Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah
What member states must not do is help Sri Lanka perpetuate a lie. Canada and the ‘Core Group on Sri Lanka’ must stand with victims and lead the call for an international judicial accountability mechanism.
To be read in conjunction with ‘UNHRC Cannot Rely On Sri Lanka To Prosecute Its Armed Forces’ Part I (here), Part II (here) and Part III (here)
It’s ten years since the Mullivaikkaal genocide. For Tamils this is particularly a poignant and painful moment in time. The 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is in progress and another resolution on, “Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka,” is being drafted by the Core Group on Sri Lanka.
At the other front, as of writing, speculation is rife that President Sirisena’s five man delegation that includes the new Governor of the Northern Province, is going to the UNHRC to seek a withdrawal from its commitments under the two resolutions Sri Lanka co-sponsored. Sirisena is dead against, “foreign participation” and won’t have that.
Seems as though there may be more drama coming and there’s no telling how the Core Group and the UNHRC would respond; although there can’t be any doubt this unending saga that relies on a domestic mechanism has got to end. And end it must.
In spite of the confusion, there are still some days left to finalise the draft and the likelihood that Sri Lanka could be given another extension is still true. With this in mind, Tamil Canadians, writing to Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister, Chrystia Freeland, urging against any extensions, want Canada to, “stand firm on the side of victims massacred in the Mullivaikkaal Genocide and lead the call for international action, for the UNHRC to ask the UN General Assembly to request the Security Council to refer Sri Lanka to the ‘International Criminal Court’ or take the steps necessary for the creation of a ‘Special International Criminal Tribunal for Sri Lanka – to try senior military and political leaders for mass atrocity crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape and genocide.”
The genocide in Sri Lanka is a question that needs to be litigated and any right thinking person would agree, allowing Sri Lanka to adjudicate the genocide it committed is not a rational proposition. Realistically speaking allowing Sri Lanka to investigate genocide is to allow the country under scrutiny to prosecute its own crimes and should be surely ruled out.
Tamils missing, disappeared, raped, tortured and killed in Sri Lanka have not only got to be counted and accounted for, but it’s also imperative the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are called to account in an independent international tribunal that will look after the interests of victims and has the trust of the Tamil community. Like I wrote, the Report by Charles Petrie on, “UN failures in Sri Lanka must also be seen as a scathing indictment on the perpetrators – the Rajapaksa government.” I said it when the Report was released and say it now: “the time has come to arraign the accused.”
While anticipating the usual shenanigans from Sri Lanka, Tamils are placing their faith wholly on the rule of law according to international standards and norms, and are looking to the UNHRC and Canada and the Core Group to deliver justice for the victims through an international judicial accountability mechanism and not through a domestic mechanism, hybrid or not.
Most Tamils and Tamil organisations in the diaspora and in the homeland are solidly against giving Sri Lanka any further extensions. While a massive protest and shut down by Tamils was taking place in the homeland as the UNHRC opened its sessions, numerous Tamil diaspora organisations were writing to the High Commissioner for Human Rights (High Commissioner) and to the 47 member states of the UNHRC; they are in unison, urging against giving Sri Lanka anymore additional time. Furthermore the students of the University of Jaffna are planning a Mass Protest Rally on March 16 in Jaffna and March 19th in Batticaloa, calling for an international investigation and having the blessings of Justice Wigneswaran who has called on the people to give their full support to the initiative.
The news thus far coming from the 40th session of the UNHRC doesn’t look good. All signs seem to indicate Sri Lanka will be aided in its sinister moves to obstruct justice yet again, by no less than the UNHRC an august body, one that everyone relies on to side with victims – the UNHRC which is supposed to expose and facilitate the prosecution of incalcitrant states that abuse human rights – in this case genocide. It would be unconscionable for Sri Lanka to be given a further reprieve but that is what will happen – Handing out extension after extension in which to fulfill its transitional justice obligations set out in resolutions 30/1 and 34/1, would amount to helping Sri Lanka perpetuate a lie – when everyone knows and should know by now the chances it would conform are nil.
As the Core Group on Sri Lanka – UK, Canada, Germany, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Northern Ireland finalizes the draft of another new resolution, it’s abundantly clear, wheels are being set in motion to sugar coat it beyond all reason and logic, with no consequences for non-compliance – all this only to seek Sri Lanka’s cooperation and co-sponsorship to facilitate its passage without a vote. This is wrong, any which way you look at it, when now more than ever before, there are many more compelling reasons why it is insane to take this path when Canada and the members of the Core Group must know that the, “UNHRC cannot rely on Sri Lanka to prosecute its armed forces.”
The granting of another extension would be devastating news for Tamils. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), Manicka Vasagar, currently in Geneva asks whether the delegates are, “listening to victims.” In addressing the UNHRC and members of the Core Group, the Minister makes the case why an ICC referral or an international mechanism, together with a country based Special Rappoteur in the Tamil Homeland in the North and East including immediate de-militarisation is critically important.
In anticipation of her much awaited report on Sri Lanka, writing to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, the TGTE appealed to her, “as the paramount defender of Human Rights,” to “halt Sri Lanka’s UNHRC Charade.”
When the report finally came, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in her report did not mince words (see Paragraph 51) about Sri Lanka’s failure to establish a trustworthy domestic mechanism. It was honest. Alluding to “some segments of the civil society”, who have, she said, “continued to call for international investigations and for the Security Council to refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for international prosecutions and adjudication of those most responsible for these crimes,” and expressing trepidation that, “only a handful of cases are likely to be addressed by the principles of universal jurisdiction,” the High Commissioner stressed the “need” for, “Alternatives, including some forms of international investigation and prosecution..to ensure that those most responsible for the most serious crimes are prosecuted.”
I quote:
“The High Commissioner stresses that the risk of new violations increases when impunity for serious crimes continues unchecked. To date, Sri Lanka has failed to seize the opportunity provided by the Human Rights Council to establish a trustworthy domestic mechanism to address impunity or to show, by consistent progress in emblematic cases, that such a mechanism is not necessary. Some segments of civil society have continued to call for international investigations and for the Security Council to refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for international prosecutions and adjudication of those most responsible for these crimes. The High Commissioner once again encourages Member States to prosecute Sri Lankans suspected of crimes against humanity, war crimes or other gross violations of human rights, in accordance with universal jurisdiction principles. This is likely to address only a handful of cases, however, where alleged suspects happen to be in the territory of countries receptive to the application of universal jurisdiction. Alternatives, including some forms of international investigation and prosecution, are therefore needed to ensure that those most responsible for the most serious crimes are prosecuted.”
End quote.
The atmosphere in the coming days at the UNHRC is going to be quite tense and very painful for Tamils to bear. Yet Tamils would hang on to the last vestiges of hope that the draft would undergo necessary changes requested on behalf of victims – it’s still not too late for the Core Group to heed the afore mentioned advice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; heed too the numerous voices crying out for justice. It’s still possible for the Core group to call, “Sri Lanka’s bluff,” and muster enough support among member countries and do the right thing by, “calling for Sri Lanka’s situation to be referred to the International Criminal Court.”
For Tamils the first jaw dropping bombshell came when the UK representative in the UN Julian Braithwaite, ahead of the 40th session, made the announcement on behalf of the Core Group that the new draft would basically call for, “continuation of the cooperation begun in 2015 in partnership with Sri Lanka.” In other words the same old stuff in resolution 30/1 and 34/1 will be regurgitated and produced in the new one.
And as announced the draft in its present form is indeed a travesty of justice – an absolute cop out, when facts stare in the face that Sri Lanka has neither the political will, nor wherewithal nor the Southern consensus required for a domestic judicial accountability mechanism “with foreign participation” that’s called for in 30/1.Sri Lanka despite being given ample time, has failed to act and will not act. Considering Sri Lanka’s President and Prime Minister have rejected outright any “foreign participation” set out in the 2015 resolution & vowed they wouldn’t allow a single soldier to be prosecuted, it is insane to expect “cooperation”. Insanity is described as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
It seems, President Sirisena, is sending a five member delegation to seek a withdrawal from its commitments Sri Lanka co-sponsored in 2015 and 2017. The Tamil Guardian reporting, “the announcement comes amid much contradiction as the foreign ministry said it would co-sponsor the new roll over resolution next week, only for the President to say he would be seeking a withdrawal.” Earlier Mahinda Samarasinghe – the man who led the Sri Lanka delegation in March of 2013 at the 22nd session during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time was to lead the delegation but has backed out. Listening to Mahinda Samarasinghe making his presentation was painful the last time round. The International Truth and Justice ProjectSL (ITJP) questioning his credibility expresses doubt, “he can be taken seriously in this role when he continues to deny there’s even a problem to fix.
It’s also rumoured that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is sending his own delegation – one that would be willing to co-sponsor the resolution. As of writing no one knows how this is going to turn out.
Those who have seen the rollover draft would know, there’s nothing new that catches the eye except Sri Lanka is said to be introducing a ‘truth and reconciliation commission’ Bill (TRC). This is in keeping with Sri Lanka’s typical “drip feeding” style, a modus operandi of theirs to make up for non-compliance and then play smart, by either shelving or slowing down the process of the said provision. This time too Sri Lankan delegation would come with a grand plan, hedging its obligations and back to prevaricating upon its return home.
It’s a crying shame the new draft has failed like before to provide strict bench marks and time frames for Sri Lanka to adhere to. Even if it does it won’t offer any comfort to victim’s families who don’t have any faith in a domestic judicial accountability mechanism anyway.
Leela Devi Anandarajah, the Secretary of the Association of Mothers of the ‘Enforced Disappeared’ representing all 8 Tamil districts in the island, is distraught at developments in Geneva. In an interview given to Suthan Raj of IBC Tamil, she shares her frustration at UK’s attitude: She spoke of how mothers in search of justice for their children disappeared by Sri Lanka (who they hope may be still be alive), who want an international judicial accountability mechanism, are feeling betrayed by what’s going on at the 40th session. Expressing dissatisfaction that Sri Lanka could be given another two year extension she said she was exasperated that UK is taking the lead in it – UK, that’s was once the British colonial power that left the island in the hands of the Sinhalese, is letting us down once again, she said. Disappointed that UK mistakenly thinks the office of Missing Persons is functioning well, which is not true, stating the office only exists, its rent must be being paid that’s all, telling Suthan Raj the families were not going to give up the fight and will carry on their search for justice, despite this absolutely devastating news coming from UK and the ‘Core Group’.
In that vein, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s proposal to establish a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ is far too premature. And his call to “forgive and forget” is without merit when there has been no admission of guilt or expression of remorse. It is important to note in South Africa the TRC was established not by the persecutors but by the victims at the end of the apartheid era when Blacks won the right to govern themselves and not before. While Sinhala Buddhist supremacist policies prevail in Sri Lanka, a TRC is neither feasible nor viable.
In their letter to the Prime Minister and to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chrystia Freeland, delivered through Member of Parliament for Scarborough Rouge-Park and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, Gary Andandasangaree, Tamil Canadians, underscored, among other, the need for Canada to play a lead role at the UNHRC, as the body prepares to vote on a new resolution.
The letter touched on many issues deserving high priority, that the High Commissioner mentioned in her Report on Sri Lanka
The letter made clear “Sri Lanka has neither the will, nor wherewithal, nor the southern consensus needed to create a domestic mechanism with foreign participation as called for in resolution 30/1 and 34/1.”
And I quote:
“Despite being granted a two year extension in March 2017, Sri Lanka has failed to implement nearly all of the substantial provisions contained in resolutions 30/1 of 2015 and 34/1 of 2017, both of which it co-sponsored – including the failure to establish a judicial accountability mechanism, in a domestic setting with foreign participation, as promised. That’s why a statement from the United Kingdom ahead of the March 2019 session, “to continue the cooperation begun in 2015,” and to work, “in partnership with Sri Lanka,” comes as a shock to Tamil Canadians. This move is devastating to say the least, when Sri Lanka continues to show it has neither the will, nor wherewithal, nor the southern consensus needed to create a domestic mechanism with foreign participation as called for in the resolution. This considering President Sirisena has categorically rejected any “foreign participation”, insisting he will not allow even one soldier to be prosecuted, going as far as removing Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, from the ‘Foreign Affairs’ portfolio, for agreeing to co-sponsor resolutions 30/1 and 34/1.”
End quote;
Further the letter reiterated the misgivings of Tamils with respect to establishing a TRC before a judicial accountability mechanism has handed its verdict, calling its launch far too premature – referring to South Africa and the importance of bearing in mind that the TRC there was’ “established not by the persecutors but by the victims at the end of the apartheid era when Blacks won the right to govern themselves and not before.”
As things are, no action can be expected from Sri Lanka, a government in turmoil & fractured within; with its politicians engaged in violence in parliament; whose President tried to dissolve parliament when his attempt to sack the Prime Minister and bring back Mahinda Rajapaksa failed. It’s significant that Sri Lanka’s President himself has allegations of mass atrocities held against him.
Canada must raise its voice against letting Sri Lanka off the hook for its continuing impunity. All political parties in Canada must work together in solidarity at this point and ideally speak with one voice, Canadian Tamils must persuade Canada to not settle merely for the full implementation of the resolution within a precise and firm time frame, futile as it may, but engage and lobby as many member countries as possible to get an international mechanism going. This before alleged war criminals, Gotabaya and Mahinda Rajapaksa come to power – which is very much in the cards with the Presidential and Parliamentary elections not far away.
All of these point to only one thing. While the application of ‘universal jurisdiction’ by individual states to prosecute war criminals must be pursued rigorously, the way forward for member states of the UNHRC is to ask the UN General Assembly to request the UN Security Council to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court or to an international special criminal tribunal for Sri Lanka set up for that purpose.
No doubt, the need of the hour is for the Core Group on Sri Lanka and the UNHRC to act and act decisively, as per the High Commissioner’s words, “to refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for international prosecutions and adjudication of those most responsible for these crimes.”
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Extracts from the Letter to the Prime Minister of Canada from members of the TGTE:
For Tamils all over the world this year is particularly poignant as they commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Mullivaikkaal Genocide. In the search for justice for victims, Canada must stand with, standby and stand firm on the side of victims. There’s no denying the situation for Tamils in the Tamil homeland in the North and East has only gotten worse. There is much cause for concern as the political crisis in the South festers from within and the government is fractured beyond repair. The feud between the two major Sinhala political parties – that caused internecine brawls in parliament, with violence aimed at the speaker and law enforcement, creating splits within them – hasn’t really ended; the relationship between President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe continues to be acrimonious; this together with the impending comeback of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has exacerbated concerns, that all-round, conditions for the Tamil people in their homeland will continue to be grim – with no favourable developments either in demilitarization or in the delivery of the four pillars of transitional justice; the right to know; the right to justice; the right of victims to reparation; and the right to reform and non-recurrence.
It is noteworthy that the earlier statement by the ‘core group’ at the 39th session calling on Sri Lanka, “to prioritise and drive forward the implementation of resolution 30/1 and 34/1 before the Council next considers Sri Lanka in March,” went unheard. The military while continuing its surveillance operations keeps expanding its civilian activities in the Tamil homeland – running shops, farms, hotels, pre-schools and even organizing carnivals. Shavendra Silva who has allegations of war crimes and genocide against him has been appointed ‘Chief of Staff’ of the Sri Lankan armed forces by the president.
Most disconcerting and disturbing is the discovery of yet more mass graves in Tamil areas – the forensic examination of which in actual fact should be supervised by a UN accredited entity – which is the right thing to do and is not being done. The remains of those who were summarily executed during the war and or extra-judicially killed haven’t been handed over to relatives, while the truth of secret prison camps, known also as death camps or torture chambers where Tamil prisoners were subjected to torture and sexual violence, have not been revealed. The families of those disappeared by the state have still not got answers to the whereabouts of their kith and kin –although the Prime Minister believes they are all dead, but is yet to show proof. As the army continues to occupy public land, those still waiting for their lands to be returned, remain defiant but with no redress – the President has failed to keep his promise to provide a list of the missing and return all lands back to the owners by the end of 2018. The Office of Missing Persons and the Office of Reparations– all limited in scope are not functioning to expectations; the Victims and Witness Protection Act needs review; the draconian ‘Prevention of Terrorism Act’ has not been repealed yet; arbitrary arrests and imprisonment without charge are still being carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Special Task Force, while political prisoners incarcerated under the Act are not released.
The harassment and intimidation of Tamils – of journalists and human rights advocates, students and families remembering the dead and the fear of reprisals against them, the takeover of the resting places of the fallen – are real. State sponsored colonization of the traditional homeland of the Tamils, the erection of Buddhist shrines where there aren’t any Buddhists, the changes in place names and historical sites in the Tamil homeland, lack of translation facilities (for example the ‘Disaster Management Center’ does not post warnings in Tamil), the numerous errors in translation appearing in sign boards – are all symptomatic of Sinhala Buddhist hegemony, leading to the obliteration of the Tamil language, systematic demographic engineering, the distortion of history, the extermination of Tamil culture and the extinction of the Tamil nation, affecting the Tamil people’s right to nationhood.
As of writing, the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) does not exist and the office of the Chief Minister remains unfilled; and although the NPC’s term ended in October of 2018, elections haven’t been called yet and are likely to be postponed indefinitely. There is discontent among Tamils that the newly appointed governor, although Tamil speaking, is a stooge of the president. The promised constitutional reform is at a standstill – Sri Lanka has not got the political will to take the required steps towards achieving a permanent political solution that involves actual power sharing. Tamils believe a referendum would give the Tamil people the chance to democratically express their collective political will. Peace and reconciliation could only realistically happen when fundamental, meaningful, substantial, significant and far reaching changes on a range of issues occur for the Tamil people.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe’s proposal to establish a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ (TRC), which up to now hasn’t got the backing of the president, (and therefore will not go far) is far too premature. And his call to “forgive and forget” is without merit when there has been no admission of guilt or expression of remorse. It is important to note in South Africa the TRC was established not by the persecutors but by the victims at the end of the apartheid era when Blacks won the right to govern themselves and not before. While Sinhala Buddhist supremacist policies prevail in Sri Lanka, a TRC is neither feasible nor viable. It was last year on December 7th that the UN marked the 70th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. And on this the 10th anniversary of the Mullivaikkaal genocide the need for justice to be done is that much greater.
Dcn / March 15, 2019
LAnka is losing strategy but.making a confusion.
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Desperate Sinhalaya / March 15, 2019
Youguys, talk about the crimes committed during the war..
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Following is what I happened to compare this afteroon, I thought that should be focued at this very juncture, how Rajaakshes committed them in the post war period.
Those victimized families are set on sysipean punishment today since they are fated to but to wait… and wait.. until. Thadjudeen ‘s premeditated murder is served with justice
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Two Brutal Premeditated Murders In Recent Times In Istanbul, Turkey and Colombo, Srilanka Respectively
Jamal Khashoggi, one of the close critics of Saudi Royal Family, the crown prince, in particular (mostly known as MBS) is believed to have been murdered on 02 October 2018, by a premeditated plan headed by MBS et al, while Srilanka’s Rugby player, Wasim Thadjudeen murder was alleged to have perpetrated on 17 May 2012 by Yoshitha Rajapakshe, the 2nd bastard son of former President of Srilanka.
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1. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ44spUo8Uk
2. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasim_Thajudeen
3. http://www.dailymirror.lk/18677/charred-body-found-narahenpita
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Hey, Friends, there are lot more similarities of the above mentioned two mysterious murders than any other murders heard by us recently.
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See how brutal these murders should be. They killed Jamal Khashoggi on the 02 Oct 2018, with his fiancé waiting outside of Saudi Embassy in Stanbul, Turkey. Today, entire world is clear who was behind that one of the heinous crimes we ever heard in our life times.
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In the same time, lanken lad’s death firstly identified as an motor car accident by the diseased himself due to him to have been drunk, strikingly, later revealed to have a brutal murder well premediated by former first family.
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JD / March 15, 2019
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Dodo / March 15, 2019
Madam Usha, The UK-US Human Rights endgame in Sri Lanka is setting up a military base free of charge in Trincomalee. They are land grabbing in Trinco’
The Geneva UNHRC is a distraction and huge WASTE of TIME.
This is why US citizen Gotaabaya who has command responsibility for war crimes and should be tried in USA is scot free and protected in Lanka bu US puppet Bondscam Ranil! The US game with Bondscam Ranil and Rajapaksa is “Heads I win , Tails you loose”. Either way, Sri Lankans, Tamil, SInhala, Muslim are screwed by Trumpland.
Meanwhile US-UK continues to violate the Human Rights of Chagos Island people who were forcibly evicted from their island homes in the Indian Ocean to build the infamous US militaty based Diego Garcia against which ICJ the UN highest court has ruled. Sri Lanka, India, and Indian Ocean countries should take UK and US to UNCHR for Human Rights violations in Indian Ocean Chagos Islands
Long live Miracle of Modays
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Tamil from the north / March 15, 2019
No picture will ever convince racists in Sri Lanka to come forward and say it really happened. The racist elements of the majority will never allow Sri Lanka to move forward as one country as they live in a bubble and lead a very insecure lifestyle. They will even go onto blame this mother and the little baby as LTTE fighters and hoodwink the entire world with their tall tales. Disgusting!!!!
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JD / March 15, 2019
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soma / March 15, 2019
Any impartial investigation should begin with rearrest of +12,000 terrorists released by Rajapaksa, a single handed, unwarranted act without any approval of the parliament and Canada releasing full details of ALL Tamil refugee entrants into the Country. Canada should also investigate supply of arms and funding terror act by Tamil diaspora. Sooka’s list of witnesses should also be unlocked as Tamils have proved to notorious liars as economic refugees.
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Soma
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Native Vedda / March 17, 2019
somass
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“Any impartial investigation should begin with rearrest of +12,000 terrorists released by Rajapaksa, a single handed, unwarranted act without any approval of the parliament and Canada releasing full details of ALL Tamil refugee entrants into the Country. “
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Did Mahindawamsa publish a list of details of people who surrendered to the armed forces until June 2009 and the details of people who were released as you and armed forces claim?
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The impartial investigation should cover the period from 5th April 1971 to 9th January 2015.
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Do you have any other clever questions, observations, …….?
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Ayathuray Rajasingam / March 15, 2019
What Mrs.U.S.Sriskandarajah says are absolutely correct. I am sure Sri Lanka will be given a further extension and marking time will be a common occurrence. Even Canada has its own problem. Canada could not do anything when our Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland was confronted with the violation of human rights in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia bluntly closed its embassy in Canada and stopped its flights to Toronto. Though a country cannot interfere into the domestic affairs of a country, it must be mentioned that Chrystia Freeland was acting within the scope of the United Nations Charter (Chapter 6). But what use. Canada being a developed country should have taken adequate steps by other diplomatic means to see that Saudi Arabia rally round Canada. Before demanding account for the murder and/or disappearance of about 70,000 innocent Tamils, the Tamils should look back at history of Germany, Italy, and Japan. There too number of disappearances took place. In those countries the people having realized the horrors inflicted upon them, got round their enemies and worked hard to rebuild their economy to stand on their feet. Emotions have to kept aside and concentrate on developing the economy. When there is a crisis among Ranil. Maithiri and Ranil, join hands with Ranil make the best use of it by winning the hearts of the Sinhalese. There are much more to write. Showing hatred is not the remedy. The powerful weapon is love and affection.
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2019
You are right. They should stand with Sinhalayo who are the real victims of barbaric Demala terrorists who did unimaginable heinous crimes against Sinhala children, women and men. Just imagine raping pregnant Sinhala women, cutting the belly to pull out the baby, throw the baby up and hold the point of a bayonet to kill the baby. Aren’t they barbarians!
They also should stand with the Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives, eyes, arms and legs to liberate nearly 300,000 Demala civilians who were kept as a human shield by Prabhakaran and LTTE terrorists. This is a serious war crime but none of the white guys talk about the war crimes committed by these barbaric terrorists.
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Unfortunately white hypocrites always do not do the right thing although they are very good in preaching to others. That is the reason why Native Americans say ‘White people talk with a forked tongue’.
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Elmo Namasivyam, Maryland / March 15, 2019
This woman Usha must apply for a job in Hollywood as a Computerised Graphic Image (CGI) creating artist. With her experience in converting pictures of Tiger crimes to look like Army ‘atrocities’ puts her in the same league of CGI artists who ‘created’ frauds such as Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars.
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She is equally extremist, and more importantly shameless to do the job.
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K.Pillai / March 16, 2019
Elmo, you have spelt your assumed surname incorrectly.
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2019
Some Demala people in this forum brand Sinhalayo as racists and fascists. These Demala people who condemn Sinhalayo are the descendants of slaves brought to this country illegally by Portuguese, Dutch and British who plundered this country using their labor. All these colonial parasites dumped these slaves and their descendants in this country and left. Sinhalayo are no way responsible for Demala people brought by colonial parasites. Sole responsibility of Demala people in this country rests with the three colonial rulers who brought your ancestors to this country. Colonial Governments in Sinhale were illegal and what they did also illegal. So, if you people have any problem in living in this country with the racist fascist Sinhalayo (according to your point of view) please do not blame Sinhalayo. You guys should lodge those complaints with Governments of Portugal, Netherlands and Britain and request them to take you to their countries because they displaced your ancestors forcibly from their homeland for their economic gain. If they accept refugees from all over the world, why shouldn’t they accept Demala people for whom they have a responsibility?
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Eagle Eye / March 15, 2019
”Tamils missing, disappeared, raped, tortured and killed in Sri Lanka have not only got to be counted and accounted for, but it’s also imperative the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are called to account in an independent international tribunal that will look after the interests of victims and has the trust of the Tamil community.”
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Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF), instead of keeping peace did all these things that you mentioned. So why don’t you guys lodge a complaint with UNHRC. Sri Lankan Armed Forces liberated Demala people from megalomaniac Prabhakaran who forced only low caste Demala people to fight with a cyanide capsule in the neck and recruited children by force as soldiers. According to UN, about 3000 children were recruited to fight. You can be proud of that Great Job!!! .
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Old codger / March 15, 2019
The lovely Usha needs to put her point across in far fewer words. Surely she knows that a Sinhala Buddhist patriot has a 2 minute attention span?
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Tamil Net-CENSORED / March 15, 2019
CT my Loving Editors, Do Either of you have DEATH WISH by publishing this………
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OH M GOD……I can’t Believe CT is BOLD daring should I say Courageous To Publish with such a Throat-Cutting Heading……we are with You ( as always Exclude sinhala buddhist here )..CT I have to SAY by publishing this Y are really pushing the LIMITS[ RED-LINE]……careful mate Y are starting to get in to NERVES of SL Intelligence and all Senior Military Officials….[this article has been circulated like wildfire]
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I am not (no one is) a fan of Sinhala Bull S…..t Investigative bla bla Journalism …..cause there isn’t any… no one in Sinhala News Industry intelligent enough [ their English know-how is less than of 5th graders] to be recognized in that sense……But Don’t Y want to write this in sinhala….I am DEAD SERIOUS for God sake I am BEGGING You to PLEASE PLEASE…Write this article in sinhala…..Publish it not here [DO-NOT] at some where to save Y Skin…..God Bless
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DERANA News dubbed this as ” “How dare they [CT] write something that is so NON PATRIOTIC….bla bla bla for against this bastard fatherland…
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John / March 15, 2019
You are recycling your lies and bullsh1t and you don’t have anything new to say.
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YOU MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SRI LANKA / SINHALE IS THE LAND OF SINHALA-BUDDHISTS. Your homeland is Tamil Nadu, so go there.
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Tell your war criminal boss Bogra who has been an active member of child soldiers, suicide b0mbers, se x slaves, etc recruited ponna Prabakaran’s terrorists organization to prison in America. All Sri Lankan authorities have to do is tip the American authorities.
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UNHRC has been officiated as cesspool. Only maggots and worms live in cesspool. So do you really think that Sinhala-Buddhist Sri Lanka will meet cesspool UNHRC maggots and worms’ threads???
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SL kolla / March 16, 2019
Shut up John!
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John / March 15, 2019
How come genuine Tamils of Tamil Nadu don’t give a damn about fake Tamils in Sinhala-Buddhists Sri Lanka???
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Native Vedda / March 15, 2019
Johnny Boy
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“How come genuine Tamils of Tamil Nadu don’t give a damn about fake Tamils in Sinhala-Buddhists Sri Lanka???”
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Do you like to challenge them?
They do care about their long lost cousins who now call themselves as Sinhala-Buddhists, hence they don’t challenge them or wish wish them ill as they are capable of harming themselves.
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Jothipala's BIL / March 15, 2019
May be the Belgiques don’t care about their long lost left overs in Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
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That’s why we are left with their rubbish..
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Real Revolutionist / March 15, 2019
Don’t bully Sri Lanka & its innocent majority population.
A country can’t be divided according to the whim & fancy of its minority for the mere reason of concentrating its population to one place.
Who started terrorism; the coward act of hide & attack in civilian dress & appear to the world in military outfit?
How can civilian casualties be minimized in such a war?
(not accepting that civilian casualties had been maximum but that too had been possible)
Any organization that’s followed terrorism should not be given sympathy by any kind of HR organization.
Big countries including Canada please send back fake asylum seekers & terrorists hiding in your country without bullying Sri Lanka.
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Occupied By SL Armed Forces / March 15, 2019
Who says SL Government militarily Conclusively Defeated the LTTE ….I dare anyOne to answer that Come on ( cause they are still here & there)
+ You bastard what took place was a MASSACRE
What we have DUBBED as PEACE in north and East is Nothing but an Absolute Military Occupation…
+
Military Occupation = Ending of 30 Year Civil WAR = Peace defined to please the majority Sri Lankans…
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Ranjith(SPRRW) / March 15, 2019
That mean you are suggesting that our forces should have killed entire population in north & east but they did not do that. yes my opinion is same.
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K.Anaga / March 15, 2019
Usha!
You are in a fool’s paradise if you expect the west,.especially Britain to support your suggestion. After all Britain is the cause of the Tamil problem. Their Commercial interest and their political interest will always overshadows the Tamil problem. The pseudo interest they show on the Tamils are only to win their votes.
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Ranjith(SPRRW) / March 15, 2019
Forces duty is to keep country peaceful and provide security for civilian activities . Forces did it. Why should we prosecute them ???????????
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Native Vedda / March 15, 2019
Ranjith(SPRRW)
The failed Sorcerer
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“Forces duty is to keep country peaceful and provide security for civilian activities . Forces did it.”
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Did they?
Cowards were hiding behind their women folks and VPs bum when IPKF ran riot in North East (presume part of this island).
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Your women must be ashamed of giving birth to the cowards who went on to kill more innocent people in the South.
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Why didn’t you use your sorcery to stop the cowards from committing war crimes in the South? Did you lose your magic wand and forgotten your magic mantra?
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lal / March 15, 2019
UNHRC is a tool of the West created to control the global south, but it is fast losing its relevance, if at all it ever was. To rely on UNHRC to punish Sinhalese only for the crimes they committed whilst Tamil Terrorist murderers go free is not going to happen.The writer can tell us how successful she and her fellow travelers were with their efforts at the conclusion of the UNHRC session. (US calls it a Cesspool)
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soma / March 16, 2019
Worth looking at this:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/bars-entry-icc-members-probing-war-crimes-afghanistan-190315191933901.html
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Soma
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John / March 16, 2019
Usha is diabolical liar and her articles should never have been published in a reputed new medium like the CT. Starting with Yasmin Sooka, a South African citizen of Indian Tamil origin, all these Tamil writers propagate lies accusing Sri Lankan forces of war crimes whereas the LTTE, its supporters living in the West and Western governments which allowed fund collection for terrorism in Sri Lanka and specially India which trained and funded terrorists to carry out attacks in Sri Lanka are the real offenders. Sri Lankan forces rescued 350,000 innocent Tamils from Prabhakaran, who kept them as human shield by Prabhakaran. Usha accuses Sri Lankan force of genocide. She has no shame to tell such lies. It is Prabhakaran who committed genocide. By the end of the conflict there are no Sinhalese in the North having been killed. LTTE responsible for killing thousands of Sinhala civilians in the border villages completely wiping out of those villages. These terrorists also chased away all the Muslims from North within 48 hours. They also massacred Muslims worshiping in mosques. They used suicide bombers targeting civilians in many parts of the Island killing in hundreds at time in each attack. Tamil racists come out with various figures at various times accusing the army of killing civilians such as 40,000, 60,000 or 100,000 killed. Their lies are exposed when Lord Nasbey after carrying out exhaustive research into the case with authentic evidence confirmed that not more than 6000 civilians were killed, which is a very modest, in fact a very low figure considering the extent of the armed conflict. Unfortunately the Western countries believed in the lies of these Tamil racists or they willfully supported such false accusations as it suits their agenda against the Sri Lankan government.
I would like to advise Ms Usha not to propagate such lies.
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sbarrkum / March 16, 2019
A few years ago when Usha wrote her lengthy articles, there would be hundreds of comments.
No it comments have dwindled to about 30.
Less and less people can be bothered to read Usha’s long thesis.
Eventually will dwindle to nothing.
Paw aney. but an A+ for effort.
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Ugly American / March 17, 2019
This lady has stated a few facts.
You two groups – some liking her point of view and those against it are like the hyenas fighting over a carcass left by the big game in the African wild.
Here is what is unfolding, my dear friends: Pay attention!
Prabakaran lost Eelam for the Tamils because – he was a military strategist – but was a stupid idiot when it came to Geopolitical matters.
Rajapakse on the other hand – is an astute politician – but adopted a “scorched earth” policy when it came to Sri Lanka. He focused on amassing wealth and sold out the country to the Chinese and did not care about the Geopolitical repercussions of his actions. THIS ACTION WILL RESULT IN NORTH AND EAST BEING UNIFIED and the Tamils will get their homeland that Prabakaran lost for them.
Geopolitical repercussions of Rajapakse’s action – is going to consolidate the North and the East!!
Ok..ok.. before you guys flip, hear me out.
America’s current foreign policy focus is, “pivot to Asia”. In simple terms, stop the expansion of China. That being said, US and its close ally, India is not going to stand by and watch China taking a foothold in the South of Sri Lanka and gradually advancing to the North – a threat to the Southern defense corridor for India. So India and the US will act – consolidating their position by fortifying the North and East of Sri Lanka.
Tamils will have their homeland – under the protection of India and US – Thanks to the Rajapakse’s. Tamils should do a pooja every day in their shrines for Rajapakse – a picture of him in the altar with garlands!.
Now go ahead and trash me and call me names..!
But when you are done, come back and read what I said. Then go home an pray!
The next Vietnam type of war will be in Sri Lanka – Chinese and the Sinhalese in the South vs.US/India and the Tamils in North and East.
I am done!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 17, 2019
Thank you Ugly American for this excellent analysis, which I had been repeatedly emphasizing in these columns. The next war will not come from within Sri Lanka, but from outside where the so called war heroes could do nothing about. Sri Lanka was given full support by India, US and West with the undertaking given by Mahinda that if they help to eradicate LTTE, he will settle the Tamil demand for autonomy. Instead to counter Indian pressure he toyed with China. This type of games will not go far in international arena especially against a powerful state which is breathing fire about presence of China in Sri Lanka. The present government is playing a double game, on one hand promising and pronouncing that they will counteract the Chinese presence by giving over real estate, but so far not dong anything. This type of hoodwinking also will not go too far, as after a fair leverage given to the present government to fulfill its promise,decisive action will be taken by these forces to achieve the objective. The biggest favour Mahinda has done to Tamils is to get rid of Prabaharan and his entire family, who were bringing ruin to Tamils. Now that he is gone there will be no one to spoil the party. With sure chance of Mahinda returning to power he will preside in the ignominy that is going to befall on Sinhalese..
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Anpu / March 17, 2019
Dr,
“his entire family, who were bringing ruin to Tamils” ?????
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 19, 2019
Anpu, today Tamils are in this sorry position because of Prabaharan who was fighting a selfish war in a foolish manner. He never listened to saner advice and did everything on his own accord where he was not mandated by Tamils. He was grooming his eldest son to take over and continue with this madness. By not agreeing for a negotiated settlement twice in 1987 and 2002, he brought bad name to Tamils as intransigent. Had Prabaharan, his son and Pottu Amman any concerns for Tamils, they would have surrendered to India when asked to do so through TNA, and India would have stopped the war and Sri Lanka troops could not have moved an inch forward and death of large number of Tamils killed after 2008 would not have happened. It is the poor ordinary fighters who sacrificed their lives to carry out mad orders of one man and his sycophantic supporters. Now that they are gone, Sinhalese are being exposed as intransigent in refusing for a settlement. I will not hesitate to call a spade a spade whoever the person is.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / March 19, 2019
Dude
Is there any limit to how low you will sink Dr GS??
Now we know what you were doing in the war zone helping the civilians??? you are the witness to lot of killing??? you also know LTTE killed my father too??? interesting indeed.
It prove the point you must be working for a foreign agency on regime change/toppling governments/misinformation???????. you are really getting desperate man??
who are you please identify…………Sri Lanka can not be your country??
I asked for an open debate in public/ venu a Sinhalese village will be ideal for us you think?? Any European venu as a second phase of the discussion too.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / March 19, 2019
TV, you do not have the mental capacity to understand these and no intelligence to foresee the future because of your bigoted mind. Do not try to defend the treachery committed by your father, who would have sold Tamils and amassed wealth.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / March 20, 2019
‘Do not try to defend the treachery committed by your father, who would have sold Tamils and amassed wealth’
I rest my case………cool……….who wants to buy you is what being challenged here……we do not……I am happy to go and see your local MP wherever you live and discuss matters accordingly anytime.
Please please let us meet.
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Citizen Silva / March 21, 2019
As far as I know Canada is pretty good when it comes to being fair and just.
except for a few dickheads from the far right – which does not represent the majority of peace loving people of Canada.
Good on you good Dr.
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