By S. V. Kirubaharan –
S. V. Kirubaharan
Sri Lanka is neither a rich country nor an arms-producing country. Most of the arms used to kill over 200,000 Tamils were provided by certain deals with countries known as champions of human rights.
Mahatma Gandhi of India, the father of non-violent struggle has still not been given a Nobel Peace prize. Then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill made some humiliating remarks about Mahatma Gandhi, saying he may have practiced non-violence but the out-comes of his actions were violent.
Knowing such a reaction to non-violent struggle of Gandhi, Tamils in the Island of Sri Lanka courageously exercised their legitimate rights through non-violent struggle for three decades after independence in 1948. They never got a positive response from any Sri Lankan government. Then in 1983 the armed struggle started. This, in fact, allowed Tamils to live with pride and dignity. But some mistakes were made and the armed struggle was labelled as ‘terrorism’. Eventually the international community suppressed it.
From these two periods, it became obvious that no Sri Lankan government will ever find a solution for the Tamils long-standing grievances. So people like me believe that the United Nations is a place where we can find justice. In 1983 a few Tamils started participating in UN Human Rights Forums. I also worked since August 1990, believing that the diplomatic approach is the only way forward.
As the war intensified in Sri Lanka in 2008, a few Tamils started to come from various other parts of the world to Geneva. Soon after May 2009, a huge crowd of Tamil diaspora, whether they believed in the UN or not, started to participate in the UN Forums. Even though not many knew the proceedings of UN Forums, they lobbied with their feelings as victims.
With the help of International NGOs, Human Rights Defenders and certain UN member countries, three consecutive resolutions on Sri Lanka were passed. The last one, passed in March 2014, paved the way for an investigation by the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights – OHCHR.
Many victims, despite numerous difficulties, risking their family members’ lives at the hands of tyrant security forces in Sri Lanka and military personnel in the Sri Lankan embassies abroad, managed to give evidence. They thought perpetrators will be brought to justice, for what happened to them, their family members, neighbours, friends and others.
Betrayal of victims
Now, to everyone’s surprise, after spending so much time, money and resources – with the investigation report scheduled to be published on March 25th – the High Commissioner for Human Rights HCHR and UN Human Rights Council HRC want to delay the report, in just the same way as the Sri Lanka government habitually does.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein – The HR Chief
It is confusing! We, as victims, understand the position of neither the HCHR nor the HRC. The pretext given and widely known does not follow any logic.
In Sri Lanka, the new interim government consists of the old crowd. This is “old wine in a new bottle”. They categorically reject the UN investigation and say that they will do a domestic investigation. Since 1956, we as victims have had numerous experiences of reports and investigations by successive governments remaining unpublished or never released. So is the UN now following the same style as Sri Lanka?
Those who understand the proceedings of the UN HRC never expected a resolution in the forthcoming 28th session. There may be one in the future. What they expect in March this year, is a fair report on the investigation, as a result of last year’s resolution.
Some who do not know the limits of the HRC, speak about sending the Rajapaksas to the Hague. Those who look for pretexts, have also added this, as one of the excuses for delaying the report. All these are ridiculous pretexts.
Who will speak up for victims?
The smartest thing, is that the new interim government of Sri Lanka meets with the HCHR, the UN Secretary General, the US Secretary of State and others and briefs them on their position.
Are these VVIPS giving any chance for the victims to meet and brief them? Who is voicing for the victims? When will these victims ever get justice?
We learnt from the media that Sri Lankan presidential advisor Jayantha Dhanapala was in Geneva recently. Was he there to give a crash course on “How to delay or not publish an investigation report – as done in Sri Lanka?”
If the report is not published as scheduled on March 25th, the august inter-governmental body – the United Nations – will be seen as a copy of Sri Lanka. Victims from everywhere will lose faith in the HCHR and the HRC.
In conclusion, the victims in Sri Lanka have not only been cheated by various Sri Lankan governments but also by the UN and others who play behind the scene.
Have Tamil victims been used as pawns for international horse deals?
Can the victims from Sri Lanka still have hope in the international community and the United Nations? It is well known that, “Power is might and right!”
What is the message these forces are giving to the next generation of Tamils?
Amarasiri / February 15, 2015
S. V. Kirubaharan –
“Sri Lanka is neither a rich country nor an arms-producing country. Most of the arms used to kill over 200,000 Tamils were provided by certain deals with countries known as champions of human rights.”
Can you please provide a breAkdown of the Total Number killed, Combatants and non-combatants (civilians) and their ethnicities, and the countries supplying the weapons.
Need to start with facts.
Does the Sun go around the Earth or the Earth around the Sun? What does the data say?
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David / February 15, 2015
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Raja / February 15, 2015
‘the arms used to kill over 200,000 Tamils’ HA AHA HA HHAAAA HIK HIK HAHAAA OHHHH HA AHA HA HAHA AHA AHA HIK HIK NO no no you got it wrong its over 500,000 no no no its more than 800,000, what a fool over 200,000 tamils killed. By the way i suppose the god in the sky gave the LTTE it’s heavy weapons to fight. But Please get the facts correct over 897,721 tamils my estimate.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / February 15, 2015
We Thamizh can breed at an astronomical rate even after death. “7000” has has multiplied into 10,000, 40,000, 75,000, 148,000, 200,000, 1.68×10^19 etc in just 5 years.
Makes me wonder how the Sinhalese came to be the majority in Sri Lanka, since We Thamizh had Thamizh kingdoms since before the time of the dinosaurs, and Sinhalese only turned up a few years ago. We ancient We Thamizh just a bunch of flaccid Ponniahs as many We Thamizh names seem to indicate (e.g. Ponna-lingam, Ponna-ambalam)?
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Nadarajah / February 15, 2015
No doubt this is a government voice.
Bravo S. V. Kirubaharan
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Javi. / February 16, 2015
S. V. Kirubaharan, (@_@)
“”Have Tamil victims been used as pawns for international
horse deals? What is the message these forces
are giving to the next generation of Tamils?””(@_@)
CATCH 22 …(^o^;> excuse me? ..(?_?) confused!
Jaguar Tiger: a neighborhood full of hermaphrodite hyenas.
walkie-talkie,cheeky charlie,
Looks like you’ve eaten a Chinese dog.
The Zombie gets a medal for Dedication.
｡◕‿◕｡
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Manicka Vasagar / February 15, 2015
It will ALL be in the UN report. That is why the victims and activists want the OISL report to be released as planned on the 25 March. You can then read all about it, the truth on how, why and by whom the massacre took place.
Facts, photos, figures and the perpetrators in the report will lead to a solution to your confusion and the state of affairs in Sri Lanka. Wake up, don’t pretend to be a fool.
Support the release of the report for the sake of your future and for the future of humanity.
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kamal / February 16, 2015
over 200,000 Tamils Killed.
Is this Guy a Joker??? Hiroshima with the Atomic Bomb dropped the death reate 166,000
over 200,000 in sri lanka. I didnt know we had Atomic weapons or That Much TNT fire power to do so much damage. Not America.
Pure Properganda Figures Plucked from clouds,
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Sellam / February 15, 2015
First of all Mr Kirupakaran, are the Tamils in Sri Lanka speak with one voice? The answer is No.
How about the diaspora, Are they United and speak with one voice. Definitely not.
The voice shown in Tamil Nadu is far more encouraging than the voice shown in Sri Lanka.
Personally I am not happy with the Tamil Leadership in Sri Lanka? The diaspora should form one solid organisation in order to help the Tamils in Sri Lanka. This government is not going to solve any Tamil demands.
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bo / February 15, 2015
Why should they unite? Everyone of the diaspora tamil organizers is fighting to control the funds, if not, to take their share of the collections that emotional but press ganged tamils contribute to.
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One Voice / February 15, 2015
The Northern Provincial Council’s resolution demanding international inquiry in to ongoing genocide was unanimous only a couple of days ago. Even the EPDP did not vote against it. In fact of the eight opposition members in the council six were present and SLMC, SLFP and Rishad’s man – none objected.
The positive aspect of justice being denied this time around in Geneva is that the Tamil diaspora will unite much more deeply than it has ever been.
If you think Tamil Nadu voice was united enough well and good.
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Sanjaya / February 15, 2015
Exactly , and I think that’s one reason LTTE had it’s own way. And also I think that’s because of the diversity like up country Tamils, Christian Tamils, Muslim Tamils Jafna Tamils, Tamil Nadu Tamils god knows how many more based on caste etc. If you take this matter as a whole I feel like people are going back to their tribal mindset. Something like Gampaha people are better than Kurunegala people. I really don’t know how to put this into words, may be Amarasiri can do that for CT :p
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Uthungan / February 15, 2015
The Tamil leadership in SL was one elected by the Tamil people in SL through a democratic process. Are you saying then that the Tamil people do not know how to elect their leaders?
If so why don’t you give it a try with the assistance of your so called Die Ass Pora.
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Mitya / February 15, 2015
Kiruba
“Then in 1983 the armed struggle started. This, in fact, allowed Tamils to live with pride and dignity.”
By making this hideous statement you have disqualified yourself; you are not fit to be a human rights defender anymore. You have proven what the world has known all along. You’re a Tiger plant in Geneva.
No doubt you’re a sicko. You’re a public danger. You need therapy and rehabilitation.
You should be arrested by the EU anti-terrorist authorities right away.
LTTE’s armed struggle took away the democracy the Tamils had enjoyed – however imperfect it was – until then and slaughtered more Tamils than the SL armed forces ever did. Tigers massacred the fellow Tamil militants and moderate politicians, academics, journalists and clergy. Prabakaran, the heartless monster, grabbed children from the arms of weeping parents, turned them into child soldiers and sacrificed them as canon fodder while he lived in hiding with his children and wife in luxury. Your master, the coldblooded killer Prabakaran, the LTTE, and its remaining rump, which includes you, are ultimately responsible for taking thousands of innocent Tamil civilians as human shield and getting them killed at Mullivaikkal in the final days of the war.
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Menan / February 15, 2015
Mitya
You are hiding behind a bogus name and asking the EU to arrest Kiruba.
We Tamil had a defacto government and people were living in a superver freedom.
Are there any wrong in Kirubaharan telling the truth.
When its come to Tamil, you all are united to supress our voice and to finish them off.
You must be tired writing this comment, have an Overltine.
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AVB / February 15, 2015
SL armed forces might have killed more Sinhalese (71 & 89) than Tamils…..
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Pathy / February 15, 2015
Mitya – Sannathy Murugan
“You should be arrested by the EU anti-terrorist authorities RIGHT AWAY.”
Your identity is so obvious to the people who spoke with you for hours.
Good luck
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Silva / February 15, 2015
S. V. Kirubaharan
You are simply waisting your time. These all Amercian agenda.
Tell your fellow Tamils to be united and approch the Indians. Otherwise you Tamils are going to end-up in a soup
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Sengodan. M / February 15, 2015
What is fundamentally flawed with the attitude of most diaspora Tamils is that they honestly believe that some real relief if not solution to the problems of Tamils in Sri Lanka could be sought through the initiatives of the UN, the US or India. That will never ever happen. These institutions and countries are there to serve certain specific interests of powerful countries. The fact that Tamil victims are used as pawns for international horse deals should have been foreseen by them long ago. Whether it be now, in the near future or the distant future the problems of the Tamils have to be sorted out with the Sinhalese and NO OTHER. If the Tamil diaspora and especially the Tamil leaders do not lose sight of this cardinal principle, there could be progress however slow it may be. There is no other way. Our strategy for progress in the future has to be based on the acceptance of this principle.
Sengodan. M
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Aia / February 15, 2015
Well said buddy.
But one disagreement is I don’t think they didn’t understand the duplicity of the UN, USA and India. They knew these countries have been using this issue as a bargain chip to exert their authority over SL regime. But they want something to crap on to justify their past time indulgence. If they need to sort out a personal land issue or and the like they prepared to talk to even Gotta through some one but not the national issue; this is the hypocrisy, they have nothing to loose, only the poor Tamils live here have to pay a high price for their misnomers and hollow slogans that only helps those countries than the people they say they represent.
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Donald J Gnanakone / February 15, 2015
Mr. Sengodan and Kiruba,
There is certainly hope that the US, UN, UK, and India will bring about great relief to the Tamil-Sinhala problem in Sri Lanka. However, I too do not have much hope that there will be some solution to the problem in the near future.
That is because the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist politicians do not have a change of heart in their policies towards the Tamils. They even take credit that they have given a few Tamils important positions to the Tamils such as the Chief Justice Sri Bavan who was the most senior judge on the bench, or the Central Bank Governorship to a foreigner but Sri Lankan by birth Arjuna Mahendran from Singapore. But he is one of the PM’s best friends.
The current GOSL (UNP and SLFP) are only worried about the next election in June and are working towards a Sinhala Buddhist National government. Although it is much better than the dictatorial tyrannical corrupt government of the Rajapakses, their current performance does not give the Tamils much hope of any resolutions.
The change of military governors to the North and East of diplomat Palliakara and former defense secretary during the CFA period Austin Fernando who Gotabaya Rajapakse replaced after the Jayawardene brothers. We Tamils who worked the HR issues in the US for over 3 decades are aware of the performance of Palliakara in the UN and SLHC in Washington. He is totally Pro Sinhala Buddhist as there is no definition of who is a Sinhala racist.
Austin Fernando’s work during the CFA and his own confession by way of his book says it all. The PM and President has erred in these two appointments. Not providing Tamils of serious standing a national cabinet position like Mano Ganeshan will prove disastrous to the UNP. TNA and MG’s party DPF brought in the 1.8 million votes and now all 3 leaders of this govt. Maithripala, Chandrika and Ranil are having selective amnesia of how they have become government leaders again.
Nevertheless, the Tamil leaders need to be fully engaged with GOSL, and international leaders to keep the “Foot on the metal” pushing for their fundamental rights, human rights and devolution as per the constitution be respected, honored and implemented.
The next 72 hours will be crucial for the Tamils when UNHRC will decide whether the US sponsored resolution will be presented or postponed. All indications are that March resolution will be presented very reluctantly, with the support of UK, India, Canada, Australia and Japan.
Or else the UNHRC and the US would be promoting disunity and NO reconciliation in Sri Lanka, as the short honeymoon of cooperation between the Tamil leadership including Mano Ganeshan and the Sinhala Buddhist GOSL will end. The Tamils will be forced to take a hard line both in Sri Lanka, South India and Internationally.
Let us hope that sanity will prevail and reality will come to the fore in Geneva, London, Delhi and Washington.
Donald Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice
Founder.
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Mahes / February 15, 2015
Donald J Gnanakone
we heard a lot of you – good and bad.
When you brought Bruce Fein, everyone of us were happy. But it never gave positive result.
So tell us actually what happened to Bruce Fein project which was purely started by you.
Have you got any other idea to file a case against Rajapakasa brothers in USA? If so, this is the best time for it.
Can you enlighten us on these issues.
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Donald J Gnanakone / February 15, 2015
Bruce Fein project started by Tamils For Justice began in December 2007 and collapsed in August 2008 after his trip to Toronto for 5 public fund raising events. There was no accounting by Bruce Fein or the 2 Tamil representatives in Toronto as they all joined together and formed Justice For Thamils, in Canada.
There were a few other well know Tamils in Toronto was involved.
During that period the owner of Tamil Net and TRO USA used TRO funds and it’s 25 money collectors and “STOLE” our attorney Bruce Fein for a higher monthly fee of USD 30,000 PM forming TAMILS AGAINST GENOCIDE. This guy’s name is M Sreetharan from Bethesda, USA. He is an old boy of Hartley College Point Pedro.
There were other senior Tamils involved in the whole scheme of things, and I don’t thing naming names in this forum is appropriate at this crucial stage for the Tamils.
Janani Jananayagam was the representative of the TAG in UK.
The problem with TAG was that Sreetharan could not handle Bruce Fein, and therefore the whole project collapsed after spending over half a million dollars.
Tamils for Justice pursued the original objectives and goals of requesting the US government and agencies to investigate the 4 US citizens/permanent resident who have allegedly committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during and after the 2008-2009 war. They are Gotabaya Rajapakse, Basil Rajapakse, General Sarath Fonseka, and Justice Minister US born Milinda Pinto Moragoda. (Son of Chris Pinto) who was the Minister of Justice operating several “CONCENTRATION CAMPS” FOR A FEW YEARS in the Vanni.
The Nazis second world war entirely was only 5 years.
Tamils For Justice even today is calling, lobbying, canvassing for the US Government to investigate their own citizens, and the GOSL can never send their ministers to USA, UN and UNHRC to plead their case to delay the US resolution if the Department of Justice and FBI under Department of Homeland Security officially take over the investigations.
That day, all can be rest assured will arrive soon.
Donald Gnanakone
Tamils For Justice
Founder.
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Agnios / February 16, 2015
Mr. Gnanakone,
Mr. Fein was probably just another lawyer who wanted money and gave unrealistic expectations to Tamil lobbyists, including the people at TAG.
On the matter of prosecuting in a US court a sitting president of a foreign country, the US courts always defer to the executive branch, including the State Dept. So once the State Dept gave notice that MR and Co enjoyed diplomatic immunity in the US during his presidency, Fein had no case.
And Fein could only get his writings on the SL war crimes issue published in the extremely limited circulation Washington Times, not the more widely read Washington Post nor the NY Times. As a Republican with connections to the old Reagan administration, his reach was very limited. Those who hired him must have had unrealistic expectations.
Nor do I think there were enough serious witnesses willing to testify in US courts of direct experience with war crimes, except perhaps Dr. Manoharan in the Trinco-5 case. Now that the MR regime is out of power, the Trinco-5 and some other cases may be resurrected if serious witnesses can be gathered. But this can be done using inexpensive lawyers. No need for a lawyer like Fein who was given to bombast.
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BbS scamp / February 16, 2015
“”That day, all can be rest assured will arrive soon.””
Bookworm wriggle your way out of it then;
Evil I Did Dwell — Lewd Did I Live!
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Rajan / February 15, 2015
kirupaharan is playing what I would describe as ‘victim politics’.
Instead it needs to be shown that the international actors have to factor into their policies Tamil interests if their own interests are to be served in the long term.
let the Tamils stop complaining and seek to address the international dimensions that underpin the situation and act wisely.
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Nihal / February 15, 2015
Amarasiri
Mitya
Sengodan. M
Rajan
Rather than writing nonsense, If you can, you counter this article in a sequence.
None of you people are unable to challenge this article, therefore you talk out of turn and out of point. In other wrods you all are frustrated with this article.
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Abe / February 15, 2015
If the government asks for the RC report to be suppressed. it goes against the election promise to us of a freedom of information bill.
I want to know what happened in Maullaitivu.
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Sharanga / February 15, 2015
You mean the use of suicide bombers to kill civilians and blow up religious places? Yes, that happened. This kind of thing isn’t labelled terrorism, it is terrorism. They were literally using terror as a weapon.
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Sanjaya / February 15, 2015
I remember those complains gave grounds to the terrorism from both sides. Lets investigate how our politicians approach to the matter and that includes Tamil politicians who are countable to our uninformed mass who bought weapons from arms producing countries and fought a thirty year war.
If that’s because Sri Lankan Air force bombing or SL Army is advancing towards the Tamil populated areas or JR is more west oriented and India not want that or Just the Tamils treat the Sinhalaya like slave as soon as Anurdhapura station passed I really do not know the reason But I’m sure these well groomed politicians know the answer.
I think now the right time for all our fresh batch of politicians to create a solid transparent environment without foreign interventions.
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Lasith / February 15, 2015
Being a Sinhalese person I can say this: we sinhalese have some deep seated issues when it comes to living life.
We don’t want change, we never think out side the box, we are very possessive of things, positions and situations. We are very fixated on our views and ideas.
In short, most of us are like dogs in the manger. No matter how educated or enlightened a sinhalese person is he has these primal instincts within him. From time to time every sinhalese person would exhibit these qualities. The worst thing is no Sinhalese person would ever admit any of these flaws no matter how you prove it. Besides right within in families these traits operate.
To be fair to sinhalese people, the tamils are the same in their own way. So fixated in their ideas and ways. And the list goes on and on.
Muslims too want to show their distinction by the way they dress and so on, but the way I see it muslims are not mean to them selves, that secretly angers us and tamils.
What Sri Lanka need is a complete reorientation of our minds on the lines of live and let live, work hard play hard, and generally accept the fact that we have the right to be happy and so do others around us and be less self centred.
we all have to relax and find ways to push for a better future rather than hanging on to the past.
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Sanjaya / February 15, 2015
Those character feature are due to our upbringing but not all. Yes we have a planted EGO by birth in everybody that includes Muslims parental religious and cultural labeling.
And Sinhalese Buddhist have a lethal mixture because they know that Buddhism is well recognized comparison to other religions by the wise and make sense they think that makes them greater even-though without practicing it either searching for it’s roots to become a better Buddhist, along with the Greater Sinhalese race propaganda they will ignore and ready to move closing ears both hands and shouting La la La La I cant here you.
Most of the leading Buddhist Monks hardly spoke against the war as well as the recent BBS works due to this certain psychology. So the once who are to be accused are nation saviors in their own agendas. That includes LTTE which killed Indian PM to Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar or SL Forces so the victims are better stay where they are now.
To tighten the bolt’s of our mass we have to promote science and skepticism, for a start that we are all monkeys and we share 98% gene with them and a tailbone is there at the end etc, through evolution and the similarities in Indian Kerala monkeys and Tamil Nadu Monkeys , add a bit of Native Veddha and Tamil coastal Veddha like Amarasiri does here. I think that formula will work a bit just to oil before tightening.
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janz / February 15, 2015
Mr Kirubaharan
You have failed to mention the 23,000 Muslims in the North/East and 41,000 Sinhala peasants in border areas massacred by the Tamils during the last phase of Ealam war IV.
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Javi. / February 16, 2015
You mean Grunted`- that is your love story privacy.
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Jim softy / February 15, 2015
Sri Lanka is neither a rich country nor an arms-producing country. Most of the arms used to kill over 200,000 Tamils were provided by certain deals with countries known as champions of human rights.”
Kirubaharan knows even the country that he is now naturalized in provided arms to wipe out his LTTE brothers.
British Tamil forum and the other LTTE Tamils who are naturalized there are chicken to go after the British govt, instead they bark at the small country Sri Lanka. But, a keen Sri lankan leader can screw up these low lives very easily. Understand how Israel went behind their enemies.
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Mahesan Nirmalan / February 15, 2015
Thanks Mr Kirubaharan. I know my views will not go down very well with either side. Nevertheless, there is a need to articulate what I believe is the true position……hence I do it again quite ready for the verbal abuse that will follow.
The belief that the West, including the UN, USA, UK and EU are working on the interests of the Tamils and will somehow deliver justice is one of the myths that the diaspora has perpetuated to the greatest detriment of the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka. It was never part of their agenda and it is not going to happen…..whatever we say from our own comfortable living rooms. The solution needs to be negotiated within Sri Lanka – between the key stakeholders, the Sinhalese, Tamils and the Muslims. That is and always has been the truth many of us have tended to ignore……..please…..oh please, let’s stop perpetuating this myth. The Indian central government- as the Regional power, is a key stakeholder in this and has to be part of the solution. Again, the Indian CG will approach this ONLY through the eyes of Regional stability, its own National security and Regional economic development. Due to the ‘Tamil Nadu factor’, we can expect a slight bias towards Tamil interests in how the Indian CG will approach this issue, but there is a definite limit to what they can do and what they will do. Tamil interests will always – and quite rightly too, be a poor cousin of their own security concerns and there Regional aspirations. This is the reality and anything that we propose must be within these strict boundaries. Remember, the ONLY factor that prevents any Government in Colombo from imposing a ‘West Bank’ type solution is the Indian CG and if through our actions and unrealistic demands, we alienate the Indian CG, a ‘West Bank’ type solution is eminently imposable…….that is what MR and GR were on the verge of accomplishing.
Here is my appeal to both the Sinhala Right and the Tamil diaspora. Neither party has the right to destabilise the Country and in the process destabilise the entire Region. Towards this end we both have to be honest in our approach to the issues at stake. Please stop asking for evidence for Tamil grievances (now that the CJ and the CB Governors are Tamils) as the wound and pain are obvious to see and restating it is an insult. Such requests usually come from the ‘Right’ who see the Country as the sole property of the ‘Hela Jathiya’. Tamils have an undeniable right to protect their language, culture, identity and security and hence need a settlement. They have the right to their lands and to grieve for their kith and kin lost in the war. They have the right to commemorate their kith and kin who fought for their rights in the face of oppression unleashed on them by the likes of JRJ, Cyril Mathew and Gamini Dissanayake. But in the process Tamils must not and cannot seek ‘separation by stealth’. It is an undeniable fact that there is a very strong centrifugal sentiment within the Tamil psyche and in this context no Power – particularly India, can or will support a federal settlement which by definition includes the right for a plebiscite. Given that right – there is no doubt in my mind that the Tamils – given our current mindset, will choose to exercise that right…..and that is what I mean by ‘separation by stealth’. Anyone can see through this strategy and hence no serious person is going to support this experiment.
My own view is that full implementation of 13A – within a Unitary constitution, as proposed by the current Government and the blessings of Indian CG will enable the Tamils to achieve what they want on the ground- right to protect their language, culture, identity and security. The Sinhala Right must come to terms with the fact that 13A is here to stay. It will not go away by the likes of Wimal Weerawansa threatening to fast to death or by the Sinhala Ravaya’s threat at self-immolation. No amount of ranting by the BBS will make 13A go away. Further adjustments such as a second chamber to ensure that no subsequent government can do away with 13A may be necessary and that to my mind is what 13A+ implies…..not giving into a Federal constitution.
Guys, this is the reality and is how I read the situation.
I am a Sri Lankan Tamil – in that order, and I am proud of both components of my identity in equal measures. While I am proud of Koneswaram and Ketheeswaram that symbolise the ancient history of Tamils in that beautiful island, I am equally proud of having cohabited that island with a very advanced civilisation – the Sinhalese. I am proud to sing ‘Kona Mamalai Amarndare’ in my prayers and also to sing ‘Disa Wawai Sigiriyai Mageth Urumayai’
Best wishes.
Dr Mahesan Nirmalan
Manchester Medical School
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Uthungan / February 15, 2015
Your views would go down very well with only people who have genuinely understood and accepted the fact about ‘the ‘art of the possible’ that can be achieved.
The others will have nothing else but vain hope.if they cannot understand that our Lankan civilisation is different then there is nothing that can be done about it in the context of Konamamai & Sigirimalai you have eloquently brought in to describe that civilisation.
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Prem / February 15, 2015
Yes 200,000 killed by Sri Lanka source The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal. PEOPLES’ TRIBUNAL ON SRI LANKA
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Javi. / February 15, 2015
“”Mahatma Gandhi of India, the father of non-violent struggle has still not been given a Nobel Peace prize. Then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill made some humiliating remarks about Mahatma Gandhi, saying he may have practiced non-violence but the out-comes of his actions were violent.””
Present day Hindia the worlds largest buyer of ammunition.
How true Churchill who pampered the naked fakir was- for a shilling he changed the name of Indira’s future husband and connived with the Brits to promote Asoka the nut and Lion Capital of Ashoka when Lion were only found in Crown Colony Dutch West India company South Africa.
Golden Age of India. Chandragupta II-
The oldest inscription on the pillar is in Sanskrit, written in Gupta-period Brahmi script.[ the pillar is “a living testimony to the skill of metallurgists of ancient India”]
“Candragupta may have passed away but the legacy of his achievement is so great that he seems to remain on earth by virtue of his fame. Emphasis is placed on Candragupta’s conquest of enemies and the merit of his deeds, ideas which are also found in coin legends: kṣitim avajitya sucaritair divaṃ jayati vikramādityaḥ, i.e. ‘Having conquered the earth with good conduct, Vikramāditya conquered heaven’.[14] The king’s conquest of heaven combined with the description of him resorting to the other world in bodily form (gām āśritasyetarāṃ mūrtyā), confirms our understanding of the worthy dead as autonomous theomorphic entities.”
How truth flies in the embrace of weirdo pedophiles naked fakir like Gandhi Gandu.
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