By Rev. S.J. Emmanuel –
Rev. S.J. Emmanuel
At the 68th Independence Day on the 4th Feb. 2016, His Excellency the President declared:
“There are incorrect interpretations given about the resolution presented to the United Nations Human Rights Council. I clearly state that we are facing these resolutions in order to protect the pride and dignity of our country, our people and our security forces, and also to make our tri forces to be internationally renowned armed force. We should face these resolutions with patience, discipline and decorum so that our country could be respectfully recognized by all international organizations including the UNO and all states in the world.”
The clear and courageous statement of President Sirisena on Independence Day, goes a long way to dispel doubts and suspicions among many of us, who believe that only by facing the UNHRC Resolutions, we could save not only the “the pride and dignity of our country, our people and our security forces,” but also become “respectfully recognized by all international organizations including the UNO and all states in the world”
Just five days after the President’s statement, the High Commissioner of the UNHRC summing up his 4 days fact-finding and comprehensive visit to the island, made a clear Press Statement saying
“Let me make it as plain as I can: the international community wants to welcome Sri Lanka back into its fold without any lingering reservations. It wants to help Sri Lanka become an economic powerhouse. It wants Sri Lanka’s armed forces to face up to the stain on their reputation, so that they can once again play a constructive role in international peace-keeping operations, and command the full respect that so many of their members deserve.
But for all that to come to fruition, Sri Lanka must confront and defeat the demons of its past.
It must create institutions that work, and ensure accountability. It must seize the great opportunity it currently has to provide all its people with truth, justice, security and prosperity.
I, for my part, will do all in my power to help that come about, and will continue to offer the services of my Office to accompany Sri Lanka through this very difficult process.”
Now the above two statements, coming from the Sri Lankan President and from the High Commissioner of the UNHRC, corroborate one another’s good intentions and convictions about the future well-being of all in Sri Lanka.
Firstly, President Sirisena put his finger on the culprits, when he argued – it is because you did not act with reason and common sense and responsibility to fulfill promises given to the international leaders like the UN Secretary general or other heads of states, we are today facing the challenges of the UN resolution “with patience, discipline and decorum” to win back our lost pride and dignity of all, including the forces.
The accusations of the former government and their supporters talking of a betrayal of our sovereignty or of our heroes, do not stand to reason and common sense, when we recall to mind the stance and deeds of the former government and supporters.
Secondly, the High Commissioner had a pointed reply to those who maliciously accuse the present Government for its cooperation with the UNHRC.
“ There are many myths and misconceptions about the resolution, and what it means for Sri Lanka.
It is not a gratuitous attempt to interfere with or undermine the country’s sovereignty or independence.
It is not some quasi-colonial act by some nebulous foreign power.
The acceptance of the resolution was a moment of strength, not weakness, by Sri Lanka. It was the country’s commitment to both itself and to the world to confront the past honestly and, by doing that, take out comprehensive insurance against any future devastating outbreak of inter communal tensions and conflict.”
I like to recall to mind here the news item in the Colombo Telegraph of 12th. Dec.2013 – with the title: Red Flag About War Crimes Inquiry From Archbishop Of Colombo
The Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith warned the Government that foreign intervention would be inevitable unless serious allegations of rights abuses and the work of reconciliation is addressed within the country. “Foreigners should not tell us what to do. We are not a pack of fools. But if we do not resolve these issues, then we open ourselves to foreign intervention,” the Cardinal said.
Dankottuwa Manike / February 10, 2016
Fr Emmanual
What a change in your attitude. I welcome it.
But… But…. But…. can we Singhalese trust you.
We see you as someone like to go after the powerful.
LTTE powerbase being liquidated, you have come to the greener pastures.
LTTE gave free air tickets to travel world over. Are you expecting more of that kind from the GOSL?
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Nimal / February 11, 2016
Sorry Sir
You misunderstood Fr Emmanual.
According to Kirubaharan’s article, Father is anxiously waiting for (No bell) Nobel prize.
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K Sundaram / February 11, 2016
Nimal
Nobel Prize is not for failures.
FR Emmaual is a failure and he is going to fail further.
The government too got hold of his tail thinking he is the man to do business with in the hardcore LTTE fronts.
Govt. desperation blindly hooked the LTTE and this nasty LTTE front is showing signs of rattled behavior because they are unable to fulfill their own agenda having joined the govt.
It is all Mangala’s juvenile political posturing without knowing the wider Tamil Diasora.
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Nimal / February 11, 2016
Agreed
but NIB knows that Father and his spokesperson are nothing among the diaspora.
They both giving bogus image to Sirisena and Managala.
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Shanthan / February 11, 2016
Good idea, somebody else gave up their lives & living for the independence of Tamils and Father wants an award.
As you suggested let him have NO BELL prize.
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ballah / February 10, 2016
appa sira the traitor …[Edited out]
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Vibhushana / February 10, 2016
Hello Rev,
Have you noticed how Sri Lanka gets better with these processors?
Tamils are like the ladder Sri Lanka uses to reach higher goals.
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Patriot / February 10, 2016
Rev. Father ironically you are a demon from the past too. Your servitude to LTTE in collecting funds to maim and kill innocent people should be held accountable too. Before worrying about Sirisena’s intentions you should find a hole to hide yourself because the law will hunt you down for supporting a terrorist organization. This is said by not me the Bedouin Princess’s pay master the US of A.
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lal / February 10, 2016
Mad Monks have their day of reckoning as did Rasputin. Vicious, murderous, racist monks have their day of reckoning even sooner.
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pacs / February 10, 2016
This is the era of Brutus Talk. The Talk of Mark Anthony will follow.
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thondamanny / February 10, 2016
Find a hole to hide you rogue priest.
You have destroyed the catholic faith.
You have destroyed the thamil youth & children.
wait for the hand of God to pluck you insulting & humiliating His only beloved Son by saying Jesus Christ too was like Prabakaran or Voce Versa.
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Sellam / February 10, 2016
Whatever the Sinhalese leaders said and promised was not carried out, ever. It is a lesson learnt by the Tamils all along. Suddenly you, father, have become a turncoat. Why?. Why don’t you leave the politics to the politicians and carry on with Church activities.
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Ariyam / February 11, 2016
Well said.
Father was never involved in politics, until he lost in the election for Bishop of Jaffna.
However, Father is living in a dream world.
He thinks that the SL government will give him red carpet welcome and Army salute for his meanigless articles.
If he is right, let him tell this to ordinary people in the Jaffna.
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Noel Seevaratnam / February 11, 2016
[Edited out]
This [Edited out] worshipping Prabaharan and never condemned Praba the devil when he kidnapped young Tamil children and sent the to the front line to be killed.
This AH did not question Praba why he was killing of well educated Tamils in sri lanka, the likes of Dr. Neelan Thiruchchelvam, Sivasithambaram and Kadirgamar.
When articulate, Dr. Neelan spoke in English in the foreign countries about tamil problems with world leaders this devil worshipper and the drunked Anton Balasingam could not understand what Dr. Neelan was saying.
Dr, Neelan was killed by LTTE because Anton Bala recommended to Praba that Dr. Neelan should be killed because he was speaking against the tamils and LTTE.
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Karthigesu Nirmalan-Nathan / February 11, 2016
Finding a whole to crawl into in Sri Lanka cannot be an easy job. All the bloody holes are full of morons like you lot.
Now let me see;
1) Proud of burning down library,
2) Proud of rapping captured combatants,
3) Summarily executing captured combatants and surrendered civilians.
5) Feeding biscuit to a child and executing him at point blank range,
6) Declaring no-fire zone and aiming projectiles at the very area where civilians were held as hostages.
7) Lowering their standards to worse than that of the terrorists.
The whole damn country is in denial and the curse will never let Sri Lanka be a respected nation in the world arena. Its world ranking for corruption and every negative aspect to democratic governance is no secret.
As for the Rev. Emmanuel I feel sorry for the guy who supported the resolution to be watered down along with Slime Supremo Sumanthiran deserves all the thanks he is getting.
My father told me that I should never trust a person who does not have a firm handshake and a person who never looks you in the eye when speaking to you.
Now take a good look at the Rt. Hon. President’s handshake. Take a good look it is slimy in the extreme and kind of mushy. To me that handshake says it all.
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Ponkoh Sivakumaran / February 11, 2016
This reverend(?) gentelman (?) is to be pitied. In his old age he is going through so many contortions so that he may perhaps be able to return to SL and be considered a hero. Very unlikely. The Sinhalese are unlikely to forget his past. The Tamils are unlikely to forgive his present. Better keep quiet than become so supine and servile in old age. You will lose respect of everyone if you go on with this senile prattle.
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tinpotjihadi / February 11, 2016
Koti father is suddenly a Gandhi
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Ramesh / February 11, 2016
The Sinhala-Buddhist comments about any Tamil leader who becomes popular is to say that “He is a Tiger”.They say this not only of Tamil leaders but even international leaders. They have included among “Tigers” leaders like Desmond Tutu,David Cameron and Yasmin Sooka.
It is the Sinhala discrimination that created the Tigers. Please remember Sinhala army was occupying Jaffna in 1958 and beating up Democratic Tamil leaders and citizens even before Tigers were born. Many LTTE leaders were infants or unborn at the time when Sinhala army was running amok in Jaffna. It is sad that many of the present day Sinhalese do not know who created Tigers.
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Dr.Anton Canagasabey / February 12, 2016
Please take hatred for fellow human beings out of your hearts and minds, follow the peaceful path shown by Lord Budha, Jesus Christ,non violent interpretations of Hindu Gods and merciful Alla’s in this short life of ours and do all you can to leave a peaceful Sri Lanka. This is the biggest gift we can leave to the future generations. There are more similarities between us genetically,historically and culturally than differences.Kings Parakrama bahus, Bhuvenekabahus,Nayakes, Jayawardenes,Fernados,Fernandopulles have both Singhalese and Tamil genes in them,this applies to majority of the rest of us as well.Genetic studies have proven this.All the moors did not come to Lanka with wives, they took wives from the local races and historically they have more similarities genetically and sub-culturally to the indegeneous population now than the Arabs in the Middle East. Historically there have been moors at least from 1st century. So let us Celebrate the similarities and differences too.A garden is not a beautiful garden if there are only one kind flowering plants or if only one kind is flourishing. It is beautiful when all different cloured flowers and plants are flourishing. So celebrate we having in Sri Lanka different ethnic groups,religions ,cultures and even sub-cultures.Not only some selfish power hungry politicians,but some of the racist journalists and twisted historians are to be blamed for the trauma we Sri Lankans went through . Politicians and Press have a greater responsibilities to put things right now. It is music to my ears when I hear that Sri Lanka is improving towards being a just,peaceful society where there is a fairer distribution of wealth.I know we have a long way to go.
As human beings all of us can err but give give fellow countryman a chance if they show signs of improving themselves that goes along with the reconciliation concept as well. When someone dig in to the past errors and not talking about the present stand of individuals,I suspect these acts are done by individuals who have hatred in their heart and racism in their mind whether they be Singhalese,Tamils or Muslims. If all of us get-together and work using the skills available in all the ethnic groups Sri Lanka will have plenty for all the races.
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CITIZEN / February 12, 2016
[Edited out]
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CITIZEN / February 12, 2016
you fully edited a ‘citizens’ point of view bla bla….that is what is taking place ‘citizen’ explained…….as said obstructions laid in view of the sinhalese from your social media itself …what good to say about the printed media ….this shows?what is happening ..it seems you are white washing this man ….a man who had betrayed his motherland …..but what I meant is the true picture of him which god will not forgive……a man who had spread hatred among the communities appearing as a catholic priest….now going further to be a saint ….a man who has made use of the facilities that the developed countries are offering to spread hatred…..but his agenda is given by ponko sivakumaran here itself…..this also clearly shows how the common people have become to understand clearly the situation…….I must clearly say that all communities are living with harmony in Sri Lanka..they all face common problems as human beings ………….but the polticos are using all these communities for their potilical agendas with the good help of the medias…MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL
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