By John Baird –
By John Baird - Minister of Foreign Affairs - Canada
Canada takes its membership in the Commonwealth very seriously. It is for this simple reason that we believe in upholding the basic principles it stands for: freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Without them, what does the Commonwealth stand for?
Despite Canada’s efforts, the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), failed to utilize this summit as an opportunity to address long-concerns and to catalyze meaningful change for the people of Sri Lanka. The Commonwealth failed to put any pressure on a regime that has so blatantly ignored international calls for change. Despite CMAG’s enhanced mandate, which was based on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group and approval by heads of government, it refused to put Sri Lanka on the agenda to allow members an opportunity to discuss these shortcomings.
We failed to use this when it mattered most. As a consequence, we gave this regime a free pass to continue down this path.
The prime minister’s decision not to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka was based entirely on upholding the principles of the Commonwealth. This was not a decision taken in haste. It was carefully considered with one aim in mind: for Canada to send a message about our displeasure with an organization that has failed to stand up for its fundamental principles. How can an organization like the Commonwealth reward a country like Sri Lanka, not just with hosting a summit, but by allowing it to chair the organization for two years? And after no meaningful reconciliation following a brutal and violent struggle?
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Javi / October 12, 2013
There is an I.C. urgency South China Sea.
It takes 4 days for China to mobilise to get close to India. It takes 3 days for India to take off from the same valley as it did for creation of Bangladesh. India still has the long standing defence treaty with Russia and 50% of its imports from China. Putin has given the Chinese the largest contract to build industry now that it’s got WTO courtesy IC . India has never voted on multilateral issues along with the US but it has for the first time against SL for a very good cause.
All these Biscuit Boofer Society (BBS) whores at the Rajaporkistan club are making me want to gasoc!
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Javi / October 12, 2013
Correction- it takes 3 days to take over SL by air only and hand over for civil administration to natives.
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vishvajith / October 12, 2013
I think, you know, where all this is going to end. What escape do we have as the World adjusts to pre-colonial boundaries ? Prabhakarn dead, appears to be more dangerous than the fellow alive. CBK/Ranil saw this through and was managing the outcome, VP too saw it and went for it, to be matched by equally tenacious Southerner. A delicate time for the motherland.
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Javi / October 12, 2013
Life is a moment in time and if I could tell you the future then I would be winning the lottery regularly
Newton’s 3 ……..reaction, except in so far as compelled by a third force.
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Don Stanley / October 12, 2013
Hats off to Canada for taking a pricipled position! Hat off to the Canadian PM
BRAVO lead the way to REFORM or SHUT DOWN the Commonwealth of Nations – an irrlevant British COLONIAL relic that is today a platform for their world dictators and HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS!
The CHOGM circus is a massive wase of Sri Lankan citizen’s funds -to boost the current military dictaroship and bankrupt an already highly indebted economy..
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Dodo / October 12, 2013
I would like to know why Wimal Weerawansa and Pathala Champika who hate the west and a big anti-colonial fighters have not said anything about Rajapassa’s embrace of and waste of fund on the Commonwealth of Clowns (CHOGM and games bids) which is an OLD COLONIAL RELIC?!
Where are all the Sinhala Buddhist natioalists and the BALU SENA who should be protesting this celebration of BRITISH COLONIALISM in Lanka come November?!
Are they scared of the Ban on Protests that Gota has in place to keep the national security state in order?!
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2013
Javi
“India has never voted on multilateral issues along with the US but it has for the first time against SL for a very good cause.”
India did so to protect Sri Lanka and watered down resolution.
“It takes 3 days for India to take off from the same valley as it did for creation of Bangladesh.”
It took nine months military preparation for India to create Bangladesh and it took only few seconds to hand over 90,000 war criminals to back to Pakistan without any investigation.
According to some Indian analysts they believe India could destroy all key military bases and installations within a day and render Sri Lankan armed forces ineffective. Indian navy is capable of ferrying men and machines to this island in large numbers within hours.
Is Gota contemplating taking on India?
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Javi / October 12, 2013
NV Hanuman ki jai
“India did so to protect Sri Lanka and watered down resolution.”
Baharat’s Royal Seepage is Lanka and in the eyes of the world India has to be human and give Lanka the opportunity to consider that’s being gentlemanly- after all agreements are only worth the value of the paper it’s written on.
“It took nine months military preparation for India to create Bangladesh and it took only few seconds to hand over 90,000 war criminals to back to Pakistan without any investigation.”
At that time 7th fleet needed 8 day’s to arrive at India which it did. Hennery Kissinger warned India if it did not retract they would be nuked. By that time India was ready to complete the annexation of weakened West Pakistan and live in harmony – both alu porotas while Bengal is chaval.
The tired US and UK were seeing the valiant Russians who have yet to be beaten by the west running mad right into East Germany. Defeated UK and a proud US created Pakistan off Baharat to stage their weapons for a future rendezvous with Russia as much as it’s up to using Catholic Poland because of the situation (Poland’s rise in the EU is due to that). Russia may have the only Space Station but US has the ultimate weapon in space – The manned space plane (to date around 450 days in space) that can shoot all satellites and space station so she goes on for new frontiers as in star trek.
“According to some Indian analysts they believe India could destroy all key military bases and installations within a day and render Sri Lankan armed forces ineffective. Indian navy is capable of ferrying men and machines to this island in large numbers within hour”
One day easier said than done. Its air force is the best of engineers off the colleges and its strength after IndoChino bhai bye. Its navy is nothing much to speak of a force because its almost land locked as far as enemies. Army Ha ha do you know the number of jawans without limbs in the north who still have a bone to pick after Premadasa thopi peratu. Peace keeping is for natives not for givers of freedom.
Come Narendra Modi recomended by IC game on.
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loku baba / October 12, 2013
Canada rejects UN call for review of violence against aboriginal women
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-to-reject-un-panels-call-for-review-of-violence-on-aboriginal-women/article14406434/
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Dhaksha / October 12, 2013
There are valid reasons why Canada is boycotting CHOGM in Colombo, and considering the list the writer has stated, there are many unanswered questions the Sri Lankan government have yet to address, leaving a cloud of suspicion that only their accountability can clear up. The rajapaksa regime has been dodging the investigations and pulling wool over the eyes of the world, while blaming every single official or world body that criticizes or questions them.
Meanwhile this would be a good opportunity to ask the good Minister, why they support a rogue state like Israel…land thefts, illegal settlements, control of water, fishing restricted, blockades, occupation for several decades, killing of civilians by precision bombs, all condemned by the world, in fact even the EU has imposed boycotts on good made in illegal settler areas. Why does Canada give Israel endless support and protection, even at the UN? How about some consistency in holding such countries accountable?
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Javi / October 12, 2013
. Camels belch and fart go back under the rock. Charity starts at home.
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Ben Hurling / October 12, 2013
Dhaksha
Hypocrites are never consistent. Only opportunistic.
Cheers!
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Amarasiri / October 12, 2013
Dhaksha,
“Why We’re Boycotting Sri Lanka Commonwealth”
Why Only Sri Lanka? 300,000 Tamils in Canada, but the facts are there.
Why Not Israel? Jews in Canada, Jews in America, US influence in Canada, and the facts are there on the ground.
This is called Double Standard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_standard
A double standard is the application of different sets of principles for similar situations, or by two different people in the same situation.[1] A double standard may take the form of an instance in which certain concepts (often, for example, a word, phrase, social norm, or rule) are perceived as acceptable to be applied by one group of people, but are considered unacceptable—taboo—when applied by another group.
The concept of a double standard has long been applied (as early as 1872) to the fact that different moral structures are often applied to men and women in society.[2][3]
A double standard can therefore be described as a biased or morally unfair application of the principle that all are equal in their freedoms. Such double standards are seen as unjustified because they violate a basic maxim of modern legal jurisprudence: that all parties should stand equal before the law.
Double standards also violate the principle of justice known as impartiality, which is based on the assumption that the same standards should be applied to all people, without regard to subjective bias or favoritism based on social class, rank, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age or other distinctions. A double standard violates this principle by holding different people accountable according to different standards. The phrase “life is not fair” may be invoked in order to mollify concerns over double standards.
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Ben Hurling / October 12, 2013
John Baird
“There should be no room for moral ambiguity. We must always stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves.”
Does that apply to impoverished & defenceless Palestinians as well? If so, what has Canada done so far to punish Israel? Our understanding is that your PM Harper is in bed with Netanyahu. Making life even more miserable for Palestinians. How come Baird?
“Our approach to CHOGM is one rooted in principle”
Ha..ha! What was your PM Harper doing at the APEC summit in Indonesia last week? Indonesia has a horrific past under Suharto. There has never been any comprehensive effort to independently or credibly investigate the allegations. How come Harper did not boycott APEC Indonesia?
BTW, what has Canada done so far to arrest war criminals such as George Bush or Tony Blair? Have you protested either to Washington or London about not taking steps to arrest those two war criminals?
Do you think London should be given the honour of hosting the Commonwealth HQ? Given its criminal past all over the world.
Do you know how USA took Fallujah in Iraq during the illegal Iraq war? Do you know how Swart Valley was taken from the Taliban in Pakistan with Western backing? Do you know how many civilians were killed?
There has been no new or comprehensive efforts from Canada’s allies such as USA or UK to probe these atrocities. Will Canada boycott them too?
Meanwhile you show no mercy for our despotic President Rajapassa “The King” of Sri Lanka.
My question is: how do you choose your friends and enemies?
PS: Baird, Is it true that Harper is under tremendous pressure to find dwindling voters for Conservative party. We know 350000 strong Tamil Diaspora is concentrated around Toronto.
Cheers!
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 12, 2013
Yes yes, they are after the votes but does that make your king ‘holy”?
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 12, 2013
Still reeling from that little incident where you got busted replying to your own comments I see :D
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Ben Hurling / October 12, 2013
King Rakapassa is an absolute disaster for Sri Lanka.
But, in my response I deal only with Harper’s blatant hypocrisy.
Cheers!
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george jilmart / October 12, 2013
[Edited out] hurling, No need to bring in other countries to this. Canada has taken the right stand in line with the values that the commonwealth purports to embrace. Your Rajafuckse friends have destroyed every basic value that civilized people follow and [Edited out] like you are in the same criminal club.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 12, 2013
Why We’re Boycotting Sri Lanka Commonwealth
Did someone ask? :D *tumbleweed*
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Taraki / October 12, 2013
Canada and the West did nothing when tens of thousands of young Singala men and women were tortured and killed by the Government in the mid Eighties. The real reason Canada is boycotting CHOGM is because it now has tens of thousands of Tamil voters.
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Javi / October 12, 2013
“Singala men and women were tortured and killed by the Government in the mid Eighties.”
How about your first JVP Insurrection back late 60’s where you were sponsored by North Korea. Even today you hide in tamil nadu then make your way down under don’t you?
Ceylonese never fought for independence but hid under the lungi of Tamil Nadu now that you got it on a platter you feel it belongs to Biscuit-Boofer-Society. Southern Sinhala Buddhist.
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Taraki / October 12, 2013
It would be useful if you wrote coherently, or at least in English.
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Javi / October 12, 2013
Borrowed feathers don’t shine loser. All literature is 2 dimensional.
Onna babo billo anewa.
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Taraki / October 12, 2013
Another useful display of language skills from our resident neanderthal.
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Wuliangguobinjiu / October 12, 2013
I was signed up for an ESL course by my refugee lawyer but got kicked out after 2 lessons for stealing paper clips. Aiyoh!
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NAK / October 14, 2013
“Ceylonese never fought for independence but hid under the lungi of Tamil Nadu”
Javi, Don’t expose your lack of knowledge in ceylon’s fight for indipendence.
Didn’t you notice,the lungi has fallen and TN is naked now a days!!
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2013
NAK
“Javi, Don’t expose your lack of knowledge in ceylon’s fight for indipendence.”
How, when, where, with what did the Ceylonese fight for their independence?
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Native Vedda / October 13, 2013
Taraki
“Canada and the West did nothing when tens of thousands of young Singala men and women were tortured and killed by the Government in the mid Eighties. “
Sri Lankan wars against JVP between 1987 and 1991 and LTTE were conducted with the full cooperation of International Community.
They set maximum threshold of atrocities a country could commit beyond this point it is unacceptable.
You may be sucking your thumbs when war crimes were committed against innocent Sinhalese.
Amnesty International and other “NGO” have recorded/documented all atrocities, go read Amnesty before dwelling in one sided stupid thoughts:
COUNTRY: Sri Lanka
SUBJECT TITLE: An Update on Human Rights Concerns
September 1990 SUMMARY AI INDEX: ASA 37/32/90
DISTR: SC/CC/CO/PO
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA37/032/1990/en/44308951-ee62-11dd-96f1-9fdd7e6f4873/asa370321990en.pdf
You can access many Amnesty Reports on Sri Lanka on this link:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA37/032/1990/en
Your self serving attitude towards everything none Sinhalese always blind your eyes and help you to make the wrong conclusion.
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Taraki / October 13, 2013
Thank you Native Vedda.
How do you know they ‘set maximum threshold of atrocities a country could commit’?
So the torture and killing of ten of thousands was below the maximum?
I was not sucking either thumb, I was involved in transporting relief supplies.
My ‘one sided stupid thoughts’ – I was a member of Amnesty. I have all their reports. I was referring to Canada and the Western Governments not to NGOs.
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Javi / October 14, 2013
Hey Truck driver,Taaraaki
“My ‘one sided stupid thoughts’ – I was a member of Amnesty. I have all their reports. I was referring to Canada and the Western Governments not to NGOs.”
Western Governments weigh and consider like Francois Bacon.
Western governments went into Libya. When the British public queried as to why now when even the Libyan forces are being trained by our forces right now? Why not Iran or Syria? PM responded everything would be done when the time is right.
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Taraki / October 14, 2013
You are proving my point, moron.
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NAK / October 14, 2013
Tharaki,Take it easy,This one sounds a bit off the rocker!!
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Navin / October 17, 2013
Even after so many decades after independence, Tamils at least good number of them still think of them as white collar and everybody else particularly Sinhalese as blue collar! These people are royal neanderthals.
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RajasH / October 12, 2013
Canada is the second largest contributor to the Commonwealth and it’s boycott of CHOGAM together with the boycott of CHOGAM by the queen will definitley tarnish the CHOGAM 2013
It’s not too late for British Prime Minister to boycott and send his represntative.
Manmohan Singh The Prime Minsiter of India the biggest democryc on earth has not made any decision yet, but is under pressure from Tamil Nadu to boycott.Probably he will also boycott.
Other Commonwealth Counties should also follow suit and relegate this CHOGAM to second division.
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Sanjee Goonetilake / October 12, 2013
Dear John Baird,
‘There should be no room for moral ambiguity. We must always stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves.’
Is that why Canada is in the forefront of seal hunting? And conducts and defends annual bloody slaughter of thousands of seal pups for commercial purposes. Is that why Canada recently went to the WTO to protest against the EU court on the ban on the sale of seal products in the EU.http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/news/good-news-european-union-court-justice-rejects-challenge-seal-ban
http://www.harpseals.org/index.php
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/canadian-seal-slaughter.aspx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhjfMOK6i8Q
http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/our-work/saving-seals
You believe so much in standing up for those who cannot stand for themselves that you have a government website like this
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/seal-phoque/myth-eng.htm defending your right to kill a sentient being with cold blooded commercial purposes and you say there are enough ‘seals’ left in the sea.
You have disputes with international organisations like the EU, WTO and the various environmental groups about your right to slaughter thousands of seals which are simply a ‘hearvest’ for you.http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/news/good-news-european-union-court-justice-rejects-challenge-seal-ban
And you are here to boycott the Sri Lankan government which I admit is not the most innocent one in the world. The Sri Lankan people have their own democratic mechanisms to decide and vote on what their government has done. However, the Canadian government needs to have an exemplary track record before you start umpiring Sri Lanka’s human rights record.
Please, explain to Sri Lankans and the world why you do not leave those innocent and harmless creatures of nature alone and why Canada finds it important to slaughter seal pups who are still being nursed to get their beautiful white fur coat.
And then you can start throwing the first stone…
Thank you.
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Javi / October 12, 2013
Sanjee Goonetilake
“And then you can start throwing the first stone”
Don’t confuse force and mind as they are opposites;
You kill your own people irrespective of ethnicity, religion and language.
by the gun for the gun with the gun.
Morality ends where a Gun begins.
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ram / October 12, 2013
The Canadians CANNOT be accused of exterminating their OWN people. They ONLY annhilated the NATIVES, a fact that is presented as a lesser crime, though that is what is meant by GENOCIDE.
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Javi / October 12, 2013
I do know about Gulliver in the land of lilliput’s and later the ones who ate the sheep that went westward bound. What are you but a kallathoni ravana from bihar who mixed with arabs, portugese…..etc Vedda’s are the natives Go to Andaman Island then you realise that you are a mere ravana.Our school history books started from 1505 for a good reason because you did not want to disclose your arab strains obtained via the portugese.
In any case we are guided by UN after WW2
Since we live in the present- you just cannot hide the carnage committed because there is photographic evidence from the sky and ground by different sources that match.Don’t put the lives of all in jeopardy anymore and I don’t need to tell you anymore.Even the killing of our sinhalese by the government is of concern.To me from childhood N,S,E,W has always been ours because it runs in the blood. Right now everything SL government is saying is going against us all. Do you too have blood in your hands like dayan? The fight is for a better future for all but not just me me me.
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RajasH / October 12, 2013
Poor Tamils we are now compared to helpless Seals?
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Navin / October 12, 2013
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones…
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 12, 2013
Thank you Canada for standing up to thugs
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kris / October 12, 2013
Now you are alone in the world, whole world would not care about canada going forward
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Ben Hurling / October 12, 2013
Well, they stand upto carefully chosen thugs.
Harper has a unique thug filter. Bush, Blair, Netanyahu all escaped that filter. Unfortunately Rajapassa got caught in Harper’s domestic electoral pressure net. A thug nevertheless.
Cheers!
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 12, 2013
Not even a single suicide bomb, roadside bomb or an assassination since May 2009, in a country where hundreds of innocent civilians were hacked, blown up,or blasted on a quarterly basis ,with Canadian dollar financed and funded terrorists for thirty years.
And this bloke seems upset because he and his PM can’t change the current set up in place.
Do you want Srilanka to be like Iraq that you “liberated” and “changed” with your mates?.
Be honest buddy.
You are hosting the biggest congregation of ex Terrorists and their supporters in your neck of the woods.
You need their vote to stay in power.
Even ordinary punters know what you are up to.
This crap of 40,000 deaths in five months is good for your Diaspora voters.
As far as the great majority of the inhabitants who happen to be the rural poor are concerned, you can pack up and leave Srilanka totally and they couldn’t give a shit.
You know why, the only service that you offer, is not available to them because they don’t have the dosh to buy one of your Visas that you issue freely to the Tiger supporters and the Colombo elite.
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Javi / October 12, 2013
Sumane the incubator for war!
“Do you want Srilanka to be like Iraq that you “liberated” and “changed” with your mates?.” Is that a threat Amude Sumane?
You have to be born again to do that ravana go to Andaman(hanuman) island.
Ceylonese never fought for independence but hid under the lungi of Tamil Nadu but this time you southern Sinhala Buddhist murderers will have nowhere to run.
You think you could force those terrorist that you have trained after a 3day air raid? Keep on dreaming.
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Palayang yako! / October 12, 2013
K. A. Sumanaskera:
You should frame and hang on your wall all the lies and fabrications that you keep uttering, that way you won’t have to bother with pictures of yourself and the rest of your ugly family!
Here’s one to add to your collection:
“You know why, the only service that you offer, is not available to them because they don’t have the dosh to buy one of your Visas that you issue freely to the Tiger supporters and the Colombo elite.”
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bbs dayan / October 12, 2013
You should also not a single plane of shit or bombs by the Sinhala airforce and navy on the tamil civilians for 30years that led to the formation of tigers as an half equal monster to the sinhala military.
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Avi / October 12, 2013
KAS or Better Known as Rajapaksha koolaid man,
First of you got to stop kidding yourself
if you believe that your so called “buddy”
John Baird waiting to read your comments
about Canda’s foreign policy decisions.
If you did your home work before you
write your foolish comments as usual
you probably would
have known that Harper consvertives
are the ones put a stop to funding that
were freely flowing into Tiger coffers from
Canada for many many years . Harper
not only banned the LTTE
and it’s front organizations in Canda but
also got RCMP to raid their offices in
Ontario,BC and Qubec.
RCMP and FBI jointly worked to stop
probably the most crucial arm procurement
effort made by LTTE at the beginning of
the final war to launch missile attacks on
Kafir fighter planes. These steps we’re taken
by Harper government during the time
they had a minority government and
despite protests from Liberal and the
NDP opposition.
Harper’s own party leaders in Ontario
made a request not to ban LTTE at that
stage as it would effect negatively in their
efforts to form a majority government in
the future. His position was; it was morally
wrong to allow organizations operate
In Canda that finance sucide bombing
in another country when Canadian solders
becoming victims of same type of terror
in Afganistan. So koolaid man, when Harper
talks about SriLankan human rights,
democracy and good governance ,
he has much more credibility than
Rajapaksha family rule which survives
on credulous utter fools like you.
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera
“This crap of 40,000 deaths in five months is good for your Diaspora voters.”
Between you and me, whisper in my ears what was the exact number that you may consider as the genuine total death toll?
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Sin Hela / October 12, 2013
Zero Native, zero, oh eh perhaps a few thousands, who cares is what Kiss A**se Sumanane is gonna tell ya! :(
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2013
Sin Hela
“Zero Native, zero, oh eh perhaps a few thousands, who cares is what Kiss A**se Sumanane is gonna tell ya!”.
Let me hear it straight from the horse’s mouth or ar..
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 13, 2013
Dear Native,
Didn’t the Diaspora Special Envoy,Ms Pillai have it in her hand bag,but never pulled it out in front of Chintana God to check it out?
Can you whisper to me what the reason is?
Didn’t Baird and Harper duo have a golden opportunity to make a presentation just on on this one item alone in front of these 52 Nations?.
Wouldn’t that have won the hearts and minds of not only Canadian Tamils in Toronto, but nearly Million English, French, Swiss Norwegian and American Tamils as well?.
Oh, Nearly missed the Aussie Tamils.
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Native Vedda / October 13, 2013
K.A Sumanasekera
“Let me hear it straight from the horse’s mouth or ar..”
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justice / October 12, 2013
Canada is setting an example to the other members of the commonwealth.
Cameron wants to know the progress in the british tourist murder case.
But the attorney general is reluctant to file indictment – the chief accused may even be presented to Prince Charles!
No amount of pomp and whitewashing will erase the human rights record confirmed by UN HCom. Pillay.
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kasipu / October 13, 2013
While enjoying the tete/tete with the boot lickers of SL government in 5* hotel and talk about the progress in the British tourist murder case , I’d like to know what had the British high commissioner done for the last 2 years regarding this case?? Why spending so much money to go there to find out. Are we not living in a world of super technology to find out and put pressure? For god’s sake this is 21st century not the dark ages.The British messenger (C) holding the letter in hand to question SL King? A JOKE OF THE CENTURY..HA HA HA.
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Pandaranayagam / October 12, 2013
Canada should be a little more assertive on this Kamlesh Sharma,
whose cover is now fully blown. Is Sharma more important to the
Commonwealth Secretariat (CWS) than Canada – one of its main benefactors. Media speculation in the UK, William Hague in particular, wants to kick Sharma out for dividing the body but fears this may affect the holding of CHOGM in Sri Lanka and embarrass New Delhi. Surely, CWS is not dependent on the suspect Sharma and Uku for the smooth functioning of this symbolic body.
There is little doubt Sharma will be shown the door after CHOGM.
It is a dangerous precedent when key officials of CWS play ball with
truant despots.
Pandaranayagam
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lynx / October 12, 2013
The people in that continent are very thick skinned and wear blinkers. Waste of time and energy pointing out their hypocrisy – no sense of shame.
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Fedrick / October 12, 2013
If you can add another reason as: Sri Lankan magistrate are ignoring all scientific reports and giving full protection for illegal garages operate in high residential areas. This will increase cancer and many other illnesses. You can not operate a spray paintings and welding in your living house with less than 40 perches and less than 20 feet wide road. If you have PHI report, CEA report, Police report and UC report magistrate can not do nothing and order to garage. But many magistrate for money and sex take garage owners side and TO in UCs also give protection for these illegal garages. Even UDA enforcement section give full protection for all these illegal garages because monthly money they get through TOs in urban councils. These garage owners, TOs and UDA corruptive officers and Magistrates must be find out.These garages dismantle many robbed vehicles under full support of Police stations.
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justice / October 12, 2013
Fedrick,
Sri Lanka courts also keep the reports of all postmortem examinations in murder cases,SECRET.
The PM report on the body of Lasantha Wickrematunge is still not divulged.
So also are reports on the body of the british tourist and the judicial examination report on his russian female companion,who was raped.
British PM is concerned.
So is also the PM report on the body of Bharatha Luxman Premachandra -the chief suspect is an MP.
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shankar / October 12, 2013
“Why We’re Boycotting Sri Lanka Commonwealth”
Because we have more than 300000 srilankan tamils in toronto.
If they did not exist would we boycott?stupid question.
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Kettikaran / October 12, 2013
There are a large number of Sinhalese too in Canada – spread out in
Toronto and elsewhere. More are trying to come in. Insulting Canada
is like cutting our nose to spite our face.
Kettikaran
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2013
Kettikaran
My elders who regularly travel far and wide tell me that in the past seven or so years they have seen more Sinhalese in Europe and Americas than previously.
Do they all go to these countries on highly skilled employment (experts)Visas?
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Spring Koha / October 12, 2013
Native Vedda,
Your sources are correct. I too found this in on my travels;
In the UK there have been more Sinhalese getting in mostly under the pretext of ‘student’ visas and then taking their families too which allows their wives to work, mostly doing cleaning and caring jobs. At one stage large number of Sinhalese were working for Sams Chicken and become experts at dodging immigration raiding parties. In Canada and USA too there are growing numbers of Sinhalese pumping gas, parking cars and running appa kade’s.
This is all not like in the old days when only professionals were found in these countries.
In those days only Emil Savundranayagam spoilt our name with that old insurance fraud, but now all sorts of of scams are being carried out by Sinhalese AND Tamil low life and giving us a bad name amongst the natives of Britain, Canada and USA. However, the current record is held by Raj Rajaratnam who is now holidaying long-term in Massachussets. The future ofcourse will see more ordinary Sinhalese and Tamil taking up sailing and getting better at reaching the southern coast of Australia and New Zealand; these are the new promised lands with space and opportunites for all.
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Native Vedda / October 13, 2013
Spring Koha
Thanks for your observation.
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kasipu / October 13, 2013
KALLATHOONIES am i right? lots of them around in UK I’m sure came in the back of the lorries.May be from the wrong side of the coin.
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Native Vedda / October 13, 2013
kasipu
“May be from the wrong side of the coin.”
What is the right side of the coin?
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shankar / October 13, 2013
Just answer,the question kettikaran,if there were no tamils in canada will canada boycott?Simple question,simple answer yes or no.
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srilal / October 14, 2013
may be yes , may be no . this is a hypothetical question , all i can say , MR has failed to hold Harper guy on a some sort of ransom , nevertheless MR must be given all the credit for bullying Cameron, Abbot and Key over their non stop human right preaching !
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NAK / October 14, 2013
Harper guy is on a larger ransome that MR can not raise!!
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shankar / October 15, 2013
Yep,he wants MR’s arse.MR is so fat now he can’t raise it enough.
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Vibhushana / October 12, 2013
Canada does not attend CHOGM but Australia does. Although they both have the same objective really.
Canada thinks non-realisation of Tamil political demands will increase refugee flow. Australia thinks it needs to colloborate with SL to halt Tamils from getting on leaky boats.
At the end of the day they both want to stop Tamil refugees flooding their country. Thats what this is about really.
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2013
Vibhushana
“Canada thinks non-realisation of Tamil political demands will increase refugee flow. Australia thinks it needs to colloborate with SL to halt Tamils from getting on leaky boats.”
The majority of refugees reached Australia on leaky boat are Sinhala/Buddhists from Sri Lanka. Get your facts right.
Sinhalese coming in search of work
BRENDAN NICHOLSON THE AUSTRALIAN NOVEMBER 23, 2012 12:00AM
OVER the years, Australia has given sanctuary to thousands of Sri Lankans fleeing a vicious civil war, but most arriving in the past six months have openly admitted to immigration officials that they come seeking work.
Of more than 12,000 asylum-seekers who have come to Australia by boat in the past six months, about 4000 have come from Sri Lanka.
Most of them are young men and appear to have accepted people-smugglers’ assurances that they will find work in Australia.
A high proportion of those coming to Australia by boat from Sri Lanka now were Sinhalese.
Many are fishermen and the vast majority do not claim to be anything but economic refugees.
Refugee advocates said just because asylum-seekers were not Tamils did not mean they were safe in Sri Lanka.
While the bulk of the Sri Lankans seeking asylum over the years had been Tamils, they also included members of other groups, including journalists and civil rights activists, who’d spoken out against the government, the advocates said.
The Sri Lankan government’s position is straightforward.
According to Sri Lankan high commissioner to Canberra, Thisara Samarasinghe, no one in his country faces danger from the authorities and so none of those who came to Australia were genuine refugees.
They were, said Admiral Samarasinghe, “economic opportunists”.
Many of those coming were victims of people-smugglers, Admiral Samaasinghe said. “They believe that if you get into a boat you are an Australian citizen.”
Those asylum-seekers who return home voluntarily are generally entitled to grants of up to $3000 to help them resettle in Sri Lanka or set up businesses there.
That is designed to lessen the likelihood that they will be coerced by the smuggling gangs to make a return trip to Australia to earn enough to repay their “fares”.
Those flown home involuntarily after having asylum applications rejected are not entitled to this financial support.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs
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NAK / October 14, 2013
“Those asylum-seekers who return home voluntarily are generally entitled to grants of up to $3000 to help them resettle in Sri Lanka or set up businesses there”
Now this is a very encouraging scheme. Anyone who is courages enough to give it a shot now can try with a guarentee of the costs returned.
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Native Vedda / October 15, 2013
NAK
“Anyone who is courages enough to give it a shot now can try with a guarentee of the costs returned.”
They have just got out of the ship and you want them to return to Sri Lanka for a fistful of dollars.
For few dollars more would you consider staying put wherever you are. We don’t want you here.
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Javi / October 14, 2013
Presently the influx of illegal immigrants from Mexico to US is almost Zero. Next year it would be South China Seas with Americans based in Australia. Therefore the same will apply and the EU has just started discussing it due to a boat mishap close to Italy.
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JimSofty / October 12, 2013
While Canada goes on shopping for Immigrants from available countries in the world, while Canada is wide – open to European descendants, if stopping the flow of Tamils is very discriminatory and racist.
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Leo76 / October 12, 2013
Who cares anyway?? My life is not going to change for the worse because the Canadians aren’t attending.The fascist LTTE might still have been around if they weren’t ungrateful SOB’s and killed Gandhi.
Where was the diaspora when the LTTE faced a huge manpower problem? They blocked traffic on the streets of London and screamed blue murder but never thought to send their own kids to fight.
This is called the ‘chickenhawk’ syndrome where people are hawks when someone else does the fighting and become chickens when they have to face the same music.
Please do not forget that it was the poor kids on both sides that had to be cannon fodder.
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Spring Koha / October 12, 2013
Quite right Leo! When the shit hit the fan, not only the women and children, but also large numbers of men, decamped to places like Scarbourough and Mississauga in Toronto, and Wimbledon and Wembley in London. So in the end it was left to the dwindling numbers of men to fight for the race; and then, shame, they had to use the children as cannon fodder too. But VP was too dumb to see that the game was up so he led his people to a suicidal finish. Can you believe it, now MR and his gang are going to have one helluva big tamasha with kandyan dancing and drumming and all. Tcha, you must see the hwy from the airport; foteigners will be very impressed, especially thee section near the seaside. Colombo is also very clean and nice. Truth to tell, CHOGM are now only interested in ‘talking’ – and our Sri Lankans love to talk.Tamil politics is now home and home affairs and the government keep a close eye so everything that happens is with govt permission. Sad, but that is what happens when you are the losing side.
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Anuruddha / October 12, 2013
Power hungry Canadian politicians
True enough! There maybe bad governance in Sri Lanka.
Then what about George Bush, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright and the gang?
You dont hold them responsible for the deaths of thousand and thousands of innocent women and children in Iraq and Afghanisthan?
Where are those so called human rights and blah. blah?
They come from a different plant?
Different yardsticks for the west and the east.
Very funny!!!
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Native Vedda / October 12, 2013
Anuruddha
“There maybe bad governance in Sri Lanka.”
How dare you describe Sri Lankan governance as mere bad.
Absurd, it is an undemocratic, rotten, corrupt,murderous…………… state run by bigoted, Sinhala/Buddhists would be Pol Pots war criminal scums.
Please give them credit where it is due.
Don’t undermine them by your limited vocabulary.
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Ajith / October 12, 2013
Did you ask this question when you were begging America to ban LTTE as a terrorist organization? Can you tell the differences between your state and LTTE?
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Longa / October 12, 2013
Good stand of Canada at the CHOGM. Agree with all the comments about Canada’s double standards but in face to this ridiculous circus put forward by the GoSL, is important to have allies and get people’s voices heard.
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abhaya / October 12, 2013
Who cares. The turds can freeze their buts. Off up there. I am in srilanka after 8 years and it is wonderful here. I can take a bus if I want to if without fear now. The roads are great and its teeming with tourists.. The good days are ahead
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Rajan Joseph / October 12, 2013
I’d like to know his views on his neighbour America and their human rights record before he starts criticising Sri Lanka’s human rights record. If this letter does not spell out to you between the lines ‘politically motivated’ just give up! If they really have the country’s best interests at heart they would not be isolating the country but since they are seeking the oh so valuable Tamil vote, they gotta do what they gotta do to retain votes for their government. We have seen the opinion articles put up by this website dismissing isolation as a solution in solving the issues with the Rajapaksa government as it will merely be affecting the people and to see Sri Lankans who no longer live here calling for a boycott seems pretty selfish.
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Luxmy Silva / October 12, 2013
We need to get back to the right track before it is too late – the only hope with the Commonwealth action is nearly gone. Are we going to be left with the Rajapakse family standard?
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Luxmy Silva / October 12, 2013
Thank you, Canada.
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Davidson Panabokke / October 12, 2013
1. http://theagenda.tvo.org/blog/agenda-blogs/guest-post-media-repression-and-tamils-sri-lanka?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+agenda%2Fallfeeds+%28The+Agenda+with+Steve+Paikin+All+Feeds%29
JDS data analyzed number died/disappeared by region (percentage): 16 in Mullaithivu (33%), 13 in Jaffna (26%), 7 in Colombo (14%), 3 in Batticoloa (6%), 3 in Kilinoichchi (6%)1 in Trincomalee (2%), 1 in Mannar (2%), 1 in Vavuniya (2%), 1 in Anuradhapura (2.%), 1 in Kebithigollewa (2%), 1 in Matupula (2%).
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKPXiaoubj0&noredirect=1
‘’it’s all false……. they are not murders; they are incidents. Not killed… just incidents’’
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Davidson Panabokke / October 12, 2013
Commonwealth is going to have a liar as its Chair for two yrs after CHOGM2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzGj2hYoymo&feature=youtube_gdata
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Horikadey / October 16, 2013
Davidson P,
The usually mild and diplomatic Canadian PM openly says “MR is a serial
HR/War Crime offender” meanings his chairing CHOGM for 2 years is totally unacceptable. He adds “The Commonwealth, by allowing this, stands in violation of all its core principles” Unusually strong words from a world leader that cannot be ignored. Prince Charles promising to take the case of the slaughtered British Aid worker with MR is an extra-ordinary step. It is well known judicial and police inquiries in this case of a MR favourite were ignored until there was an international public cry. The unthinking Rajapakses are voluntarily handing over good material for The Hague prosecutors.
Once again the Rajapakses gather into their sarong the polonga creeping on the wayside.
Horikadey
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JimSofty / October 13, 2013
Canadian NEwspapers reports, even though Canadian Prime minister won’t be attending the CHOGM, A Canadian Delegation is attending the delegation.
So what this minister says is not the complete truth.
““I know we are deeply troubled by the direction in Sri Lanka and the fact that Sri Lanka is, at this point, the host of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting,” Harper continued.
“I know suggestions have been made of any number of countries who would be willing to host that.”
Harper said that “in the meantime” his government would continue to monitor the situation and continue to put pressure on Colombo to reform, adding that as the situation stands “it would be very difficult for this government to fully participate.”
The Prime Minister’s Office, when asked to clarify the remarks, did not address a direct question about whether Harper’s comments in parliament indicate he’d like to see the venue changed.
But as recently as last month Canada’s special envoy to the Commonwealth, Conservative Sen. Hugh Segal, was assuring Sri Lankan media that Harper had “at no time” indicated he wanted the country stripped of the conference, which is held every two years.
“There is no Canadian boycott of CHOGM. There will be a Canadian delegation in Colombo for CHOGM,” Segal was quoted telling The Island newspaper online on the eve of a fact-finding trip to Sri Lanka last month. “
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JimSofty / October 13, 2013
Canadian Prime minister Attends LA FRANCOPHONIE Summit in SENEGAL which is well known for human rights violations and Indonesia for another summit which US STates department says another Human rights violator.
“Whether boycotting the Commonwealth helps the government win the next election, acting as the judge and jury about which countries respect international norms, can be a tricky business.
For example, Canada has come to Indonesia for the APEC summit although the U.S. State Department has criticized the host nation for “major human rights problems including instances of arbitrary and unlawful killings by security forces and … abridgement of the rights of particular religious minorities to freely practice their religion.”
Canada has not said anything about boycotting next year’s Francophonie summit in Senegal although the West African nation has been the subject of human rights complaints by the United Nations and Amnesty International, among other organizations.
Some of the concerns in Senegal include the sale of children, child labour, child prostitution, child trafficking and child pornography. Those issues, as well as protecting the rights of minorities, including Christian communities such as those in Indonesia which had experienced religious violence, are subjects about which the Harper government has often spoken out loudly.
Asked about these allegations of human rights abuses in countries such as Indonesia and Senegal and Canada’s attendance at international meetings there, an official in the prime minister’s office said Harper “raises these issues whenever he gets the opportunity.” However, there was no scheduled bilateral meeting with the host nation in Indonesia.
“We’ll continue to advocate for better conditions and protections for women and children,” the official said.
The distinction between the Commonwealth and La Francophonie gatherings is that the former promotes common values, while the latter is principally concerned with promoting use of the French language, another official traveling with the Canadian prime minister said. “
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Jim softy / October 13, 2013
Tamils take ignorant Canadian PM for a ride: Harper celebrat
Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister of Canada, has offered his “warmest greetings to all those celebrating the Tamil New Year ‘Chithirai Puththandu,’ according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s office Saturday.
Harper’s ignorance of basic fact that there is no Tamil New Year has shocked and offended the other communities celebrating April 14 as the New Year in Indian and Sri Lankan calendars. The first day of the Hindu solar calendar, which falls on April 14, is celebrated as the traditional New Year in Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Manipur, Nepal, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.
This Hindu New Year is not confined to one ethnic community. This calendar is also shared by Sri Lankans, mainly by the Sinhala-Buddhists in Sri Lanka. For instance, the Muslims in the subcontinent and Sri Lanka do not share this New Year.
Mahinda Gunasekera, President of SLUNA, a leading Sri Lankan community orgnisation, told the “Asian Tribune” that the Stephen Harper has been taken for a ride by the Tamils manipulating Canadian politics.
“This reveals the ignorance of Canadian leaders. Stephen Harper does not know that there is no such thing as Tamil New Year. There is a Hindu New Year according to the Indian calendar which is shared by all Hindu communities. It is a religious ceremony and not an ethnic celebration. For Harper to select only one community out of the many Hindu communities reveals how easily Canadian leaders can be misled by the Tamils,” he said.
“Besides,” he said, “in offering his greetings to only the Tamils he has ignored the basic principles on which Canada’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious society are based. It was his duty to extend his greetings to all communities celebrating April 14 as the New Year. There is, for instance, a sizeable community of Punjabis, Sri Lankans etc who celebrate April 14 as their New Year. For Harper to offer his greetings only to the Tamils constitute a partisan act that does not augur well for communal harmony.”
Political observers note that this could be a genuine mistake by a Prime Minister misguided by the Tamil lobby which has infiltrated the Canadian corridors of power. Canadian politics on terrorism has been influenced heavily by the large Tamil constituency. The previous Liberal government refused to ban the Tamil Tigers – described as “Snow Tigers” by Stewart Bell, the leading investigative journalist of the National Post – because they were hoping to cash in on the Tamil votes to retain power.
Alan Rock, who was a Minister of Justice in the Liberal Cabinet, too played footsy with the Tamil Tigers. He was hand-picked by Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, to investigate allegations of child soldiers in Sri Lanka. Predictably, after a brief 10-day visit, he accused the Sri Lankan government of turning a blind eye to the recruitment of children by the Karuna group in the east. Later newspapers revealed him posing for pictures with leading Tamil Tiger agents in Canada. As Minister of Justice in Canada he failed to take appropriate action against the Tamil Tigers forcibly recruiting Tamil children but as UN Ambassador he was in the forefront recommending actions which neither he nor his government dared to take when they had the opportunity.
It is common knowledge in Canada and Sri Lanka that Canadian politicians fish for Tamil votes in their ridings. Harper’s ill-informed statement on Tamil New year is seen as another example of the Canadian government’s attempts to woo the internationally banned Tamil Tiger terrorists. Within hours of the release of his greetings pro-Tiger websites publicized it as a victory to the Tiger cause.
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/5341
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Javi / October 14, 2013
Lal : Your emotions are trailing a lost humour and in search of solace you are taking refuge at random.
Present day festivals are a way of spending money more than a get together- mothers day, fathers day, community day, tamil day. Even the Chinese that SL hero worship change the day of the moon festival and even in the west many festival days are changed for convenience in a fast moving world. GMT is different from EU time.
Take a break it’s only the build-up to check mate rajaporkistan club for the good of all irrespective of ethnicity, beliefs etc.
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NAK / October 14, 2013
The argument was about Harper being taken for a ride and not about various celebrations!!!
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Javi / October 14, 2013
Jim the Dim:
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, Dipavali, Dewali, Deepawali or the Festival of Lights, marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. 02.11.2013
Beware in the UK the north Indians want Diwali as a national holiday and it has the blessings of HM.
What does it mean to North Indians? Hanuman /Ravana Lanka would become a Sinhala Buddhist state of India. Then once again you may go and hide in TN lungi and will they permit tatte motte butchers?
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Jim softy / October 13, 2013
JUSTIN TRUDEAU IS dominating Canadian Politics right now. So, they are going for Minority votes;
“NDP, Liberal critics claim PM’s boycott of Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka politically motivated by Canadian electoral strategy
Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s high-profile decision to boycott a summit of Commonwealth leaders in Sri Lanka next month is based on a ‘political calculus’ to woo support from thousands of Tamil voters in Toronto rather than a conversion over the past two years to sympathy for Sri Lankan Tamils whom the government ignored prior to the last federal election in 2011, opposition MPs claim. “
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Taraki / October 14, 2013
All over the world politicians sell their souls for power
‘Harper, in sheer desperation to win in the province of Ontario, a Liberal stronghold, is going all out to appease the huge number of Tamil Tiger supporters living in Ontario.’
http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2013/10/13/harpers-canada-hypocrisy-and-double-standards/
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Javi / October 14, 2013
Hey BBS truck driver,
“‘Harper, in sheer desperation to win in the province of Ontario, a Liberal stronghold, is going all out to appease the huge number of Tamil Tiger supporters living in Ontario.’”
When Indira tried to oust the CJ Parsee Palkiwala put a full stop while Basils free mason Parsee supported. Baptist.
Ontario has 14 million and SL tamils account for less than a hundred thousand. How many Singala at Ontario??
So Miss Pato free mason lobby has its limits when you abuse all and sundry.
Come on pato tate motte keep doing the kangaroo strut.
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Javi / October 14, 2013
less than hundred thousand of voting age.
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NAK / October 14, 2013
If it is not the votes,Sita must be holding him by the ba**s
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Javi / October 14, 2013
It seems you just had a rocker fart that tickled your balls
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Taraki / October 14, 2013
Very well expressed Javi. You have the IQ of a microwave oven.
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Javi / October 14, 2013
“Very well expressed Javi. You have the IQ of a microwave oven.”
So Pato/Tarava you feel tickled with an IQ <50 like skunk in a spin dryer.
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