A video showing a senior Sinhala police officer using racially motivated and disrespectful language at an elderly Jaffna Tamil woman is going viral on Facebook.
The incident took place in Jaffna during the protest against the rape and murder of a schoolgirl.
The recording captures phrases like ‘You should make sure that your men behave’ (thamuselage pirimi hadāganna ōne thamusela). The police officer then threatened to the person who was recording to stop recording.
The protest and hartal took a violent turn in Jaffna on 20th May, with crowds stoning the Jaffna courthouse and burning tyres. 130 suspects arrested on charges of unlawful assembly and the stoning the Jaffna Courts Complex were yesterday remanded by the Jaffna Magistrate.
K.A Sumanasekera / May 23, 2015
How can “Thamusela ” a “You” in rather Respectful Sinhala be a Racial Slur?.
This coming from the people who some times get addressed even in juicy Latin like Black C… go back to where you came from you Monkeys is rather amusing.
Try this in Diaspora lands and the poor woman and the mates would have got shoved back and with a little Pepper Spray as well , considering this was the same Turf where not only the Cops but even our Soldiers got blown in to pieces.
This cop need a promotion for his tactful and decent behaviour under provocation.
Perhaps he should be in Ranil’s F…… CID to give some respect our good Sinhala People who cleared these areas of Tamil terrorists.
/
levi / May 23, 2015
hello samare
why stop with the letter F… You can write the wholw word with translation to those who do not understand F… Sinhala.
After all This word is declared Parliamentary by the Hon? Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament.
Do not fear to write thw full word. CT will okey it. Only Adults read this. Students Do not read it. The Speaker has oked it for adult consumption.
You still do not seem to realize what is racial. It is that a Law abiding Citizen is treated by a very senior officer of the Sri Lanka Police Officer as belonging to a different category because she happened to be a Tamil, although she spoke a better grade of Sinhala than Your elected Parlimentarian.
Please remember That for a police officer classification of Citizen must be that all law abiding Citizen are ape minisu. Criminals and law breakers fall into the category of Thamuse.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / May 24, 2015
Mr Levi,
You call yourselves Tamil Arasa kaattu .. Right.. Or is it Srilanka Muslim Congress ?…
If you didn’t the poor Cop wouldn’t have copped that transfer…
BTW, that old lady political activist is not from TNA.
Am I right?….
/
Jim softy / May 24, 2015
Thamuse means thamun nanse, how come it becomes bad ?
Even UMBA in reAL SINHALA IS NOT A BAD WORD.
/
Asoka Iddamalgoda / May 24, 2015
Do you think the Policeman would feel respected if the elderly woman replied and said ” Thamusai ge yuthukama awilla neethiya araksha karanna! Hebai THAMUSAI karanne….” Aney Thamusai wagay aya thamai ape rata kannay!
He SHOULD have addressed her by formally saying “Obethumiya”……
/
Amarasiri / May 24, 2015
Kiribanda A Sumanasekera ,
“How can “Thamusela ” a “You” in rather Respectful Sinhala be a Racial Slur?”
Different people have different opinions.
Some people think it is formal. Some people think it is the Language of these people who ply the cart trade. ( Was it formal in the old days?)
http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/musing-about-musings
“She writes about forms of address in our culture. The first time she used the term ‘Nangi’ to refer to her younger sister, in an English essay was when she was at school, when the rules prohibited the use of Sinhala words. Here she is musing about the use of the sinhala word ‘Umba’ when she herself felt insulted. She goes on to mention other Sinhala terms of address, ‘Tho’ and ‘Thee’, and ‘Thamuse’, which had been used among equals often, and also the terms of respectful address, ‘Thamunanase’, ‘Oba Vahanse’, and more recent ‘Oba Thuma’. Then she takes a dig at the elite or the nouveau riche, who expect to be addressed as ‘Hamu’ which could be a shortened form of Hamuduruwo, or to mean that they are perhaps of mixed blood! –
See more at: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/musing-about-musings#sthash.sTj37TTc.dpuf
Chief Minister – Cabinet Minister & “Thamuse”
http://www.gossiplankanews.com/2014/06/cheif-minister-cabinet-minister-thamuse.html
/
Jayb Perumal / May 25, 2015
You are the biggest racist. You use the word FHA use on a Sinhalese person and you will end up with a black eye. On the basis of your comments any Tamil who attacks a Sinhalese in areas where the 1983 riots took place is justified in what he does. Why did you not join the army to fight the LTTE? Because you are a coward and bigot.
/
Champa / May 23, 2015
I noticed 3 things.
(1)
The elderly lady doesn’t know what she was talking. It was obvious that someone has exerted pressure for her to protest. She doesn’t know why she was there in the first place.
Luckily it was a Sinhalese Police Officer. If this has happened in South India and if a woman tried to block a Police Officer carrying out his duties, she will be shoved unceremoniously, pushed to the ground and covered with dust.
(2)
My salute to the Police Officer. The Police Officer’s patience is commendable. Under extreme provocation, he was calm, composed and collected. The protest is unjustifiable as all the perpetrators are arrested and brought to justice. The words, to the effect that “You should tame your own men” were the most valuable words in the video. Otherwise it would look like the crime has done by Sinhalese.
The Sinhala word “Thamuse” is colloquial “You”, while “Thamunnanse” is the formal “You”. (some similarity to French words “Tu” and “Vous” roughly, sans situation). {Please don’t attack me on French, I just gave an example}.
His words hinted an urgency. Understandbly, given the situation, the pressure was on the Police Officer; to disperse the crowd, save the women from any danger, and bring the situation to normalcy. That is NOT the time for fancy words. She should be happy that the Police Officer showed due respect to her, by taking time to listen to her plea and answering. One cannot even think of such graciousness from the LTTE.
(3)
Tamils seem to be displeased at the speed the perpetrators were brought to justice by the Police. And more importantly they couldn’t sell the story internationally, because the brutal and shameful crime was done by their own Tamils. The swift action by the Police has saved the pride of the Sinhalese as otherwise it would have been credited for security forces’ account. Thank you Officer, keep up the good work! You should be encouraged with a promotion.
I heard that he was given a transfer, instead. If it is true, that shows the stupidity of the government acting in irrational manner draining the morale of Police Officers. Don’t even think of reconciliation. Oh, I forgot, this is “Yahapalanayam” style good governance!
/
Peace Lover / May 23, 2015
a good try champa and in trying to whip up racism even now good try indeed.
your lip service to racism and to MR is shown when you say
“Tamils seem to be displeased at the speed the perpetrators were brought to justice by the Police. And more importantly they couldn’t sell the story internationally, because the brutal and shameful crime was done by their own Tamils”
Which is totaly to the opposite when infact the protestors wanted the Police to handover the suspects so to them for them to lynch them there!
ARENT YOU ASHAMED TO MAKE USE OF A TERRIBLE INCIDENT TO THAT GIRL TO FURTHER YOUR RACIST VIEWS ???
/
Champa / May 23, 2015
Peace Lover
So, according to you, when a Sinhalese talk on behalf of a fellow Sinhalese, it is racism. How about a Tamil? What do you call that? Patriotism?
I am not a racist. I only stand up for an injustice to a fellow Sinhalese. For your information, one of my best friends is a Tamil and despite constant arguments, fights and name calling over politics, we maintain a long healthy friendship. He said the same thing like you. He told me that the suspects will be killed at the courts if not at the prison by other Tamils there. I gave him a good shelling.
Tamil protesters have no right to demand the culprits from the police custody. There is law and order maintained by the Sri Lankan government there. The LTTE Jungle Courts are NO MORE. Tamils have no right to execute anyone, no matter what crime he had done. I denounce that barbarity vehemently. There is the Court to give the verdict. You Tamils at least now, learn to obey and respect the law. We understand your emotions. However, this is not the way you should act. It is very unfair you all taking your anger on the Sinhalese Police Officer.
The last para applied to you not to me. The incident was well planned. You sent elderly ladies to provoke the police officers and there was someone behind them to video the whole incident and then make it viral under the label “Sinhalese Police Officers’ brutality” and market it against the government. We know by heart what you do. You all are experts in false and distorted propaganda.
Luckily, it didn’t work out as a result of the professionalism of the Sinhalese Police Officer and the calm and collected manner he handled the tensed situation. He has every right to tell the person behind him to stop video taping him.
Our Sinhalese brothers in the Police and Army, please be vigilant. There may be more incidents in this nature in future to provoke you all. Don’t fall into that trap. Please remember to act with care and in responsible manner.
So what is your problem me backing MR? If you don’t like me backing Mahinda Rajapaksa who do you suggest me to back, the terrorist, Prabhakaran?
/
Peace Lover / May 24, 2015
ah champa champa champa my guess was right when I said you back MR and now you have admitted it yourself in the reply and let the cat out of the bag big time and your writing style gives way to the style of writing in Lankaweb hahahaha
read carefully did I say that the crowd was correct in asking to lynch the suspects? I made that comment because you said that the crowd was not happy that the Police caught the fellows
btw,mob justice is common in many parts of the country have u not heard of people setting fire to buses when they knock down pedestrian? (does the moratuwa Wadduwa strectch ring a bell?) didnt you hear of the Kahawatte murder suspects houses being torched? (do you want me to get the links for this news items?) and those were not Tamils but Sinhalese so your talk of accusing the Tamils for such behavior is hilarious as its widespread
anyway Champa next time try better with your arguments ok
/
Native Vedda / May 23, 2015
Peace Lover
Champa is the new variant of sach, Nuisance, Sarojini, Thirishu, Taraki, Jazz, tresha, …………..
They all share the same stupid script writer.
Please bear with her.
/
Champa / May 24, 2015
Hey Native Veddah
Happy to hear from you.
Actually who are those people you mentioned? I have never heard of them. Who is a script writer?
If there is any problem in my writing, I can always change the style. After all this is a public forum. We share, argue, attack on various topics but nothing personal.
/
Alahakoon / May 24, 2015
What is really sadden me is the realization of there are so many Champas in this tiny island.
/
Champa / May 25, 2015
Alahakoon
Explain. What exactly are you sad about?
/
Eusense / May 24, 2015
vedda,
Why don’t you rebuttal Champa’s post rather than repeating this stupid respond of yours over and over again?
/
Native Vedda / May 27, 2015
Nuisance
“Why don’t you rebuttal Champa’s post rather than repeating this stupid respond of yours over and over again?”
Why don’t you just pretend that you don’t exist?
/
janaka / May 23, 2015
Over Drametic stories.. Rape is the Worst Crime On this Earth. Yet its far more worse in nations that has not even gone through a Brutal Civil war. And PROTEST.. People like Thisuri Wanniarachchi and Colombo Telegraph would jump at the Chance espically in the NOrth to use such incidents as a Political Too and Create Non-exitant false narrative.. Like the SO called ‘Police officer Racil Slur’ Yet to any Sinhala speaker its the Usual Typical BAd Policing found every where in the nation and NOT Racial at all.. And to see Colombo telehraph Narrative, It carried every protest in SL to do with a certain Exresident and Family at the Bribery Commision and more. Yet these PROTEST IN JAFFNA WERE NOT COVERED. why???? IF ANY TAMIL SPEAKER HEARD THE NOW ONLINE VIDEO’S OF THESE PROTESTERS One would Instantly understand it a LYNCH MOOB SEEKING BLOOD’ and not justice. Sopething CMB Telegraph trying hard not to show us and WHY???
/
Sylvia Haik / May 25, 2015
Dear Champa, I am not sure if the rapist was a Tamil or a Sinhalese or of anothe community, but since when did the Tamils become “Your people” when addressing a member of the public who could be from any community. The police should be impartial and treat all Sri Lankans alike without profiling anyone. I have seen much worse actions by police that have gone unpunished in the past.
/
Off the Cuff / May 26, 2015
Dear Sylvia Haik,
I am not sure how proficient you are in Sinhala but a sentence in your comment indicates that you do not understand it.
Here is a the first 15 seconds of the dialog
Tamil Lady – We want to know what has happened
Police – What happened?
Tamil Lady – 9 people has spoilt a woman
Police – Who spoiled her?
Tamil Lady – Men
Police – What men?
Tamil Lady – Our men of course
Police – “Ah, your men must be brought up by you all, not us (meaning the police), isn’t it?”
If you feel my translation is inadequate, get help from another Sinhalese.
What exactly is RACIST about the above?
Kind Regards,
OTC
Note – this is the sentence that indicate you don’t understand Sinhala
“I am not sure if the rapist was a Tamil or a Sinhalese or of anothe community”.
The Tamil lady explicitly reveals in Sinhala, the ethnicity of the culprits. Obviously you have not understood.
/
asfar / May 25, 2015
champa, you are right in every words.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / May 23, 2015
Home come the brutal rape and killing of the innocent, 18 year old Tamil school girl by well heeled Tamils didn’t go viral?..
When the Indians who killed the Bombay Girl was on TV and Print Media for 24/ 7 with even special reports by some Western TV stations in English speaking countries?.
It is only the New Indian Express which disclosed a few details about the involvement of a Swiss Tamil and a High Profile Law Professor in this dastardly act.
Did the TNA, GTF, TNGTE UNP London and Surendran pull a few strings with CH$ and fellow Media heavies in the West to keep it hush hush?…
/
Aravindan / May 23, 2015
Absolutely true . Tamilnet the mouthpiece of the LTTE is completely silent on this. This shows their racism a and primitive tribalism.
The motto of these racist/separatists is If the Singhalese cannot be be blamed in any the way best is be silent. Never mind the rape of Tamils, the Tamil suicide conscription, the Tamil child soldiers etc.
It is very unfortunate that these terrorist sympathisers/financiers/ propagandists take no responsibility for all the dastardly acts done on behalf of innocent Tamil people.
The Sinhalese and the world at large are much cleverer than these cunning megalomaniacs think. They will not be fooled lies and deception. The west who are after the votes or for geo-political reasons do not really believe these lies.
/
Heretic / May 27, 2015
Aravindan,
“Absolutely true . Tamilnet the mouthpiece of the LTTE is completely silent on this. This shows their racism a and primitive tribalism.”
I still didn’t find anything on Tamilnet about the events in Jaffna. Their silence annoys me. I expected that they would fast take up the hartal, unlawful assembly at the Courts and lack of law and order in the North.
Why are they silent? Maybe they are hiding something?
/
Peace Lover / May 23, 2015
ah K A Sumanasekera and his fetish with Surendran…..first he had a crush on that old fellow Sambandan and now he is lusting for Surendran and might go after Native Veda next oh tempora or mores!
/
K.A Sumanasekera / May 24, 2015
P. Lover,
Your mates, Surendran & Mahendran can’t be related by any chance…
Surendran ripped off the Dalits in the Diaspora and betrayed them the Vellalas in the TNA.
Your other mate Ranil brought Mahendran all the way from Singapore to rip off the Dalits in Lanka .
And he surely did big time .
In fact he did it to the tune of LKR 5000 at 13 % per annum compounding..
Thank God our Dalits don’t pay Income Tax….
/
Native Vedda / May 23, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
“Did the TNA, GTF, TNGTE UNP London and Surendran pull a few strings with CH$ and fellow Media heavies in the West to keep it hush hush?…”
It is now confirmed your organs are in the wrong place. Were you born like that or grew into one?
Are you a Erotophonophilia?
If you are a responsible human you would have taken every step to be sensitive about the unfortunate incident. Since you are not readers don’t expect any humanity from you nor your fellow racists. If you can’t type something sensible say something to console the kith and kin of the victim and keep your fingers off the keyboard please continue to scratch your itching crotch.
Did you ask those Sinhala/Tamil TV stations which shut out this news altogether?
Did the Tamil Diaspora bribe those netizens to refrain from posting the news?
In case you are into Erotophonophilia here are the links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DgWIgZSu8A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9mi_8R9Jms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaNhp-yXRw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGxXW7rKbM4
/
K.A Sumanasekera / May 24, 2015
Dear Native,
Jaffna inhabitants didn’t experience this sort of dastardly acts for at least 5 years.
And the new Yahapalana and the Vellala SGA allow this to happen.
The main perpetrator is not even a Srilankan citizen.
He in fact is a Swiss Citizen with cash to splash.
His guardian and protector is a big Law Professor from Colombo.who came to Punduthivu with a few TNA MPS.
And the other 8 are Dole receipients from the West who are also loaded with Lankan Rupees.
I gathered this distasteful information thanks the New Indian Express .
So your empathy is to keep the Jaffna inhabitants ignorant of these facts.
Who are you trying to protect…. Native?…
/
Native Vedda / May 24, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
“Who are you trying to protect…. Native?…”
KAS from KAS, for a start.
“Jaffna inhabitants didn’t experience this sort of dastardly acts for at least 5 years.”
May be all were confined to torture camps, never reported to the police out of fear for their life etc.
Read the excerpts from diaspora funded Human Rights Watch report.
Sri Lanka: Rape of Tamil Detainees
Politically Motivated Sexual Assaults in Custody Continue Since Conflict
FEBRUARY 26, 2013
(London) – Sri Lankan security forces have been using rape and other forms of sexual violence to torture suspected members or supporters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. While widespread rape in custody occurred during the armed conflict that ended in May 2009, Human Rights Watch found that politically motivated sexual violence by the military and police continues to the present.
The 141-page report, “‘We Will Teach You a Lesson’: Sexual Violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces,” provides detailed accounts of 75 cases of alleged rape and sexual abuse that occurred from 2006-2012 in both official and secret detention centers throughout Sri Lanka. In the cases documented by Human Rights Watch, men and women reported being raped on multiple days, often by several people, with the army, police, and pro-government paramilitary groups frequently participating.
“The Sri Lankan security forces have committed untold numbers of rapes of Tamil men and women in custody,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “These are not just wartime atrocities but continue to the present, putting every Tamil man and woman arrested for suspected LTTE involvement at serious risk.”
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/02/26/
sri-lanka-rape-tamil-detainees
/
K.A Sumanasekera / May 24, 2015
Dear Native.
Didn’t your Diaspora also fund the election of Bodhi Sira to make Ranil your un Elected PM ?….
And see what happened to the poor Punduthivu inhabitants…
It is interesting to note that the HR report says Army boys have sexually assaulted Tamil men too.
This is serious.
Our un elected PM Ranil should appoint a another 3 UNP legal member Committee .
And enlist the FM as a consultant to give technical advice like that Dr Wijewardana guy who gave advice on Mahendran & SIL Bond Tender.
/
Heretic / May 27, 2015
Sumanasekera,
“The main perpetrator is not even a Srilankan citizen. He in fact is a Swiss Citizen with cash to splash.”
According to the Swiss embassy “Swiss Kumar” is only a resident in Switzerland not a citizen. If it is true that he paid 4,5 million to have the law dean/politician as his defense lawyer he has money.
“His guardian and protector is a big Law Professor from Colombo.who came to Punduthivu with a few TNA MPS.”
I have heard that he wanted to become ITAK MP. In case you don’t know he is native of Punduthivu.
“And the other 8 are Dole receipients from the West who are also loaded with Lankan Rupees.”
They were mostly surviving on diaspora remittances like so many others in Jaffna. There is no work for guys like this. They don’t have education or profession and refuse manual labor.
“I gathered this distasteful information thanks the New Indian Express . So your empathy is to keep the Jaffna inhabitants ignorant of these facts.”
We in Jaffna know more than you do. The problem is that very few of us are active on the CT.
/
John / May 23, 2015
this is bad reporting- it’s not a racial comment at all, Thamusela means “you”. In simple he says look after your men .
Also he does not threaten the cameraman, the officer request to take the camera down and not in a threatening manner.
This web I guess spreads hatred among communities. I’m sorry to say I’m very disturnbed as we have come a long way and just trying to get over the previous corrupt , racial Govt but this is not the way to bring communities together.
/
Gunasekere DJ / May 23, 2015
you cannot understand Sinhala. This police officer says “Your men”. In this context ‘your men’ means “Tamil men” ! That is racism.
/
Eusense / May 23, 2015
Gunasekara,
One important thing one can learn from what you say is that the rape was committed by Tamils. The officer says that and the woman accepts so. If not for this video as usual the Diaspora will publicize that in the north Tamil women are raped by Sinhalese.
Also the woman wants the Police to stop these rapes by Tamils. Now, when the Police take action and interrogate suspected Tamils the next story will be the Tamil men are harassed by the Sinhalese Police! And people like Sooka, Macrae, Allison Callaway, Channel 4, Amnesty International etc. etc. will have a field day!
That is the reason why I disregard this incident as racism but as an excellent public relation plus for the Sri Lankan Government!
/
Samuel Jayaweera / May 23, 2015
Please get your facts right.
Dont you think that our police or army men are not that abusive in the war and post war times? Please talk to your hearts man ? I know they dont care who she is.. when it goes for rapes.. this culture had been in lanken army and police from that day on – Rajapakshe adminsitration let them become kings instead of getting punished by the law… that is what we cant tolerate anymore. I hate to hear the man on the video to use that kind of low langague.. as an officer… we are now in 2015 not in 70ties. okay ? so where has the developement gone ? Racial men be them police, army or other offic men and womeen should be punished by laws. That is what German politician do in Germany. All these are not curable 100% but we the adminsitration should have ways to bring all these high criminals before the courts then only – we can start up with reconciliation.
Eusense, you had been vanished since jan 8th why where had you been ?
I am not tellin that the current act is a deed of Sinahalya, but our guys are well known to be that vulgar. I heard it from Russia too. Earlier tday, some lanken student got schols to Russian and former soviet countries. There were also female candidtes among them.. Bu tthose male students had raped lanken girls in Moscow not considering that they are from the same country. That is how some sinahalyas tick. If I were among them, i would have gone against those Male students. We know how our senior students ragged the junior at peradeniya. I was then asked to jump on my knees until blood came out. They the seniors just laughed at looking at the manner how we suffered by their commandos. That is some Sinhala or Tamils behave. So civilization shoudl have been stoped somewhere as I feel it now.. These men and women should be tamed by regourous law imposements. That is the only. There is a saying even human beings behave worst than their premates where there is no law in action. That is what I think when looking at all these
/
Eusense / May 23, 2015
samuel,
Why do you get so “worked out” on what I said? What facts do you want me to get right?
Why are you bringing up all these trash about defense and Police force’s so called poor social skills etc. etc.? Did I say that they are gentlemen and are top notch social elites?? Do you think any country has gentleman type defense personnel? Are you familiar with activities of the US police and soldiers? Why do you bring this Moscow scenario? Every country and every society has such people. It is not confined to Sri Lanka! Most of all, my comment had nothing related to what you are talking about.
If you don’t agree with what I wrote about the diaspora and the list of people/agencies and their activities, rebuttal me. I don’t want to here your unrelated garbage like this.
One more thing I like you to do when writing irrelevant responses like this; Don’t indicate you are a Peradeniya graduate. It brings shame for all of us.
/
Samuel Jayaweeras / May 25, 2015
Man you need to come and see it in Germany. They are very smart. Why you feel like to compare anything with those of the US ?
I think ours are the worst among all devleoping countries. I know by myself how Airport police men in general react towards the passengers there ? These men should be provided with adequate trainings. Gone are the days that people could stay mum even fi their kith an dkin would have been raped by Rajapakshe men. But today, there is no room for that. At least some steps have been taken by the current men in action. So, though it could take many more months to see tangible changes since all idiotic supporters of Rajapakshe are still in every authority. Hope after septemember, .. we could see it right that this country coudl be blessed with new systems. Jaya niyathai.
/
sama / May 25, 2015
I think Samuel is right saying that you always supported to Rajano. You always called it garbage if anything was not match to yourset. Your the guys would never change. Shame on you if you were a product of Pera.
/
Off the Cuff / May 26, 2015
.
Dear Samuel Jayaweera and sama (who says Samuel is right)
Re your request to Eusense to get his facts right.
Have you got your facts right?
Here is the dialog of the first 15 seconds (If you don’t agree, please provide your own).
Tamil Lady – We want to know what has happened
Police – What happened?
Tamil Lady – 9 people has spoilt a woman
Police – Who spoiled her?
Tamil Lady – Men
Police – What men?
Tamil Lady – Our men of course
Police – “Ah, your men must be brought up by you all, not us (meaning the police), isn’t it?”
Where is the RACISM?
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Off the Cuff / May 26, 2015
.
Dear Gunasekere DJ and your identical twin Senanayake,
This is the relevant section of the Dialog that you have used in your comment (start to 15 sec)
Tamil Lady – We want to know what has happened
Police – What happened?
Tamil Lady – 9 people has spoilt a woman
Police – Who spoiled her?
Tamil Lady – Men
Police – What men?
Tamil Lady – Our men of course
Police – “Ah, your men must be brought up by you all, not us (meaning the police), isn’t it?”
Where is this imagined Racism?
You are either a Liar or does not understand Sinhala sufficiently.
Is it because you are NOT a Sinhalese?
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Rodney / May 23, 2015
The woman is just on the road carring a banner at the behest of some backers looks like.
/
Sam A / May 23, 2015
As far as I can hear, there is no racial bias in this police officer’s language. This is how, these guys communicate with the other communities in Sri Lanka. This police officer should have extremely polite with the elderly women who expressing her frustration in peaceful manner. Obviously the police need training on way of communication. This news paper seems to use racial tone to explain this particular incident. The journalist should use there skill of writing to help communities build racial harmony among themselves. Hope, these gang rapists will get the maximum replenishment.
/
Derby / May 23, 2015
I was wondering the same thing. How can the word Thamuse be a racially disrepctful word? Even the Sinhalese refer to each other as Thamuse. I thought the policeman was patient and tactful. This is totally different to how most minority incidents are handled in the U.S.A . Someone would have either been shot dead or put in a choke hold until the person choked and died. And 99% of the time police officers are not indicted in the U.S.A.
/
Lal / May 23, 2015
How can the word thamusela be considered as racial slur _ the cops use this word on the sinhalese as well _ really speaking thamusela means you people, a bit slang but certainly not slang…. Come on people lets not start the racial nonsence again. Just let go this poor policeman.
/
Gunasekere DJ / May 23, 2015
you cannot understand Sinhala. This police officer says “Your men”. In this context ‘your men’ means “Tamil men” ! That is racism.
/
Eusense / May 23, 2015
gunasekara,
Will the police officer use the same sentence (“your men”) if the woman was a Sinhalese or will he use a different sentence? If a different sentence could you suggest what he should say?
/
Ram / May 24, 2015
Do NOT be conned by the pen-name used to make comments here.
/
Samuel Jayaweera / May 25, 2015
Eusense,
do you think, your efforts making could end up with success ?
We know perfectly well these untrained police men but got appointed political favourisation behave unethical and unmoral. Alone to listen to the video – makes me feel how indecent the policman on the videon has been. The woman regardless of her origin – is a srrilanken. why the bugger policemen cant learn to address this with a patience and professional manner as the Germans, English, french or the like would do.
Do you still make every effort to defend the idiots ? Shame on you man if you are degree holder produced by Alma mater Pera ? You guys including that LICKER Abhaya from the US are a shame to our folks. Please
/
Eusense / May 26, 2015
Samuel,
Let me ask the question again.
“Will the police officer use the same sentence (“your men”) if the woman was a Sinhalese or will he use a different sentence? If a different sentence could you suggest what he should say?”
Hope your next response will answer my question rather than writing trash!
/
Sylvia Haik / May 25, 2015
Gunasekere DJ This is exactly the point missed by most of the blinkered commentators here. Imagine a policeman in USA telling a black woman protesting against rape being told she should instead control her black men. Unfortunately it does happen there and it is a racial slur but we are supposedly better than them.
/
Eusense / May 26, 2015
sylvia haik,
You are right. It doesn’t happen there. They just shoot them.
/
Off the Cuff / May 26, 2015
Dear Sylvia Haik,
On your own admission you do not understand Sinhala. Hence your comments here are not very wise.
Here is the first 15 seconds of the dialog
Tamil Lady – We want to know what has happened
Police – What happened?
Tamil Lady – 9 people has spoilt a woman
Police – Who spoiled her?
Tamil Lady – Men
Police – What men?
Tamil Lady – Our men of course
Police – “Ah, your men must be brought up by you all, not us (meaning the police), isn’t it?”
If you feel my translation is inadequate, get help from another Sinhalese.
What exactly is RACIST about the above?
Who is responsible for bringing up children if not the parents?
Later the policeman advices the people to disperse leaving law enforcement to the police. He uses the word “Please” in making that request. He also tells them not to force the hand of the police to maintain law and order.
The presence of the cameraperson who was filming surreptitiously hiding behind the woman in black and white checkered saree points to a possible attempt at needling the police to use force on the civilians.
Here is the backdrop to this event.
Mobs burnt tyres on the streets, stoned the court and the police station, ordered hartals, and called for the public execution of the perpetrators. Unable to calm the people, Tamil politicos blamed their rivals. Sinhalese politicians in the South saw the revival of terrorism and separatism and called for stern action. Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran warned that if the agitation continued, the government might re-militarize the province. Pressed to act, three top Jaffna police officers were transferred on Friday. (Indian Express)
Please remember that it is very easy for troublemakers to incite the Northern population against Law enforcement officers and especially against Non Tamils.
Under the circumstances, the Police acted wisely and with restraint.
If you are interested, you can get more details from the following comments.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/video-of-sinhala-police-officer-using-racially-motivated-language-at-an-elderly-jaffna-woman-goes-viral/comment-page-3/#comment-1837811
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/video-of-sinhala-police-officer-using-racially-motivated-language-at-an-elderly-jaffna-woman-goes-viral/comment-page-3/#comment-1837657
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Senthil / May 23, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera,
Most of the readers know how resist you are. You all MR’s men talk nonsense like zero causality, you can repeat 100 times, but none of the genuine reader is going to listen. Actually Tamils were very innocent and frighten people. Singhalese repeatedly hit them in communal troubles and eventually LTTE educated them to stand on their feet. Now after LTTE(like after Christ), Tamils gained confidence on them and changed into people like Jews. Turned Tamils into a violent community is mainly by bad Singhalese – it is your fault. I do admire the technical knowledge of LTTE how they made things like Hitler made Volkswagen car. If Singhalese do not rectify their fault now, the damage to the country will be irreversible – think and act (Mahabaratham)
/
John / May 23, 2015
Keep blaming the Sinhalese you racist.
You will notice in these comments Singhalese don’t blame Tamils or Hindu’s as a whole but there are multiple comments blaming Singhalese Buddhists as a whole. This is the pathetic thinking of some brainwashed racists who see no wrong in themselves.
People like you never ever take any responsibility for the brutality and the wrong doing of the LTTE.
If anyone needs to be blamed for the woes of the Tamil community now it is the separatist Tiger loving Tamil diaspora who were either former terrorists or chief cheer leaders/propagandists of the most brutal terrorist organisation ever.
/
Off the Cuff / May 23, 2015
.
Senthil, please stop lying.
There are people who have experienced your brand of Tamil “Benevolence” that have recorded their experiences for posterity.
Here is a FIRST HAND NARATIVE that draws a vivid picture of what life in the North was, for the majority Tamil population.
“Having come from a depressed caste and grown up in the 1930s in the Jaffna peninsula, I know the vicious character of quasi-slavery, which was maintained purely by violence” . Sebastian Rasalingam.
“When I moved to Hatton and later to Colombo, I found a very different world. It was a transforming experience for me and my wife to find that our workmates, mostly Sinhalese would actually sit with us and share a cup of tea. We found that we could go to night school and study without being threatened, beaten up, or go and borrow books, and do things that would bring swift retribution ‘back in the North’; our dwellings would have been torched and our women raped with impunity”
You can read the rest of his experiences at
http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/12770
Bryan Pfaffenberger in his book ‘Caste in Tamil Culture’ observes that, the Tamils blame the Sinhalese to cover their own Sins.
1871 Tamil Tamil riots – at Maviththapuram.
High cast Tamils attacked low casts (dhoby and barber castes)
1923 September Tamil Tamil riots – at Sutumalai.
High cast Tamils attacked Low cast (Paramba) people because Low Casts have no right to employ drummers at a funeral.
1929 June Tamil Tamil riots – Jaffna
Because the govt issued an ‘equal seating directive’ to govt grant-aided schools.
Under this directive ‘low caste’ students were allowed to sit on the bench. Until then they sat either on the floor or outside the classroom. Resultant riots burnt a large number of houses mainly of low caste Tamils. Their children en masse were stopped from attending schools. Repeated petitions were made to the government by ‘high caste’ Vellalars begging to cancel the directive!
The Vellala Burnt Down FIFTEEN (15) schools that complied with the govt order and other acts of violence and kept their children from attending school.
1931 Tamil Tamil riots – at Canganai.
High casts Tamils attacked Low cast Pallars for hiring drummers for a funeral.
1933 Tamil Tamil riots & Bus strike – Jaffna
High cast Tamil bus-drivers went on strike in protest against Low cast Tamils attempting to Sit on seats instead of the floor where they sat before.
A few months later in a caste feud between vellala and non-vellala Catholics, a vellala was killed, and the houses of several Low Cast parayas burnt down, over the issue of a paraya man wearing shoes in church.
The next day, another feud developed in another village between High Casts and low cast nalavas over the rights of the nalavas to cremate their dead in a vellala cremation place, and a man was shot.
(from the PhD Thesis of Dr Jane Russell, Communal Politics under the Donoughmore Constitution, 1931 – 1947 available from Thisara Publications, Lanka)
Up to that point of time there were no Tamil Sinhala riots. The first Tamil Sinhala Riot occurred in 1939 after a Racist hate speech was delivered in Nawalapitiya by Tamil Lawyer Politician and founder All Ceylon Tamil Congress, Mr GG Ponnambalam.
20 years after Independence, In 1968,
Low cast Tamils (Pallar and Navalar) staged a non violent protest in front of the gates of the Lord Kandasamy (Skanda) Hindu Temple at Maviddapuram demanding that they be allowed to enter the Temple. At that point of time only 17% of Hindu Temples were open to the Low Cast Tamils. They were beaten up by members of an organisation called the “Defenders of Saivism” with Iron Rods and Sand filled Bottles.
This brand of Tamil “Benevolence” was a daily occurrence for centuries for Tamils like Mr Sebastian Rasalingam and his Indian Tamil wife.
Therefore Senthil it’s better that you stay silent instead of defecating in public.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Heretic / May 27, 2015
OTC,
“Their children en masse were stopped from attending schools.”
As an alternative the wealthy Vellalah started schools that only accepted Vellalah and maybe some Koviar children. The Koviar were inside the Vellalah houses already as domestic servants so that they were acceptable in schools also. This is what I have heard from proud grand parents.
Some schools for the out caste children were founded by missionaries from the USA. My guess is that nobody else was willing to educate them.
/
Native Vedda / May 27, 2015
Heretic
Could you cite studies on caste and education in this island.
/
Off the Cuff / May 28, 2015
Dear Heretic,
The next question from this coward would be whether you have read all of it from cover to cover.
Download the following book and refer to it when necessary.
http://www.noolaham.net/project/37/3675/3675.pdf
It is “Communal Politics Under The Donoughmore Constitution”
by Dr Jane Russell.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Off the Cuff / May 28, 2015
Dear Heretic,
Yes the Koviar were used as thugs to brutalize the depressed casts by the wealthy Vellalah.
Sri Arumuka Navalar resigned his teaching post because Principal Percival admitted a low cast child to his school and opened High Cast ONLY schools in Jaffna.
/
Aravindan / May 23, 2015
Another racist, terrorist sympathiser who thinks their darling boys did no wrong. Get over this primitive tribal thinking.
Don’t blame Sinhalese for al our woes. Take some responsibility for our faults too.
/
TD / May 23, 2015
K.A. Sumanasekera , You are such a disgraceful Sri Lankan, Iam positive your family members may have a different view on this video. Becuase, people such as you are thankully, rare. So your parents, brothers and sisters, or children might belong to the majority of right thinking people and you had to be the racist idiot.
/
kailainathan / May 23, 2015
If he/they cannot protect the people why they are there!!!!
/
Abu Mukarram / May 23, 2015
TO ALL THOSE WHO JUSTIFY THE WORD ‘THAMUSELA’
Why not try this word inj front of a police officer or a politician?
/
Yasin / May 23, 2015
As far as my Sinhala knowledge “you” in Sinhala is Thamuse which is a short form of thamunnanse. Like “oba” which is short for obathuma. Anyway, can CT tell where the “Racially motivated language’ is being used by this police officer ?
The police officer, according to the video, is in fact talking to the woman
normally and in Sinhala as the woman is conversing in Sinhala.
Is CT or their reporter trying to blow the matter beyond ???
/
Gunasekere DJ / May 23, 2015
you cannot understand Sinhala. This police officer says “Your men”. In this context ‘your men’ means “Tamil men” ! That is racism.
/
Randy / May 23, 2015
I think all Sinhalese have got used to it. Tamils are not one of us. They are not Sri lankan. Get a separate state then the Police will say we will catch the criminal (not your people)
/
Siva Sankaran Sarma / May 25, 2015
Adey, Kunasegaram,
Who’s the old crone referring to when she’s talking about “abe birimi”? Was she being racist as well :D And he is absolutely correct – it’s not the police’s job to raise We Thamzih or anyone else (and teach the moral complexities surrounding things like rape and murder – which seem to confuse many We Thamizh :D)
/
Tony / May 23, 2015
Seriously ? When did thsmuse become a racial slang ? The thamuse who wrote this article must be mad…..
/
Thambi / May 23, 2015
I as a Tamil living in the south see it as a normal confrontation between police and citizens. It is the minds with resist attitudes that blow it out of proportion. It is not the duty of the police to say punish your own criminals.Or reform your own criminals. The police cannot disown the north like it is not part of the country.
/
Lawry / May 23, 2015
I have lived all my life with the Sinhalese. I use the word thamuse only when I want to be disrespectful. I could get an earful of filth if I tell a bus conductor ” thamuse apita ticket dhen nathda “. He is not in Parliament but even he will take offence. The Police man certainly was disrespected [Edited out].
/
Lankan / May 23, 2015
As usual, people are going overboard. The policeman was rude to use the word. That’s something that is not so uncommon anywhere in Sri Lanka.
They need to be more respectful to anybody, irrespective of race,class or creed. However to drag racism into this is a bit unwarranted.
/
alex / May 23, 2015
What is interesting is that despite the video evidence coming out of Jaffna again of unacceptable behaviour by the security forces, the Sinhala elite and educated classes are completely unconcerned and think its ok. Shocking indictment of the Sinhala mindset. Reconciliation highly unlikely.
/
Jim softy / May 24, 2015
Rape [Edited out]
/
prabu / May 24, 2015
So typical of you Sinhalese people to be on here acting like heroes ” the savior” complex like the country is in a great state and the economies flourishing. The only problems are the barbaric “TAMILS”,these same Tamils your SINHALESE nation tried to extinguish by bombing, murdering AND RAPING YOUNG WOMEN, GIRLS AND MEN SO STOP THE PATRONIZING TALK ABOUT “TAMILS” LIKE YOU SPRING FROM SOME ELITE PEDIGREES, WHEN YOUR SOME OF THE WORST SAVAGES IN THE COUNTRY!!!
/
Correction MR / May 24, 2015
Ask a Tamil or a Muslim to call a Sinhalese Thamuse and see what happens .. just try it ,,,, no need to comment , go around with a video camera and first try it on normal folks and them on a Policeman and just see what you get,,
do not rant here put it into action and see what happens , you racists bastards, trying to cover up a damn racist cop, we know how these buggers treat the minorities when they visit the station even for a legitimate purpose ,unless you give the buggers a paga .
/
Jim softy / May 24, 2015
[Edited out]
This is another side of the story.
: The protestors were fuelled by a latent mistrust of the Sri Lanka Police and had their gravest doubts that justice would be meted out in this case. A young school girl had been abducted, raped and then murdered by a gang. It did not help the situation when one of the gang escaped and was found in Colombo and then hauled back to the north.
The Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council C. Wigneswaran is a former Supreme Court judge and he was quick to condemn the attacks upon the Police and the disturbance at the court complex. He warned that there were opportunistic elements keen to exploit the mistrust the local people had in the Police Department. The fact the he acknowledged inter alia was that even if the war finished six years ago, it will take a long time and a lot of accomplishment before any government will be able to win the hearts and minds of the northern resident, was of note.
To be fair the Police had acted speedily and the culprits were apprehended with minimal delay. However, when crowds turned up at the Jaffna court complex having heard that the suspects were being produced, they were incensed when there appeared to be a delay. It was almost too late when the Police let it be known that in fact they were not being produced there at the time. To say that all hell broke loose then would be an understatement. Coupled with the suspicion of incompetence when one of the suspects escaped to Colombo, the air around the court complex was filled with apprehension only seen before under the LTTE. :
/
Senthil / May 24, 2015
Off the Cuff , Every thing you have mentioned about cast is correct – lot of people tried to abolish it but failed because it was created by Brahmins and they cleverly connected it with Hindu religion. The important point here is most of the LTTE carders from so called low cast and our leader himself is not from velalar cast. LTTE did lot of good things to abolish cast and gender discrimination and nearly succeeded and people still love their rule. What you have mentioned are now history. The point is, I do not have to explain again from the scratch how resists Singhalese governments and how they used racism to win their elections. I do not have to start from beginning how Singhalese army and police treated Tamils and even Singhalese and how people hate them. I still remember Singhalese army in my mind are animals, like it or not it will take many years now to change that mind set. Now all we wanted from the government is to remove the army from North – we hate to see Singhalese army and MR time police. I am not saying I love all Tamils – there are many selfish [Edited out] among Tamils -ordinary Singhalese are much better people.
/
James / May 24, 2015
The previous government policed the entire Northern Province with Sinhalese policemen and most of them are not only dirty racists but also Rajapakshe’s slaves. The present government also simply kept all of them (appointed by the previous govt.) in Jaffna. It is very evident from the tone of this policeman.
From this incident it is clear that these Sinhalese policemen are only helping the criminals in Jaffna. To change this situation the government should appoint Tamil policemen to the North and East who can speak to and understand the people of the area.
/
Dr. Beatrice Dias / May 24, 2015
How is this dialogue described as Racially motivated? Having carefully listened to it, I see no racial over/undertones in it at all. That the officer is unhelpful, I agree, But the telegraph is not demonstrating responsible journalism by blaring divisive and incorrect headlines and titles.
Whither professionalism???
/
Dr. Koparahevakapuge Mevin Silva / May 24, 2015
Whither doctorates??? Policeman says “your men” What does it mean? It is “Tamil men” Can a police man say that? Apida kale? ( Have we done) , Thamusalge minis kale (It’s your men who did it) That is racism poor unprofessional doctor! Looks like a Mrvyn Silva type bogus doctor.
/
Eusense / May 24, 2015
Dr mervin,
Why don’t you describe how the policeman should say to the woman if she was a Sinhalese.
/
Ashan Mendis / May 24, 2015
where are the thamil policeman
/
f=ma / May 25, 2015
the biggest joke is that Colombo Telegraph considers 6000 views on youtube viral LOL.
/
Dr. Errol Wirasinghe / May 25, 2015
How Silly!
There is nothing racial about this discussion.
Colombo Tele, YOU OWE an apology to the Police Officer!
if you continue this silly reporting, I will stop reading your website!
You are creating racial discord!!
/
ela kolla / May 25, 2015
CT is the biggest joke ever to be had in this world..
/
Native Vedda / May 25, 2015
ela kolla
“CT is the biggest joke ever to be had in this world..”
True only when ela kolla posts his/her edited typing. Otherwise CT is too boring.
Thanks
/
Senanayake / May 25, 2015
How silly this Dr is!
What does this police officer mean by saying “who raped? it is us? it is your men who did it”
“your men”
So it is not racism?
/
Off the Cuff / May 26, 2015
.
Dear Senanayake, Gunasekere DJ (the identical twin),
Where is the Racism?
This is the relevant section of the Dialog that you have used in your comment (start to 15 sec)
Tamil Lady – We want to know what has happened
Police – What happened?
Tamil Lady – 9 people has spoilt a woman
Police – Who spoiled her?
Tamil Lady – Men
Police – What men?
Tamil Lady – Our men of course
Police – “Ah, your men must be brought up by you all, not us (meaning the police), isn’t it?”
Where is this imagined Racism?
You are either a Liar or does not understand Sinhala sufficiently.
Is it because you are NOT a Sinhalese?
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
ela kolla / May 25, 2015
[Edited out]
/
MirakRajBanda / May 25, 2015
A female doctor in Colombo General Hospital couldn’t bear the ‘pain’ once she was not addressed as ‘Madam’ and the policeman in Welikada police went a bulldog for calling him officer instead ‘Sir’ or any other most appropriate form he is used to but these brutes (most of the Govnt. servants) treat you like third degree criminals but they are being paid from our tax money to deliver a decent service every citizen entitle to.
Shame to these corrupt, boozy, arrogant Government servants!!!!
/