28 March, 2024

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Wikileaks: You Managed To Do What No Govt Had Done Before – Blake To MR

By Colombo Telegraph

“Ambassador noted that his time in Colombo had coincided almost exactly with the fourth and final phase of the Sri Lankan conflict, from mid-2006 until the war ended on May 18. The President’s government had managed to do what no government had done before: wrest all the territory of the country from the Tamil Tigers. Ambassador stressed that the reconciliation phase must begin now, with two vital components: the humanitarian side, providing the IDPs with what they need, and the political side – power-sharing arrangements to help Tamils have a future with hope and dignity. This was the way to defeat terrorism for good.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The cable is classified as “Confidential” and recounts the US Ambassador Robert O. Blake’s farewell call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa . The cable was written on May 20,2009  by the US Ambassador to Colombo, Robert O. Blake.

The ambassador wrote; “The President responded that those were his intentions, but that there ‘certain people in the international community,’ abetted by ‘some in the South’ (i.e., the opposition) who would try to undercut him. The Ambassador encouraged the GSL to think about how to engage with Tamil representatives. Ambassador said it was particularly important to reach out to the Tamil Diaspora so they would stop supporting the LTTE. He inquired about the government’s plans for a political solution. The President said the basis of the plan would be the ‘13th amendment plus 1’ – meaning implementation of the existing constitutional provisions for provincial councils, but adding an upper house to Parliament, modeled on the U.S. Senate, with numerically equal representation for each province.”

Read the relevant part of the cable below;

VZCZCXRO9906
OO RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0549/01 1401045
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201045Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO ZDK RUEHLO #4906 1410823
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0012
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1202
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0276
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3849
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1686
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8694
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6928
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4990
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3060
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 4949
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 4055
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 9317
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 6623
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 1156
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3540
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDRUSARPAC FT SHAFTER HI//APCW/APOP//
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI//J3/J332/J52//
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 000549 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS 

STATE FOR SCA (BOUCHER), SCA/INS AND PRM
STATE ALSO PASS USAID
AID/W FOR ANE/SCA, DCHA/FFP (DWORKEN, KSHEIN)
AID/W FOR DCHA/OFDA (MORRISP, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, RKERR)
ATHENS FOR PCARTER
BANGKOK FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA (WBERGER)
KATHMANDU FOR USAID/DCHA/OFDA AND POL (SBERRY)
GENEVA FOR RMA (NKYLOH, NHILGERT, MPITOTTI)
USUN NEW YORK FOR ECOSOC (D MERCADO)
SECDEF FOR OSD - POLICY
PACOM ALSO FOR J-5 

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF MOPS PHUM PGOV PREL ASEC CE ECON
SUBJECT: Northern Sri Lanka SitRep 77 

REF:  A) Colombo 543 B) Colombo 539 C) Colombo 535 D) Colombo 533 E)
Colombo 529 F) Colombo 522 G) Colombo 519 H) Colombo 514 I) Colombo
507 and previous 

COLOMBO 00000549  001.2 OF 004
AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL CALL ON PRESIDENT
--------------------------------------- 

¶2.  (SBU) Ambassador noted that his time in Colombo had coincided
almost exactly with the fourth and final phase of the Sri Lankan
conflict, from mid-2006 until the war ended on May 18.  The
President's government had managed to do what no government had done
before: wrest all the territory of the country from the Tamil
Tigers.  Ambassador stressed that the reconciliation phase must
begin now, with two vital components: the humanitarian side,
providing the IDPs with what they need, and the political side -
power-sharing arrangements to help Tamils have a future with hope
and dignity.  This was the way to defeat terrorism for good. 

¶3.  (SBU) The President responded that those were his intentions,
but that there "certain people in the international community,"
abetted by "some in the South" (i.e., the opposition) who would try
to undercut him.   The Ambassador encouraged the GSL to think about
how to engage with Tamil representatives.   Ambassador said it was
particularly important to reach out to the Tamil Diaspora so they
would stop supporting the LTTE.  He inquired about the government's
plans for a political solution.  The President said the basis of the
plan would be the "13th amendment plus 1" - meaning implementation
of the existing constitutional provisions for provincial councils,
but adding an upper house to Parliament, modeled on the U.S. Senate,
with numerically equal representation for each province. 

COLOMBO 00000549  002 OF 004
BLAKE
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Latest comments

  • 0
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    A much overdue Wikileak:
    “He inquired about the government’s plans for a political solution. The President said the basis of the plan would be the ‘13th amendment plus 1’ – meaning implementation of the existing constitutional provisions for provincial councils, but adding an upper house to Parliament, modeled on the U.S. Senate, with numerically equal representation for each province.”

    Mr. President, why have you not proceeded to do what you proposed? Is this not what the Tamils would welcome? Have you had second thoughts since or was it the poltical subterfuge deployed in 2010? If you had second thoughts since, why and what do you propose instead? If you have no reservations and were absolutely honest then, why not start doing spmething about it at least now?

    A clear and convincing statement relating to these questions, will redeem your reputation and that of this country.

    Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

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      Hooray what a joker u are …Still u beleive sinhala budhism let my live in peace.

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        Please write what you want instead of pasting web links – CT

        • 0
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          When Diaspora LTTE Activists have transformed themselves into Human Rights Champions, the Tamils here will not be let to live in peace.

          Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

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            you greatly understand the true position.while their children are going to college in UK,CANADA,USA AND EUROPE,these guys send money to LTTE AND ASK POOR TAMIL CHILDREN LIVING IN SRI LANKA TO CARRY OUT TERROR ACTIVITIES.today they do same. collecting money from all people having good time with their family in these countries ,they now have new way to enjoy their families by way of insulting to sri lanka.they ask TNA LTTE’s foxy holders to joint time to time that parties too.if they are so serious of Tamil in north and east why not financially help and stop such nonsenses.now TNA’MPS going every where looking solution for matters but do not have time to sit with president even one day for meeting.these guys are still think this country is control by british and their leaders are in south Africa.Finally they will come with empty had like last 50 years from UK end of this month and start new past to death for few hours in north.these jokers did this over 50 years and final result is what they get for that.

        • 0
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          Hooray Kovian! This is what the good doctor needs a little bit of reality talk when he is talking about Mr. President when he should be saying Mr. IMpeacher or Mr. Butcher

    • 0
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      Dr Rajasingham:

      Surely you cannot be that naive to assume the honesty and integrity of the Rajapakses. There was never an intention to conduct a humanitarian operation. There was never an intention to implement the 13 plus (or whatever). The speed with which the 18th Amendment was rushed through tells it all. The impeachment of the CJ (Shiranee) was not about the Divineguma Bill – that was just an excuse. The real reason was the fear that the Court may well be prepared to hear cases on human rights abuses.
      Get real doctor.

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        Jansen,

        Have you read my questions to the President ? Am I not pointing out his post-war failure?

        Dr. RN.

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        Jansee, this Narendran is another who has got played out by MR like his comrades DBSJ and KP, now waiting for the miracle to happen.

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      Dr.Narendran,you quote”Mr. President, why have you not proceeded to do what you proposed? Is this not what the Tamils would welcome? Have you had second thoughts”,unquote.

      Dear Dr,have you also had second thoughts about the 13th amendment?You and I have had vociferous arguments on the pros and cons of the Indo Lanka accord sometime ago and you trashed the 13th amendment as worthless to the tamils when the president was trying to wriggle out of it without antagonising India.Now that the die has been cast and he has dropped the 13th amendment and antagonised india like a fool,you are saying why has he done that,and that the 13th amendment will be welcomed by the tamil people.Are you of malayalee origin by any chance with your double speak?I have been dumbfounded by the amount of coconut used by tamils in the north which leads me to believe they are of kerala origin because tamilnadu does not use so much coconut.

      As for the senate,I told you earlier that it will be packed with goons,who could not get jobs in the central,provincial and local governments.those are house full with goons and jackasses at the moment and one more layer of government will facilitate those goons and arse lickers who are waiting in the queue to get jobs at the taxpayers expense.The concept of senate by itself is okay provided
      a)There is a cap in the administration expenses of the country.Let us say the say the administration expenses of the bloated public service and parliamentarians is 30-40% of the annual budget(I don’t know the real figure,but assume it is very high),then it should be capped at the present level by a bill brought in parliament that cannot be change without a 80% majority.So within that budgetary allocation a senate can be formed.That way the taxpayer will not be burdened by more administration expenses and the senate will be formed with parliamentarians and public servants made redundant.

      b)The senate should be formed with educated people with professional qualification.Another bill should be brought into the parliament stipulating the qualification required to become a senator,again that cannot be overturned without a 80% majority.You also can become a senator and I’am sure you will be a great one and I’am not being sarcastic here.This will be a check and balance to the wild decisions made by the uncouth and uneducated and uncultured rascals in the other srilankan parliaments and will be a sobering effect on them.

      I don’t want to throw out the baby with the bathwater,because the senate idea if implemented properly will be an asset to the country,but if implemented wrongly will be just another liability.

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        Shanker,

        I yet think the 13th amendment is an act of political chicanery and legal sleight of hand. However, I am asking these questions because the 13 th amendment plus is what the President was promising and the full implementation of the 13th amendment is what the TNA is demanding. If the 13th amendment plus issue comes up in parliament I would yet demand to the extent I can, that it be recast at least on the lines suggested by the APRC. The manner in which the presently operational PCs, voted subsequent to the Supreme Court determination on the Divineguma bill, demonstrate the weaknesses in the PC system as designed now. They were voting to abdicate even their limited powers!

        I think an elected Senate, with equal representation from each province, on the lines of the US model is a good idea. However, the details will reveal the intentions, more than the concept.

        I think a new constitution should be designed correcting the manifold problems in the present one and incorporating a combination of devolution to the periphery and power sharing at the centre.

        Dr. Rajasingham Narendran.

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          Dr.narendran,the main aspect of the 13th amendment is that it is part and parcel of the Indo Lanka accord signed by two governments.Its pros and cons and whether it signed due to a parippu drop are all too late now to talk about.just like the kachativu agreements and the sirima shastri and sirima ghandhi pact these are international agreements and both countries have to meet their international obligations and honour these agreements.

          kachativu cannot be overturned and same for the Indo Lanka accord.

          Every time a head of state signs an agreement on behalf of the country,the next one cannot come and say since he did not sign it he will not honour it.For example if Ranil becomes the president he cannot say that he will not pay the chinese loans because future generations cannot afford to pay or that the interest rate is too high etc etc.

          Obviously the indians are furious because Mahinda is throwing egg on their face.Can we afford to alienate them?That is the question here,not the pros and cons of the 13th amendment.

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            shankar

            “kachativu cannot be overturned and same for the Indo Lanka accord.”

            No need to overturn Kachativu agreement, as far as India is concerned whether Kachativ belongs to India or Sri Lanka would not matter as long as Sri Lanka remained the Sinhala state of India.

            Simply put in the 1970s India had redrawn boundries of its two states, namely Tamilnadu the Tamil state of India and Sri Lanka the Sinhala state of India.

            What is the problem?

            Regarding Indo- Lanka accord, it is a matter between Union and another of its own state.

            The arrangements nicely fits into India’s scheme of things of which you ain’t seen nothing.

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              native veddha,at that time when India was thinking that srilanka will be just a puppet,there was no china factor.Now it has to contend with china and its string of pearls policy in the indian ocean.China has sent a clear message that the Indian ocean has to be shared by the two and cannot be the exclusive preserve of india.So Look into the current geopolitical realities without still living in the 1970’s and 1980 when Indira and rajiv could throw their weight around with the tiny Srilanka.

              As for kachativu, tamilnadu has taken the matter to court to be overturned.My contention is that it cannot be overturned because it is an international obligation on the part of india to honour the agreement.Same for the Indo lanka accord as it is an international obligation that Srilanka has to honour if it expects the same from India.See what happened to that petroleum hedging transaction when we went to courts.The lawyers only benefited and we lost billions of rupees which has to be paid back by our future generations, when the pyramid scheme of paying loans through further loans has to come to its inevitable end.

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    You did raise some questions, I can see that. But my issue is – aren’t you being naive in raising these questions with a president who is a sly fox and murderer who would not bother even to read them – just reminds me of another pathetic person – V Anandasangaree.

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      Jansee,

      I am not naive nor a government proxy as many of you think. I feel or the Tamils atleast as much as many of you all do. However, i think differently and refuse to peddle a failed course, though it may be popular.

      We have to engage with the government and the Sinhala people to find solutions to our problems. Whatever the obstacles, we have to persist. I am convinced we took the wrong path after the war. We should have engaged with the government on a non- confrontational manner after the war, because we had the sympathy and empathy of the Sinhala people. When the Sinhala people were witnessing the positive efforts of the government on the IDP front, we were narrating a horror story. This made many Sinhalese suspect Tamil motives and objectives. The government is now responding to these sentiments. Mahinda Rajapkse is a political animal and populist. This has to be understood, while dealing with him. Calling him names will not help. He is what we have and we have to deal with him. Only Sri Lankan governments can deliver solutions and this has to be recognised and encouraged . If solutions are forced on the GOSL, they will go the way of the 13th amendment.

      The TNA should participate in the PSC process being touted by MR, at least to find out what is on offer and test the boundaries. The TNA has nothing to lose. The Tamils also have not very much left to lose. However, the possibility of gaining something should not be missed. This is not naivety but practical politics. The Tamils here deserve any number of such tries, considering what previous approaches have wrought.

      I have hopes you will see the merits in my line of thinking.

      Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

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        Dr Rajasingham:

        Have you heard of the adage, once a thief always a thief. I don’t know how far this would fit with the SL scenario but I have no doubt whatsoever it fits the Rajapakses. I can’t quite grasp your argument that the Sinhala people were wtinessing positive effects with the IDP. I have to scratch my head to see whether there is any truth or validity in this statement. The locking up IDPs as herded animals into concenration camps, including children, was vehemently opposed by not only the Tamils but by India and the UN. In fact, the TNA under Sampanthan pleaded with the regime to take them into confidence and start the rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation as part of the healing process. The regime turned a deaf ear to the TNA’s pleas. Even when Sampanthan reiterated the need to engage with the TNA on devolution, the regime just took on a merry-go-round and we realised the deception. You see, the SL regime, especially under the Rajapakses, had never ever considered implementing the 13A or move towards devolution of power. They want to consolidate power, so how can they even consider devolving power to the peripheries? Didn’t you see how unceremoniously they dumped the Chief Justice? A lot of moderates had a lot of goodwill and we wanted to look forward after the war ended but it didn’t take us long to know and find out the tricks and treachery of the Rajapakses. No matter how hard I try, I can’t see the truth or logic in your argument or statement. How on earth can you can even consider driving sense into the Rajapakses. They are a bunch of murderers and we should rightfully and aggressively pursue all available means to answer for the murder of thousands of innocent civilians. If they are telling the truth let there be an independent international investigation and I think most Tamils would understand and settle if such an investigation proves that the allegations are false. Until then, if the Rajapakses think that this will go away as they do with their umpteen commisions, then they are sorely mistaken.

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          Jansee,

          I have seen the Gamini Vidyalaya (Vavuniya) IDP reception camp and the Settikulam IDP camps. I have spoken to IDPs and seen the efforts made by the government, UN agencies, INGOs and NGOs. My impressions were very positive. I have been in a refugee camp in Kandy for two weeks in 1977. The difference was like between the heaven and hell in our imagination.

          Dr. Rajasingham Narendran

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        Dr.narendran,you say that the TNA should participate in the PSC process.I don’t think it is the right time to do it.Let the government show its good faith by implementing the Indo lanka accord in full and then the TNA can join the PSC to discuss the plus or whatever that mahinda is talking about.

        To implement the indo lanka accord you don’t need the TNA participation.It is already there in the constitution and just has to be implemented in full.

        In fact in MHO the participation of the TNA is not necessary at all for any political solution.Douglas had at one time derisively named them Tiger Nominated Agents and rightly so.

        Mahinda can just skirt the TNA and through douglas give the tamils an acceptable political solution.If he does that he can give a fighting chance for douglas who is now having to swim with his hands tied behind his back because he does not have a political solution in his hand.Unfortunately mahinda will not do that because he comes from the deep south full of sinhala hardliners. These are the ‘aapu minissu’ who try to show that they are more sinhala than the original sinhalese who say that they will not even let a cat from the deep south into their houses. The deep south has taken over the country at the moment and you can forget about them giving a political solution willingly unless someone sets their arse on fire with international pressure applied at the right spots.

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          Shankhar,

          I have no problem with the 13th amendment being implemented in full.
          However, the PC system as it stands needs major overhaul. The constitution needs also to be drastically changed. These can be taken up at the proposed PSC. The full implementation of the 13th amendment and the PSC process can be parallel. Please note however, the PSC system,weak as it was at the beginning, has been further compromised severely, using the deliberate loop holes in the 13th amendment.

          Dr.Rajasingham Narendran

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          shankar

          “at that time when India was thinking that srilanka will be just a puppet,there was no china factor.”

          There is no such China factor.

          This is the scare story continuously put out by the Indian Defence analysts who are closely aligned to Indian establishment (to politically justify large arms procurement which India does not need, not to mention a sizable kickback) and by other foreigners to motivate Indians to buy products from Military Industrial Complex which want to carve out a large share of unnecessarily growing Indian defense market.

          China’s peaceful rise is a threat to small countries not large ones because military technology has moved on and Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is guaranteed.

          You say:

          “Now it has to contend with china and its string of pearls policy in the indian ocean.”

          Indian ocean cannot be exclusively India’s ocean. India knows it and one hopes India has learned from Chola navy’s failure.

          Both Tamils and Sinhalese (Descendants of Kallathonies from India) always stupidly believe Sri Lanka is a powerful superpower which can determine India’s “tryst with destiny”. Every effort by past and present rulers thwarted by India by Indian South Block Chanakyas.

          Forget Sri Lanka being a sovereign country and all those ceremonial stuff you do on Independent day. As Nehru said, Sri Lanka cannot afford an independent foreign policy that of India. It was true then it will be true in years to come, and you have yourself seen the devastation in the past.

          You say:

          “in the 1970′s and 1980 when Indira and rajiv could throw their weight around with the tiny Srilanka.”

          India still do and will continue to do for the foreseeable future unless the Sri Lankan state put its house in order. Sri Lanka would not have won the war without India determining the fate of the island.

          International obligation

          When Sri Lanka is part of Indian union what has international obligation got to do with Centre State relation?

          Sri Lanka is the Sinhala State of greater Bharat, whether you like it or not.

          Manmohan throws his weight around al be it silently.

          Be prepared to learn India’s national anthem which will be played at national events in Sri Lanka along with Sri Lankan regional anthem Namo, Namo Maatha.

          Somawansa and Weerawansa will be expected to join in the celebrations and singalong with Indian Union Governor of Sri Lanka.

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            native veddha,look back at history.In the 1920’s Great Britain was the sole major power.After world war 2 it lost its colonies and the US became the sole superpower.Then came the Soviet Union and there were two superpowers.Then the Soviet Union crumbled and again the US was the only elephant in the room.To counter the US domination of the world the European nations formed the EU.So we had two elephants in the room again,this time The EU replacing the Soviet Union.These two elephants are of course allies working together as much as possible to dominate the world.

            Meanwhile the Peoples Republic of China was developing at a phenomenal rate since the early 1990’s averaging double digit growth very year.Only now it has reconciled itself for single digits albeit at the higher end at 7.5%.

            So now there are 3 elephants in the room.The economic size on a purchasing power parity basis is as follows

            EU-15.7 trillion US dollars
            US-15.6 Trillion dollars
            China-12.3 trillion dollars.

            China will reduce the gap and become the largest economy.

            India’s Economy is 4.75 trillion dollars,about 40% of china’s.So don’t try to think that India can just wave the magic wand and the china factor will go away.Now warfare has changed from military to economic.Trillions of dollars are swimming around the globe at touch of buttons.I know,because I’am in that business and moving around vast sums with a click or two.

            India with a 4.75 trillion economy can certainly influence Srilanka which has a 125 billion one,but unfortunately for it china with its string of pearls policy has taken an interest in Srilanka so that vital supplies of energy resources from the middle east and Africa will not be blockaded by the US,EU and India one day strangling its economy.You can see that Srilanka is slap bang the first landing point for traffic in the indian ocean.If you doubt about china’s military interest read this

            http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-funds-to-modernise-sri-lankan-military-training-establishment/article3847937.ece

            Why is a defence minister of a 12.3 trillion economy spending 5 full days in a country of 125 billion?Location,location,location and unfortunately for india that location is 16 nautical miles from its arse.

            So the threat from china to india via srilanks is very real and not bogus claims by the indians as you claim.

            That is why I told you earlier look into the current geopolitical realities as compared to the 1970’s and 1980’s.It constantly changes as I described to you starting with the decline of Great Britain which is no longer great and once boasted that the sun would never set on its empire.It forgot that everything changes except for change itself.

            Remember that there is now 3 elephants in the room,and we all know that an elephant cannot be ignored.

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              shankar

              As you know I am bit thick and do not understand many happenings in this world. Please bear with me.

              My elders ask me very simple questions:

              If ever there be a confrontation between India and China over Sri Lanka, for example China invades Sri Lanka, could Sri Lanka throw the Chinese out of this island on its own? That is a matter for India to deal with it and as the fellow islander I will sit back and watch the conflict. We have no say whatsoever in the event of a war between two giants over my ancestral island.

              India and China always have border incursions.

              Will India and China use Nuclear bombs, definitely not.

              Can either party aim for decisive victory over other, the answer is no.

              Destruction on both sides assured.

              String of Pearls strategists need the extra income for their Children’s school fees.

              Prof Paul Kenedy some 25 years ago predicted that USA will have to roll back its imperial reach. He called it Imperialism over stretched. This applies to all countries.

              You say:

              “So the threat from china to india via srilanks is very real and not bogus claims by the indians as you claim.”

              Let the Indians deal with it and actually it would not be Indian problem and not mine.

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    It is just all other presidents prior to him were not this much killing minded. That was the basis MR to do all forms human rights violations and keep silent as nothing occured. The majority stupid folks support him further to go his way- without studying them closely. State media machineries he uses for his propaganda.

    This is evident to the silent masses, but for some reasons, they seem to have no guts. I cant know the real reasons, me being away, but what I believe is – the psychosis that the nation experienced in the late 80ties is boomeranged.

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    The bottom line is none of the Diaspora Tamils care about the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. They never did, they will never do. The poor
    Tamil people were used as a means of achieving their ambition(a mono ethnic separate state) and they still continue to do that.

    When young Tamil children were forcibly recruited and used as canon fodder, this same diaspora cheered on. When the Tigers held the Tamil population hostage, no one opened their mouth to condemn them. They continued to cheer and support the Tigers hoping that they would pull a rabbit out of their hat. Now, after the LTTE lost, the majority of the diaspora activists have grown a conscious and have become ardent human rights activists. They still have the same goal although most of this diaspora would never ever come back to settle down in here.

    The TNA is going around the world and making representations at LTTE front(GTF, BTF)gatherings and continue to undermine the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. This is the same TNA that made the LTTE the “sole representative” of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The TNA continues to hurt the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. Before anything, they need to stop this and get on their knees and apologize to their people for what they have put them through. It is time they stopped hoodwinking the Tamils living in Sri Lanka for their own petty gains. The “Sinhalaya Gonibilla” theory has run its course.

    With all the imperfections, it is the GSL that still continues to help these people in need to rebuild their shattered lives.
    India is talking about 13A and the rights of the Tamils but still continue to hurt them by stealing their ocean resources. Until India and Tamil Nadu acknowledge that the Indian fishermen are stealing the resources of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, everything they say about human rights and reconciliation is just pure rhetoric.

    As for the West and the US/Canada, they continue to do what is best for them which is to undermine every country they can to set up a platform to steal their wealth/resources. This is the new imperialism/colonialism they peddle through human rights. Think about it. If they cared about human rights, would they continue to murder and pillage the countries like Iraq and Libya? The only reason they have not invaded Syria and North Korea is that there is nothing to steal in those countries.

    To make matters worse, India is blind to what their new found friend, the US, is trying to do to them. The Indians are being royally set up. Give it another 10 years and the US will break India up.

    Genocide and crimes against humanity in Kashmir, anyone? How about the massacre of Muslims in India?
    http://www.jewishjournal.com/thegodblog/item/muslim_massacre_in_hindu_india

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      Where were you Rajiv when the escaping civilians were herded into concentration camps? Where were you when when they taken from the camps and dumped into jungles? Where were you when more than 140,000 of the Tamils were murdered by a ruthless regime? The regime you so hilariously praise took the TNA on a merry-go-around under the pretext of holding talks on devolution. That has proven to be a hoax, as all other promises. So, the TNA has no choice but to go outside to seek redress. As long as the Sinhalas don’t allow us to live in peace and with dignity, we are not going to allow the Sinhalas to live in peace either. After raping and murdering our women and murdering thousands of Tamils, what makes you think we will keep quiet. One of my parents is a Sinhalese but had always encouraged me to write on the atrocities committed by a heinous regime.

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    Reading through all previous comments, I must commend the approach, the professionalism and the far-sightedness of the comments of Dr. Rajasingham.

    This is the kind of approach all the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka MUST adopt. Common Sri Lankan’s mentality must be understood very carefully, and it is definitely NOT racist. Racism doesn’t exist in Sri Lanka. It is the word coined by political opportunists working hard for their individual prosperity at the cost of the others.

    Situation is made VERY complicated by factoring in biased personal opinions and views, without knowledge, and it further complicates with the intervention of external powers who clearly can be proved as hypocrites; especially in the matters of Human Rights. Hope no need to spell it out. If one carefully examined the history of many countries who are war-torn today, or having separatist struggles, one would see who were behind planting and nurturing the separatist seeds in the nations, which led to partitioning the countries later, making the neighbours arch-rivals or enemies. If anyone requires, examples can be provided in abundance.

    Presently, all Sri Lankans face similar issues, regardless of their race, ethnicity or religion. It is the lack of law and order, which, in truth, I feel that ALL ethnicities MUST come together and fight against. The power-wielding politicians fear this – all getting together to fight for a common cause. That is why they like these petty differences among the citizens and try to create issues to divert the attention of the masses from the REAL issue. Driven by the emotions, many fail to see this and get trapped. Then we have further splits in the nation and many fights in different directions. Once again the people are fooled.

    To lead a comfortable life in Sri Lanka, it is the same conditions one must have regardless of the ethnicity, race or the religion – Money and connection to a politician. Just see how many members from the minority groups are enjoying the luxuries of life? For that, them being minority groups doesn’t matter. And the normal people who are not rich and are not connected to politicians (regardless of they are in power or not), suffer. The irony is, these poor and powerless DO NOT have racist ideas and they have been and is, living in harmony with all the other ethnic and religious groups. Regardless of them being from the majority Sinhala community or from a minority community, they get same high-handed, poor treatment from law enforcing authorities and institutions. No difference at ALL. They engage with other minorities in their life events, religious celebrations, patronize each others’ businesses etc. etc. Case in point – concentrations of minority groups in certain areas of Sri Lanka, and even the whole sale market in Sri Lanka.

    If Sri Lanka has a racist majority, this is NOT possible. If Sri Lanka has an ethnic problem, this is NOT possible.

    A famous mis-interpretation is 1983 Black July, as an expression of racism of the majority Sinhalese. If one is sharp and careful, one would know that the whole incident was created, fuelled and led by a powerful politician in that Government. He created a fear psychosis based on the killing of 13 soldiers by LTTE. Later everybody knew that the vandalism acts were carried out in villages by organised mobs who were not from that area. If it was a racist event, the people from the areas would be the offenders. In fact, they were the ones who have saved and protected many minority families. So I am vehemently stating that average Sri Lankan is NOT racist – whether he/she is a Sinhalese, Muslim or Tamil.

    Therefore, it helps if all of us who are capable of seeing through to the basis of the problem, can shed light on the REAL issues of the society, and try to eliminate whatever the divisions among them rather than working to further deepen those divisions.

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    If the war was fought properly (more effectively and more efficiently), it would be easier to solve the ethnic problem now.

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      Muliyawaikkal

      “If the war was fought properly (more effectively and more efficiently)”

      Which is madness.

      “it would be easier to solve the ethnic problem now.”

      Lacking wisdom.

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