By ColomboTelegraph –
“Pascoe, who recently visited Sri Lanka, questioned the credibility of GSL officials; no one believes they can meet their current timetable for moving people out of the camps. A/S Blake agreed, saying he had urged the GSL to demonstrate some real successes on the ground, because nobody believes them anymore. The U.S.has stressed the importance of working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and others to figure out a way to resettle significant numbers of IDPs. He noted the discussion within the USG on continuing to finance humanitarian assistance to IDPs in closed camps that do not meet international standards for treatment of displaced persons; the U.S.is exploring ways to use food aid and other assistance to support the returns process.” US State Department wrote to US Embassy Colombo.
A classified diplomatic cable which details a meeting the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake has had with UN officials on September 29, 2009. The Colombo Telegraph found the related US diplomatic cable from the Secretary of State section of the WikiLeaks database. The cable was classified as “Confidential” signed by Hillary Clinton on September 30 2009.
“In a September 29 meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly, UN Under-Secretaries General Pascoe and Holmes questioned the government of Sri Lanka’s credibility, especially on IDP returns, but said top UN officials would continue to press the GSL on the importance of allowing freedom of movement. The UN will not support new closed transit camps, and is urging that screened and low-risk IDPs be given freedom of movement. A/S Blake expressed appreciation that U.S.and UN messages are in synch. Pascoe and Holmes offered to reinforce to GSL officials the importance of retaining the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka, but have been asked by the ICRC to let it fight its own battles. Pascoe doubted that the GSL was prepared to take meaningful steps on accountability in the near-term before elections in early 2010, but suggested that a process for political reconciliation was beginning to take off. Blake briefed on the draft report to Congress on violations of international humanitarian law by both sides during the war. On Nepal, Pascoe noted concern about the government’s lack of urgency to bring the Maoists back into the political process; Indiatoo seemed complacent. The status quo risks a return to violence, he said.” the US State Department further wrote.
Under the subheading ‘POLITICAL RECONCILIATION; ACCOUNTABILITY’ they wrote “Blake previewed for Holmes and Pascoe the report to Congress being prepared by the State Department Office of War Crimes Investigations (S/WCI) on potential violations of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka. He asked Holmes and Pascoe if there is discussion within the UN on supporting an accountability process in Sri Lanka.”
“Pascoe observed that the government is not yet prepared to take meaningful steps on accountability, but that political reconciliation is beginning to gain traction. The opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA), for example, has shown some enthusiasm for engaging with the GSL. The UN continues to push on accountability. It would rather have the Sri Lankan government initiate a process that the UN could assist with, but if the government does not do it, then there are international mechanisms that could. Blake questioned President Rajapaksa’s decision to delay steps toward reconciliation and devolution until after spring 2010 elections, noting that he has already weakened and divided the political opposition; from his political perspective, any loss in nationalist votes would be offset by gains from liberals and Tamils.” US State Department further wrote.
Read the relevant parts of the cable;
VZCZCXRO8580 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH RUEHRN DE RUEHC #2030/01 2740018 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O P 302358Z SEP 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 6041 INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 3804 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 6614 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 5366 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 6989 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 6995 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 8771 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 6777 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 6530 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 2521 RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM PRIORITY 8154 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY 6500 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 0710 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 9794 RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD PRIORITY 0120 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3417 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 2807 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME PRIORITY 0731 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 7963 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 9427
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 102030 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF PTER EAID ICRC UN IN CE NP SUBJECT: SRI LANKA/NEPAL: SCA A/S BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 MEETING WITH UN UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS LYNN PASCOE AND UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS JOHN HOLMES Classified By: SCA A/S Robert O. Blake, Jr. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) September 29, 2009; 12:00 p.m.; New York. ¶2. (SBU) Participants: U.S. SCA A/S Blake Donald Camp, Senior Area Adviser, USUN Douglas Mercado, Adviser, Humanitarian Affairs, USUN Anthony Renzulli (SCA Notetaker) UN U/SYG for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe U/SYG for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes Lisa Buttenheim, Director, Middle East and West Asia Division, Dept. of Political Affairs Anne Gueguen-Mohsen, Political Affairs Officer, Dept. of Political Affairs Andrew Cox, Chief of Staff to U/SYG Holmes ¶3. (C) SUMMARY. In a September 29 meeting on the margins of the UN General Assembly, UN Under-Secretaries General Pascoe and Holmes questioned the government of Sri Lanka's credibility, especially on IDP returns, but said top UN officials would continue to press the GSL on the importance of allowing freedom of movement. The UN will not support new closed transit camps, and is urging that screened and low-risk IDPs be given freedom of movement. A/S Blake expressed appreciation that U.S. and UN messages are in synch. Pascoe and Holmes offered to reinforce to GSL officials the importance of retaining the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sri Lanka, but have been asked by the ICRC to let it fight its own battles. Pascoe doubted that the GSL was prepared to take meaningful steps on accountability in the near-term before elections in early 2010, but suggested that a process for political reconciliation was beginning to take off. Blake briefed on the draft report to Congress on violations of international humanitarian law by both sides during the war. On Nepal, Pascoe noted concern about the government's lack of urgency to bring the Maoists back into the political process; India too seemed complacent. The status quo risks a return to violence, he said. END SUMMARY. ---------------------- SRI LANKA: IDP RETURNS ---------------------- ¶4. (C) Pascoe, who recently visited Sri Lanka, questioned the credibility of GSL officials; no one believes they can meet their current timetable for moving people out of the camps. A/S Blake agreed, saying he had urged the GSL to demonstrate some real successes on the ground, because nobody believes them anymore. The U.S. has stressed the importance of working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and others to figure out a way to resettle significant numbers of IDPs. He noted the discussion within the USG on continuing to finance humanitarian assistance to IDPs in closed camps that do not meet international standards for treatment of displaced persons; the U.S. is exploring ways to use food aid and other assistance to support the returns process. ¶5. (C) Holmes said that his advice to the Sri Lankans is to open the camps. At the very least, allow freedom of movement STATE 00102030 002 OF 003 SUBJECT: SRI LANKA/NEPAL: SCA A/S BLAKE'S SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 MEETING WITH UN UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS LYNN PASCOE AND UNDER-SECRETARY GENERAL F for screened and/or low risk detainees; the UN will not support any new closed camps. The GSL should not detain all IDPs out of concern for the presence of LTTE combatants. Rather, it needs to begin to allow low-risk detainees to have greater freedom of movement. He noted that UNSYG Special Representative on the Human Rights of IDPs Walter Kaelin, who had recently returned from Sri Lanka, pressed this point with Presidential Adviser Basil Rajapaksa. The military, according to Holmes, is concerned that recent returnees were not properly screened. ¶6. (C) Pascoe observed that, during his visit, the GSL officials wanted to show that they are doing something on IDP returns, and they are. Demining, for example, is proceeding, at least in the Mannar area. Reconstruction in Mannar is not a charade, he went on, but resettling 2,500 families is only the tip of the iceberg. Pascoe opined that the GSL is overwhelmingly concerned that if IDPs are not properly screened, LTTE remnants in the camps could get their hands on remaining arms caches and trigger a bombing or other terrorist act before the elections. Blake expressed skepticism that these remnants represented much of a threat, with all of the top LTTE leadership either killed or captured. More positively, Pascoe said, GSL officials are beginning to recognize that they could better monitor former LTTE in their villages than in the camps, i.e., they are beginning to form a security argument for expediting IDP returns. Indeed, the camps are a tinderbox; failure to decongest Manik Farm poses significant security risks. ¶7. (C) Pascoe said UN officials would continue to travel to Sri Lanka to "pester" GSL officials; the UN has no other leverage. Following Kaelin and Pascoe, Holmes will travel to Sri Lanka; then Pascoe or UNSYG Chief of Staff Vijay Nambiar will return. A/S Blake noted that he and Assistant Secretary Schwartz would return to the region in the fall to reinforce these points. ------------------------ POLITICAL RECONCILIATION; ACCOUNTABILITY -------------- ¶9. (C) Blake previewed for Holmes and Pascoe the report to Congress being prepared by the State Department Office of War Crimes Investigations (S/WCI) on potential violations of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity committed by both sides during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka. He asked Holmes and Pascoe if there is discussion within the UN on supporting an accountability process in Sri Lanka. STATE 00102030 003 OF 003 ¶10. (C) Pascoe observed that the government is not yet prepared to take meaningful steps on accountability, but that political reconciliation is beginning to gain traction. The opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA), for example, has shown some enthusiasm for engaging with the GSL. The UN continues to push on accountability. It would rather have the Sri Lankan government initiate a process that the UN could assist with, but if the government does not do it, then there are international mechanisms that could. Blake questioned President Rajapaksa's decision to delay steps toward reconciliation and devolution until after spring 2010 elections, noting that he has already weakened and divided the political opposition; from his political perspective, any loss in nationalist votes would be offset by gains from liberals and Tamils. ---------------------------------- NEPAL: COMPLACENCY IN BRINGING MAOISTS INTO THE POLITICAL PROCESS ---------------------------------- ¶11. (C) Pascoe noted his meeting in New York with Nepali PM Nepal, expressing concern about the GON's lack of urgency to bring the Maoists back into the political process. India, too, had shown complacency, he said. A lack of progress risks a return to violence and civil war, Pascoe cautioned. Blake agreed, but questioned why it would be in India's interest to favor the status quo. He told Pascoe he would raise the issue with his Indian counterparts. CLINTON
Logithasan Sajeenthiran / September 13, 2012
Of course, no one believes Rajapaksa lies anymore :)
The whole country under the Rajapaksa Regime jackboot, even the law courts.. :(
An innocent man continued detention for four years despite a release order from the court.
Mr. Thangaraja Ramesh Kumar (32) has been detained by the law enforcement agencies of Sri Lanka for more than four years despite the fact that the High Court ordered his release. After his arrest he was transferred from one police station to another until finally being handed over to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Central Province. In all police stations he was severely tortured.
To ensure that he would remain in remand the TID officers presented him in several courts under different charges. As each charge was only good for 30 days they kept presenting him before magistrates to renew his remand. Finally when one judge cleared him of the charges he was held under and ordered his release the police continued to hold him on another fabricated charge.
This case is emblematic of the crisis that now faces the Sri Lankan police force, where a lack of accountability and professionalism has allowed detained thousands of detainees without trials to become standard. Once a credible independent investigation has found out how these events were possible, effective reforms must be brought into force.
Mr. Thangaraja Ramesh Kumar (32) of No: 654, Wijesirigama, Digana, Rajawella in the Kandy District has been detained by the law enforcement agencies of Sri Lanka even despite the fact that the High Court ordered his release more than four years ago.
Ramesh Kumar, was illegally arrested when he was 28-years-old, just after his brother, Nanda Kumar was arrested by the police officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Kandy, working along with the Headquarters Police Station of Kandy. Ramesh was a three-wheeler driver at the time of his arrest.
Ramesh was arbitrarily arrested at around 2:30pm on April 19, 2008, by five police officers at a park in Aluthwatta in Digana town, Kandy. At the time of arrest Ramesh was not given any reason or shown a warrant. Later he was accused of being a terrorist which Ramesh repeatedly denied. The police took him to their police station and later transferred him to the Katugasthota Police Station on April 26. Then he was handed to the police officers attached to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of the Central Province.
After two years Nanda Kumar was released in August 2010 however Ramesh Kumar is still detained in the remand prison for no reason even against a judicial order.
After the arrest Ramesh was severely tortured by the police officers while he was detained at the various police stations. Following that Ramesh learned that police officers attached to the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) of Central Province conducting investigations into the several incidents that happened in the Central Province at that time.
He further learned that while TID officers were engaged in investigating these incidents they had arrested several hundred Tamil youths on mere suspicion because they were ethnically Tamil Ramesh believes that he was also arrested for that reason.
First the TID of the Central Province detained Ramesh under the detention order No: DM/ER/2008/638. Since police officers had to produced Ramesh before the Magistrate once in every 30 days the TID of the Central Province produced the Ramesh to the Magistrate of Kandy under B/ 4802/08 on 29 July 2008.
Ramesh states that this case against him contained fabricated charges. In this case Ramesh was accused for aiding and abetting terrorist activities. Ramesh vehemently denied this charge.
Thereafter since the detention order expired the TID of the Central Province produced Ramesh again to the Magistrate of Kandy on 17 August 2008 under B 4802/08 and extended his remand.
Then Ramesh was again produced to the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court under B 466/06 by the TID of the Central Province and remanded under that case also.
The incident and the offence alleged to have been committed by the suspect which was explained in that case, according the documents which were filed by the police at the Magistrate’s Court, did not falls within the jurisdiction of Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court. However, the officers of the TID of the Central Province produced Ramesh to the Teldeniya Magistrate’s Court as the remand order issued by the Kandy Magistrate’s Court under the case No B 4802/08, was about to expire.
Later Ramesh leaned that the extracts of these two cases had been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) under Reference No: EER/107/2009 by the TID of the Central Province to consider the case for further legal proceedings against Ramesh.
Later Attorney General filed indictment against Ramesh and it was registered in the High Court of Kandy under the case No: HC 45/11. When the case was called before the High Court of Kandy Ramesh consulted his lawyers regarding the case filed against him.
They advised Ramesh that the AG has only accused him for aiding and abetting terrorist activities. Further they advised Ramesh that if this case proceeded to trial it will take another five years or more for the concluding the trial and finally for the judgment and Ramesh would have to remain in prison until its conclusion.
The lawyers advised Ramesh to plead guilty to the charges as then the judge of the High Court would consider the remand time period that Ramesh has already spend in prison and mitigate his punishment.
Ramesh pleaded guilty to the chargers on 18 October 2011 and the judge released him with a suspended sentence.
However, although he was released by the judge the prison authorities did not released him. His relatives inquired for the reason from the prison officials and it transpired that the suspect, Thangaraja Ramesh Kumar, is still being remanded under case No: B 4802/08 by the Magistrate of Kandy.
Thereafter the legal counsels representing Ramesh made an application before the Magistrate of Kandy for his release. Then the police officers appeared before the Magistrate, attached to the Terrorist Investigation Division of the Central Province conceded the fact that Ramesh’s case has been dealt by the High Court of Kandy under case No H.C.45/11.
At the same time the police officer informed the court that this matter have been referred to the AGD for his advice by letter dated 12 November 2011 under reference No. ATB/CR/OW/1353/2011 by them. Further this matter was communicated to the Senior State Counsel who dealing with this case by letter dated 25 November 2011 under reference No ATB/CR/OW/1409/2011 and the police is waiting for a reply by the AG.
The family members of Ramesh states that this matter had been already considered by the AG long before he was indicted at High Court. The police officers have submitted all the extracts against Ramesh to the Attorney General. The AG considered all those facts and cases and there are no other matters to consider that can prevent his release from the detention.
Ramesh states that even after the judge of the High Court of Kandy released him the police officers still want to keep him in detention and that is the reason for making unnecessary request to the AG.
Ramesh further states that the police officers attached to the Terrorist Investigation Division of the Central Province arbitrarily detaining him to prevent his release so that he can seek justice against his illegal arrest, detention and the severe torture he suffered.
Ramesh appeals for immediate release and redress for the rights violations that he suffered for the period of more than four years.
http://www.humanrights.asia/news/urgent-appeals/AHRC-UAC-169-2012
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Rohan / September 13, 2012
LOL – No one needs to believe RB either. Who are loosing here are the general public in believing all these people (GOSL and people like RB)
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Malinda Seneviratne / September 13, 2012
When did anyone every believe the US Government? :) Also, considering the on-ground situation, Blake must eat his words. Preferably in some corner of Libya. Oh sorry, I forgot….he would have to be dragged there, considering what happened yesterday.
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Donald J Gnanakone / September 13, 2012
@Malinda. Do not write rubbish.
What happened to the Gadaffis would happen to the war criminals of Sinhala Sri Lanka.
Also don’t you be so freaking stupid to compare the US Government to Sinhala Buddhist GOSL, who are fighting for their lives not to be hauled in US courts, and UN or International courts as War Criminals, and hiding under diplomatic and head of state immunity.
A government who is too scared to attend the Olympics, who could not address the commonwealth or Oxford students Union.
The Gov leaders of SL are not only war criminals, but most corrupt rogues in the world. The country is bankrupt and living on loans, bail outs, remittances of housemaids, and Tamil diaspora…
Wheels of Justice turns very slowly. But remember Justice will prevail.
Rajapakses are standing in line again for another IMF bailout, which if US does not approve will never be given.. SL is also totally dependent of garment exports to the US, and foreign debts is mostly to the US and not China…
So once again being stupidly sarcastic will only hurt the country and it’s people including the Tamils.
Go and calculate the Foreign aid and assistance USA has given to Sri Lanka in the past 64 years, and do not be such an ungrateful D………G. It is people like you who hurt the country with such stupidity, and that is also why the Sinhalese have so much of difficulty with India, after all the help Indians have give the Sinhalese.
Show some bloody gratitude than display your racist-chauvinist attitude and pissing off USA..
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Jegath / September 13, 2012
Despite the cable, Blake will come tomorrow, meet Rajapakse and believe all the nonsense like “National Action Plan” he had to utter and finally in the media conference would talk about the imaginary “srilankans” and how LLRC could benefit it them all and praise Rajapakse’s perfomance.
It has become too predictable..
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gamini / September 13, 2012
Does one seriously believe that MR could have defied the US and India and fought this war to defeat VP? For the UN, ICRC, MSF and all other NGOs to vacate the War theatre in the North on mere MR’s orders? The world powers to be helpless at MR’s insistance? Whom are these trying to bluff? All these world powers just set the stage for MR, closing the door for others and they too vacating willingly, just to avoid suspicion, for MR to do things acording to the plan set by them. Even Robert Blake although trade charges with MR, they have been in this together. These news clips exchanged are merely to cover their involvement and to mislead the masses.
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NAK / September 14, 2012
Nice theory. But it doesnt work,the world knows.
MR defied them and thats why they keep hounding him. Only those who does’nt believe VP is no more,does’nt believe this.
Blakes, Nambiars,Millibands and Kouchners all came here to kiss and hug and show their support! You Sound hurt by the loss my dear!
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gamini / September 16, 2012
NAK, leave the theory aside. There is no hounding of MR? Who is hounding MR? The Americans? the Indians? Except that the Tamil diaspora has made it difficult for MR to move freely in the West, none of the American, Indian or any other govt. has restricted MR. I do not know how you conclude that we are sad, but you certainly seem sad that MR is at the but end of all.
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JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA / September 13, 2012
Dear BLAKE,
PLEASE DON’T LIE.
I hate that words you repeated, “”nobody believes them anymore.””
There are many people, who believe our Maha Raja And the Clan.
What about people like us;
Vermin siluva, Mala-yakaa, Kudu duminda, wabottage Kattiya, and you forgot two education Jokers ,ES BEE and Badu nla Gune.
the government cabinet group with our boss.
Last time, They perform very well at Geneva.
I hope this time also they will do well.
Even War Fakeer Velu believed them. [I mean defense Secretary and
general].
Above All, You see that Provincial Election. Half of the Voters belived them.
BUT I WILL NOT BELIVE THAT ELECTION RESULT
YOUR’S
SINCERELY,
BELIEVABLE
JULAAMPITYE AMARAYA
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NAK / September 13, 2012
Credibility has become a word without any credibility. Blake and his country (country of the Devil=Yakshayage Deshaya)with 0 credibility.
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Rama / September 13, 2012
still a country with 250 year history has sent man to moon but a country with 2,500 year history has achieved great success in sending house maids and toilet cleaners to middle east. that speaks volumes.
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NAK / September 14, 2012
Just because fools waste their plunder,others does’nt have to follow suite. At least the maids and toilet cleaners bring valuable foreign exchange to the country. What have the stupid Americans got from the moon? You are right in one thing, it speaks volumes,of the stupidity!
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NAK / September 14, 2012
How fortunate it is that they only have a history of just 250 years. With the amount of distructiion done to human life in that short period,there would’nt have any humans left on earth had they had 2500 years!
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Rama / September 14, 2012
actually the country with 250 year history need only 25 minutes to wipe out the country with 2,500 year bogus history.
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Dominique / September 14, 2012
@Rama: What’s the point of your last comment?
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LUCKY. / September 13, 2012
I THINK I AGREE THAT THE GOSL IS NOW BEYOND BELIEF. THEIR CREDIBILITY IS ZERO. BUT THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD STUDENTS IN THE GAME. BLAKE, AND THE NORWEGIANS WERE GOOD TEACHERS FOR THEY WERE ALSO INCREDIBLE LIARS AND SO THE GRIME HAS RUBBED OFF. TODAY WHEN THE GOSL MAKES A PROCLAMATION, ONE CAN BE ASSURED THE VERY EXACT THING WILL HAPPEN. TAKE THE CEB FOR INSTANCE, THE POWER CUTS, THE HIKE IN PETROL PRICES, THE GAS PRICES, THE ARREST OF CRIMINALS, AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PROCLAMATIONS THEY HAVE MADE. BLAKE HIMSELF SHOULD TAKE THE BLAME FOR THIS.THERE IS A SAYING THAT “ONE MUST REAP WHAT ONE SOWS” AND SO THE US IS NOW REAPING WHAT IT SOWED THROUGH PEOPLE LIKE BLAKE, CLINTON, AND THE LIKE.
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Donald J Gnanakone / September 13, 2012
Another racist-chauvinist editorial by the Island editor, Prabath Sahabandu. What a disgrace..
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=news-section&page=news-section&code_title=55
Attack on USA and Assistant Sec. Blake is unnecessary and uncalled for.
My response to Malinda applies here too,.
It is no wonder Sri Lanka does not receive any support internationally.
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Celerati Editorial / September 14, 2012
The interesting part is that in September 2009, the West didn’t believe the Rajapaksa administration. Did the situation improve? Of course not; in fact in March 2012 they had to push for a UN resolution to implement the goverment own recommendations. Now I wonder: what kind of game is that? In Libya and Syria, the attacks against civilians prompted immediate condemnation. What is the difference in Sri Lanka? Why does everybody support this regime?
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Dominique / September 14, 2012
CT, stop using misleading titles.
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American Lanka Lover / September 14, 2012
As amusing as it is to read a defense of US foreign policy by an LTTE propaganda cadre like Donald, it is deeply disturbing that US government policy can be so equivocal on GOSL’s efforts to rid the country of what even my government concedes is an organization more dangerous than our enemy Al Qaeda. Collateral damage is unavoidable during warfare, and this is exacerbated in conflicts where civilians are used as human shields as was the case in the Vanni in 2009.
So I understand why many Lankans are angry at the US and make critical comments. All I can say is please forgive us, we will try to do better in the future and stop giving aid and comfort to terrorist groups.
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Jay Ranaweera / September 15, 2012
Sri Lankans do not want u intimidaters to believe what Sri Lankans Say.But, EVERY ACTION HAS AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION!!!
Blake, SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN IRAQ AND THE ARABIAN WORLD NOW???
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Don Sarath / September 15, 2012
And nobody believes Blake either.
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Pandiyaa / September 17, 2012
Blake s haste is obscene but so is the attitudes of pro government journalists
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S.P.Pathmadakshan / September 21, 2012
I filed an FR case on behalf of Thangaraja Ramesh Kumar Yesterday the 20.09.2012.Case No is SCFR 552/12 this case is to be supported on the 03.10.2012.
I hope he will be released very soon.
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S.P.Pathmadakshan / October 7, 2012
Supreme court ordered the immediate release of Thangaraja Ramesh Kumar on 03.10.2012 and said that the ” conscience of the court is shocked at the carelessness manner in which the suspect was dealt with”. Though the order was transmitted by fax on the same day to both the Magistrate Kandy and Commissioner of the Bogambara Remand Prison but the suspect was released on the following day at 11.30 a.m. The effort taken by the Supreme Court to release the suspect immediately was not been given proper attention by the Magistrate, Kandy.
S,P,Pathmadakshan Attorne-at-law
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