
By Rajeewa Jayaweera –
The British High Commissioner (HC), in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Island published on December 17, referring to Sri Lanka’s war stated; “Getting distracted by arguments about the numbers during or in the immediate aftermath of the end of a near three-decade war between the Sri Lankan security forces and separatist LTTE could easily distort the truth”
The Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, one-time Commissar of Munitions once said, “If only one man dies of hunger, that is a tragedy. If millions die, that’s only statistics.” Quoting Stalin after amending ‘millions’ to ‘thousands,’ the HC complimented the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government for allocating a significant amount of money in the latest budget to fund the work of Office of Missing Person (OMP).
Even though not explicitly stated, it is apparent, recent revelations by British peer Lord Naseby has prompted the HC’s remarks.
Given the moral high ground taken by HC, it would be appropriate to seek clarification on a few issues.
This writer personally perused the 39 pages of highly redacted dispatches by former British Defense Attaché Lt. Col. Anton Gash. This mid-level diplomat had developed contacts with very senior Sri Lankan military officials. In fact, one report had been filed the morning after he had ‘supper’ with such an official. Notwithstanding the redaction of the identity of the Sri Lankan officer and contents of their discussion, the unredacted parts of the dispatch indicates Gash seems to have penetrated the Sri Lankan military high command at a very senior level. Since his assignment in Colombo, he has held the posts of Defense Advisor in Ghana, Operations, Policy, and Concepts Staff Officer at the UK Representation office in the EU and Plans Officer MINUSMA (UN Military Force in Mali). Gash is currently Defense Advisor Caribbean. Despite the British government’s lack of faith in his dispatches, he does not seem to be in ‘professional cold storage.’ Even though his dispatches have been disregarded, his professional standing seems intact.
Given that the UK together with the US were the chief proponents of Resolution 30/1, could the HC clarify reasons for his government’s failure to assist members of the Panel of Experts (PoE) by turning over relevant material in its possession including confidential dispatches from its staff in Colombo for scrutiny? Did such material contradict British and western agenda for Sri Lanka?
During the conflict years, questions related to LTTE atrocities raised in the UK were met with the standard response; “No British laws were violated by them.” Australian born Adele Anne Balasingham nee Wilby, former leader of LTTE Women’s Wing responsible for recruiting and training child soldiers and spouse of one-time LTTE theoretician and political advisor Anton Balasingham now lives in retirement in the UK. She is currently a British citizen. Would Britain’s envoy enlighten us Sri Lankans, reasons Britain has failed to prosecute Ms. Balasingham despite the fact, recruiting and training child soldiers is a violation of both British and international law? Is it the British government’s policy to demand accountability from Sri Lankan soldiers while protecting senior LTTE terrorists living in the UK?
Around fifteen months ago, a furor erupted in the UK over investigations of atrocities committed by British troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Under pressure from the European Court of Human Rights, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown set up two mechanisms, namely Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat) and Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) to investigate 1,500 and 550 allegations in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively. The European Court of Human Rights had decreed that previous investigations had breached procedural rules laid down by the European Convention on Human Rights. These investigative mechanisms were set up not out of concern for abused Iraqi and Afghan civilians. Britain considered this option preferable to the prospect of dragging British soldiers through the International Criminal Court (ICC) which Tony Blair ratified in 1998, long before Britain invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. Primary British fears were; Given the time lapse since the alleged abuses, the risk of witnesses being unable to recall events accurately and trumped up complaints solely for purpose of compensation.
Such concerns did not apply to more than 2,500 witnesses who made over 4,000 submissions to the PoE. The submissions were an integral part of the Geneva Resolution.
During the height of the furor, former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and David Cameron condemned the Ihat and IFI investigations stating; “it is no way to treat the people who risk their lives to keep our country safe.” Then Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon stated; “It inhibits the operational effectiveness of our troops because they start to worry about whether they will end up in a court or not.” Fallon closed Ihat investigation before the initially scheduled time frame of June 30, 2017.
One is at a loss to understand how British troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq were keeping Britain safe as claimed by the two ex-Prime Ministers. They were involved in operations taking place thousands of miles away from Britain in a campaign based on falsified intelligence reports and not in defending the territorial integrity of Britain, as was the case with Sri Lankan soldiers.
Notwithstanding denials by the British establishment, chief prosecutor at the ICC in The Hague, Fatou Bensouda, on December 04, in a 74-page report delivered in New York has declared there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that UK soldiers committed war crimes against detainees during the Iraq conflict. In her conclusion on the long-running inquiry into the role of British troops in Iraq between 2003 and 2008, Bensouda said: “The prosecutor’s office has reached the conclusion that there is a reasonable basis to believe that members of the UK armed forces committed war crimes within the jurisdiction of the court against persons in their custody.” Bensouda does, however, dismiss allegations that British troops committed any war crimes on the battlefield.
Even though British defense officials have previously claimed “We are confident that our existing efforts to investigate allegations preclude the need for an investigation by the ICC,” the latest ICC report indicates, Britain obviously lacks the capacity to conduct a credible investigation when it involves its own soldiers. As such, would Britain agree to an investigation by a PoE similar to that convened to investigate Sri Lanka?
The HC has referred to tragedies. Therefore, it would be appropriate to briefly examine the tragedy faced by the people of Diego Garcia (Chagossians), an atoll just south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean, and the largest of 60 small islands comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Diego Garcia became a colony of the UK after the Napoleonic Wars as part of the Treaty of Paris (1814), and from 1814 to 1965, it was administered by the Colony of Mauritius. In 1965, it was detached and included in the newly created British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). In the early 1960s, UK agreed to permit the US to establish a naval communication station on one of its island territories. Diego Garcia was the selected location. In December 1966, the US and the UK executed an agreement through an Exchange of Notes which permitted the US to use the BIOT for defense purposes for 50 years until December 2016, followed by a 20-year extension (to 2036) without a monetary payment. However, the UK received a USD 14 million discount from the US on the acquisition of submarine-launched ballistic missile system, Polaris missiles. Between 1968 and 1973, Plantations in Diego Garcia, the sole livelihood of the Chagossians were closed to satisfy the US requirement of an uninhabited island. The British government deported 426 families, numbering 1,151 Chagossians to Mauritius and Seychelles with no right of return. According to Wikileaks CableGate documents (reference ID “09LONDON1156“), in a calculated move planned in 2009, the UK proposed that the BIOT become a “marine reserve” with the aim of preventing the former inhabitants from returning to their lands.
Since the HC laments of tragedies and distortion of the truth, what is Britain’s take on the enforced exile of 1,151 people from their homeland? How does Britain reconcile the forcible eviction of an entire populace of an island with International Human Rights, Humanitarian or any other laws it claims to uphold?
As ‘truth-telling’ in the Sri Lankan context is a major concern for Britain, could its envoy in Colombo enlighten us Sri Lankans with the unvarnished truth without distortions, on the few issues raised?
Jim softy / December 31, 2017
Britain is a highly corrupt country for centuries. I am thinking whether India and Sri lanka became corrupt because of the colonial masters. Britain just live on corruption. Only thing is they cover up everything. Sri lanka is bending to both the UN, to British and EU because, leaders are very weak and not strong people. One like Mr. Kadiragamar would have faced them. Other than there is no simply one politician who have the same confidence, courage and ability. This is where, I think, good english knowledge comes and skills at the bar comes really handy.
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Native Vedda / December 31, 2017
Jim softy the Dimwit
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“I am thinking whether India and Sri lanka became corrupt because of the colonial masters”
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Kill the Veddah, Rob the Buddha, Blame the Suddah
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Native Vedda / December 31, 2017
Rajeewa Jayaweera
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Here we go again.
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Have you considered the possibility of significantly contributing to knowledge or discovering any new knowledge?
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Native Vedda / December 31, 2017
Oldcodger
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Could you tell us as to why Sri Lanka didn’t apply for the extradition of Adele Anne Balasingham and Balasingam, and the Butcher of Batticaloa Karuna Amman and his sidekick Pillayan, …… were not only allowed to roam around in this island but also being facilitated Karuna’s travel to India and UK on forged passport.
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Why hasn’t the state charged the mule KP for money laundering and gun running?
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Could you also tell us as to what had happened to the gold and cash kept in LTTE’s vault.
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Could you also tell us as to why the state and the crooks have been unable to investigate all war crimes that had been committed since 5th April 1971.
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What had happened to all those investigations into various allegations of fraud? Could you write on those criminal activities that engulfed the previous government and the present one.
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oldcodger please bear with me as you know I have nothing better to do at present hence my time wasting recycled comments, by the way I don’t think I am clever.
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Sinhala_Man / December 31, 2017
Dear Native Vedda,
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“old codger”? Is the kindly “old codger” who makes so many nice statements the pseudonym of Rajeewa Jayaweera? I’m really puzzled. I keep revealing my identity. I hope that it stopped being a mystery long ago.
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I think that Rajeewa has made two good points – about Adele Balasingham and about Diego Garcia being depopulated. Bot need to be followed up – but so, too, do all those killings by our troops on the last few days of the War – in May 2009.
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Punishments being meted out look increasingly unlikely, but it is very important for future generations to know the TRUTH.
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In teaching History to our children and grandchildren, all the details need not be gone in to, but we must tell them that at least approximates to the Truth, and is acceptable to both the Sinhalese and the Tamils.
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Surely, we all wish to put all this behind us, but how can we do so if there are a dozen groups wanting to push its version forward as the truth?
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I seem to know so little; that doesn’t matter. This appeal is on behalf of future generations.
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Rohan / January 1, 2018
Adele was not a Sri Lankan citizen to be deported to Sri Lanka. She was and Australian citizen and the LTTE was not proscribed there
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Native Vedda / January 1, 2018
Rohan
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Government could have demanded the extradition of Adele and gone through court procedure if necessary.
I wonder why Dr Rajapaksa’s (LLD) government was uninterested in her extradition? Perhaps Rajeewa knows better.
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Anpu / December 31, 2017
Rajeewa,
You must practice what you preach. Are you telling the TRUTH?
Can you respond to the issues raised by Mr Sampanthan?
http://sangam.org/sampanthan-mps-speech-parliament/
As one who has been closely observing the conduct of the war and its various dimensions from within the country and also as one who has been fully involved in the various efforts to evolve an acceptable political solution and as one concerned about the relationship between the conduct of the war, its end and a political solution which seems quite illusive, I wish to express my views on these issues, Sir, because they are very important as far as the country is concerned.
The official estimate of the Sri Lankan State was that there were around 70,000 Tamil civilians confined in the area, in the Vanni where the war took place. Eventually around 300,000 Tamil civilians came alive out of this area. Most of the estimates cautiously put the figure at around 250,000. Our own inquiries revealed that the total number of Tamil civilians trapped in this area was closer to 400,000. This was the view of the affected Tamil civilians. There is without question, a sharp discrepancy between the figure stated by the Government and the true figure. No explanation has been offered in regard to this sharp discrepancy. Is this indicative of the culture of impunity reaching its zenith, totally disregarding and distorting the truth?
Essentials such as food, medicine, shelter and other requisites would have been and were officially made available only on the basis of the Government’s official estimate of 70,000 which inevitably must mean that a large number of Tamil civilian citizens would have been without food, medicine and shelter for weeks and months, such essentials being largely made available only by the Government.
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Sinhala_Man / January 1, 2018
Dear Anpu,
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A preliminary question: how did you manage to paste the link to Sampanthan’s speech on to your comment? And how did you ensure that it would all be there when we click on the link? I read the whole of it, but am not sure that I absorbed it all. But then you’ve given us the most salient points in your own comment.
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I asked that question about the technicalities of posting becuase we’re all finding it so difficult to contribute our ideas to these discussions on Colombo Telegraph.
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Now for the substance. If the figures are as you have stated, then the “Humanitarian Disaster” is terrible. I don’t WANT to believe it was so bad, but the argument is such that I’ve got to accept that it looks, prima facie, true. This is just terrible.
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It is very important that your grandchildren and my grandchildren know the Truth to be the same for both understandings.
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Please forgive us for all this.
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Anpu / January 1, 2018
Thank you Sinhala_Man.
Happy New Year to you and all. You must read Sampanthan speech. He is telling the TRUTH.
This summer I was in SL with my children and grand children. My children know the history. Grand children are too young. But I am sure my children will tell them our history.
“Vittachi concludes the book (Emergency ‘58 )with a question. “Have the Sinhalese and the Tamils reached the parting of the ways?”
The question was asked in 1958. It was definitively answered, 25 years later, in 1983. Another 26 years later, in 2009, we were reminded of the answer.
55 years after Vittachi first asked the question, who in the Sinhala community is willing to openly ask the question” From the same website.
You must read that book if you have not read it.
Copying and pasting is easy (once you know it). This is the basics of it. Highlight the part you wish to copy, copy it and then go and paste it where you want to paste it. Details are different depending on the computer system – Apple/PC
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Eusense / January 4, 2018
anpu,
Did you tell your children and grand children that violence never pays but it only bring misery ?
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John / December 31, 2017
Western countries are hypocrites. They have a saying for others- “Do as we say, not as we do”.
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Anpu / December 31, 2017
“Buddhist” countries are murdering, raping, torturing, …people
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Eusense / January 4, 2018
anpu,
Do you think that the religion is responsible for what you say?
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Ishfan / December 31, 2017
You mean to say Western CHRISTIAN countries who murder tens of thousands and start wars and create instability? It is important to highlight that they are CHRISTIAN nations. CT DO NOT CENSOR facts please. US hates Muslims and smear All muslims and Trump hates Muslims because they are Muslim. So let facts fall where they fall.
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Shenal / January 1, 2018
Ishfan,
Doesn’t Islam consider unbelievers to be Kafirs? Lowest of the low of Muslim society? Don’t your religion consider unbelievers to be hostile to Islam? Don’t your religion want to completely Islamize the world?
If what I have said is true then please don’t point your finger at others. First fix the issues with your religion and then come preach your hatred against USA.
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Eusense / January 4, 2018
ishfan
Why do only the Muslims murder by suicide bombing etc. in the US/Europe and even in their own countries? Who would not hate suicide murderers??
At least the Tamils only suicide murdered Sinhalese in Sri Lanka!
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K.Anaga / January 1, 2018
You cannot escape by finding fault with other countries. It is like saying that if you can rob and deny why can’t I do the same. Two wrongs dose not make a right. It is like saying that if Muslims can be Killed by Mianmar why can’t Srilanka do the same.
.
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Native Vedda / December 31, 2017
Oldcodger
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Why hasn’t the state charged Dr Mahinda (LLD) and his cronies for bribing the other psychopath VP to rig the elections. Where did Dr Mahinda get the large amount from? What about money laundering charges?
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And those who supplied VP’s boys with arms, ammunition, medicine, cash, diplomatic passport, Bata slippers ….. in the late 1980s still free to roam around as senior security officials. Can’t you bring charges against these cowards who relied on LTTE to fight the war against IPKF.
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Don’t forget Dayan was sleeping with Tamil terrorists.
Are we into selective justice are we?
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J.Muthu / December 31, 2017
This sinhala budhist mentally ill guy need some medication….
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Taraki / December 31, 2017
Mutt, you need to learn English.
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Native Vedda / December 31, 2017
Taraki
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Mind your language!!
Tamil Speaking Jamis Muthu Banda is a close political associate of Ben Hurling. Ben is not going to forgive you.
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Taraki / January 1, 2018
Happy New Year Native, Ben and Mutt, although I expect we will get the same old same old from the politicians.
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J.Muthu / December 31, 2017
Please i need a English tutor, let me know u r address , i will teach you some of my talents…..
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Taraki / January 1, 2018
Mutt, our toilet works fine thanks.
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John / December 31, 2017
Sergeant Blackman was cleared of murdering a Taliban fighter.
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K.Pillai / December 31, 2017
Rajeewa Jayaweera
We are back to the argument “Others did it. Sort those before coming to us”.
The invasion of Iraq was wrong wrong wrong. Some saw the wrong before invasion and more saw it after. Bush & Blair were not considered heroes. Blair was edged out. Bush was but the Supreme Court reappointed him.
Sarkozy invaded Libya. People rejected him. He tried a comeback last year but he felt the pulse and did not even try.
You keep harping that UK is ‘protecting’ known members of LTTE. Why not prosecute them? Or get a Naseby to do that. The legal system in UK is quite robust. ‘Citizen arrest’ is valid there.
You talk about telling truth. Was JR J telling the truth when he said (something to the effect) “I do not care for Tamil views. If I starve Tamils, the Sinhalese will be happy”. A month later the Black July 1983 went on for a week.
or Sarath Fonseka “The county belongs to Sinhalese but minorities can live provided they do not demand anything”.
Was MR ‘distorting Truth” when he claimed “MY soldiers carried a book on human rights in one hand” or “There are no minorities now”.
For two years after the war ended Gota had in HIS then Defense website “Not a single civilian casualties during the tail end of the war”. You want accountability from UK for displacing 1551 Chagossians some sixty years ago”. No doubt that was inhumane. How about the thousands of Tamils living in refugee camps or with friends because their homes and lands were forcibly grabbed by Lankan armed forces?
Why are you silent on the plight of Rohinyas. Is the brutality unleashed by the Burmese Junta fake news?
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AA / December 31, 2017
This man tries to justify our crime of murdering our own people because UK & USA did bad things to other citizens… No body is perfect, but humans are in the process of improving their humanity..
UK deported 426 families from Diego Garcia between 1968 ~73… Of course bad..
But how many high school children were murdered by Rajeewa Jaweera and his clan in 1971 April~May period? This is about 17~18 years old kids dragged from homes and killed by Police, STF… this is murder.. 3000? 5000? Nobody care to count .. In ’88~89 period, 50,000??? Who cares…. British deported 426 Diego Garcia families in ’68~73… How dare British/US talk about us Sri Lankan killing our own people.. It is not their business.. We kill our own but poorer and trouble making peasants. … #@$@#
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Eusense / January 4, 2018
aa
Where were the UNHRC, Diaspora Tamils and you during 71, 88-89 etc. etc. ??
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Anpu / December 31, 2017
Rajeewa,
Has the Srilankan addressed this killing? What is the TRUTH?
Read https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/killing-balachandran-and-saving-uvindu/
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Ajith / December 31, 2017
Dear Rajeeva,
You asked a question : Is it the British government policy to demand accountability from Srilankan soldiers while protecting senior LTTE terrorists living in the UK?
I am asking you is it the Srilankan government policy massacring thousands of innocent citizens while protecting senior LTTE terrorists like Karuna amman ( LTTE military deputy leader who murdered 600 Sinhalese policeman, kattankudi Muslim mosque attack killing hundreds, Aranthalawa murder of Monks, Daladha maligawa attack and Central Bank attcack) (in your word) and the lifetime arm supply Pathanathan and many others living in Srilanka even though they committed far more losses and damage to the Sinhala masses?
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Raja / December 31, 2017
Rajeev
I am surprised that did not disclose the evidence you have against Mrs.Bala on child soldier recruitment directly or under command responsibility
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / January 3, 2018
Rajeewa has no clue about British legal system. He thinks that it is like the corrupt and racist Srilanka legal system. In UK a Tamil is innocent until proven guilty and onus to prove lies in the state. However in Srilanka a Tamil is guilty until proven innocent and onus to prove lies in the individual. If Srilanka has adequate material to indict Mrs. Balasingham in a British court, there is nothing to prevent them from doing so. I can assure you that the trial will be fair and the verdict will be perfect. If Rajeeva thinks that he could achieve what is happening in Srilanka, where due to flawed justice, innocent Tamils are in prison while Sinhala murderers are walking free, then he is sadly mistaken. He appears to be a frog in the well merely croaking.
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Mama Sinhalam / December 31, 2017
Why does Jayaweera need clarification from the High Commissioner for the deaths of 7000 Sri Lankans, the figure given by the lordly scum and English pimp and admitted by the foreign minister and president. The clarification must be given by the government of sri ilankai. The law states that every death must be recorded and reasons given. The law does not require the High Commissioner of the UK to do this. Jayaweera should ask for a record of all Sinhalese youth killed during the JVP uprisings and the Tamils killed during the several programs and the final war to be recorded and accounted for. That is the law of the country. Do not bring foreigners into this. What the British did in the past or the present is of no concern here. We talk of our present and want an account made of our citizens killed by our government. That the US and UK also kill does not excuse the murder of our compatriots by our government and its troops.
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Mallaiyuran / December 31, 2017
After the 2009, when 32 nations were supporting and Lanakwe had defeated Canadian resolution and had passed its own, Old Royals kept threatening prosecuting all Tamils for participating in LTTE action or supporting LTTE. This was reflected by US Ambassador Robert Blake that US cannot accept the position of Defense Secretary that all Tamils were terrorists. This was right after America had supported government on the war. But Tamil refused back off for that fear mongering. They kept demanding prosecuting the war criminals. Now Jagath had run home back from Brazil with one leg shoe. Though this is a change, The UNHRC efforts have not advanced. The only way to get UNHRC to back on track is get help from Rajeewa Jayaweera like anti Tamil activist and bring an international lawsuit against Mrs. Balasingam. This will pave the way to break the hard ice has set in UNHRC. Once the Mrs.Balasigm’s case is settled, the IC structure comes into exist to investigate cannot back off from investigating any one associated with the case. It cannot end up as Chandrika putting in imprisonment the corporal Rajapakse to suppress his witness in Krishanti, Chemani and Navail cases against her Generals.
It is many good are expected to come out supporting Rajeewa Jayaweera in his dream of prosecuting Mrs. Balasingam with his concocted stories. Tamil should support his effort.
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Ishfan / December 31, 2017
That white piece of excreta needs to account for LIES in Iraq first of all and all the War Crimes in Basra. Then he can talk. The Brits are beholden to the Tamil Tiger diaspora in England from the credit card thieves in Petrol Stations and pimps to drug runners to honest hardworking professionals and shop owners. They VOTE; so Brits need votes. Imagine if Sri Lanka hid IRA terrorists during their war like the way they hide the Aussie terrorist nurse. Someone should send a team like Mossad to apprehend her and bring her to justice like how Eichmann was taken in 1960 and brought to trial. That white woman brainwashed Tamil teen girls to blow themselves up while she never sacrificed a penny. If she so believed in their cause, why was she not there with Velu in the trenches and fighting or biting her cyanide capsule? Because she is WHITE.
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Rohan / January 1, 2018
Immigrant South Indian convert, we do not want your Salafist/Taliban view here.
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Anpu / December 31, 2017
Rajeewa,
Who setup LLRC?
Was it UK?
Has govts addressed the issues reported in the LLRC reports? What percentage has been implemented?
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Shenal / January 1, 2018
Anpu,
Government is not bound to carry out the recommendations of the LLRC report. It is just there for the consultation by the government. If we have to implement LLRC recommendations as you say let us first arrest and try Ranil Wikramasinghe for his Batalanda crimes.
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Anpu / January 1, 2018
Shenal,
SL Govts not bound by anything.
Govts did not and Current does not bother about Buddhist principles.
Govt did not bound by Dudley Selva Pact
Govt did not bound by Banda Selva Pact
Govt did not bound by SL India Accord
Govt does not bound by UNHRC resolution.
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Native Vedda / January 1, 2018
Anpu Man
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In essence Sri Lanka is a Rogue State.
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Here is some observation I found on the net:
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In the most general sense, a rogue state is a state that abides neither by international law nor international standards of proper governance and behavior.
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Among other criteria that qualify Sri Lanka being a rogue state:
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a rogue state squanders national resources for the personal gain of the rulers, caring little of the needs and desires of the general population
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a rogue state exposits little or no regard for international law, threatens its neighbors, and callously violates international treaties to which it is party
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a rogue state is irrational to the extent that conventional methods of negotiation are ineffective; it lacks diplomatic communication with other states
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a rogue state finally rejects basic human rights, and often develops openly genocidal practices
Anpu Man
Please pass this comment to Rajeewa, Dayan, ……………………………….. all others who are happy/contented with war crimes, crimes against humanity, human right violations, …. that have taken place since 5th April 1971 and appreciate mass and selective murders, massacres, rapes, destruction, ………………….. in the name of Sinhala/Buddhist fascism.
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Shenal / January 1, 2018
Anpu,
Buddhism has absolutely got nothing do with state governing. Therefore Buddhist principles go flying out of the window when it comes to governing a country.
Let me emphasize some old saying. “Agreements are like hearts. They are meant to be broken.” Government must first serve it’s people before adhering into the agreements it has made previously. Country comes above everything else.
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Native Vedda / January 1, 2018
Shenali the stupid
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Where is nuisance?
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“Buddhism has absolutely got nothing do with state governing.”
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Unfortunately I have to agree with you.
The CHAPTER II – on BUDDHISM was included in the constitution to protect crooks, war criminals, rapists, child molesters, murderers, ……………………..
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PS
CHAPTER II – BUDDHISM
The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e).
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Percy / January 3, 2018
Tamil vedda chapter on Buddhism is also to protect public pests like you.
You should be sprayed with an insecticide and dusted a little, then we can see whether any sense can come out of those dumb grey cells.
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Dionysus / January 1, 2018
A silly article. No focus. Restating historical facts that are dead and buried just to show authors scholarship. The point is 7000 or 70,000 is not the question. Brutality was unleashed. Innocents were murdered. The murderers must be unmasked. They walk amongst us, a danger to society. Your neighbour may be one of them.
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Richard / January 2, 2018
Dear Rajeeva, and all Participants,
Is Rajeeva a Sri Lankan Academician, or an independent Journalist, or a mature responsible Citizen trying to regain the lost Integrity of Sri Lanka? Or is he worried about the Western Countries’ integrity? Or is he trying to push down Sri Lanka more and more by equating the recent atrocities of Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka to the past atrocities of the West. Why is he being a Sri Lankan trying to implicate his own Country further?
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