Comments on: The struggle to go home in post war Sri Lanka: Manthuvil in the Mullativu district

By: Suresh

Suresh — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 11:36:12 +0000

Thank you, Ruki, for writing this. Thank you for seeing with sensitivity and listening with empathy. And being able to communicate what you saw and heard to your readers. Please continue your good work.

How we get this message across to the baila-singing tourists from the south (probably fed to their throats on a Rupavahini/ITN diet) is one of the biggest challenges facing our nation…..

By: Sandy

Sandy — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:26:52 +0000

How must it feel for those who have lost so much to

see sinhalese tourists gawking and gaping at war museums and going about
singing baila?

does this help in any way to reconcile?

Thank you Ruki for writing.

By: walter

walter — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 04:52:29 +0000

THE FORCES MUST BE CONFINED TO THE BARRACKS IN TIME OF PEACE.
ASSUMING THAT THERE ARE OR MAY BE A BREACH OF PEACE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH, TO FLOOD THE NORTH AND EAST WITH ARMED MILITARY MEN.

IN TIME OF PEACE, MILITARY MEN MUST NOT BE USED TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY.
THEY MUST NOT BE USED TO SELL VEGETABLES OR PERFORM ANY OTHER SERVICE
OTHER THAN FOR WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN RECRUITED.
THIS IS AGAINST ALL ACCEPTED NORMS.

THIS LEADS TO UNDEFINED PARAMETERS, LEADS TO TAKING AWAY THE FOCUS ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL APTITUDE, AND ATTITUDE, LOOSING THEIR SIGHT ON DISCIPLINE AND CAN LEAD TO FRUSTRATION AND LETHARGY.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY IT WILL CUT AND CHOP THE USURPED POWERS OF THE DEFENSE MINISTRY. THE DEFENSE MINISTRY IS NOT OMNIPOTENT.
WHY HAVE WE CENTERED ALL THE POWERS INTO THE HANDS OF ONE MAN?.
POWER CORRUPTS, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY.

ONLY IN A DICTATORSHIP THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN, THEREFORE YOU CAN SAFELY CONCLUDE THAT WE HAVE A ‘DEMOCRATIC DICTATORSHIP’ VOTED IN BY THE MAJORITY, WHO ARE BOUND TOGETHER BY THE SINHALA LANGUAGE AND RELIGION
THIS POSITION WILL NEVER CHANGE IN SRI LANKA AT LEAST FOR ANOTHER CENTURY.

By: Orion

Orion — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 19:04:21 +0000

Thanks Ruki. What and how can people who care take actions that would solve the problem that exists now beside [edited out] the Rajapasas and the armed forces like some Tamils, Muslims and many Sinhalese do. I have read so many observations I could, after the first paragraph, predict the rest of the article. I can guess how the Baila singing tourists, the Rajapaksas and their majority supporters look at such sympathetic articles. What actions will make them think and act to bring solace to the suffering people.

By: Citizen

Citizen — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 13:48:01 +0000

It is good if independent reports such as these are published. If such reports can be compiled and submitted to an NGO to verify and assist the victims in taking legal action against the govt and military for violation of fundemental rights it would be possible to end this type of hegemony.
While there are numerous cases such as these, unless the victims unite and take legal action as a common body, the perpetrators will be able to continue with such actions with impunity.

By: Anpu

Anpu — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:36:16 +0000

In reply to Celerati Editorial. Many thanks Ruki and to GV. Keep on doing the good work. I agree with Celerati Editorial.

By: silva

silva — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 06:12:35 +0000

Thank you, Ruki

Pl keep reporting the unreported.

Commonwealth parliamentarians got garlanded by army commander in Jaffna and say everything is fine.

By: Celerati Editorial

Celerati Editorial — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 03:59:43 +0000

Thanks Ruki for sharing this testimony. These are small gestures, but it’s fundamental to keep on reminding. My feat is that time will heal the most superficial scars and bury the nightmares. They won’t disappear, but they will be part of the landscape, of the soul of the victims. The world easy forgets tragedies of yesterday, because there are plenty of today’s tragedies.
Yet, we must keep on telling.

Thanks again