By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
The visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Countering Terrorism, Ben Emmerson QC, a British national, was newsworthy in the extreme. Firstly, it exposed the promise made by Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to appoint a Special Prosecutor. This promise is stated in the official statement issued by Emmerson, which is posted on the UN website, and was also read out by him at the media conference and seen and heard by anyone who watched the TV news a few days back. The relevant portion of the statement reads as follows:
“The Special Rapporteur was given a personal assurance by the Prime Minister that…the Government would…set up an Office of the Special Prosecutor to bring criminal charges against those involved in the most serious atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict.” (Source: UN Sri Lanka)
A great many pertinent questions arise here. Why a Special Prosecutor and who or what will he/she prosecute? The job description of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, as contained in Ben Emmerson’s written statement is “to bring criminal charges against those involved in the most serious atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict.” The wording of the written statement clearly presupposes that “serious atrocities” were committed by both sides, meaning by the Sri Lankan armed forces as well. As for “both sides”, since the Tigers are either dead, in self-exile, rehabilitated and released or (a handful) in jail, this means the only target that’s left standing is Sri Lankan military.
This was made absolutely transparent at his media briefing. Shamindra Ferdinando of The Island quotes him as follows:
‘Emmerson said: “…None of the measures so far adopted to fulfill Sri Lanka’s transitional justice commitments are adequate to ensure real progress and there is little evidence that perpetrators of war crimes committed by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces are being brought to justice.” (‘Implement Geneva resolution or face consequences’ – UN, The Island, July 15th 2017)
What is the case for a Special Prosecutor? Is it that there will be Special Laws, which are not on the statute books yet and were certainly not on the books at the time of the commission of the said acts? Is it that the Special Prosecutor will be outside the A-G’s Dept. or constitute a special annex of that department and if so why such a new architecture?
Why an “Office” of the Special Prosecutor rather than simply a designation, a new post? What makes a Special Prosecutor’s Office so “special”? Criminal charges are processed under normal law, by the Attorney-General’s Department. Why is that apparatus not good enough for the task at hand, especially since the A-G has apparently informed the UN Special Rapporteur that members of the armed forces who are guilty of serious offenses will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law?
Is it that the Special Prosecutor should be one who has not lived through the war in Sri Lanka and has risen through the Sri Lankan state system in the last thirty years? Is it that an expatriate stooge of Sri Lankan origin who was immune from the terror of the Thirty Years War and therefore does not know the existential reality we collectively experienced, is earmarked for the task and prosecute those who saved us all and may have made mistakes, even grievous ones, in the course of doing so? Is it that the “Office” of the Special Prosecutor will be the local arm or de facto local branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), staffed with brainwashed Sri Lankan NGO kids with law and human rights degrees from Western universities; a drone piloted from Geneva to hunt down combat heroes for war crimes trials?
The second most important aspect of the recent visit by the UN Special Rapporteur is that in his official statement posted on the UN website, he made shocking remarks that were completely outside the purview of any Special Rapporteur– and I should know because I served on the small committee of Ambassadors in Geneva which actually selected Special Rapporteurs from among applicants/nominees.
What is utterly appalling is that this UN Special Rapporteur thinks it is within his mandate to advocate, even propel “a new order in Sri Lanka”! He says in his written statement:
“There is still time to get this legislation right, and for it to become the cornerstone of a new order in Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken to consult with my team in Geneva within the next two weeks.” (UN Sri Lanka)
Whether he means a new legal order, political order, social order or any kind of order whatsoever, that is the exclusive preserve of the sovereign people and the democratic political institutions and processes of Sri Lanka. Perhaps as a UN Special Rapporteur he assumes that Sri Lanka is not a sovereign state but a UN protectorate!
His written statement goes on to say: “My plea to the Government and the people of Sri Lanka is to let these be the right steps, and not to allow the process to be diverted by retrograde elements in the security establishment and their allies in Government.” (UN Sri Lanka)
This is an open reference to the alignment of political forces in Sri Lanka, a sovereign state, and an attempt to intervene in support of one or other of the schools of thought that the Special Rapporteur sees within the Sri Lankan security forces and government. Obviously he perceives “retrograde elements in the security establishment and their allies in Government”. The Daily FT reports that at his media briefing he went on the record opining that the situation “reflects the continuing influence of certain vested interests in the security sector, who are resistant to change, and above all, to accountability.”
At his media briefing he said on the record that “We need now to be uniting behind the Government, all those within the Government who are committed to delivering peace”. Who on earth does he mean by “we”? The UN is an intergovernmental body, composed of sovereign states. No UN official or Special Procedures mandate holder can make an official comment calling for anyone to “be uniting behind the Government”—which is a political exhortation–still less differentiate between “all those within the Government who are committed to delivering peace” and presumably those who, in his opinion, are not! If this isn’t gratuitous interference in the internal political affairs of a sovereign state, I don’t know what is! What is worse he is interfering not only in the internal affairs of the sovereign Sri Lankan State but also the internal dynamics of the Government itself!
None of that which he has said above is any of his business. It is the kind of remark that would earn an immediate, severe rap across the knuckles from the Foreign Minister, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, and/or Ambassador/PR in Geneva of any self-respecting government and country. With the laudable exception of Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe, this present dispensation does not appear to fit into that category!
The third revelation is that the institutional nest of the collaborationist impulse and the main basecamp of the neocolonial Fifth Column within the Sri Lankan state is “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs” which “has undertaken to consult with my team in Geneva within the next two weeks.” So it is not that the UN Special Rapporteur’s team will consult with the Foreign Ministry of the country concerned but that the Foreign Ministry of the country concerned will consult with Emmerson’s team! Have the Ministers of Justice and Law and Order approved of this intrusive over-lordship and corresponding servility? Are they even aware of it? Is the President?
The fourth important point made by the visiting UN Special Rapporteur is that all his strictures flow not from purely external imposition but from commitments entered into by this Govt. in 2015 and reiterated in 2017 when it secured an extension. ‘Emmerson said: “Two years on and already four months into a two-year extension granted to the government by the Human Rights Council the progress in achieving the key goals set out in the Geneva Resolution is not only slow but seems to have ground to a virtual halt”.’ (The Island, Ibid)
The fifth point of interest and concern that arises from the UN Special Rapporteur’s statement and his remarks at the media conference, is the frankly threatening character of his remarks. The Daily FT quotes him as saying:
“There will be a point that the international community reaches the end of its patience, and then a range of consequences could befall Sri Lanka…The possible range of repercussions is a matter of international diplomacy and predictions, and depends on how far things go and how far along the path it is going…”
He warned the country is at risk of having its newly regained GSP+ facility revoked if significant progress is not observed on the reconciliation front. A host of other restrictions may be imposed on Sri Lanka if the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) commitments are not met, he added.
“…Such as potentially increasing the various measures by the Human Rights Council or indeed a reference to the Security Council, there is a range of measures increasing in severity that are potentially available for the international community,” he said.
“There is little evidence that perpetrators of war crimes committed by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces are being brought to justice,” he said.
…He said “all of that, we will have to look at, at the end of the current extension. But there comes a point where patience runs out.”
In moral, ethical and political terms, in terms of legitimacy and legality, neither this country nor indeed this Government should feel committed to this Resolution. Should we have felt committed to colonial rule because a misguided few of our ruling elite of the time signed the Kandyan Convention of 1815? Did we feel committed? Obviously not! Should the French have felt committed to support Nazi German Occupation simply because the Vichy regime of Marshal Petain disgracefully collaborated? Obviously not! So it with the Mangala–Ranil commitment made in Geneva, which is the domestic replay of the wretched CFA signed by Ranil and Prabhakaran and endorsed by the so-called Co-Chairs. Did we as a country, as a people, feel bound by that singular treachery? No!
Given that the co-sponsorship of the Geneva resolution was not debated and endorsed beforehand by the legislature of this Republic, there is absolutely no reason that the Sri Lankan polity should feel it has to honor any such commitment entered into behind its back.
Furthermore, given that the Cabinet presided over by the head of State, head of Government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, President Sirisena, did not discuss it line-by-line and endorse it beforehand, the Government as a whole should not feel committed to implementing this resolution cosponsored by a few ‘Inglorious Basterds’ (to use the title of Quentin Tarantino’s movie), however highly placed locally.
The fundamental basis on which Sri Lanka must respond to and resist the Geneva threat/challenge was enunciated by a UNP leader and Sri Lankan President, at a high point of the country’s regional achievement and standing:
“How can legitimate governments, deriving their sovereignty from their people, accept fetters on their freedom from outside? We must be alert to the danger of a new colonialism, wrapped in spurious moral considerations, emanating from alien cultures.” (President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Address to the Opening session of the 6th SAARC Summit, Colombo, 21st December 1991).
There is one thing though about which we can all agree with UN Special Rapporteur Ben Emmerson QC: “there comes a point where patience runs out.” The patience of the sovereign people of this country may run out with the neocolonial dictates of foreigners and the servility of those Government leaders who made commitments in Geneva to punish through a Special Prosecutor’s Office, our armed forces which liberated us from fascist terrorism, reunited our country and brought us peace.
Ajith / July 17, 2017
Dayan,
There is no doubt that attrocites were committed by Sinhalese military. The real issue is here who was responsible those attrocites. Is it Gotpaya or Mahinda or both?
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mike / July 17, 2017
Ajith – On behalf of Dayan, I would say BOTH !
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2017
mike-
You are missing the point here. This Aiyo Dayan has been stalking fear for many years. The Sinhala/Buddhist racist have been consistently stalking it for more than hundred years and the Wamsa Kathas for thousands of years. Earlier the Pandyas, Cholas, Mahas, …. foreigners, Christians, Ponnampalams, Chelva, Federal Party, Amirthalingam, Up country Indian Tamils (JVP called them India’s fifth column), TULF, VP, LTTE, .. India, the Wests, NGOs, TNA, C V Wigneshwaran, Sampanthan, revived LTTE(?), …………………………. Their paranoia has no cure nor end. The Sinhala/Buddhist fascists are capable of inventing new enemies and new threats new fears so as to keep the stupid voters taw their line.
It is no surprise the war monger Dayan is on the Panic button for a long time. In fact these right wing smart ass Sinhala/Buddhists fascists are the only threat that country needs to urgently deal with.
According to political pundits JVP was never been a serious threat nor will be. Because they are the patriotic “our terrorists”.
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Shenal / July 17, 2017
JVP waged a war against the then government. LTTE waged the war against the state. Understand the difference.
P.S. Sri Lanka was fragmented into smaller states back in 14th century. What does that mean? Sri Lanka was a federal country?
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Native Vedda / July 18, 2017
Shenali——–
Please are you telling us the first terrorist organisation JVP’s aim was not to take over the state apparatus in 1971 and between 1987-1990 and restructure it according its interpretation of Mahawamsa, another form of Sinhala/Buddhist fascism, or dictatorship of the proletariat, imposing state capitalism, mis-allocation of resources, ………… ?
Were you sucking thumb when the public racist Rohana published his tedious lessons? If you were then speak to someone who can tell you the ideology, history and its mode of terrorism in this island.
The point I was making was Sri Lanka had never been a centralised one country until the Brits brought the people and its administration under one rule. It has its own form of separate kingdoms. Go read, rearead, rereread the past. You can start with Mahawamsa, children story book for adults. Before the advent of foreigners, several little chakavatins had sway over rest of the kings. Cholas too ruled a large chunk of the island for just over 175 years while other little kings made some noises here and there in the rest of the island.
Somehow you got this fixed false idea that Sri Lanka has been a unitary country for the past 2500 years. Only the ill-informed, stupid, ignorant moron would buy that story. Now I see one more Sinhala/Buddhist fascist had already bought it and happy about it.
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soma / July 17, 2017
Ajith, they say “both sides” which means Sampanthan is also included?—————
Soma
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Burt / July 17, 2017
The way I see it the Mahasanga is complicit in the war crimes and the crimes against humanity, as they were spreading racial hatred through the temple against a race and not against a movement (LTTE). They should he held accountable for their approach to the conflict and obstruction to and remedy thought by the government.
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Ajith / July 17, 2017
May be Sampanthan and SLFP vice President Karuna as well. That is why we need UN investigation!
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sach / July 17, 2017
Who was reponsible?
The LTTE diaspora who funded LTTE terrorism and prolonged human suffering in Sri Lanka
In fact they are responsible for EVERY crime committed by both SLA and LTTE
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Fathima / July 17, 2017
How about Tamil war crimes?
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Jim Softy / July 17, 2017
How about ISIS war crimes ?
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Ajith / July 17, 2017
That is why UN recommended an investigation by International judges!
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Shenal / July 17, 2017
Will international judges be impartial? If yes, explain how can you be so sure?
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Fatima Fukushima / July 17, 2017
sinhalaya, go check with your kataddiya to make sure.
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Burt / July 18, 2017
International judges will not be picked from kangaroo states. As we see in the west they have respect for their profession and always work with integrity.
Sri Lanka has been a police state for too long where politicians controlled all arms of justice and lost its integrity. Judges have turned to be as corrupt as politicians to a point you cannot differentiate one from the other. Both have bastardized the profession.
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Shenal / July 17, 2017
Do you have ant evidence support that attrocites were committed by Sinhalese military? Have you personally witness those horrendous acts?
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Burt / July 18, 2017
You need an impartial investigation to seek those that have first hand evidence and the confidence in the process that they be willing to come forward.
Without allowing a proper investigation to take place stating that these are just allegations, or asking anyone that stands-up for justice where they saw it is just STUPID.
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take_that / July 18, 2017
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Native Vedda / July 20, 2017
Shenali
There are witnesses who not only personally saw atrocities were being committed by the state armed forces but also suffered from it.
Please go away. Your brain is suffering because you are sitting on it. Come back in another ten years time.
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Dr Gnana Sankaralingam / July 17, 2017
Dear Dayan, it is time for you to come out of the fool’s paradise. In the modern world, bar a few powerful nations, the rest do not have absolute soveriegnty. Srilanka is not one of those powerful ones and hence will have to live with external interference especially when it is committing crimes. No one should be above the law, however powerful the personality or a group may be. Srilankan armed forces committed atrocities that are unacceptable in a conflict and have to face the music. MR was supported by several countries to defeat LTTE, because he told them that he is prepared to settle the Tamil problem and LTTE is not willing to compromise on independence and fi they help him to defeat LTTE, he will settle it. Even in Geneva in 2009, Srilanka was congratulated for defating LTTE, as they believed that MR will honour his word. But after LTTE was defeated, MR started reneging on his promise and took no action to bring reconciliaton and grant justice to Tamils. When cornered by west and India, he touted with China in the hope that he could hold west and India at ransom with the help of China.Unfortunately this did not work for him and the new government of MS/RW promised the world that they will bring reconciliation and settle the problem. It is 18 months since they came to power and nothing tangible has occured in the field of reconciliation and the political process is going nowhere despite Tamil leaders offering an olive branch by compromising on their stand on independence and federalism. You cannot go on hoodwinking the world like what you are doing to helpless Tamils and naturally international community is losing their patience with Srilanka who are dallying with their promises. The special commissionar has spoken the truth and has made forthright comments, which racists like you are unable to stomach and are making unwanted noises. World politics have changed from the times of Premadasa who was living in a cuckoos land, and to quote him is foolish. This is bad omen that very soon stick is going to be used on Srilanka to make it tow the line. In the past one of the Sinhalese who committed crime on Tamils were brought to justice, but this time it is different. If Srilanka does not want to face the ignominy of being reduced to a paraiah status, better carry out what the internaional community is expecting it to do. It is sad that people like you seem to be detached from reality.
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soma / July 17, 2017
Dr.G.S.——-
Throughout the war there was a RAW agent under every other tree in the Wanni and every other lamppost in Jaffna. To say that Sri Lankan armed forces committed atrocities is to say that they did that under the watchful eyes of India which is a serious allegation against the stature of India who did not level any such charges against Sri Lanka during or immediately after the war. ——————-
Let us wait and see how this “both parties” is going to work out in practice and at what stage we will be compelled to rearrest all the Tigers released from custody and start investigations into the Tiger supporters——————-
Burdens of any punishment in the form economic sanctions on the Sri Lankan state will be directly on passed to the Tamils by the Sinhalese and as a Tamil you should clearly understand that there is no way, ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, Tamils can punish the Sinhalese without facing a devastating reaction. ———
In crude terms when the International Community holds Sri Lanka hostage Sinhalese will hold the Tamils hostage – it is a mutual hostage situation which only the Diaspora living outside the country will escape.————That is how this UN involvement in ‘reconciliation’ in Sri Lanka is going end up in the Indian ocean.
Soma
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2017
somass ji
“Throughout the war there was a RAW agent under every other tree in the Wanni and every other lamppost in Jaffna.”
Were the RAW agents trying to ease themselves? You are sure they did that while you were watching them in Jaffna as well as in Vanni all at the same time.
“say that they did that under the watchful eyes of India which is a serious allegation against the stature of India who did not level any such charges against Sri Lanka during or immediately after the war. “
Don’t be a smart ass somass ji. Why would Hindia incriminate itself by accusing its Sinhala State of Hindia?
You disappoint me somaass ji.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 19, 2017
Soma stop threatening. This is what Indonesia said of East Timorese, Sudan said of South Sudanese when International community was pressurising them to settle the conflict. Finally both succumbed and started co-operating with international community and you know what the result was. had they resisted both Indonesia and Sudan would have ended up in disaster. Please note that since both countries allowed independence that both were spared of war crimes. srilanka has no escape, either share power and territory with Tamils ensuring equality and justice or face the music. Starving an ethnic group deliberately is a crime against humanity. Even if you try can you prevent foreign troops supplying food and medicines to Tamils affected by your embargo. So please stop coming out with your stupidity and impress upon your fellow Sinhalese to comply with the order.
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born free / July 18, 2017
Dr Gnana Sankaralingam
There are no chickens for the terrorist to count!
The UN vote one short of overall majority orchestrated by Canadians not Tamils even by a whisper. The double effect of deporting much loved Canadian Bob Rae and Champuka cultural insensitivity towards the Canadians in his explosive behaviour. Deputy foreign minister of Canada Deepak Obhrai, (Punjabi from Tasmania) arranged the Cambridge club to defeat the oxford club. Mauritius (Uttar Pradesh) took the lead in presenting the case and that was the end for India to go neutral.
You do not even know the meaning of this call from UN……
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 19, 2017
Now the situation is different. You are not dealing with terrorists, but with unarmed Tamils who are demanding their rights to live as equal citizens with dignity and safety in their lands which they have inhabited for several years. No UN official in the past made such accusations of continuing barbarity by the state on Tamils. There is also the China factor which the present government has failed to get rid of despite giving a promise to India. Another parippu drop is in the offing if Srilanka thinks that they can hoodwink India. I pity your level of intelligence.
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nimal / July 17, 2017
The channel 4 film made up from videos taken with our soldiers mobile phones was what actually happened..
Bringing back helping Hambantotsa uneducated uncultured thieves and killers cannot change this.
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Mallaiyuran / July 17, 2017
Thero is not willing not to honor Kandyan Convention after getting freedom. I can see his imbecile nature of he has no guess of what Britain said in February 1948- i.e. “You imbeciles Lankawe Sinhala Intellectuals are not worth to harass after we had to leave India. Thank you.” It is true Thero didn’t like the elites signing the Kandyan Convention. But it is also true Don Juan, Elihilopola and others surrendering to Europeans are proud moments of our Thero and he sincerely love them.
Is there a question of ever a Sinhala Intellectual sincere to anyone, leaving aside of the elites signed the Kandyan accord. It is not worth to repeat these to readers’ time, but that all one can bring to make Thero lose his sweet dream and wake up. The story starts with Sinhabahu, who wanted to “white van” his sister for his indulgence and had no other ways but to murder his father. He never felt any obligation to his father, mother or sister. Vijaya did the same for queen Kuveni and his own children. Dutugemunu and Kasiyappa did it to fathers. Anagarigam did it for Sir. Pon. Ramanathan. Don Stephen did it to Ramanathan and Arunachalam. Solomon West did it to DS. Sirimavo did it to Solomon. Solomon did it to SJV. Dudley did it to SJV. JR did it to Rajive. Sirimavo did it to Mrs. Gandhi. Old King did to 32 nations fought with LTTE for him. Old King did it to UN, PM Manmohan Singh and Ambassador Robert Blake. After Thero gave blood and flesh in May 2009 at UNHRC, Old King did it to Thero. Then Thero did it to Varathar. Now Thero is, acting like as for the first time the Sinhala Race hesitantly trying to justify a cheating with so many fake examples and excuses! Should we have felt committed to colonial rule because a misguided few of our ruling elite of the time signed the Kandyan Convention of 1815? Come man, What is this? Comedy Thamai.
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Mallaiyuran / July 17, 2017
Further the promise was not isolated one of Ranil. It all the part of the promises Thero and Old King gave at Geneva and Colombo. In fact, very recently, Thero had advised to Mangala that he was agreeing to specifics with UNHRC, but that is not the way to give promises, just one has agree on open ended promises like he and Old King had done in May 2009. The promise the envoy has mentioned as from Ranil has no specifics. It seems Ranil had copied Thero and Old King and had beaten their PhD Degrees. That is what it seems to be bothering our Thero De Silva.
The wording of the written statement clearly presupposes that “serious atrocities” were committed by both sides, meaning by the Sri Lankan armed forces as well. As for “both sides”, since the Tigers are either dead, in self-exile, rehabilitated and released or (a handful) in jail, this means the only target that’s left standing is Sri Lankan military. The wording is coming from the Old King agreement with UNSG that the Accountability and Responsibility is with the government and it would fulfil it. As per Thero LTTE was punished already even if it had not done war crimes.
Here the English meaning what he said in above.
1. Tigers are killed by government, whether they were in the battle fields or outside, or even during surrendering like in the white flag murders.
2. Tigers in Exile. Appe Aanduwa is using UN resolution 1373 to declare that Diasporas are terrorists to ensure that Tamils community would not return for their land. Government (Elder son Prince) took away the lands of many of them and put them on discarded navy ship and put them on the see. They all are declared by government as gone on migration, not missing. In Karuna like cases, Old Royal even created false pass ports and Visas.
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Mallaiyuran / July 17, 2017
3. Rehabilitated and released. About 300, 000 thousand was kept in internment Camps. 12,000 are claimed as released. But the army has refused to produce the surrendered and released list to the courts during the Elizhan- Sasitharan’s case. Further during the war it was claimed only 5,000 cadres in LTTE by the government. How it become 12,000 is a magic.
4. 150,000 Tamils are missing. Thero’s Government is accounting only for 71.
So if there was war crime from LTTE’s part, 150,000 Tamils are already punished. But Thero’s defense here is as there is no LTTE left now to punish so the Army also should not be punished.
What is utterly appalling is that this UN Special Rapporteur thinks it is within his mandate to advocate, even propel “a new order in Sri Lanka”! This what Thero trying to show that the envoy is calling for. But the truth, as per Thero is this : “My plea to the Government and the people of Sri Lanka is to let these be the right steps, and not to allow the process to be diverted by retrograde elements in the security establishment and their allies in Government.”
One does need a special PhD to see how Thero trying to convolute the talks: Whether he means a new legal order, political order, social order or any kind of order whatsoever, But before Thero put the question, he had put the answer. That is he hope the people get confused. But, here, his answers for about what orders the envoys was talking as per Thero: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has undertaken to consult with my team in Geneva within the next two weeks.” …..“There is still time to get this legislation right, and for it to become the cornerstone of a new order in Sri Lanka.”
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K A Sumanasekera / July 17, 2017
My Elders tell me these Pommy QCs, their Judges and even their Lords are good people, who were and are very kind to their Sservants………In fact, they were so kind that , the Burghurs, Tamils, and Anglican Elite who carried out the one and only Military Putsch in the Mhavamsa Land were set free, although they had plans to kill Ammandi’s Mom and Uncle……..And the local judges had found them guilty, with enough proof , that a Leader like Sissi would have shot them in 30 days……….But then our Judges in the Mahavamsa Land then were just puppets……..Now we know why this QC wants to change things….. Galleon Ravi the new Yahapalana Foreign Minister will listen to him keenly , and carry out any advice as long as they come with the right price……..You know what I mean………..Plus the advisors and the backers who have been brought up in NGO farms , on good Dollar Feed Stock, will be one hundred percent ready to to back what ever this Rapporteur wants………. .Didn’t TNA Abraham demand that Buddhism must be expunged before they accept anything, ……..May be that is part of the new order which the Rapporteur needs…………………Thank God we still have UNP Wije inside….. Our Asgiriya , Ramanya and Amarapura Nikayas must hold combined Bodhi Poojas to protect Wije and pray for his safety and longevity………
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Native Vedda / July 18, 2017
KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera
Your Elders once told me that you were a stupid, lazy, and good for nothing fellow. As I observe you haven’t positively progressed a bit. In fact your drinking problem has contributed to your worsening state of mind.
How can we help you. Find you a female or male partner to serve your unattainable needs.
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Mudson Amarasinghe / July 17, 2017
Next Cabinet in 2020 forecast.
Dayan the Disc Jockey – External Affairs
WR alias Dealdasa Rajafucksa – Prime Minister
Bayagota – Executive President
NR – Minister of Finance
Thummulle Wimalaya – Minister of Justice
Colonel Karuna – General Secretary SLFP
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sach / July 17, 2017
See the mentality of UNPers. It does not matter how UNP policies can affect the country, but simply attacking those who criticize the UNP and its foreign master.
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mike / July 17, 2017
Mudson A. – NR – Minister of Finance & Womens’ Affairs !
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Native Vedda / July 17, 2017
Mudson Amarasinghe
Does it mean the country will be empty by 2020?
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Mama Sinhalam / July 17, 2017
The constant them is sovereignty. What sovereignty is left for a people who go begging around the world? Soon, as became apparent during the recent visit of My3 to Bangladesh, we will be begging from the former Basket Case of Asia. Soon, we will get that title. Sovereignty is for a people with respect and honor, both of which have been lost due to the massive killings of the innocent first during the JVP riots and then, during successive killings of Tamils. This bogus pleas of sovereignty merely keep accountability arriving at the doorstep of the Rajapakses, who, on the basis of command responsibility, are the ones most accountable. Most people may not want the lower ranks of the armed forces, which were obeying superior orders to be tried. So, this very despicable man is really making a case for his pay-masters not to be tried. More than that, he wants them to be restored to political power.
It may be a slow process. But, as with other war criminals, they will catch up with the Rajapakses. Look at what is happening to Blair in UK. the constant refrain is that war criminals in the West are not affected. Simply untrue. Blair will soon stand trial for what he did as will others who committed war crimes as leaders. The fact that their lives are low-key indicates that. Margaret Thatcher lived as a recluse for the same reason.
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Non PhD / July 17, 2017
Dr.Gnana ,
Excellent piints. Today some one told me there is news about an honest Ven. Buddhist Monk speaking about BCPact, DC pact, 18th A, etc. It was in a press interview it seems. The news is in swa basha it seems. Bottom line there is the Buddhis Monks are stumbling blick to resolving the ethnic issue since 1947.
If that news is true CT should publish that news in English for the benefit of CT readers. Then we can see Dr.DJ respond to that or bury his head in the sand.
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K.Pillai / July 17, 2017
Dayan, the victims of the 08 January 2015 elections were fraudsters and the electors. The electors found that one set of fraudsters were replaced by another set. However the silver lining is a certain sense of security due to near absence of white-vans. We are able to an extent show discontent without being mowed down. The media found some independence but are in a self-censoring mode because they are scared of a certain force looking over their shoulders.
You are trying desperately and openly to bring back a group that will rehabilitate the ilk of Sajins, Dumindas, disgraced DIG Vass Gunawardena, BBS, etc etc etc? What kind of socialist are you?
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Spring Koha / July 17, 2017
Once again, DJ, our National Liyanamahathaya, comes to the fore with his defence of the indefensible. Either the man has no clue of what went on, or he does, and chooses to stick his head in the ground and play saviour to the numbers of rabid racist bastards who waged their own war against the LTTE.
Defending the scum who let us down on the battlefield, is an insult to the brave and courageous men who truly deserve to be called ‘war heroes’. DJ thinks he is ‘defending the country’ from foreigners. NO, what he is doing is ensuring that we continue to remain international pariahs. Because of DJ, and others, we will continue in denial, and delay the delay when our island truly regains peace and harmony.
Perhaps that is what the man wants. In this cursed month of July when we remember the lowest depths that our country plumbed, we should award DJ the Cyril Mathew award for his continuing efforts to perpetuate the slaughter of innocent in our blessed island.
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Mallaiyuran / July 18, 2017
“Should we have felt committed to colonial rule because a misguided few of our ruling elite of the time signed the Kandyan Convention of 1815? Did we feel committed? Obviously not! Should the French have felt committed to support Nazi German Occupation simply because the Vichy regime of Marshal Petain disgracefully collaborated?”
Thero love to compare the French people to the Sinhala Intellectuals- (the other name- Modayas.) What to do?, that what was the best shot he ever got. He mismanaged that job so badly. Thero was kicked out of France. Now he is dreaming the Lankaweyans as French people. Comedy Thamai!
“Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité”…Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. American Freedom war adopted these from French people, a proud race of the modern Europe. Did the French too supplied free women to Europeans and created a European-Sinhala Mixed race….De Silvas, Fernandos, etc etc…. ? Even Thero is ashamed of his name.
Didn’t these guy never wanted to fight in wars and Sinhala Kings imported Mercenaries from Kerala and their descendants called “Kerala Mercenary Converted as Kandyan Sinhala Intellectuals”, without any regard for the country, signed the accord. Thero is very reluctant to reveal true story of the Nayakas. Doesn’t he?
Other than the extended 2000 members of the Old Royals and another 2000 of the New Royals, all would love to Bring back Britain to clean the 70 years of garbage dumping of the Sinhala Intellectuals. But will Britain come? No jokes with Britain on that man!
Isn’t that why Old King sold Lankawe to Xi Jinping, Abdulazeez, Iran’s Sanga of Mahanayakas….? If it is flower with honey humming birds will come seeking, if it’s a rotting corpse Vultures and crown will come flying. You can guess what is there by the kind of the birds flocking it.
Just an empty mouthed Thero! That is all.
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K.Pillai / July 18, 2017
CT raised the ethics of SriLankan Airlines’ Board of Directors awarding the CEO Ratwatte, a US$50,000/- so called Flying Scholarship. There was a healthy discussion by CT readers. The scholarship has now been withdrawn.
Dayan, do you think this would have happened in 2014?
Do you still want white-vans back?
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Marvin / July 20, 2017
set up an Office of the Special Prosecutor to bring criminal charges against those involved in the most serious atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict. what’s wrong of it? is this Dayan is a human or animal?
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