I think the actual point is motive. If Dayan, or whichever GoSL spokesman, knowingly gave a reduced figure, is that itself criminal? If the motive was to reduce the perceived severity of the situation, and how many civilians were in danger, well, isn’t that what all governments do? Did such a claim actually add to the dangers the civilians faced? Again, part of the accusation about the figures is that the GoSL deliberately undercounted so that they could send in less supplies and allow more civilians to die in IDP camps of starvation, etc. This was also debunked at the seminar by Jeevan Thigaraja, who was involved in the IDP care, and who claimed that the GoSL departments did everything they could to feed and care for the IDPs.

No, wasn’t at the seminar at that point. That line that you refer to was the standard line of the government during the last stages, though it defenders seem to have abandoned it since. I think there’s some merit in that claim. For instance, the figure cited by the GA’s in late 2OO8 was close to 45Ok, while Imelda Sukumar’s latest estimate [somewhere in early 2OO9] if I’m not mistaken was 36Ok. So there may have been some inflation in the earlier estimate – or not. I suppose the test is whether in light of what the evidence the government had – the estimates provided by the UN, by their GA’s etc, their own real time UAV footage of the entirety of the war zone – whether they could have had the reasonable belief that the number was not in excess of 7Ok. I think you know what my answer is, and I think I know yours, so let’s wait and see. Let time be the arbiter.

Dear DB;

At that point of discussion, Aadhavan got an urgent call from nature and went out immediately to get his clothes dried. So, he didn’t hear.

Ha! Ha!!

Thanks!

What WATCHDOG trying to reiterate is a fact though, the government had erred, and the government no more denies it. It is already concluded that government figure was wrong.

Is there anything to argue about a fact?, Irrelevant.

Further,Do you think a true fact refute all other facts?

Issue is whether the the true fact provided by WATCHDOG really refute or act as a counter against the argument put forward by Dr. DJ, as aimed by WATCHDOG?

An irrelevant and futile exercise, just like applying medicine on your back to cure elephantiasis. (paya baravayata piti kara beheth bandeema).

Problem is not with the medicine, the medicine is good, but see the place where WATCHDOG is applying it.

It is an irrelevant, futile exercise. He is wasting the medicine.

Thanks!

Aadhavan, at that Marga Institute seminar on the Darusman Report, a former Vavuniya GA claimed that the numbers from previous population tallies were regarded with suspicion by the authorities because the Tigers routinely inflated the population figures in order to skim off government supplies for themselves. Not sure if you were in the audience at that point.

Velu, while the unilateral declaration of the NFZs by the GoSL was most probably a strategy to deny the Tigers the areas, this has nothing whatsoever to do with the human shields issue. The latter charg is not dependent on the NFZs. Also, there is no evidence that more civilians were killed because they moved into the NFZs. Certainly many people moved into the first NFZ where Tiger defensive positions were already situated, but the Tigers then actively moved more weapons and troops in there. In the case of the second NFZ on the coast, the civilians were already in that area before it was declared an NFZ so it is not possible to declare that their casualties were increased because they were in an NFZ.

Correction…….

“why [no] you are blaming me?”

should be corrected as

“why now you are blaming me?”

Thanks!

Dear Burning_Issue;

You asked for examples, I provided exactly the same, why no you are blaming me?

If I did not provide, what would be your response, I am clueless, dear Burning_Issue? Please help me.

Thanks!

Dear PitashtharaPuthraya;

No, I am defending the truth against the audacity.

Thanks Dear PitashtharaPuthraya!