By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran has just posed a question to the Sri Lankan state. “If the Sri Lankan State did not commit war crimes, why should they resist an international probe?” he is quoted as saying to The Hindu. Now this is the same specious logic as in the notorious trick question “have you stopped beating your wife?” If one answers yes, one admits to having beaten one’s wife in the past even if one were absolutely innocent of any such conduct, and if one answers no because one had never done so, it leaves open the possibility that one is (still) beating one’s wife.
The good chief minister says that “the NPC resolution calling for an international probe into the alleged war crimes committed during the military operation against the LTTE only reflected the feelings of the Tamil people in Northern Sri Lanka”. Now there’s a bit of a problem there. Imagine if the people of Germany had called for an international probe on the firebombing of Dresden, five years after losing a war in which the majority of them had supported the Nazis and Hitler. Of course the people of Germany did no such thing. If they had, or indeed if the Japanese people had called for an international probe on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki five years after that war crime, one can well imagine what the response of the victorious Allies and the world community would have been.
A website called ‘US Politics’ features a story from EIN Presswire. It does an excellent job of summarising the real significance of the resolution just passed unanimously by the Northern Provincial Council.
“In a major humiliation to Sri Lankan President, the Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the United Nations to establish an International War Crimes Investigation to investigate Sri Lankan leaders for committing War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide against Tamil people in that island.
So far the call to establish an International investigation was advocated only by International NGO’s and diaspora groups like Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE). This is the first time, Tamils within Sri Lanka through their elected representatives have called for such an investigation.
The next Session of the UN Human Rights Council is set to begin in March and it is expected that a Resolution calling for an International Investigation on Sri Lanka will be tabled by the United States. It is widely believed that the Resolution by the Northern Provincial Council will add momentum for passing a UN Resolution calling for international investigation.”
So the Northern Tamil provincial legislators caused “a major humiliation” to the President who held the first ever provincial election in the Northern Province (in 1988, the election was only in the East while there was a joint slate in the North, bypassing an election). The election was sufficiently free and fair, in a province with a heavy military presence, for the Tamil nationalist opposition party to sweep the polls. This president succeeded in enabling the setting up of the Northern Council without any street protests by the Sinhala Buddhist hardliners, while he did have to overcome the publicly stated opposition of his brother, the powerful Secretary of Defense.
Of course, President Rajapaksa is also the man who presided over the defeat and decapitation of the LTTE— something which the TNA radicals have not forgiven him.
The call for an international investigation into allegations of war crimes also looks a bit funny when it is recalled that the same TNA politicians voted for the army commander who led the war to its brutal finale.
There is a reason that the Sinn Fein/IRA never called for an international inquiry into the crimes committed by the British troops and authorities during the troubles.
The NPC resolution does not strengthen and embolden the President who opened the path for the Council’s establishment. It also weakens the pro-devolution caucus of progressives within the ruling coalition who fought successfully against the majoritarian chauvinists, protected the 13th amendment and saw the holding of the election through.
On the other hand the NPC resolution reinforces the line of the prominent hardliners who opposed the Provincial Council system and wanted it abolished. It strengthens their argument that devolution should not proceed further; that it is dangerous to proceed with the full implementation of the 13th amendment. After the NPC’s radical resolution one may anticipate the hawks’ argument against devolving more power to such an adventurist Council as taking the form of the pithy Sinhala saying — it would be akin to “giving a monkey a straight razor”.
The resolution does nothing to bring the country’s powerful and popular military round to the position that the devolution of power to the Northern Council does not threaten the security interests of the state.
It makes it more difficult to regard the TNA as a pragmatic peace partner and to reintegrate the Northern PC into the democratic mainstream.
The resolution has almost certainly hardened opinion among the Sinhalese, irrespective of party political sympathies, making them less rather than more sympathetic to the cause of devolution.
The NPC resolution is echoed and reinforced by a statement signed by Mr R Sampanthan in his triune capacity as MP for Trincomalee, leader of the TNA and President of the ITAK. It says that the Central Committee meeting of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) held on 26thJanuary 2014 at the Town Hall, Trincomalee, and attended by representatives from all districts in the Northern and Eastern provinces, unanimously resolved, among other things, that “an…international investigation was imperative”.
The NPC resolution and the ITAK statement render the TNA radioactive in the sense that any Southern Opposition which is seen to be allied with it and yet fails to curb its rhetoric will be penalised by the Sinhala voters. Thus the TNA/NPC stand in the emotive run-up to Geneva has undermined its potential partners among the Southern democrats and moderates. Taking the island as a whole, the constituency in favour of devolution has shrunk rather than expanded, due to the TNA-NPC’s electoral and post-election rhetoric.
The NPC resolution cannot be described in any sense of the term as moderate. This is not the political behaviour of a party of moderate persuasion. As for the counter-argument that this is but a reaction to the government’s tardiness in devolving power to the Northern PC, that is given the lie by the TNA’s 100 page critique of the LLRC report. That critique long antedated the re-establishment of the NPC, the problem of the ex-military Governor etc.
The NPC-TNA are appearing increasingly as anti-national; as against Sri Lanka as a state and a country. The TNA reciprocated Mahinda Rajapaksa’s historic move of holding the Northern Provincial election under the existing 13th amendment (without truncating it as the Sinhala hawks demanded) by praising Prabhakaran during the election campaign and carrying his photograph on the front page of the TNA’s newspaper. That was before it could be ascertained whether or not the Government would devolve power and authority to the newly elected council. Thus the TNA-NPC’s radicalism cannot be explained away as a natural reaction to the post-election immobility of the Government.
The North-South divide will grow into a gulf thanks to the NPC resolution. The dynamic of ethnic polarization will render the island’s politics a zero-sum game, making the task of our friends such as Japan and South Africa and above all our neighbour India, more difficult. A secure and stable peace is a longer way off than it was last week, before the NPC resolution.
JimSofty / January 31, 2014
If Wigneswaran says if LTTE reflects the feelings of Tamils and LTTE are are suicide bombers and violent mass murders.
that says a lot about Tamils.
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Joseph Pillai / January 31, 2014
“…….It makes it more difficult to regard the TNA as a pragmatic peace partner and to reintegrate the northern PC into the democratic mainstream”.
Democratic mainstream indeed!
What planet is this political scientist living in? The people in the NP have shown clearly that they prefer a democracy that is something more than thugs and goons fighting for royal patronage. They would have no wish to be integrated into the main cesspool.
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NAK / January 31, 2014
Oh yeah! may be that’s why they have elected people like Sashidaran, Sridadhran etc.
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JimSofty / January 31, 2014
Getting rid of the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization needs an international probe ?
These things happens only in the democratic world.
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JimSofty / January 31, 2014
Dayan Jayathilake is [Edited out].
A NPC resolution has similar powers and teeth as a UN-Security council resolution.
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Fathima Fukushima / January 31, 2014
“Imagine if the people of Germany had called for an international probe on the firebombing of Dresden, five years after losing a war in which the majority of them had supported the Nazis and Hitler.”
PERFECT COMPARISON.
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Fathima Fukushima / January 31, 2014
Tamils must learn to SUCK IT UP and move on.
Otherwise they invite more trouble.
Our bombs and guns are nearing expiry date. They have to be used for a good purpose against Tamil Elamists.
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MrRetort / January 31, 2014
Just like Iraq tried to use against US and UK, why not use against UK and US. After all imperialists invaders Fak tell your boss to direct them against them.
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Piranha / January 31, 2014
Dayan,
No one is going to ask a man if he has stopped beating his wife unless one has some evidence that he was doing so. The comparison of this with Justice Wigneswaran’s query is specious, and you know it. There is a substantial body of evidence of war crimes being committed by the SL military and the evidence also implicate the president and his brother. The UN appointed Darusman report, the numerous video, photographic and eyewitness evidence makes it imperative that a fair and honest investigation is carried out. But, the persistent refusal by Rajapaksa to conduct an investigation makes even a numbskull to conclude that Rajapaksa is guilty of war crimes.
Justice Wigneswaran’s gripe is not just about the war crimes but it is also about how the will of the people of the North being trampled by Rajapaksa by his arrogant behaviour towards the NPC. Wigneswaran’s pronouncements lately reflect his frustration with Rajapaksa especially after all the efforts he made to show Rajapaksa that he was not a separatist and was willing to work hand in hand with him. As usual Rajapaksa showed his true colours by pandering to the racist factions of his coalition and also playing politics with the Tamil issue. As far as I am concerned the sooner the regime is deposed the better for the whole country. So, instead of trying to save the war criminal join with the decent democratic forces and save the country from this Rajapaksa curse.
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srilal / January 31, 2014
” instead of trying to save the war criminal join with the decent democratic forces and save the country from this Rajapaksa curse. “
if and when sajith comes to power , you will see the true colours of this chameleon.
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D. S. A. Gunaratne / January 31, 2014
Hiding behind his pseudonym, Native Veddah ridicules Buddhist philosophy and insults the doctrine of the Middle Path.
He is like Vaccagotta, the wanderer, who tried his very best to provoke Buddha on the doctrine of “anatta,” a fundamental part of Buddhism’s Five Aggregate analysis and the doctrine of Conditioned Genesis.
I take it that you are no Buddhist. If you call yourself a Buddhist, you should be thoroughly ashamed of the very thought of kicking me on the butt. Much of your kamma is the result of your mental or intentional action.
If you are a non-Buddhist, follow the ahimsa and dharma principles (of Hinduism) or the love-thy-neighbor and turn-the-other-cheek principles (in Christianity).
Finally, only cowards hide behind pseudonyms in public debate.
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2014
D. S. A. Gunaratne
“Hiding behind his pseudonym, Native Veddah ridicules Buddhist philosophy and insults the doctrine of the Middle Path.”
I didn’t ridicule Buddha’s teaching but merely commented on your hypocrisy.
You made a sweeping comment as the religious affiliation of this island as “In a Buddhist country”
You failed to realise that yours is a political statement describing this island as a Buddhist country and an insult to Buddha himself and his teaching.
FYI, Buddha in fact gave up his right to rule his own kingdom.
“I take it that you are no Buddhist.”
I am not a Buddhist, nor a Hindu, no Muslim, nor a christian, nor a follower of Judaism.
I have no problem with Buddha’s teaching in fact I love to liberate his teaching from Sinhala/Buddhist hypocrites like you, NAK, Chamara Perera, MR, Sangha, Gota, Mervyn, …………others.
“Finally, only cowards hide behind pseudonyms in public debate”
Why are you hiding behind yours?
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Chamara Perera / February 2, 2014
I have no problem with Buddha’s teaching in fact I love to liberate his teaching from Sinhala/Buddhist hypocrites like you, Chamara Perera, …………others.
Did you come this conclusion based on my previous comment on Dr RN’s reply to your understanding of the Buddha’s teaching?
Let’s play the game not the player shall we?
Peace
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Rama / January 31, 2014
it’s not a dangerous escalation at all. it’s rather a necessity . in my opinion a lame duck council without any powers is not worth having it at all. council has no money, no powers,,no nothing. a council for name sake is not what tamil people want. we want to run our own affairs without the interference of chin gala [Edited out]. it’s as simple as that. i really pity the chin gala [Edited out] who have yet to understand the aspirations of tamil people. if any one ask me about the main grievance of tamil people i would say this is it. if you decide to ignore this like the chin gala [Edited out] who ruled shit lanka since independence, you are doing so at your own peril.
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Leon / January 31, 2014
When the President accused you of working for an NGO did you find out from him for which NGO you were working.You did get an opportunity to meet him at Temple Trees.. We as readers of CT would like to know.
Just to paraphrase what Sinhala President JR said, Tamils. do not care what the Moderate or the extremist Singhalese think.or what
“Powerful Defence Secretary thinks. To the Tamils he was only a potty clerk in a convenience store in the US called
7 Eleven
Re the NPC elections, you deviously state that the President in his magnanimity held the elections. Pray why did he wait for 5 years to hold the elections. If you are honest you must admit that the elections were held due to Indian pressure.
Every attempt was made to defeat thenTNA. It was not a peaceful election. Even the Governor tried his utmost to defeat the TNA. Now the President and others are taking credit for holding the elections. Whom are you trying to fool Dayan?
You are nothing but an opportunist and a disgrace to the University that gave you a doctorate.
Let’s see what happens at the Human Rights Council in Geneva in March and when Mr Modi comes to power in India.
In case you are not aware a former Foreign Secretary of India Mr Jaswant Singh of the BJP said the creation of Eelam is ” a distinct possibility”.
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Dr Laksiri Fernando / January 31, 2014
Dayan,
NPC Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran’s question “If the Sri Lankan State did not commit war crimes, why should they resist an international probe?” is completely a valid one. This was also in my mind for a long while now. There is no comparison with the wife beating question Dayan. Unfortunately, it is only your rhetoric. Like many wife beaters, the regime has gone completely defensive. No need to give a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. As I have already suggested, if MR is honest, I really doubt he is, he could have proposed a joint international-domestic investigation. I frankly think that you are picking too much on Wigneswaran or the Tamil side.
Laksiri
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srilal / January 31, 2014
Dear Dr Laksiri Fernando ,
you see the logic of Dayan’s writings ? i only read the first few sentences and skipped to comment section , isn’t this an insult for our intelligence ? this article is yet another desperate attempt to get MR’s attention , have you heard of Laxman Hullugalle, both are in the same boat ! one is trying to get sympathy while the other is trying to repeat what MR wants to hear !
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NAK / January 31, 2014
Dr.Laksiri, I’ll be with you too, provided that there is proper evidence shown to warrant an international investigation.
Not on CH4 garbage or Darusman’s witnesses who are hidden for twenty years.
If there is any evidence to warrant an investigation, why don’t they come out with it?
Not even the the police can enter a house to investigate without a warrant and you have to provide some evidence to obtain a warrant.
Not just some allegations some people call ‘credible’
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Dev / January 31, 2014
If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear, right ! I too would be fine with letting a bunch of convicted murderers in to rummage through my house just because the local pathological liar said I’m hiding a body in the basement LOL
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Kumar R. / January 31, 2014
NAK,
Do you think the Commission report under the Chairmanship of Rahika Cumaraswamy that was left in the freezer for several years and that got exposed now would have any bearing on your thoughts?
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RuwanL / February 1, 2014
NAK
I totally agree with you. Please come up with the evidence? Name the 40,000 who died. How are you going to differentiate civilians from the LTTE terrorist? During the final stages guns were given to the civilians forcing them to fight! What about civilians who died in the tsunami? will they add to the numbers who disappeared? How about those who left by boats and ships to Australia and Canada? will they too be identified as civilians gone missing ?
We have to be more realistic to see whether this exercise could be carried out correctly. Can anyone please tell us who and how it could be done?
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Chamara Perera / January 31, 2014
Dear Dr. Laksiri,
Can someone guarantee an impartial investigation by the west led by UK-USA into war crimes charges in SL? UN itself is a toothless tiger and has proven to be an impotent organisation. Who is going to monitor the investigators? Who can play the role of moderator, India perhaps?
Chamara Perera
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Native Vedda / January 31, 2014
Chamara Perera
“Who is going to monitor the investigators? Who can play the role of moderator, India perhaps?”
India is actively seeking to bury its role in war crimes perpetrated by its forces and by Sri Lankan armed forces in this island.
If you are serious about war crime investigation there are plenty of honest individuals in this island as well as elsewhere.
Now the problem arise, with their safety, freedom to question witnesses as well as the perpetrators, political interference, state cooperation, witness protection, ………..and other.
It is a question of does the state has the will to investigate its past, from 5th of April 1971 to date?
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Chamara Perera / February 2, 2014
I agree with you that there are enough honest people here in SL and elsewhere who will conduct an impartial investigation. If the Government agrees to a probe how do you know it is these people who gets selected ?
I am just playing the devil’s advocate here and not trying to take side…..
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Kumar R. / January 31, 2014
Chamara,
If there is a will, then there is a way!
You don’t need to just give a free hand to US, UK or even India to do the investigation. You could have a balanced team of domestic cum international eminent persons. You could consider academics from institutions with impeccable reputation who would not risk undermining their credibility by being biased. The country can certainly set rational and reasonable conditions to ensure unbiasedness.
So, lets not put the cart before the horse – first, let the country decide firmly if an international, independent investigation is fair or not, particularly given the regime’s history of “Commission Reports” (remember Radhika’s commission?!)
Throwing in “gonibillas” early in the game to distract is very “Dayanisque.”
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Burning_Issue / January 31, 2014
Dr LF,
Dayan knows that he did not make any sense but he reacted because he felt indignant towards the NPC and Justice Wig. This anger stems from the perception that the Tamils have no right to demand such a probe; he holds the entire Tamil race responsible for LTTE. According to him, the defeated Tamils should behave and toe the majority lines. He will remind you about size of the Sri Lankan army and interminable nature of the MR regime! His recent erratic writings is basically pathetic.
The self-proclaimed political scientist could not figure out or recklessly did not care about impending dangers of the 18th Amendment. He took the France Ambassadorial role by accepting this disastrous Amendment!
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RuwanL / February 1, 2014
Dear Laksiri
I do not agree with you! Impartial international investigation? I have never heard of anyone being impartial! Can you please name and impartial person? You? not even you are impartial!! Ask yourself have you been impartial?
if the investigation is carried out and the outcome is favorable to one party will the other party agree? An investigation in no way bring any solution to the animosity between the two races!
You too have an agenda! You have fallen out with the president and you want to get back at him! Isn’t that the truth? Don’t do that! do something to expose the president’s misdeeds rather than stoop to low tactics!
As for me the war is over many innocent died. Many had to sacrifice their lives for some of the very foolish decisions that politicians took for their benefit! Can you name one honest politician Sinhalese or Tamil? They are all in for power to be the King one day!
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Rajash / January 31, 2014
“…North-South divide will grow in to gulf thanks to NPC resolution….”
Dayan at last you accept you inner belief that
– there is a North South Divide
– North divided from South already in terms of culture , language, religion,
– you accept implicitly that there is indeed a Tamil nation in the North different to the South
– you accept the there is a gulf created by the successive Sinhala governments
But what you don’t accept is that any act by the Sinhala Govt does not widen the gulf…..but only the act of Tamils widen the gulf
You know what …..the wider the gulf the better for boh Tamils and the Sinhalese ….as eventually the gulf will create two different countries
You have shot your self in the foot
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Darlin Silva / January 31, 2014
Dayan, However much you shout from roof-tops you will never get a chance to go to Geneva with the Sri Lankan delegation. Government has selected the best person to lead the delegation in Sajin de Vas and you are not a patch on him.
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Real Peace / January 31, 2014
Dayan
Please stop writing rubbish like a small child and grow up. How many people were charged by the GOSL for the Welikade massacre in 1983? People of the North have no trust in the GOSL and that’s why they ask for an international independent investigation. The NPC has truly reflected the sentiments of the people of North. If you had been a decent human being you would have saluted their and the NP CM’s courage.
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MrRetort / January 31, 2014
DJ’s hypothetical question is so much irrelevant in here. All that TNA asking is to investigate by by some unbiased authority and not by Sri Lankan Army about the excesses during the war. This would and should not rule out the LTTE excesses as well. I have not heard any statement to that effect from TNA either. If TNA gives a list of fourth thousand supposed to be killed by Army who were innocent and request the government, if they are paying compensation to them or not, then we can see a relevance of DJ argument. Don’t raise irrelevant issues DJ.
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Sam / January 31, 2014
Hi Dayan,
I haven’t read your article in full yet, but I disagree with your opening analogy with the question “Have you stopped beating your wife?”
A more appropriate analogy will be with the question “If you have not beaten your wife then why don’t you let us speak to her?”
The screams heard from inside the house could be because of pleasure or pain, but responsible neighbors cannot not call the police, particularly, when the they hear the word ‘Help!’
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Fathima Fukushima / January 31, 2014
For the first 6 months of the year Dayan make Tamil enemies. For the rest of the year Dayan makes other enemies.
Dayan and Rajiwa have become a complete joke.
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NAK / January 31, 2014
TNA,NPC,WIGGY AND Sampandan will dance as long as US/UK keeps drumming. Soon Drummers will get tired and dancers too would find no more music.
Prbhakaran went for all or nothing spurred on by the TN jokers. Today TNA jokers are doing the same hoping and believing the US and UK will help them realize their dream. But the bitter truth is US and UK are only dream merchants. They only sell dreams. The unfortunate sad part is, it will be the Tamil people of this country, regardless they are northern or not will pay the price.
As the saying goes that ‘there is a silver lining in every black cloud’ this will end up with shattering the Tamil conclave dream for ever.
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K.A Sumanasekera / January 31, 2014
Will there be more resolutions ,as this new kid on the block .the Vellala CM has set the precedent?..
Will the Central and NW PCs for example demand that the Govt allow International Investigations on the
* LTTE activities, sorry , atrocities against the Muslims in the North leading to ethnic cleansing of 100,000 thousand and culminating in the killing of over 300 in Kaththankaddy?.
* Killing and maiming innocent Sinhala poor rural villagers ,including baby monks in their holy places like Temple of the Tooth and Sri Maha Bodhi?.
* Killing and raping of Tamils by the so called Peace Keeping Forces from India?.
And finally how the Western countries provided safe havens for ,terrorist supporters. and allowed them to collect Millions of Dollars, Pounds, and Euros to bank roll the LTTE fighters, including child soldiers?.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / January 31, 2014
Video: NPC has overstepped its powers: UNP
THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2014 15:25 E-mail Print
The United National Party (UNP) today charged that the Northern Provincial Council has overstepped it constitutional mandate by passing a resolution that called for an international investigation on Sri Lanka.
The resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council calling for an international probe on the war in Sri Lanka is illegal as a provincial council has no power over international affairs, UNP MP President’s Counsel Wijedasa Rajapaksa said.
He told journalists today that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution does not provide provisions to pass resolutions calling for an international probe.
He said the central government has the power to dissolve the Council, but if such a decision is taken the call for a self- rule in the North could intensify.
Taking the government to task over the northern issue, Mr. Rajapakse said the present regime had invited the UN for a probe on alleged war crimes by agreeing to it in accordance with an MoU signed between the government and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. He recalled that the Darusaman committee was appointed by the UN following this agreement.
However, he said the UNP is prepared to support the government in overcoming whatever challenges it may have to face in Geneva in March if it acts genuinely without trying to take political advantage from it.(Yohan Perera & Ajith Siriwardana)
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Burning_Issue / January 31, 2014
I am not certain about the legal framework that the NPC is bound by in this context. However, GOSL has a duty to address the alleged issues of war crimes and and crimes against humanity congruous with the MOU signed by both UN Secretary General and MR along the recommendations of LLRC. It is crystal clear that MR will not sanction such a probe. The representatives of the Tamils in the North have every right to suggest in accordance with international governance, to which Sri Lanka is a signatory, an international probe. This situation is brought upon by the intransigent and arrogant regime that things that it can influence and bribe their way out of troubles. With this disastrous strategy, it digging its heel deep and deeper with no direction!
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Sulaiman / January 31, 2014
Can the UNP afford to take any other stance with the Provincial Council elections coming up?!! Come on – you need something better.
Calling for an international investigation is not getting involved in foreign affairs. Foreign affairs would be if they were to have direct dealings with another country without the knowledge or approval of the Government. An appeal to the whole world is so wide and general that it cant be considered foreign affairs.
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aratai / January 31, 2014
.
UNP??? Are they awake?
:-)
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jansee / February 1, 2014
This has been the perennial problem. When the NPC and the Tamils get trampled and stampeded guys like UNP’s Wijedasa cannot even lift a finger but it so happens his blood starts boiling when there is not even the remotest possibility of talking sense to a regime hell bent on making the life of Tamils as miserable as possible and therefore had to seek outside help.
Martin Luther King “broke” many laws and this is what he said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”. Those who surrendered to the army had gone missing. Why are you people not talking about that? Anyway, I am glad that Wijedasa has awaken from his slumber. That this matter has been internationalised long ago seems to have been lost on him. He has to get his act together. While there was this window, he should have persuaded the regime to thrash out a solution. The Tamil leadership under Sampanthan had also wanted to resolve the issues within the country but have these jokers forgotten that Sampanthan and his team were left waiting like fools for a meeting called by the regime but did not even have the courtesy to inform that it was called off. Now this Wijedasa wants to show that he is a knight in shining armour and this is the worthless example Dayan can offer. What a shame?
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Che / February 1, 2014
Yes may be ‘illegal’, but as sons of that soil they have the moral right to do so.
This was the same muck logic they used to stop the Vaddha delegation from attending the international Indigenous conference.
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Kumar R. / February 1, 2014
Oh Dayan – how pathetic can you get?
I can understand if persons like Keleniya Mervin or clueless Rambuks hang on to such straws to defend their view – but a Political Scientist really need such stupid defense for your own thougts? Wow – that is degrading!
See if you can answer some other objective challenges posed here, if you have any trace of integrity left.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / February 1, 2014
Dayan,
Did Parliament through its PSC have the constitutional or moral right to override the decision of the Appeals Court in the sordid Chief Justice Shiranee Bandaranayake impeachment episode? Everything is right in the Sri Lanka that is ours for now!
Further, a resolution is not an enactment and has no legal implications. What the NPC resolution demonstrates is that this government is feeding a rich and fattening diet to the Tamil politicians who are pursuing a course which the Sampanthan-Sumanthiran-Wigneswaran trio are resisting. Even in this instance, Chief Minister Wigneswaran advised that the word ‘ Genocide’ used in the resolution be qualified.
The government is deliberately steering a course with regard to the NPC, to provoke such knee jerk reactions. It is unfortunate the NPC is falling into a well laid trap, notwithstanding Justice Wigneswaran. The proverb that one swallow does not make a spring stands vindicated! The TNA as the grouping that dominates the NPC has also been consistently pursuing the Geneva process as the only course to counter the deviousness and dishonourable nature of this government. It is a political tactic to deal with government tactics. We as a nation enjoy deploying tactics, rather than seek solutions to our problems. You, unfortunately are a leading advocate of such a tactical, or in your words, strategic approaches,
The UNP in government, which pushed the Varadarajaperumal led NE PC into a corner in a deliberate manner ,provoking it to react the way it did and used that as an excuse to dismiss the Council, as a party in the opposition cannot but say anything different, notwithstanding Wijedasa Rajapakse, who lost his sheen in the impeached CJ issue,
It is unfortunate that you are playing the role of the a Devil’s advocate in this instance. Already there are calls for the dismissal of the NPC, from the same quarters that wanted the PC system be scrapped to thwart the NPC coming into existence. It is rather perverse that only the Geneva process is preventing and has prevented such tactics being given effect! It is the government that is once again giving renewed impetus to the Geneva process that it condemns and obviously fears. Despite its bravado for public consumption, advocates of the Geneva process can smell blood.
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
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Dev / February 1, 2014
See my comments to you above regarding Dayan, see the last part of my prediction about Dayan future action in the coming weeks…..Geneva Geneva coming….
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 1, 2014
Do our ordinary punters believe this Rajapaksa?…
UNP is split in the middle. Sinhala Buddhists vs Colombo Elite, Vellala and the Anglicans alliance.
Tamil Diaspora is also fissured with British and Canadian Tiger Tamils Vs the GFT Tamils who are the well off, English speaking with proper migration passports.
UNP can’t win the South or the West , let alone the big One.
The great majority of the inhabitant population see them as the stooges of Cameron and Harper trying to get into power with Sambandan’s support.
End game … To deliver Eelaam..
All this spin about Vella CM been unconstitutional is just bullshit..in simple terms.
Can they win a few votes on this latest spin?. Odds are too high to put any money.
Diaspora Tigers have nothing to gain, unless Caameron and Harper can muster a UN Force.
TNA knows that the only way they can have LTTE proxy Sambandan’s wish list is also through this Invasion force.
GTF on the other hand are realists.
They want to get back to base,for the benefits of claiming their properties, settling their ageing relatives close to places of worship and companionship and to make some money as well. doing meaningful jobs in business.
Inhabitants in the meantime can continue their current peaceful existence because the Govt has the nous , determination and the talent to weather these destabilization by the UNP, TNA and their Western alliance.
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srilal / February 1, 2014
shielding from Wijedasa R writings is another lousy attempt to justify his writings , isn’t it ironic that DJ always go for ” pick & choose ” method , in other words there are countless number of articles being written and a few dozens of news worthy public comments being aired by earnest people supporting war crime investigation , all over sudden Half UNP half SLFP Wijedasa R’s comment taking prominent stage , this Wijedasa R bloke seems to be in the same league as long John A .when Darusman’s report came out , this very same WR guy jumped the gun and phoned Ban ki Moon and settled the matter for MR , food for thought !
PS :According to WR ‘s logic , MR should immidiately dissolve the NPC, as CWV has violated the SL constitution.
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Bruz / February 1, 2014
Oh..so Dr.Dayan.J is still clinging on to his unacceptable argument and quoting Wijedasa Rajapakse for his support. So many great comments are written here by unbiased, clear thinking, intelligent people who have no vested interest of any kind or political motivations and who really understood the whole issue. Their comments are honest,logical, and reasonable whereas Mr Wijedasa’s and Dr DJ’s are just the opposite. As readers we accept all the honest, balanced and sincere opinions of a number of well read people in this forum. At the same time, while respecting your arguments and line of thinking, I’m sorry to say that many of us cannot agree with your views, arguments, comparisons and about the rights of a provincial Council. But, it’s understandable that you have your rights to say what’s in your mind. It’s an unfortunate shame that we are still trying to practice democracy in a not so democratic nation.
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jansee / February 1, 2014
It so appears that Wijedasa has awaken to the call by the NPC for an international probe and had termed it as illegal. the 13A is an Act of Parliament but why has the NPC been denied of the land and police powers as enshrined in the 13A? What is good for the geese should be so for the gander? No, Yes!!! Another Sinhalese chauvinist.
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James Paul / February 1, 2014
The author says: “The resolution has almost certainly hardened opinion among the Sinhalese”
just because the Sinhalese will be unhappy, the Tamils shouldn’t express their wish? This is the typical Sinhalese oppressive mentality, and until they could come out from that, they are bound neither to treat the Tamils as equals nor offer the Tamils their political rights!
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Sun / February 1, 2014
I have checked it for you again.
This time, over 98% of the commentators to this FUNNY article have critcised heavily.
Now it is high time DJ – YOU to see in the mirror and before coming with an another wife/son/daughter/mistress/mother/father/BBS monk beating stories.
HOw about making genuine efforts in terms of discussions on improvement of HR since Mrs Pillay reiterated that nothing was found during her visit to categorically say that govt s so call efforts towards LLRC recommendations/implementations can be genuine
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Sun / February 1, 2014
I love DEPITAKATTUWO – that is the reason why I checked it for you.
Get well soon: DJ.
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Sun / February 1, 2014
I think it is better DJ to come with a book rather than this kind of articles – but it should be similar to that of IVAN on CBK then, this time, you may have more than sufficent to bring even a film (pitty and highy crimes alone for the period since 2005 ascending to date) and the way their crime investigations ending up in favour of criminals – this can surely bring you easy cash man… it is you who are to do that now… Shameless buggers of your kind would not think twice doing so. But for your own safe, it is better to leave the country before beginn it – knowing the fact MR and thugs will see no mercy. Absolutely not. They will not recall the way you protected them in 2009 either. They dont have shyness – same as you do, when it goes for killing anyone. Those siblings are the expert planers for high crimes. I dont know anyone´s name to add here – that could better than Rajapakshes
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daya.thevi / February 1, 2014
Dayan
“The Northern PC Resolution: A Dangerous Escalation”
Yes indeed! Crux of the matter is you were the representative of SriLanka at the UN at that time denying war crimes and covering-up the massacre. You can’t feign innocence and escape from the clutches of international law if an international inquiry takes place. That is probably the reason why you are invoking Gota’s wrath to threaten the CM and the Northern PC and instigating the masses against Tamils. Mark me! This article will come to haunt you very soon.You can no longer hide behind the mask as a respected analyst and a dispassionate academic!
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gamini / February 1, 2014
Come one, Come all to see Dayan trying desperately to take cover behind Wijeydasa Rajapaksa another Rajapaksa, also a beneficiary of the infamous Principal of Law College. Although the De Facto CJ boasted that he was trying to cleanse the system, MR has appointed Rodrigo as Legal Director of the Presidential Secretariat, vide DM front page of today. A damn slap on the De Facto CJ to show who is Boss.
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crazyoldmansl / February 7, 2014
Nameless Tamil,
There is nothing to laugh about and this DJ is a disgrace to every DJ in the world and he is far from cool. He is a slimy chameleon like creature who leaps from one position to another BUT the trend of his utterances when observed – yes and there are those who are observing very carefully what this evil is upto – add up to the authorship of a deep strategic framework that has generated a ‘deep state’ in Sri Lanka along with a doctrine that I shall call the DJ Doctrine as well as a nexus of operatives who are committed to its implementation who include people from all ranks but with a clearly evident bias towards certain sections of the you know whats.
The challenge that this evil and ugly fellow throws to the world is “Imagine if the people of Germany had called for an international probe on the firebombing of Dresden, five years after losing a war in which the majority of them had supported the Nazis and Hitler. Of course the people of Germany did no such thing. If they had, or indeed if the Japanese people had called for an international probe on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki five years after that war crime, one can well imagine what the response of the victorious Allies and the world community would have been”.
Ok let us give it a try. The ‘people of Germany’ having supported the Nazi project of Hitler, elected him to power democratically, placed at his disposal the nation state, fought for his project, gave their lives to it by manning his armed forces and then find themselves bombed to bits and then ask for and international probe. They do not have to ask for one. The international community disgusted at the genocidal project of Herr Hitler has already set up an international probe and is busy tracking down and punishing the perpetrators. None of them is killed by masons who worked at their houses, bludgeoned on the streets of Berlin, disappeared in white vans or tortured and murdered. All of them are brought to trial and sentenced and their sentences carried out.
Historians throughout the world attempt to document the Nazi project and its outcome. Mass graves are found and marked. An attempt is made to arrive at the number of victims of genocide and the number of 6,000,000 Jews victimized is globally accepted. No number is as yet available for the number of other minorities who were killed in pursuit of the Nazi project.
The Eelam Tamils IDIOTS though they are, have NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THE NAZIS. Unlike the Germans they never elected Piraphakaran to power and unlike the Germans most of them preferred not to join Piraphakarans army. The Eelam Tamils never had any agenda that is even remotely like the genocidal DJ Doctrine and they never advocated the genocide of the Sinhalese.
The way that the DJ thinks is an absolute disgrace to every institution at which he claims to have learned at and which by doing so makes party to his vile pattern of thinking. He drags Gramsci into the gutter along with himself and he does an immense dis service to the Cuban national revolution as well by his attempts to identify with its ideological base.
The Sinhalese, and in particular the Sinhala Buddhists, but also the Sinhala Christians and the Sinhala Muslims and Sinhala Italians, Sinhala Americans, Sinhala British, and Sinhala whatevers – yes with a few very rare exceptions of which you my dear reader may be one, but at the moment I can identify only two as such with any degree of certainty – are FASCISTS plain and simple however educated or enlightened they may claim to be. The DJ is the ideologue and political strategist of this whole Sinhala Buddhist fascist project and it is he who will be held accountable for bringing together the various strands of ideology and action and welding them into a solid foundation that has become the base for THE RISE OF FASCISM whose ideological roots have always been anchored in Asian paganism of the ‘tantrik’ sort and which today wears the garb of neo paganism and post modernism to dress up its agenda of the enslavement of the human mind and the harnessing of its power to greed, self aggrandizement and meaningless consumption that leads to the damage of the environment and the destruction of life that generates a situation within which all beings live in fear and all beings are unhappy.
A new generation with a new thinking must rise up to counter the ‘Dark Arts’ of the DJ Doctrine and its ‘Deep State’ and this new generation of thinkers must advance a new vision that can counter the violent and oppressive one advocated by the DJ Doctrine. Nameless Tamil, in the name of every DJ in the world and in the name of the enjoyment, love and laughter that DJs help bring into this world I implore you not to call this evil being DJ and instead to refer to him henceforth as “Shaitan” which exposes his real and evil nature that brings nothing but suffering to all beings and destruction to the world.
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