Comments on: Lionel Bopage: Protection of fundamental human rights is a responsibility of a democratic government

By: Lionel Bopage

Lionel Bopage — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 01:15:05 +0000

It is true that some agreements made with the Tamil political parties were unilaterally abrogated. Some other agreements were made to fail. The political leaders of the government and the opposition, and Sinhala and Tamil nationalist groups have contributed to this situation. The statement that the majority of Sinhala people is responsible for the abrogation of agreements cannot be substantiated historically or factually. I tend to believe that the majority of the Sinhalese did not play any active role in these abrogations. Politicians of all hues across the political spectrum used nationality, language and culture as tools to divide people in order to win over or safeguard their power interests and privileges.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:10:15 +0000

“But they totally failed to understand that dishonouring and jumping away from any agreement with ethnic Tamils is a part of the Sinhalese culture. It is in the DNA of most Sinhalese. ”

That’s a very racist claim. I am surprised it has been allowed here at groundviews.

By: Habibi

Habibi — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:52:58 +0000

Lionel Bopage has a point in saying that the expatriate community has a role to play in assisting the course of democracy within Sri Lanka. There are many people of Sri Lankan origin living in relatively developed democracies. Oftentimes these democracies – particularly the US, Australia, Britain, Canada – are willing to listen and assist their citizens wherever possible. I know that part of the reason why the LTTE was shown so much leniency in Australia was because their supporters exercised some degree of influence over local MPs. Maybe the same mechanism can be used to champion democracy in Sri Lanka.

As an Australian resident, I haven’t seen any such action been taken yet. Unfortunately, the framework from which this action should be taken hasn’t been assembled as yet. Or if it has, the ideological slant that the group takes marginalises the role of democracy!

By: Sam Thambipillai

Sam Thambipillai — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:58:41 +0000

I agree with Lionel Bopage that the fundamental human rights should be safeguarded in any democratic society. because the safety of any individual rests upon the granting of fundamental human rights to him.

We all know that a safe city is a just city. A safe country is a just country. And a safee world is a just world. When fundamental human rights are violated, all the safety is lost and justice is trampled upon..

There is unbelievable unsafety for the Tamils from the North and East of the former island of Ceylon. Yesterday, a Tamil law maker was murdered in a temple in cold blood.This is the third such murder within two years.

Though another law maker was murdered two years ago inside a cathedral in Batticaloa, within the high security military zone, none of the murderers, dressed in military attire, have been brought to justice. Soldiers are believed to have carried out the murder. Justice is not even attempted.

The governments of Sri Lanka have always been “eliminating the means”, political or otherwise, of repeated Tamil requests for their legitimate right to sovereignly rule themselves…The murders of Tamil law makers and many Tamil journalists are to intimidate, terrorise and decapitate any Tamil representations and views respectively. Complaints and even shouts about lack of functioning justice system for the Tamils and gross human rights violations from either the UN or the International Community never yield results. Inaction is deliberate and intentional.

Britain and the International community knew well of this but expected to achieve, at least to some extent, the end result of decolonisation through the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002 and anticipated final peace agreements. But they totally failed to understand that dishonouring and jumping away from any agreement with ethnic Tamils is a part of the Sinhalese culture. It is in the DNA of most Sinhalese. Therefore, positive and meaningful action is needed now to rectify the situation than ever before.

Britain, which believes in human rights and freedoms, is yet to completely carry out its obligation to the UN, to decolonise its forner island called Ceylon. It should call the present elected representatives from the North East, at least now, and make them draft and agree on a workable constitution for Tamil Eelam and help the people declare their country a republic within the Commonwealth. Such an action would be an exemplification of the practice of democracy and human rights from the seat of democracy. It is the only action that can ensure safety and justice to Tamils.

The people of Tamil Eelam could then be asked to accept the constitution by a referendum and elect their own law makers to the legislature. Tamil diaspora, LTTE combatants and other militants could register as voters and participate in the referendum and the elections.

Methods of avoidance of human tragedy than “punishment afterwards” is something the UN is yet to learn to make this world a safe and just place for all its inhabitants.

Violations of human rights and denial of legitimate rights of people, if timeously attended, would have averted human tragedy in Bosnia, Rwanda and Liberia.
Sixty years of trampling of human rights of Tamils is too much. At least now the world should work for a safe and just country for Tamils in the North and East.