Pitasanna Shanmugathas
This article is an attempt to clarify misunderstandings people have from an earlier article I wrote.
I have been vocal in criticizing both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government for committing egregious human rights violations. Both sides must be held accountable. Violence on both sides is unjustifiable.
The LTTE has committed egregious human rights abuses such as using civilians as human shields, killing political dissidents (such as Neelan Tiruchelvam and Rajini Thiranagama), forcibly conscripting children to fight, killing leaders of rival factions, the forcible expulsion of Muslims, among other egregious atrocities. As a member of the Tamil community, I am extremely critical of the actions committed by the LTTE because the main victims of their actions have been innocent Tamil civilians.
In no way or form have I ever whitewashed the human rights abuses committed by the LTTE. Prabhakaran, and the senior leadership, committed egregious human rights abuses and there must be accountability in this regard.
In addition, I have also published articles on Colombo Telegraph exposing the atrocious human rights violations committed by the LTTE: some of my articles are the following: The LTTE’s Forced Recruitment of Children, Sampanthan Calls for Human Rights Accountability (for both the LTTE and GOSL), I even wrote an article where I interviewed the TGTE leader and criticized him for refusing to apologize for crimes committed by the LTTE. In addition, I have also conducted interviews with several individuals such as Erik Solheim, Bob Rae, Jo Becker (Human Rights Watch), Rohan Gunaratna, Samapanthan, Thulasi Muttulingam (aid worker stationed in the North) among other individuals who speak about crimes committed by both the LTTE and Sri Lankan government.
It must also be recognized that along with the LTTE, the Sri Lankan government has committed egregious human rights abuses. The Sri Lankan government during the final stages of the war, according to the UN among other credible agencies, used cluster bombs, shelled hospitals, and violated Geneva Conventions by killing those who surrendered during the final stages of the war. In addition, the Sri Lankan government has killed journalists such as Lasantha Wickrematunge, killed politicians, and indefinitely detains individuals under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, militarily occupies land in the North, among other egregious human rights violations.
Both sides must be held to account for egregious and inexcusable human rights abuses. This has always been my position. I have never moved away from this position.
However, we must recognize that the use of term “terrorism” is a political tool. I will now expand on why this is so in hopes to clarify doubts and accusations expressed by Laksiri Fernando among other individuals who have clearly misunderstood what I wrote.
If you want to apply the anti-terrorism laws as they are to be intended, then both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE are terrorist entities. The LTTE is a terrorist organization for forcibly recruiting children to fight, killing political dissidents, forcibly expelling Muslims, using civilians as human shields among other violations. However, it should be acknowledged that, even as late as the 1990s, the Sri Lankan government was noted by Amnesty International among other agencies as being one of the most notorious nations to conduct the largest number of enforced disappearances. In addition, shouldn’t the former President of Sri Lanka Mr. Premadasa be regarded as a terrorist for providing weapons to the LTTE so that the rebel group could attack the Indian Peacekeeping forces? During the final stages of the war, the Sri Lankan government also shelled hospitals and used cluster bombs as stated within UN reports. In addition, the Sri Lankan government is also accused of killing politicians. If you accept, then, that actions committed by both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE fall under terrorism, that would be a fair statement. But the use of the concept of terrorist is not even handed. Therefore, I do not call the Sri Lankan government a terrorist state and I do not call the LTTE a terrorist entity. But I work to focus on speaking out about crimes committed by both the LTTE and Sri Lankan government.
If we apply international law correctly, once a state or non-state actor violates the laws of war, they are regarded as terrorists. However, quite often, it is non-state actors who are labeled as terrorists despite the fact that state actors have committed egregious acts where the state actors, if international anti-terrorism laws applied, would be categorized as terrorist states.
However, I have never called the Sri Lankan government, despite its egregious human rights violations, a terrorist state and I refuse to do so.
In fact, as it pertains to the usage of the concept of terrorism, I hold the similar position as my political hero; Neelan Tiruchelvam.
Neelan Tiruchevlam, speaking in the Sri Lankan Parliament on March 1, 1999 as it pertains to the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing, said the following: “Firstly, while the Convention is directed towards the methods, practices and acts of violence of non-state actors, it should be noted that similar consequences to civilians have resulted from the action of states and activities of the military forces of states….The rule of law cannot be upheld if impunity is accorded to violations by state actors, while more vigorous measures are effected to deal with violations by non-state actors.”
Thus, Dr.Tiruchelvam is stating that the label of terrorist is unequally used to discipline non-state actors while giving state actors impunity.
In reality, both the LTTE and Sri Lankan government must be held to account for egregious human rights abuses. But to label it as “terrorist” is unjust because the concept is a political tool where it mainly applies to non-state actors whereas it does not apply to state actors despite the fact that state actors have committed violations of international anti-terrorism laws.
In addition, I do not justify the killing of any politician such as Rajiv Gandhi or Lakshman Kadirgamar. These are egregious acts and they are inexcusable. Rajiv Gandhi is a man who put forth a constitutional reform package as a method to solve the ethnic conflict. He was senselessly and unjustifiably killed by the LTTE.
Prabhakaran did not have any understanding of politics; this was stated by Anton Balasingham in Mark Salter’s book, To End a Civil War. If Prabhakaran did have an understanding of politics, he would not have killed Rajiv Gandhi. Prabhakaran, in addition, would not have killed Neelan Tiruchelvam. Both individuals put forth constitutional reforms as a solution to the ethnic conflict. Balasingham even had verbal fights with Prabhakaran where Balasingham expressed frustration towards Prabhakaran for his narrow views—as stated by Erik Solheim.
Prabhakaran was an uneducated man who did not understand the value of federalism. The framework of the Norway-brokered peace talks, which both GOSL and LTTE agreed to, was that the ethnic conflict would be solved through a federal solution. This was a contract signed by both the LTTE and GOSL to adhere to solving the conflict under a federal solution.
However, according to Erik Solheim, throughout the peace talks, no Western diplomat (aside from one or two occasions) or Sinhalese official ever spoke directly with Prabhakaran.
Consequently, Erik Solheim states, this caused Prabhakaran to have a narrow view of the peace process. This was a mistake since Prabhakaran was the sole decision maker of the LTTE’s actions. As a result, there should have been direct negotiations with the LTTE leader as it was the best chance to get the LTTE to agree to a federal solution. The ban on the LTTE further exacerbated tensions because Western diplomats and the Sri Lankan government began to disengage from conducting negotiations with the LTTE delegation. This caused Prabhakaran to feel increasingly isolated and consequently he unleashed an all-out assault on the Sri Lankan population which contributed to the deaths of more than 40,000 people in the final stages of the war. In order to have prevented Prabhakaran from conducting an all-out assault and contributing to the deaths of 40,000 people, in retrospect, direct negotiations with the rebel leader needed to have taken place. This was something that did not happen as stated by Bob Rae and Erik Solheim (two individual who played a key role during the peace talks.) And it is to this extent, as well, that the proscription of the LTTE as a terror organization was a mistake. It was a mistake as it resulted in Prabhakaran feeling increasingly isolated, contributing to his narrow vision for separatism, and the lack of directly engaging with Prabhakaran resulted in his contribution to killing more than 40,000 civilians. This in no way, shape, or form excuses the egregious actions committed by the LTTE. Both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government must be held accountable for egregious human rights abuses.
Naga / October 3, 2016
Pitasanna
You say “I have been vocal in criticizing both the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government for committing egregious human rights violations.”
But where were you when LTTE committed all those human rights violations?
You look very young and if you are Sri Lankan Tamil living in Sri Lanka at that time perhaps your parents might have sent you out of Sri Lanka to escape recruitment into Prabaharan’s baby brigade.
And strangely, except for the Jaffna University Teachers Human Rights Association, none of the politically correct Tamils like you never uttered a word about the human rights violations of LTTE at that time.
You are now giving a list of articles you say you contributed to in which you say you gallantly criticised LTTE.
If you really care, you should criticize all those pro-LTTE associations and organisations and the big personalities that control these organisations for contributing in many ways in financing LTTE’s war machine.
You are another politically correct arm chair critic living somewhere in a western country writing articles on accountability for human rights violations. Correct me if I am wrong and if you are presently living in Sri Lanka.
People like you become the tools of arch human rights violators like the United States and at times even funded by them in espousing the ideals of human rights.
But, human rights essay writers like you come to the scene of great tragedies only after the event.Take the cases of Ruwanda, Sudan,and Bosnia. Even in Sri Lanka, none of the big mouths who champion human rights acted on time to prevent the killings of over 40,000 Tamil civilians (this is only the UN figure but unofficial figures may be double or treble).
You are saying that “Prabhakaran was an uneducated man who did not understand the value of federalism.”
However, though I hated him, the fact is that this man who you call uneducated, despite his dictatorial character, did give a voice to the Tamils and built up an army that challenged the Sinhala government.
Do not forget the fact that if not for Prabaharan the Sinhalese would not have even admitted there was a Tamil problem and Sinhala leaders like Chandrika and Ranil would not have come forward to address the problem.
You say that all sides should be held accountable. It is a great statement. But, who will make Sri Lankan government accountable. UN Human Rights Council has repeatedly demonstrated that it is a tool in the hands of the United States and its western allies. This is clearly evident in the case of Sri Lanka. When Washington was against Mahinda Government it went ballistic and got resolutions passed against the Sri Lankan government calling for international investigations. Now that they have their people in power in Colombo, the United States is foot-dragging. There will never be international judges inquiring into war crimes and other human rights violations.
This is the reality young man.
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Amarasiri / October 3, 2016
Pitasanna Shanmugathas
RE: Terrorism: All Sides Must Be Held Accountable!
Yes.
Terrorism by the Para-Sinhala and the Para-Tamils must be held accountable.
What about War Crimes such as Ethnic Cleansing by LTTE?
The Paras, the curse of the Land of Native Veddah Aethho. Can the Paras be shipped back to India, Hindia, Baharat, Damba-Diva, their homeland?
Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations
Journal of Human Genetics (2014) 59, 28–36; doi:10.1038/jhg.2013.112; published online 7 November 2013
Through a comparison with the mtDNA HVS-1 and part of HVS-2 of Indian database, both Tamils and Sinhalese clusters were affiliated with Indian subcontinent populations than Vedda people who are believed to be the native population of the island of Sri Lanka.
http://www.nature.com/jhg/journal/v59/n1/full/jhg2013112a.html
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Shiva / October 4, 2016
Pitasanna’s view is that all war crimes, human rights abuses and each and every crime by all sides, Government, LTTE, all para groups must be investigated and that is the view of the Global Tamil Diaspora as well.
But one thing that all should know that due to the failures of successive Sri Lankan regimes, use of state forces to commit atrocities against Tamils, highly politicized action against Tamils, state sponsored mass discrimination policies, state terrorism only led the Tamil youth to take up arms with the help, assistance of India under global famous leaders, Indra Gandhi and MGR. It was a freedom struggle due to failures of Sinhala Buddhist state and Monks.
Tamils doubt any peace with the Sinhalese due to their deceptive nature politics and Eelam is the best solution for peace and stability to put an end to chauvinistic madness.
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nimal fernando / October 4, 2016
“LTTE committed all those human rights violations”
Sure, the LTTE committed unspeakable atrocities just as the SL forces and the IPKF. Let’s be adult here and face the truth.
But people see only the history/facts they want to see!
Prabakaran and the LTTE fought SL’s war that SL could not fight with India. If not, today, North and East SL will be under India’s control. This, no analyst/writer/historian/politician/”professor” …… sees to analyse honestly. That’s the reason the plebeians out here have no respect for “analysts” because all they do is go on ego trips to display their Oxbridge/Ivy-league language skills! The good old cultural cringe.
The LTTE threat was always temporary – the natural/violent lifespan of Prabakaran. The Indian threat is permanent.
With or without Prabakaran there would have been a “Tamil insurgency” because India wanted it! The Sinhalese can thank their lucky stars that there was a Prabakaran to fight the Indians.
If not, imagine what would have happened with the North-East Provincial government under Perumal with a “Tamil army/fighting-force” that the Indians were trying to establish for him. Just Listen to Major Kamal Guneratne.
Truth is the hardest thing to face.
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malik / October 3, 2016
Do Also fail to mention and use the actual word such as the LTTE killing of Civilians, And Also Military Personal of the Armed Forces who were NOT on COMBAT DUTY.(same as surrendering LTTE Caders who laid arms down), or Military Prisoners of war of the Armed Forces (as the LTTE use to say they fought to the last) when inquired. Bombing hospitals is a crime, but also using a hospital to launch attacks is also a crime as we saw this LTTE tactic since the days of the IPKF. Shame you have not mentioned the Murder of laxman kadirgamar by the LTTE, Why was he Killed?
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Saro / October 3, 2016
Malik,
“Shame you have not mentioned the Murder of laxman kadirgamar by the LTTE, Why was he Killed? “
How certain are you about your this accusation without any shred of evidence? Jut because the police, the previous regime and military intelligence claimed as such does NOT mean they are not responsible for this murder and many other thousands. The misadventures of the previous regime and the so called law enforcement establishment comes to light little by little and the culprits of this murder, too, will be out one day.
Have you ever thought why this case has never been brought to courts or the evidences gathered so far has not been published. Most people know that Kadirkamar was killed to deny him the premiership and promote a fraudster and his family to the highest job. This will become obvious when an independent investigation is undertaken and the report published.
You must also understand why people are scared of independent and unbiased investigations of accusations of human rights violations, war crimes and genocide? Only reason can be that they have got blood in their hands.
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rajash / October 3, 2016
Malik
sorry mate laxman kadirgamar was killed not by LTTE but by an insider in his own party
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Taraki / October 3, 2016
Was it you? You people try to wash the LTTE clean but the blood won’t come off mate.
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Rajash / October 3, 2016
This is not my pigment of imagination or to wash the LTTE clean.I quote from an article By W.A. Sunil and K. Ratnayake.
“…In other words, Kadirgamar was not killed with a specialist rifle but with an automatic weapon of the type used by the Sri Lankan armed forces …”
“…The unanswered questions all point in one direction. If those in charge of Kadirgamar’s security were not bungling amateurs then the minister could well have been the victim of a high-level plot involving the military or police….”
here is the link to the full article:
http://www.countercurrents.org/sl-ratnayake260805.htm
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Rajash / October 4, 2016
Rajash my imposter needs to brush up his English by taking some tuition.What the hell does he mean by ” pigment” of imagination when it should be figment of imagination.This monumental error is impossible to be termed a typo since the P key is nowhere near the F key.What school has he been to?Certainly not a leading one.
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Rajash / October 4, 2016
Imposter Rajash “This monumental error is impossible to be termed a typo since the P key is nowhere near the F key”
this is a monumental error? has CT website crashed …
…and this guy admits he really checked where the P key is and F key is on the keyboard.
what a plonker
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Taraki / October 4, 2016
Astonishingly I have to agree with ‘Blue’ Rajash. I think you meant flonker.
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Rajash / October 4, 2016
Taraki
Thanks
I can now get around the censorship
puck off you and your pucking blue Rajash
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Native Vedda / October 3, 2016
Taraki
“Was it you?”
It could be your father, uncle, grandpa, son, nephew, son in law, brother in law, ……
Has the police closed the murder file? If it has, on what basis and evidence? Did the police really catch the murderer(s)?
Remember the murder took place in a high-security zone.
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malik / October 7, 2016
@ Rajash and Sareo
‘sorry mate laxman kadirgamar was killed not by LTTE’
THIS IS NOT MY CLAIM. BUT A FACT YOU GUYS MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN. SCOTLAND-YARD DETECTIVES WERE BROUGHT TO SRI LANKA FROM THE UK TO INVESTIGATE. AND THEIR FINDINGS WERE PUBLISHED. AND THE EU ALSO AGREED WITH THESE FINDINGS. ALL POINTED TO LTTE.
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Rajash / October 7, 2016
“AND THE EU ALSO AGREED WITH THESE FINDINGS. ALL POINTED TO LTTE. “
Explains why UK voted to leave the EU.
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malik / October 8, 2016
@ Rajash
‘Explains why UK voted to leave the EU’
IT WAS THE UK police who investigated this Crime.
During the premadasa era when he was accused of killing athulathmudali Scotland yard was came to SL to investigate and they came to the conclusion after their investigation it was the LTTE who killed him the sane with gamani.
If it barks and sounds like a dog and walks like a dog then it is a dog. simple as the saying goes.
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old codger / October 3, 2016
Malik,
Really, you should get used to READING the article before you criticize.
This is what P.S says:”In addition, I do not justify the killing of any politician such as Rajiv Gandhi or Lakshman Kadirgamar. These are egregious acts and they are inexcusable. Rajiv Gandhi is”
As Saro says,why be afraid of investigations unless you have blood on your hands?
What P.S. is saying is that NOBODY is innocent of terrorism.
No commentator has so far explained why Wijeweera and Premadasa are not termed terrorists.
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KA Sumanasekera / October 3, 2016
Good one mate..
Surely you must have seen the Bedouin Prince’s start up date to start digging for War Crimes and Disappearances specified in Mangalan’s agreement on behalf of the boss Batalanada Ranil….
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Rajash / October 3, 2016
you are already becoming like Izeth.
writing article and then follow up articles to clarify previous articles.
so get your facts before you put “pen to paper” as the old idiom says.
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nimal fernando / October 3, 2016
All the killings, all the SL “terrorisms” are oh so old fashioned. Pure 20th century!
Now it’s the 21st century; modern times.
With all its faults “Yahapalanaya” is heading in the right direction. It’s everyone’s duty to give a helping hand; the opportunity will not present itself again.
Happy days are here again.
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Richard Kaz / October 4, 2016
The slaughter of thousands of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan military occurred in 2009, not so “old fashioned” is it?
It is because the Sri Lankan state was free to commit terrorist acts against Tamils in the 20th century with impunity that the slaughter of 2009 occurred.
“Yahapalanaya” was put into place to save the Sinhalese and Muslims from the brutality of the Rajapkasa regime. Little has changed for the Tamils.
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Taraki / October 5, 2016
That is the nature of the Sri Lankan state. Remember 1971 and 1985/6 when tens of thousands of Sinhalese were murdered? It is no different, except that Tamils bring race into it.
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Dim _Sum / October 4, 2016
Negroid Sink_A_lam Pukmal Fido,
Hyena Stalker, so those are your `sensitivities and sensibilities` to move house.
How can Murderous Mice have a house warming party??
Anthropologists recognize: Ethnographic ( these are subjects we have discussed on CT with the intelligent and appropriately educated couple or 2 from around 40 posters -unlike guys with quackola qualifications -who write Dr prefix.
you have non but a kuddu vendor?? you keep stalking and behave like a chameleon)
Negroid races (African, Hottentots, Melanesians/Papua, “Negrito”, Australian Aborigine, Dravidians, Sinhalese)
Get yourself a life- knowledge base;
In the history of Olympics Negroids have never won gold at swimming though they live by the sea. Fact of life- (Human Engineering/Ergonomics)
Have you ever thought why Bowling the kid won??
Asians have not won gold at olympics track event.
Beijing the Chinese wanna be twisted his ankle when he saw the great Cuban who won it with ease.
(From your description: Isn’t your family name borrowed from Catholic Portuguese Goeses Fishermen?)
in your lifetime on CT you have never answered one question- slippery with slippers made of banana peel- Panditaya Pinguttharaya,
GO GET A LIFE= Wisdom=Buddhism Om Mani Pemi Hung Go hang you hanky panky!
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Taraki / October 5, 2016
What a moron!
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Dim _Sum / October 9, 2016
Baldi Brothel Sprout animal with blood and gore
You lost your marbles in the harem at Turkey.SoB.
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just saying / October 3, 2016
The young man – or is it just the picture ? – is backpedaling so hard, he might fall of the precipice.
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Pitasanna Shanmugathas / October 3, 2016
I have not backtracked at all. I have only expanded on my initial position that the concept of “terrorist” is a political tool where non-state actors are labelled as terrorist whereas terrorist actions of state actors are disregarded.
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Just saying / October 4, 2016
You ARE backpedaling – you list out an array of unacceptable atrocities that were unique to the LTTE, yet try to share blame equally.
The government was doing what it is supposed to do – safeguarding the unitary state. You cannot honestly believe that this small island should function as two states?
Countless efforts to reach a compromise were abused by the LTTE – and you know what? i am so relieved they did not work out and the total eradication of such vermin was by far the better option.
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Pitasanna Shanmugathas / October 4, 2016
The definition of backtracking means that you are contradicting something you said previously. I am doing no such thing. I am being fair and principled. It is without question that both the LTTE and Sri Lankan government committed egregious human rights abuses. I correctly point that out.
There are laws of war which all state and non-state actors are expected to abide by. Once you violate the laws of war by shelling hospitals, as in the case with the Sri Lankan government, or using civilians as human shields as in the case of the LTTE… you are a terrorist entity. If we apply anti-terrorism laws.. we easily find that both the LTTE and Sri Lankan government are terrorist entities. However, I refuse to call the Sri Lankan government, despite its egregious human rights abuses, a terrorist state. I equally apply the same principle to the LTTE.. the term terrorism is a political tool. What should be acknowledge is that both parties should be held to account. I have always held this principle… never deviated from it.
Countless efforts were made to reach a compromise and they were abused by the LTTE but ALSO abused by the Sri Lankan government. Take the Indo-Lanka accord, the Sri Lankan government AND the LTTE felt coerced by India to accept the Indo-Lanka accord. Subsequently, Premadasa was providing weapons to the LTTE in order to kill the Indian peacekeeping forces. Subsequently, the Indian Peacekeeping forces withdrew. Take the GL-Neelan package, when it was released, it was condemned by Sinhalese hardliners as giving the LTTE too many rights AND it was also condemned by the LTTE (who did not even read the proposal). The GOSL was not able to gain a majority in Parliament to gain support for the GL-Neelan package. Subsequently, Chandrika watered down the proposal to the extent that it was completely useless. The watering down of the GL-Neelan package angered Neelan Tiruchelvam to a great extent. We then see how the lack of reaching a concrete federal solution during the 2002 talks was because of constant fighting and lack of unity between the SLFP and UNP but also because of the lack of direct negotiation with Prabhakaran on the part of the Norwegian delegation and the Sinhalese delegation.
Both sides are at fault for a lack of compromise. By proscribing the LTTE as a terrorist organization, it exacerbated tensions as the Western delegation stopped engaging with the LTTE. This caused Prabhakaran to feel increasingly isolated and he lashed out by conducting an all out assault against the Sri Lankan population and contributing to the deaths of 40,000 civilians during the final stage of the war.
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Zorro / October 5, 2016
“Violence on both sides is unjustifiable.”
violence is inbuilt into ltte.
Broker for LTTE terror unit of past still alive at Canada and USA.
You were told to evade and you still evade- I am an outsider So you will not go far with your bull shit- you and your friends have been on protest to remove the ban from the time LK was shot- it’s all over the web.
“””Recognise the LTTE as the only representatives of the Tamil people and de-proscribe the organisation.””—This is what you displayed at Geneva.
Wash your socks porriki karaiyan than playing some expensive jack from clerical school.
I don’t believe the photo i see and your script anymore but see as another piece of tiger rump trying to open doors.
A suicide bomber woman nurse had this tattoo on her hand- we will fight to achieve our freedom and if we fail we will break to door to freedom- perhaps you got one on your bum.
When there are capable hands at lanka to negotiate why does Lanka need a new breed of tigers – your Usha (dancer girl who married into our friends family is a non entity- If the judge was alive she would not be allowed to associate with rump)
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Pitasanna Shanmugathas / October 5, 2016
The LTTE is certainly not the legitimate representative of the Tamil people. Prabhakaran was brutal in killing leaders of rival Tamil factions so he could become the undemocratic sole representative of the Tamil people. If you look at the Vadukoddai resolution, no where in the resolution did it state that the LTTE was to be the sole representative of the Tamil people. It is without question that Prabhakaran was a dictator, stifled dissent from Tamils who challenged his views. As it pertains to removing the LTTE from the terror list.. I am indifferent o to the situation as the LTTE should not have been on the list in the first place because the word terrorism is a political tool. If you call the LTTE a terrorist, under international law this is correct, but also the Sri Lankan government under anti-terrorism laws would be considered a terrorist. If you are willing to apply the concept to both sides, then that would be a fair statement. But I refuse to call the Sri Lankan government a terrorist state and equally refuse to call the LTTE a terrorist organisation as the term of terrorist is a political tool used to punish non-state actors while giving state actors impunity for similar violations of anti-terrorist laws… this is the position of Neelan Tiruchelvam. It is a fair and prinicpled position. What is important is that Sri Lanka and the LTTE be held responsible for egregious human rights violations.
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Zorro / October 5, 2016
Have you heard of unfair trading partner and 9/11??
‘Time To Cool Down’ and await WW3.
Cooperation and Conflict- has been the game even after WW2.
India’s emergence as a software services provider alerted China to the … ‘dumping’ of Chinese goods in the Indian market and the use of unfair trade … By 2010, China emerged as India’s biggest trading partner, overtaking the United States.
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Rodny / October 3, 2016
Including India, original exporters of terrorrism to Sri Lanka
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ranjith / October 4, 2016
Rodny you were born under the rock yesterday.
Rat_watte SirMao the Monster Mouse wen’t on serenading with Dalit President Nasser Middle East first terrorist (he fathered Arafat in style).
Closure of Suez canal- The second closure occurred after the June 1967 War with Israel and lasted until 1975, when Egypt and Israel signed the second disengagement accord.(he got heart after signing when he knew he was wrong all along)
SirMao and Muslims have held us to ransom from then on.
You lift placard for PLO you are uneducated patholaya.
holding card for against 20k (Isaerel) for PLO and against 1million land lost to pakis..
rodiya, ge ledde.
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SinhalaPropaganda / October 4, 2016
“Including India, original exporters of terrorrism to Sri Lanka”
True, India has been aiding GoSL since the 90s to terrorize Tamil civilians. Don’t forget other terrorist states like Pakistan and Israel.
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Hypocritic / October 3, 2016
Height of Hypocrisy:
UK is charging Sri Lankan government for committing war crimes but trying hard to block a UN investigation on war crimes committed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Saudis are using bombs and arms manufactured in UK and USA in Yemen and has attacked hospitals killing civilians. Yet UK and USA keep on selling arms to Saudi Arabia. According to a recent report UK sold 3.3 Billion Pounds worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and gave 37 million pounds to Yemen as humanitarian aid. Profit sharing!
ISIS is considered as a terrorist group. However, US policy on ISIS vary from place to place. In Iraq, Mosul is under ISIS and Iraqi forces backed by US Army attacking ISIS to liberate the city from ISIS control. But in Syria when Russia attack ISIS, USA make a big hue and cry. Recently US led coalition launched an air strike against Syrian army fighting against ISIS in Alleppo and killed 62 soldiers and said it is a mistake. No apology given.
In USA, white policemen have killed 270 unarmed black people. Except in very few cases, policemen went free.
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old codger / October 3, 2016
Hypocritic,
List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, 2016 (listed: 106)
List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, 2015 (listed: 476)
List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, 2014 (listed: 630)
List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, 2013 (listed: 343)
Which year are you referring to ?The above include non-blacks too.
Anyway, there is no reason why we should take the US as an example of civilized behaviour. This is said to be a Buddhist country. Is our behaviour consistent with our own standards?
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Ajith / October 3, 2016
As a writer, Pitasanna has a right to write his opinion about designating “LTTE as a terrorist organization”. It is an absured question raised by one commentator “where were you when LTTE committed all those human rights violations?”. I respect your courage to tell your opinion and stand with your statement. Those who argue Pirabharan did not understand “Federalism” because he is not educated is incorrect. It is incorrect because he studied well the political tactics of Sinhala leadership and he strongly believed that it is not going to happen. I will challange any one who disagree with his decision to prove that Federalism will be implemented in Srilanka. There is no war today, no LTTE, No Pirabharan, No barriers from Tamil People and Tamil political leadership. The road is clear,Every one other than Pirabharan understand “Federalism”, Every one other than Pirabharan is educated, Why the delay? Tomorrow means Tomorrow!Today is Today!
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Saro / October 3, 2016
Ajith,
“Those who argue Pirabharan did not understand “Federalism” because he is not educated is incorrect. It is incorrect because he studied well the political tactics of Sinhala leadership and he strongly believed that it is not going to happen.”
You are right, an honest leader of Tamils worked hard for Federalism and when his efforts were foiled and met with organised communal riots he opted for separation. Pirabakaran knew well Federalism was not possible in Sri Lanka because that could only be worked out with the consent of the leaders of all the communities. Sinhala elitists except a few opposed it to maintain their supremacy and dominance over the minorities.
A president who said “everything is possible except separation” to Pirabakaran was lying or pretended to understand Federalism but goes on claiming now after losing his presidency that it will lead to separation. All his supporters also agree with him.
Only those who oppose Federalism in Sri Lanka do not understand what it is. It is a set up in civilised multi-ethnic or multi-religious countries to prevent separation.
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karikalan / October 4, 2016
You are right 100%, he was well-read person and he was right to the end because he knew from cradle that Srilankan state is racist and any kind of devolution will end in futile like previous agreements with Srilankan state ie Banda- Selva, Dudley- Selva.
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Hypocritic / October 3, 2016
Height of Hypocrisy:
UK is charging Sri Lankan government for committing war crimes but trying hard to block a UN investigation on war crimes committed by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Saudis are using bombs and arms manufactured in UK and USA in Yemen and has attacked hospitals killing civilians. Yet UK and USA keep on selling arms to Saudi Arabia. According to a recent report UK sold 3.3 Billion Pounds worth of arms to Saudi Arabia and gave 37 million pounds to Yemen as humanitarian aid. Profit sharing!
ISIS is considered as a terrorist group. However, US policy on ISIS vary from place to place. In Iraq, Mosul is under ISIS and Iraqi forces backed by US Army attacking ISIS to liberate the city from ISIS control. But in Syria when Russia attack ISIS, USA make a big hue and cry. Recently US led coalition launched an air strike against Syrian army fighting against ISIS in Alleppo and killed 62 soldiers and said it is a mistake. No apology given.
USA say they use drones to kill terrorists and in these attacks they have killed hundreds of innocent men. women and children. They kill in order to provide security to Americans. Does anyone call USA is a terrorist outfit. Even if someone says, USA does not care. Obama administration is responsible for killing innocent civilians using drones than previous administration. They are building a new base in Niger to operate drones.
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ranjith / October 3, 2016
In sinhala society this is called mutti culture. robbers before entering into house just insert a muttiya to check inhabitants situation inside.if muttiya get hammered robbers know situation is not good to loot that house and run away. if get caught on the way can say, came in search of medicinal herbal not to loot.likewise this writer is testing mindset of readers to launch big assault to white wash his heroes I feel..
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Shan / October 3, 2016
Unfortunately this writer too fell a prey to negative criticism. Most of the writers harp on the same string of LTTE’s so called wrong actions. When we must unitedly through democratic means voice for our rights, most of the writers on this side seeking recognition from other side safely back off.
In the realm of cats it is legitimate to catch, torture, persecute and even kill the rats, but it amounts to treason if the rats say something in protest.
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Sellam / October 3, 2016
I agree with you Pitasanna.
You would have read my comments on your previous article. However, it is very easy to write and comment on such issues , not only in Sri Lanka but the world at large. The people who took up arms against bad governments will justify their acts of criminality. But they do not understand the sufferings of the ordinary people who undergo such atrocities. It is the responsibility of governments to see that all its citizens are treated equally and fairly and meet the demands of the people whether they are in the majority or in the minority. Sri Lanka failed in that respect since the time it gained Independence with the help of the then Tamil leadership and thus the Sinhala government paved the way for the youngsters of the Tamil community to take up arms. There was no other way. But the LTTE and other Groups made several blunders during armed struggle. Initially the Tamil youth were fighting and killed each other to gain prominence and leadership. I am aware of many incidents during the initial stages where various groups of Tamil youths fighting each other killed many youths.
The present government was formed with the Tamil people voting overwhelmingly to President Sarsena. Almost two years have passed the minimum demands of the oppressed Tamils have not been met. When the Chief Minister of the Provincial Council raised the shortcomings at a rally, he was treated as a racist and a criminal by the hard line Sinhalese of the South. The majority Sinhalese think that the land of Sri Lanka belongs to them and them only. When it goes under the sea one day, what are they going to claim?
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karikalan / October 3, 2016
When it comes to justice in Lanka, Tamils and Sinhalese have differed 100%, Tamils should not fool themselves by expecting a peaceful devolution of power from elite ruling class in Colombo. Person like yourself should not waste your precious time arguing with these people. Ruling class is using ignorant sinhala populace for their political and economic end.
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jim softy / October 3, 2016
Pitasanna Shanmugathas
All Sides Must Be Held Accountable!
LTTE was a ruthless terrorist organization. They used women, innocent girls, girl children as suicide bombers. They used guns to attack aircraft against humans.
What do you think, were these soldiers robots who had only the capability and not hearts. What do you think, they are not concerned about their lives. In order to both parties be accountable, it has to be a conventional war. This was not a conventional war. In your last article, you were trying to prove that LTTE was a saint organization and was noterrorists. Remember, it is terrorists who kill civilians and LTTE did that thousand times. You journalsits are very partial and do not write the truth or what what is reasonsable. In the middle east, Afghanistan, Syria like places they blow up whole wedding parties because they can not separate the enemy from the civilian. Here in Sri lanka, you want soldiers to be Robots.
Erik solheim, Bob Rae were all working for western inteligence agencies.
Laksiri Fernando is another Christian who wants Sri lanka to be dismantled, He is probably an NGO too.
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Pitasanna Shanmugathas / October 3, 2016
I am saying the same thing here as I said in my last article. I never in my life called the LTTE a saint organization. In my last article, I said their actions were egregious, destructive, counterproductive and now Tamils are worse off than they ever were before the civil war. Many people did not bother to read my last article and instead just pushed baseless accusations against me which is why I am clarifying my views in this article. I have not backtracked at all. I have only expanded on my initial position that the concept of “terrorist” is a political tool where non-state actors are labelled as terrorist whereas terrorist actions of state actors are disregarded.
Once again, if you apply the international anti-terrorism laws you will find that the LTTE is a terrorist organization but also that the Sri Lankan government is a terrorist state. As articulated by NEELAN Tiruchelvam the anti-terrorism laws punishes non-state entities while giving states and the military virtually impunity. Therefore the concept of terrorism is a political tool
If you want to apply the anti-terrorism laws as they are to be intended, then both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE are terrorist entities. The LTTE is a terrorist organization for forcibly recruiting children to fight, killing political dissidents, forcibly expelling Muslims, using civilians as human shields among other violations. However, it should be acknowledged that, even as late as the 1990s, the Sri Lankan government was noted by Amnesty International among other agencies as being one of the most notorious nations to conduct the largest number of enforced disappearances. In addition, shouldn’t the former President of Sri Lanka Mr. Premadasa be regarded as a terrorist for providing weapons to the LTTE so that the rebel group could attack the Indian Peacekeeping forces? During the final stages of the war, the Sri Lankan government also shelled hospitals and used cluster bombs as stated within UN reports. In addition, the Sri Lankan government is also accused of killing politicians. If you accept, then, that actions committed by both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE fall under terrorism, that would be a fair statement. But the use of the concept of terrorist is not even handed. Therefore, I do not call the Sri Lankan government a terrorist state and I do not call the LTTE a terrorist entity
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arancha / October 4, 2016
“”Therefore, I do not call the Sri Lankan government a terrorist state and I do not call the LTTE a terrorist entity “”
seen before, tasted before, easier said than done!!
Kallathoni, Koviyar ,
evil in disguise with a time bomb at the heart of it all.
You’re talking cobblers!
there are only leopards in our beautiful island and we are happy that they don’t change their spots.
Too hot to hoot, Why do they call the person who cares for our monies a `broker`??
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arancha / October 4, 2016
jim softy hora oru,
The Usual Suspect!!
previous party of rakjapassa now mahabodhi sink-A-le.
In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty.
He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.- TJ
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Tamil from the north / October 5, 2016
Jim Shitty [Edited out]
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Zorro / October 3, 2016
“”The rule of law cannot be upheld if impunity is accorded to violations by state actors, while more vigorous measures are effected to deal with violations by non-state actors.”
Thus, Dr.Tiruchelvam is stating that the label of terrorist is unequally used to discipline non-state actors while giving state actors impunity.
“”
He,She & You, too, felt insulted again so your sense of modesty was injured and your honour was besmirched.
A half baked odiyal from `civil lawyer`, & jaffna village nutheads,
brutish force was enforced at police stations with a new breed of sub_inspectors/sergeants, from the south in the western province and hills arising from
(it was suppression of Indian Tamil Communities and restaurant business (vaddi vaddi sambhar `salli no, you poooya` and walk out hero-
Dosa kadde eating houses…Colombo Scene: Well, then he took the opponent by the neck and went outside and killed him, and then he came back and asked the crowd, Now am I right or wrong? And they echoed,. You are right! with a profound smile. Still not satisfied, he asked them, Am I good enough company for you now? And they shouted like a regular dosa kadde crowd Of course you are! But what modesty on the part of the killer!
That is Sinhala Buddhist civilisation in the year 1960… Saigon, Saigon.
SirMao commitment :
She led her party to win the July 1960 elections on the pledge to continue her husband’s policies, notably the “”Sinhala Only Act”, and to proceed with repatriation of the estate Tamils to India.
keep counting elephants until you get sleep short sight guides from clerical service at norther province – what was that `municipal council commissioner` cheap cheep chippers cheep.
get that flag to a museum than a muscleman – North Carolina!!
Never die for your beliefs as you may be wrong!!
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Lester / October 3, 2016
The only reason the West does not engage in the same level of combat brutality as the “poorer” Eastern nations is because of the vast difference in technology. When you can use GPS to monitor a target remotely, and then use a drone to take out that target, so-called “collateral damage” will be far less. That kind of accuracy is expensive, so it follows that countries like Sri Lanka will resort to brute force methods. Example; if there is an LTTE meeting, carpet bomb the immediate vicinity within a particular radius to minimize the possibility of the targets escaping. There is no other way to get the job done, so in some sense the use of these methods is justified. Let us also keep in mind, the foremost priority of the LTTE was its own survival, not the survival of Tamil civilians.
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old codger / October 4, 2016
Dear Lester,
” Example; if there is an LTTE meeting, carpet bomb the immediate vicinity within a particular radius to minimize the possibility of the targets escaping. There is no other way to get the job done”
So you really think this method is justified? How about if your own wife/ child/ relative/friend was in the vicinity? Would you still say the same? Or is your theory limited to minorities only? Be honest.
Why was the JVP not carpet-bombed?
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Lester / October 4, 2016
old codger:
War is the absence of diplomacy. In diplomacy, one tries to use bargaining chips to entice the other side to concede. To win a war, one side must either surrender or retreat. There are concessions involved, and that includes the (often extreme) loss of life. The other concession is territory. Every war in history has followed this pattern.
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retsel / October 5, 2016
Every war- Treaties have been made to stop the war but they have been broken in series by I_slam all humanity and all.
London blitzed – the giant never woke up until pearl harbor.
Russia with Japan -WW2
UK/US with Israel WW2
Then the Giant created the biggest partition of all – 1 million km² given away to Muslim the subcontinent (its that dream the world is in) and 60 km² to Buddhist Ceylon.
UK/US with Spain- Desert Storm 1 (Gibraltar to spain)
Lanka follows the same path- Service in Denial calling themselves Buddhist and holding placards for PLO against Israel- just 20,770 km².
Lankans boast of literacy – liars to the core.
No nation keeps its word. A nation is a big, blind worm, following what? Fate perhaps. (faith inspired folk)
A nation has no honour, it has no word to keep. … Hitler is himself the nation. That incidentally is why Hitler always has to talk so loud, even in private conversation — because he is speaking with 78 million voices.
During an interview with H. R. Knickerbocker (1939), quoted in A Life of Jung (2002) by Ronald Hayman, p. 360
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Sathyanadan / October 4, 2016
DO not forget how LTTE executed the 600 plus Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim policement who surrendered. It may have been MR’s buddy Karuna’s gang but nevertheless they were tiger terrorist douchebags who carried it out.
I am sad MR never raised that issue. No one knows where their bodies were disposed. Hacking to death of Sinhala villagers even as far back as 1984 all Tamils kept silent. Trying to blame Kadirgamar’s execution on others is a goddamn farce. Tigers did it because for them he was a traitor. I am glad the LTTE leadership was wiped out, erased, removed lock stock and barrel in 2009. Mangala and Ranil need to know this fact. While it is sad innocent civilians died, it was VVT smuggler turned freedom fighter turned paranoid fascist ruthless murderer who forced Tamils to become human shields. ipso facto
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Native Vedda / October 4, 2016
Sathyanadan
We in this forum know lot more about LTTE and the psychopath VP than you could articulate.
What is your point if there is one?
“I am sad MR never raised that issue.”
MR wouldn’t dare raise these issues because he owes VP for his rise to absolute power which helped his clan to amass wealth, commit crimes with impunity, violate all the laws in this land.
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karikalan / October 4, 2016
you are spewing your garbage because he was from lower caste and from VVT, I never heard VP engaged in smuggling for private gains. you people glorify State terror but rubbish someone who fought against state terror. you people are bootlickers of Sinhala masters
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thrishu / October 4, 2016
Never mind what he utters. He is too young to have experienced the atrocities of terrorists. In my book terrorists have only one reserved place, 6-ft under the earth. That is also the policy of all Western and Eastern governments, North or the South hemispheres. No need to talk to them;MR followed this principle and annihilated terrorists. Live and learn from the experience.
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Native Vedda / October 4, 2016
CT Readers
Here is a person who seems to entertain “homicidal ideation”, a potential serial killer, a psychopath in the making.
Is there a a psychiatrist in the house. We need you. This person is crying for help.
Could anyone help him/her/it?
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jim softy / October 4, 2016
Dumb NAtive Veddo:
YOu need psychiatric help, it is attention deficit disorder or you are taking Kudu when you read this.
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frankistine / October 4, 2016
jim softy,I plan to send you on a voyage with the abbot-
To Moon and Poya! Apollo is due to Launch early 2017 with 3D
printed engine on maiden voyage
“”YOu need psychiatric help, it is attention deficit disorder “”
Most of `follow up posters` keep repeating the above forgetting what you yourself are than answer the question put forth.
Carl Jung- Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.
No nation keeps its word. A nation is a big, blind worm, following what? Fate perhaps. A nation has no honour, it has no word to keep. … Hitler is himself the nation. That incidentally is why Hitler always has to talk so loud, even in private conversation — because he is speaking with 78 million voices.
Jim Softy, Why are you gossiping about others personality??
You would die before you are capable of thinking how vast ADHD is.
Usage notes
Used similarly to sympathy, interchangeably in looser usage. In stricter usage,empathy is stronger and more intimate, meaning that the subject understands and shares an emotion with the object – as in “I feel your pain” – while (term) is weaker and more distant – concern, but not shared emotion: “I care for you”.
Watch your original ancestor the `rilawa `(over 90% closest to human) to see empathy,and forbearance.(epic of Chinese Monkey meets the Buddha and follows the Abbot on his humble voyage)
Forgiveness, forbearance, and time:
The investigators proposed that transgression-related interpersonal motivations result from 3 psychological parameters: forbearance (abstinence from avoidance and revenge motivations, and maintenance of benevolence), trend forgiveness (reductions in avoidance and revenge, and increases in benevolence), and temporary forgiveness (transient reductions in avoidance and revenge, and transient increases in benevolence). In 2 studies, the investigators examined this 3-parameter model. Initial ratings of transgression severity and empathy were directly related to forbearance but not trend forgiveness. Initial responsibility attributions were inversely related to forbearance but directly related to trend forgiveness. When people experienced high empathy and low responsibility attributions, they also tended to experience temporary forgiveness. The distinctiveness of each of these 3 parameters underscores the importance of studying forgiveness temporally.
As nouns the difference between mercy and empathy
is that mercy is (uncountable) relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another while empathy is the intellectual identification of the thoughts, feelings, or state of another person.
mercy
English
(wikipedia)
Noun
• (uncountable) relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another
• (uncountable) forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
• (uncountable) A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion
• (countable) Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
• A blessing, something to be thankful for.
• (phrasal) Subjugation, power.
• *, title=(The Celebrity), chapter=1 , passage=The stories did not seem to me to touch life. […] They left me with the impression of a well-delivered stereopticon lecture, with characters about as life-like as the shadows on the screen, and whisking on and off, at the mercy of the operator.}}
Related terms
* merciless * merciful * mercy me * at the mercy of
External links
empathy
English
Noun
(wikipedia)
• the intellectual identification of the thoughts, feelings, or state of another person
• capacity to understand another person’s point of view or the result of such understanding
She had a lot of empathy for her neighbor; she knew what it was like to lose a parent too.
• (parapsychology, science fiction) a paranormal ability to psychically read another person’s emotions
Usage notes
Used similarly to sympathy, interchangeably in looser usage. In stricter usage,empathy is stronger and more intimate, meaning that the subject understands and shares an emotion with the object – as in “I feel your pain” – while (term) is weaker and more distant – concern, but not shared emotion: “I care for you”.
/
Dr. Vaithilingam / October 4, 2016
Young man you are like many Tamils who are on this forum nowadays; full of big talk. Not one of you, Sarvan, Hooles, etc etc dared to criticize the LTTE back when they were committing atrocities or refusing to surrender. When they were “?”neckalcing” Cyanide on brainwashed young girls via White Lady Adele terrorist scum Balasingham you were all mute or cheering on. When the blew up people you were cheering. When Premedasa was blown up you were thrilled. When CBK who has never hated Tamils was almost killed you were ecstatic. So we are still thrilled that VP was smashed literally and figuratively. Even that coward Jehan Perera and pretentious fool Paikyas were silent. NOT one of you had the balls to call the LTTE out for who they were; only Anandasangaree did so. So now you are all here on CT because VP and his family were wiped out and all the LTTE Black Tigers who were in combat(except the ones who escaped to the West and East) were erased you want to add your two Kroners worth to this topic. Can you show us your writings BEFORE 2009? Can the Tiger lover Kiruban or Father Emanuel the shameful Catholic priest who cheered and encourage suicide bombings show where they called for reconciliation and peace and no use of terrorism? How about Rudra the Lawyer Charlatan? Admit it. You are all here on CT because the “inferior Singalam” army wiped your arses in Puthukuduirripu and Nanthikadal in 2009. Now it is time to admit that you were all wrong and do not start wars again. I go to party in Ceylon from USA and I never went to Jaffna; I always partied in Colombo and Kandy even during the war.
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Native Vedda / October 4, 2016
Dr. Vaithilingam
“Not one of you, Sarvan, Hooles, etc etc dared to criticize the LTTE back when they were committing atrocities or refusing to surrender.”
Who is this person Hooles that you mentioned above? I never heard of him. Could you tell us all about him.
Am I confusing you for one Waidyaratne?
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Dr. with balls / October 5, 2016
Some paithiam like Waidyaratne vedamathaya has turned into Dr. Vaithilingam. Where were his balls when the LTTE was active?
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Native Vedda / October 5, 2016
Dr. with balls
“Where were his balls when the LTTE was active?”
Please ask his wife/partner or both of his hands.
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Dim _Sum / October 5, 2016
Dr. Vaithilingam has given an analogy of accounts to suit his taste buds which makes him a Fraud> Life is a Paradox,
Similar + Different = is life itself.
Not Crony Political Cowshit.
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karikalan / October 4, 2016
it would be better if you have avoided your prefix DR, Certain segments of Tamil populace in Srilanka felt that they were at receiving end of terror from Srilankan state thus they were cheering every time forces or handlers were killed, it can be foot soldiers or Generals or Srilankan politicians, all were soaked in Tamil blood.
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cat with 9 lives / October 4, 2016
“I go to party in Ceylon from USA and I never went to Jaffna; I always partied in Colombo and Kandy even during the war. “
your father was an assistant post master in a village at punnaku islet??
The less Dr Dead rats write more would hear.
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karikalan / October 4, 2016
Better to kill enemy before enemy kills you. Killing has been taking place since Mankind evolved from Ape to Human, it is not new to mankind to engage in warfare, Tamils were not defeated by Sinhala [Edited out] but Indian and American played huge part to defeat LTTE.
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jim softy / October 4, 2016
These people want to consider the world’s most ruthless terrorist group as a conventional army.
He is struggling to find the definition for Terrorists when LTTE killed even devotees in temples and mosques, killed civilinas in villages.
IS this brain washing or the writer needs education ?
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Tsylana / October 4, 2016
jim softy – Sink_A_lam,
How many games have you invented apart from Gudu??
English have invented the most number of games in the world.
One of the most difficult tasks men can perform, however much others may despise it, is the invention of good games and it cannot be done by men out of touch with their instinctive selves.
Jung and the Story of Our Time, Laurens van der Post (1977)
Aren’t the English Brits the wisest after riots??
Hardest thing to learn in life is
Which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn is
as hard as killing without authority.
Hey you Rat_watte Rajapassa Murderous Mice of Sri Lanka.
/
Common Sense / October 4, 2016
We need not write a thesis on Terror and Terrorism. Any ordinary man will tell you that anyone who practises terror tactics is a terrorist. We also need not go into the fact that the world all over is full of duplicity. Pots call the kettle black when both of them have the soot. To reduce acts of terrorism to egregious human rights violations is definitely white washing. The compulsion to take away the label of terrorism to substitue it egregious human rights violations is obvious. The motive is to remove any proscriptions. (Like Homicide not amounting to murder. When one is found guilty only for Homicide no capital punishment)
I am a man who felt the blast of the Central Bank bomb blast and sustained a few injuries. I KNOW TERRORISM FIRST HAND and that is not an egregious human rights violation.
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Zorro / October 4, 2016
“”I am a man who felt the blast of the Central Bank bomb blast and sustained a few injuries. I KNOW TERRORISM FIRST HAND and that is not an egregious human rights violation. “”–
Distressing consequences.!!
You keep on reminding me that `it’s your personal view` and some of it is doctored because you were in the wrong place wrong time.
I don’t write about 7/7 though I knew about it from paris socialist news 2 years before 9/11 And about all I missed the bomb by a whisker.
You must first learn what the the concept of Buddha is then go into Silenco! mode which I first learn’t from Catholic Missionary-
Silence is a prelude to Buddha- Abhayamudrā both hands doing the same.
Samsara , Samsara. Stop talking and listen Stupid sense.
When the Indians have goiven you Buddhism and the Chinese have borrowed it and glorified it- Lankan pinpaddie panditays have squandered it for wealth, fame and power.
Puddhu Sense idiot talking of dissertation which is beyond you quackola.
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Common Sense / October 4, 2016
All views expressed by all parties are personal unless quoted. I think if you are trying to trivialize ones injuries saying that I was on the wrong place at the wrong time, the same can be said of many who actually died of many a brutal bomb exploded which were aimed at civillian targets and THAT IS TERRORISM and not a human right violation.
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Zorro / October 5, 2016
“”All views expressed by all parties are personal unless quoted.”2
Depotaya, the smallest minority is the individual Why are you interfering in the minority rights??
Monster Mouse Terrorism is you first Burva Foot soldier.
Human rights are not for Murdering Mice in Devils Land.
drink more kassipu and take a shower than peddling Barrow loads of Hambag Tota Buffalo dung.
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Zorro / October 5, 2016
[Edited out]
/
Zorro / October 5, 2016
[Edited out]
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Shiva / October 6, 2016
The failure of successive Sri Lankan Sinhala dominated regimes, use of state machinery against Tamils, mass discrimination and state terrorism led the Tamil youth to take up arms with the help of India to achieve freedom and rights.
Sinhala leaders are responsible for all terror activities, crimes from the start that led to mass human sufferings.
/
jim softy / October 4, 2016
Terrorism: All Sides Must Be Held Accountable!
I say This Pitasanna guy is very dishinest.
With his title he says, both the LTTE and State are terrorists, and both sides should be responsible.
If you say, LTTE are terrorists, first Tamils should submit all the Terrorists, instigators and financiers of Terrosim to the Sri lankan courts once court mechainism is started.
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Priyantha / October 4, 2016
Shanmugathasan is a rare Tamil who admits that civilians were used as a human shield by the LTTE contributing to the deaths of many innocent civilians.
However he too mentions a casualty figure of 40,000 during the last stages of the war which is not substantiated, as in the case of many pro LTTE writers.
If a human shield comprising civilians was not used, the question of civilian deaths during the last stages of the war would not have arisen. Therefor the primary responsibility for deaths of civilians during the last stages, lies with the LTTE. Secondly with pro LTTE Tamil Politicians and the Tamil Diaspora for failing in their sacred duty towards innocent mothers , fathers, brothers, sisters and children who were held captive by the LTTE by pressurizing for their release. Western nations, especially US, UK and Norway too should admit frankly that they failed to impress upon LTTE that it is war crime and inhuman to use civilians as human shields.
We Cannot agree with the writer on the following points.
1. “Prabhakaran was an uneducated man who did not understand the value of federalism.”
Even if Prabhakaran understood the value of Federalism he had no choice but to continue arm struggle for the creation of a state of Ealam, the dream not only of Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora but also the expectation of Tamils living world over to have an independent nation.
2.” The ban on the LTTE further exacerbated tensions because Western diplomats and the Sri Lankan government began to disengage from conducting negotiations with the LTTE delegation. This caused Prabhakaran to feel increasingly isolated and consequently he unleashed an all-out assault on the Sri Lankan population which contributed to the deaths of more than 40,000 people in the final stages of the war.”
We need to ask the writer the type of negotiations taking place today between the Western Nations with Al- Qaeda, ISIS etc, terrorist organisations which were rated lower than the standing of LTTE by the US defense experts.
Further the ban on LTTE was affected due to its continued arrogance and stubornness and on realisation that it will not settle for anything short of Ealam, a seperate nation for Tamils, the first ever in the world.
Priyantha
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Native Vedda / October 5, 2016
Priyantha
“Shanmugathasan is a rare Tamil who admits that civilians were used as a human shield by the LTTE contributing to the deaths of many innocent civilians.”
1. Any sane minded Tamil wouldn’t dispute the fact that civilians were used as human shield by the LTTE.
2. Knowing full well tens of thousands of innocent people had been trapped in small area, the state and the armed forces could have avoided constantly shelling and bombing that particular area.
3. LTTE’s war machine has already been neutralised by then. What was the purpose of bombing and shelling where a large number of civilians had been herded into selective use of fire power.
4. If you are not satisfied with 40,000 death toll, why don’t you throw some verifiable numbers? Can you pick any of the following numbers you recognise being the correct number of civilian death:
150,000, 125,000, 100,000, 70,000, 40,000, 10,000, 7,000, 3,000, 2,000,1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 10, 5, 2, 1, 0, -1, -2, -5, -10, -50, -100, -200, -500, – 1,000, -2,000, -3,000, -7,000, – 10,000, -40,000, -70,000, -100,000, -125,000, -150,000.
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Dim _Sum / October 5, 2016
Native Vedda ,
Anyone for `bringing the dead back to life` is poor in spirit.
I dump a PC once its dead and this is recycled at china.
How does one mend a broken heart??
Detach and revel in your independence again yet stay attached.
“Great Monk, let me ask you: How can I attain liberation?” The Great Monk replied: “Who tied you up?” This old gardener answered: “Nobody tied me up.” The Great Monk said: “Then why do you seek liberation?”
Allow some fantasizing–In a famous psychological study from the 1980s, a group of subjects were told to think about anything but whatever they did, they were not supposed to think about a white bear. Guess what they all thought about? [A white bear.]
Laugh and Cry-And remember to love again… A new world!!
Flowering tree you have to requestion all the various insects that question as you have fallen off the bench mark of our times.
JP the rag tag was voted to bring in the bench mark. The rag tag ended with Auto urine therapy,(Gujarat sitting on pots of money)
Modi ,(Gujarat sitting on pots of money) was voted for same but you scream (faith and language) as you are disconnected from your benchmark.
Trump is being followed because he plans to take the spin away- back to bench mark when Roosevelt made America proud, rich and non-interfering but funding the weaker side to rise.
SL situation_ rats become bats so we see that in count Dracula with outstretched hands and that’s how the black gowns of lanka are sitting on stupid para peoples head.- can you imagine the picture from the day of SirMao the weeping widow Murdering Mouse- link with N.A Nations. Dracula Bats its infectious – fatwa.
When I met Ranil for the first time in my life he was invited by one of those people. Being what he is a Tao (fool all day and leave rest to the gods) I smiled and left quickly though he was minister at that time in the 80’s. There are others I have met king without clothes, by accident it only makes me smile at the stupid situation. Life is always being linked to the benchmark not faith, culture, linguistics etc then it’s possible to take on it as it comes like an albatross in flight gliding away.
“Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.”
– Chinese proverb- woodlands come to life around you.
The wandering albatross spends weeks, even months, at sea without ever returning to land. It rarely flaps its wings once air born – flying for free. Albatross has been using energy management for millennia. http://spectrum.ieee.org/aerospace/robotic-exploration/the-nearly-effortless-flight-of-the-albatross
Yours: Song of the south Indian laughing dove: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/S-senegalensis.ogg
Mine the Bard- Lark: Song of the Lark(Tchaikovsky)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjiQpI3S_qY
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SinhalaPropaganda / October 4, 2016
GoSL is not only guilty of “terrorism” (whatever that means) but also genocide! Everything the Sinhalese (not just the government but also ordinary civilians) have been doing to the Tamils since the country’s independence can be considered genocide: mass murder, massacres, pogroms, military repression of protests, mass rapes, looting, displacement, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, bombardments of civilian areas, assassinations of Tamil journalists and political leaders, destruction of economic and cultural bases of Tamils, land confiscation, state sponsored Sinhalese colonization, etc etc… Genocidal rhetoric from Sinhala-Buddhist nationalists (including political leaders) demonizing or dehumanizing the Tamils proves genocidal intent. Recurring state-sponsored anti-Tamil pogroms since the 50s prove genocide. The fact that barely any thug who has burned alive a Tamil or any Sinhala solider who has massacred Tamil civilians has been brought to justice further proves state complicity in genocide and war crimes.
___
“If This Is Not Genocide, Then What Is It?”
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lanka-if-this-is-not-genocide-then-what-is-it/
The protracted and ongoing genocide of Tamils has been happening in Sinhala Lanka in three ways: Discriminatory Laws, State aided Sinhala Colonisation and Pogroms and Massacres. See the three parts study published by the International Human Rights Association Bremen:
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Priyantha / October 6, 2016
Dear Native Vedda,
It is up to people who make the allegation of 40,000 deaths in the final stages of the war to prove their claim with facts and figures to substantiate the allegation.
Civilian human shield is a TRAP laid by the LTTE to put the blame on SL Army and get the their sympathizers on the west to intervene militarily or otherwise. 40,000 figure was considered a qualifying mark for such intervention.
I maintain that we would not have been discussing the topic of civilian deaths if LTTE did not maintain a human shield. LTTE’s cruelty to their own mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters were amply demonstrated in the video footage’s of Unmanned Arial Crafts which depicts how LTTE cadres shot at civilians to prevent them from reaching Government controlled areas.
Priyantha
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Native Vedda / October 6, 2016
Priyantha
“I maintain that we would not have been discussing the topic of civilian deaths if LTTE did not maintain a human shield.”
The human shields were used in the North as well as in the East by the armed forces through out the war since 1983. I suppose you must have had a secluded life since you were born.
I say to you that we would not have been discussing the topic of civilian deaths if the Kallathoni Tamils and Sinhalese didn’t arrive on this island from North South India.
I say to you that we would not have been discussing the topic of civilian deaths
if SWRD Banda didn’t do what he did,
If JR was being too racist and stupid at the same time
if Premadasa didn’t relied on VP to kick the IPKF out of this island,
if this were not stupid enough to elect the most racist crooks to the parliament
If you were not born
There are crooks outside CT, what are you going to do to bring them to justice?
“It is up to people who make the allegation of 40,000 deaths in the final stages of the war to prove their claim with facts and figures to substantiate the allegation.”
It is the responsibility of the state and the government to thoroughly investigate any allegation, well given the Bonanzas that judges received from MR’s pocket money it would be a hard task to find an impartial law officer in this island.
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Priyantha / October 8, 2016
Native Vedda,
You are now stepping totally out of the point. I Mean “40,000 civilian deaths at the final stages of War”
No further comments on my part unless Native Veddda could reveal any information relating to the list of such deaths compiled by an organisation, even with the names and place of deaths of half the number !
Priyantha
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