Well, you say you understand and speak Tamil. I believe you understand and Sinhala too. Before going to the Context, let us face the facts. The Rupavahini commentator specifically says to the effect that Ganesan called the people to TAKE UP ARMS.

Nowhere in his speech has Ganesan said anything about Arms, the criminal reference. And he challenges the government to come out with more evidence to this effect. So it is for the government that is the Rupavahini news unit to come out with more evidence, if any and also to translate the total speech available with them in all languages. Mr/Ms. Sittingnut better not call Groundviews to do this.

Now let us face the context.

Yes, LTTE, a terror outfit was engaged in terror tactics during CFA period and the time of this speech. The famous boycott of the presidential elections came later. It is also true that this festival was organized by some LTTE front organization.

But please note that this was the period of transition. Transformation of the terror outfit LTTE into a democratic political party was the very sprit of the CFA. CFA permitted LTTE to establish political department and open political offices in north east, thus the Pongu Thamil festivals. Therefore taking part in such festivals and delivering speeches were not considered illegal then. Ganesan and many others including governmental ministers and diplomats went to LTTE territory and engaged with it in their own unique styles. Some are ministers in today’s government. These were legitimate engagements with the Terror organization. All these occurred with respective sincere hopes towards the democratization of LTTE. If there are any suspicions on the authenticity of the visits of Ganesan or for that matter of any other visitor, the government of the day can bring charges with evidences. End of the day, if LTTE ever democratized itself due to the engagements of Ganesan and others or if GoSL sincerely allowed this democratization process to be succeeded are parts of the larger question. It is very unfair to single out Ganesan and bring them around his neck alone.

I heard Ganesan over the Rupavahini news in his now famous visual speech highlighting the necessity for equality between Sinhalese and Tamils as the precondition for unity and cautioning if not it may lead to separation. And before ending his speech he uttered the words in Tamil “I think (Ganesan thinks) that this assembly sends this message to the world”. This is Ganesan’s understanding of the event. Why should it be only the justification of the violence of the LTTE? Why cannot it be the forewarning in the best interests of the Tamils within Lankan state? Doesn’t Mr/Ms. Sittingnut care to note this? Besides can’t a democratically elected people’s representative of the oppressed Tamils speak out the truth vibrantly? Those who always take the sides of the oppressor and JUSTIFY the state terror may not understand. But Ganesan in his explanation clearly condemns all kinds of terror including those of LTTE and GoSL.

Common, it is news now that it was only JNP Leader Vimal Weerawansa MP who called for Ganesan’s arrest. Therefore Ganesan was obviously referring to JNP/JVP past in his explanations. Weerawansa even said Ganesan took part in LTTE Hero’s day festival so Ganesan had do deny it. Neither Ganesan looks morally bankrupt nor using any lame argument finger pointing at JVP atrocities.

It is the GoSL that always attempts to evade culpability by pointing the finger at LTTE atrocities. GoSL as the legitimate state has far greater obligations and responsibilities than terrorist LTTE. Ganesan very clearly explains these matters. Pls watch Ganesan’s 7:49 visual explanation fully.

At last Mr/Ms. Sittingnut describes the accounts of state complicities in the White van abductions as absurd unsubstantiated conspiracy. These are well substantiated by credible human rights organization long before. Please go read and see. The recent incident of shame less white van abduction when a popular Tamil daily editor was abducted and later after the diplomatic pressure was described as an arrest. This last confession of Mr/Ms. Sittingnut tells all.

This will be their hope, but is it a possible alternative? There are nearly half a million mines in nothern province. Do you want these people to be realesed to such areas? Then you’ll start accusing that GOSL released these civillians without clearing the field of mines. You are tactfully hiding this glaring truth. It may take even two years to clear the mines. The process is a painstakingly slow one. If the international agencies are in a fear of an humanitarian crisis, the solution is not to accuse GOSL, but to fund enough to deploy adequate de-mining staff in the once battle fields. Media are well aware of the fact, but people like you keep your biased mind shut about this issue.

Your example makes no sense. Yes, there is no equality at a checkpoint, no arguments there. But let’s not confuse cause and effect shall we? In the absence of the LTTE there would be no need to be suspicious of any average individual, or indeed even have a checkpoint. But under the praticalities of the situation, is there any other realistic response? The bottom line is that thanks to the LTTE, a suicide bomber is also invariably Tamil, so racial profiling is inevitable. This happens to innocent arabs across the world. I’m sorry, don’t expect that equality to emerge until the scourge of the LTTE is wiped out.

We are all stopped in our cars because of drunk drivers. Should we all take offense at being suspcted? What does equality even have to do with it? It’s just practicality.

If you have a more realistic alternative that can save lives while preserving the dignity of individuals, we would be happy to hear it. Please list some widespread examples of real discrimination if they exist, not ones which are a direct or indirect result of the LTTE (surprisingly, the examples seem virtually non-existent, so I am happy to be educated of any).

context since the writer of this post chose not to mention it ( why is that?)-
ltte is nothing but a terrorist organization using armed violence to get what it wants , which it did throughout without a break including during so called cfa ( during the time of this speech) .
ltte fronts organized the “festival”.
ltte mass murders, including its leader, were honored at these festivals.
ppl in the area in which it was held were denied their basic right including their right to vote by ltte.

does writer deny any of that? (btw does ganeshan deny any of that ?)

visuals and clothing including mano ganeshan’s are clear for all to see . maybe that is why this writer neglected to embed the that video in the post?

what does a speech made in such a place mean in context? i think what thew writer call gosl distorted propaganda got it right
this is true even if we accept ganeshan’s own “explanation” of his words.
for instance what does “no alternative” means in such a context ? anyone care to explain? is that not a justification of ltte violence ?

why don’t you post the full speech in tamil and in other languages in written form. then we can see. including how much distortion you and “gov propaganda” are engaged in .
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in his response ganeshan advance the lame argument that jvp terrorists also engaged in terrorism and still celebrate those ( thankfully and deservedly killed ) terrorists in similar festivals ? so?
one has to be morally bankrupt to use the example of one kind of terrorists ( or support for same) to excuse other terrorists ( or support for same).
nothing excuses terrorism . period.
btw opponents of jvp rightly use jvp’s past ( including speeches made by it current leaders in support of its past activities ) against it during elections.

in addition to lameness of that argument of ganeshan, there is also a difference; jvp no longer uses armed organized violence to get its end. ltte was doing that during that speech . it never stopped . does writer of post disagree?

ganeshan has same rights as jvp. and face the consequence of his past and present actions as they do.

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btw ganeshan’s absurd gov run white van conspiracy theories are still well…. conspiracy theories. totally unsubstantiated .

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questions asked by vic are about your support for mano ganeshan and your characterization of him
and your view of “tamil ealam”
they are very clear. read them and see

here you evade the questions. and go off in a tangent for cover. that is called intellectual dishonesty
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dinidu de alwis:
i think ppl can see who has a case of selective blindness and selective vision when it comes to ltte and its supporters even when there is audio visual evidence.

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will my comment be censored to maintain selective blindness, as happed here in the past?