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Sri Lanka seat on UN human rights council unjustified
Iraq Sun
Thursday 15th May, 2008
((Op-ed) Desmond Tutu - The Guardian)
It would seem self-evident that a country which tortures and kidnaps its own people has no place on the world's leading human rights body.
Apparently not: Sri Lanka, despite repeated criticism for its human rights record, is running for re-election to the UN human rights council, with a vote to be held in New York on May 21.
Governments owe it to Sri Lankan human rights victims - and to victims of human rights abuses around the world - to ensure that the Sri Lankan bid fails. This will be an important test of the 47-member council, to show that the UN's standards for it will be honoured.
If Sri Lanka is defeated this year, that will be important not just for the Sri Lankan human rights leaders who, at great personal risk, have called for Sri Lanka's defeat, and for Sri Lankan civil society. In combination with the humiliating defeat last year of Belarus, it will send an important signal for the future: governments with track records of serious human rights abuses do not belong on a body set up to protect the victims of such abuses.
Sri Lanka has failed to honour its pledges of upholding human rights standards and cooperating with the UN since joining the council two years ago. Indeed, its human rights record has worsened during that time. The Sri Lankan idea of cooperation with the UN, meanwhile, has been to condemn senior UN officials (including the high commissioner for human rights, Louise Arbour, and the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs, John Holmes) as "terrorists" or "terrorist sympathisers."
The systematic abuses by Sri Lankan government forces are among the most serious imaginable. Government security forces summarily remove their own citizens from their homes and families in the middle of the night, never to be heard from again. Torture and extrajudicial killings are widespread. When the human rights council was established, UN members required that states elected must themselves "uphold the highest standards" of human rights. On that count, Sri Lanka is clearly disqualified.
The separatist Tamil Tigers have used despicable tactics in their war against the government, including frequent suicide bombings. But that can in no way excuse the scale of government abuses.
Fortunately, the news from the council is not all bad. Countries running from other regions of the world have credible claims to be leaders in promoting human rights. Argentina and Chile, which suffered terribly from torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the past, have become leading supporters of human rights, and now seek to join the council. On the African slate, there are some true human rights leaders, and - thankfully - no candidacy from Zimbabwe or Sudan. In the entire world, Sri Lanka stands out as the most clearly unqualified state seeking election to the council this year, and the place where things are getting unambiguously worse.
Defeating the Sri Lankan candidacy would be a comfort to the people of Sri Lanka. It would place international pressure on the government to respect human rights, and to accept a UN human rights monitoring mission, which it has stubbornly refused. It would help make the council a place where true human rights leaders in all regions can help lead the world towards greater respect for human life and human dignity. An outcome, in short, that would benefit those who care about human rights in the world. Any other result would be a travesty.  Email this story to a friend
Comments on this story
| By Patrick Enright, 05-15-08, 08:59 PM |
Hey Tutu hypocrite, Conditions in South Africa far worse than Sri LankaWell said truesrilankan, selva, mowlana, ranil and Sivakumar. What many in the West fail to see is the reality in today’s South Africa - which Desmond Tutu obviously is very comfortable with! Under the ANC and the Mbeki government, South Africa is daily spiralling into gang rape, armed robbery, car jackings, torture, rape and murder of white farmers. Its like Zimbabwe on a gigantic scale. In the meantime, South Africa’s Indians are increasingly alienated from the black dominated government. The LTTE has become the South African Indians pet cause due to their inability to address their own frustrations. What a perfect arrangement for the corrupt ANC government. Distract Indian disenchantment with the black dominated government by focussing on far away Sri Lanka, a country most South Africans know next to nothing about! |
| By kana47, 05-15-08, 09:00 PM |
Theres no place for "BARBERIANS"How can we expect generosity and human nature from the sons of Lion.They are animals and not humans.If they are humans and Buddha’s followers, they don’t pluck tamils' eyes and put them in front of Buddha’s feet and blast the grenade in the the genital of Tamil women.There is no place for these barberians in any place in this civilized world. |
| By Alex Pandian, 05-15-08, 09:08 PM |
Sri Lanka The Soul Deep Raciest country in the worldIf Sri lanka would have been eleminated from UN in 1983 after Govt sponsered terrorism, we would’nt
be having any problem in SL now and also we would
have saved 100,000 lives and a Trillion dollar.
LTTE is soley fighting for Tamils political rights . |
| By Tami Payan, 05-15-08, 09:12 PM |
Terror State for UN Human right?LOL I’ve never seen any state worse than Sorry Lanka. No seat for terrorists running state. |
| By Sivakumar, 05-15-08, 09:17 PM |
There is no such thing as "State terrorism" - more LTTE lies and propogandaAha, the whole world can see how propoganda articles and ill-informed statements by people such as Tutu give LTTE barbarians license to spread lies and racism against Sinhalese and other non-Tamil people. There is no such thing as “State” terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism. The Sri Lankan government doesnt deliberately target civilians. The Sri Lankan army could have won this war ages ago, if they were less concerned about civilian casualties, if they behaved like the Americans in Iraq or Afghanistan. The LTTE forcibly recruits children and sends suicide bombers into public places. The LTTE is destroying the Tamil people and unless they agree to negotiate in good faith, the LTTE must be wiped off the face of the planet for the good of all mankind. |
| By Alex Pandian, 05-15-08, 09:21 PM |
Sri Lanka The Soul Deep Raciest country in the worldIf Sri lanka would have been eleminated from Un human rights council after its 1983 nefarious
state sponsored terror we would’nt be having any problem now.
Finaly World wake up after 100,000 deaths and over a Trillion Dollar loss of welath.
LTTE is soly fighting for Tamil’s political rights. |
| By Paskaralingam, 05-16-08, 02:31 AM |
Tutu explain the definition of human rights violationIf fighting against terrorism is considered as human rights violation then most of the countries in UN (including US and UK) should not get a seat.
Sri Lanka is fighting against ruthless LTTE Tamil terrorists, who have destroyed this peaceful country. Who is killing thousands of innocent people through suicide bomb attacks. Can someone please tell me fighting against these terrorists can be categorized as human rights violation?
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| By Deaka, 05-15-08, 11:29 PM |
The dangerous list of “EMINENT TERRORISTS” Compiled by the righteous government of the failed state of Sri Lanka
⢠Louise Arbour Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
⢠Allan Rock, Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict for UN.
⢠Erik Solheim, Minister of International Development, Norway.
⢠Bishop Desmond Tutu, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town; Nobel Prize laureate 1984, the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism, The Gandhi Peace Prize of India.
⢠The LTTE, Freedom fighters in the island of Sri Lanka
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| By EyeOpener, 05-15-08, 11:44 PM |
Put the facts before emotions!Most of the comments made here are the display of hatred towards the country called SriLanka. Some of them may not have visited this island for many years.
Many tamils have memories frozen in time make silly comments. But the country have moved forward with a new generation that wants to live a peaceful life and looking for a permenant solution.
Who violates the human rights?
A brainwashed pregnant woman blowing herself up killing many innocent civilians
or
A country fighting the most ruthless terror group on the planet to keep the country together.
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| By EyeOpener, 05-15-08, 11:45 PM |
Put the facts before emotions!Most of the comments made here are the display of hatred towards the country called SriLanka. Some of them may not have visited this island for many years.
Many tamils have memories frozen in time make silly comments. But the country have moved forward with a new generation that wants to live a peaceful life and looking for a permenant solution.
Who violates the human rights?
A brainwashed pregnant woman blowing herself up killing many innocent civilians
or
A country fighting the most ruthless terror group on the planet to keep the country together.
|
| By Sundar Velu, 05-15-08, 10:51 PM |
Sri Lanka is a terror StateSixty years ago, the Tamils of Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, fought for the freedom of the country from the British rule, but today the Tamils have been reduced to a state of second class citizens in the country of their birth. Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and other Tamil patriots of old must be fretting in their graves for the part they played in helping the release of the Sinhalese politicians involved in the Sinhalese, Muslim riots of 1915. The greed to hang on to absolute power has blinded the Sinhalese politicians to heap untold discriminations against not only the Tamils, but all the minorities who call Sri Lanka their mother land.
None of the Tamil politicians who were in the forefront at that time of independence had the foresight to ask for secession from the Sinhalese State in the same way as the Pakistani leader the late Mohamed Ali Jinna for the Pakistani people from India. Their [Tamils]trust on the Sinhalese leaders at that time as well as the assurances given by the British that the constitution had sufficient safe guards might have made them to accept the unitary form of government that was recommended by the Soulbury Commission. The Sinhalese leaders betrayed the trust placed by the minority communities and have in the course of sixty years of independence sent the minority communities from pillar to post signing pacts and having talks and what not losing not only thousands of lives but also the right of life in the land of their birth.
The racial riot of 1958 was the first major riot involving the Tamil and the Sinhalese communities in Sri Lanka, which was a well planned attack that has continued periodically even after fifty long years. Thousands of innocent Tamils were killed or injured and their homes and valuables were destroyed in front of their eyes. In the aftermath of that riot, the Governor General of that time Sir Oliver Goonatilleke arranged to ship the Tamil citizens to their homeland in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Ships, trains and even planes were provided free to transport all those who were willing to leave. Little was known then that it was a ploy and the first one at it to segregate the Tamils from Colombo and other large cities. The security forces were also sent to safe guard the Tamils in their homeland. Those who came then as saviors continued to remain with the Tamils as oppressors for the last fifty years. In the article âSituation Reportâ by Iqbal Athas written for the Sunday Times of Ceylon dated February 24, 2008, the effects of war in Sri Lanka is described as follows: âThe ongoing Eelam War IV has assumed a more fearsome character absent during the previous phases. Most Sri Lankans are forced to feel the effect of the war than any time before. It is not only when traveling on the road, particularly in buses. Parents live in trepidation till children who leave home for school return. There is anxiety among families when their breadwinners delay returning home. On days when guerilla bomb explosions or attacks are reported, police stations as well as media outlets are deluged more with telephone calls seeking information. On an average a civilian at least has one encounter with a check point if they set out on the road, be it in the city of Colombo or most other areasâ.
Mr. Athas is fully aware that the poor residents of the provinces of North and East of the land called Sri Lanka have endured far more restrictions, hardships and ignominy that their benign government has imposed on them not for a month or year but for five decades. The enactment of the prevention of terrorism act and the brutal treatment meted to the Tamils and other minorities are far numerous which this media member pretends not to know, or does not want to remember. The number of innocent Tamils of all ages, mercilessly killed by the indiscriminate bombing that started in 1956 and which continues even today never touched the heart of this War correspondent. Has he forgotten the fear that gripped him when his house was surrounded by mobs after his article about the purchase of military hardware and the commissions that accrued to those in authority? What about the anxiety and fear that he endured when police security that was given to him under the guise of being a target of the tigers, was denied consequent to the publication of that article? As a member of the minority community his services are valued only as long as he is useful to the government in power. Crossing the path of those in high places will earn for him abduction, death and un-ceremonial disposal.
The people of Jaffna or any other town or village in the provinces of the Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka have not only been suffering from the fear of attacks by the bombs from the governments planes and multi barreled rockets fired by the army, they continue to endure with shortages of food and essentials of every day life. There is no freedom for these people to move about even to meet their friends or relations. Living in an open prison without knowing what they are to have for the next meal or will or when their children will come back from the school, has been their lament for not a month or year but over five decades.
It was not their choice. This situation was the creation of the governments in power in failing to find a political solution in the post independence period of sixty years. The old and infirm have no proper recourse to receive medical care or treatment. Many seniors have died because of inadequate care or have fallen victims to bombs or bullet of the security forces. The disposals of their mortal remains were comparable to those of stray dogs. The wells, which were the source for water for drinking, washing or baths, have become the repositories of bodies of the inhabitants who were killed by the armed thugs of the government of Sri Lanka. There is enough evidence to suspect that they could be the work of the supporters of the government, who entered Parliament as coalition members and now are keen to create panic to capture power.
The government and the security forces must by now know that the failure in controlling or eradicating of bombings or bomb scares despite the innumerable number of check points and cordon and search operations targeting the innocent Tamils in every part of Sri Lanka is because the perpetrators are members of the party, who entered Parliament in a coalition with the present government who play the dual role of supporting the government one day and organizing protest rallies on another day.
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| By csj, 05-15-08, 10:37 PM |
Re:GoSL is acheived their Human Rights Report/West, stop criticising Sri Lanka and start helping them to defeat terrorROHITHA BOGOLLAGAMA’S ILL-REASONED AND ERROR-FILLED RESPONSE TO THE U.S.STATE DEPARTMENT’S HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT ON SRI LANKA |
| By Antony Selvan, 05-15-08, 10:41 PM |
Sinhala Terror StatePlease keep out terror state like Sri Lanka out of UN and Out this world.
More than 200,000 humans were killed by Sri Lankan Terror forces. Sri Lankan Arm forces are terrorist.
Sri Lankan forces killed more than 200,000 innocent civilians in the name of protecting their county. Back in the 70âs Sri Lankan terror state genocide more than 70,000 Sinhalese youths. Now same State terrorist forces are responsible for killing more than 130,000 Tamil civilians.
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| By Kuna, 05-15-08, 11:15 PM |
Re: Sri Lanka Unsuitable for U.N Human Rights BodyTamil citizens in Sri Lanka are in a quandary due to alarming and dangerous level of escalation in war crimes, state terrorism and dire rights violations by the Sri Lankan government against them. Especially last three years alone, half a million Tamil people were internally displaced and 5,800 people have been killed.
Sri Lankan state sponsored crimes with impunities against its own citizens were widely reported by many world reputable organizations like New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), London-Based, Amnesty International (AI), Hong Kong-Based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), UNHRC, ICRC, ACF, IIGEP and many more world leaders and human rights activists said Sri Lanka is a dangerous place for any aid workers, journalists, religious leaders, children to be in and the Sri Lankan government seriously not interested to investigate the war crimes against its Tamil citizens. These facts and statements from all these organizations are widely reported in world media.
Tamils fell victim to the repeated state-sponsored pogroms of 1956, 1957, 1977 and 1983 where thousands of thousands Tamils were burnt alive, beaten to deaths and their hard earned properties were destroyed when they were forced or made to live among the Sri Lankan Sinhalese which is one of the theme Sinhalese use for their propaganda purposes around the world to justify their genocidal agenda against Tamils.
Sri Lankan Security forces (SF) are known to have carried out enforced abductions, indiscriminate ambushes, attacks and killings on Tamil civilians including children, elected officials, religious leaders, journalists and aid workers. Sri Lanka also known to have obstructs the work of the U.N. council’s own appointed human rights experts, ignores their recommendations, publicly attacks senior UN officials who speak out on human rights issues, and has been unwilling to engage in serious discussions regarding UN human rights monitoring in the country.
In Sri Lanka, 14 journalists were killed in recent years, 8 journalists were subjected to abductions, 4 were imprisoned, 5 electronic broadcasts were blocked, 1 website blocked, 3 records of suppressive laws against media and countless number of enforced harassments against media and media personnel.
The U.N., worldâs highest body should hold the supposedly elected Sri Lankan democratic government responsible for not treating all its citizens equally and fairly embarked on the systematic genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, commit serious war crimes and worst human rights violations against its Tamil citizens.
Electing Sri Lanka to the 47-member Council, the United Nations' leading human rights body will send very wrong messages to member states on their rights standard in their respective countries of their citizens.
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| By Truth be Told, 05-15-08, 11:22 PM |
state terrorism to sexism, anything we are missing?''Hello Mrs. TRUTH BE TOLD, for your information the separations, segregations and the root cause of ethnic violence were the British themselves
-By HM Lizzy, 05-15-08, 06:10 PM''
Is that supposed to be a put down? Labeling one 'Mrs.' as if there is something inferior about being female? Wouldn’t expect much else from racially motivated Sri Lanka supporters, after all most forms of bigotry go together. However we do agree that the British are to blame, but as I stated only in that they took 3 independent kingdoms: Tamil North, Kandian centre (Sinhalese) and Sinhala South and merged them into one false country. Just as they have done in numerous places that continue to bleed to this day.
Of course the Sinhalese now don’t want to give up what was laid in their laps by the British. Just as the state continues to occupy Tamil lands evicting Tamils as they go (still continuing in the so called liberated Eastern province) they would love to do the same all over the island, ensuring that the Tamil nation would never have a voice in governing their own affairs and would live solely on the whim of the majority.
After decades of democratic process to try and address this failed, Tamil youth took up arms, while many of their methods are unsavory, where would the Tamil people be if not for them. Every time your government disappears, tortures, or murders a Tamil civilian you are proving the LTTE right all along. All the screaming at those who point out the obvious, such as Bishop Tutu, is still not going to change the stark reality of what your 'nation' has become.
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| By | Absolute Truth |, 05-15-08, 11:49 PM |
Sinhalese Are the Biggest Racists in the worldThe Sinhalese are the worst type of racists in the world. Tamils of Tamil Eelam are probably the most educated oppressed people in the world. The Sri Lankan government and it’s polity and its people in the south will go through a lot of pain and suffering for generations.. .. ..wait till Tamils get Jets, this war will be easily over.. .. ..Long live Tamil Eelam and Peace to our Neighbour Sri Lanka!!!!! |
| By Godaya, 05-15-08, 11:51 PM |
Unfounded lies by the westAnswer to a mentally ill Kana47....
Theres no place for “BARBERIANS”
How can we expect generosity and human nature from the sons of Lion.They are animals and not humans.If they are humans and Buddhaâs followers, they donât pluck tamils' eyes and put them in front of Buddhaâs feet and blast the grenade in the the genital of Tamil women.There is no place for
these barbarians in any place in this civilized world.
Kana !!!!!!!! are you seriously mentally ill to state the above comment. Have you ever touched your feet in SL or are you a another second generation LTTE sympathizer living in the Western world dreaming about a EELAM fantacy land.
Tamils are only count to 4.6 % of the population at the moment and 95% out of them living peacefully in government controlled areas minding their own business. Yes If you are a terrorist!!! army will come after you and destroy the cancer for the benefit of future generations. Crushing a ruthless and murderous gang cannot be interpreted as a human rights violation...otherwise whole world will be governed by gangs like LTTE, Al Quida, Hisbulla or Hamas.
So ... Kana47 stop dreaming...get to the real world and... as sri lankan we are glad that you have never been to our loving country and dont even think about returning. |
| By Ramu,Canada, 05-16-08, 12:04 AM |
Democratic Terrorist Srilanka.After Independence from British,Srilanka never behaved like a civilised country.Always crushing the Ethnic tamils by using their terrorist security forces.History of violence against tamil people.Pogroms in 1956,1958,1965,1977,1980 and 1983.After 1983 continuous killing of tamils uptodate.The Srilankan government are the terrorist.Not the LTTE.This rogue state Srilanka should not be included to sit par with decent countries like Canada,USA,UK,Germany,Norway,Europian Union,Japan,South Africa and lot other well behaved countries in UN Human Rights Council. |
| By Godaya, 05-15-08, 11:50 PM |
Unfounded lies by the westAnswer to a mentally ill Kana47....
Theres no place for “BARBERIANS”
How can we expect generosity and human nature from the sons of Lion.They are animals and not humans.If they are humans and Buddhaâs followers, they donât pluck tamils' eyes and put them in front of Buddhaâs feet and blast the grenade in the the genital of Tamil women.There is no place for
these barbarians in any place in this civilized world.
Kana !!!!!!!! are you seriously mentally ill to state the above comment. Have you ever touched your feet in SL or are you a another second generation LTTE sympathizer living in the Western world dreaming about a EELAM fantacy land.
Tamils are only count to 4.6 % of the population at the moment and 95% out of them living peacefully in government controlled areas minding their own business. Yes If you are a terrorist!!! army will come after you and destroy the cancer for the benefit of future generations. Crushing a ruthless and murderous gang cannot be interpreted as a human rights violation...otherwise whole world will be governed by gangs like LTTE, Al Quida, Hisbulla or Hamas.
So ... Kana47 stop dreaming...get to the real world and... as sri lankan we are glad that you have never been to our loving country and dont even think about returning. |
| By Ramu,Canada, 05-16-08, 12:13 AM |
Democratic Terrorist Srilanka.After Independence from British,Srilanka never behaved like a civilised country.Always crushing the Ethnic tamils by using their terrorist security forces.History of violence against tamil people.Pogroms in 1956,1958,1965,1977,1980 and 1983.After 1983 continuous killing of tamils uptodate.The Srilankan government are the terrorist.Not the LTTE.This rogue state Srilanka should not be included to sit par with decent countries like Canada,USA,UK,Germany,Norway,Europian Union,Japan,South Africa and lot other well behaved countries in UN Human Rights Council. |
| By Santhiran, 05-16-08, 05:13 AM |
De- colonise Ceylon by due processThe first report made to colonial office recognised that the island of Ceylon was a Hindu province . Mahindha thero preached Budhism to Theva Namipiya Thesan in Tamil . Many chieftains singned the Kandyan Pact in Tamil. Kaluthurai was known as kanthan Thurai . Sinhala regime enjoy all privileges of the UN while resisting violentely to fulfil its obligation.
SriLanka as collapsed , and failed state , is not entitled to seek a seat in the UN Human rights council.
If SriLanka is elected to HRC, it would be an open international declaration that the Members of Council are not serious of its aims and mandate .
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| By Santhiran, 05-16-08, 05:15 AM |
De- colonise Ceylon by due processThe first report made to colonial office recognised that the island of Ceylon was a Hindu province . Mahindha thero preached Budhism to Theva Namipiya Thesan in Tamil . Many chieftains singned the Kandyan Pact in Tamil. Kaluthurai was known as kanthan Thurai . Sinhala regime enjoy all privileges of the UN while resisting violentely to fulfil its obligation.
SriLanka as collapsed , and failed state , is not entitled to seek a seat in the UN Human rights council.
If SriLanka is elected to HRC, it would be an open international declaration that the Members of Council are not serious of its aims and mandate .
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| By Santhiran, 05-16-08, 05:16 AM |
De- colonise Ceylon by due processThe first report made to colonial office recognised that the island of Ceylon was a Hindu province . Mahindha thero preached Budhism to Theva Namipiya Thesan in Tamil . Many chieftains singned the Kandyan Pact in Tamil. Kaluthurai was known as kanthan Thurai . Sinhala regime enjoy all privileges of the UN while resisting violentely to fulfil its obligation.
SriLanka as collapsed , and failed state , is not entitled to seek a seat in the UN Human rights council.
If SriLanka is elected to HRC, it would be an open international declaration that the Members of Council are not serious of its aims and mandate .
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| By mowlana, 05-16-08, 05:26 AM |
To Pranagarment-- Apart from all the hysterical things said, the fact calling Barak obama a “Nigerian immigrant” makes one question your mental capacity!
We all admire Barak obama for his vision for the American people but there is a difference he is an American first he loves his country he loves his people and he has no complexes and most of all he is a well educated and gentle human being.Not a blood thirsty megalomaniacs like the LTTE leader who has practically killed all of its Tamil intellectuals, and continues to do so. |
| By Nihal, 05-16-08, 05:31 AM |
Hate mongering about Sri LankaThis writer has least knowledge about what he is writing. He seems to be a hate monger. Anyway, Sri Lanka too has enough genuine friends in the world. Will see what happens! |
| By mowlana, 05-16-08, 05:32 AM |
To Pranagarment--Feel sorry for you. Apart from all the hysterical things said, the fact calling Barak obama a “Nigerian immigrant” makes one question your mental capacity!
We all admire Barak obama for his vision for the American people but there is a difference he is an American first he loves his country he loves his people and he has no complexes and most of all he is a well educated and gentle human being.Not a blood thirsty megalomaniacs like the LTTE leader who has practically killed all of its Tamil intellectuals, and continues to do so. |
| By Nihal, 05-16-08, 05:33 AM |
Hate mongering about Sri LankaThis writer has least knowledge about what he is writing. He seems to be a hate monger. Anyway, Sri Lanka too has enough genuine friends in the world. Will see what happens! |
| By Paul Rasiah, 05-16-08, 08:30 AM |
Ignorant Paddy is live and well- HurrayPaddy is live and kicking.. perhaps that cause for joy. Paddy is healthy, has a growing imagination and as all little minds do, is figuring it all out by his own little yard-stick.
But there’s a lot that Paddy doesn’t understand. The Sri Lankan conflict and its attendant issues aretoo complex even for Sri Lankans themselves to understand and have foxed international conflict specialists for two decades as had the Arab Israeli issue.
Yet Paddy shoots his mouth. One of these days he’ll figure out how to pull his fat foot out of it too, all by his little smart self! |
| By Godage, 05-16-08, 09:11 AM |
Deserves a place in ............................Patrick its you and your forefathers who are responsible for the strife and mess in Sri Lanka and Africa. Don’t make comparisons. Where terrorism is concerned the SL Govt has always done a better job than the LTTE in terrorist acivity decimating the Tamil population with the help of Western Funds. They do not therefore deserve a place UN Human Rights Council but a place in War crimes tribunal for commiting, supporting and exporting to the West. |
| By Raja, 05-16-08, 09:19 AM |
Sri Lanka: ‘Disappearances’ by Security Forces a National CrisisPlease see the human rights violation
http://www.petitiononline.com/tamils2/
Tamil detainees allege sexual abuse after transfer from Magazine Prison - MP,http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25626
Human Rights Abusers Poised to Take Seats on UN Council, http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=652
http://www.cpalanka.org/research_papers/civil_society_letter_on_re%20election_of_SL_to_HRC_April%2028.pdf
Say no to Sri Lanka’s Bid for U.N. Rights Council Seat, http://www.hrw.org/effectiveHRC/SriLanka/INGOletter.html
Toronto report recommends sanctions against Sri Lanka, http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25354The Muttur Massacre: ACF Demands International Inquiry into Sri Lankan Assassinations, http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/pressroom/releases/2008/apr-01French aid group to quit Lanka in disgust, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2008/April/subcontinent_April552.xml§ion=subcontinent
Sri Lanka’s white van victims found at CID, TID, http://www.theacademic.org/stories/12086845140/story.shtml
NESoHR Chairman Fr. Karunaratnam killed in DPU attack, http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25355
The Muttur Massacre: ACF Demands International Inquiry into Sri Lankan Assassinations, http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/pressroom/releases/2008/apr-01
ACF: Moothoor massacre, a war crime, http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25337
Spectre of abductions scare Batticaloa residents, http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25328
Sri Lanka hospitals 'lack basics', http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7353029.stm
Sri Lanka - Several hospitals in northern Sri Lanka face increasing challenges, http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/sri-lanka-update-170408?OpenDocument
SRI LANKA: IIGEP departs - a Requiem for Justice and Human Rights, http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1473
Churches damaged/destroyed by Aerial bombing and shelling in the North of Sri Lanka, http://transcurrents.com/tamiliana/archives/610
EU Greens Criticise Slovakia for Arms Trade Agreement with Sri Lanka,http://www.tasr.sk/30.axd?k=20080415TBB00482
Attack on arms sale to Sri Lanka, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7339423.stm
SRI LANKA: The Presidential Commission’s Public Inquiry Process so far falls Short of International Norms and Standards, http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2008statements/1408/
IIGEP: Colombo lacks political will to investigate Human Rights violations,http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25308
Sri Lanka: âDisappearancesâ by Security Forces a National Crisis,
http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/03/06/slanka18203.htm
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25239
NY Amnesty rally protests violence against journalists in Sri Lanka, http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25286
Attack on arms sale to Sri Lanka, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7339423.stm
“Sri Lanka at the brink”, http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25239
A church in Madu destroyed, dreaded stage of ethnic cleansing, says TNA MP,http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=25240
Over 5000 'disappeared' in Sri Lanka http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2007/08/070831_ai_disappeared.shtml
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| By Mohottige, 05-16-08, 10:01 AM |
Accept the realityLTTE is surely a terrorist outfit. Not because the have a dream of a Tamil Eelam (since they according to Human Rights have the right to keep whatever opinion they choose, but since their methods are terror.
However, the GOSL have the responsibility to protect all people in the country from Human Rights crimes. This mean that you naturally are allowed to fight an armed movement that does not want to follow the laws of the country and has resorted to an armed rebellion (like the JVP did also at two occassions). To fight an armed rebellion against the state does not mean that you are allowed to use whatever means you want in this fight (at least according to human rights protocoll). Civilians must be protected and not attacked. People must still have the right to choose where to live, travel and work. People must not be persecuted simply because of their ethnicity, religion or culture. People must have the right to free speach without being punished by the authorities for what they say (those screaming on this forum against those having other opinions and demanding them erased from the earth, can´t even accept people with diverging ideas). There are much more also to considerate regarding Human Rights.
No part in the Sri Lanka conflict have any respect for these. LTTE certainly not, and the GOSL and the armed forces is not much better. People still disappear, sometimes not found again. People are kidnapped, sometimes killed. The law enfocement are unwilling (or incompetent?) to investigare and and find the responsible. On the other hand, when citicens are arrested many does not get a proper trial and are kept in jail for far more periods than allowed without any formal accusations. After they are let out, some of them and their family members also are attacked by unryly mobs. When police fail to arrest these mobs/protect the victims they have no other choice than to make an escape from the country.
Human rigths is not only the behaviour of the armed forces, but how every single citicens right to not be trampled on is protected. The GOSL have not shown any capacity or will to care about this. on the contrary, those who protest the abuses are accused of being terrorists or supporting them/being payed by them (just as on this forum). Instead of trying to make the situation better, the policy is always to bend the critcism back against the criticising part and maybe accuse hime/her for something that happened 150 years or so ago.
Everybody knows this, but some people always hurry out to defend their masters, no matter if it is the GOSL or the LTTE...
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| By Sunil, 05-16-08, 08:54 AM |
et tu Rev.Tutu, spiralled in to Tamil separatist lies???One by the nickname of kana47 posted above....
“How can we expect generosity and human nature from the sons of Lion.They are animals and not humans.If they are humans and Buddhaâs followers, they donât pluck tamils' eyes and put them in front of Buddhaâs feet and blast the grenade in the the genital of Tamil women.There is no place for these barberians in any place in this civilized world."
Is this what you have been told Rev. Tutu?
And then Rev. Tutu says....
“It would place international pressure on the government to respect human rights, and to accept a UN human rights monitoring mission, which it has stubbornly refused."
You think we are children Rev. Tutu? That we are some tribal lost in the wilderness that we seem stubborn?UN Monitoring mission? No thank you very much! Our eyes are opened now since the example set by the west in the Kosovo issue.
I am afraid that your bias in this issue is going to take some shine away from that Nobel Medal. |
| By Sunil, 05-16-08, 08:52 AM |
et tu Rev.Tutu, spiralled in to Tamil separatist lies???One by the nickname of kana47 posted above....
“How can we expect generosity and human nature from the sons of Lion.They are animals and not humans.If they are humans and Buddhaâs followers, they donât pluck tamils' eyes and put them in front of Buddhaâs feet and blast the grenade in the the genital of Tamil women.There is no place for these barberians in any place in this civilized world."
Is this what you have been told Rev. Tutu?
And then Rev. Tutu says....
“It would place international pressure on the government to respect human rights, and to accept a UN human rights monitoring mission, which it has stubbornly refused."
You think we are children Rev. Tutu? That we are some tribal lost in the wilderness that we seem stubborn?UN Monitoring mission? No thank you very much! Our eyes are opened now since the example set by the west in the Kosovo issue.
I am afraid that your bias in this issue is going to take some shine away from that Nobel Medal. |
| By saravanamuttu, 05-16-08, 04:00 PM |
Re your Title: Sri Lanka's position in UNHRC unjustified.It was a really a tragedy that a country like Sri Lanka with serious and systemic democratic deficit over decades coupled with its even far more serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity of every conceivable (and quite shameful) description should have been placed in the Human Rights Council in the first place. The scale and nature of its crimes is mind boggling. To take just three cases only, readers should please go into scearch engine on the internet and type out: “Chemmani mass grave”, “Bindinuwewa” and “Krishanty Kumaraswamy” and study the details carefully to get an inkling of the details for sheer sadism, all committed by or with the connivance of the state or its forces with impunity. Having secured a place and proven by its insidious record on governance, well emphasised in your account, and on HRs even while being a member of the UNHRC, it has, as Bishop Tutu who speaks from the moral high ground, quite rightly emphasised, that it has no right to be there. Indeed, if not, it will send the wrong message the world over that “anything goes” and make a mockery of the UN Human Charter itself. It is surely time for Members of the Council to ponder carefully and restore the dignity of what the Council stands for, and not succumb to “politics” and bring about a badly needed CHANGE. They surely owe it to humanity.
Sri Lanka governments get away very often by comparing itself vis-a-vis the Tamil Tigers whom they created in teh late 1970s, and from the 1980s to the present time, conveeniently forgetful and ignoring that it was state sponsored misgovernance, perversion of democracy and political party politices to cater to those of majority race and religion ONLY, accompanied by violence from 1948 to the present time, including all out war from 1983 onwards on the Tigers as well as on the Tamil people collectively, that has engenderd a never ending conflict. An independent objective assessment is badly needed at setting right past wrongs to ALL citizens. |
| By Whistler, 05-16-08, 11:43 AM |
GOSL resort to electronic sabotagingThe Govt. of Sri Lanka is resorting to new methods of HR violations.
The security forces come in white vans and abduct Tamils from various parts of the country and the latest one is of serious nature. They have begun to sabotage web sites which are critical to GOSL by highlighting misdeeds of GOSL.
You can learn more about this.
http://www.lankadissent.com/allnews/2008_05_16_01_news.htm |
| By Fair Mind, 05-16-08, 08:46 PM |
Sri Lanka vying for a seat in UN Human Rights coundilFor 65 years, the Singhalese governmentsâ failure to apply the simple just rule of governing the country treating its citizens on equal grounds has brought the conflict to the level that we are seeing today. And the present government having indulged in all forms of treacherous, horrendous acts is the worst of them all certainly does not have that kind of brains or capacity.
In the eyes of the civilized world, Sri Lanka is seen as a failed state and the government has completely lost its direction. The reaction from the International Community, what it has done and is doing is nothing state terror. All almost all the prominent world organizations from UNHCR, USAID International Crisis Group, United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, AI, HRW, ICJ, ICG, AHRC, IIGEP and all the rights groups and eminent persons and professors have all spoken and said that peace and the solution for the conflict lies in devolution of power with an amicable just settlement addressing the root issues which even a layman understands. The humanitarian groups have placed Sri Lanka in the list of the worst countries in the world for humanitarian work. The Asian Human Rights commission had severely condemned the Sri Lankan governmentâs broken down rule of law and said its policing system is corrupt to the core and its judiciary has made a mockery of justice.
Surprising with all atrocities from kidnappings, abductions, intimidation, harassments, rapes on Tamil women folk, forceful eviction of Tamils from their homes and occupying their land and suppression of press, etc, etc that have been committed, Sri Lanka is vying for a seat in the UN Human Rights council! Such a country or its administration donât have any decency or shame and donât deserve to be even considered for a seat in the UN human rights council for that matter any body that represents justice and fairness.
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| By csj, 05-15-08, 10:22 PM |
Re:Sri Lanka seat on UN human rights council unjustified
When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, the evil men prevail.
<BUDDHA, Gautama>
ALways true....WIN(THAMIL)) |
| By Sivakumar, 05-15-08, 08:24 PM |
West, stop criticising Sri Lanka and start helping them to defeat terrorThe global LTTE (Tamil Tiger) mafia is said to have billions of dollars of investments, mostly gained through extortion of Tamils, illegal immigration, prostitution and drug rackets. They spend a fortune whitewashing the terrorism of the Tigers and tarnishing the government of Sri Lanka and vilifying the Singhala community. If the West unambiguously stood beside the Sri Lankan people in this fight against LTTE seperatist, genocidal terror, the war would have ended long ago and Sri Lanka would have enjoyed peace and prosperity! The West has no right to claim the moral high ground in this war. They are hypocritical. Stop repeating terrorist propoganda and help the Sri Lankan government defeat terror and Prabhakaran. Until Prabhakaran is removed and is stopped from murdering Tamil “traitors” and Singhala civilians, there can be no peace in Sri Lanka. To those who know the truth, these propoganda articles by people like Tutu do not really matter. Sri Lankans have to protect themselves from LTTE fascism. |
| By Godaya, 05-15-08, 08:41 PM |
Unfounded lies by the westDesmond Tutu has no right to tell sri lanka how to protect Human Rights. Human Rights in Sri Lanka is well protected to every community. Some LTTE propagandists and some western sympathizers try to marginalize Sri Lanka due to many other reasons. LTTE is a terrorist gang. It has to be controlled by force as Americans does the same in Afghanistan and Iraq, but no one is trying to preach Americans about HR( including Tutu). Thats not violating Human Rights..it is protecting Human Rights for Majority of Sri Lankans. Most of the peace loving Sri Lankans do not want to put up with violence by the LTTE any more.
Sri Lanka should be well supported by the International Community and that will be a great endorsement in defeating all kinds of terrorism in the world. Sri Lanka is for all of us. |
| By Srilankan, 05-15-08, 06:04 PM |
Truth Hurts!Mr.Tutu is fair enough in his writing. Lankan leaders need to know how to fight with rebels while protecting the innocent civilians. In Srilanka, the concept is, “if you are a Tamil, you are a terrorist!". |
| By HM Lizzy, 05-15-08, 06:10 PM |
The truth is ..Hello Mrs. TRUTH BE TOLD, for your information the separations, segregations and the root cause of ethnic violence were the British themselves, through misproportional representation in Govt. Offices etc. which instigated the Sinhalese peoeple to revolt. Read some good history books.
The case is the same for other countries like India and Pakistan. |
| By Mani, 05-15-08, 06:24 PM |
Sri Lanka does not deserve a seat in UN HR CouncilTotally agree with Rev. Tutu. Anyone supporting SL on this issue will have no respect from decent people.
SL people/Govt do not find fault with others, be it West, Tamils or LTTE, while you are complicit in every crime imaginable. Get yourselve sorted first. |
| By Venkai, 05-15-08, 06:11 PM |
Sinhala South Lack of knowledgeIt is pretty obvious from the title that most of this extract is from the renowned Desmond Tutu HR activist of ANC South Africa ( Nobel Peace prize winner). Sinhala, blinded by racist ideology, can’t even figure this out. This is a perfectly factual criticism of the racist, fascist, warmongering Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan state by a well respected HR advocate. World should kick them out of all the UN bodies. Nasty Sri Lankan Sinhala racists need to be prosecuted for war crimes. They should be held accountable for unilaterally withdrawing from the internationally brokered ceasefire and indiscriminately aerial bombing, shelling, raping and torturing the Tamils into subjugation in the north and east. These lunatics are doing worse than what the Serbs did to the Kosovans! |
| By PARANAGAMA, 05-15-08, 06:35 PM |
Justification VoidMoulana or Mahavansa, I understand your SL mentality. Condemn the West but run there for your economic benefits. Since you like to compare the US democracy with that of SL.
like Barak( Kenyan immigrant) in the US when will we see a Tamil as a President in SL ? SL is bleeding with racism and communalism in every sphere of activity due people like you. First we need restore human rights and freedom to all communities in SL before we go for UN posiions. At the moment SL performance only justifies a permanent conviction for war crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Desmond Tutu full aware of how many Christian/Catholic priests were murdered by the SL Army together with honest Budhists monks should refer this to The Hague. |
| By Hope, 05-15-08, 06:35 PM |
SL - Practice before You Preach Those of you, who defend the human rights records of Sri Lanka, how do you explain your governments refusal to accept UN Monitors- if you are clean, then why all these hesitation and labeling those who question the governments records as Terrorists. How do you defend the government, who has refused to bring those responsible of killing of Aid workers. How do you explain bombing own people on a daily basis, I guess Terrorist tag will fit SL government better. Shame on Sri Lanka.
First, try to resolve the genuine issues with honesty and recognize the diversity and offer a federal model that works. Donât use unethical elections to justify your long-term motive of Singhalization of the lands of Tamil speaking people.
Please take the first step in the right direction. We all need International communuty to resolve the issues.
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| By truesrilankan, 05-15-08, 06:46 PM |
Sri Lanka is the best in Human Rights!!Rama is talking absolute litter, garbage, rubbish and trash!! LTTE are the worst terrorist in the world! They kill lot of innocent civilians!! Sri Lanka has the best humand rights records in Asia with democracy working perfectly well. Rama is the worst terrorist for being an LTTE mouthpiece. LTTE have used ceasfires for regrouping and re arming. In the ceasefire signed in 2002, LTTE breached the ceasefire 6000 times at least. LTTE are the worst barbaric burtal terror outfit in the world and Sri Lankan government must be given full support to destroy the LTTE and that when we fight terrorists, human rights should be left a side! LTTE shows no respect for human rights at all. They are pure terrorists!! |
| By mowlana, 05-15-08, 04:30 PM |
IS IT PARANAGAMA OR PERYAGANAM!!How ludicrous to say “dont compare the States and the UK"with Sri Lanka!The difference is that they have the resources to muffle the media,and paint a different picture.The reality in Sri Lanka is that apart from defending its democratic values it has to put up with traitors in cahoots with the vicious terrorist outfit the LTTE!!Speaking of Pariahs I think you should have a good look, at yourself in the mirror.
Lets not look up and spit, for that’s exactly what Lali and Parana are doing!! |
| By mowlana, 05-15-08, 04:40 PM |
appologies to LaliThe character I meant was Mohottige!!Sorry once again Lali. |
| By Paranagama, 05-15-08, 03:38 PM |
IlluminatingWe do not want pariah states to be represented in the UN. Moreover this facist and notorious country had gone on record of labelling UN reps as terrorists. This shows depth of the
Sri Lankan corrupt establishment. With a 30% inflation due to mismangement, this is only 2nd to Zimbabwe another facist & corrupt country.Recently the country witnessed enthnic cleansing.I feel sorry for the ardent supporters who blindly follow whatever happens and foolishly compare what happens in US and UK. First set the records straight. |
| By Truth be Told, 05-15-08, 05:24 PM |
Ironic...It is Ironic to see supporters of the Sri Lankan government lambast 'western' media and western powers, when their entire 'nation' exists due to one of those 'western' powers, Britian. If not for British medling whereby they joined three seperate nations into one false 'unitary' one, we would not even have this conflict today. The British trusted the Sinhalese leaders were mature enough to protect minority rights. Unfortunately no sooner were they 'out of sight' these leaders stired up racialist sentiments to gain power and to this day use the same methods to further they hold over the island. As recent polls have shown, despite a sharp economic downturn, 84% of the Sinhalese are happy to support Mahinda’s war against the Tamil people. |
| By Truth be Told, 05-15-08, 05:25 PM |
Ironic...It is Ironic to see supporters of the Sri Lankan government lambast 'western' media and western powers, when their entire 'nation' exists due to one of those 'western' powers, Britian. If not for British medling whereby they joined three seperate nations into one false 'unitary' one, we would not even have this conflict today. The British trusted the Sinhalese leaders were mature enough to protect minority rights. Unfortunately no sooner were they 'out of sight' these leaders stired up racialist sentiments to gain power and to this day use the same methods to further they hold over the island. As recent polls have shown, despite a sharp economic downturn, 84% of the Sinhalese are happy to support Mahinda’s war against the Tamil people. |
| By rama, 05-15-08, 05:31 PM |
pariah state of sri lanka in the UN human rights councilpariah state of sri lanka cannot be a member of any body that has been created by the civilised people of the world.sri lanka should become the head of the society for barbarians.sinhala barbarians have been slaughtering innocent tamil men ,women and children for the past 60 ears.corrupt and
greedy sinhala politicians did not take any action against the maruding sinhala hoodlums when tamils were massacred.there inaction resulted thousands of deaths.rajapaksha is no exception.his inaction as regards to kidnappings,abductions,killings and rape of tamils is well known.
political solution,13 amendment are all utter humbug and farce.these are statements made by rajapaksha and his idiotic ministers for international consumption.they are crying out loud that ltte has walked out of peace talks.sri lankan delegation to the peace talks did not even have a small piece of paper to put on the table to discuss peace or political solution.they went there empty handed just to manipulate and manoeuvre.how can the tamils trust these sinhala politicians.none of them offered any form of political solutions to tamil demands.then you have the evil sinhala buddhist monks who cry foul when a political solution is ever mentioned.sinhala armed forces are the worst barbaric force in the whole world.these trigger happy barbarians have been involved in numerous killings of innocent tamil men,women and children not to mention the 17 tamil aid workers.you cannot send them anywhere.see what happened in haiti.these sinhala soldiers on a peace keeping mission to haiti molested and indecently assaulted underaged girls.they also paid money to haitian prostitutes for services rendered.finally they were kicked out from haiti and arrived back in sri lanka with utter disgrace and to make things worse they were all tested positive for HIV/AIDS.my request for the civilised people of the world is to kick out sri lanka from world forums. |
| By lalie, 05-15-08, 01:05 PM |
Sri Lanka seat on UN human rights council unjustifiedObviously, the writer has mistaken the tiger terrorists with the Sri Lankan government. And those terrorist brutally kill their own tamil people, that they claim to represent including women and children, and Sinhalese and Muslims. they do not attack only the government and the military. |
| By Mohottige, 05-15-08, 01:32 PM |
Sri Lanka seat on UN human rights council unjustifiedEveryone, exept those stubbornly defending the Sri Lanka Government line that “all methods are allowed” to defeat terrorism, knows that what is said in the article is true. Today you do not need to be a terrorist supporter to be subject to human rights violations. It is enough that you criticise the government or the president family clan publically! |
| By ranjit G de Silva, 05-15-08, 01:37 PM |
Cry babies in the Wetysern PressIt is time you Western jounalists look at Asian and Western problems in a different perspective.We have had inter racial harmony for centuries, but not terrorism, which is a recent by product.It is partly due to western arms and one sided policies,I wonder how you justify having USA in the UN with its astrocious heman rights records in Iraq, Afganistan and Guantanamo.Let us talk of an even playinf field and do not write this crap. |
| By FairPlay, 05-15-08, 01:37 PM |
TuTu the rerrorist supporterSouth Africa is one of the biggest financier for the worst terrorist organization in the world LTTE. Supplying Air craft to training Pilots for terrorist organization has been done by the South Africa and those are being used to destroy one old democracy in the Asia.
This TUTU has no moral right to speak about HR situation in SL at all.
Better he go and advice, his own government to stop funding terrorism. |
| By Mahela, 05-15-08, 02:00 PM |
Keep to promisesSri Lanka is a member of the UN and as a member also of UN Human rights council it has maid promissed and then failed misserably to uphold them.
What USA is sometime doing in Afghanistan and Irak is another matter. That is war in other countries. Even so it disgraceful.
But USA at least keep the Human Rights record somewhat clean inside their own borders. We can’t honestly claim that Sri Lanka Government has managed to do that... |
| By SAM - Canada, 05-15-08, 02:10 PM |
Sri Lanka seat on UN human rightsI agree with Lalie.... No body can compare the ruthless TIGER TERRORISTs to the democraically elected government of Sri Lanka. This comparison is similar to comparing USA to Al Kaida or UK to IRA / Al Kaida... Think “logically” before publishing these ype of BIAS articles by TIGERs in different faces. Everyone sent off from houses were RETUNED to their homes at the cost of the Govt. with a personal appology from the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Has UK ever done such thing for the innocent civilian deaths in Afganistan????
I’ll be surprised,,, if you “democratically” publish this... |
| By rama, 05-15-08, 05:39 PM |
chip on their shouldersinhala people have a chip on their shoulder.that is why they blame everyone else all the time and not themselves. |
| By anushka, 05-15-08, 02:23 PM |
| Sri Lanka was one of the founding members of the UN Human Rights council and deserves to keep its place. I am appalled at the misrepresentation the writer has made of the democratically elected government of Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers are clearly the terrorists in Sri Lanka and NOT the government. The writer clearly has no understanding of the current ground situation in the country, much like other representatives of the Western countries and media who judge the country based on terrorist propaganda. |
| By mowlana, 05-15-08, 02:28 PM |
Who is usurping the name of Desmond TutuSri Lankans a passive and a happy nation that once lived in harmony and prosperity was drawn into the present situation by politics and the voluntary arming and of training for a terrorist organisation.This was for the benefit of the so called rich and peace loving countries!Their coffers are filled by sale of destructive and hideous weaponry!
This is a country where innocents are killed by suicide bombers and a terrorist outfit of the worst order.If the country has to protect its citizens against terrorism crying “murder” at every step taken to prevent it is not a solution.
Instead of speaking on a subject evidently beyond your(Tu Tu’s) depth,it seems to me more productive to aim at those who are your very Masters who brings so much destruction to this our human race!! |
| By Ranil, 05-15-08, 02:39 PM |
Human Rights & WESTWriter talks about human rites Sri Lanka, but unfortunately he has forgotten about where prisoners are tortured and killed in regular basis - UK & US. These so called writer, does not see US, UK as human right violators though they have kept thousands of prisoners in inhuman conditions! They are killing thousands in iraq! paletine! No they are human rights protectors! what a JOKE! |
| By Selva SL, 05-15-08, 02:35 PM |
Irish Sun & Lack of KnowledgeThis whole article based on complete assumption, bias of the writer, it does not stand for actual situation in Sri Lanka. The writer does not understand difference between terrorist outfit and government forces. Surprisingly this is coming from a country where once IRA had its roots! The whole article is one sided, probably funded by terror outfit in sri lanka!
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| By saravanamuttu, 05-17-08, 03:00 PM |
Re comments on Sri Lanka UNHRC unjustifiedThe comments sadly display a lack of knowledge that goes with responsibilty and accountabilty by a government and by a non-state actor, especially when the state by its policies and actions over decades starting from even before the birth of the Tamil rebels. What is clearly perceivable until now is evidence of genocide and genocidal killings of ethnic minority Tamils and ethnic cleansing of both Muslims and Tamils in the north and east. By systematically ethnicising the military to a pure Sinhala one and even the police to a near ethnic Sinhala one (98.5%) from 1972 to the prsent time, the state has been very devious in engineering its armed forces fit for the new purpose. That is why the scale of HR violations have got completely beyond control no different from previous bloody strifes like in Kosovo, East Timor, Rwanda,Eritraea and ongoing in countries like Darfur and Somalia. When national laws are flouted with impunity against ethnic minorities by the state and its forces international laws have to apply to prevent worse catastrophes as happened in Hitler’s Germany to the Jews, Milosovic’s Yugoslavia to the Muslims and other country cases cited. The unseating of Sri Lanka in the UNHRC will be a signal starting point that the buck should stop right there. An International Tribunal would be an appropriate follow-up to try suspected war crimeals and crimes against humanity. |
| By Devan, 06-13-08, 07:16 AM |
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lalie;82358:
Obviously, the writer has mistaken the tiger terrorists with the Sri Lankan government. And those terrorist brutally kill their own tamil people, that they claim to represent including women and children, and Sinhalese and Muslims. they do not attack only the government and the military.
Hi dear!
Why south hates LTTE?
By what they are doing or
What they want to achieve?
They want separate states that is the main fact of hating by your people
So why your guys expecting this fact reasonable to be hated by Tamils too?
You have right to be as representative on behalf of Sinhalese not at all for Tamils :D :D :D :D |
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