Comments on: So close and yet so far: From Pooneryn to peace in Sri Lanka

By: T. Douglas

T. Douglas — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 12:23:04 +0000

Ujey"

THE WORLD KNOWS THERE IS GENOCIDE IN SRI LANKA.

SRI LANKA IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WAORLD THAT BOMBARD ITS OWN CITIZENS AND LATELY USING CLUSTER BOMBS ON CIVILIAN POPULATION.

OVER 1 MILLION TAMILS FLED SRI LANKA BECAUSE OF THE ATROCITIES OF THE SUCCESSIVE SRI LANKAN GOVTS. AGAINST THE INNOCENT TAMIL CIVILIANS. THIS IS HISTORY AND CANNOT BE ERASED OUT.

By: UJay

UJay — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:36:28 +0000

Sam, Douglas,
You are talking about genocide & racism from Sinhalese. Can you write why Sinhalese & Muslims living in Norther province were chased out ? What happened to other Tamil liberation groups in 80's ? Who killed more Tamils, last 30 years. Sinhalese, Muslims or LTTE ? What happened to Tamil political elite. Who killed gentle Sri Lankan called Lakshman Kadirgamar ? Who massacred meditaing monks in Arrantala ? Who attacked religious places like Sri Maha bodhi or Kandy temple ? Here you are taking about Sinhalese racism.
MG Ramachandran also had a dream. " His dream was to create a great Tamil nation with Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

By: T. DOUGLAS

T. DOUGLAS — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:29:48 +0000

AJITH! REMEMBER EVEN INDIA SUPPORTED SRI LANKA TO BE IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BUT FAILED MISERABLY. THE WORLD KNOWS THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CARRIED OUT SYSTEMATICALLY AGAINST THE MINORITY TAMILS AND THE MEDIA PERSONNELS BY THE RAJAPAKSE JUNTA.

By: Ajith

Ajith — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:17:16 +0000

Well Mr. Douglas, UN human rights council is a 47 member council (http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/) that gets elected from time to time as I understand – correct me if I am wrong I'm not an expert in this area. Out of the 47 seats 4 of the seats are held by Asian states. If I recall correctly Sri Lanka simply failed to get “re-elected” – not “kicked out”. Hardly surprising considering Sri Lanka at the time was on a war footing. Given the circumstances it makes sense to appoint states that are not in an awkward position to represent the objectives of the council. To carry out its agenda to the fullest extent. So they elected Japan, Bahrain, South Korea and Pakistan this time around. Note that India wasn't elected either!

Anyway according to your logic any state not being in the council implies they are gross violators of human rights. Thus all nations other than 47 out of the 192 member states are gross violators of human rights. Given the fact that Asia only has 4 seats in this council, only 4 Asian countries are classified as “saint” nations at any given time. I am also quite certain media issues had nothing to do with it. It was simply because of some NGO's were shouting foul. We all know some NGOs actively engage in propaganda activities but that's there to be debated.

It is easy to twist facts and make it sound so bad in a propaganda scenario. Also writing it in all caps doesn't make an impact either.

By: T.DOUGLAS

T.DOUGLAS — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:02:44 +0000

SRI LANKA WAS KICKED OUT OF THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION BECAUSE OF WORST HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION CARRIED OUT BY THE RAJAPAKSE GOVT. AGAINST THE MINORITY TAMILS AND THE MEDIA PERSONNELS.

By: Justin

Justin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:43:10 +0000

"I hear that the Tigers are losing ground; is there a chance for peace in Sri Lanka?" was a question put to me by a German citizen. I said to him "the Tigers may be losing battles but as to who will win the war is yet to be seen because the Tigers are fighting a long drawn out guerella war"

I further explained that the Sri Lankan state spends about Rs 50,000,000 or US 500,000 to kill every Tiger combatant. This money is, if not for the war, would have normally been used for creating jobs and development in the South and not in the North East.

Therefore, the Tigers have successfully dragged the state into the trap of twin disaster, namely, economic disaster and no development for the South.

By: SahaSamvada

SahaSamvada — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 01:05:25 +0000

Sam, you people supposedly began the 'armed revolution' claiming that other peaceful methods had failed and fought and are still fighting a bloody war for an absolute utopia, 'Tamil Eelam'. After all these years and the endless numbers of lives lost and are still being lost you still believe that Eelam is the only solution in restoring the human rights and dignity of the Tamil people. …and you say that I am dreaming!

You and your 'revolutionaries' have missed several opportunities to bring about a negotiated settlement, not even hesitating to kill your own brethren who chose to dissent. In the hypothetical situation of Tamil Eelam becoming a reality what is the guarantee that you will not start fighting internally based on caste, regional animosity and revenge?

By: Ajith

Ajith — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:07:11 +0000

Sam and T Douglas. Since both of you loosely use the term genocide why not include the countless muslims and sinhalese murdered by the LTTE in your genoicde? LTTE's ethnic cleansing of the North? Raiding Sinhalese/Muslim border villages, raping and murdering innocent civilians so LTTE can claim eelam land? Eelam is made out of violation of human rights. Never ever humane people will let that eelam exist that is built upon the blood of innocent people.
Btw, I don't search I read and these and are facts I come across. I am sorry I don't read pro LTTE propaganda where you get your facts from. For that I pity you. You never adequately counter argue my claims either. Just say "genocide" this and "genocide" that. Never you make a factually based argument nor present evidence. It's just the eelamist propaganda repeating a mantra over n over. I think for the intelligent readers here your motives are clear.

By: T.Douglas

T.Douglas — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:30:17 +0000

Genocide in Sri Lanka Sri Lankan government and its armed forces brutal, violent, and relentless military operations in the Vanni area forcing over 300,000 Tamil civilians to flee their normal homes. These people are displaced many times in the past few months living in subhuman, degraded and pathetic conditions in many makeshift camps, under the trees, schools, open air and uninhabitable area in the land of the suffering. These people have no access or very limited access to food, medicine, and other basic essentials. Drinking water is scarce, and sanitation is virtually non existent. The places where they eat and sleep are uninhabitable for any human being.

By: P-G Barebones

P-G Barebones — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:28:10 +0000

I am not sure whether the remark "the LTTE's conventional military defeat is imminement" is a reliable assessment. It looks to me that the military failed to take Kilinochchi despite strenoous efforts for 3 months. Pooneryn perhaps is a consolation prize to contain public disappointment.

Anyway, though Kilinochchci may or may not fall by say year's end, my key disagreement with the author is that the LTTE will be forced to give up conventional warfare and revert to guerrilla tactics soon. To be able to fight a large army on about 5 fronts and hold on for so long suggests some depth in conventional military capability, logistics, command & control etc.

While I am not attempting to predict the eventual outcome, my considered view is that conventional warfare (prior to, if ever, a return to guerrilla attrition) will go on for quite a while more – maybe even an year or two. Then what next? Nobody can tell.