Saturday, April 30, 2011

First hold the racists who voted for the Vadukodai Resolution in 1977 to account for crimes on 20 million people over 32 years, and then consider accountability for alleged wrongs to 40,000 in Vanni for six months

First hold the racists who voted for the Vadukodai Resolution in 1977 to account for crimes on 20 million people over 32 years, and then consider accountability for alleged wrongs to 40,000 in Vanni for six months!

(Photo courtesy: http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3345)


Accountability is a two way process. All the parties that have wronged must be held to account. The Tamil separatist campaign that started in early 20th century before independence failed to achieve its objectives through democracy, through satyagrahas, external interventions and by cunning illegal pacts with the nation’s rulers. Having failed all these, Tamil Elamists turned to violence in the 1970s.

On May 14, 1976 the Vadukoddai Resolution was passed by the collective of all Tamil race-based political parties. It openly called Tamil youth to “fight for Tamil Elam”; and that’s exactly what they did. At the 1977 general election, Tamil voters in the north and the east overwhelmingly approved the Vadukoddai Resolution.

The fight that started in 1976 ended in 2009 in Mulaitivu with the total decimation of the armed Tamil Elamists. For 32 years since the Tamil voters of the north and the east approved the Vadukoddai Resolution, there was a ruthless war in Sri Lanka that affected its entire population adversely. Scores were killed, displaced, terrorised, trillions of rupees worth property destroyed, the economy was destroyed without letting it flourish following the introduction of the open economy, the nation’s democractically elected leaders were killed and other horrendous crimes were committed on the entire population. All because of the Vadukoddai Resolution for which the LTTE and many other Tamil armed groups fought hard.

Had there not been the Vadukoddai Resolution, there would not have been an armed separatist campaign. The separatist campaign would have been peaceful. All those who engineered and voted for the Vadukoddai resolution must account for the crimes committed in its name on the entire population of the island by Tamil armed groups. They must accept their culpability, account for the crimes committed in the name of achieving the objects of the Vadukoddai Resolution and those directly involved must undergo a rehabilitation process.

That should be the start of the accountability process. There is nothing called selective accountability.

Unless and until that happens, no one has the moral right to demand Sri Lanka to initiate an accountability process into the alleged deaths of a mere 40,000 people in the last stage of the war.

Over 20 million people, which is more than 500 times of 40,000 alleged Tamil deaths in the last stage of the war, suffered not for a few weeks but for 32 long years. Surely it is a bigger accountability issue. It must be addressed first. If the engineers of the warmongering Vadukoddai Resolution and the voters who overwhelmingly approved it are not willing to accept their culpability and account for their crimes for 32 years on the entire population of the country, Sri Lanka should not allow any accountability process on matters alleged on Sri Lanka. It is time the leaders of the nation stood up to external pressures and stated this in no uncertain terms.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

(UN-Unauthorized) "Panel Report" By Three Stooges Of Ban-Ki-Moon


(UN-Unauthorized) "Panel Report" By Three Stooges Of Ban-Ki-Moon

Malin Abeyatunge


The irony of the report is that the Panel found credible allegations that comprise five core categories of potential serious violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka: (i) killing of civilians through widespread shelling; (ii) shelling of hospitals and humanitarian objects; (iii) denial of humanitarian assistance; (iv) human rights violations suffered by victims and survivors of the conflict, including both IDPs and suspected LTTE cadre; and (v) human rights violations outside the conflict zone, including against the media and other critics of the Government.


by Malin Abeyatunge

(April 18, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)The three stooges have completed the report against Sri Lanka and handed over to UN Secretary General (UNSG) Ban-Ki-Moon. The Executive summary of the advisory panel appeared in the print media which gives various allegations against the Sri Lanka Government. Firstly, this is a panel arbitrarily appointed by current UNSG without the approval of the UN Security Council or UN Human Rights Council. Hence it will have no legal binding on Sri Lanka but yet a worry of having a completely flawed report of this nature on record staining country’s good image. Secondly, the report is compiled with hearsay, bits and pieces of unsubstantiated biased information gathered from so called human rights organization like HRW, AI, ICG, LTTE websites like TamilNet, Chanel 4 etc. Adding insult to injury the credibility of the panel members namely former AG of Indonesia Marzuki Darusman, South African Human Rights Lawyer Yasmin Sooka and an American Lawyer Steven Ratner is in doubt as they have vested interests in their own field working with their own agenda. I do not want to reiterate the fact as who they are, what their background, who funds them and their ideologies as they are very well known to the world.

Even before the report is out, it was a forgone conclusion that it’s going to be flawed and biased and against Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Government immediate response was that the report is flawed and biased. All Sri Lankans irrespective of party politics will stand by the Government’s response. The ultimate goal of the western world is to see that this small country is broken into ethnic enclaves and destabilize the Indian Region and also to propagate Christian hegemony. They were successful in Yugoslavia, East Timor, Sudan and in the past India and Korea. To achieve a division of the country, they are ready to sleep with the remnant devils of LTTE which is rampant in the western world. LTTE terrorists out fit was nurtured and fondled by the western countries, various UN Agencies, INGOs like HRW, AI, ICG and continue to do so and this report is another result of one of those subtle schemes to divide Sri Lanka instead of promoting reconciliation between the Sinhalese and the Tamils.

The irony of the report is that the Panel found credible allegations that comprise five core categories of potential serious violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka: (i) killing of civilians through widespread shelling; (ii) shelling of hospitals and humanitarian objects; (iii) denial of humanitarian assistance; (iv) human rights violations suffered by victims and survivors of the conflict, including both IDPs and suspected LTTE cadre; and (v) human rights violations outside the conflict zone, including against the media and other critics of the Government.

The Panel’s determination of credible allegations against the LTTE associated with the final stages of the war reveal six core categories of potential serious violations: Ii) using civilians as a human buffer; (ii) killing civilians attempting to flee LTTE control; (iii) using military equipment in the proximity of civilians; (iv) forced recruitment of children; (v) forced labour; and (vi) killing of civilians through suicide attacks.

Now, will the panel be able to tell us how they are going to bring charges against the LTTE to face the allegations they have made. Is it Rudrakumaran who is running a non-recognized TGTE (USA), or Emannauel Pillai of the Global Tamil Forum (UK) or the head of the Tamil Forum in UK, Australian Tamil Congress or LTTE leaders in Norway, France, Switzerland ? The six core categories of allegations (conveniently evaded to include massacre of villagers, ethnic cleansing, bombing of religiously sacred temples, mosques, kovils, assassinations of Sinhalese and Tamil political leaders, destruction of public buildings and transport) against LTTE shown in the report is just an eye wash to show the world that the Panel is unbiased knowing very well that the top LTTE terrorists who were creating mayhem are now dead and gone and cannot lay any charges on them. The panel is trying to fool whom?

The Panel has alleged Sri Lanka on 5 core categories. Let us examine one by one.
  • Killing of civilians through widespread shelling; This is a completely unsubstantiated statement. I have read these type of unsubstantiated statements in various reports submitted by HRW, AI , ICG, UNICEF and in the Tamil Net Websites and also Channel 4. The Sri Lankan Army was and is a very disciplined army and instructions from the high ups were to strictly maintain zero causalities in their war operations not only during the last stages of war but since the inception of the fight against LTTE terrorists. I would like to reiterate the fact that the Sri Lankan forces defeated LTTE and captured Eastern province from LTTE without a single civilian death. The report appears to be hesitant to mention about it. “Killing civilians of widespread shelling’ is a very vague statement that cannot be quantified and shouldn’t have come from a so called expert Panel. Let me remind an incident that when Sencholai women tiger training centre was precisely identified and was bombed by SL Air Force, various NGOs and LTTE came with lots of theories like it was a school, it was a training camp for students , it was an orphanage and so on. When Sencholai training camp was bombed, without any proper investigations, UNICEF head ms Joanna Van Gerpen (at that time) immediately came with a media release saying that Sri Lanka Air Force has bombed an orphanage/ two day training camp for girls; First Aid camp (all these were as interpreted by LTTE and Tamil Net) and many more likely names. It was learnt that the person who was sent to investigate was Penny Bourne intimately called by LTTE as Penny amma for LTTE who was a staunch supporter of LTTE. However, LTTE did not make a big ha ho or challenged the SL Government which implies admission of the fact that it was actually a training camp for LTTE women fighters and not an orphanage or first Aid Training camp. Like USA lead NATO, Sri- Lanka never used DRONES and killed thousands of Afghan civilians in wedding houses, festivities and schools etc. If Sri Lanka had used Drones, she would have finished the defeat of LTTE terrorist outfit much more earlier.

  • Shelling of hospitals and humanitarian objects; Has the panel named the hospitals and humanitarian objects? What is meant by humanitarian objects? The doctors who gave statements to the world print and electronic media that the hospitals were shelled by Government forces later admitted that they were forced under duress by LTTE to lie so. Sri Lanka has recorded statements of the interviews had with these doctors made voluntarily. The panel should have called for proof of these or could have obtained through cyberspace as it is in the public domain. Has panel got the details of those hospitals the Govt forces have alleged to have shelled, the number of patients, staff and the doctors on that day, how many were killed, how many LTTE terrorists have been receiving free treatment in these hospitals etc? Where are the data?
  • Denial of humanitarian assistance; THIS IS A JOKE. Sri Lankan Government was the only government in the world who has been feeding the Enemy (LTTE) both in the East and the North. The civilians in the East and north were never deprived of their food, free health, free education and other basic requirements. Unfortunately, LTTE robbed the food, medicine and other materials meant for the civilians to up keep their terrorist fighting cadres. Kids couldn’t attend school as LTTE conscripted even 10 year old kids for LTTE’s child Brigade. There were LTTE fighters who were receiving even Government pension. There were teachers who were receiving Govt salaries but working for the terrorists. The Stupid Panel found that there was denial of humanitarian assistance?. In fact all those food medicines and other basic requirements that were transported to the North and East by ships and road transport for the use of the civilians were robbed by the LTTE to up keep their terrorists alive. So who actually denied humanitarian assistance? It’s LTTE.
  • Human rights violations suffered by victims and survivors of the conflict, including both IDPs and suspected LTTE cadre; Sri Lanka did the biggest humanitarian operation receiving 300,000 civilians in a week fleeing from the clutches of LTTE to avoid being used as human shields but resettled almost 90 % within an year. In respect of the suspected LTTE cadre, do the panel want the government to sing lullaby to them who have been at some stage responsible for the thousands of atrocities committed by the LTTE on civilians. The latest data from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs shows how effective we were in handling the IDPs. In fact, suffice to mention here that New Orleans IDPS caused by the Hurricane Catherine are still there as IDPS even after almost 5 years of the tragedy happened. Panel should have worded rightly it as “human rights violations suffered by the victims and survivors at the hands of the LTTE atrocities on innocent civilians”.
  • Human rights violations outside the conflict zone, including against the media and other critics of the Government. Some of the so called disappeared media and the critics sprung up in affluent countries like Norway, Sweden Switzerland, UK etc. enjoying a good life. How do you account for that? There are financial fraudsters who are missing but living happily in the western world with the money they have plundered. Disappearance of people not only confined to Sri Lanka it’s happening every part of the world. Murders, kidnaps, extortions not happening only in Sri Lanka, it’s happening in every country of the world. So no big deal.

Let me sum up and say that Sri Lanka should treat this report made by three stooges of Fun-Ki-Moon a load of crap and throw it to the bin.

And also, Mr. Ban-ki-Moon, the UN donor countries may wish to know how much of dollars spent on this project and paid to the panel members to come out with this crap.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Allow Maldivians to Settle in Sri Lanka If Rising Sea Levels Threaten the Atoll

When Australia offered refuge to Maldivians threatened by rising sea levels, some thought the Australians were very generous. They either didn’t know or didn’t want to know that the last thing Australia would do is to provide refuge to hundreds of thousands of people in their time of need! Australia has not done this even to closer neighbours. For instance, people who live in and around French Polynesia during French nuclear experiments, East Timor during the war, PNG during the war and a host of other islanders could have been shown the same kindness Australia is prepared to extend to Maldives even before the event! This strange “generosity” from a very unlikely nation must be looked at with suspicion. They would certainly not do it for humanitarian concerns. The sinister plan behind this is cruel than white colonization of Australia which completely subjugated real Australians.

Maldives, the Sixtieth Largest Nation!  
Maldives is a larger nation than Italy, Malaysia, Ukraine or Thailand. Although this may sound puzzling, it is true. In today’s terms, a nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone gets added to its landmass for all economic, political and military concerns. With close to 925,000 square kilometres, Maldives is no longer a small nation.

Without taking into account the strategic importance of the region, such a vast sea area is immensely valuable. It has tremendous fisheries, mining, tourism and other economic resource potential. This area is unexplored which means its true potential would be many times more.

Maldives has tremendous strategic and geopolitical significance.

Tremendous Geopolitical Significance
Maldives rests between four very powerful regional power blocks and three global superpowers. USA and UK maintain a mammoth military establishment in the Diego Garcia Island that is forcibly occupied by these nations by evicting the natives. Diego Garcia has been a formidable and very safe platform for NATO military onslaughts on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and possibly Iran in future. The entire Middle East region comes under the direct and unhindered US strategic reach through Diego Garcia. Maldives with its Exclusive Economic Zone is the largest national boundary closer to it. For commercial reasons China is looking to safeguard its shipping routes in the region while India is projecting its military strength in the region as far as Madagascar by having listening stations.

Complexities will arise in defence matters if western powers creep into this peaceful region. All this will add a new hostile neighbour who cares nothing about well developed Asian values with civilisations spanning over 2,500 years. Further, given Australia’s power projection towards East Timor, Solomon Islands, PNG and Fiji, it will certainly try to interfere in political and defence affairs of neighbouring nations. Australia’s highly interfering friends don’t make it any better either, to say the least. For instance, during the final phase of the war, foreign ministers of a number of western nations including Australia requested Sri Lanka to halt the offensive allowing terrorism to survive. There was talk of a naval operation aimed at forcing a truce. However, it didn’t take place. Had there been a permanent navel presence in the region, these interfering nations would certainly have attempted it.

In short, western interferers will have a new cat’s paw in the South Asian region with a permanent physical navy presence. From a strategic point of view, it will be an extension of the Diego Garcia military base occupied by the Americans just south of Maldivian territory.

 This is what the Australians are after! Having allowed residence to Maldivians in some remote godforsaken place in Australia, the entire Maldivian territory falls within Australian control. It is impossible for the Maldivians settled in some part of Australia to use their former territory. Australians and hence the Americans would have complete control of this vast territory. Using ships, submarines, underwater and above water structures, they would be able to essentially extend the Diego Garcia military power further into the Indian Ocean. This power would extend to India, Sri Lanka and the entire region where some analysts make out a geopolitical competition named the New Great Game.
Now we have two new great games in the region!

 Western strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region received a boost recently as the Exmouth top secret US navy and space facility in Australia was upgraded. Exmouth is located in the western most part of Australia. This is another strategic location for western powers to dominate the Indian Ocean.

What Can the Maldivians Expect in Australia?
Nothing better than what the aboriginals already have! Their culture and religion will not only be neglected, but also will be frowned upon. There will be absolutely no room to practice, use and nurture their unique language (Divehi) and culture. Their religious festivals will not have any government recognition let alone a single public holiday. For the record, Australia does not recognize any Hindu, Islam or Buddhist religious festival with public holidays.

 Anti-Islamic activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and even within Australia which include unclothing Muslim women in courthouses and sometimes even in public, racism and counter racism allegations against them and continued police surveillance of Islamic places of worship will be something novel for Maldivians, to say the least.

What Can Maldivians Expect in Sri Lanka?
In contrast Maldivians already consider Sri Lanka their second home! Tens of thousands of rich Maldivians study, work and live in Sri Lanka. There is debate over global warming and its implications. If at all sea level is to rise, Sri Lanka must offer all Maldivians the right to settle in the island. No other nation can protect the Maldivian language, culture and tradition than Sri Lanka. In fact the closest language to Sinhala anywhere in the world is Divehi. All Maldivian religious events are already recognised in Sri Lanka. Even the Maldivian national anthem has Sri Lankan input.

 If Sri Lanka comes forward to help the Maldivians it would not be to rob their economic resources but to continue with a millennia old strong relationship.

Maldivians in Sri Lanka would be able to visit, use and even patrol their territory due to the very close proximity.

How Can Sri Lanka with Own Population Problems Accommodate More?
One big argument is how can Sri Lanka accommodate hundreds of thousands more when there are own population density related problems. If sea level is to rise, it will shrink Sri Lankan landmass as well. The answer is rather simple. If continued illegal immigration from South India which brings nothing but problems, can be arrested, accommodating own relatives would not be difficult at all. Between Tamil Nadu and the Maldives, Sri Lankans are much closer to the latter than the former. Maldivian rulers treat Sri Lankan counterparts with respect, not with rowdy receptions. Sri Lankans don’t get assaulted in various ways in the Maldives as it happens in Tamil Nadu regularly. Territorial disputes are swiftly and amicably settled between the two friendly peoples unlike in the case with Tamil Nadu. On top of it, today’s Tamil Nadu illegal migrants add no economic worth to the nation. If these illegal migrants can be stopped, there is still plenty of room for worthy and legal migrants. The total Maldivian population is about 2% of Sri Lanka’s population.

Why the North?
The north with many islands, shallow seas and large fishing fields provides ideal conditions for Maldivians. They don’t have to change their life style at all. At the moment large fisheries resources in the north are plundered by illegal Tamil Nadu poachers. There is plenty to go around and no one loses anything. The north has an excellent infrastructure of schools, hospitals, banks, telecom facilities than most districts in the country.

Following the large mass migration out of the north internally and externally, a vast swath of land has become vacant. At the moment the Tamil Diaspora members invite and allow illegal Tamil Nadu migrants to live (not own) in their houses for free. A practice that only adds problems. These vacant lands can be better utilized. Divehi language based administration can be regionalised to ensure this unique language and culture which is the twin of the main Sri Lankan language and culture is protected. It is close to travel to their former Maldivian territory too.

 Settling Maldivians in the mono ethnic Tamil only north will be a valuable deterrent against racist separatist agendas of Tamil Elamists. Maldivian majority areas may be turned to semi-autonomous region following a model similar to Hong Kong. Tamil Elamists in Sri Lanka and other separatists shouldn’t have this privilege because they claim territory already owned by Sri Lanka without adding any!

 The huge sea stretch owned by the Maldives will be highly valuable for all Sri Lankans while special privileges must be assured for Sri Lankans of Maldivian origin. With the development of shipping and trading activities in the region, the sea stretch currently owned by the Maldives will become invaluable. Absence of foreign interference and hostile military presence will be an added benefit.

 Old fashioned thinking, complacency and racial homelands are not the way for the future. Sri Lanka must assert its friendly influence in the region not to exploit what belongs to others, but to share what little Sri Lanka has with closest relatives, not illegal immigrants, separatists, interfering agents, war mongers and terrorists.

 Considering all these factors, Sri Lankan government must seriously consider providing refuge to Maldivians in case rising sea levels threaten their island nation. Things should not be left to chance as it will leave Sri Lanka to unofficially put up with the Maldivians without any reciprocal benefit while Australia benefits from the economic resources of the atoll!

In doing so Sri Lanka is not only securing its own interests but also the security of its neighbourhood. Such a move would frustrate western elements desperately seeking to have a foothold in the Asian region. As a by-product it will enhance Sri Lanka’s strategic and geopolitical clout which can be leveraged for the betterment of the nation and its interests. Two developing nations can defend their existence from mighty challenges by working together.