Sri Lanka: A Tamil From Colombo's Story

Demand to Ban “Madras Cafe” Displays an Intolerant Streak of Tamil Nationalist Groups.

Tamil nationalist groups are again displaying an intolerant streak. They want Madras Café, a film loosely based on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, to be banned because it shows the Tamil Eelam struggle in Sri Lanka in a poor light. Though the Madras High Court has rightly declined to stay the release of the film, some groups seeking to ban the film are readying themselves to create a law and order problem as a form of 

protest.

That apprehension of law and order disruptions cannot be grounds for banning a film is settled law and has been upheld repeatedly by the Supreme Court of India. In its judgment in S. Rangarajan v Jagjivan Ram involving the film Ore Oru Gramathile, in 1989, the court was unequivocal that “freedom of expression cannot be suppressed on account of [the] threat of demonstration and processions or threats of violence.”

The right to freedom of speech and expression is enshrined in the Constitution, and chauvinist elements, no matter of what hue, should not be allowed to infringe on this right citing some imagined slight to a group or community. The onus is on the State government and its policing arm to act against those attempting to disrupt law and order. Whether the film is good or bad, whether it is fact or fiction, all these have nothing to do with the right to freedom of expression of the film-makers and artistes.

Of late, film-makers and distributors have been organising special screenings for representatives of groups or communities who apprehend that the film could be offensive to their sensibilities. In Tamil Nadu, the government appears to have encouraged such groups by banning the film Dam 999 and seeming sympathetic to those wanting a ban on Vishwaroopam.

The Central Board of Film Certification is the only competent body to censor a film, and once cleared by the board, no film should again have to be subjected to “clearance” from groups claiming to have been offended by it. Chauvinist elements are emboldened when a government adds to the pressure on the film-makers, instead of getting tough on those threatening to disturb law and order. Too often, the producers are forced to compromise and agree to cuts rather than risk prolonging the release of the film.

When the government does not stand up for freedom of speech and expression, film-makers, distributors and exhibitors think it is safer to buy peace with the chauvinist groups. It would reflect very poorly on the administrative capabilities of the Tamil Nadu government if the film is withheld from exhibition for fear of violence. As for those who wish to protect their fragile sensibilities from being hurt in any manner, how’s this for a really simple remedy? Don’t see themovie.

COURTESY:THE HINDU

Censors Clear Tamil Version of “Madras Cafe” but Theatres in Tamil Nadu Refuse to Screen Film Due to Fear of Pro-LTTE Tamil Extremists

The Tamil version of the John Abraham-starrer Madras Café was cleared by the censors with no cuts on Thursday, but the film’s distributors found no takers among the exhibitors for a release in Tamil Nadu on Friday.


A representative of Viacom18, which co-produced the thriller along with Mr. Abraham, said the Tamil version got an ‘U/A’ certificate. However, none of the theatres in the State was willing to release the film in the wake of threats of protests from some Tamil nationalist groups.

Almost all major exhibitors had scheduled other films for the week ahead and opened advance booking for them, keeping ‘Madras Café’ out of the list. A cinema hall operator, on condition of anonymity, said the risk of screening the film was “simply not worth taking”.

Directed by Shoojith Sircar, the film is said to be set in the 1980s in the backdrop of the Tamil civil war in Sri Lanka and it features model-turned actor John Abraham in the role of a RAW agent. It also has scenes depicting the assassination of a former Indian Prime Minister and with several references to the leader of a prominent Tamil separatist group.

Tamil nationalist groups in the State have been objecting to the film saying that the references to LTTE and its slain leader V.Prabhakaran are hard to miss, and that the film denigrates the struggle of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

COURTESY:THE HINDU

Where are the next of kin of the supposedly executed 40,000-125,000 Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka?

By Shenali Waduge

The "experts" and "authorities" must have their say and certainly their voice is far more powerful than a country as small as Sri Lanka. They are the ones that make the laws, they decide who the villains and the heroes are, they can make heroes into villains and villains into heroes, they can frame charges, they can also decide not to frame charges - in short it is only their wishes that prevail. Justice is justice that suits them and not the victims. Victims are who they define as victims on a selective basis and perpetrators are all those that do not conform to their agendas. It is with these incongruities that Sri Lanka finds itself being allegedly bullied and thrown figures of casualties that vary between initial figures of 7000 to 40,000 to 60,000 and now to 125,000. Given that we accept the figures by these "authorities" - what next needs to be asked is 4 years on where are the next of kin of these 125,000 or even 40,000 - why have they not come forward naming the "executed"?

We now come to those who are making these guestimate figures. US Secretary of State Robert Blake states 40,000 died at the US Congressional hearing to which US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega asked "why are we picking on a little country like Sri Lanka" and Mr. Faleomavaega recommended that the US Resolution should be withdrawn for "focusing only on the last few months of the war and failing to acknowledge.... almost 30 years, the Tamil Tigers hacked to death innocent men , women and children in Sri Lanka, carried out some 378 suicide attacks more than any other terrorist organization in the world."

Read Complete Article : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

When TNA leaders go shopping for separatist sponsorship in Canada and US

By Shenali D Waduge

There is little that sets the LTTE and TNA apart. The objectives of both remain the same only the modus operandi differed. The Sri Lankan Armed Forces eliminated the ground terror of LTTE removing the terrorist aspect from the quest. Now the TNA has taken over the baton with the objective well on track. The world and Tamils conveniently forget that LTTE launched its campaign by killing their own Tamil people FIRST while Tamil parliamentarians simply watched. Our issue is that while LTTE is designated as a terrorist organization and remains proscribed even 4 years after its demise, the TNA are voted parliamentarians so what business does the TNA have to continuously fly overseas (8-12 August 2013) to meet pro-LTTE lobbies under the very eyes of the Canadian Government whose decision to attend CHOGM is decided by the lobbying tactics of Canadian Tamil votebase ridiculing the integrity of some Canadian parliamentarians. TNA next transited to the US where its State Dept presumably do not "talk" to terrorists but "discusses" options of piggybanking on the separatist agenda for it works perfectly with their plans to destabilize Sri Lanka and the Asian region - a coup d'‚tat within a coup d'‚tat? It is high time the Sri Lankan Government read out the 6th amendment to the TNA.



Read Complete Article More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.com/p/there-is-little-that-sets-ltte-and-tna.html

SL ready to share its experience as best practices on humanitarian effectiveness with other countries

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Ravinatha Aryasinha has said “the approaches used in post-tsunami and post-conflict Sri Lanka, with suitable adaptation, could be deployed in managing humanitarian situations in other countries as well, and that the Government of Sri Lanka continues to stand ready to share its experience as best practices on humanitarian effectiveness, with other countries that are similarly placed, in an effort to relieve those who undergo suffering due to humanitarian emergencies.
Ambassador Aryasinha made these observations when he delivered the Sri Lanka statement at the humanitarian affairs segment of the Substantive Session of ECOSOC, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 17th July 2013.

Ambassador Aryasinha recalled that as a country Sri Lanka had not only grappled with a separatist terrorist conflict for almost 30 long years, but also dealt with an unprecedented natural disaster in the form of the Asian tsunami in 2004. Detailing the systems deployed by the government’s Centre of National Operations (CNO) to manage natural disasters, he said the 24/7 operational capacity now allows Sri Lanka to evacuate coastal areas within an hour of a tsunami alert. He also enumerated the significant strides made by the Government of Sri Lanka over the 4 years since the ending of the terrorist conflict, in re-settling IDPs, de-mining, restoring livelihoods and property of those affected and initiating a program to pay compensation to the conflict-affected residents of Northern Province, who lost loved ones and property and sustained injuries, as part of a process of restitution.

Read More : http://www.lankamission.org/images/2013Images/July/ECOSOC_statement.pdf

US to fund livelihood programme for vulnerable groups to “support reconciliation”

The US development agency, USAID has said it will design a livelihood project for vulnerable groups, including “women-headed households, those relocated due to the conflict” and others.

A statement by the US embassy in Colombo said:

In order to support further reconciliation of the Sri Lankan people, the U.S. Embassy, through its development office of USAID, is designing a new livelihoods project that aims to increase household incomes in the dairy, poultry and horticulture sectors. This initiative seeks to reach women-headed households, those relocated due to the conflict, and other vulnerable groups.

The goal is to link household production with existing private sector producers and processors to further economic development. Potential activities include improving household income by increasing the production of fresh milk and dairy products, improving cattle genetics through artificial insemination, facilitating egg and broiler production and diversifying horticulture cultivation.

USAID estimates that up to 5,000 households may benefit under this initiative. Program funding amounts are still being assessed and this program is expected to be on-line before the end of 2013. USAID already supports livelihood programs through its economic growth office and has provided approximately $40,000,000 over the last five years to help re-integrate families in the former conflict zones.

Justice Wigneswaran’s Nomination Indicates the TNA wants to Try to find a Way to Work with the Govt

For the first time in a long while, I feel hopeful about the future of Sri Lanka. Everybody accepts that the main challenge at this juncture is reconciliation – uniting the country in spirit now that it has finally been united in body. And despite the many appalling failures of the Government – together with the complete inability of the Opposition to make any impact whatsoever on even absolutely mundane issues – there is suddenly reason to feel positive.

The Northern Provincial Council election is going ahead.

It is of course a reflection of the dismal state of post-war Sri Lanka that this very basic democratic requirement should be considered an achievement. Still, after months of frenzied campaigning by Sinhalese extremists, the fact that candidates are being nominated and preparations made is a huge relief.

Denying residents of the North the right to elect their representatives as people living elsewhere in the country do as a matter of course would have given the Tamil separatist project a tremendous boost.

This is no doubt what parties like the JHU want, since there would be no point to their existence if Sri Lankans could get along. Udaya Gammanpila somehow managed to keep a straight face while announcing that the JHU is boycotting the Northern Provincial Council election, as if there were any practical difference between contesting and not contesting when nobody in the North is going to vote for them. If Sri Lanka were to become a genuinely inclusive society, there would have to be a lot more such theoretical boycotts by the JHU.

Read More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.de/p/justice-wigneswarans-nomination.html

President Rajapaksa Does not Want to Lose the only Tamil Minister from North Serving in his Cabinet –DouglasDevananda

By Kelum Bandara

(An Interview with Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda who is also the Secretary-General of the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party(EPDP)

Excerpts:

Q: You said right throughout that you would be the chief ministerial candidate of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for the Northern Provincial Council Election. Now the election has been declared. What is your stand now?

I will make an official stand on the election only after the date of the election is announced by the Elections Commissioner. I need some more time to clarify certain matters in view of this election. President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not want to lose the only Tamil Minister serving in his Cabinet representing the North. I am sensitive to that request. Again, I have to be concerned about the political situation. Considering all, I will announce my stand after the day of polling is announced.

I always maintain that the 13th Amendment is the only basis for the resolution of the national question. There are views for and against it. Yet, it is the way forward. I still believe in it. The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is the best forum for it.

Q: But, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is not party to the PSC. Is it practical to find a solution through a process that excludes them?

A: Some parties with vested interests have decided to boycott the PSC process. I am among those who took the stand that an all-party approach is essentially important to find a solution. Yet, the parties, driven by self-interests, have taken a different stand. It is unfortunate. Even without the TNA, we started meeting in the PSC. The caravan moves despite the dogs barking. The TNA wants to adopt time delaying tactics. When the provincial council system was introduced in 1987, the present ruling party was opposed to it as the then opposition. The alliance partners of the TNA also were opposed to it. They called it an outdated system. Today, they participate in the provincial council elections. With or without the TNA, we should take a decision.

Read More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.de/p/president-rajapaksa-does-not-want-to.html

British MP’s remarks totally inappropriate: SL

Responding to remarks made by House of Commons MP Simon Danczuk to the media on the ongoing investigations into the killing of British tourist Khuram Shaikh, the Ministry of External Affairs said the comments were totally inappropriate.

The Ministry said the government was committed to punish the perpetrators of the crime.

In a media release, the Ministry said the MP’s comments to the media about an unscheduled meeting with the President were uncalled for.

“For any visiting delegate below the level of a Head of State or Government, a meeting with the President would be a privilege, as it would not be in keeping with accepted diplomatic protocol and is unthinkable in Western countries. Hence talking to the media about the issues that he will raise with the Head of State even before such a meeting is scheduled is totally inappropriate,” the Ministry said.

Responding to the British MP’s allegations of a cover up, the Ministry said the comments were prejudicial since the countries criminal justice system was in progress.

“The British MP talks of “concerns of a cover-up” with regard to the murder, which is a prejudgment of a case that is still pending in Courts. The Government has condemned the murder of Khuram Shaikh and stated its commitment to punish the perpetrators and the process is underway. In such a context the statement by Mr. Danczuk is pure speculation. During a previous visit of the MP with the brother of Khuram Shaikh, he met the CID, which is leading the investigation as well as the Justice Ministry Secretary,”

The Ministry said the British delegation which includes Mr. Danczuk would not meet the President and instead would meet high ranking government officials.

“During the present visit, the delegation will meet Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and Ministers G.L. Peiris, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Basil Rajapaksa while Mr. Danczuk will have a separate meeting with Minister Rauf Hakeem. The delegation will also meet the Leader of the Opposition, members of the Sri Lanka-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group and Secretary Defence” the Ministry said. (HF)

Britain Trying to Utilise Commonwealth Summit to Make Amends for Mistake of Soulbury Constitution

The UK High Commissioner was asked to comment on accusations that ‘divide and rule’ policies of the British colonial administration precipitated the present ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.

“When the British came to Ceylon in 1796, there were three distinct kingdoms. The British made it one country for purposes of administrative convenience. In over half the number of countries in the world, the British colonial rulers adopted a ‘divide and rule’ policy. In that regard this policy was not unique to the island alone. If one were to truly examine Britain’s role one important aspect deserves special mention. That is the constitutional arrangements that Britain left behind. It left behind the Soulbury Constitution. Britain considered the Soulbury Constitution as having the necessary arrangements to provide for safeguards for minorities.

“Britain thought that the rights of the Tamils in particular would be safeguarded by these arrangements. However, history has proved otherwise, that these safeguards were inadequate and not robust enough. I regret that Britain’s policies have to such an extent been the cause for the problems,” High Commissioner, Dominic Chilcott, said.

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British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Dominic Chilcott, made the above confession nearly 22 months before the end of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Four years after the end of war, Britain has now got a rare opportunity to correct a mistake they have admittedly made by depending too heavily on the Soulbury Constitution to ensure the rights of the Tamil people. This much-awaited opportunity by the British has come in the form of CHOGM – the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.



No one can underrate Britain’s capacity to use it effectively to set right a wrong committed several decades ago. CHOGM is a singularly powerful tool in the hands of Britain to persuade Sri Lanka to safeguard the rights of the Tamils. Meanwhile, international human rights organizations have expressed some misgivings as to whether Britain will use it for its economic benefits.

With the introduction of the Donoughmore Constitution, an ethnic division between the Sinhalese and Tamils were firmly established with the result that it took a grip in the national psyche with far-reaching repercussions. Tamil Councillor, N. Selvadurai, in a speech at the State Council in 1935, noted the fact as quoted below.

“We considered ourselves to be a community side by side with the Sinhalese and we co-operated with them. The contribution we had to make was greatly appreciated by the other communities. But suddenly, after the Donoughmore Constitution had come to Ceylon, we, who were occupying a position of real importance and who by reason of numbers and by intelligence were able to contribute a very valuable share to the political progress of Ceylon, found ourselves in a very small minority.”

Britain realized its mistake only after a war erupted between the two sides – the LTTE and Government Forces. At the initial stage of the conflict, Britain allowed the LTTE to have its Headquarters in London, expecting to act as an intermediary in a peace process. However, subsequent events compelled Britain to proscribe the LTTE but extended its support and blessings for a Norwegian-sponsored peace initiative. Moreover, Britain was a Co-Chair of the committee supervising the peace process.

When talks broke down, Britain’s foreign affairs authorities wanted to broker a peace deal after the suspension of hostilities by the LTTE. But the British security establishment allowed the war to go on and helped Sri Lanka when needed.

As Sri Lanka failed to bring about a political solution after the war, Britain started supporting international human rights organizations to force the hand of Sri Lanka to solve the Tamil problem by adopting a political solution. Human Rights activists and the Tamil Diaspora therefore believed that Britain would in due course boycott CHOGM. To their dismay, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, made his intention to attend the meeting known in advance. Immediately after Cameron’s confirmation of his attendance at the Colombo meeting, there arose a chorus of subtle accusations that the move was a result of a trade deal favourable to Britain.

Yet, it appears Britain’s strategy in dealing with the Rajapaksa regime is more or less similar to that of India’s. India eschews any attempt at exerting pressure on the Rajapaksa regime for fear of pushing it too much towards China. Its strategy seems to be to use international pressure to do the needful. In like manner, Britain seems to consider using CHOGM to attain its goal of a reformed regime much more effective than any direct pressure. The Tamil Diaspora and human rights activists have not yet given up hope of Britain’s efficacy in persuading Sri Lanka to ensure Tamil rights.

When Mahinda Rajapaksa was invited to address the Oxford Union some time back, Britain did not interfere with the arrangements. It was only after his arrival in London that he was informed of the last minutes cancellation of his address, thus giving the Diaspora and rights activists a victory of sorts. Yet again, the same elements intervened to disrupt Rajapaksa’s scheduled address to the Commonwealth Economic Forum at a sideline event on the occasion of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Meeting is scheduled to be held in September and the Diaspora and Human Rights activists are most probably planning a repeat of the Oxford drama.

By  Upul Joseph Fernando 

Ambassador Amza Intervenes at Screening of “No fire Zone”, Pinpoints Serious Flaws and Questions Credibility of Film

Intervention by the Ambassador P.M. Amza, Head of Mission to the European Union, at the Screening of the “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka” at the Premises of the European Parliament on 14 May 2013)

1. The Government of Sri Lanka strongly protests the use of the premises of the European Parliament for screening of this film today. My presence here is to reject the contents of this film and to make a brief statement. I would like to stress that my presence is in no way meant to give credence to either the event or the documentary.



2. I am a native Tamil Speaker. I personally have seen to my own eyes how the conflict began, how the innocent people from South to North and from West to East in Sri Lanka suffered during the last 30 years. I also witnessed how the LTTE led Diaspora manipulated matters, in this part of the world taking advantage of some of the generous national policies. Hence, I can speak with confidence and authority on what is happening in my country, especially to those who make empty slogans while having not done anything for the Tamils in the country.


Ambassador P.M. Amza

Much of what is shown are part of a sinister effort to make Government of Sri Lanka look guilty. For that, the truth has been ignored or suppressed.


3. Sri Lanka Armed Forces have never targeted its own civilians deliberately as alleged. The fact that over 290,000 civilians fled the LTTE towards the Army during the last stage of fighting is a clear testimony to this. Even the critics of Sri Lanka acknowledge this fact and appreciate the efforts of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces to rescue the civilians from the clutches of the LTTE which used them as human shields. In his Hard Talk interview, on 10 April 2013, Sir John Holms, the Former United Nations Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs & Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that the basic problem to the casualties is that the LTTE was not releasing the civilians.

4. This disputed series of Channel -4 films contain materials which are discredited, uncorroborated and unsubstantiated. It comes out as a routine pattern, aiming at intergovernmental fora and events. However, the material is largely rehashed and recycled to suite to the story. The Channel-4 Documentaries often talked about the shelling of civilians targets. In the “Killing Fields” Documentary the Channel-4 had shown the LTTE carrying mortars and using artilleries. Sir John Holms during his Hard Talk interview also confirmed that the LTTE were firing shells. In the “Killing Fields” documentary, the civilians at no stage stated that the attacks were carried out specifically by the Sri Lankan Army, rather they always mentioned “they attacked”. When a question was posed in English, to an unidentified victim, regarding an alleged attack on a hospital asking “Do you think this was an accident?”, The answer come from the “victim” in Tamil was “Athavathu aspaththirikku aim panniththan adichchiruppinam” which literally mean, “they might have attacked aiming the hospital only”. The Channel-4 however translated it as “the hospital was targeted” giving implication to the viewers that it was done by the Sri Lanka Army. In this context, I recall my question to the Director/Producer of the film, which I raised in London in June 2011, during a live debate that was broadcasted by BBC Asia Network in London, as I am yet to hear his reply. On what basis did you interpret that the “witness” referred to the “Sri Lanka Army” when he said “they”? The Channel-4 did the same mistake once again. In its subsequent documentary, “Sri Lanka Killing Fields : War Crime Unpunished” the Channel-4 repeated this mistake. At the 28th minute of the programme the Channel-4 telecasted statement of an unidentified witness. He said in Tamil “ “Enkalidamirunthu 150 meeter irukkum 15 perukku melai kayakkarnkal ippadi bankarukkulliruntha ellorayum veliyil iluththu iluthu pottu suttukkondu waran”. The literal meaning of this “the distance may be about 150 meters far from us. More than 15 injured civilians were inside the bunker when they pulled them one by one and were firing”. The Channel-4 had taken the liberty to translate it as “As I got up from the bunker, about 150 meters away from where I was, I saw a group of Army soldiers pulling out over 15 civilians staying in a bunker and spraying bullets on them at close range. Here again one would notice the witness at no stage said that it was the Sri Lankan Army that was pulling out the civilians from the bunkers and killing them. Those who understand Tamil would know these are serious mistakes on the part of the Channel-4. A misinterpretations and manipulations done to suit its agenda. As the civilians’ statements constitute important evidence in any conflict, tampering with them in my belief is a serious matter.

5. Take the credentials of the main actress in the Channel-4 Documentaries – Damilvani. Who is she? How reliable is what she claims? A person with three different aliases in different locations, namely, Damilvany Kumar, Vany Kumar, Damilvany Gananakumar. She was indeed from the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) of the LTTE and brought to Sri Lanka by Castro, former Head of the LTTE Foreign Division. What she uttered about direct infusion of blood, amputation of legs without anaesthesia, are all exaggerated stories that a genuine bio-medical student would think twice. The doctor, who appears in the Channel-4’s latest releases along with Damilvany, lately stated that they made comments under pressure from LTTE regarding the humanitarian situation in the un-cleared areas during the last stages of the humanitarian operation and also contended the baseless allegations of Vany Kumar on alleged amputations without anaesthesia and re-administering blood wasted from dead and wounded etc.

6. It is a known fact that the demonstration by civilians outside the UN Office shown in the film was orchestrated by the LTTE. Further, there were several humanitarian agencies including ICRC and the local staff of UN that remained till the last stretch of the conflict. One could not rule out the possibility that the LTTE would harm the international workers and put the blame on the GoSL, had they stayed.

7. Many of the allegations in the films are based on similar assertions. The most hyped up event in the latest episode is the killing of a 12 year old boy identified as the son of the LTTE leader. The video shows several pictures depicting a man clad in a uniform similar to the SL Army, a clean and neat bunker, a man in slippers, and an “expert opinion” based on the pictures given to him stating that he has examined the pictures and that it was a close range shoot. These un connected material allows the producer to make a sweeping conclusion that the boy was captured by the Army, who fed him with a snack, then killed him at point blank. Why has he disregard the following possibilities?,

• That he was killed by his own bodyguards. Remember we are talking about no ordinary group of terrorists, but those who wore cyanide capsules to kill themselves if captured by the Army, those who even used disabled women as suicide bombers. There were even suicide attacks when the stream of tens of thousands of people were moving into government areas at the end of the final battle. As history has proved many times, what excludes the perception that the battle hardened carders cannot shoot the son of the leader rather than letting him to be captured by the enemy?.

• The “expert” has only examined the pictures given to him and not the real body, so, how can one confirm without an iota of doubt that the bullets came from a gun used by the Military and not the LTTE?

• Had the Army wanted to deliberately kill a 12 year old boy, why did the Government rehabilitate 594 child soldiers who surrendered and the UN Security Council came to the decision that Sri Lanka should be removed from the Annex II to the Resolution 1612, as it has cooperated with the UN on the aspects of implementing the 1612 Resolution on Children and Armed Conflict.


8. Casting doubt does not mean the truth is being told. Showing a visual of a group of girls suspected to be Tamil Tigers loaded to trailers, taken away, the narrator says “we only have these 20 second footage. No idea what happen to them”? If one is to claim that casting doubt is professional journalism, we only challenge them to tell the world how and why, over 12,000 Ex-LTTE cadres, including core LTTE leaders and their families have been saved, cared for and rehabilitated by the Government?

9. It is a similar sweeping conclusion that the military presence in North is correlated to the number of rapes reported. Had there been any perpetrators, as done in the past, they should be brought to justice. That is why, irrespective of our categorical rejection of the Channel 4 footage and its authenticity, the Government, and the Military, going by the recommendations of the LLRC has launched a Court of Inquiry. This is the first thing that any professional military in the world would do. I would like to reiterate our request to the Channel-4 to provide the original materials used by them to help the investigation process, which to date has not been acceded to.

10. As a democratic country, Sri Lanka has done much to recover from the deadly effects of the 30 long years of the terrorist conflict that has devastated every aspect of life in the country. It is a painful and delicate reconciliation process. We are mindful of the challenges ahead and once more I wish to reiterate that repetitive bashing of Sri Lanka with vested agenda would not be of any help in bringing justice or reconciliation but it will only keep the wounds open for ever.

11. My next point is even more worrisome. Why reputed NGOs are letting their name and prestige to be used for promoting this kind of cynical activities. When the money of LTTE comes through its front organizations under the guise of charity, even some of the reputed NGOs present here have become gullible to LTTE propaganda. It appears they have forgotten, the crimes of the LTTE, when accepting the donations in dollars. I am saying this with authority and proof at hand.

12. Though the LTTE, a banned Terrorist Organization in 32 countries including the EU has been defeated in Sri Lanka completely and comprehensively, the remaining LTTE rumps are still active outside of Sri Lanka, particularly in Europe. Being a Tamil speaker myself, I can provide enough and more evidence to prove that the Channel-4 has a sinister motive to discredit Sri Lanka with the connivance of the Pro-LTTE Diaspora Organizations; The screening of the selected version of the documentary during the 3rd Anniversary of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is a clear indication to this. It is in one hand ironical to see how the one time ardent supporters of LTTE and its killing spree, through funding and other propaganda, are now reborn as independent human rights activists.

13. Further, the objective of the producer is very clear now with his kick-starter project coming into light pleading pounds to make a globe-rotting venture with the film. Can he with conscious tell this audience that he is satisfied that the money he collects now, are not from the same people who once supported killing of innocent Tamil people in my country. If he cannot, we have to assume that he does not care as long as it fulfils the 20,000 pound target to help him roam around the globe with his product.

14. In conclusion I must say that No fire Zone is doing an injustice to the ordinary Sri Lankan people who are yearning for nothing but peace, dignity and normalcy in life. If the supporters of this venture believe that by cooking up stories like the “No Fire Zone” can bring them peace and dignity, it is nothing but a grave mistake. Please do not seek globe-rotting their plight; my Sri Lankan Tamil brothers and sisters living in the country do not deserve such treatment.

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TEXT OF MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED By THE EMBASSY OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
TO BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG AND THE EUROPEAN UNION)

During his intervention at the end of a panel discussion that followed the screening of the film “No Fire Zone: The Killing Fields of Sri Lanka”, held at the premises of the European Parliament on Tuesday, the 14th May 2013, which was jointly organized by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and International Crisis Group, the Head of Mission of Sri Lanka to the EU, Ambassador P.M. Amza stated that the Channel-4 has made serious mistakes by misinterpreting what the witnesses have said in Tamil, to suit the Channel-4 agenda.

The Ambassador pointed that in the “Killing Fields” documentary, the civilians who spoke in Tamil at no stage stated that the attacks were carried out specifically by the Sri Lankan Army, rather they always mentioned that “they attacked”, leaving it ambiguous.

Ambassador Amza further elaborated that when a question was posed in English to an unidentified victim regarding an alleged attack on a hospital by asking “do you think this was an accident?”, the answer from the victim in Tamil was, “Athavathu aspaththirikku aim panniththan adichchiruppinam” which literally means “they may have aimed and attacked the hospital”. The Ambassador contended the Channel-4 of translating it as “the hospital was targeted”, giving implication to the viewers that it was done by the Sri Lanka Army. In this context, the Ambassador questioned the Director/Producer, Callum Macrae who was present as one of the Panellists, on what basis he gave an interpretation to what the witness referred to as “they”, to indicate that it was the Sri Lanka Army.

Pointing out to a similar mistake in the subsequent Channel-4 Documentary, “Sri Lanka Killing Fields: War Crime Unpunished”, during which an unidentified witness makes a statement in Tamil saying “Enkalidamirunthu 150 meeter irukkum 15 perukku melai kayakkarnkal ippadi bankarukkulliruntha ellorayum veliyil iluththu iluthu pottu suttukkondu waran” which provides literal translation as “the distance may be about 150 meters from us. More than 15 injured civilians were inside the bunker when they pulled them out one by one and fired”. The Channel-4 took the liberty of translating it to mean “as I got up from the bunker, about 150 meters away from where I saw a group of Army soldiers pulling out over 15 civilians staying in a bunker and spraying bullets on them at close range”. The Ambassador emphasized that at no stage, the witness stated that it was Sri Lankan Army that was pulling the civilians out from the bunkers and killing them. The Ambassador also pointed out that anyone with a sound knowledge of the Tamil language would identify them as serious mistakes and misinterpretations and manipulations done to suit the Channel-4 agenda. As the civilians’ statements constitute important evidence in any conflict, tampering them to give a completely false view, is a matter of serious concern, he said.

The Ambassador also refuted allegations on the killing of a 12 year old boy identified as the son of the LTTE leader. The Ambassador, while casting doubts on Channel-4 making sweeping conclusions based on few pictures depicting a man clad in a uniform similar to Sri Lanka Army personnel, a clean and neat bunker, a man in slippers, and an ‘expert opinion’ based on the pictures given to him that the boy was captured by the Army who then fed him a snack then killed him at point blank range, questioned as to why the ‘expert opinion’ disregarded the possibility of him being killed by his own bodyguards, to avoid being captured by the Sri Lankan Armed forces.

The Ambassador reminded that the LTTE was not an ordinary group of terrorists, but was one in which all its cadres mandatorily carried cyanide capsules to kill themselves if captured by the Army. It was also a ruthless terrorist group which never hesitated to use even disabled and pregnant women as suicide bombers in order to achieve its objectives.

Referring to a similar allegation where just by showing a 20 second footage of a group of females suspected as LTTE cadres, been taken away in a tractor, and giving an interpretation that their destiny was not know thereafter, he used the opportunity to remind the gathering about the comprehensive efforts taken by the Government in rehabilitating over 12,000 former LTTE cadres including 594 child soldiers after the end of the conflict, who have now been successfully integrated into the society and are leading peaceful and dignified lives.

Ambassador Amza stated that irrespective of Sri Lanka’s categorical rejection of the Channel-4 footage and its authenticity, Sri Lanka nevertheless, is in the process of investigating the allegations. In this context, he reiterated Sri Lanka’s request to Channel-4 to provide original materials available with them to help the investigation process rather than pleading for Pounds through projects such as the ‘Kick-starter’, in order to go on a globe-trotting venture with the film.

The Ambassador added that, as a native Tamil speaker, he could provide ample evidence to prove that Channe-4 indeed had a sinister motive to discredit Sri Lanka with the connivance of the pro-LTTE diaspora organizations, and further alluded that it was ironical to see how one time arden supporters of the LTTE and its killing spree through funding and other propaganda activities are now projecting themselves as independent human rights activists, having been oblivious to the countless human rights violations carried out by the LTTE.

Sri Lanka Embassy
Brussels

14 May 2013

Courtesy :- http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/21304

Challenged by the Indian fishermen: The sorry plight of the ill - equipped Sri Lankans going to sea

The Indian Ocean like other seas is bountiful and its resources benefit many. But for the Sri Lankan and Indian fishermen, fishing in the deep blue waters of the Palk Strait, from time to time, it also amounts to fishing in troubled waters.

While both countries handle the issue of fishermen and their livelihood” through diplomatic channels, for the fisher folk, it is far more direct and person to person.

“We have cleaned and are carefully keeping 17 new fishing nets belonging to Indian fishermen. We will hand them over to them when they request. We don’t want to take revenge or get into any ugly confrontation with any one of them. They too are fishermen, like us. The issue should be solved amicably, through the understanding fishermen have with fishermen, not through complicated channels. We are a community that respects humanity” says Kanthasamy Rajachandran, President of Ambaal Fishermen’s Co-operative Society in Kaarainagar in Jaffna.

17 new fishing nets belonging to Indian fishermen, which got entangled to Sri Lankan fishermen's boats are cleaned and carefully kept under lock and key in a store in Kaarainagar

Read More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.ro/p/challenged-by-indian-fishermen-sorry.html

Subramanian Swamy reveals about true post war conditions in Sri Lanka - English Subtitles

Subramanian Swamy talks after visiting Sri Lanka - Subramanian Swamy talks after visiting Sri Lanka, after returning from Sri Lanka. In an exclusive interview Subramanian Swamy warns Eelam supporters, that they will be arrested. He also accuses Karunanidhi, Sonia Gandhi and LTTE Movement.

Subramanian Swamy reveals  about true post war conditions in Sri  Lanka Part 1

Subramanian Swamy reveals  about true post war conditions in Sri  Lanka Part 2

Courtesy - RED PIX

Boston marathon bombing evokes memories of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle

Explosions at the iconic Boston Marathon Event in the US have sent shock waves causing the Western media to focus intensively on the global phenomenon described as terrorism. In Sri Lanka there was a feeling of Déjà vu as the Island nation had also experienced bomb blasts at a Marathon event five years ago.

It was on April 6, 2008 that a suicide bomber of the LTTE targeted a marathon race event at Weliweriya in the Gampaha district killing 15 people and injuring more than 90 others. The Boston blasts resulted in three deaths and 132 injured. It was this overt similarity of a marathon race event being targeted in the US that evoked sentiments of a common experience in Sri Lanka.

There are however some differences between both explosions. In Sri Lanka it was a lone suicide bomber who exploded himself whereas in the US two brothers were involved in placing and triggering off the bombs. In the US the explosions occurred at the conclusion of the race while in Sri Lanka it happened just before the marathon started. Also while the number of deaths in Sri Lanka was more the number injured was less than that of the US.

Crucially the important difference between the two tragic events was in the nature and objectives of the perpetrators. In Sri Lanka the attack was identified as the handiwork of the then powerful LTTE whereas in the US there is little evidence so far to indicate whether those responsible are part of an organisational or not.
In Boston there were no specific human targets singled out deliberately. The event by itself was the target with the victims being people in general. The terror unleashed was random in nature. In Weliweriya the Marathon race was not the direct target but only an avenue to eliminate a particular individual. The aim of the Tigers was to assassinate the then minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and the marathon provided an opportunity. All the other victims were from a Tiger perspective “collateral damage”.
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was a minister in President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government and held the portfolios of Trade, Commerce, Consumer Affairs & Marketing Development and Highways. The senior Gampaha district MP was also the Chief Government Whip.

Read More : http://warcrimesrilanka.blogspot.com/p/explosions-at-iconic-boston-marathon.html

Fully furnished houses for the homeless

Soon after the war on terrorism ended the army commenced its humanitarian operation of rescuing two hundred and ninety three thousand (293,000) people and gave them food, shelter and protection for several months. Finally, a majority of them were able to settle down in their hometowns.

During the rescue operation around 12,000 ex-LTTE cadres either surrendered or were arrested by the security forces. All of them are now rehabilitated, and we do not use the term LTTE cadres any more because they are fully rehabilitated.

These remarks were made by Major General Udaya Perera, the Security Forces Commander, Kilinochchi in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer.

Soon after the war on terrorism ended around three hundred thousand people who came to the army controlled area needed to be cared for and treated kindly. Due to the trauma they underwent at the hands of the LTTE a majority of them were depressed and needed some form of rehabilitation and counselling. The army and the security forces performed an admirable task in handling this humanitarian problem, he said.

Major General Perera said, the army and the security forces were able to win over the displaced people because they disliked the LTTE and the TNA. This is due to the TNA taking a confrontational stand which could be an obstacle for peace and reconciliation. The people of the North want peace and a peaceful life. Therefore, they fully cooperated with the forces.

He said when the army wished to recruit female soldiers from the Kilinochchi district the young girls in the area, disregarding and rejecting the false propaganda and obstacles put forward by the TNA enthusiastically applied for jobs. We received over five hundred applications from them. The Major General said they are proud because they were able to select around one hundred female soldiers from Kilinochchi which was badly devastated by the war.

These girls are recruited to the volunteer force. If they are willing they can work for the next fifteen years for the army. They are being paid Rs. 32,000 per month and in addition they will be given 18,000 rupees worth food, shelter and uniforms including medical facilities, he said.

He said, since the majority of the female recruits are from poverty stricken families they do not even have a house to live in. Therefore, the army built 20 houses at a cost of Rs. 500,000. The whole construction work was handled by Army personnel. Now these houses are valued at Rs. one million. The houses will be handed over to 20 female army recruits within the next few weeks.

The female soldiers come under Major Shyamin Perera. She said the female soldiers will be initially engaged in civilian work such as the eradication of Dengue and the spread of infectious diseases. They will also be involved in foster care, clerical duties and handling of computers.

Major General Perera said, the army has introduced a scholarship for the children from poor families. The scholarship scheme begins from Grade five to the University entrance class. The yearly scholarship ranges from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000. They are paid from funds collected from army personnel on a voluntary basis.

Courtesy : http://www.news.lk/news/sri-lanka/4936-fully-furnished-houses-for-the-homeless

Mine clearing in North almost completed

Ninety-five percent of the Confirmed Hazardous area has been cleared of mines, according to the National Mine Action Center which was established in the Economic Development Ministry after the war. The remaining confirmed hazard area (CHA) is only 96 square kilometers as at the end of March 2013. Most of this area is covered with shrubs and jungle.

The massive pace of demining has helped the Government to resettle all IDPs.

The Mine Action Centre's programme still continues with the support of UNDP, UNICEF, donor community, the Sri Lanka Army's Engineering Brigade and national and international de-mining organizations to clear the hazardous area of land mines, anti-personnel mines, booby traps and unexploded ordinance (UXOs) the LTTE had laid during the course of the war

Since the gravity of the problem has gradually been reduced, some of the demining organizations such as Sarvatra, Horizan and MMIPE have already moved out since their jobs have been completed. The remaining organizations are still continuing the tasks assigned to them. After they complete their operations the Army Engineering Brigade, which has the biggest resources pool comprising manual, mechanical mine detection techniques and mine Detecting Dogs (MDD), will take over the responsibility in case the need for more mine clearing arises.

In June 2009, a month after the defeat of LTTE terrorism the Government with the support of donor communities such as, Australia, Japan, China, India, EU, USA, etc, UNDP, UNICEF, national and international mine action operators implemented a comprehensive and rapid de-mining programme to clear the affected areas estimated to be 2064 square kilometers.

Courtesy: http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Mine_learing_in_North_almost_completed_20130429_07

Ambulances, equipment to Northern hospitals

by A.S.M. Irshad-Colombo Cor.

A ceremony to distribute ambulances and medical equipment was held at the Northern Province Governor’s Secretariat recently. Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda and Governor of the Northern Province G.A. Chandrasiri participated as chief guests and distributed the ambulances and medical equipment.

The Line Ministry of Health had donated six ambulances to the Northern Province. They were distributed to Point Pedro, Tellipalai, Chavakachcheri and Cheddikulam Base Hospitals, Vavuniya General Hospital and Mannar Divisional Hospital.

The United Nations Population Fund had donated medical equipment worth Rs. 32 million to hospitals in the province. CTG machines, informers and ultra-sound scanners are some of the equipment donated by the Fund.

Courtesy : http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2013/04/28/new24.asp

No proof of Bala’s murder: Indian MP

Cuddalore MP K S Azhagiri raised doubts over Prabhakaran’s son Balachandran’s death and claimed that there was no video evidence on the killing by the Sri Lankan armed forces.

The Congress MP made the statement while addressing a public meeting arranged by the youth Congress at Cuddalore Old Town on Sunday night.

“Some parties were playing politics by taking up the issue of 12-year-old Balachandran’s death. However, there was no video evidence available on how Balachandran was killed. It was a practice among the terrorists that in order to avoid being caught by the enemy they either consume cyanide or shoot each other. It was an unlawful act to kill a child,” he said.

On the ongoing Sri Lankan issue, he said that the Sri Lankan Tamils and the LTTE objectives were completely different.

He said, “Independent Tamil Eelam is the demand of the LTTE alone, but that not of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Elected Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka are not asking for an independent Eelam.

Only the LTTE and its supporters in Tamil Nadu are repeatedly raising this demand.”

Explaining the Congress’ move to pass a resolution in Parliament on the Sri Lankan issue, he said, “When an all-party meeting was held in New Delhi to discuss the draft resolution, no other national or regional parties except the AIADMK, the DMK and the Congress supported the resolution.”

“The CPI in Tamil Nadu had been demanding that an anti-Lanka resolution be passed in Parliament, but the party’s MP Gurudas Dasgupta categorically opposed the move during the all-party meeting. This shows the gravity of matter at the all-India level,” he added.

“Political parties in Tamil Nadu had failed to garner the support of those at the national level on the Lankan issue. Instead, they were blaming Congress party in this matter,” the Congress MP added. (Source: The New Indian Express)

Courtesy :- http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/27580-no-proof-of-balas-murder-indian-mp.html

Sinhala Muslims Clashes - Response of Buddhist Monks

I found some videos how Buddhist monks are responding to the current situation of Sri Lanka

Part 1