptional bravery, valour and compassion during the battle against the World’s Most Ruthless Terrorist Organization at the time, led by bloodthirsty savage butcher Prabhakaran.

    • 1
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      Tamils’ Right To Memorialization Continuously Under Assault——————————————-

      The Para-Sinhala ans Para-Tamils, along with the other Paras need to grow up and move on……———————————————————————————-

      Thoughts on humanity, fame and love | Shah Rukh Khan————————————————-
      “I sell dreams, and I peddle love to millions of people,” says Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood’s biggest star. In this charming, funny talk, Khan traces the arc of his life, showcases a few of his famous dance moves and shares hard-earned wisdom from a life spent in the spotlight.—————————————————————————————–

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NV1KdWRHck

    • 10
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      Yes Sinhalese should join to celebrate not only May 18th but also to celebrate june 1956 Galoya massacres, 22-27 May 1958,12 August 1977,1st of June 1981 for burning Jaffna library, July 1983 massacre, 1985 Kumuthini boat massacre, massacre of 10000 Sinhala youths in 1970 and 60,000 1989. These are heroic days of Sinhala Forces and Sinhala Fundamentalists. Murders, Rapes, abductions, massacres are heroic only for Fundamentalists, Criminals & Monsters.

      • 1
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        @ Ajith.. wow with those figures and facts, Did you work for the UN, i am sure you are well suited for a UN job. Even Amnesty today is backing from its own figures which it presented the UNHCR as not accurate figures.

    • 7
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      jimsofty the dimwit, max, KASmaalam, SJ/Sekere——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

      Watch this latest educational video about the compassionate monks:———————————http://www.tamilwin.com/politics/01/145984?ref=rightsidebar —————————————–SJ/Sekere——————- don’t you think Mano/Tamils asked for it?

    • 7
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      Jim Shitty, are you worried about Tamils being saved by the brutes of the SLA?
      Hahahahaha………………bloody joker. You racist hog will never change your ways, you are basically the scum of this earth, which should be eliminated at sunset.

    • 0
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      RE: Tamils’ Right To Memorialization Continuously Under Assault——————————————————————————————————————————–
      Which country does the most good for the world? | Simon Anholt———————————————————————————————————————————
      Not Sri Lanka, Not LTTE or rather the Rump LTTE, not India. Then, which country does the most good for is citizens?—They do not have empathy for their own citizens.———————————————————————————————————————————————————-

      It’s an unexpected side effect of globalization: problems that once would have stayed local—say, a bank lending out too much money—now have consequences worldwide. But still, countries operate independently, as if alone on the planet. Policy advisor Simon Anholt has dreamed up an unusual scale to get governments thinking outwardly: The Good Country Index. In a riveting and funny talk, he answers the question, “Which country does the most good?” The answer may surprise you (especially if you live in the US or China).—————————————————————————————————————————————————————— —————————— ——————————————– ———————

      TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more.——————————————————————————————————–
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X7fZoDs9KU

    • 1
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      while the rest of the nation is getting on in progress, these people still have governed the North in the way the LTTE have. Holding commemoration as they did and neglected economics. Back then the LTTE excuse was the war, while they and the top leaders got very rich. Today what is the excuse? By the way what to they commemorate during November??????. Please many Tamil sri lanka people are sick of their leaders who are politically bankrupt. Hence a silent migration to the South and other parts of the world to look for jobs.

      • 3
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        “Tamils don’t talk about how Tamils ran away from LTTE in Mullavailakal”

        How do you know that? Are you Tamil? Have you talked to Tamils who were stranded in Mulliwaikal? If you did, they would have told you. If you didnt, then shut up. dont let your gay monk imagination run wild.

      • 2
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        He is not Eelam Tamil but one of these largely low caste immigrant South Indian origin fake Arab Sri Lankan Muslim, who constantly deny their Tamil origin and join with Sinhalese racists , for a few crumbs to beat the anti Tamil drum.
        These selfish backstabbing wankers who deny their own origin and ethnicity and run behind Arabs are far more dangerous than the Sinhalese. Even the Sinhalese know this

    • 2
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      I agree Sinhala people should join, but they wont. lol hahahaha

  • 12
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    Tamils don’t talk about how Tamils ran away from LTTE in Mullai-welikala, how LTTE shot at civilian hostages running away from LTTE. How heroic soldiers faught LTTE face to face in order to save Tamil civilians and just about one before that 600 or so LTTE brigadiers were martyred by the army,

    May 18th Should be celebrated.

  • 11
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    Sadhu Jim Softy,
    Where are the videos armed forces took which show Civilians are running away and armed forces saved them ? These videos will also show LTTE firing at the civilians .
    After wiping out LTTE the whole area was under the armed forces. No one from the international news agencies or peace monitors were not allowed either for many days. What were the armed forces doing ? Where are the videos ? Any Buddhist Monks, Hindu Priests or Chrisitan Clergies were allowed in to chant, pray for the dead ?
    Emperor Asoka allowed Buddhist Monks into the battle field after massacaring Kalinga People.

    Jim Softy any prith ceremony in May for the dead in the war so that souls can rest in peace.

  • 11
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    It is high time to forget about the past and look forward for a better future – it is not only Tamils that lost life but Sinhalese also – How many innocent Sinhalese were brutally killed by LTTE – 600 innocent police constables / Aranthalawa Buddhist monks / many thousands of innocent Sinhalese hack to death in their sleep – simply because LTTE thought these Sinhalese were living in their territory / many innocent people living in south — these were few examples – Why are the Tamils who demand revenge do not think of the Sinhala and Muslim civilians brutally killed by LTTE – weren’t these tamilians supporting LTTE morally and financially while LTTE were engaging in their brutal killings — those innocent Sinhalese and Muslims brutally killed by LTTE also have families – these families suffer their losses silently – now everybody had forgotten them

    • 2
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      Rabok, “Many thousands” of Sinhala civilians were not killed by the LTTE. The highest number was the 600 policemen, followed by 147 Muslims in Kattankudy. The total Sinhalese civilians killed was less than 2000. More Tamils were killed by the LTTE than Sinhalese.
      The LTTE did its targeting better than the Govt. forces, it seems, because it managed to kill 26000 of them. Give credit where it is due.

  • 4
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    Thanks for bring this out by conscience of the ethical duty of journalists’ and thus being a party of remembering the perished ones. If one day the Tamils return to normal life with their rights, in a democratic atmosphere, your toil will be reflected there than the fake, secret solutions guys, who are cheating the Tamils. They don’t talk it, but deny it by withholding truth in every possible occasion. But you talk the truth where all it is possible. Is there a PhD needed to tell the truth? Probably it is needed to hide it without any suspicion surface. .

    Even Sritharan was hired by the parliament and was sent out to EU. It is not still clear for why, when EU was discussing GSP+, Sritharan was drinking milk under Palmyra tree. I still hope him to be clean handed. CV did not ask protection from American diplomats even after CTA is approved in the cabinet. These guys are sacrificing more Tamils to CTA, observing false May 18 and advocating secret solution. Instead faking on May 18th, and secretly supporting the CTA with the secret solution, why can’t they resign from Parliament if they cannot stop CTA? Why the TNA parliamentarians are not putting couple meeting during this time (May 17, 18, 19) in North-East and announcing their failure of the blocking CTA? Why are they hiding it from Tamils?

    • 4
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      Appe Aanduwa won UNHRC in March. It won the PTA in April. It won the GSP+ in May. In December 2016,TNA lost the secret solution lost in hilt. TNA still is not telling the truth to people.

      See this video, people demanding CV, Sampanthar & other TNA leaders to get of the Memorial Day celebration. Sampanthan and Sumanthiran wrote their final chapter of slavery to Appe Aanduwa in January, 2015 by Supporting the CC agreeing to Aanduwa when it said “No leader, No commander, No Soldier will be prosecuted” . This is one out of many recent meeting the Tamils demanded TNA leaders to get out of it. ICG has said in its recent report that the Tamil people do not have earlier faith on TNA anymore.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWGIarosamo

      This is in real contrast to up country leadership where recently people have started to listen to leaders. Everybody’s knows that is why Gnanam ramped into Mano Ganeson’s ministry.

      • 3
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        You must have heard the word Tribe in free discovery channel from Wilpattu. There was another documentary on discovery channel about how Budha is gay, have you seen that too?

  • 5
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    THIS IS FOR TRIBALIST tAMIL DALITS LIVING OVERSEAS OR LOCA;L

    SeeArmy Rescue Operations Searching for Victims in Progress at Wellawatte

    Troops of the 14 Division under command to the Security Force Headquarters – West (SFHQ-West) who promptly rushed to Wellawatte where a five-storeyed building under construction has collapsed mid-noon on Thursday (18), injuring more than 20 people, are currently engaged in rescue and evacuation operations under the close supervision of Major General Ralph Nugera, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 14 Division.

    Alert to the sudden accident, Lieutenant General Crisanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army instructed the SFHQ-West to take necessary steps and attend to the immediate needs and other rescue operations as necessary.

    Rescue operations of the Army are still underway. Army saving Tamils this 18th too.

  • 3
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    I dont feel like making any comment in this new format which is not conducive for reading or writing.

    • 3
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      New format sucks. People don’t like change. If it works, don’t change.

      • 0
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        Agree. The previous format was simple and hassle free. In one glance, you could see all the articles and news and easy to navigate too.

        • 0
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          Yes, I agree with you on this one. Even the identifying gravatars are missing.

          • 1
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            old codger ————————————————– I think you have more time in your hand than what I thought you had. —————————— This Champa is another reincarnation of sach, Eusence, Sarojini, …….

            • 0
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              NV,
              I know, but sometimes it is useful to talk to even the Devil.

  • 4
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    Imagine the 18th of May 2009 did not happen. What would be the political and economic situation in Sri Lanka today? How many thousands more Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims would have been killed by now? How many of civilians would have lost their livelihood, loved ones and will be living in terror?
    Sri Lanka had to close this terrible war at any cost, started by the terrorist group LTTE. Terror wars are ugly civilians die which are called collateral damage by the west. I call innocent civilian victims war heroes because they facilitated peace to prevail in our country. These are not only Tamils they are Sinhalese and Muslims too. Any memorialization should be not confined to Tamils or the North. It is a sad but also a happy occasion to all citizens of Sri Lanka.

    This Jaffna-based Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research (ACPR), a not-for-profit research think-tank sounds fishy to me. Who funds this? What has this organization done for rehabilitation and improvement of lives of the war affected Tamils so far? I support any effort by the Gov. to keep an eye on these so called NGOs. These NGOs are there mostly to brain wash vulnerable poor and start conflicts.

    • 5
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      Mr. Eusense,
      “Terror wars are ugly civilians die which are called collateral damage by the west. I call innocent civilian victims war heroes because they facilitated peace to prevail in our country.”
      I don’t suppose you would have the same opinion if you/your wife/ your children/ parents were blown to bits to facilitate peace.
      You seem otherwise intelligent, but sadly lacking in empathy.

      • 4
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        old,
        These are consequences which you have to face when you resort to violance to achieve your goals. I personally knew people who were blown into pieces by suicide murdering by Tamil terrorists. Are you saying that these brutal Tamil terrorists did not know that innocent Tamils will be paying a price for their terror war? Are you saying that the DFSL should have gone back to the Barracks and let the terrorist reign because they were holding innocent civilians as human shields? What, you wanted the terror war to continue??? Use your brain Old. If this war was not stopped in 2008 thousands more would have been killed. It is possible that you and I may not be living today too! I was lucky my family was not destroyed by these brutal suicide murdering Tamil terrorists. That is why I call those who died war heroes. Use your intelligence if you have any.

        • 1
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          Eusense,
          “I was lucky my family was not destroyed by these brutal suicide murdering Tamil terrorists”
          Exactly what I am saying. You are lucky. Would you have willingly agreed to let your family be blown to bits/ raped/mutilated for the greater glory of the unitary state? Would you have been still so gung-ho about it if a Kfir sent a rocket into your house (by mistake of course). I doubt you would take it so philosophically. Anything is fine as long as it happens to somebody else. Yes ,I do see your point.
          And while we are about it, would you like to tell me exactly how many people were killed by these suicide bombers you seem so terrified of? I spent the entire time of war in Colombo. You sit somewhere in Europe and preach to us about “suicide bombers”?

          • 1
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            Why do you write irrelevant arguments?
            You can Google to find out how many died of suicide bombings. Are you trying to say suicide bombing does not inflict terror on innocent civilians?
            Funny thing is, you have concluded I am in Europe! Good evidence that most of your assumptions are wrong!

            • 0
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              Mr. Eusense,
              I did google to find out how many died in suicide bombings and LTTE attacks. In spite of all the hype, the number of Sinhala civilians killed is around 2000. I believe more people died in traffic accidents. The fact is that the LTTE killed more Tamils than Sinhalese. Also it killed many more soldiers and police (26000) than civilians. Give the devil his due, LTTE targeting was much better than what was done by your sacred “war heroes”. You had (and still have) a greater chance of being killed by a bus than the LTTE. You must learn not to believe your own propaganda.
              Yes, suicide bombing IS a terror tactic, but so is indiscriminate aerial bombing. I don’t see anything irrelevant in what I wrote. Again I must ask if YOU would cheerfully give up your right to mourn your dead if YOUR own were killed by wayward bombs?
              It is common decency to let people mourn, no matter what the politics were.

    • 1
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      ‘What has this organization done for rehabilitation and improvement ‘ Very True

      Very True, It is the Sri Lankan Government or the Tax payers of the south that pay the biils,.Just like they did during the LTTE time. We Went to work braving the LTTE daily suicide squads in Colombo. Paid the Tax, which fed the people of the North and went for the pensions of some of the LTTE who were ex Government employees. Defunct not-for-profit groups such as the TRO back then funded LTTE activity.

    • 3
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      Imagine the 22-25 may 1958 massacre of Tamils did not happen? What would be the political, economic and social status of Sri Lanka Today. What was the priice of May 2009? Sri Lanka now in international court? Sri Lanka was almost near to complete dictatorship. Sri Lanka is now become face war crime country. Srilanka is now one of the worst human rights violator. Sri lanka is investigated for genocide. Sri lanka’s wealth was stolen by one Family. Bankrupt economy.

  • 5
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    Hooles, Pitasanna and the Nadesan (who wrote articles below). Any comments?

  • 4
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    The government is not as harsh as the MR regime on the commemoration; and the attitude of the forces has to be seen in the context of demands that will put them in the dock.

    Commemoration of the dead will go on even in private.

    But one has to distinguish between those genuinely empathising with the sorrowing families and cynics seeking political mileage.

    One yardstick of sincerity is the attitude towards disabled and impoverished former members of the LTTE. I think that those who mouth the loudest slogans calling for all manner of inquiries have been the least caring.

    It takes imagination to make the Sinhalese public to know what really happened during the war and understand the feelings of the affected people. Such efforts are resented by the rival Tamil nationalist outfits as that could lead to a strong third front which speaks up for the Tamils while reacheing out to the Sinhalese and thus be a force to contend in the North— not to fetch votes but to get the people to ask pertinent questions.

    Successful public protests by the affected Tamil public has thus far been free of explicit political party identity. That does not make some people too happy.

    • 2
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      You people want sinhala people to know what happened. Instead, why you don’t talk about what you Tamils – LTTE are Tamils, LTTE sympathisizers are Tamils – did to other sri lankans.

      If you want to forget Tamil civilians that is fine as you were fghting for the separate country. but, Others did not fight for a separate country.

      Just acknowledge what you Tamils did to other people.

      Otherwise, your demands for reconciliation is just political crap.

  • 8
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    Why was a Sinhalese lion flag araised in the centre of Killinochchi town . During the Mullivaikal celebration The flag only had the so called Sinhalese only lion emblem and nothing else. The military that rules the north must be aware of this and sanctioned this .
    Tamil people are commemorating and remembering their dead. More than 70000 -143000 innocent Tamil civilians were deliberately targeted and killed, by the Sri Lankan government and armed forces., It is a sad day for the Tamils. To add insult to injury a Sinhalese Lion flag was raised at the centre of Killinochchi town . Why to poke fun of the Tamils and remind that they are now a subjugated people and the Sinhalese are their master and can do anything in their land?
    Why is the government and military keeping quiet? Are they behind this?

    • 0
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      RSs, You forgot to mention the 83,000 Muslims and the 72,000 Sinhala peasents killed by the Tamils during this period.

      Soma

      • 2
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        Stop lying as usual The LTTE chased out around 60000-75000 Muslims from the north for their spying activities for the Sri Lankan armed forces but never killed them. Killing raping looting is done by the Sinhalese and Muslims. It was the Muslims who were killing raping looting and ethnically cleansing thousands of Tamils who area the real owners of the east , with arms that were provided by the Sri Lankan special task force. In the south these same Muslims joined with Sinhalese thugs and took part in every anti Tamil pogrom and killed burnt looted and destroyed Tamils and their homes and businesses, Whom are trying to fool with your lies you racist woman. As the 72000 Sinhalese killed where did you get it from your A-se?
        More than 99% of the population affected and killed during this war were Tamils and 95% of them were innocent Tamil civilians who were deliberately targeted and killed by the Sri Lankan government and armed forces, on the pretext of fighting the LTTE and worst form of it happened in May 2009. Other than the northern Muslims who were not killed but chased out hardly any Sinhalese or Muslim was affected. Stop lying you racist woman and deliberately trying to belittle what happened to the Tamils by the Sinhalese state.

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          “…the LTTE chased out around 60000-75000 Muslims from the north for their spying activities for the Sri Lankan armed forces…” * * * * *
          Goebbels will bow his head before you, a great master of untruth.

          • 0
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            It was not for spying, it was to create a pure ethnic Tamil state. This is no different than the Nazis, who wished to create an Aryan superstate based on race laws. But what is also interesting is that the LTTE practiced full gender equality and did not subscribe to caste notions. Maybe this came from the Marxist leanings of Balasingham.

            • 1
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              Just like the Sinhalese state was and is still attempting to do , create a pure Sinhalese Buddhist state by killing looting raping and ethnically cleansing hundreds of thousands of Tamils from their lands in the north and east and settling and still settling hundreds of thousands of Sinhalese and at times Muslims in these areas. They have been successful in the east and have made the eastern Eelam Tamils who were a majority only a few decades ago a 40% minority in their own land,
              Destroying Hindu temple and Christian churches and building Buddha statues and Buddhist temples on these sites. Changing place names from Tamil to Sinhalese. Allowing extremist racist Buddhist monks to rampaging in Tamil areas and turning a blind eye to their activities.
              Proves who is following the racist Nazi policy the Sinhalese state not the Tamils. The Muslims in the north were only 75000 the most a drop or speck in a sea of Eelam Tamils and whether they stayed there or moved it would have not made any difference to the population, as they hardly had any impact.

            • 0
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              contd

              The LTTE never bothered with them until they were caught spying the ethnic cleansing ethnic cleansing activities by the Muslims home guards against the Tamils in the east( that is not Nazi activity to you ) .
              Nazis ethnically cleansed millions and the Sinhalese state and the Muslim home guards hundreds of thousands of Tamils, that is all fine to you.
              What the LTTE did was not correct but it was not motivated to create a pure Tamil state, as the Muslim population was so small and would not have any impact and moreover they also spoke Tamil. It was more paronia/security reasons and revenge for what happened in the east, as many of the eastern cadres of the LTTE like Karuna who were then very powerful insisted that the northern Muslims should be expelled ,as a good lesson , because of what happened to the Tamils in the east, at the hands of the Muslim home guards.

            • 0
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              Lester ————————————————————————————————————“It was not for spying, it was to create a pure ethnic Tamil state. ” If that was the case, why did the LTTE grab every cents and Jewellery from Muslims allowing only Rs 200 for their onward journey into misery?

              Do you think the Sinhalese perpetrated various riots against minorities say from 1915 in order to create a pure Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto? The public racist Anagarika too believed in Pure Aryan Sinhala/Buddhist race. ——————————-

              “But what is also interesting is that the LTTE practiced full gender equality and did not subscribe to caste notions. Maybe this came from the Marxist leanings of Balasingham.” ———————————————————————————————-

              By the way Balasingam was only a translator. The Gender equality did not come from Marxist learning, it came from necessity. By early 1990 VP realised there was a man power shortage, because the VVT stock was dwindling very fast. He went onto recruit female cadres and child soldiers. LTTE was not the pioneer in recruiting female cadres it was Dayan’s much loved Socialists EPRLF which had fighting female cadres as early as 1985. VP had utter condemnation for the “Red Party EPRLF” and did not view female cadres of EPRLF with respect. VP made use of caste differences when it suited the interests of LTTE. —————————————————————————————————————–For VP the psychopath whatever he pronounced or did were Marxism, Nationalism, Socialism, Militarism, Democracy, Utilitarianism, Egalitarianism, —— Patriotism, …. all at the same time and his former b***s carriers and aspiring ones did and do believe in all those nonsense.

          • 0
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            SJ, You seem to be certain that it was not for colluding with the armed forces. Why then? What really happened? Why not let the truth out, you knowledgeable man!

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              What Thappu says is romba thappu.* * * *
              Produce the evidence for collusion.* * * *
              Even the LTTE did not dare.* * * *
              They did something stupid and meekly retreated in 2002, but never had the decency to apologize.* * * *
              It is the chorus caught in a time warp that repeats the old line.

              • 0
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                When you slam someone saying, ‘a great master of untruth’ it becomes incumbent on you to reveal ‘the truth’. When challenged, you try to hide behind, ‘evidence’. You could have asked for evidence, before slamming, don’t you! Common sense leads to what you call circumstantial evidence.

            • 0
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              Thappu these Muslims have always backstabbed the Tamils and colluded with the Sinhalese to discriminate the Tamils for minor benefits for their community. They are Tamil by heritage but still deny this and this even makes it worse. They did collude with the Sinhalese armed forces in the north and were spying for them.
              Muslims like SJ will keep on denying this ,as they want to play the victim card. However all Muslims including this SJ are very quiet about what the Muslim home guards did to the Tamils in the east . They killed and chased our thousands of Tamils in the east and are still not allowing them to return to their lands or homes and illegally occupying them.
              Other than the very small minority of 60000 northern Muslims , the rest of the Muslim population in the island immensely benefitted from this conflict and reality do not want the Sinhalese or Tamils in the island to reconcile, as they fear they will be left out and will loose their advantage of playing one side over the other.

            • 0
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              contd

              They do not realise that the Eelam Tamils are indigenous community that had occupied the north and east of the island for more than 2000 years and ruled their land.. They are an immigrant community that migrated from South India a few centuries ago, largely fleeing poverty and persecution and found refuge amongst the Eelam Tamil first along the north western Puttalam/.Mannar coast part of the former Tamil kingdom of Jaffna. Then when the Jaffna kingdom fell to the Portuguese and they started to persecute them, the Sinhalese refused to give them refuge and again at the request of King Senarath of Kandy ,it was the eastern Eelam Tamil chiefs who came to their rescue again. A few hundred half caste Arab/Tamils living along the western coast do not count, as these people are not the core population or the ancestors of 95% of the Sri Lankan Muslims.
              They get everything from the Tamils and will never acknowledge this and still want to steal more from them.
              They have no history of ruling or occupying any part of the island at any time and were even barred from owning lands until the late 19th century as they were considered outsiders. Now they are trying to equate their community with the ancient indigenous Eelam Tamil community and demand huge chunks of their land.

          • 2
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            Really! prove it. Muslims were caught spying for the Sinhalese armed forces and they are still up to their tricks in Mannar , trying Islamise a district that has always had a Tamil majority and historically Tamil, by showing a ruined mosque and bringing out of area Muslims.
            60000 Muslims were chased out of the entire North and 200000 are claiming to be settled in Mannar alone, whom are you people trying to fool? With natural increases and deaths the population would have only increased to 80000-82000 the most. So where is this 200000 coming from. Proves what the LTTE was correct. Muslims are backstabbers and cannot be trusted. They wait for an opportunity or a situation to take advantage and in the island it has always been detrimental to the Tamils. They Try to destroy their fellow non Muslim Tamils in the name of Islam and a fake Arab origin, They do it as they can get away with it with a racist Sinhalese government that wants to divide and rule backing them. It is you who are the Goebbels and will put his to shame not me. As usual like a typical Muslims you are very quiet about the atrocities committed by the Sinhala state Sponsored Muslim home guards to Tamil population in the east and what the Muslims did to the Tamil in the south. Who is the Goebbels trying to twist the truth me or you?

      • 2
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        Soma ,
        Where did you get your 70,000 Sinhalese killed figure? Only about 2500 Sinhala civilians were killed. 26000 Soldiers and police were killed, not civilians.

        • 0
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          Sinhalese civilians WERE KILLED by the LTTE, but in much less number than Tamils killed by them.

      • 1
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        सोमस जी (somass ji)
        नमस्ते जी(Namaste Ji) ———————————————————————————————-
        “You forgot to mention the 83,000 Muslims and the 72,000 Sinhala peasents killed by the Tamils during this period.” ———————————————————————————- When and where did the mass funeral take place? Care to provide the details of the victims. You don’t mean the period was from 1987 to 1990. ——————————————धन्यवाद! सोमस जी (Thanks somass ji)

  • 1
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    Here a judicial decision is based on politics. Stupid judge.

  • 3
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    When you have a state that has put little or no value on the lives of its minority citizens as Sri Lanka as done with Tamils since Independence, a mere change of government will make no difference. The inherent thinking of the state has to change and right now, there is no scope for that.

    • 3
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      Richard Kaz ————–“a mere change of government will make no difference.” ———————— The state does not benefit the majority either. The state is not fit for the purpose hence a fundamental restructuring is overdue. ——– What were the founding ideals of independent island? —– Anti hard working people, a fascistic theocracy clamouring for more power, or an active kleptocracy, ……………. Please revisit the violent history of this island from April 1971. The civil service is supposed to make life easy for the people protect the country’s wealth and resources. Instead it help the crooks to get away with murder. It has become a serious burden on ordinary people. People do not seem to demand the best service, they are too timid and scared. These men and woman along with political crooks believe in freedom, freedom to commit crime financial or otherwise, waste public time, aid and abet all sorts of crimes, ……………………… There has been a long term decline of all form of moral, social political responsibilities. Unless this state is completely restructured there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

    • 2
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      Richard Kaz

      Elaborate! In what way our State “has put little or no value on the lives of its minority citizens as Sri Lanka as done with Tamils since Independence”?

      • 0
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        Champa ————————————— Please go away and come back in 10 years time with the same stupid questions because you think you are asking smart questions. Go ask your fellow stupid bigots who may be able to give you what you want.

        • 1
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          Native Vedda———– C’mon, I asked a simple question which you and Kaz both evaded.——- Liars.

          • 0
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            Champa,
            Just compare the treatment of Wijeweera’s family with the treatment of Prabhakaran’s family. The answer is staring you in the face.

      • 0
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        Happy to reply your question, the Sri Lankan state has been slaughtering Tamils since the 1950s without a single person held accountable for the crimes. The one-sided violence against Tamils started two decades before the rise of the LTTE, everybody knows that. When you can murder with impunity as the state has, you have no value for human life.

  • 4
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    Speak nothing but good of the dead. One of the reasons that human beings are considered civilized is because they remember their dead.We are not animals. We must without any reservation allow the kith and kin of the war dead to commemorate their dearly departed . Prevention goes against Lord Buddhas teachings [ Nahiverana verana etc] our constitution has declared to promote and foster. Those who are against commemoration cannot be Buddhists.

  • 0
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    Tamils do not know how to be peaceful. Why can’t these people let victims of war rest in peace? Does it matter now whether they were terrorists or innocent civilians? Isn’t it a private matter for the families to settle these issues? Its so disrespectful to use these victims of war to push political agendas. They are all dead, and we can only hope that they will find peace now. They died solely because fanatics on both sides made the war.

    The graffiti on the natural stones is an intrusion into nature. It is nothing but vandalism.

    This is not about mourning the dead, but a political show in typical Tamil style and another demonstration of Tamil fanaticism. Disgusting.

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