Managing diplomacy with melodrama: Sri Lanka’s Madness
Photo courtesy Vikalpa’s Flickr photostream on the NFF protest
The point of departure for this note is the fast unto death by a government (cabinet) Minister, hereinafter referred to as VW, in front of the UN’s Colombo office. The protest campaign launched by the said individual, and his decision to fast, are meant at demonstrating his party’s (and, being a vocal member of the governing coalition, the present government’s) opposition to the investigative panel appointed by the UN SG on alleged war crimes during the last phase of civil war in early/mid 2009.
The UN SG has been functioning under prerogatives accorded to him in his mandate. The most recent precedent for a panel of this nature is that on Israel’s thoroughly questionable conduct in the Gaza strip, and its recent atrocities over a humanitarian vessel. Let’s not forget that this panel is chaired by Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the UN. How can Sri Lankan diplomats currently posted to the UN explain Minister VW’s anti-UN protests in Colombo to the UN and to fellow diplomats in Geneva, New York and Vienna? The simple way out is to emphasize that Sri Lanka is a ‘democratic state’ where people are allowed to protest, express their opinions and make themselves heard. VW’s protest is therefore not an impediment to the diplomatic interactions between the government of Sri Lanka and the UN. This was precisely the argument presented by the island’s Permanent Representative to the UN during an interview with the Sri Lanka daily Daily Mirror Online, when questioned on Sinhala nationalist opposition to a durable political settlement to the ethnic question in the post-May 2009 phase. To someone even vaguely familiar with recent goings-on in Sri Lanka, the counter-argument is not so difficult to find: what about the countless journalists who were beaten up, assassinated in cold blood and disappeared for ‘expressing’ themselves? What about those critical of the present government and its policies and the manner in which such opposition is strongly suppressed? What about the ban on news websites that adopt a critical stance on the present government? It looks as if the ‘democratic’ nature of the Sri Lankan state and the right of citizens to express themselves freely makes a glorious resurgence from time to time, whenever  it helps the interests of the present government.
As responsible citizens, let’s look at VW’s protest critically. This is a protest campaign that receives ample tacit support from the highest levels of the present government. The objective seems to be to demonstrate the extent to which citizens are angry at the UN and its SG for their resolve to question the conduct of the Sri Lankan government and military during the last phases of the war. It is also a fine strategy to oust Sinhala nationalist feelings among the wider Sinhala-speaking community, and keep them ‘occupied’ with nationalist candy. In one news website (not accessible from Sri Lanka), it was reported that the secretary to the Ministry of Finance had informed the Minister for Economic Development that a delegation of prospective investors currently visiting Sri Lanka were deeply concerned about VW’s protest. The Secretary had informed the Minister that activities of this nature could have a potentially negative impact on efforts at post-conflict economic regeneration and investment promotion. This may bear a certain degree of truth, but it is unlikely that the present government will be too worried about such a risk. It can run the show as long as it enjoys the support of the Chinese government, the Pakistanis, the Russians, the Iranians, the Burmese and so on.
The present government, with all its flaws and discrepancies, represents the best available option for the Sri Lankan electorate, in a political context where the parliamentary opposition has been sent down the drain for some fourteen years by a single individual whose power within his party remains surreally ‘absolute’ (anecdote: the recent decision of the United National Party to appoint a Council of Leaders, i.e. Sinhalese Nayakathva Mandalaya, instead of replacing its current failed leadership with the energy of a new generation provides ample testimony to the ‘surreal’Â position of the present UNP leadership). Despite its position of ‘all-powerful winner’, firmly consolidated by combating the challenges imposed by the LTTE, it cannot afford to play constant hard ball with its diplomatic machinery. Despite repeated pleas by the international community (i.e. the EU, the US and national and supranational bodies representing the ‘liberal’ Western power base, not the wider ‘international community’, which includes states of the global south, as Sri Lanka’s present PR to the UNHQ once noted in the same interview mentioned earlier in this article), it is crystal clear that no external power has a strong strategic interest in forcing the Rajapakse administration to draft a political settlement to the ethnic question, on the issue of human rights or alleged war crimes. In this sense, the Rajapakse administration is one of the strongest governments in the world today. Its success in combating its secessionist opponent through military means even surpasses the military feats of the State of Israel. Despite the tremendous support of the West and its military might, the latter has not gained significant victories over the Hezbollah, over the PLO or any of its opponents. While Tel-Aviv is forced to play soft-ball with roaring international criticism over the recent issue of the humanitarian vessel, Sri Lanka’s Rajapakse administration is in a much stronger position to express its thorough opposition to any form of international criticism on its management of the military offensive, a political settlement, the ‘transparency’ of its so-called ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ or any related issue. As President Rajapakse categorically stated in his recent interview with Al-Jazeera, concerns over transparency issues are to be shunned, and before such concerns are raised over Sri Lanka, they ought to be raised about USA and UK over Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Moreover (according to the President), the government of Sri Lanka may indeed look into alleged war crimes during the last phase of the war, but it certainly cannot afford to prosecute anyone for defeating terrorism. In other words, whatever the post-May 2009 (and especially post-April 2010) Rajapakse administration does, whether it be a political settlement based on devolution, a truth commission, dialogue with the Tamil diaspora or anthing else, it will do so solely on its own exclusive terms. This is a salient reality silently understood by the international community, despite its not infrequent nudges on Colombo over issues of concern such as alleged war crimes allegations, which help keep the international news media and vocal elements of the Tamil diaspora occupied.
In such a political zeitgeist, it is thoroughly pointless for the present government to support initiatives such as that of Minister VW over the UN allegations. The fundamental flaw, as this writer perceives it, is in the relatively remarkable absence of a diplomatic strategy that corresponds to the needs of the present Sri Lankan government (i.e. the post-LTTE, or post-:May 2009 phase).  One cannot help reaching the conclusion that what inhabits the Republic Building in Colombo is a diplomatic machinery with strong lacuna in terms of strategy and diplomatic foresight. One commentator recently compared Sri Lanka’s Minister of External Affairs to an adult with candy (i.e. Sinhalese seeni boola) in his shirt pocket, who gives candy to cheeky kids to keep them (i.e. in this analogy, members of the international community) happy and calm. The role of the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister certainly is in par with this ‘candy-man analogy; it can be noticed whenever he is brought to deal with his counterparts in the international community, such as during his recent visit to the USA, which included a lecture at CSIS Washington DC. Like a player unfamiliar with the rules of the game but still playing away, the Minister attempts to chat up the US government and the UN’s high command on Colombo’s tremendous military feats and its resolve to examine alleged war crimes, in the form of a commission inspired by the South African TRC and the UK’s Chilcot Commission (NB: the minister makes these observations in his CSIS speech, available in the South Asia section of the CSIS website). In his candy-man role, the Minister (and, very obviously, the entire diplomatic corps) fails to utilise the existing trend in international politics vis-à -vis Sri Lanka to the advantage of the Sri Lankan state. The government of Sri Lanka is in a strong position to express firm diplomatic opposition to the UN SG’s move. If a right-minded diplomatic strategist headed the Republic Building today, they could effectively utilize the prevalent situation (i.e. UN SG’s panel vs. the international community’s lack of a strategic interest over Sri Lankan issues) to actively promote the Sri Lankan government, make its voice heard in the international scene as a strong state that defends its interests diplomatically, and despite its firm (and realistically speaking, inevitable) resolve to manage post-conflict concerns on its own terms, it is a government capable of strong international alliances, in terms of economic, cultural and educational cooperation. Instead of working through the present situation to make things more profitable to the Sri Lankan government, and make it possible for the Head of State to shake hands freely with any of his Western (i.e. EU and NATO member states except Turkey in the latter case) counterparts ASAP, thereby categorically reconfiguring Sri Lanka’s image and position in the international scene, the government is engaging in low-level petty politics by using its local mouthpieces such as Minister VW to stage protests in front of the UN, deporting HR and NGO activists and stating on international media that a former army commander should be killed on charges of treason. Despite its quintessentially Spartan capacity to reach the strong position it currently finds itself in, those heading the Rajapakse administration’s executive, national defence and foreign policy establishments have amply proven, a year into the post-Piraba phase that they do not possess that shrewd Athenian strategic maturity to work their way around Lanka’s renewed position in the post-2009 international political landscape. This situation explains the farce (better expressed in Sinhalese/Tamil nadagam) currently taking place in Colombo city, which includes carnival items such as (rather childish) anti-UN protests, blocking and barricading international ground, diplomatic visa refusals and deportations.
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We will have to look into Human Rights Violations by British, Portugese , Dutch. Our Preist were killed. Our Leaders Killed. Our Sri Lankan were used as Slaves.
Any Human Rights on this things. Mr Ban Ki moon. Our Country was raped by Westerners from 1500- 1900 and our Land Ripped off the Wealth Gems and All Resources and Shipped to now So called Developed countries who is in UN.
Look back Mr Ban Ki Moon. Dont forget your Roots. Europe is there because they stole Asian Wealth and Riches. But is there any commitee to look into 1000′s of people killed.
What about Daily Killings in Afganistan by US Troops. Any commitee to see Human Rights Violations over there. Mr Ban Ki Moon. You will be haunted in your Own Grave one day. Truth Prevails.
If diplomacy is an active tool ban ki moon must have already removed his “three idiot” pannel. There is no room for diplomacy when western powers wanted to interfeare a nation.they will do what ever they wanted to do. “ghndhian” way is the only way we have left with. Ban ki moon and his backers have no right to shut down our freedom of expression.
There WAS a fantastic Sri lankan diplomat by the name of Dayan Jayatillake (sp?) who spearheaded and held the Sri lankan fort brilliantly at UN; of course, with the help of a few more good Sri lankan dipomats. But in a typical Sri lankan style unwise political move, Mahinda removed him. Gotta love his Chintanaya!
Oooh .. tears also comin to my eyes. Sin Aney. hope Wimal does not die becos then we will all cry and never stop blaming Monkey Boon.Somebody try and smuggle a Big Mac for Wimal Aney. And take away the cameras till he eats. I cant bear to see this man dead. Cant forget the good he did- robbing the gold from the people during the |JVP days, for the sake of the country.Please Aney try and save him.
The only thing novel about article to my mind ie. besides the use of rhetoric and slander, is the reference to the lack of international community’s strategic interest on Sri Lanka. He has not defined this international community. Besides, the writer seems to imply that UN is based on strategic interests of nations. We are an equal partner in the UN accepting the Charter, expecting it to follow the rules and procedures governing the body. It is perceived that the UNSG has acted arbitrarily.The government has not minced words disapproving his action. About reference to a panel to investigate Gaza episode one should further elaborate on the background and the procederes followed instead of speculating wrong conclusions.
Dimantha Jayawardena,
“Any Human Rights on this things. Mr Ban Ki moon. Our Country was raped by Westerners from 1500- 1900 and our Land Ripped off the Wealth Gems and All Resources and Shipped to now So called Developed countries who is in UN.”
The UN was formed in 1945. I don’t think it has a mandate to investigate issues from the previous century!
But, interesting that you bring up colonialism. Is it because you see the similarity between European colonial oppression and how the majority community in SL treats minorities?
“What about Daily Killings in Afganistan by US Troops.”
How do you know about this? Is it because America allows journalists on the battlefield? Unlike you guys, who conduct a war in secrecy, and then claim that not a single civilian was killed by SL forces! S
urely you see the hollowness of your sense of moral superiority?
Mr B. Moon and UN has been continuing to say that the “main objectives of the expert panel include further fostering of reconciliation in Sri Lanka….” And so on..But see what is happening in the island and among the Diaspora. It divided the country further. Sinhalese (bulk) oppose the panel stating that it is opted to punish the war heroes of the county: Tamils, the Diaspora, consider Singhalese opposition and wide spread protests are against the justice to be brought for them on their suffering and has made a cause to distance further from the government, and the main Sinhala community. So, if the UN and other world bodies really need the peace and reconciliation in this island nation, they should be more optimistic and let the people of Sri Lanka to resolve their problems. What by any moderator would see is that no permanent peace and reconciliation in this island nation would be achieved by ‘tit for tact’ Diplomacy; by Government of Sri Lanka or UN, EU or ICG/AI. It is a great disappointment that the UN, the WORLD BODY, has fallen into the same pity narrow line with a funny, narrow minded Minister in a small nation who wants to die in hunger, by recalling its resident envoy back and making funny looking statements continuously without addressing the realty, real problem in this world.
The UN is not Ban-Ki-Moon or the three member panel to investigate alleged war crimes. They are delegated with this task of fact-finding and inquiry.
It began as League of Nations in 1919 at the end of World War Two and in 1945 became the United nations to prevent future wars.
The Atlantic Charter proposed by Churchill and Roosevelt for a set of principles for intenrnational collaboration in maintaining peace and security in 1942 which later became the UN convention was ratified by 51 nations including Ceylon.
UN is not on a witch-hunt but abiding by the principles vested on it and ratified by nations which desire to have peace and security in their respective countries.
Just as much as a Court of Justice would hear a complaint the panel would look into facts and present these findings.
Why should SL block this mission?
@ Belle,
[quote]The UN was formed in 1945. I don’t think it has a mandate to investigate issues from the previous century![unquote]
Really? Then how about asking the UN to carry war crimes investigations that happend in the also few decades in Japan, Viet Nam and Iraq?
[quote]how the majority community in SL treats minorities?[unquote]
The majority of Singhalese do not oppress the minorities. You seem to have a very sinister motive to falsely express such sentiments and bring about racial hatred that has begun to heal. Yes, there has been shameful attacks by the Singhalese on Tamils but for every Singhalese person that attacked Tamils there has been a greater number who treated Tamils just as fairly as they would another Singhala person.
[quote]Is it because America allows journalists on the battlefield?[unquote]
Just because America allow journalists to their battlefields, it does not make their wars justifiable or immune from war crimes investigations.
@ Pearl,
[quote]Why should SL block this mission?[unquote]
It is because Sri lanka does not want to become a doormat!
Why should Sri lanka allow UN when UN has NOT got a great track record of being fair when it comes to war-crimes investigations? UN has never conducted investigations committed by US, UK and Israel in Japan, Viet Nam, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon?
What I can’t see in this article by Chaminda Weerawardhana is an insight into
Ban Ki Moon mindset.
Though a holder of a high office, what led to his unpecedented act to move to use his prerogative, moving without a UN mandte.
What justification in the mind of this UNSG, no doubt esteemed by some people, to consider Gaza situation where there was wanton attacks on a hapless homeless population by new state in the same league with Sri Lanka’s Humanitarian Operation to rescue civilians from Terrorists.
The probe into Gaza had a UN mandate. Unarguably, UN has a special responsibility to look after the original inhabitants of what is now Israel, as Israel state was created to make space for the fictims of Fascism in Europe after the 2nd world war.
UN has a duty to see democracy flourish in Israel, irrespective of religion or ethnicity. Has the UNSG used his prerogativeon to probeinto these maters?
UNSG’s action to appoint a fact finding mission on Sri Lanka did not have such a mandate.
Sri Laka’sterrorism was funded by diaspora from Sri Lanka, who are occupying well paid jobs in the west, using conscripted child soldiers, conscripted government servants etc. while the government was supplying needs of the same terrorist group holding civilians hostage, in the midst of many attacks using suicide bombers to kill fleeing civilians and the armed forces manning camps for IDPs.
Can the UN set the world order to take it back to colonial time ?
Do they have a mandate to act to preserve the rights of former imperial countries and theirvassal states,
Do they have a agenda to preserve vested interests of favoured groups in the divide and rule game, former imperial masters played in the colonies.
What action has UN taken against major powers in the instances of so called collateral damage.
Has UNSG taken action to ascertain the numbers of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan using his prerogative?
Dear Grasshopper,
Why should SL block this inquiry? You see, there was a war in which thousands perished along with many LTTE cadres and leaders and soldiers during which many innocent civilians were killed.
I am not sure of your age but I still remember when one killing was from page news.
Now thousands were killed and but nobody should question this impunity because this was for the sovereignty and integrity of this island.
What if one of those killed is your family? Would you say he/she died in the name of preserving our soverignty. What if you were turned out on the street as plunderers set fire to your house and its possessions? Would you say it is part and parcel of a fight against separatism?
Come, come Grasshopper; you are burying your head in the sands.
The inquiries agaist the unnecesseary unprovoked invasion into Iraq and Afghanistan are going on. And there are visible protests against these invasions every day on the Streets of New York, Paris, London and other European cities.
Why are you against this inquiry which would make SL accountable for war crimes?
Being a doormat is not excuse for atrocities committed against innocent civilians.
If we have to think of what happened in ‘ceylon’ before independence in 1948, to justify what is happenung now, we have to go back to the beginnings of recorded history of mankind – this would be a puerile exercise.
Weerawansa’s antics are clearly promoted by the government,as revealed by Gotabaya’s telephone instructions to policemen who attempted to remove the ‘protesters’.
The president has said that ‘not a single civilian’ was killed during the last days or the war.
If we are to beleive this, we are absolute morons.
If we do not, why this hullabaloo about a panel which the UNSG has appointed to advice him – not the UN – about what happened?
Grasshopper,
“Really? Then how about asking the UN to carry war crimes investigations that happend in the also few decades in Japan, Viet Nam and Iraq?”
Why? Information on these is already available. In the 1990s, lots of horrible information surfaced about US’ inhumane behaviour in the Gulf War. US claimed that it was a “SMART” war, i.e. that only strategic targets were taken out, but it emerged that they had bombed schools and hospitals and heritage buildings, and killed and maimed many children.
Again, I ask, what information has come out about SLA and LTTE conduct during the war? Why do we not know? And why is there no need to know?
“The majority of Singhalese do not oppress the minorities. You seem to have a very sinister motive to falsely express such sentiments and bring about racial hatred that has begun to heal. Yes, there has been shameful attacks by the Singhalese on Tamils but for every Singhalese person that attacked Tamils there has been a greater number who treated Tamils just as fairly as they would another Singhala person.”
Racial hatred that has begun to heal? You must be joking! How has it begun to heal? By colonizing the North and the East and providing for Sinhalese settlement there? What has been done for the Tamils that you have the nerve to claim that racial hatred has begun to heal?
If the majority of Sinhalese were not against giving equal rights to Tamils, how is it that all these decades after independence, Tamils still do not enjoy even human rights, let alone equal rights? Your country operates on a democratic system, right? You vote for leaders who represent your values, right? Why is it so easy for political leaders to play to Sinhalese chauvinism if the majority of the community is ever so fair and kind to minorities?
Why is it that when 250 thousand Tamils were placed behind barbed wire, like animals, no Sinhalese turned out to protest this inhumane treatment of their fellow-citizens? But lots of them are turning up to protest against attempts to find out the truth of the war, to stop any information from coming out about how Tamils were treated. This is their fair treatment of Tamils?
I don’t have any sinister motives. I simply want to find out what happened out there in Vanni last year. And I think it is about time you folks at least STARTED talking about rights for minorities and the Tamil issue, don’t you, considering how fair and kind you are?
And, what are your sinister motives, by the way?
“Just because America allow journalists to their battlefields, it does not make their wars justifiable or immune from war crimes investigations.”
I didn’t say it justified their wars. Nothing justifies wars. But at least everyone knows them for the jerks they are. Unlike Sri Lanka, pretending that it is the world’s hero, being the first to subjugate a terrorist force, when for all anyone knows, there might have been a genocide out there.
And what you’re conveniently forgetting here is that the American government was not involved in killing its own civilians. The SL investigation is about state terrorism.
Melodrama over, but not without a moving climax–he said he would fast to the death till the panel was withdrawn, but it seems all he wanted was the Prez to visit him and give him water!
Now who’s the “farcical idiot” now?
All I want to know is,
What more do the Sri Lankan people have to do express their solid stance in support of the War against the LTTE, and say, We genuinely don’t care about the means used to achieved the end, that’s right, after electing the same gov’t and the president…..
What about the collective rights about the majority of Sri Lanka who democratically elected govt and president ???
Dear Pearl,
Thanks for your comments.
Let us not fool ourselves by saying that each and every killing will be accounted for. SL has been drenched in violence, civil unrest and political idiocy ever since Independence. For SL to attain lasting and meaningful peace the situation has to be reversed on many accounts. First thing to be handled is/was to end the War. Decimation of LTTE was the one single, important step in the right direction. Violence that now exist, if any, pales in comparison to what Sri lankans have had to endure.
I am all for taking every step to investigate the killings and taking any remedial action humanly possibly by the Sri lankans for the damage that occured. Make no mistake, I am no a fan of Mahinda but I am against the UN telling us what to do. US was never put under scrutiny by the UN for committing war crimes! Ever! The current UN leadership continues to ignore this elephant in the room and tried (and still do) to bring Sri lankan to a war crimes tribunal just months after ending a 30 year war. Such hypocrtical action – I do not agree with. Gotta love the double standards.
I reiterate, I am NO fan of Mahinda and his actions of unethical controling 2/3rds of Sri lanka’s finances and not tolerating voices of dissent.
@ Belle
The Nuremburg trials in Germany did not merely gather evidence but brought the culprits to justice and rightly so.
While information may be available about the killings that US did in Japan, Viet Nam and Iraq, proper punitive action was NEVER EVER imposed nor enforced by the UN on the US. Also, Israel – another powerhouse of the world – has committed HEAPS of war crimes in broad day light (please do not ask me what they are, just Google it yourself). But again, UN did NOT bring them to a war crimes tribunal.
When the power houses of the world commit war crimes and is NOT brought to justice they elicit resentment among the non-power houses of the world who get scrutinised by the UN no sooner their wars end. Such shameful double standards degrade the credibility of the UN.
As I have said, for every Singhala person that has attacked Tamils there are/were a greater number that has treated Tamils as fairly and respectfully as they would do to their own. I grew up with Tamil friends and none of them had any issues with any Singhala folks and I do not know what facilities did I have that they didn’t. Belle, you only have to go to Sri Lanka and see how Tamils and Singhalese get on. IMHO, the only people who prevent the healing between the two races are a *few* men and women among the Tamil diasporic community.
As for colonising North and East, are u joking me? Every Sri lankan should have the right to go and live and buy land wherever they like anywhere within Sri lanka.
Thanks for reading.
JMC Rohana:
How can peace ever prevail and reconciliation ever take shape with the thousands of civilians butchered and buried by a murderous regime and pretends as if nothing has happened? As the saying goes, “tell the truth and shame the devil” this bloody regime will end up hiding like Saddam Hussein. Take note though this exercise is not against the people of SL but to pull out the tyrants out of their closets. Let it be also known that no matter what and how this regime tries to wriggle out from this malady, the noose around their necks is slowly but surely reaching its target. Thinking that the people’s mandate is going to save these butchers is but a pathetic attempt to “hide behind skirts”.
Just look at the banner against which the protest is going on. NO TAMIL words to be seen. That itself tells the need to continue the probe. Show me that tamils are against this probe too; then the world will listen. Till then pack the bags and go home minister.
Grasshopper,
When you are done blaming the world’s evils for why Sri Lanka doesn’t have to be accountable to the international community, can you tell me whether you think Sri Lanka has to be accountable to its own citizens? Do the people who lost their homes and families in the war, who are now rendered destitute simply because they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, have any right to know the truth of what happened in the war? Surely the misbehaviour of the Western powers does not detract from SL government’s accountability to its own citizens. That is what real sovereignty is about. Why are you all so busy screaming UN foul play when you should be screaming for your government to form a bona fide independent commission to investigate treatment of civilians during the war?
Is the scrutinizing of UN and US misdeeds a ploy to avoid accountability to citizens, a smoke screen to hide guilt?
“As I have said, for every Singhala person that has attacked Tamils there are/were a greater number that has treated Tamils as fairly and respectfully as they would do to their own. I grew up with Tamil friends and none of them had any issues with any Singhala folks and I do not know what facilities did I have that they didn’t. Belle, you only have to go to Sri Lanka and see how Tamils and Singhalese get on.”
The ethnic conflict that has raged for 30 years is not about social relations but is a political matter. It is not tea party etiquette that we’re talking about but minority rights and legislation. For every kind Sinhalese who smiles at a Tamil, there are thousands of Tamils who are war victims, for whom your smile will bring no succour for all the family members they have lost and the nightmare they have lived with for three decades.
“Also, Israel – another powerhouse of the world – has committed HEAPS of war crimes in broad day light (please do not ask me what they are, just Google it yourself).”
Why don’t you google the country that has the most UN resolutions made against it?
The difference between Israel and SL is that the former committed its crimes in broad daylight whereas the latter sneaked about in secrecy, all the while denying the secrecy as well as the crimes committed.
“IMHO, the only people who prevent the healing between the two races are a *few* men and women among the Tamil diasporic community.”
What prevents the healing between the two communities is the refusal to acknowledge mistakes and to put in place legislation that will address those mistakes.
“As for colonising North and East, are u joking me? Every Sri lankan should have the right to go and live and buy land wherever they like anywhere within Sri lanka.”
So a person with money can go and buy land in the home areas of those who have been displaced and dispossessed by war? Your ethics is very clear here indeed! It’s the ethics of thieves.
I am not talking of individuals buying land. I am referring to government involvement in settling people according to communal interests. That, by the way, is deemed illegal in your Constitution.
pearl Thevanayagam
That grasshopper is absolutely correct. It’s you who is dipping your neck in sand!
SHOW ME ONE WAR IN THE HUMAN HISTORY WHERE CIVILIANS WERE NOT HARMED!
From Alexander to Gengis Khan,Napolean to Hitler,from Churchill to George Bush,there has’t been a single war in the HISTORY OF MAN where civilians were not killed. It is a natural consequence of ANY war!
Why ask for a “clean war” when there is no clean war by definition?
Hypocrisy or Bigotry?