Is the International Community

aware of the Hypocrisy of

 

SRI LANKA?

 

 

 

Appeal to the

UN Human Rights Council

 

 

 

Appel à la prise de conscience du

Conseil des Droits de l'Homme - Nations Unies

 

 

 

Llamado para reacción urgente del

Consejo de Derechos Humanos-Naciones Unidas

   

 

Website : www.tchr.net

   

9th session / 9ème session / 9° período de sesiones

08/09/2008 -- 26/09/2008

  

LOGO

 

 

Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR

Centre Tamoul pour les Droits de l'Homme - CTDH

Centro Tamil para los Derechos Humanos

(Established in 1990)

 

 

 

 

Hypocrisy of Mahinda Rajapaksa

 

“There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

as some media mistakenly highlight”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Los Angeles world Affairs Council – 28 September 2007

 

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, our goal remains a negotiated and honourable end to this unfortunate conflict in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to restore democracy and the rule of law to all the people of our country. 54% of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population now lives in areas other than the north and the east of the country, among the Sinhalese and other communities. There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka - as some media mistakenly highlight. Sri Lanka’s security forces are fighting a terrorist group, not a particular community.”

 

“I see no military solution to the conflict. The current military operations are only intended to exert pressure on the LTTE to convince them that terrorism cannot bring them victory.”   (Excerpt)

http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_latest_28_09_2007.asp

 

* * * * *

“....We are equally committed to seeking a negotiated and sustainable solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit

at New Delhi on 13 October 2007

 

“It is necessary for me to repeat here that while my Government remains determined to fight terrorism, we are equally committed to seeking a negotiated and sustainable solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. If those who carry arms against the State are willing to enter a process of genuine negotiation towards a peaceful and democratic solution, the government and the people will reciprocate. In this, it would not be out of place to look forward to understanding and assistance from our regional neighbours and friends, especially those with whom we share the strongest bonds throughout history. We will see in such understanding and assistance the true signs of emerging greatness”.       (Excerpt)         http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_latest_13_10_2007.asp

 

* * * * *

“We are still ready to talk,..”

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s speech at Oxford Union – 14 May 2008

 

“As our forces seek to defeat and disarm the LTTE, we are firm in our resolve to have a negotiated solution to the crisis in Sri Lanka. I do not believe in a military solution. We have attempted talks with the LTTE on several occasions – thrice since my election as the President – but they have not reciprocated. They have always left the talks with lame excuses. We are still ready to talk, once we are certain of their genuine intent for a political solution… and their readiness to give up arms”. (Excerpt) http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_New.asp?Id=51

 

* * * * *

They must give up arms, and give up terrorism”

 

Sunday Observer, 13 July 2008 - Answering a question about a statement by the LTTE's Political Wing leader, Nadesan, that the Government was not willing to reopen negotiations, President Rajapaksa said the government was ready even today.

 

"I am ready today. Let them keep their weapons down, because whenever they are weak they are ready for talks."

 

Asked about possible deadline for talks with the LTTE, President Rajapaksa said there was no deadline as it was up to the LTTE. "From my side, we are ready. Only, they must give up arms, and give up terrorism. You know the problems you have in your own country with terrorists and terrorist organisations." (Excerpt)   

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080713_01

* * * * *

Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR

Centre Tamoul pour les droits de l'Homme - CTDH

Centro Tamil para los Derechos Humanos

(Established in 1990)

Website : www.tchr.net

    

Head Office

9, rue des Peupliers

95140 - Garges les Gonesse

FRANCE

Email : tchrgs@hotmail.com

tchrdip@hotmail.com

Fax : + 33 - 1 – 42 67 54 36

Branches

Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom

 

Table of Contents

 Appeal                                                                                                                                   03

 

The Right to self-determination

Comparison with Kosovo                                                                                                                 

Proposed solutions to settle the ethnic conflict                                                            

Failed Talks and abrogation of pacts                                                                           

 

What Mahinda Rajapaksa said about negotiated settlement

since he became President

“Instead of killing each other, we can talk, can’t we?                                                    08

“All efforts that have been taken by successive governments… ”                                             

“We remain fully committed to talking with the LTTE......”                                                          09

“Are we frightened?”                                                                                                    

“We cannot move an inch forward other than by defeating this cruel terrorism”            

“Political negotiations and constitutional reforms have been initiated to….”                  

“Sri Lanka is not a colony of England, America or any other...”                                                10

“There are a large number of issues that could be resolved through negotiation”                     11

“I want to assure you that our Armed forces and the Police are

among the most disciplined in the world”                                                                                 

“I emphasize that we must conclude these negotiations soon”                                                12

“There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as some media mistakenly highlight”    

“....We are equally committed to seeking a negotiated and sustainable…”                    13

“We are still ready to talk,..”                                                                                         

“..How they can delay the day our troops move into Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu”            

“.......In the East, we have defeated terrorism, restored Democracy,”

“This is my deep desire for the people in the North as well.”                                         

“No reversal in Northern liberation”                                                                                14

“They must give up arms, and give up terrorism”                                                                      

           “The government gave notice to abrogate the CFA” -- Sri Lankan Ambassador in USA           

 

Recorded figures – arrest, killings, disappearances, rapes, etc                                 15

 

During Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Presidency                                                 

            Declaration of Eelam War IV                                                                                         16

Demerger of North East                                                                                                           

Failure of peace talks                                                                                                  

Chief negotiator killed                                                                                                  

Withdrew from the Ceasefire Agreement – CFA                                                                        17

IIGEP Quit Sri Lanka                                                                                                   

Sri Lanka ranked as 3rd most dangerous place for media                                                       

Sri Lanka 'plunging into lawlessness'                                                                           

Highest number of disappearances in the World                                                                       18

UN did not re-elect Sri Lanka to Human Rights Council                                                

Sri Lankan citizens cannot seek remedy from the UN Human Rights Committee                      

Now, dividing the Sinhalese on religious lines – ‘Sunday Leader’                               

Sri Lanka is a failed State                                                                                           

Minister threatening Embassy and assaulting journalists                                                          

Divide and rule among displaced                                                                                  19

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community                                                                                     

Devolution package drafted by the APC                                                                                  

Sri Lanka rights activists face growing dangers                                                            

Human Rights Defenders harassed and killed                                                             

 

1

 

Three of NESOHR’s founder members killed                                                                 20

Who killed Joseph Pararajasingham?                                                                          

Paramilitary leader smuggled into UK                                                                          

Branded as “Terrorist Supporters”                                                                           21

The war president – Economist                                                                                  

Truth is the first casualty of war - Summary                                                            

 

Sinhala Tamil relationship in Sri Lanka

Sinhala Buddhists dominate Sri Lanka                                                                         23

“Really if I starve the Tamils………” - J. R. Jeyawardena         

``Minorities are like creepers ........'' – D. B. Wijetunga                                                 

“Minority community is not ...........” – Chandrika Kumaratunga           

Man who fathered the Eelam Concept – by S. Sivanayagam                                     24

The Sri Lankan Situation                                                                                             

The Question the Sinhala Nation asks at Dawn            - “What is the Relationship                   26

of Rama and Sita?”                                         

Do you think the LTTE is interested in peace at all?                                                     28

 

Internationally

Opinion poll in Tamil Nadu in India                                                                            29

Calls for independent Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka                                                           

Majority in Tamil Nadu supports LTTE                                                               30

 

            Indian Fishermen Harassed and arrested by Sri Lanka Navy

Eight Indian fishermen missing                                                                         31       

Restrain your fishermen, Rajapaksa tells Manmohan                                       

Sri Lanka frees 300 Indian trawlers                                                                 

Sri Lanka navy arrests 19 Indian fishermen                                                     

India, Sri Lanka arrest 46 fishermen                                                                

Katchathivu - Ex-Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu threatens to move Supreme Court        32

Pakistan to help in Colombo’s final battle against Tigers                                        

Germany washes hands off Lanka                                                                              33

PM hits back at West                                                                                                 

 

Displacement

Fighting intensifies in Sri Lanka                                                                                                34

Sri Lankan bishop: ‘Help war refugees’                                                                                    

Protect the people of Wanni - Roman Catholic Diocese of Jaffna                               35

IDPs flourish while locals languish in Puttlam                                                                36

 

Freedom of Expression

            Call for release of website editor                                                                                               39

A Story About a Tamil Called Tissainayagam                                                               

More than 150 days of detention without charges:                                                       40
Tissainayagam transferred to remand prison from TID                                                  41

 

Annexes

Archbishop of Colombo On the Vatican Radio news report published locally                42

Why is the International Community silent?-- Dr Vickramabahu Karunaratna             

Clampdown on International NGOs                                                                              43

Lanka pays Washington lobbyists to clean her image – ‘Sunday Leader’                                45

A genocide inquiry? -- Bruce Fein                                                                                49

Black July 1983 - an eyewitness account - N.Shanmugathasan,                                              50

Leader, Ceylon Communist Party (Maoist)                                   

 

TCHR summary, September 2007 – June 2008 (Names, Dates, Place of incidents etc)

            Arbitrary arrest / detention                                Sept.2007 – Dec.2007                                   

-do-                                                     Jan.2008 – June 2008                                   

Extra judicial killings / summary executions -     Sept.2007 – Dec.2007                                   

                        -do-                                                     Jan.2008 – June 2008                                   

            Enforced or involuntary disappearances          Sept.2007 – Dec.2007                                   

-do-                                                     Jan.2008 – June 2008                                   

            Rape / Torture and others                                Sept.2007 – Dec.2007                                   

 

2

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8 September 2008

The President

Members and Delegates

Human Rights Council - 9th Session

United Nations

1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

 

Distinguished Sirs / Mesdames

 

First of all, we extend our congratulations to you for your appointment as the Chairperson of the 9th session and the following sessions. We regularly report on the human rights violations taking place in the Island of Sri Lanka. Our reporting is based on indisputable facts, the authentic details of which we receive from our sources directly from the North East and other parts of the Island. The United Nations human rights monitoring bodies have appreciated the veracity of our reporting.

 

On a daily basis, over a hundred Tamils are being arrested and detained. The security forces and paramilitaries are given a free hand to abduct, arrest, rape and carry out arbitrary killings. Aerial bombing and artillery attacks on the civilian population are causing severe problems in the North.

 

The situation of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the North East remains critical. Press freedom and freedom of expression are in peril in Sri Lanka. Journalists are arrested, tortured, abducted, disappeared and killed over-night.

 

International human rights law and international humanitarian law are being massively violated by Sri Lanka.

 

Impunity is a very serious problem. Many notorious human rights violators in the Security forces especially in the Army, Police and the Paramilitary have received the best promotions and appointments as Ministers and to high profile jobs in the government. The government of Sri Lanka encourages and allows the perpetrators to move freely in society - and the violations continue.

 

In the Northeast the human rights situation has been deteriorating for many long years. Genocide, cultural genocide, multiple displacements are occurring and a systematic economic embargo to the North East is starving the people.

 

First hand witnesses to these Crimes against humanity - hospitals full of child and adult casualties, cemeteries full of murdered bodies, camps full of displaced people, people starving due to the economic embargo and buildings destroyed in all parts of North East. The security forces have created “High Security Zones” in the densely populated residential areas of the Northeast and are occupying civilian homes and public buildings.

 

Misinformation is disseminated locally and internationally by the Sri Lankan government, to distort the real picture of what is happening in Sri Lanka.

 

Sirs / Mesdames, members and delegates will be aware that in October 2006, Diplomats of the European Union took the initiative and Finland as the holder of the EU presidency tabled a draft decision 2006/.....‖ (A/HRC/2/L.37) on Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, as anticipated by many, this was unsuccessful in earlier sessions. We fervently hope it will be successful during the current session. We urgently appeal to you and other distinguished delegates to seriously consider all available mechanisms to ensure rigorous and timely international scrutiny.

 

In addition, we urge this session to take immediate steps and prompt action to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that is being deliberately inflicted by the government of Sri Lanka on civilians in the North East.

 

Sir, being the President of the 9th session of the Human Rights Council, you can see that the international community is failing to take action against a government which even claims, “There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka as some media mistakenly highlight” (Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Los Angeles world Affairs Council – 28 September 2007) and which perpetrates war crimes and crimes against humanity against a people who have been struggling for their Right to Self-determination for many decades.

 

We appeal to you to take immediate action during this session of the Human Rights Council.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

S. V. Kirubaharan

General Secretary                                                      3

 

 

The Right to Self-determination

Tamils of Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

 

Comparison with Kosovo

 

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR/CTDH – March 2008

 

4

 

ICCPR*              -           International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

ICESCR             -           International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

ICERD               -           International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

CEDAW*            -           Convention on the elimination of Discrimination against Women

CAT                  -           Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment....

CRC*                 -           Convention on the Rights of the Child

* optional protocols

5

Proposed solutions to settle the ethnic conflict

 

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR/CTDH – March 2008

 

Year               Type of political solution                          Result

 

1957                Banda-Chelva pact – Regional Councils                                   Unilaterally abrogated by GOSL

1965                Dudley-Chelva pact – District Councils                          Unilaterally abrogated GOSL

 

1970                Proposals placed by the Tamil Federal Party                Rejected by the GOSL

                        (A federal form of government with an autonomous

Tamil-Muslims state and three autonomous Sinhala states)

1979                Presidential Commission to report on                            This did not fulfil the Tamils’ aspirations.

                        (creation of District Development Councils)                   Not intended to provide a different

political or administrative structure for any particular part of the country

1983                All Party Conference                                                    TULF rejected these proposals as it was

                        (Proposals merely extended the scheme of                         not the originally formulated set of

                        decentralization at District level to the                                proposals, known as Annexure – C.

                        Provincial level with limited co-ordination)

 

1985                In Thimpu - The devolution proposal by Sri Lanka        Rejected by the Tamil representatives

(District councils without executive power)

Thimpu (principle) proposal placed by Tamils                      Rejected by the GOSL

(Homeland, Nationhood, Right to self-determination     Talks collapsed because while the talks

and equal rights           )                                                           take place Sri Lanka renewed its military

offensive in the North East

                                                                                                           

1986                “19 December” proposal           s by Indian envoys                   GOSL expressed reservations and

                        (Formation of a new Eastern Province by                            eventually rejected this proposal.

excising Sinhalese majority areas and the creation

of two Tamil Provincial Councils in the Northern and

the reconstituted Eastern Province)

 

1987                Indo-Lanka Accord (Provincial Councils)                                   After 18 years, the Sri Lanka

                        (North and Eastern Provinces were merged under                Supreme Court rejected this merger

                        this accord. 95% Tamils didn’t support this accord)             16 October 2006

                       

1989-90           Premadasa Talks                                                         The holding of fresh elections in North East

(LTTE formed a political party-PFLT                                    never took place. Prevented LTTE from

and prepared to contest in the elections)                                demonstrating its support from the people

in North East

 

1992-93           Parliamentary Select Committee Reports                      Eyewash to International Community                            (President D.B.Wijetunga said that there                             No progress was made

is no 'ethnic problem')

                                   

1995                Devolution Package                                                     Rejected by Buddhist Maha Sanga and

                        (Refused to recognise the existence of the                         other Sinhala political parties

Tamil homeland, rejected an asymmetric approach,

continued to treat all the provinces in the same way)

 

2003                 ISGA proposal by LTTE                                                    Rejected by the GOSL and other

                        (Interim Self-Governing Administration)                         extreme Sinhala political parties

 

2005                Post Tsunami Operational Management                                   Rejected by the Sri Lanka

Structure – PTOMS                                                      Supreme Court

                       

2007                All Party Conference*                                                   Not ALL political parties invited to

Sinhala political parities UNP, JVP, JHU                       participate in its discussions.

strongly against its proposals                                       Tamil National Alliance, especially

was kept away.

*Mr. N. Satyendra, a scholar and legal expert who participated in the earlier political negotiations with GOSL, described the legislation as a "comic opera." The provisions of the 13th Amendment are impossibly "burlesque and farcical," he stated. Further Parliamentarians and academics described this proposal as ‘political mockery’.

GOSL = Government of Sri Lanka                                                6

Failed Talks and abrogation of pacts

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR/CTDH – March 2008

 

Year               Talks between                                               Result            Reason/Consequence

 

1927                Sir Ponnambalam and Sinhala leader              Failed               Tamils’ point of view ignored

                        (Recommendations of Donoughmore Commission)

 

1957                S.J.V. Chelvanayagam and Bandaranayke      Pact signed      ‘Banda-Chelva’ pact

(In 1956 Sinhala Only act introduced by the PM                               unilaterally abrogated by Prime

Proposal for Regional Councils)                                                     Minister SWRD Bandaranayke

 

1965                Chelvanayagam and Dudley Senanayake        Pact signed      ‘Banda-Dudley’ pact

(Proposal for Establishment of District Councils)                              unilaterally abrogated by Prime

                                                                                                Minister Dudley Senanayake

 

1971                Tamil Leaders and Srimavo BandaranayakePM           Failed               Republican constitution was

(Amendments to Republican constitution)                                        passed in 1972 without the support of Tamil parties

 

1977-1982       TULF and President J.R. Jayawardena                        Failed               The July 1983 riots followed.

(In July 1977 general elections Tamil people                                                marking the beginning of Eelam

gave a mandate to the Tamil United Liberation                                 War - I

Front - TULF, to exercise the “Right to

Self-determination” in the North East)

 

1985                Tamil activists including the LTTE and GOSL   Failed               GOSL rejected the Thimpu

(Thimbu talks under Indian facilitation)                                            principle of Tamil homeland, Nationhood, Right to self-determination and Equal rights

 

1986                LTTE Leader and President J.R. Jayawardena            Failed               Jeyawardena refused to recognise

                        (Talks mediated by Indian Prime minister                                        the right to self-determination

in Bangalore, India)                                                                     and the homeland of the Tamils

 

1987                            India and Sri Lanka (Accord)                            Signed             Accord signed, without any

(under the guise of settling the Tamil ethnic                                                 consultation with Tamils, nor the conflict in Sri Lanka.)                                                               LTTE, the main party to conflict.          

                                                                                                            95% Tamils didn’t            support this accord.

Under this accord merger of North Eastern

province took place on 8 Sep.1988. But,

after exactly 18 years, The Supreme Court

delivered its political judgement

on 16 October 2006, stating that the merger

of these two provinces was invalid.

 

1989                LTTE and President Premadasa                      Failed               GOSL prevented International

(LTTE formed a political party and named it,                             Community knowing the support

“People’s Front of the Liberation Tigers -PFLT”.                                    for the LTTE among the Tamils.

It was registered with the Election officials

of Sri Lanka.)                                                                           Beginning of Eelam war-II.

 

1994                LTTE and President Kumaratunga GOSL        Failed               Promised lifting of Economic

(President Chandrika and the LTTE                                         embargo dragged on and on.

signed an agreement for                                                         

cessation of hostilities )                                                                        Beginning of Eelam war-III

 

2002-2004       LTTE and Ranil Wickremasinghe PM                Failed               The GOSL failed to implement the

                                                                                                agreed outcomes of peace talks

(Under the facilitation of Norway                                               and the CFA. Several rounds of

a Cease Fire Agreement - CFA was signed                              negotiations took place in

on 22 February 2002 between the                                          Thailand, Norway and Germany

LTTE and government of Sri Lanka.)                                       

7

 

Year               Talks between                                               Result            Reason /Consequence

                                               

2005                LTTE and President Kumaratunga                   Failed               By a political judgement from the

with the aim of ensuring equal                                                  Supreme Court, PTOMS was made

distribution of Tsunami aid to                                                    null and void – 15 July 2005

                        the worst affected North East

 

(Post Tsunami Operational Management                                 

Structure – PTOMS was signed between                                        

the GOSL and the LTTE – 24 June 2005)                                                   

                                                           

2006                LTTE and President Mahinda Rajapaksa         Failed               GOSL failed to implement

February &       (Talks in Geneva, Switzerland                                                  the agreed outcomes of                      

October                        on Paramilitary activities)                                                          Geneva talks in February

 

                                                                                                2006 April - Beginning of Eelam                                                                                                         War – IV

 

2008 January                                                                                                   Sri Lanka officially withdrew from the CFA on 3 January 2008

GOSL = Government of Sri Lanka

 

* * * * * * *

 

What Mahinda Rajapaksa said about negotiated settlement

since he became President - 19 November 2005

 

“Instead of killing each other, we can talk, can’t we? ”

Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka in an interview with SPIEGEL - February 21, 2006

 

Rajapaksa: “It was precisely the violence of the last months, which has given me many sleepless nights since I came to office in November last year, that motivated me to pick up negotiations again. We’re all human beings, Tamils and Sinhalese. Instead of killing each other, we can talk, can’t we? ”

 

Rajapaksa: “I would like to make one thing very clear. My government knows nothing about such "paramilitaries" or even "Karuna". The Norwegian peace monitors have themselves clarified that the Sri Lankan army has nothing to do with any armed groups operating in eastern Sri Lanka. Still, my government is committed to disarming such groups and we have already begun to do so”.

 

Rajapaksa: “I became a member of parliament at age 24 and have consistently worked among the poor, common people ever since. Don't forget, I'm also a human rights lawyer and respect all human beings, be they Tamils or Sinhalese. I want one country, I want lasting peace and I believe that talks are the only way out”.       (Excerpt) http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,402078,00.html

 

 

“All efforts that have been taken by successive governments… ”

 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the XIVth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Havana, Cuba - 16th September 2006

 

“Terrorism and liberation differ from each other, as much as the sky differs from the earth. Liberation, unlike terrorism, is a creative and a humane force. It is a humane vehicle of new visions for the progressive change of power structures on the one side and socio-economic structures on the other. Terrorism, by contrast, is a destructive force, - a de-humanizing force, - that cannot in any way be justified”.

 

“All efforts that have been taken by successive governments, including mine, to enter into dialogue with this group, have so far failed. Yet, even in the face of extreme provocation, we continue in our attempts to transform this dictatorial terrorist group that engages in violence, into a political force that would engage peacefully with the State and with other political parties and participate in a democratic political process”. (Excerpt)

http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_latest_16_09_2006.asp

8

 

“We remain fully committed to talking with the LTTE

either directly or through a facilitator”

 

President Rajapaksa at the 61^st Session of the UN General Assembly – 20 September 2006

 

“Our government firmly believes that terrorism cannot be eliminated through military means alone. We remain fully committed to talking with the LTTE either directly or through a facilitator. It is our hope that the LTTE will transform itself from a terrorist outfit to one that is committed to dialogue and democracy. Our government stands ready to respond to any display of goodwill and a move towards a non-violent approach”.

 

“We continue to take unilateral humanitarian measures which extend even to LTTE cadres. As a responsible government, we will continue to provide unhindered access to conflict affected areas to the ICRC, to UN Agencies and to other recognized humanitarian agencies”. (Excerpts)

http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/61/pdfs/sri_lanka-e.pdf

 

 

Are we frightened?

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s speech at "Deyata Kirula", Crowning the People - at Weerawila

19th November 2006

 

“………….On the other hand look at the security of this blessed land. Are we subdued by any one's threats? Are we frightened? Have we humiliated or made cowards of our heroic soldiers before the LTTE terrorists who are engaged in cruel acts to destroy the brotherhood of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims who lived in harmony for centuries? I said then that I will not allow the Muslims living in the East to be hostages to the LTTE. Haven't we honoured our promise? The so called ruthless terrorists of the world are now beleaguered in 5- 6 villages in the East. I will repeat today what said introducing Mahinda Chintanaya. I love this land of my birth more than anything else. I am not prepared to be intimidated by anyone who is powerful, any invader or terrorist to divide or betray this noble land. That much is sure”. (Excerpt)          http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_16.asp

 

 

 

“We cannot move an inch forward other than

by defeating this cruel terrorism”

Address to the Nation by Mahinda Rajapaksa on December 06, 2006

“I am not prepared to belittle the responsibility of State you have respectfully entrusted to me, or compromise its sovereignty, in the face of the LTTE’s inflexible terrorism. The entire world should reject the LTTE’s policy of treating the Ceasefire monitors as mere messengers”.

 

“We cannot move an inch forward other than by defeating this cruel terrorism that is intertwined with the common destiny of my country and the Sri Lankan nation. I am happy to be able to be committed to this task. I am happier still by the support extended to us for this purpose by the entire nation. The mental satisfaction from this alone would suffice to take our lives forward. This is the lesson I have been taught by my people and the history of my country”. (Excerpt)                     http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_13.asp

 

 

“Political negotiations and constitutional reforms have been initiated to address concerns of all communities”

 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the G - 11 Summit in Jordan on 19th May 2007

 

“Sri Lanka has suffered heavily from terrorism. We have been working together with the global community to deal with terrorism. We have also firmly confronted senseless terrorist violence. Not only we seek to defeat terrorism, but also to liberate the people who have become victims of terrorism. In this exercise, we are fully committed to safeguarding human rights and democracy. Political negotiations and constitutional reforms have been initiated to address concerns of all communities”. (Excerpt)            http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_.asp

 

9

 

 

“Sri Lanka is not a colony of England, America or any other...”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa in an interview with Al Jazeera’s

101 East presenter Teymoor Nabili – 1 June 2007

 

Is there any level of dialogue at all between your government and the LTTE right now?

 

Actually, at present there are no talks at any level. As a government we cannot have talks. We say that we are ready for talks always.

 

You don’t see any value in dialogue?

 

We are always ready for talks. Always, even today. Even while the fighting goes on, I am ready for talks. Even being armed, the way they are behaving today, we are ready to go forward.

 

So you are saying that you think the Sri Lankan people would prefer a defeat of the LTTE first?

 

First. Opinion polls seem to suggest that peace is much more important to the Sri Lankan people. For the people, LTTE, peace - the people want peace that is the truth, without defeating the LTTE, without defeating the terrorism of the LTTE. There is no politics in this. There is a political side and terrorism here. This is a terrorist group. The people are aware that as long as a terrorist organization exists, that negotiations will not be successful. They are making use of the negotiations to strengthen themselves, to bring in arms. This is a historical fact, historically because the people have been battered. Today we have to be very careful.

 

So let me be clear on this: what you’re saying is that there must first be military victory and then peace talks?

 

No. That is not what I hope for. Until the terrorists are weakened, they will not come for talks. As long as they think they are strong, they will try to break up the country. Today, what we hope is to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil people.

 

What do you mean by weakened? At what point will you accept that the Tamil Tigers are weakened because it’s now been almost a year of …

 

Even under today’s circumstances. Clearly said, what the people expect. But what I expect is not that. I said that even today I am ready to negotiate, very clearly. My argument is that terrorism has to be got rid off. We cannot kneel down to that. I am not prepared to kneel down to their arms capability. But I am committed to ensuring the rights of the Tamil people. That I will achieve, somehow.

 

I apologise, I am not really following you. You say that terrorism must be defeated but you don’t want, you don’t think that a military victory is necessary?

 

Absolutely, a victory is essential against terrorism. That is a different story. But because we need to meet the aspirations of the Tamil people, I am prepared to go for talks, with the terrorists. I have come to that point. Has any other world leader said that?

 

The message I am hearing from you right now is that your military strategy is going to continue until the Tigers come to the table and ask for negotiations and lay down their arms.

 

 

No. I am ready to talk even while they carry arms. Even while they fight, if they want to negotiate with me, and reach a solution, I am ready for that too.

 

Let me rephrase then. What you are saying is that the government’s military strategy will continue as is, until you get a signal from Pirabhakaran that he is willing to talk and he is willing to stop his military action first?

 

If they do not attack me, I will not attack. If they stay where they are, keeping their arms, I have no problem with that. But, they must agree to a political solution. To achieve the aspirations of the Tamil people, and to achieve the aspirations of the people of this country, I am prepared. Because I will not divide people as Tamils, Muslims or Sinhalese.

 

Richard Boucher visited Sri Lanka recently and he said there are two aspects that concern us, abductions and killings and the freedom of the press. Other human rights organizations have also levelled criticisms at the forces, armed forces.

10

 

Actually, today I am not prepared to accept that there are human rights violations as has been reported. When such accusations are made, I, the forces, the police …

 

Are you willing to accept that there are violations of human rights occurring?

 

Knowingly, a state will not violate human rights, abduct people. That must be stated very clearly. Our forces are a very disciplined force. Not seen in any other country. Not a single civilian was injured when we took Vakarai. We know that in certain instances when bombs are dropped in other countries, people are killed, children die. We do not behave like that. We did not do that. We protected every civilian.

 

The ambassador designate to the EU from Sri Lanka has been speaking about his concerns with the situation; that perhaps Europe, and maybe even a Democratic US President after the next election, may begin to support either a humanitarian intervention in Sri Lanka, or a perhaps a slightly stronger intervention in Sri Lanka. Perhaps even ultimately a Bosnia-style solution. Is that a fear that you have?

 

I believe in this country, for the problem of this country, another country cannot force a solution. To find a solution for this country, it is not Europe that can help. It is India that can find a solution. India is our neighbour. It is essential for the people of India. Therefore I believe, that it is the Indian government that can help us with this question.

 

But what would you like India to do today?

 

To offer a solution to this problem, according to the present situation, to help the Tamil people, India ’s support is necessary. India must work with this government. It has worked, and my belief is that there must be more support from the Indian government. Sri Lanka is not a colony of England, America or any other country. Sri Lanka is a sovereign state. So when they get involved it is important that they do not interfere in the internal affairs of this country.

(Excerpt)         http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2007/06/2008525184915163734.html

 

 

“There are a large number of issues

that could be resolved through negotiation”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s speech on Ranaviru (War Heroes) Commemoration Day – 7 June 2007

 

“There are a large number of issues that could be resolved through negotiation. We are ready for it at any time. We are genuinely ready. It is not possible for us to give an opportunity to strengthen terrorism. We are not ready to sign fake agreements. I declare without fear that we are not at all prepared to betray the victories achieved by us and our heroes of war”. (Excerpt)

http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_2007_06_07.asp

 

 

“I want to assure you that our Armed forces and the Police are among the most disciplined in the world”

President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 96th Session of the

International Labour Conference in Geneva – 15 June 2007

 

“Terrorism has no place in the contemporary world. As a government, we are not prepared, at any cost, to bow down to terrorism. Would any of your governments submit to terrorism had they been in our position? However, we are determined that in a democracy like ours where political views can be expressed freely, political objectives must be realised through negotiation and dialogue and through compromise. There can be no room for extremism, and even less for violence”.

 

“Today, there is a misunderstanding and false propaganda that we are involved in ethnic cleansing. This is absolutely false. I must remind this august assembly that it is the LTTE which resorted to heavy ethnic cleansing from the early nineteen eighties...”

 

“Those countries afflicted with the menace of terrorism know very well what they have to undergo. These terrorist outfits cannot be contained easily. Our Armed Forces and the Police have had to be extra smart in containing the LTTE. I want to assure you that our Armed forces and the Police are among the most disciplined in the world, and they have great respect for human rights. Any lapses on their part will be promptly investigated and corrective action taken. But I am sad to say that there has been so much of false propaganda against the Sri Lankan Armed forces and the Police that is being taken so seriously by the rest of the world”.

11

 

“We do not believe in a military solution. Therefore, I invited all democratic political parties in Parliament to form an All Party Conference, the APC. The purpose of the APC is to formulate political proposals, to ensure political reform and through that address the grievances of the minorities. An All Party Representative Committee is in the process of examining an array of proposals that have been submitted. I firmly believe that the outcome of this process will be satisfactory. We look to our friends around the world to assist in our hour of need”.

 

“My party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, also submitted a set of proposals which proposed devolution to the district level. Prior to the establishment of Provincial Councils in 1988, government effectively dealt with people's issues with a network of 25 district secretariats. In order to devolve power to the lowest level possible, the SLFP proposed the District level devolution, while creating a Grama Rajya, quite similar to the Panchyati Raj system in India. We strongly believe that people at the grass-root level will be truly empowered if we adopt the district level devolution”. (Excerpt)                   http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_1.asp

 

 

“I emphasize that we must conclude these negotiations soon”

 

President Rajapaksa at the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly – 25 September 2007

 

“We launched military operations only to exert pressure on terrorists in order to convince them that it will not be possible for them to obtain a military victory. Our goal remains a negotiated and honourable end to this unfortunate conflict. I must say that the All Party Representative Committee is working successfully towards it”.

 

“Guided by the principles of Buddhism, We have long respected the rights of our fellow human beings. Therefore, it had not been necessary for us to experience global wars or the deaths of millions to, learn to recognize their value. My country has no record of inflicting misery on fellow human beings for the purpose of empire building, for commercial advantage or for religious righteousness”.

 

“Terrorism anywhere is terrorism. There is nothing good in terrorism. Sri Lanka has taken an upfront position in the global community’s efforts to deal with terrorism. We have become party to 11 of 13 UN Conventions for the suppression of various acts of terrorism.  We think that the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which in our view remains a priority, is only limited to endless discussion. I emphasize that we must conclude these negotiations soon”. 

 

“At this point, we must focus our attention on the Palestinians who are striving for an independent state.  The World community must help them to manage their country without any undue influence”.

 

“In these sessions, I believe that our obligation as global leaders is to commit ourselves to programs that will eradicate terrorism, establish human welfare oriented development, establish democracy and ensure there is hope for lower income groups for economic development.  Accordingly, I appeal to the global community to make the 62nd session the beginning of a new chapter rather than just another session”.

http://www.president.gov.lk/news.asp?newsID=269

(Note: This is a translation from the original text delivered in Sinhala) (Excerpt)

 

“There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka

as some media mistakenly highlight”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Los Angeles world Affairs Council – 28 September 2007

 

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, our goal remains a negotiated and honourable end to this unfortunate conflict in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to restore democracy and the rule of law to all the people of our country. 54% of Sri Lanka’s Tamil population now lives in areas other than the north and the east of the country, among the Sinhalese and other communities. There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka - as some media mistakenly highlight. Sri Lanka’s security forces are fighting a terrorist group, not a particular community.”

 

“I see no military solution to the conflict. The current military operations are only intended to exert pressure on the LTTE to convince them that terrorism cannot bring them victory.”   (Excerpt)

http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_latest_28_09_2007.asp

 

 

12

 

“....We are equally committed to seeking a negotiated and sustainable solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa to the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit at New Delhi on 13 October 2007

 

“It is necessary for me to repeat here that while my Government remains determined to fight terrorism, we are equally committed to seeking a negotiated and sustainable solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. If those who carry arms against the State are willing to enter a process of genuine negotiation towards a peaceful and democratic solution, the government and the people will reciprocate. In this, it would not be out of place to look forward to understanding and assistance from our regional neighbours and friends, especially those with whom we share the strongest bonds throughout history. We will see in such understanding and assistance the true signs of emerging greatness”.       (Excerpt)         http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_latest_13_10_2007.asp

 

 

“We are still ready to talk,..”

Mahind Rajapaksa’s speech at Oxford Union – 14 May 2008

 

“As our forces seek to defeat and disarm the LTTE, we are firm in our resolve to have a negotiated solution to the crisis in Sri Lanka. I do not believe in a military solution. We have attempted talks with the LTTE on several occasions – thrice since my election as the President – but they have not reciprocated. They have always left the talks with lame excuses. We are still ready to talk, once we are certain of their genuine intent for a political solution… and their readiness to give up arms”. (Excerpt)                        http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_New.asp?Id=51

 

 

“how they can delay the day our troops move into

Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu”

 

Mahinda Rajapaksa at the National War Heroes Day celebrations

at Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte on June 07, 2008

 

“........ They are trying to get us entrapped. They are trying to provoke the people, fan communalism and benefit by it. That is their present necessity. The terrorists have plenty of time to plot how they can delay the day our troops move into Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. That is their great need. We have the need to give the Tami people in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu their democratic rights, as we did for the people in the East. But because the terrorists do not want that, they seek to create trouble in other areas and gain time to their advantage. It is to gain time that they seek to overthrow the government, use human rights and various other means to psychologically weaken us, and seek to defeat us by cutting off aid. All this is done to gain time for their purposes. But we do not have the time. We have to finish this battle against terrorism soon”. (Excerpt)  

http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_New.asp?Id=54

 

 

“.......In the East, we have defeated terrorism, restored Democracy,”

“This is my deep desire for the people in the North as well.”

 

Rajapaksa’s speech in the SAARC Conference in Colombo – 2 August 2008

 

“We, in South Asia share a rich and common heritage, a heritage of understanding and of tolerance, a heritage that respects learning and wisdom, and takes pride in sharing the bounties of nature. But for this great heritage that transcends differences and upholds the value of a shared purpose and existence, our diverse cultures, languages and religious traditions could have made us the most divided region in the world.   Instead, by and large we see a great harmony among our peoples”.

 

“In my own country, the impact of this common heritage is best seen today in what we have achieved in the East, where we have defeated terrorism, restored democracy, elected a Chief Minister from a minority community who was a former child soldier, and, most of all, where the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities live together, work together, and together seek the common goals of progress and prosperity. This indeed is a unique transformation within a short span of one year.  This is my deep desire for the people in the North as well”. (Excerpt)

http://www.president.gov.lk/speech_New.asp?Id=55

 

 

13

 

 

No reversal in Northern liberation - President

 

Daily News, 19 August 2008 - President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that after the lapse of a prolonged period of absolute tolerance and patience and failed negotiations with the LTTE, his Government eventually responded in the language best understood by the terrorists with the strong resolve of not turning back until the very last terrorist is captured.

 

President Rajapaksa made this assertion when he presided and addressed a mammoth and colourful rally at the Ruwanwella Esplanade yesterday, in support of the UPFA candidates contesting the forthcoming Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council elections on August 23.

 

“We liberated the Eastern Province and will liberate the North too very shortly. There is no turning back under any circumstances or influence now, until every inch of land is recaptured and each and every terrorist is killed or captured. Our Armed Forces are fighting the terrorists to protect our Motherland at the risk of their lives,” the President said. (Excerpt)           http://www.dailynews.lk/2008/08/19/news01.asp

 

 

They must give up arms, and give up terrorism”

 

Sunday Observer, 13 July 2008 - Answering a question about a statement by the LTTE's Political Wing leader, Nadesan, that the Government was not willing to reopen negotiations, President Rajapaksa said the government was ready even today.

 

"I am ready today. Let them keep their weapons down, because whenever they are weak they are ready for talks."

 

Asked about possible deadline for talks with the LTTE, President Rajapaksa said there was no deadline as it was up to the LTTE. "From my side, we are ready. Only, they must give up arms, and give up terrorism. You know the problems you have in your own country with terrorists and terrorist organisations." (Excerpt)   

http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080713_01

 

 

“The government gave notice to abrogate the CFA”

Address by Ambassador Bernard Goonetilleke

at Capitol Hill, Washington DC - 25 January 2008

 

The Ceasefire Agreement

 

Sri Lanka’s Ceasefire agreement or the CFA and its recent abrogation, has been very much in the news these days. My familiarity with the CFA runs back to the time of its presentation in draft form by Norway, to its signature in February 2002, to its implementation, or more to the point, its brazen violation by the LTTE, from day one. I recall my critical remark in early November 2005, that a glaring defect of the CFA was the inordinate haste of its conclusion, denying the opportunity, particularly to the Sri Lanka government, to deeply scrutinize it.

 

The eagerness to conclude the CFA with least delay, was due to the fact, that by Christmas 2001, the government had agreed to an informal ceasefire initiated by the LTTE, and Norway, in its wisdom, considered it desirable to have a formal agreement signed before the informal ceasefire began to unravel. In retrospect, at least some of the CFA’s shortcomings could have been addressed, if the parties had more time to consider the ramifications of individual articles of the agreement, including practicability of timelines indicated in the CFA.

 

On January 3, 2008, the government gave notice to abrogate the CFA, which became operational on January 17, 2008. Since then, many close observers of Sri Lanka’s conflict and the peace process, Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference viz. Norway, Japan, the US and the EU, other friends of Sri Lanka and the civil society, have expressed concern. The sentiments commonly expressed have been that withdrawal from the CFA would escalate fighting, leading to heavy civilian casualties and violation of human rights, that there is no military solution to the conflict, that a solution can be found only through negotiation, and that parties to the conflict should return to the CFA.       (Excerpt)

http://www.slembassyusa.org/statements/2008/the_ceasefire_25jan08.html

                                                                                             

 

 

14

 

 

 

 

During Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Presidency

 

Eelam War IV. Renewed hostilities began on 26 July 2006 when Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed several LTTE camps around Mavil in Trincomalee.

 

On 6 December 2006 the government of Sri Lanka re-instated the PTA, thus making it crystal clear that it had withdrawn from the CFA – tantamount to an official declaration of Eelam War IV by Sri Lanka.

 

On 29 July 1987, the “Indo-Lanka” pact was signed between Sri Lanka and India, under the guise of settling the Tamil ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. Under this accord, by a special decree of the Executive President of Sri Lanka, the merger of the North Eastern province took place on 8 September 1988.

 

But, after exactly 18 years of this merger, the JVP filed a case in the Supreme Court, demanding the de-merging of these two provinces. The Supreme Court delivered its biased political decision on this case on 16 October 2006, stating that the merger of these two provinces by the then President was invalid. Once again another agreement/accord, in this case one that even had international status, was abrogated with the biased legal support of the Supreme court.

Failure of peace talks

 

Due to pressure from the International community, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government agreed to have peace talks in Geneva which took place in February 2006. During the talks, the government of Sri Lanka agreed to abide by the CFA, including its clause 1.8, and disarm paramilitary groups operating in army-controlled areas.

 

However, when the 2^nd round of talks took place in Geneva in October 2006, the talks failed, as the government of Sri Lanka had not implemented what had been agreed in the first round of Geneva talks. The international community, especially Norway and Switzerland witnessed this at close hand.

 

Predictable Failure

The two-day talks held between the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Geneva in Switzerland on October 28-29, 2006, ended without any conclusive result and without an agreement on future engagement. The outcome – or lack thereof – reaffirmed the fact that the dialogue remains essentially tactical on both sides, and seeks principally to establish a facade to appease the international community. (Excerpt)

http://www.durdesh.net/news/Article347.html

 

Sri Lankan talks end in failure

BBC News, 29 October 2006 - Talks between Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels aimed at averting a return to war have ended without agreement. Norwegian mediator Erik Solheim said no deal had been reached on how to address the humanitarian crisis and no dates had been set for new negotiations.

 

The two-day talks in Geneva had been intended to shore up the 2002 ceasefire amid a major upsurge of fighting. They were the first time the two sides had met in eight months. (Excerpt)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6090866.stm

 

Chief negotiator killed

The Chief negotiator of the LTTE, S. P. Thamilselvan who took part in many of the talks was killed in an aerial bombing by the Sri Lanka Airforce on 2 November 2007. The Sri Lankan Military Commander openly stated his intention to eliminate the LTTE, by killing at least ten cadres each day. The Sri Lankan military, the President, Defence Secretary, Cabinet Ministers, political parties which are in alliance with the ruling party and many Buddhist monks are intent on eliminating the LTTE, which is a signatory to the CFA and party to the conflict.

 

The international community was alarmed by the horrendous human rights violations in Sri Lanka. During the very first session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2006, a resolution was tabled by Finland on behalf of the European Union, against Sri Lanka. This resolution is still on hold for a debate in the Human Rights Council.

 

Many Tamil journalists, academics, parliamentarians, religious leaders, human rights activists and others in the North East were killed during the period when the CFA and the Monitoring Mission were in force.

 

Since Mahinda Rajapaksa became the President, more than 5000 people have been killed and horrendous human rights violations have been reported in North East and other parts.

 

16

 

Sri Lanka withdrew from the Ceasefire Agreement - CFA

 

In January 2008, Sri Lanka arbitrarily withdrew from the Ceasefire Agreement - CFA that was signed between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE in February 2002. As a consequence of its withdrawal, the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission, which consists of members from Nordic countries to supervise the violations of the CFA, has also quit Sri Lanka. Now war continues without any international witnesses. The situation in Sri Lanka is going from bad to worse.

 

On 3 January 2008, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama officially conveyed in writing to the Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem in Colombo, that the Government of Sri Lanka would withdraw from the CFA.

 

“........... it was the Sri Lankan Government who unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire agreement in January this year?” Barry Gardiner, Minister & MP-UK said in the House of Commons on 17 January 2008. (Excerpt)

 

“.......... it was unfortunate that the Sri Lankan Government abrogated the peace agreement unilaterally, and I had a discussion with the high commissioner this morning in which I made that very point. Mr. Clifton-Brown, MP-UK said in the House of Commons on 17 January 2008. (Excerpt)

 

“The SLMM will close its operation at 1900 hrs today.” (Lars J Solvberg, Major General, Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Colombo, 16 January 2008 - excerpt)

 

In 2007, Sri Lanka was ranked as the country, with the third highest number of journalists killed during that year, after Iraq and Somalia. (Press Emblem Campaign monitoring system)

 

International Independent Group of Eminent Persons – IIGEP Quit Sri Lanka

 

On 6th March, the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons – IIGEP considered quitting Sri Lanka after issuing several exhaustive press releases. President Rajapaksa had invited the IIGEP to observe and ensure the transparency of investigations held by the Commission of Inquiries on the complaints of abductions, disappearances and other serious violations of human rights arising since 1st August 2005.  Also, the IIGEP was to ensure that those inquires are conducted in accordance with basic international norms and standards.

 

COLOMBO, April 22 (Reuters) - The IIGEP, which had its concluding press conference on Tuesday, quit citing government unwillingness to implement its recommendations to bring the probe up to international standards, lack of financial stability, government interference and slow process.

"We have exhausted our ability to make a useful contribution," said Professor Sir Nigel Rodley, a member of IIGEP. (Excerpt)

 

Sri Lanka ranked as 3rd most dangerous place for media

 

People’s Daily online, December 19, 2007 - Sri Lanka has been ranked as the third most dangerous place for the media in the world, with seven journalists being killed in 2007, a local newspaper reported Wednesday. http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6323674.html

 

 

Sri Lanka 'plunging into lawlessness'

 

Sri Lanka is 'plunging into lawlessness' as assassinations, abductions, threats to media and paramilitary activities continue, human rights watchdogs said.

 

Sri Lanka is among the most dangerous countries for media personnel in the world, according to an international media watchdog.

 

Paris based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says 86 journalists were killed worldwide in 2007 in 21 countries.

 

Sri Lanka, where at least three journalists were killed, is the fourth most dangerous country for journalists, according to RSF. (Excerpt)          http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2008/01/080102_rsf_press.shtml

 

 

 

 

17

 

Highest number of disappearances in the World

 

Sri Lanka may be a small island, but presently the UN Working group on disappearances has recorded that Sri Lanka ranks as the country with the highest number of disappearances in the world.

 

UN did not re-elect Sri Lanka to Human Rights Council

 

BBSNews 2008-05-22 -- New York (HRW) - UN member states enforced the standards they established for the new Human Rights Council by not re-electing Sri Lanka to the body today. Domestic and international human rights advocates who had opposed Sri Lanka's re-election to the council said the vote was a victory for human rights standards and for victims of abuse in Sri Lanka. (Excerpt)     http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20080522120036196

 

 

Sri Lankan citizens cannot seek remedy

from the UN Human Rights Committee

-- Supreme Court

 

Even though Sri Lanka is signatory to the ICCPR, on 15 September 2006, the Supreme Court effectively ruled that Sri Lankan citizens cannot seek remedy from the UN Human Rights Committee regarding human rights violations. It declared that the accession to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1997 does not bind Sri Lanka and has no legal effect within the island - Nallaratnam Singarasa vs The Attorney-General – Decision of the Supreme Court 15 September 2006 – SC Spl (LA) No 182/99.

 

Now, dividing the Sinhalese on religious lines

By Sonali Samarasinghe

 

The Sunday Leader, 24 August 2008 - The attacks on churches and the breach of the fundamental freedom of religion as mobs continue to harass and threaten Christian worship has greatly concerned the diplomatic community.

 

Last week US Ambassador Robert Blake was to take the matter up both with the Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe and Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat Rajiva Wijesinha.

 

Certainly the government was worried. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse had told a UNP dissident government minister such attacks would cause ripples in the international community. Basil Rajapakse the more moderate of the Rajapakses had given a patient hearing to the victims and promised action.

 

But with the diplomatic community kept abreast of the details of all the attacks the anti Christian sentiment was to cause far more than a few ripples as predicted by Gotabaya. (Excerpt)

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080824/spotlight-1.htm

 

 

Sri Lanka is a failed State

 

Year                            Place

 

2008                            20^th

2007                            25th

 

http://www.fundforpeace.org/web/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=99&Itemid=140

 

Minister threatening Embassy and assaulting journalists

 

The Minister of Labour Mervyn Silva walked into the Canadian High Commission with a pistol in his hand to demand a visa for his son (September 2007).

 

Mervyn Silva assaulted a news editor of the state owned Rupawahini cooperation for not broadcasting his speech (December 2007) - and still remains as a cabinet minister with impunity.

 

Even though there have been many calls by UN VIPs, international institutions/organisations and a Supreme court order (May 2006), IDPs remain in their camps, especially the Tamils denied any glimmer of hope of returning to their own residence or villages.

18

 

Under a trade deal with the European Union called GSP-plus, Sri Lanka’s garment exports (its second-largest source of foreign exchange) enjoy duty-free access to the EU. But GSP-plus hinges partly on human rights. Sri Lanka risks losing its privileges.

 

Divide and rule among displaced

 

“At the end of 2006, at least 520,000 people in Sri Lanka were victims of conflict-induced displacement in a country of 20 million, making up one of the largest displacement crises in Asia in absolute terms and particularly in terms of the proportion of the population displaced. Upwards of 300,000 people were displaced in the offensive from 2006 onwards, with Tamil and Muslim minorities in the districts of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Jaffna the most affected. Despite a major return programme initiated by the government in Batticaloa and Trincomalee in recent months, the number of conflict-induced internally displaced people (IDPs) in the country is estimated still to be around 460,000” (26 September 2007 – Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre – IDMC).

 

In August 2006, a case was filed by some Singhalese against the purchase of 30 acres of land by Muslims in Palavi, Puttalam. This case was rejected by the Court. When the Muslims who were displaced from Jaffna, were moving onto this land, a group of Singhalese, led by a Buddhist monk, immediately chased them away violently, preventing them from settling in Palavi. On the same day they installed a statue of Buddha in that village.

 

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

 

In a divide and rule tactic practised by the Rajapaksa’s government - tensions and animosity have been created between the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the other Muslim population, often resulting in sporadic violence and killings in Sri Lanka. This has been intensified in recent years.

Supreme Court 15 September 2006 – SC Spl (LA) No 182/99.

 

Since Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power, full swing Sinhalisation and ethnic cleansing have been rampant in the North East. Statues of Buddha are planted everywhere, the names of Tamil villages are renamed with Singhalese names and the Tamils and Muslims who lived for centuries in the North East are chased away over night, while the Singhalese are settled, according to an overt plan to change the demography of the North East.

Devolution package drafted by the APC

 

The latest “All Party Conference - APC”, - drafted a devolution package and handed it over to the President on 23 January 2008. This is yet another show game, replete with delay tactics, designed for the consumption of the international community. First, Mahinda Rajapaksa himself opposed the very provisions of the 13^th amendment to the constitution in 1987, which he says, he is now going to revive. Second, even though known as an All Party Conference, apart from Sri Lanka Muslim Congress no other opposition party has participated in the discussion or consultation. Third, the Tamil National Alliance – TNA which represents, in the parliament, 21 MPs out of 22 in the whole of North East, was neither invited to participate nor agrees with its present proposal. Fourth, this proposed package has to be passed by a two third majority in parliament, to amend the constitution. In fact, the present government does not have a two third majority in the parliament. Fifth, twenty-one years ago the Tamils rejected the 13^th amendment to the constitution as it fell far short of their political aspirations. Sixth, there cannot be any political solution to the North East, ignoring the LTTE, which is considered by the majority of the Tamils as their saviour. In conclusion, knowing these facts well, Sri Lanka is making yet another proposal to bide time and to fool the international community, while Sri Lanka attempts to win this war militarily.

 

 

Sri Lanka rights activists face growing dangers

 

Reuters and AlertNet, 18 April 2008 - Sri Lanka is now one of the most dangerous places in the world for human rights defenders - broadly defined to include journalists, aid workers, activists, NGO workers and religious leaders. (Excerpt)         http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/1564/2008/03/18-114039-1.htm

 

 

Human Rights Defenders harassed and killed

 

Mr Mano Ganeshan, leader of Western People’s Front – WPF, and a member of Parliament for Colombo district, speaks openly against the atrocities of the security forces and the paramilitary groups and has faced death threats. He has temporarily left the country for his safety to India in December 2007. Mr Mano Ganeshan is the president of Democratic Worker’s Congress and Convener of the Civil Monitoring Committee. Last December, he was awarded with "Freedom Defender's Award" by the U.S. Government.

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On 26 August 2008, Mano Ganesan was questioned by the Sri Lankan Terrorist Investigation Department (TID).

 

On 10 November 2006, lawyer, Jaffna district parliamentarian and a member of the Civil Monitoring Committee, Mr. Nadarajah Raviraj was assassinated by so called unknown gunmen in the capital Colombo. Raviraj had spoken openly and strongly against the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan security forces and the paramilitaries.

 

Mr. Thiyagarajah Maheswaran who escaped an assassination attempt on the final day of the election campaign in March 2004, was shot dead on new year’s day, 1^st January 2008. Maheswaran was killed by so called unknown gunmen when he went to pray in the morning with his family at Ponnambalam Vaneasvarar temple, near St. Anthony’s church at Kochchikkadai in Colombo.

 

On 20 April 2008, the Chairperson of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR), Rev. Father M X Karunaratnam was killed by the Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) of the Sri Lanka Army.

 

Three of NESOHR’s founder members killed

 

Three founder members of the North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) have been brutally killed by Sri Lankan government-sponsored killers. Former parliamentarian, Mr Chandra Nehru of Amparai (February 2005), Senior Batticaloa Parliamentarian Mr Joseph Pararajasingam (December 2005) and the Chairperson of NESOHR Rev. Father M X Karunaratnam (April 2008) were all founder members of NESOHR.

 

Who killed Joseph Pararajasingham?

 

During the last Presidential election in Sri Lanka, in 2005, an English news paper, the ‘Daily Mirror’ in Colombo, contacted veteran human rights defender and parliamentarian the late Joseph Pararajasingham, for his comments on Rajapaksa's move against the Tamils during the presidential election. Being the leader of the parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance – TNA, Pararajasingham said, ‘’……we can say the Prime Minister is beating war drums by agreeing with the JVP……’’

 

As soon as Joseph Pararajasingham’s comment was published in the Daily Mirror, then Prime Minister Rajapaksa telephoned Pararajasingham’s home in Colombo and argued with him demanding that he withdraw the published statement. As a man of principle, Pararajasingham refused Rajapaksa's demand and the disappointed Rajapaksa concluded his phone call saying that, ‘’……once the presidential election is over, you will see my true colours’’.

 

On 19 November 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa became the President of Sri Lanka. On 24 December 2005, Mr Pararajasingham was assassinated inside St Mary’s Cathedral by so called unknown gunman while he and his wife were participating in the midnight Christmas Eve mass in their home town Batticaloa. Even though there were hundreds of eye witnesses to this assassination and the killers names were personally given by TNA parliamentarians to President Rajapaksa, until today nothing has happened to bring the culprits to justice!

 

 

Paramilitary leader smuggled into UK

 

The Sri Lankan government smuggled a Paramilitary leader Karuna (Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan) to London, UK, on a forged Diplomatic passport, on 18 September 2007. The Sri Lankan government harbours and supports the activities of Paramilitary groups.

 

It is believed that Karuna managed to smuggle a huge amount of money (believed to be 53 crores Sri lankan rupees – one core equal to 10 million) into UK. This money was collected through kidnapping, abducting and killing of innocent people and co-ordinated very well by the government of Sri Lanka. Is this neither Terrorism for Sri Lanka nor for the international community?

 

The assassination of prominent persons like Parliamentarians Joseph Pararajasingham, Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru, V. Vigneswaran, Academic Vice-chancellor Ravindranathan and Journalists Sivaram and Nadesan are among the killings carried out by Karuna in Sri Lanka.

 

 20

 

 

 

 

 

Those who spoke about the realities in Sri Lanka -

Branded as “Terrorist Supporters”

 

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission – SLMM, Chief(s)

 

SLMM Chief Hagrup Haukland

-do-                   Ulf Henricson

-do-                   Larsj Solverg

 

World Bank Country Director Peter Harrold

 

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs Sir John Holmes,

 

UN Special Adviser Allan Rock

 

Australian Prof John Whitehall

 

Many International Human rights and Humanitarian organisations

 

Many Parliamentarians from the UK, Members of the European Parliament, US Congressmen, Academics, Journalists and others from various countries.

 

The war president

 

Sri Lanka’s army chief says the government has won

its 25-year war against the Tamil Tigers. This is not true

 

Economist, July 3rd 2008 - MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE, Sri Lanka’s president, shakes out his white outfit and spreads his bare toes with a satisfied air. “We have concentrated on the LTTE [the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam],” he says, “because unless we defeat them, we will have no peace and development.” In January he abrogated a ceasefire and stepped up a brutal two-year offensive against the no-less-brutal LTTE. This week his army commander, General Sarath Fonseka, claimed the operation had succeeded. The Tigers, said the general, had lost the capability of fighting as a conventional army. “We have defeated them.”

 

The Tigers have not surrendered and would presumably disagree. But the president’s brother, Gotabhaya Rajapakse, who is also defence secretary, says the government has a once-in-a-generation chance to crush them. General Fonseka claims the Tigers have lost 9,000 fighters since 2006. They were driven from one big Tamil town, Jaffna, in 1995. Now they no longer pose a threat to another, Trincomalee.

 

The press has been a bellwether. Basil Rajapakse, another of the president’s brothers, who is his chief adviser on domestic politics, says—unreassuringly— that the government does not want a law on censorship “but a voluntary self-control”. Accusations of harassment are frequent. This week a journalist from the Sri Lankan Press Institute, which had just launched defamation proceedings against a government-controlled newspaper, was attacked by club-wielding thugs, while travelling with a British diplomat, who was also clubbed. Late last year the International Press Institute put Sri Lanka on its watch-list of countries where the media’s situation is precarious, along with Russia.

 

More subtly, politics seem to have become less open and accountable. The reins of power have been drawn into the hands of the three Rajapakse brothers. In a region where democratic dynasties are common, the Rajapakse clan is unusual. It does not hail from the traditional English-speaking elite that produced Sri Lanka’s other presidents. Mahinda, from Hambantota, represents the rural south, the Buddhist provincial bourgeoisie, rather than the urban elite. To offset weak traditional loyalties, he has curried favour by lavish ministerial appointments. Sri Lanka has a huge, 108-strong cabinet. One minister resigned, saying his ministry should be abolished since it had nothing to do.

 

This has worrying consequences. Democratic Sri Lanka, which suffered more than most from the 2004 tsunami, has the sort of relations with international agencies you would associate with Sudan. In May it lost its seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (not a body demanding the highest standards: Russia, Cuba and Saudi Arabia are members). America’s State Department has cited credible reports of government involvement in extra-judicial killings, and complicity in the recruitment of child soldiers by its allies. Sri Lanka’s mission in Geneva responds to criticism by calling the former head of the UNHRC, Louise Arbour, unqualified to monitor human rights in the country. This dispute is self-defeating. Under a trade deal with the European Union called GSP-plus, Sri Lanka’s garment exports (its second-largest source of foreign exchange) enjoy duty-free access to the EU. But GSP-plus hinges partly on human rights. Sri Lanka risks losing its privileges.

21

 

The president was elected on a platform of getting tough with the Tigers. But that was thanks partly to the boycott imposed by the Tigers themselves. Hardline governments, they reckon, end up helping their cause by driving even moderate Tamils into their clutches. Mr Rajapakse has driven the Tigers from the east, held an election there and claims to be closing in on victory. Yet the costs have been enormous and if the Tigers refuse to negotiate, there seems to be no alternative strategy to one entailing more bloodshed. Asked about this, Mr Rajapakse says the Tigers will be forced to talk—and, in a gesture he uses when nettled, shoves his bare feet firmly back into his sandals. (Excerpt)                   http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11671129

 

 

Truth is the first casualty of war

Sri Lankan propagandists attempt to influence world opinion

Summary

                                               

Government of Sri Lanka                    Tamils

 

Propaganda / Campaign          Misinformation / exaggeration               Public information campaign with facts

                                                Professional advertising in

                                                Foreign media

                                               

 

Methods used                          TV, Radio, News papers                       Websites, emails & News papers

                                                High quality glossy printed documents.

                                                SL embassies use influence with

                                                Foreign media and journalists

 

Propagandists            /                      Sri Lankan Ministers, Diplomats,                       Victims of Human Rights violations &

Campaigners                            Tamil quisling groups                            kith and kin of victims

                                                Hired Western personnel

 

Propaganda / Campaign-         Sri Lanka Ministry of Foreign Affairs      Diaspora organisations

Organisation/institutions       Embassies      

                                                Ministry of Human Rights

                                                Ministry of Defence

Attorney General’s Department

                                                SCOPP – Peace Secretariat

                                                Hired Western organisations

                                               

Funding                                   State - Million dollar projects             Diaspora

                                                (See page 45)

 

Target group                          Governments, VVIPs, Media                -------------

                                                International NGOs,Religious institutions

                                   

Platforms                               UN General Assembly &                       -------------

                                                other UN institutions

                                                European Union & Parliament

                                                The Commonwealth, The SAARC,etc

 

Entertainment                                    Five start hotels                                                Reports full of facts with

                                                Invitation to Sri Lanka                          evidence

                                                Romantic entertainment

                                               

Counter propaganda              Behave like local Law enforcement      True facts and figures

                                                Agencies,

                                                Victimisation of Tamil diaspora

 

Outcome of propaganda         Tamil activists in the diaspora are         ------------

                                                intimidated in the Sri Lankan racist

Media and pro-government websites.

                                                Harassed and menaced.

 

Supporting Countries             Claimed by Sri Lanka as                       ------------

                                                France, UK, USA, China, Pakistan,     

                                                Iran, Cuba,                                          

22

Sinhala Tamil relationship

Sinhala Buddhists dominate Sri Lanka

 

The President                                                 is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

The Prime Minister                             is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

The Opposition Leader                       is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

 

The Commander of the Sri Lanka Army         is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

-do-                              Navy            is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

-do-                              Air Force     is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

The Inspector General of        Police          is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

The Attorney General                                                 is a Sinhalese and Buddhist

 

Armed forces are                                99% Sinhalese

Public service is                                95% Sinhalese

Diplomatic Service is                                     95% Sinhalese

Admission to Law College                  99% Sinhalese

Universities – Staff & students           85% Sinhalese

 

Political prisoners in Sri Lanka's prisons                             99% Tamils

Arrested, killed, disappeared, raped and displaced             99% Tamils

 

 

 

 

“Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy”

President J.R. Jeyawardena (Feb 1978 – Jan 1989)

 

 

“I am not worried about the opinion of the Tamil people. Now we cannot think of them, not about their lives or their opinion. The more you put pressure in the north, the happier the Sinhala people will be here. Really if I starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy.” – President J.R. Jeyawardena, Daily Telegraph, UK 11th July 1983

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/03/commentary-plucked-peace-flower/

 

 

 

``Minorities are like creepers ........''

President D. B. Wijetunga (May 1993 – Nov 1994)

 

 

D B Wijetunga President of the UNP that the ``minorities are like creepers clinging to the Sinhala tree.'' (Excerpt) http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981117/32150274.html

 

 

 

“Minority community is not the original people of the Country”

– President Kumaratunga (Nov 1994 – Nov 2005)

 

 

President Chandrika Kumaratunga told South African television recently that Tamils were not the "original" people of Sri Lanka. ``They are wanting a separate state, a minority community which is not the original people of the country,'' she said in the interview. (Excerpt)

http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981117/32150274.html

 

 

 

 

 

23

 

“Man who fathered the Eelam Concept”

S. Sivanayagam in Tamil Information, 15 March 1985

 

The man who fathered the Tamil Eelam concept and introduced the word EELAM into the Ceylonese political vocabulary — Professor C. Suntharalingam — died in his ninetieth year at Vavuniya on the 11th February 1985. But it is perhaps a tragic commentary on Tamilian life that the majority of the youths who are today engaged in a liberation struggle for the establishment of a Tamil Eelam have not even heard of him!

 

It was C. Suntharalingam who founded the Eela Thamil Ottrumai Munnani (Unity Front of Eelam Tamils) in 1959. It is again a tragic commentary of Tamilian life that 26 years after, when Tamils in Sri Lanka are facing both individually and totally annihilation and extinction at the hands of their own government while the rest of the world maintains the hypocritical pose that it is an internal problem. The victims themselves are unable to unite in one common defence of their lives!

 

In a printed leaflet, dated from Vavuniya, as far back as 16th December 1959, Mr. Suntharalingam called for a "Eela Thamil struggle for Independence" (interestingly, the leaflet carries the name of an Indian printer — The Trichinopoly United Printers, Tiruchi 2)

 

There were no "Tigers" then. No guns.. no militancy, and in fact many of "our, boys" of today were probably not born or were in their cradles. Even the "Thamil Eelam Resolution" of the TULF came 17 years later !

(Excerpt)           http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/suntharalingam.htm

(Ps. Mr S Sivanayagam was the Editor of ‘Saturday Review’ in Jaffna, ‘Tamil Nation’ in India and UK and ‘Hot Spring’ published in UK)

 

The Sri Lankan Situation

An analysis by Oor Kuruvi

 

A. Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity

Almost all the countries of the world have said that there should/could be no military solution to the national question in Sri Lanka, and that there should be only a political one, although the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country must be preserved. They also state that the solution should be acceptable to all communities. After nearly six decades of anti-Tamil propaganda, the 74% Sinhalese majority which has been brainwashed and enjoy the benefits of majority hegemony, are not going to accept any solution that is just and treats Tamils with equality and dignity. They are used to treating Tamils as second class citizens. There can be no solution acceptable to all communities.

 

What sovereignty and territorial integrity is being discussed? Before the colonial powers arrived in the island, then called Ceylon, there were three kingdoms in the island. This is mentioned in the Cleghorn (a British Colonial Secretary) minutes of 1799, and the map of the island drawn by Knox which shows the existence of a Tamil and two Sinhalese kingdoms. Sinhalese historian Paul Peiris has said that before the arrival of the Sinhalese in the island, Tamils had lived there, as evidenced by the existence of five Hindu temples for worship of Lord Shiva. This is supported by evidence of inscriptions on stones. It is also accepted that Buddha visited the island to settle a dispute between two Naga kings in the North. It is surprising that even India, who should know better, speaks of maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka! Were the sovereignty and territorial integrity of British India preserved? India has been divided into several linguistic states. Did not India fight for the birth of Bangladesh and broke up Pakistan into two?

 

Portuguese, a colonial power first captured the maritime Sinhalese Kingdom. It was 105 years later, that they captured the Tamil Kingdom which had its own Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity. We have the names of all the Kings of the Tamil Kingdom starting from Kanagasooriyan in 1461, continuously to Sangili Kmaran who was dethroned by the Portuguese in 1619.The Dutch took over from the Portuguese and the British from the Dutch.

 

The hill country Sinhalese Kingdom was captured by the British only in 1815. The kingdoms were administered separately by all the colonial powers till 1833, when the British joined them for administrative convenience.

 

N. What Negotiations and with Whom?

Despite statements regarding the need for peace talks made by many governments and international organizations, as well as prominent persons from all over the World,  the Sinhala majority government is hell-bent on fighting and eliminating the liberation fighters who they call terrorists. The President has used paramilitary forces (TMVP) who broke away  from the original liberation fighters (and still  carry arms), to drive the former away from the East. 

 

Subsequently, the government formed an alliance with the TMVP and held elections in the demerged Eastern Province. The President made the second in command of the TMVP the Chief Minister of that Council. Karuna, the leader of the TMVP, was provided with a diplomatic passport with a Sinhalese name, according to Karuna himself in testimony, by the Defence Secretary. He spent some time in the British jail for entering the country on a false passport and was deported back to Sri Lanka, allegedly using the name Antony in his passport. It is anybody’s guess as to who provided the new false passport. Karuna has been welcomed and has been promised some facilities. He has been promised the leadership of his party and there is speculation that the government will use him to lead a force to fight the liberation fighters, as he did in the East.

 

24

 

 

 

The liberation fighters have conveyed their agreement for peace talks, with Norway continuing as the facilitator. and Norway has agreed.

 

The government, the president and all ministers have been spreading all kinds of false propaganda to deceive the world that it is working on a political arrangement alongside their military campaign. It is said that in war, the first casualty is truth. But there should be a limit to that, too.

 

The President formed an All Party Representative Committee (APRC) to come up with a solution to what the government calls the “Ethnic Problem.” However, the Tamil National Alliance, the party representing the majority of electorates of the merged Northeast Province, who are the main representatives of Tamils in Parliament, were not invited! As could be expected, after meetings lasting more than an year, and trips to foreign countries to “study” how power could be devolved, the President of the APRC came up with no solution. It is hard to come up with any solution with such a motley, unrepresentative group. Even if a solution is arrived at, it has to be approved at a national referendum by a population which has a 74 % Sinhalese majority.

 

Eventually, after much arm-twisting, the APRC said that the 13th Amendment, which is already in place, but not implemented in full, was the solution for the time being. The APRC is supposed to come up with a 'final' solution soon. However, even the President’s proposal put forward by the APRC chairman  has not been implemented. The para-military group, the new-found friend of the government, which still carries arms, has been admitted to the APRC! Already the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province has asked for more devolution

 

It is hard to believe that the President does not have the “tiger by the tail.”

 

How can one trust such a government?

On the war front, the President has been exponentially spending more and more money every year on arms purchases and payments to the armed forces. Deadlines given to finish the war have been moved constantly from April 2008 to December 2009 now. The army commander has recently said that, even after 20 years, the war will continue to exist with new recruits due to rising Tamil national feeling--what a revelation!

 

The President has already said that the government will not talk with the liberation fighters unless they lay down their arms before agreeing to talk. Surely he is mature enough to know, that it will never happen. He has also said that, at the next peace talks, he will talk with all Tamil groups and not only the LTTE.

 

Tamil aspirations have been spelt out. Added to that should be “treatment of all communities with Equality, Justice and Dignity.

 

The government’s view is that it wants a united state with some devolution to provinces and continued hegemony over Tamils. It is true that at one time the liberation fighters had agreed to explore Federalism with internal self –determination. Now even that that is too little, too late. Some argue that Tamils should accept an Indian type of federalism. The Indian type is not federalism, but quasi-federalism. India’s Constitution provides for a Governor nominated by the Central Government and has a section 356 under which the centre could dismiss a state government.

 

If the problem cannot be solved on any basis acceptable to the Tamil people, the fighting will continue. The fighting and loss of life and property should stop and we should revert to the Status Quo Ante, before colonialists came to the island.

 

Tamils and the Sinhalese should revert to their own sovereignties and territorial integrities as before the colonial powers came in. The hundreds of thousands of killings, displacements and destruction would then stop and money spent on arms and the war front by both sides could be used for development purposes. All the people, Sinhalese and Tamils can live without fear and trepidation in their own homelands.

 

The alternative is not a happy proposition.

 

This is nothing new in this and has been done in Kosovo, East Timor, Eritrea/Ethiopia, Czechoslovakia, and Singapore/Malaysia, etc.

 

A free and fair referendum supervised by the United Nations or by countries nominated by it could, if needed, be held from all Tamils born in the island and their natural descendants (as has been done in the case of East Timor) to find out their wishes. Such a solution should be guaranteed by the UN or major countries.           (Excerpts)

http://www.sangam.org/2008/07/Situation.php?uid=3020

 

 

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The Question the Sinhala Nation asks at Dawn

“What is the Relationship of Rama and Sita?”

By D. Sivaram

(D. Sivaram was killed by the usual unknown killer on 28 April 2005 in Colombo.

until today nothing has happened to bring the culprits to justice!.)

In response to my article last week Chandranathan has written his view.

 

"The Sinhalese people are kept in an illusion by their leaders and opinion makers. Therefore, we should make a continuous effort to convince at least a few of the Sinhalese to understand our views/problems." He sent this e-mail via the Tamilnatham website which re-posted my article from Virakesari.

 

I am not opposing his views. There should be no second thought about taking our reasonable views to the Sinhalese people on a regular basis. However, my genuine concern is that we should not fall into the illusion that such acts from us will result in receiving our rights from the Sri Lankan rulers. We have been experiencing massive destruction in the last 50 years because of the acts of the Sinhala supremacists. Yet how much effort we have put into scientifically analysing and comprehending such destruction? Except for a few research papers in the Sari Nihar journal, I have not seen any other effort made in our Tamil intellectual circles to analyse and comprehend Sinhala Buddhist supremacy, its history, its views and its related social and psychological dimensions. (If you know any such work, please let me know.)

 

Recently I went to a conference that was attended by a number of professors, writers, journalists and opinion makers from the South. At that conference the organisers asked me to explain the political aspirations of the Tamil people. The Tamil people and their leaders, who have been fluent in English and in Sinhalese, along with reporters, and intellectuals, all have been talking and writing what our political grievances and demands are for the last 56 years.

 

Not only that, the Tamils have been talking with, or putting forward their demands and fighting against, the various governments by peaceful means for 28 years ( 1948 – 1976) and using armed struggle for 28 years ( 1976 – 2004). It is a known fact that bombs went off among the Sinhalese because none of the Tamils' political demands were met. Even an intellectually retarded person will definitely ask questions why bombs are going off around him and why an international airport is attacked and badly damaged.

 

But, even after all this, the Sinhalese are still asking what are the political aspirations of the Tamils and what are your demands? Such a situation still prevails in the Sinhala nation. "For over half a century, the Tamil people have been explaining their political aspirations and demands in and out of Parliament and in the international arena, until their jaws cannot move. Even after all this, you are still asking me what are the Tamils' aspirations and demands? It is a sin. I cannot speak about this," I told them.

 

The sweetest matter at the conference was that the majority of the people who attended really did not know what the political demands of the Tamils are. After all the events in the last 56 years, if they cannot comprehend what our demands are, I do not know how they are going to understand now.

 

With regard to our political demands, the question the Sinhala nation asks is similar to someone asking in the morning, "What is Rama’s relationship with Seetha?" after listening to the whole Ramayana epic through the night.

 

Those who advocate that we must make the Sinhalese people understand our political demands must analyse one issue. One has to think a little and ask, "Why is the Sinhala Nation not understanding us, even after 56 years of many talks and fights?" "How can we now convert those who have refused to understand us, and who have not cared to understand us for over a half a century?"

 

In this regard, we have to look at one more important point. From the beginning of the 20th Century, the Sinhalese politicians and the opinion makers who, at one time, understood the Tamil grievances and their reasonable political demands, have changed for the worse over time and have taken complete U-turns on the Tamil issue.

 

Every one of you knows that, after returning from his education in England, President Chandrika’s father, SWRD Bandaranayake, advocated that Sri Lanka must be converted to a federal system with three federal regions : Kandyan region, Lower Country or Coastal region, Tamil homeland (region).

 

What did he do after that ?

26

 

Likewise, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka in its 1944 National Conference passed a resolution emphasizing that the Tamils should be granted self-rule. The same Communist Party, together with the SLFP, declared in 1972 that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist nation.

 

What did one of the veteran leftist leaders and a pillar of the LSSP, Colvin R de Silva, who prophesied " One language, two nations and two languages, one nation" on the implementation of Sinhala Only act in 1956, actually do? He was the prime mover in rewriting the Sri Lankan constitution to make Sri Lanka a unitary Sinhala Buddhist state in 1972.

 

The above are old stories that you all know. Let us take the period in which our struggle for our rights became an armed struggle. From the late 1970s on, the JVP emphasised that the Tamil rights for self-determination must be approved.

 

On this basis, many Tamil youths from Batticaloa and Jaffna joined the JVP and served the JVP. What happened after that?

 

In 1986, Rohana Wijeyaweera, the leader of the JVP, in his long speech to the central committee of JVP, established that the Tamil liberation struggle is an imperialistic conspiracy and categorically said that it must be crushed. His speech was compiled as a book later. To date that book is the political bible of the JVP.

 

Around 1973, some of the educated left wing non-JVP Sinhalese youths formed an organisation called the "Stalinist Education Circle." This organisation was gave importance to the Tamil liberation organisations, writing and speaking about them. This organisation also established some connections with some of the armed Tamil liberation organisations. (Pe. Muthulingam who writes for the weekend edition of Virakesari was connected to this organisation at that time.)

 

One of the main speakers in the Stalinist Study Circle ( STC), who spoke about the Tamil rights and their right for self determination and who justified the Tamils armed struggle, was Dayan Jayatilleke. Not only that, he and his comrades formed an armed organisation called "Vikalpa Kandayama."

 

With the leftist ideologies as their base, the STC joined with some of the Eelam liberation organisations, and worked for the self-determination for the Tamils. I used to meet them in Kandy and Colombo and had discussions with them. (Nobody can underestimate the impact of the analysis and sharp explanations put forward by Dayan Jayatillake on the liberation wars in the third world and on oppression by imperialists worldwide.)

 

Vikalpa Kandayama was banned in 1986 on the accusation that it conspired to topple the Sri Lankan government. Dayan Jayatilake went into hiding. The Sri Lankan police and the armed forces were combing the country looking for him. When he was about to be captured, he contacted me.

 

Even many of the good friends of Dayan Jayatilake refused to help me when he had flee from his hiding place in Colombo. In the end, we managed to take him from his hiding place to another safe place outside Colombo. We did this after taking him to see the late Vijaya Kumaratunge, actor and husband of Chandrika Kumaratunge, at midnight. Vijay Kumaratunge helped me. (In this regard, without even asking his wife Chandrika or anybody else, he helped me immediately. He was a unique person.)

 

Dayan Jayatilleke later escaped to India. Then, after getting pardoned by the SL government, he came back to Sri Lanka and became a minister in a Regional Council.

 

What is Jayatillake, a person who moved intimately with the Tamil liberation organisations, doing today? Today, he writes without cease how the Tiger liberation struggle should be crushed.

 

Once an extreme opponent of American imperialism Jayatillake writes week after week emphasizing that Sri Lanka should seek collaboration with the US to crush the military power of the Tamils.

 

In those days Jayatillake used to write and say that we must go beyond Sinhala-Tamil differences and fight against American imperialism and fight for the class struggle.

 

Such a nice friend of mine, Dayan Jayatilleke, now writes in the Island newspaper that "We (i.e. the Sinhalese and Sinhala nation) must seek the support of the US to crush the military power of the Tamils." What happened to him?

 

Is that all?

 

During the period of 1984/86, on behalf of People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam, I was involved in revolutionary work, a broad one in a united Sri Lanka, by forging alliances with Sinhalese Groups in the South.

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At that time, the most important connection for me in Colombo was Dr. Nalin de Silva of the Mathematics Department at Colombo University. I used to go to his office to see two of his young students. They were directly helping me on our political struggle. Dr. Silva always treated me nicely. Not a single day was he scared or frightened to socialize with me. He was never shocked by me carrying