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Ashroff’s separatist legacy is root cause of Sinhala-Muslim divide

When elders speak of good old days prior to 1980s when Sinhalese, Tamils & Muslims lived happily & peacefully together sans nomenclatures of federalism, self-determination, separatism, jihad, terrorism etc, it makes us wonder where have we gone wrong and who are responsible. In ignoring warnings that followed armed militancy, it is imperative that we do not ignore further warnings that may lead to bigger outcomes if left unsolved. Clearly, politicians & so-called civil society representatives who had been involved in the past have failed to provide solutions which demands the rest of the community to pinpoint where the fault lines are and address them. Sri Lanka lacks political leaders that are nation-loving in all three communities.  


Why is it that the fondness for political leaders of the caliber of Dr. T B Jayah, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr. MCM Kaleel, etc does not exist for present day Muslim politicians? The short & simple answer is that the former Muslim leaders co-partnered political progress of the country sans mono-ethno-religious chants & peacefully mingled with the majority while the present lot is only seeking personal goals and setting the stage to create divisions.

The start to this legacy began by none other than M H M Ashraff himself with the formation of the SLMC towing the Muslim federal line and paving the room to invite separatist elements from overseas and bartering the country for tgreed for money. He set the foundation stone for the divide between Sinhalese & Muslims with future leaders adopting ultra-fundamentalist lines resulting in Sinhalese politicians countering with similar fundamentalism.

The shift of political influence from Colombo-based Muslim leaders to more rigid Eastern Muslim leaders began with Ashraff who hailed from Samanthurai in the Ampara District. The shift in class politics emerged.

When Colombo-based Muslim leaders were aligning with and forging friendship with Sinhalese leaders, Ashraff chose to admire Tamil separatist S J V Chelvanaygam the founder of ITAK. Ashraff had even addressed ITAK events and had also been present at the infamous Vaddukoddai Conference in 1976 that appealed for separatism. The following year Ashraff created Muslim United Liberation Front going as far as to sign an agreement with A. Amirthalingam. It is no surprise that Ashraff began promoting the demand to create a Muslim majority council in the North & East. The allegiance was no different to Hakeem issuing a condolence message on behalf of the SLMC on LTTE’s Anton Balasingham’s death which infuriated the Muslim community

How many Muslims are aware that Ashraff even fielded Muslims to contest under the TULF eelamist banner and campaigned for separatism?

According to D B S Jeyraj, Ashraff’s speeches declared that even if Amirthalingam himself had abandoned goal of Eelam, Ashraff would continue to work for it. Ironically, none of the Muslim contestants won a seat though contesting from TULF.

In fact when the Indo-Lanka Accord was signed in 1987 Naranyan Swamy’s book “Tigers of Sri Lanka – From Boys to Geurrillas” claims that the Indian High Commission had even given cash handouts to the SLMC. How many more cash handouts and by what others has the SLMC taken over the years? There are EROS links to SLMC as well Basheer Segudawood was a soldier in EROS. http://www.island.lk/2003/06/08/politi05.html

Ashraff formed the first Muslim ethno-religious political party Sri Lanka Muslim Congress on 21 September 1981 in Kattankudy during a period when UNP recommenced diplomatic relations with Israel against opposition by Muslims.

SLMC campaigned on the slogan of Islam. At the start of SLMC political rallies Ashraff would begin by shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’

That Muslims were against the creation of SLMC is clearly depicted by Latheek Farook

M.H.M. Ashraff first mooted the idea of forming a separate political party for Muslims, many Muslims including parliamentarians, professionals and others, advised him to either give up the idea or confine the proposed political party to the east…. They warned him that an island-wide Muslim party had all the potentials to harm good relations between Sinhalese and Muslims in the rest of the country…. Justifying their warnings they explained that Muslims live in small numbers in peace and harmony with their Sinhalese neighbors in hundreds of villages and an all-island Muslim political party raising Islamic slogans, may put all Muslims into one communal camp and disturb their good relations with the Sinhalese community”

This is exactly what has happened.

In the words of Latheek Farook himself

‘Muslims are disgusted with their politicians…. betrayed by their own politicians and exploited by all to suit their agendas. The selfish politics of the main Muslim political party Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and its more than half a dozen splinter groups have brought nothing but disaster.”

That SLMC initially agreed to support the SLFP at the 1988 Presidential Elections but went on to support the UNP candidate caused shock to the Muslims in the South is also highlighted by Farook who goes on to say,

“This decision considerably dented the credibility and the integrity of the Muslim Congress as well as the community, which had produced leaders of impeccable integrity and were known for their loyalty to their political parties…. One should not forget that this policy, as expected, won the wrath of the SLFP towards the Muslim community that had nothing to do with this decision.”

“Furious Muslims in Colombo and other areas blamed the SLMC for harming their relations with the majority Sinhalese community. There were speculations that Ashraff was bought over by the UNP.”

 “The general feeling among the Muslims is that the SLMC is today a liability”

Ethnic-based parties have not promoted peaceful relations and calls for a national consensus for banning of all ethno-religious political parties in Sri Lanka.

According to D B S Jeyraj the first violence between Muslims & Tamils took place in 1985 in Kalmunai-Karaithivu. Jeyraj claims this tension was ‘aided & abetted by the State’ UNP government. Ashraff even had to shift residence to Colombo for fear and was accused of leaving his people behind to fend for themselves.

The SLMC has been swinging alliances depending not on what merits Muslims but the personal perks accrued to the Muslims ministers doing the horse deals unfairly using the Muslim populace as bait.

The Proportional Representation soon came to be manipulated by minority parties in forging strategic alliances in exchange for votes thereby becoming the kingmakers and calling the shots. Likewise, SLMC joined Chandrika’s PA Government in 1994 contesting some districts separately while others on the PA ticket and this gave SLMC 6 seats plus 3 national list seats. Hakeem became Deputy Chairman of Committees. Hakeem had no qualms about shaking Prabakaran’s hands in 2002 on behalf of the UNP inspite of LTTE killing thousands of Muslims.

Ashraff became Minister of Ports, Shipping & Rehabilitation. What did Ashraff do with his portfolio – he filled the Port with Muslims from the East, some not even reporting to work but getting salaries. It resulted in feuds between himself and Fowzie.

At the two extremes, both Tamil & Muslim leaders have sought separate states. SLMC’s Chairman Basheer Segu Dawood demands a ‘separate Muslim State/Province’ with Kattankudy as its centre a “Muslim province…. Will give a motherland and self-determination to Muslims’ and we cannot give up our demand”. “The SLMC stance is that Muslims need a separate Muslim Province. Our late founder of SLMC M.H.M Ashraff too endorsed it. If a Chief Ministers conference is held a Muslim Chief Minister should definitely participate in it,”  

What is clear and distinguishes past Muslim leaders from present is the caliber of their leadership & their rhetoric. No previous leader would ever misuse their position to attack the majority as leaders like Hakeem have done. In August 2012, then Justice Minister (and leader of the Muslim Congress) Rauf Hakeem at a meeting in Kalmunai had demanded President Rajapakse should defeat ‘yellow-robed terrorism’.

Then at the other end there are the likes of Rishard Badurdeen himself a refugee who had been saved by Sinhalese and today towing a very fundamentalist line taking funding from questionable overseas groups to instill a foreign arab culture disregarding the country laws & completely ignoring appeals to stop raping the forest of Wilpattu for mono-ethnic settlements.

Anyone seeking answers to what has divided the Sinhalese & Muslim communities need only to list down elements that did not exist before 1980 to realize that these new elements are the likely reasons for the tensions. In so establishing this, the next step is to question whether these non-existent elements of the past should continue or be removed to bring better relations with the majority.


Shenali D Waduge

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Enforce One Law & Eliminate Extremism in Sri Lanka  

A country must have one common law equal to all & followed by all.Those who set laws must also follow the laws they set. No one can be above the law of the land. While there should be an agreeable set of common laws, we can accept some special privileges but who enjoys these special privileges and why must be made clear. However, this cannot warrant the handful who have special immunity to do as they like. It is the lack of implementing the rule of law without bias while also implementing law with bias that has created all the problems that prevail in Sri Lanka.

People must be aware of the laws & punitive actions for its violations. People must also feel confident that violators are punished without bias. Only then people will learn to respect the laws but also abide by them.
At all times the authorities must address the Actions & Actors of an incident not the Reaction or Reactors.

What is presently happening is that laws have become a sham because not only are they broken by the very persons preaching for good governance but they arrest and punish only targeted and select people.
Traffic laws are often broken by the very rich and police are reluctant to even arrest them knowing that a phone call would entail their release. Letting off an ordinary person for a minor traffic offence is nowhere near allowing a murderer & thief free however rich/poor, influential or not he/she is!

Accumulated similar incidents create anger in people and make them susceptible to external elements who want to play mischief.

These are the instances that lead to riots and violence because people are frustrated when there is selective justice. This results in fringe groups appearing taking the law into their hands. The situation is made worse when authorities take action against only them completely ignoring the other players who instigated the reaction.

Having said that, all are searching for the reasons for extremism. Before that we need to know what the extremisms are.
The below list is compiled having sought views of both minorities & majority and can be used as a basis to eliminate extremism.

Tamil extremism

1.         Attempts to separate Sri Lanka using fictitious reasons by Tamil leaders
2.         Deeming North and even East Sri Lanka to be home to ONLY Tamils hurtful statements by Tamil leaders that Sinhalese are not welcome
3.         Tamil leaders banning Tamils from marrying Sinhalese
4.         Internationally carrying out a campaign claiming ‘colonization’ when use of such terms conflicts with the constitutionally given fundamental right for citizens of Sri Lanka right to live wherever they like
5.         Statement by Tamil leaders to the effect that Buddhist sites/structures should be removed which has given justification for mischief makers to destroy historic & heritage sites. This constitutes cultural genocide
6.         Thesawalamai law introduced by the Dutch which denies right for non-Tamils to purchase lands in Jaffna infringes on the fundamental rights in the constitution giving citizens to right to live & purchase property.
7.         Violation of archaeological & national reserve laws by erecting structures with purposeful intent to destroy or remove remnants of artefacts that proof ancient Sinhala Buddhist ruins existed.
8.         Lies and distortions against Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces


Muslim extremism

When all citizens had to follow one law, Muslim minority saw fit to demand special privileged laws for themselves – these are new customs and trends emerging after 1980s and forced upon the Sri Lankan community on the guise of religious freedom.

Examples of which are
1.         Influence of Wahhabism cult which is now considered a global security threat
2.         Mandatory for all citizens to come under one common law & to be treated equally under Constitution of Sri Lanka & Penal Codes in place, however some Muslims are demanding Shariah law, Quazi Courts (rulings to be above that of the country law)
3.         Marrying children is a criminal offence but some Muslims demand to marry children
4.         Female genital mutilation is a criminal offence but Muslims demand its practice
5.         Marrying more than one person at a time is a criminal offence (Polygamy) but Muslims demand marrying 4 or more women
6.         Legal rights enjoyed by non-Muslim divorced women are not enjoyed by Muslim women
7.         Setting up of Arabic schools/universities as funds are pouring from Arab world when Muslims do not even speak Arabic.
8.         When a statutory body to measure quality & standard of foods exist demand for a Shariah compliant Halal food labeling system based on one minority religion emerged that forced non-Muslim companies to divulge ingredients of their food items and insisted that for a fee paid to a Muslim NGO they would have to label foods consumed locally & exported overseas. Such a system did not exist before. This labeling system continues and questions why a minority religious labeling system for a fee should be charged of all especially non-Muslims.
9.         Violation of archaeological & national reserve laws. Cutting forests/trees is a crime but a Muslim MP is disregarding all laws & settling only one ethnic group inspite even the Presidents intervention and assurance that the forests would not be endangered.
10.     Driving without helmets is a criminal offence for all, but Muslims ride without helmets & no action taken by authorities.
11.     It is mandatory for all citizens to show their face when entering public places (banks, ATM etc) but Muslims are now wearing clothes that even cover the face
12.     When it is statutory to remove full face helmets citing threats to national security, some Muslim women are driving vehicles fully covered in black making distinction impossible. There have been plenty of instances where men dressed as women in robes have robbed banks and homes! Some Muslims are even demanding to sit for public exams in robes where there is a big question mark as to who is sitting the paper when the identity is not revealed and no one can question the identity too. Some Muslims are even demanding NIC photos to be with fully covered photos when all others have strict rules & regulations to follow for the photo to be accepted for NIC or Passport (showing no teeth, clear distinction of one’s ear)
13.     When there is a common banking system for all citizens, some Muslims have insisted and included Shariah Banking/Islamic banking systems that even non-Muslim banks both private & public have had to adopt.
14.     When the Government & private NGOs are encouraging planned parenthood and non-Muslim women are coerced into stopping having children after the birth of the second child, Muslims are being encouraged to have more and more children and many fear this calculated into future years spells demographic change.
15.     Biased judgments – men belonging to an ethno-religious minority with petrol bombs arrested and brought before the magistrate who belonged to same ethno-religion but were immediately released on bail however when unarmed men belonging to the majority faith who were attending a funeral of a victim of the recent clashes were brought before the same magistrate and remanded. Such biased judgements are reasons for animosity. These need to be addressed immediately. If the police, lawyers, judges, magistrates did their job fairly and without bias half of all problems would be solved.
16.     It is also alleged that the allocation of school uniform vouchers for Sinhalese children is less than half of what is given to Muslims.
17.     Coercive methods used to convert non-Muslims.
18.     Black money as a result of illegal narcotic trade

Christian/Catholic extremism

1.         Violation of archaeological & national reserve laws by erecting structures with purposeful intent to destroy or remove remnants of artefacts that proof ancient Sinhala Buddhist ruins.
2.         Setting up faith healing centres in residential areas & adopting coercive methods of conversions especially in poverty stricken rural areas
3.         Christian dominated media/newspapers/websites/journalists fanning communal flames using their pen

Sinhala extremism

1.         Objecting to separating/dividing the country
2.         Claiming there is no Tamil Homeland.
3.   Objecting to Islamization of Sri Lanka having connected the dots in the speed in which mosques are proliferating, Muslim population is increasing (refer census statistics), shariah food labelling, shariah laws, banking, insistence of halal food at all hotels, catering etc, rise in fundamentalism seen by wahhabi influence prevailing over moderate Muslims who lived peacefully previously
4.         Objecting to unethical, biased, anti-Buddhist media coverage with examples
5.       Appealing against surrounding Buddhist heritage sites with mosques, churches which end up dominating the area using influence of money.
6.     Objecting to turning Buddhist heritage of Sri Lanka into a failed multicultural land when the countries that first implemented multiculturalism is now realizing it’s a total failure & reversing it. Attempts to put up mosque in SriPada, the insidious manner a minaret taller than the Dalada Maligawa is being stealthily planned giving various inducements to the temple & other influential parties to give approvals.

Government & Public Service/Private Sector  

Majority politicians break laws for votes & monetary influences, public servants do same. This has created unwanted & unnecessary problems and these must now be directly identified and addressed.
Those enjoying illegal benefit cannot cry foul and avoid or impede the veto of these illegalities crying foul and hiding behind slogans of hate speech, racism, discrimination etc.

Therefore, it is good to place the existing laws & against that list the violations and demand that the Government immediately addresses & take action

1.         Illegal religious structures often in residential areas
2.         Inaction by authorities against religious sects that lease/rent houses and with time turn/convert these into prayer centres or madrassas and then cry foul claiming discrimination when complaints are made asking for their removal.
3.         Proliferation of mosques, churches, prayer centres, kovils not in proportion to the pollution of an area. The Government must immediately address this violation & declare a moratorium on construction of religious/faith-based sites as is being done in other countries where this same menace has emerged.
4.         Usage of loudspeakers – inspite of an interim court order which needs to be seriously looked into
5.         Communalism of newspapers responsible for division of People was one of the conclusions of the Press Commission Report of 1964. Present local newspapers stand guilty of tuning their stories to fan communal tensions by generating false conclusions and assumptions against the majority.  
6.         No one should confuse free speech with hate speech. If at all what constitutes hate speech must first be clearly defined before authorities deem it fit to take selective action as is taking place presently. A perfect instance is the arrest of 2 schoolboys and keeping them in remand while arresting but releasing men who had petrol bombs in their hands. The allegation of hate speech against the 2 youth is nowhere near a threat as men holding petrol bombs. This highlights some of the biased decisions taken. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z36TBNv3j3A



Shenali D Waduge


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தமிழகமும் மக்களின் நுண்ணறிவில்லாமையும்
அதனால் நிலவும் அரசியல் குழப்ப நிலையும்

கந்தர் பாலநாதன், ஆஸ்திரேலியா

தமிழகம் இந்திய நாட்டின் எல்லையினுள் இருப்பதால் ஓரளவு அபிவிருத்தி அடைந்திருக்கின்றது. இல்லையெனில் ஊழலின் தயவில் தமிழக மொத்த மந்திரிகளும் அதிகாரம் உள்ளவர்களும் கோடீஸ்வரராக ஆகி இருப்பார்கள். டெல்லியின் தயவிலும் அவர்களின் ஊக்கத்தினாலும் தமிழகம் ஓரளவிருக்கு அபிவிருத்தி அடைந்திருக்கின்றது. ராஜாஜி,காமராஜருக்கு பின் நேர்மையான மக்கள் தமிழகத்தை ஆளவில்லை.

பன்னீர்செல்வம்;இவர் யார்?தேனீர் கோப்பை கழுவி,பின் தேநீர் ஆற்றி,தேநீர் கடை வைத்து வயிற்றைக் கழுவியவர். இவருக்கு அறிவியல் எவ்வளவு என்றால்,என்ன சொல்லமுடியும். மோடியின் காலில் விழுந்து வணங்கியவர். அடிமை. தினகரன் யார்?இவர்கள் எல்லோரையும் அரசியலுக்கு உள்வாங்கியது பணம்தான்.

இன்றோ,இவன் பல கோடிகளுக்கு சொந்தக்காரன். யார் பிழை?மந்தைக் கூட்டங்களாகிய மக்கள்தான். வந்தாரை வாழவைக்கும் தமிழகம் என்று சொல்லி தமிழக மக்கள் இன்றும் அடிமைகளாக வாழ்கின்றார்கள்.
“ஜனநாயகமும் அதனை ஆளுகின்ற பணநாயகமும்” எனும் எமது கட்டுரையை படிக்கவும்: http://nrnmind.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/eaoo-e-uye-aaiuo-neay-ao-o-ay-oae-oayey.html

இன்றோ,எத்தனை மக்கள் அரசியலில் குதிக்கின்றார்கள். படிப்பறிவில்லாதவர்கள்,ஊழலில் பரிசு பெற்றவர்கள்,அரசியல் என்றால்,கொலை,கொள்ளை என்று நினைப்பவர்கள்,சாதிக்கட்சியின் பெயரால்,அரசியல் செய்பவர்கள்,இப்படி எத்தனையோ. ஜெயலலிதாவுக்கு ஒரு தரமும் இல்லாமல் அரசியல் நடத்தினார். அவரும் கொலை செய்யப்பட்டார். சசிகலாவுக்கு என்ன தரம் உண்டு,அரசியல் பேசுவதற்கு?ஜெயலலிதாவின்  பிணத்திற்கு இரண்டு காலும் இருந்ததா என்பதையே சொல்லமுடியாமல் தவிக்கின்றார்கள்.

வைகோ நாயுடு ;இவர் அரசியலுக்கு பிரவேசித்ததும், இவருடைய மூளைக்கோளாறு,இவரை தவறாக வழிநடத்தியது. ஈழப்பிரச்சனையை மத்தியமாக வைத்து பேசினால் அரசியலில் வெல்லலாம் என்று தவறான கணக்குப் போட்டார். தமிழகத்திலிருந்து டெல்லி நோக்கி எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து மக்களையும் கூட்டிச் சென்றார். பிழையான வழி அவரை அரசியலிலிருந்து கூவம் சாக்கடைக்கு தூக்கிப்போட்டது. இன்றோ இவர் இருந்த இடம் தெரியாமல் போய்விட்டார். ஈழம் என்று கூக்குரல் இட்டார், சாக்கடையில் விழுந்தார். தமிழகத்திற்கும் ஈழத்திற்கும் முடிச்சு போடுபவர்கள்,தமிழக அரசியலில் இருந்து கூவத்திற்கு எறியப்படுவார்கள்.

வியகாந்த்: இவர்,ச.ம.உ., அதாவது சட்ட மன்ற உறப்பினர் ஆனதும்,என்ன செய்தார். நாம் ஊடகங்களிலிருந்து அறிந்ததென்னவென்றால்,இவர்  24  மணத்தியாலத்தில், அதிக நேரம் மது போதையில்தான் இருப்பாராம். இவரும் வெகு விரைவில் இருந்த இடம் தெரியாமல் போவார். விஜயகாந்திற்கும் அரசியலுக்கும் வெகுதூரம். பழையபடி திரையில் வில்லனாகவோ தந்தையாகவோ சென்றால் நல்லது. அது அவருக்கு சரியான உத்தியோகம்.

பா.மா.கா. தலைவர் ராமதாஸ். இவருக்கு சாதிதான் முக்கியம். அரசியலில் சாதித்துவம் செல்லாது,கூடாது. கலப்புத்திருமணத்தில் கொலை செய்யத்தூண்டினார். சாதி வெறி பிடித்தவர்கள் இருபத்தோராம் நூற்றாண்டில்  அரசியலில் தேறமாட்டார்கள். இவரும் சாக்கடையில்தான். வெகு விரைவில் மறைந்து விடுவார். சாதிக்கட்சி என்று கூறி அரசியலில் பதவிக்கு வரலாம் என்று நினைப்பவர்கள் இந்த இருபத்திஒராம் நூற்றாண்டில் இயலாது.

நெடுமாறன்: இவர் ஒரு அரசியல் கோமாளி. பிரபாகரன் என்று கூக்குரல் இட்டு,அரசியல் சுத்த சூனியம் ஆகிவிட்டது. இன்றும் இவர் பிரபாகரன் உயிரோடு உள்ளார் என்று பிரச்சாரம் செய்பவர். முட்டாள்.

சீமான்: இவரை சிலருக்கு பிடிக்கும். ஆனாலும் இவரிடம் அதிக அளவு பிழைகள் உண்டு. மேடையில் பேசும்பொழுது,ஆவேசம்,உக்கிரம், கோபம் அதிகம். இராஜதந்திரம் இல்லை. தந்திரோபாய யுக்தி  இல்லை. இன்றைய அரசியலில் சாணக்கியம் தேவை,ஷத்திரியம் அல்ல. இவரும் மேலதிகமாக ஈழம் என்று கூக்குரல் இடுகின்றார். அரசியலிலிருந்து எறிவதற்கு சாத்தியம் உண்டு. இன்றைய 21ம் நுற்றாண்டு மக்கள் எல்லோரும் மூடர்கள் அல்ல. இவர் அரசியலில் வருவது தமிழக மக்களுக்கு சேவை செய்வதற்கா?அல்லது இலங்கை மக்களுக்கா?ஈழம் என்றொரு நாடு தீவில் இல்லை.

ரஜனிகாந்த் (Shivaji Rao Gaekwad) :
Quote: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajinikanth
Upon completion of his school education, Rajinikanth continued to perform various jobs in the cities of Bangalore and Madras, including that of a coolie and carpenter, and finally ended up being recruited in the Bangalore Transport Service (BTS) as a bus conductor.

Satyanarayana Rao சிவாஜி ராவினுடைய சகோதரர். இவர்கள் தமது அரசியல் கட்சியின் பெயரால் தமிழ் மக்களை மைசூரிலில் அடித்து வதைத்தாக ஊடகங்கள் தெரிவித்தன. இவன் ஆந்திராவுக்கு சென்றால் தெலுங்கு,மராட்டிக்கு சென்றால் மராட்டி,வடக்கில் ஹிந்தி,கேரளாவில் மலையாளம். தமிழக மக்களுக்கு ஒரு சதம் என்றாலும் உதவி செய்திருப்பானா. வரலாற்றில்,மராட்டி (சாளுக்கியர்) தமிழக மக்களை கொன்று குவித்தார்கள். ஏன்,சிறிது காலத்திற்கு முன்,தண்ணீர் கேட்டதற்கு பெங்களூரில் தமிழர் வாகனங்களை நொறுக்கினார்கள்,கன்னடாக்காரர்கள். ஏதாவது எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்தானா?இப்போ மராட்டியன்,தமிழகத்தை ஆளுவதற்கு,அரசியல் கட்சியின் பெயரில் மக்களை ஏமாற்றி பதவிக்கு வர முயற்சிக்கின்றான். தமிழக மக்களுக்கு,மானம்,வெட்கம்,ரோஷம்,நேர்மை,நீதி,கடமை,கண்ணியம் என்பது என்னவென்றால்,சிவாஜி ராவை அரசியலில் இருந்து சாக்கடைக்கு தூக்கி எறியவேண்டும். சிவாஜி ராவ் கட்சியில் அரசியலில் ஒருவன் தனும் வென்றால்,தமிழர்கள் தமிழன் என்று சொல்வதை விட்டு,கோவணத்தோடு வலம் வரவேண்டும். ஏன்?தமிழன் என்பவன் மூடர்கள். தமிழர்கள் தாய்பாசம் இல்லாதவர்கள். இன்று ரஜனியின் குடும்பத்தார்கள் கோடிஸ்வரர்கள். எல்லோரும் சினிமாவில் கொள்ளை. இவன் உழைத்தது இலங்கை தமிழர்கள் பணம். இவனுடைய பாஷையில் இசை என்றால்—“ஆளுமா,டோலுமா....” சீ வெட்கம். இவன் மராட்டி தேசத்திற்கு சென்று அரசியலில் குதித்து வென்று காட்டவேண்டும். அப்போ இவன் மனிதன்.

எம்ஜிஆர்: இவர் என்னத்தைக் கிழித்தார். நான் வேலூரில் வாழ்ந்தபொழுது,ஒரு அரசியல்வாதி கூறினார்: நான் சேரி மக்களை மாடி வீட்டு மக்கள் ஆக்குவேன் என்று. ஆனால்,நடந்தது? சேரி மக்கள் சாக்கடைக்கு வந்தார்கள். மாடி விட்டு மக்கள் சேரிக்கு வந்தார்கள். பதவியில் இருப்பவர்களும் அவர்களோடு சேர்ந்தவர்களும் கோடீஸ்வரர் ஆகினார்கள். காரணம்: மக்களின் மூடத்தனம். எம்ஜிஆரோ,பல கோடி சொத்திற்கு அதிபதியாக மறைந்தார். பிரபாகரனுக்கு பல கோடி பணம் கொடுத்தார். இலங்கை பிரச்சனைக்கு மூல கர்த்தா,நெடுமாறனும்,எம்ஜிஆரும்தான்.

விஜய்: விஜயின் தந்தை சிவாஜி ராவின் காலின் விழுந்தாராம். எதற்கு? மகனுக்கு ஒரு சீட் கேட்டா?இந்தச் செயல்,விஜயை சாக்கடைக்கு எறிந்துவிட்டது. மாபெரிய குற்றம். தமிழன் என்று சொல்லடா,தலை நிமிர்ந்து நில்லடா,என்ற சொல்லுக்கு மானபங்கம் விளைவித்தார்,மராட்டியன் காலில் விழுவது,மானம் இல்லாதவன் விஜயின் தந்தை. விஜய் அரசியலுக்கு தகுதி இல்லை.

இன்றைய தமிழக அரசியலுக்கு யார் வேண்டும்?

Tamil Nadu is a state full of corruption, bribery, with the absence of Law & Order. Does anyone think that TN is exercising Law & Order? Can anyone prove what happened to Jayalalitha? Annadurai? Does democracy prevail in TN? Who are the dedicated people in justice, law, and order? Who preach honesty, spirituality, forgiveness, justice, and cohesiveness. Who were the intellectuals?

We all know that it’s the Brahmins are the intellects and preach cohesiveness.

சிந்து வெளிக்குள் புகுந்த ஆரியர்களில், ஒரு சாரார் பொன்னுக்கும், பொருளுக்கும் பெண்ணுக்கும் அடிமைப்படாத குழு. இவர்கள் ஆன்மிகம், தர்மம், நீதி, நெறி,  ஒழுங்கு, ஆண்டவன் வழிபாட்டில் ஆழமான செறிவு கொண்டவர்களாக இருந்தார்களாம் என்பது வரலாறு. இசையிலும் மோகம்  கொண்டவர்கள் என்பதும் வரலாறு. இவர்கள்தான் இன்றைய பிராமணாள்கள்.அதிலும் இலங்கையின் பிராமணார்கள் மிகவும் நெறியோடு வாழ்பவர்கள். மிகவும் சிறந்தவர்கள். ஆகவே குணத்தில் சிறந்தோர் என்றால், அது பிராமணாள்கள்.
If we analyze the statistics of convicts, criminals and people who were charged with bribery and corruption, we could find zero brahmins have been convicted. Why is that? People, if we have a brain and have neural activity, then think and analyze. TN elected rowdies and coolies to the parliament. Uneducated people who have infected DOS and neural activity can only do one thing, Engage in illegal activities, criminal activities etc. Think about Sashikala, Dhinakaran, Panneerselvam and all those in the basket. What can TN people expect? Hero worshiping a movie star that he can do magic and that they can be better in life. Is it possible? NO!
After Rajaji and Kamarajar, TN entered bribery, corruption, and criminal activities.

Let us analyse Kamala Hassan:

கமல்ஹாசன்;இவர் ஒரு சட்டத்தரணிகள் குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தார். இவரிடம்,ஊழல்,கற்பழிப்பு,கொலை,கொள்ளை,இல்லை என்றுதான் கூறமுடியும். பணத்தாசை இல்லை. தமிழக மக்களுக்கு சேவை செய்வார் ஏன்ற நம்பிக்கை உண்டு. ஆங்கிலம்,தமிழ் சரமாரியாக பேசுவார். இவர் ஒரு சுத்த தமிழன். சட்டத்தரணிகள் குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்தார். இவர் கட்சியின் பெயரிலேயே,சத்தியம் நிலை தாங்கி நிற்கின்றது. மக்கள் நீதி மய்யம்.

மக்கள் பார்வையில்; கமல் மக்களின் பாதையில் வலம் வந்து,மக்களுக்கு சேவை செய்து மக்களின் ஆசீர்வாதத்தைப்பெறுவார் என்பதில் ஐயமில்லை. இன்றைய நிலைப்பாட்டில்,தமிழகக்தை ஆள்வதற்கு ஒரு சிறந்த அரசியல்வாதி என்றால் அது கமல்தான்.

He is a man of high integrity, intellect, and honor. He is the proper person to rule TN. Within the first term, he will eliminate bribery, corruption, illegal affairs on contracts, elevate the living standards of the poor, education to all, illegal private educational institution, eliminate nepotism, favoritism and all that prevails in TN.


Let the TN voters NOT vote for money, alcohol and a packet of biriyani, but vote for the right candidate and straighten TN for TN Tamil people. If not, TN will fade away.கட்டாக்காலி மாடுகளை அரசியலுக்குள் நுழைக்க வேண்டாம்.

Article 1

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Why is a Buddhist majoritarian state unacceptable but Islamic states are?

According to M M Zuhair former ambassador & Secretary to the State Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation the international community will not support a Buddhist majoritarian state and will only recognize states that are multi-linguistic, multi-cultural & multi-religious. If so, what is the position of over 50 majority-Muslim states where the constitution upholds only the right of Islam?

His sentiments were given space & published by the Sunday Times newspaper of 18 March 2018 http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180318/sunday-times-2/fake-propaganda-against-muslims-threat-to-national-unity-286339.html

“In any event an ethnic or a Buddhist majoritarian state will not receive the support of the international community, unlike a state which is recognised as multi-linguistic, multi-cultural and multi-religious. The armed forces of such a sectarian state may come under greater pressure from the UN Human Rights Council to allow international investigations. With only a little help possibly forthcoming from the powerful players of the world, the demand to establish hybrid courts will compound.”

Being a Muslim himself, Mr. Zuhair may like to connect his own statement with the status quo in Muslim majority countries where only Islam is given prominence.

Over 100million non-Muslims live & work in over 50 Muslim majority countries that comprises 1/3 of the world and over 1.2billion Muslims – but do they enjoy the same rights that Islam & Muslims enjoy?
Are these Muslim majority nations multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-faith  

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 declares

Article 1"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood". (Women are inferior under Islamic law; their testimony in  a court of law is worth half that of a man; their movement is strictly restricted, they cannot marry a non-Muslim)

Article 2"Everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status".
(Non - Muslims living in Muslim countries have inferior status under Islamic law, they may not testify against a Muslim. In Saudi Arabia, following a tradition of Muhammed who said "Two religions cannot exist in the country of Arabia ", non-Muslims are forbidden to practice their religion, build churches, possess Bibles etc.)

Article 3"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person" (atheists-- in Muslim countries do not have "the right to life ". They are to be killed.  

Article 4“No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms" (Slavery is recognised in the Koran. Muslims are allowed to cohabit with any of their female slaves (Sura iv.3); they are allowed to take possession of married women if they are slaves (Sura iv.28); 

Article 5 No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. (punishments for the transgressers of the Holy Law: amputations, crucifixion, stoning to death, floggings)

Article 6  Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law. 

In Muslim majority countries strict laws govern how people live, what symbols are displayed, how people behave in public, how people are to dress in public and these laws come with severe punishments. The world may cry foul, issue countless reports, debate and send petitions but nothing or no one can change these laws.

57 nations declare themselves as Islamic. In these lands strict Islamic laws prevail. Islam is the preferred & privileged religion. Is there Multiculturalism-Multi-Faith-Multi-religious-Multi-cultures in these countries? Are other religions other ethnic groups on par with Islam or Muslims?

The constitutions of most Arab countries including Egypt, Syria, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E. and Yemen refer to Sharia either as: A primary source of law or the source of law.

The head of state has to be a Muslim because he is bound by Sharia law to conduct & administer the state in accordance with the Quran and the Sunna. His Government of Ministers are bound to assist him in implementing Islamic principles.
A Non-Muslim can never become the Head of State of a majority Muslim country.

Where the constitution describes Sharia as “The” principal source of legislation, the hierarchy implies that all other laws and statues must comply with the principles of Sharia.

Islamic law “Shari`a” guarantees to non-Muslims “certain specifically stated rights beyond which they are not permitted to meddle in the affairs of the state because they do not subscribe to its ideology.” ONLY IF they embrace the Islamic faith, they “become equal participants in all matters concerning the state and the government.”

Non-Muslims who live in Muslim countries & agree to pay Jizya (tribute tax collected from adult non-Muslim males) in exchange for protection and safety are Zimmis. Tax collected from Muslims is Zakat.

In Arab peninsula, Zimmis (non-Muslims) cannot build new churches, temples, synagogues, renovation is allowed if no new additions are made. Old Churches are those that existed before Islamic conquests. Inspite of the area being occupied by non-Muslims before conquest, ever since Islam has prevailed, it is regarded as the land of the Prophet.

Zimmis cannot pray or read their sacred books out loud les Muslims hear their prayers.
Zimmis cannot print their religious books or sell them in public places to outsiders (only their own people)
Zimmis cannot install their religious symbols even inside their houses
Zimmis cannot hold their religious events in public.
But Zimmis & Muslims have to face the same civic laws – if a Zimmi commits theft, adultery, murder etc they are punished as per Islamic law.
Islamic law applies to civic, business, financial transactions, mortgages & contracts etc.

Though civic law is common to Zimmis & Muslims there are instances where non-Muslims are treated differently. A Muslim male can marry a Zimmi girl but a Zimmi man cannot marry a Muslim girl.

Zimmi’s cannot testify against Muslims. Their oaths are not considered valid in an Islamic court. A Zimmi, regarded as an infidel, cannot testify against any Muslim regardless of his moral credibility.

Shariah Law holds that a Zimmi is not even qualified to be under oath.

“The testimony of a Zimmi is not accepted because Allah – may He be exalted – said: `God will not let the infidels (kafir) have an upper hand over the believers’.” 

A Muslim cannot emulate Zimmi dress or behavior, attend their festivals, lease or sell his land to construct a Zimmi church, temple, liquor store etc.

No Muslim can change their faith. Conversion of Muslims is not allowed but non-Muslims can convert to Islam.

When Brunei implemented Shariah law non-Muslims were banned from using 19 Islamic words – anyone found guilt had to pay $4000 fine or a year in prison or stoning to death.
In Malaysia, non-Muslims cannot use the word Allah.
In 2015, Iran executed 20 people for "enmity against God,"


In Jordan, which is a constitutional monarchy, 54% say their laws should strictly follow the Quran.

Around half of Nigerian Muslims (52%) prefer the strict interpretation of the Quran for the country’s laws, while 64% of Nigerian Christians prefer the Quran have no influence.

According to Pew “Generally, more-educated people say laws should not follow Quran”

Incidentally, the following countries were secular and turned into Islamic nations!
·      Bangladesh (1971-1977)
·      Iran (1925-1979)
·      Madagascar (1960–2007)
·      Iraq (1932–1968)

Iranian-born professor of law Afshin Ellian argues that while Muslim migrants are quick to claim their customs under “multiculturalism”, they have no intention of reciprocating.
“The Islamic world is not multicultural and is not going to be multicultural. It is only the Western countries which have had to become multicultural at breakneck speed. So the migration is one-way.”

Robert Spencer, says “When in Muslim countries, do as the Muslims do, and when in non-Muslim countries, do as the Muslims do.”

“In the West, Muslims are willing to make a nod toward the Western celebration of diversity. But in Muslim majority nations it’s a different story. To the extent that other faiths are tolerated, they are tolerated only insofar as they accept dhimmi status.” (William Kilpatrick)

Do any of these restrictions prevail constitutionally, legislatively or legally in Sri Lanka? Foremost place of Buddhism prevails because it had been the state religion even at the point of signing the Kandyan Convention and the British assured to maintain that status quo. The status quo of Buddhism has not impeded any individuals of non-Buddhist faith from practicing their religions. The answer to this is can Buddhists go about putting up Buddhist temples in any of the Muslim majority countries in the manner that minorities are presently putting up religious structures? Anyone denying are requested to take a journey throughout Sri Lanka & count the numbers of mosques, kovils, churches, madrassas, free-churches that have come up of late.

The concept of multiculturalism is a new liberal theory introduced by the West whose citizens are now openly condemning their governments for implementing. Leaders of the West themselves are admitting that multiculturalism has failed.

The severe restrictions and regulations enforced by Muslim majority nations are to protect & preserve their faith & the cultural system based on that faith. Christian West has been liberal and accommodative of other faiths & cultures & in so doing many have found refuge in other faiths, thus the rising number of Westerners embracing Buddhism while large numbers are becoming atheists.

If the West has no issues in the Muslim majority nations placing their faith above all others and non-conforming to any of the UN charters & declarations as none of these Muslim majority countries follow multiculturalism-multi-faith or multi-linguism, why would anyone of this same faith take offence against Sri Lanka that has provided enough and more to the minorities and seeks only to preserve, protect and foster what had existed for over 2500 years.



Shenali D Waduge


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Comments on disruption of discussion by Tamils

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI5BITBPw-Y

Viewing the attached video will reveal more truths on the behavioral pattern as to who are the rowdies and who are the gentle people of SriLanka. Behavioral pattern inflicts upon leadership quality. The Sinhala military officer gently and politely emphasized and outlined the events in the past which are the truths.

The Tamil guy behaves liked a Coolie and a rowdy and walks toward the military officer intimidating him. This is similar to the behavior of LTTE terrorists in the past when they were holding an AK 47 or T 56. LTTE was able to control the mass purely on intimidation with guns.  Some people are trying to control this guy and pull him backward. That itself is an indication of rowdy behavior. It is ridiculous that the guy wears a decent dress and talks bush English.

Truths:
Why was Alfred Duraiyappa (AD) killed by LTTE? The AD, when he was the Mayor of Jaffna, allocated land near Oattumadam. The land is only two miles from Jaffna town for settlement by Muslim community. LTTE did not like this allocation. Prabakaran planned and assassinated AD in 1974 and killed AD in cold blood. When LTTE strengthened their hands, they ordered the Muslims to get out of the area within 48 hours.

When Tamils talk of self-determination, for 30 years the area was devastated by terrorism. If we are clever we could analyze the events after gaining independence. Since 1949, what did the Tamil politicians do for the Northern area? Were they a driver for the younger generation to do private practice and open up technical business. All Tamils wanted government jobs and ran to the South. Tamils kept their families in Jaffna and traveled by Yarl Devi during weekends. Tamils were happy with their life indicating they are selfish and self-centered. Politicians sucked the government politburo and got government high jobs for their kith and relatives. An upper caste guy will not allow a lower caste guy to buy a land next to him or in the area.

LTTE blasted and bombed the Central Bank building, Destroyed EHV power lines. Destroyed the KKS Cement factory. Destroyed roads, trains running to Jaffna by bombing rail tracks.
Tamil hooligan diaspora always talks about colonization. Don’t they know or are they small babies to understand who colonized the whole land. Indian Tamils colonized SriLanka right from the 13th century. According to 2011 statistics, 49% of Tamils live outside the N&E. There is no point in talking about colonization because the people who will be laughed at are the TAMILS. Why is there 98% of Tamils in Wellawatte? Why is there 98,000+ Tamils in Gampaha?

Kittu and another LTTE coolie killed several Sinhalese bystanders at Anuradhapura bus stand. What did these innocent civilians do?

The only thing the Tamil politicians did was to incite the Tamil Coolies and the population to enter into Satyagraha and fight against the government. Today MA Sumanthiran is in the USA sucking and begging the US to involve in UN and order something to their taste. Where did he qualify to become an attorney? SriLanka under free education scheme by GOSL.

Its time for Tamil Diaspora to behave like humans and not rowdies, and the Tamil politicians to be cohesive in SL. Tamils wanted power sharing. SL gave power-sharing by appointing the old fool Sambanthar as the Leader of Opposition. What more they want?

NPC wants police and land power for only one thing. They now find that the lower caste people are coming up in life with higher education and jobs, which they are unable to digest. If they have the power then they can still cheat the lower caste fools and control them to do menial jobs. Human riots violation occurs in the N&E. Lower caste fools must understand that the Tamil politicians do not love them but hate the lower caste idiots.

Tamil Diaspora fools must understand as to why the west is supporting them. Nothing more than to invade into the N & E and make it a Bangkok for their NAVY brothel house.

Already the Tamil Diaspora is living in pockets based on caste placement. No lower caste person or family is invited by a higher caste person. That’s the situation overseas. That indicates that the high caste Tamils are idiots with narrow mentality.
Let us Tamils behave like humans.


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Can countries with blood soaked hands frame bogus charges of war crimes against Sri Lanka

Whatever countries of the West preach, their record speaks volumes and should be nothing they or their citizens can be proud about. The question is, knowing that these countries of the West have lied, created false reports, false flag stories/campaigns, secretly trained & dispatched ‘rebels’ to stir trouble to justify their interference….can these countries be allowed to use the same formula and destroy Asia after destroying Africa, South America, Middle East & parts of Eastern Europe?



There is a basis to reject the US-sponsored resolutions against Sri Lanka. The US has produced manuals which are replicated in different countries. They proudly produce films showing off their ability to destabilize nations. Can such a country be a genuine friend? Can such a country be trusted? Can such a country who uses the hall of the UN to promote its plans using the terminology & Charters of the UN be allowed to ruin yet another country? Anyone defending the US, please produce a single country that the US has helped develop & prosper after militarily intervening in their internal affairs!

The CIA has been the key agent used in destabilizing operations worldwide. When anyone is termed a CIA agent, it is because CIA recruits influential intellectuals & charismatic personalities, the agency is also famed for threats, kidnappings, torture, enforced disappearances & even assassinations. Declassified CIA documents provide evidence. CIA has been associated with uprisings, military rebellions, economic chaos and even able to cause scarcity of food & water.

US bombing of countries
·      Only country to use atomic bomb twice against Japan
·      America dropped 26,171 bombs in 2016 - Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Syria & Iraq. In 2015, the U.S. dropped 22,110 bombs in Iraq and Syria.

Regime Change / overthrowing democratically elected leaders & replacing with US-friendly puppets
·      Hawaii 1893 – overthrowing Queen Lili’uokalani & annexed Hawaii to US by 1898.
·      Syria 1949 – overthrowing democratically elected al-Quwatli centred around the construction of the Trans-Arabian Pipeline which the President-elect opposed, thus the reason for his ouster & approved by the junta leader US supported (these are all lessons for Sri Lanka)
·      Iran 1953: overthrowing democratically elected PM Mosaddegh with the help of UK (Operation Boot/TPAJAX Project). US turned Iran to an authoritarian state.
·      US regime change for Syria meant funding Syrian Opposition Groups to help topple President Assad though internationally denying involvement in any regime change. From 2013, US provided training, weapons, cash to Syrian Islamic & secular rebels.
·      USAID’s twitter campaign (“ZunZuneo,”) in Cuba
·      In Paraguay, Obama administration staged a ‘soft coup’ to get rid of the democratically elected leader Fernando Lugo simply because he upheld land rights of the peasants!
·      When Brazil’s Goulart attempted reforms to combat illiteracy, transfer profits by multinational companies, reform tax laws & redistribute lands what did US do? It carried out a military coup helped by then US envoy in Brazil, helping transport arms secretly!

Aiding secession
Panama 1903 – seceded from Colombia helped by US (the secession was helped by a private company that wanted to control the Panama Canal – this is relevant to the issue of Trincomalee Harbour)
US was key player in Kosovo liberation & independence
US also helped South Sudan independence


Military interventions / Invasions & Occupations
·      Cuba 1898 – (1898 to 1902), 1906-1909, 1912, 1917-1922
·      Peurto Rico 1898 - sea & land attack
·      Philippines 1899  
·      China 1898-1901 (Boxer Rebellion) US & 8 countries (Japan, Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary) with 20,000 troops defeated Chinese army & captured Beijing
·      China 1946-1949 – US helped Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) against the Chinese communist party forces as well as sending US troops. KMT had been given $4.43billion!
·      Honduras - 1903, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1919, 1924, 1925 – (Banana Wars) to defend US corporate interests (United Fruit Company/Standard Fruit Company)
·      Nicaragua - 1912-1933   
·      Mexico 1914 – Veracruz city occupied for 6 months)
·      Haiti 1915-1934 –US banks requests US Govt intervention. US installed a new government, dictated how Haiti’s new constitution was to be and cancelled the previous ban on foreign ownership of land (notice the identical changes happening in Sri Lanka)
·      Dominican Republic 1916-1924  
·      Russia invaded in 1918 – by US & Japan
·      South Korea 1945-1950 – After People’s Republic of Korea declared itself independent in August 1945, US sent forces to Korea & established the US Army Military Government in Korea to govern Korea South
·      Greece 1946-1949 – on request of Britain
·      US militarily invaded Grenada in 1983 to get rid of the government that the Reagan Govt opposed. All that the UNGA did was to call the invasion a “flagrant violation of international law’ and US vetoes a UNSC Resolution. So what good is a UN?
·      In 1989, US invaded Panama and deposed leader Noriega.
·      Use of “all necessary means” adopted by US & Coalition forces against Iraq in 1991 known as the Gulf War. Saddam claimed he invaded Kuwait upon approval of US.
·      US assisted Haiti’s military to oust elected leader Aristide. The coup leader Cedras & Francois received military training in US.
·      Iraq invasion & occupation 1998 based on fake news & false allegations
·      Libya military intervention by US & coalition in 2011. US & British troops fired over 110 cruise missiles.

Interfering in foreign elections
·      Italy - 1948-1970s: CIA acknowledges giving $1m to Italian parties for the 1948 election (same scenario in Sri Lanka). CIA had also published forged letters/radio broadcasts, books, articles to discredit leaders. $65m had been spent to help elect politicians (the well-funded campaigns that brought about regime change in 2015 in Sri Lanka)
·      A 2016 study by Dov Levin claims US intervened in 81 foreign elections between 1945 & 2000. Levin says “60 different independent countries have been the targets of such interventions,”
·      1950s Japan – according to former US envoy Douglas MacArthur II, US sent secret funding for Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party
·      1952 Iran – US state department declassified documents reveal US plot to undermine Mosaddegh wherein multiple methods were adopted by CIA (bribing media, civil society, false propaganda, false flags)
·      1964 Chilean – US funded candidate Montalva against Salvador Allende as well as funding to tarnish Allende’s reputation (methodology probably applied in Sri Lanka too).
·      1970 Chilean – Church Committee report claimed CIA supported kidnapping of Chilean Army Commander Gen. Schneider who died of wounds.
·      1996 Russia – Boris Yeltsin is said to have received assistance from US media & PR experts. There was wide speculations of election rigging too (isn’t this the case in Sri Lanka’s recent elections)
·      2002 Bolivian – US envoy warned Bolivians against voting for Evo Morales but the move backfired.

US support for dictators/Opposition Groups/assisting military coups
·      Nicaragua – US supported groups rebelling against President Zelaya who was opposed to foreigners taking Nicaragua’s natural resources.
·      Any democratically elected leader attempting to bring land & economic reforms to benefit the citizens will not go far as Brazil experienced in 1961-1964 when US Govt insisted Brazil impose a program of economic austerity refusal meant US would cut off aid and if that is not adhered to, it is ouster & installation of a military pro-US head.
·      CIA working in tow with Indonesia army in 1965 to oust President Sukarno & replace with Gen. Suharto.
·      US helped lead military coup  using Gen. Banzer & toppled President Torres of Bolivia (1970s) another US-propped dictator. Under US-propped dictators the calls for freedom of speech, torture, disappearances never made it to any international forum or calls for action. Torres was assassinated in 1976.
·      The US that talks on ‘war on terror’ is silent about how It secretly provided weapons & funding to the Mujahideen of Afghanistan in the 1970s to overthrow the Afghan government.
·      Similarly the US has also been accused of secretly arming, training & funding the Contras in Nicaragua. CIA is accused of distributing ‘terror manual’ instructing how to blow up public buildings, assassinate judges, create martyrs, blackmail ordinary citizens (Psychological Operations in Guerilla War) – good for Sri Lankans to read this book & see how many have been enforced in Sri Lanka!
·      CIA recruitment of Ayad Allawi head of Iraqi National Accord who opposed Saddam Hussein of Iraq & began a sabotage campaign including bombing against the government. Allawi was installed as PM of the Iraq Interim Governing Council in 2003. Has the US tapped military personnel in Sri Lanka?
·      in Venezuela, US is said to have spent $90 million funding opposition groups against late Hugo Chavez.

Interfering in internal affairs of sovereign countries
·      1903, 1904, 1914 – Dominican Republic military interventions by US installing its personnel to key positions in government & controlling Dominican Army & Police (Is this not what is now happening in Sri Lanka)
·      1941 – Panama using US contacts developed in Panama National Guard which US trained to orchestrate a coup against the Govt when the Govt refused US over 130 new military installations inside & outside the Panama Canal Zone (has Sri Lanka’s leaders considered the possibilities that their ‘friend’ could be our ‘worst enemy’?)
·      1955-1960 – Laos – US Govt funded military budget & even paid salaries of the Laos Army. US also set up an office to field its civilian personnel with military experience. US also sent commando units in civilian attire to train the Royal Lao Army.
·      US pressuring the Fatah faction of the Palestinian leadership to topple the Hamas government of PM Haniyeh whom people elected in 2006. Since Fatah faction had the blessings of the US the whole world was quiet when Fatah kidnapped, tortured civilians and even set fire to the university of Gaza!

Failed coups & lessons for Sri Lanka
·      1957 Syria – coup attempt to assassinate key Syrian officials & blame on Syria government as pretext to invade by Iraqi & Jordanian troops. The operation failed when Syrian military officers who were paid to stage coup revealed the plot to Syrian intelligence. US denied & US media accused Syria of being a satellite of USSR.
·      Overthrowing democratically elected leaders like Guatemalan President Arbenz & installing US-friendly puppets became a model US to be used across the world
·      Countries wishing to charter their own independent foreign policy not militarily committed to any side will end up like Indonesia in 1957-1959 when US staged a coup with rebel Indonesian military officers resulting in bombing of commercial shipping to frighten foreign merchant ships & weakened Indonesia’s economy. Of course US denied any involvement
·      1959 Iraq – US intelligence in collusion with Egyptian intelligence attempted to assassinate PM Qasim & recruited Saddam Hussein. Qasim ended up only wounded. Saddam Hussein an one-time US asset was eventually killed by US.
·      1961 Cuba – US training of Cuban exiles to invade Cuba to overthrow the Govt is another CIA-mastered tactic. The Bay of Pigs invasion of April 1961 failed.
·      The US & its intelligence have been infamous for assassinations, economic warfare, embargoes, sabotage, working hand in glove with all types of mafia, diplomatic isolation, psychological operations that use multiple modes of media to turn people against their elected government and these are factors that every country dealing with the US need to take serious stock of.

Sanctions against countries
·      US influenced sanctions on Iraq through UNSC in 1991 Resolution 687. 
·      Oil embargo imposed on Syria in 2011 as well as Libya ahead of the military interventions.

State sponsored terrorism
·      1981-1991 US provided weapons, training, financial & logistics support to Contra rebels in Nicargua.
·      US provided training, arms & funds to Cuban exiles
·      US assistance to the Kosovo Liberation Army ahead of Kosovo independence after the war KLA became Kosovo Protection Corps which worked with NATO to patrol the province! Many of the KLA leaders are now political leaders of independent Kosovo – it is a replica of the scenario unfolding regarding LTTE & TNA & their quest for self determination helped by US & EU too.
·      US is also alleged to have direct links to ISIS, Al Qaeda & numerous other linked terror groups.

The US record against sovereign nations speaks volumes of why Sri Lanka’s leaders & even officials need to be well read & aware when dealing with American envoys & realize that what we see is certainly not what we are going to get.



Shenali D Waduge

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Glaring omission of US brokered 2010 TNA-SF ‘pact’

‘Sri Lanka: The New Country’


By Shamindra Ferdinando

Veteran Indian journalist Padma Rao Sundarji’s ‘Sri Lanka: The New Country,’ authored during the tail end of war-winning President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s second term, expertly dealt with Sri Lanka’s conflict that was brought to a successful conclusion, in May 2009. Rao, who had been to the northern part of Sri Lanka, at the time the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was in control, as well as during the post-war period, discussed the conflict, certainly without bias. By and large, Rao addressed conflict and post-war issues, fairly, and much more objectively than some Sri Lankan commentators.

Rao hadn’t been reluctant to blame New Delhi for arming, training and assisting the LTTE with its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran receiving the privileged treatment as a state guest of India in the ‘80s. Rao asserted that New Delhi intervened in Sri Lanka because of growing relationship between the US and Sri Lanka against the backdrop of India’s close partnership with the then Soviet Union.

One-time Indian High Commissioner in Colombo (1985-1989), Foreign Secretary (1991-1994) and National Security Advisor (2004-2005) J.N. Dixit, in his memoirs ‘Makers of India’s Foreign Policy: Raja Ram Mohun Roy to Yashwant Sinha,’ in 2004, over a decade before Rao’s declaration, stated that New Delhi’s strategy in respect of Sri Lanka should be examined taking into consideration the then regional and international environment between 1980-1984. Dixit alleged that the US and Pakistan exploited Tamil terrorism to create, what he called, a politico-strategic pressure point against India. Dixit suffered a fatal heart attack, in January 2005.

It would be pertinent to mention that Rao finalized ‘Sri Lanka: The New Country’ in January, 2015, as Sri Lanka brought Rajapaksa’s reign to an end with substantial outside inputs.

India has been widely accused of facilitating the US-spearheaded project to thwart Rajapaksa securing a third term.

Dixit on Indian intervention

Let me reproduce verbatim Dixit’s comment on Indian intervention during Indira Gandhi’s tenure as the Prime Minister of India: "The two foreign policy decisions on which she could be faulted are: her ambiguous response to the Russian intrusion into Afghanistan and her giving active support to Sri Lankan Tamil militants. Whatever the criticisms about these decisions, it cannot be denied that she took them on the basis of her assessments about India’s national interests. Her logic was that she could not openly alienate the former Soviet Union when India was so dependent on that country for defence supplies and technologies. Similarly, she couldn’t afford the emergence of Tamil separatism in India by refusing to support the aspirations of Sri Lankan Tamils. These aspirations were legitimate in the context of nearly fifty years of Sinhalese discrimination against Sri Lankan Tamils."

‘Sri Lanka: The New Country’ was launched in New Delhi, in April 2015, with the distinguished presence of former Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Nirupama Rao (2004-2006) followed by he Colombo launch, in July 2015. The then Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera had been among those present at the Colombo event that took place two months before the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government, at the behest of the US, co-sponsored Geneva Resolution 30/1 in spite of it being severely inimical to Sri Lanka. The Yahapalana leaders co-sponsored Geneva Resolution 30/1 just over a week after the outgoing Sri Lanka Permanent Representative in Geneva, Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, strongly objected to the wording at an informal discussion there.

Strangely, Sri Lankan politicians and officialdom never bothered to examine Dixit’s work, or that of Rao, an internationally recognized journalist whose contribution could have been efficiently used to counter those propagating lies. Rao is perhaps one of the few fearless scribes at the top in our part of the world to take on the powerful Western media. She had done that much to the appreciation of the vast majority of Sri Lankans. Rao commented on Western media double standards in respect of war and post-conflict reportage.

Rao was the South Asia bureau chief of German news magazine Der Spiegel. She has also worked with ARD German Television Network in New York, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen, Geo magazine and Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Her work has appeared in the New York Times and the Herald Tribune. She lives in New Delhi and freelances for German, Swiss and Austrian dailies.

Obviously, Rao, like Lord Naseby, must have been shocked at the way the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe had neglected its responsibility to defend Sri Lanka at the recently concluded 37 Sessions of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The writer felt the urgent need to peruse Rao’s work in the wake of her exclusive with Lord Naseby outside the British parliament last year following the Conservative politician’s dramatic revelations and assertions on the basis of wartime British High Commission dispatches from Colombo. But Naseby’s bombshell, in Oct. 2017, couldn’t move the yahapalana (good governance) administration at the Geneva sessions. Having defended Sri Lanka in the House of Lords, Lord Naseby went to the extent of personally bringing relevant dispatches to the attention of Geneva though Sri Lanka conveniently refrained from at least referring to the latest developments. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative there, Ambassador Aryasinha, and leader of the ministerial delegation Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana, PC, were silent on the Naseby issue. Those who had believed President Maithripala Sirisena would intervene on Sri Lanka’s behalf to ensure that UNHRC was appraised of the latest developments were quite disappointed and angry.

The yahapalana government has indicated that it will never, under any circumstances, seek a review of Geneva Resolutions 30/1 or 34/1 though Lord Naseby showed the way. Sri Lanka refrained from taking up the issue for obvious reasons. Instead, the Sri Lankan delegation reiterated commitment to fully implementing the Geneva Resolution 30/1. The state managed media painted a rosy picture though Sri Lanka essentially acknowledged its culpability.

Rao, at the time she had concluded ‘Sri Lanka: The New Country,’ wouldn’t have, under any circumstances, envisaged Colombo accepting responsibility for war crimes it never committed during Eelam war IV. Rao explicitly discussed the entire gamut of issues and key events such as media briefing given by Velupillai Prabhakaran to over 150 journalists in Kilinochchi. Rao recalled how the LTTE applied ‘whites-first’ policy in taking questions from those gathered there resulting in a section of the Indian scribes loudly complaining to British citizen of Sri Lankan origin Anton Balasingham, who was seated next to Prabhakaran. Rao’s work provided readers an opportunity to know the origins of India-sponsored terrorism, the growth of LTTE, conventional military challenge, failed peace efforts, successful war against the LTTE, post-war developments and Maihripala Sirisena’s emergence as Mahinda Rajapaksa’s successor.

A forgotten TNA project

However, Rao has completely missed the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) led Tamil National Alliance (TNA) role in the first US managed project in 2009-2010 to thwart Mahinda Rajapaksa from securing a second presidential term, at the 2010 January polls. In spite of her close watch over Sri Lankan affairs, the Indian, obviously, had been completely in the dark in respect of the abortive operation in 2009-2010 to help war-winning Army Chief, General Sarath Fonseka, beat Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Janatha Vikukthi Peramuna (JVP) as well as the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), too, had been involved in the anti-Rajapaksa project, on both occasions.

In spite of calling Fonseka a ‘war criminal,’ in January 2010, the US Embassy, in Colombo, worked overtime to arrange a coalition to ensure his victory over Rajapaksa at the January 2010 polls. The US played a critically important role in forming the coalition under the ‘swan’ symbol. Thanks to Wiki Leaks, confidential US diplomatic cables that dealt with US efforts to form a political grouping capable of defeating Rajapaksa, is in the public domain. Maithripala Sirisena, too, contested the 2015 presidential poll, under the same symbol. Last year, the leader of the ‘swan’ party, Shalila Munasinghe, was arrested, along with Janaka Nammuni , son of retired Maj. Gen. Jaliya Nammuni, one-time Chief of Staff, SLA, over defrauding USD 2.1 mn from a Taiwanese bank, last Oct. Nammuni held dual British and Sri Lankan citizenship while Munasinghe carried a British passport.

Sri Lanka certainly could have benefited from the exposure of confidential US diplomatic cables, originating from Colombo. Unfortunately, successive administrations never bothered to examine those cables, thereby lost chance to exploit them. The US guaranteed the TNA support to Fonseka. Although, the US-led plan went awry, in January 2010, an almost identical project succeeded in January 2015 to oust President Rajapaksa. It would be pertinent to keep in mind that the then staunch Rajapaksa loyalist Maithripala Sirisena had held the defence portfolio at a crucial stage of the final battle (May 2009 third week) on the Vanni east front where unsubstantiated accusations were made in respect of battlefield executions.

In January 2010, Tamils voted for Fonseka amidst widespread wild allegations that the armed forces had massacred over 40,000 civilians on the Vanni east front and substantial number of LTTE cadres too executed. Whatever the TNA leadership said, northern Tamils wouldn’t have voted for Gen. Fonseka if they really resented him and held him accountable for civilian deaths.

Had the Tamil community really felt conquered and overwhelmed by the military presence, in the Northern Province, they wouldn’t have exercised their franchise in support of General Fonseka. All northern and eastern districts overwhelmingly voted for Gen Fonseka and Maithripala Sirisena at the 2010 and 2015 presidential polls.

It would be important to keep in mind that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe led the coalition against Rajapaksa, both at the 2010 and then at the 2015 presidential polls, he didn’t contest. Rao clearly missed that the TNA played a leading role in the 2010 operation to bring Rajapaksa’s reign to an end. Rao’s assertion that twice president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga returned from retirement to prop ‘the new coalition’ behind Maithripala Sirisena, too, is inaccurate. Kumaratunga backed Gen Fonseka’s presidential bid.

None of those whom Rao had spoken to in Colombo, including Wickremesinghe and TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, in the run-up to the January 8, 2015 presidential poll, obviously didn’t tell her about the TNA role in the 2010 project. Even after Rao had pointed out to Sumanthiran, two days before the presidential polls, that the ‘TNA’s astounding support for Sirisena found his party on the same side as Sinhalese nationalist parties JVP and JHU, the TNA spokesman didn’t bother to tell her their role in Gen. Fonseka’s bid. The author could have missed it. That could have happened to any writer but Sri Lankans couldn’t be excused for failing to mention the TNA-SF project. Surprisingly, Rajapaksas’s side, too, remained silent. That is obviously negligence.

Neelakandan’s response

The writer sought an explanation from top lawyer, the late Kandiah Neelakandan, President of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress, during a ceremony in Vavuniya, in the run up to the January 2010 presidential poll, how he felt about Tamils having to choose between Gen Fonseka and President Rajapaksa whose political leadership made Sri Lanka’s victory possible. President Rajapaksa was there to personally release some rehabilitated LTTE cadres, and top ACHC representatives were among those invited to participate at the event. Neelakandan acknowledged the paradox of the situation. Then Minister Milinda Moragoda played a pivotal role in securing the support of the ACHC in a bid to dispel fears among the Tamil community that those who had surrendered and were captured, on the Vanni front, were to be executed.

The TNA has always played down its involvement in Gen. Fonseka’s campaign. Having had accused the Rajapaksa administration of atrocities and deliberate killings, on the Vanni east front, the TNA voted for the General, who conducted the actual war and was called a war criminal by the then US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis.

Rao’s anecdotal narrative received superb reviews with Vinod Metha, Editorial Chairman, Outlook Group, India asserting, "Padma Rao Sundarji’s superb account of post-conflict Sri Lanka is written with impeccable objectivity. This is, I believe, the first independent attempt to tell the story largely from ‘other’ side...Must read."

Obviously, those Sri Lankans who had been in touch with Rao were determined to keep TNA’s shocking relationship with Gen. Fonseka under wraps. In fact, the writer, on numerous occasions, including on electronic media, underscored the pivotal importance of examining the 2010 electoral agreement against the backdrop of the TNA still pursuing war crimes inquiry. While Sri Lanka meekly again reiterated its commitment to Resolution 30/1 in Geneva, TNA heavyweight Sumanthiran was in the US to secure continued UN, US and Norwegian backing to pressure Sri Lanka. Sumanthiran was accompanied by senior representatives of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) as well as several other Diaspora organizations. Many an eyebrow was raised in June 2016 when Sumanthiran revealed in Washington about having a tripartite agreement involving the US, Sri Lanka and the TNA for the full implementation of the 2015 Geneva Resolution. Sumanthiran went to the extent of declaring that the agreement specifically settled the contentious issue of foreign judges in hybrid war crimes court.

Attorney-at-law Sumanthiran told American ‘Congressional Caucus for Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka’, in Washington, that the government of Sri Lanka, the TNA and the US had been involved in the negotiations leading to the agreement. The declaration was made in the presence of Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Washington, Prasad Kariyawasam. The Island reported the Washington meet in its June 28, 2016 edition. The story was headlined ‘Constitution no bar to foreign judges in war crimes court - TNA’

In fact, the TNA statement was meant to pressure the government, and to remind the Yahapalana leadership that it wouldn’t give up, or dilute arrangement, over foreign judges.

TNA-Sarath agreement

Sampanthan, on January 6, 2010, in parliament, pledged his support for Fonseka. Sampanthan declared that the decision following consultations with candidates, Mahinda Rajapaksa and Fonseka. The TNA chief asserted that Rajapaksa’s re-election wouldn’t be in the best interests of the country, nor the Tamil community. The TNA made its surprising announcement with the knowledge of the US Embassy, in Colombo, soon after the grouping reached an agreement with Fonseka. Like the tripartite agreement worked out to pave the way for hybrid war crimes court, the US arranged the TNA-Fonseka pact, titled ‘Immediate Relief Measures for War Affected Persons and Areas or Peace’



I. Restoration of Civil Administration and Normalcy

1. Full restoration of all institutions of Civil Administration from the Office of Grama Sevaka upwards – free from Military, Police and Political interference. 2. Committees for each District headed by the respective District Secretary (GA) and comprising: - Nominee of the President -Divisional Secretaries -Other Officials (Representatives of such Officials) -Members of Parliament/Their Representatives -Representatives of Local Authorities -Judicial Officers -Security Forces/Commanders/Officers North/East -DIG — Police /Officers -Civil Society Representatives To prepare Plan of Action for immediate implementation within one month Monthly Reports on progress to be submitted to the President, Cabinet and Parliament. A dedicated Secretariat to be established under the President to monitor progress and ensure implementation. 3. The immediate measures stated herein to be implemented through Presidential Orders, including appointing Presidential Task Forces therefor. 4. Security Forces to be stationed at strategic locations only, taking into consideration national security. High Security Zones to be dismantled in keeping with the COLOMBO 00000017 003.4 OF 005 re-location of the Security Forces. 5. Free movement of all persons to be guaranteed without being impeded by Security and Police personnel. 6. Police to be manned, as far as practicable, by Officers who are conversant in Tamil.

II. Prohibition of ‘para-military cadres’ and armed groups (self-styled ‘War Lords’)

1. All ‘para-military cadres’ and armed groups to be disarmed forthwith. 2. Areas of civilian activity to be free of weapons. 3. Except the Security Forces and Police, only persons with permits under the Firearms Ordinance would be entitled to possess firearms.

III. Re-settlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons

1. De-mining of areas to be speedily concluded through De-Mining Units. 2. Displaced persons to be returned to their original homes, and where homes have been destroyed alternative accommodation to be provided, with financial support to establish themselves and develop livelihoods. 3. Social infrastructure requirements, such as provision of essential Foods, Medical Centers, Hospitals, Schools, Transport etc to be provided.

IV. Land and Agriculture

1. Restoration of possession of private land and buildings, now occupied by Security Forces/Police/ Government Agencies, to those lawfully entitled to such land and buildings. 2. Committees referred to in 1.2 above to arrange for such restoration. 3. Committees to submit a Scheme to the Government for payment of compensation for damage caused to buildings. 4. a. Eviction of persons legitimately entitled to State Land from such Lands; b. Other instances of deprivation of legitimate title holders of State Lands; and c. Unlawful occupation of State Lands to be reviewed and the position regularized on lawful and just basis. 5. Indiscriminate alienation of State Lands to be terminated. Allocations thus far made to be reviewed and cancelled, where such allocation -has not been transparent, or -lacked equal opportunity to all concerned, or -lacked proper consultation with the elected Representatives of the areas concerned, or -are unwarranted, or -has been on a corrupt basis. 6. Relief packages for full cultivation of lands. 7. A special law to be enacted to decide on disputes, as to ownership and succession of lands.

V. Fisheries

1. Full restoration of fishing rights. 2. Joint Committees to be set up of Representatives of those engaged in the fishing industry and the Navy to ensure security.

VI. Trade and Commerce

1. All barriers in respect of transport of passengers, goods, agricultural and fisheries produce to be eliminated forthwith. 2. No payments (‘Kappang’) to be levied by anyone. Stringent action to be taken against those who do so.

VII. Transport

1. Trains service to be restored, without delay, within the Jaffna peninsula, i.e. Elephant Pass to Point Pedro. 2. All impediments for shipping and air transport to be removed, with effective facilities which would ensure a reduction of costs and shipping and air transport. 3. Establishment of a new rail line, with private sector participation, from Point Pedro to Trincomalee.

VIII. Special Relief Packages

1. For dependents of all persons who have lost their lives during the war, including military and police personnel, and civilians. 2. For persons disabled as a result of the war.

IX. Persons in Detention

1. Release of all persons in detention, within a period of one month against whom there is no evidence, and on the basis that such detention would not be a stigma or setback for their future. 2. Rehabilitation of those persons, who had been engaged in war activities, on the basis of a general amnesty.

X. [State of Emergency]

As an overall measure affecting all Sri Lankans, the State of Emergency presently in force and the Regulations made thereunder to be terminated, since it affects the liberties and fundamental rights of all People, in accordance with my Pledges.


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Anti-Buddhist Sri Lankan Government attempt to ban Vesak pandals echoes Vietnam under Nieg Diem & US foreign policy
 
On 30 March 2018 the Daily Mirror carried a caption No pandals on Vesak, Poson Poya days” declared by the Buddhasasana Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera. The reaction was immediate & quite rightly the majority Buddhists saw it as an act of an appeasing Government adopting an anti-Buddhist policy for its own political survival. It also echoed a similar chilling historical incident that took place in Vietnam also under a US-puppet rule. Vietnamese President Ngô Đình Diệm a Catholic & US puppet in 1963 ordered the ban on Buddhist flag display, days prior to Vesak triggering a mass demonstration that resulted in many deaths, the famous self-immolation of Ven. Thich Quang Duc that ultimately led to a military coup & the assassination of the Vietnamese President by the US in view of the global embarrassment that resulted.
Vietnam April 1963
As per Geneva Accords of 1954 North & South Vietnam were to exist for 2 years as temporary states.
South Vietnam had been a French colony and much of its wealth had been plundered. If the West is present in non-Western climes it is because of oil, gas, natural assets or geopolitical interests. Vietnam was where the opium trade thrived.
South Vietnam rulers were backed by the US & Western allies who installed Ngo Dinh Diem a Catholic as Prime Minister who assured to rule based on Western political & economic values & of course American advisors as well as his 4 brothers though nothing was said against nepotism when it came to Western interests. All of the key posts went to friends & family & of course the Catholic Church. It also meant plenty of gangsters & criminals with state patronage. To the world Ngo Dinh Diem rule was an epitome of democracy. To the South Vietnamese citizen’s the rule became a nightmare & the military too was not so gaga about him. Elections were rigged, freedom of the press was non-existent, private armies & torture chambers echoed of our own Batalanda days. Just like we do not know how many died during the 1980s-/1990s JVP-UNP terror reign, no one knows how many Diem’s Western-backed government killed. Another feature shared by Diem & present Sri Lankan US-propped Government was the rampant corruption and the verbal economic plans presented by both leaders!
Another area that Vietnam under Diem & Sri Lanka under yahapalana draw similarities in is the persecution of Buddhists. In Vietnam it made headlines & resulted in the eventual assassination of Diem.
More than 80% of the South Vietnamese population were Buddhists but Diem’s government favored minority Catholics. In May 1963 on the eve of Vesak (Buddha’s birth, enlightenment & death) Diem issued a ban on the display of Buddhist flags in public. The shock is no different to the announcement in Sri Lanka of the Government banning Vesak pandols.
Diem’s orders banning the Buddhist flag came a week after government sponsored Papal flags had been displayed for Diem’s elder brother who was the Catholic Archbishop.
The Vietnamese Buddhists ignored the order & flew their flags while also engaged in peaceful rallies & hunger strikes.
Diem’s response was to attack the peaceful demonstrators with battery acid. On 11 June 1963 an incident took place that shook the world. A 73 year old Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc peacefully sad down, delivered a short speech & set himself on fire. He sat motionless as the flames spread over his entire body. Đức set fire to himself in protest against religious discrimination and persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam.

American journalist Malcolm Browne captured & relayed the pictures all over the world & the photo won Photo of the Year Award & the Pulitzer Prize. David Halberstam, a journalist accompanying Browne, described the event graphically: ‘Flames were coming from a human being; his body was slowly withering and shriveling up, his head blackening and charring. In the air was the smell of burning human flesh; human beings burn surprisingly quickly. Behind me I could hear the sobbing of the Vietnamese who were now gathering. I was too shocked to cry, too confused to take notes or ask questions, too bewildered to even think … As he burned he never moved a muscle, never uttered a sound, his outward composure in sharp contrast to the wailing people around him.’
Thich Quang Duc’s last words before his supreme sacrifice was in a letter:
Before closing my eyes and moving towards the vision of the Buddha, I respectfully plead to President Ngo Dinh Diem to take a mind of compassion towards the people of the nation and implement religious equality to maintain the strength of the homeland eternally. I call the venerables, reverends, members of the Sangha and the lay Buddhists to organise in solidarity to make sacrifices to protect Buddhism.”
 
Madame Nhu, Ngo Dinh Nhu’s vicious and hated wife called it ‘Buddhist barbecue”. John F Kennedy said, No news picture in history has generated so much emotion around the world.”
Diem showed no remorse. He declared martial law and ordered Buddhist temples to be raided & over 1400 Buddhist monks were arrested & some vanished. The pagodas were destroyed & Diem’s forces were uncontrollable. Students of University of Saigon came forward in support of the Buddhists as did all the Buddhists in Vietnam which triggered the change in the US policy – a lesson that all the Buddhist forces in Sri Lanka must take advantage of.
It was too much for the US administration & days after the anti-Buddhist raids President John F Kennedy asked the US State Dept to investigate the options as Diem was now a liability. US envoy was Henry Cabot Lodge to whom US announced its change policy. US had decided to stop its support to Diem. the American mission in Saigon maintained secret contacts with the plotting generals through one of the CIA’s most experienced and versatile operatives, an IndoChina veteran, Lieut. Col. Lucien Conein. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/01/archives/us-and-diems-overthrow-step-by-step-pentagon-papers-the-diem-coup.html
When anyone becomes a liability to the US, the US will get rid of them. Similarly, the US envoy in Sri Lanka would not be able to stop any changed US decision in Washington either! The nod was given to the South Vietnamese military whom US already had links too.
Diem and his brother were thus captured & assassinated on 1 November 1963. Ironically, 3 weeks later US President Kennedy himself was assassinated. But, there was no relief for the Buddhist majority, US became more involved in Vietnam.
Ever since the Ranil-Maithri Government came to power helped by US & India, the majority Buddhists & their heritage had been a key target. Funds were withdrawn, Buddhist priests were arrested on flimsy charges & put into prison without bail, Buddhist sites were attacked & desecrated with little or no international reaction or condemnation, Buddhist heritage sites were being turned into multicultural sites, attempts to change the constitution with insidious attempts to remove the foremost place given to Buddhism in Article 9 are just a handful of anti-Buddhist actions. Going overboard with the latest announcement to ban Vesak pandols requires the present government to refer to Vietnam & how US-propped President Diem lost his legitimacy when he alienated the Buddhists. Diem planted the seeds of his own downfall & the actions of both the Sri Lankan President & Prime Minister are taking that same self-destructive path. Diem was hailed as the miracle man” of Southeast Asia just as the PM was promoted as Mr. Clean a fast waning title.
It is prudent that we step back in time to Ceylon during Diem’s rule. L.H. Mettananda, leader of the Bauddha Jatika Balavegaya (BJB) and N.Q. Dias key members of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike’s government were all vociferous in their speeches on the persecution of Buddhists in Vietnam. Mrs. Bandaranaike took a bold stance by instructing her envoy R S S Gunawardena to speak on behalf of the Buddhists of Vietnam at the UN which led to a fact finding mission headed by Gunawardena proceeding to Vietnam in October 1963 which became a key trigger that led to President Kennedy deciding to depose of Diem just days later.
Returning to the present announcement by the Ranil-Maithri Government to ban Vesak pandols and then immediately afterwards reverse their statement clearly indicates that this Government does not know what it is doing or the Government is being advised by some dimwits whose objectives to alienate and remove Buddhism is turning an already unpopular Government into a laughing stock by its actions. Vesak is celebrated even as a UN holiday since 1999 thanks to the initiative of the then Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Therefore, the present Yahapalana government are advised to be mindful of their actions as history does repeat & their current friends are likely to be their worst enemies.


Shenali D Waduge



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Sri Lanka’s ‘Ethnic’ tensions a covert action of US foreign policy

Until & unless people realize that there is a bigger picture to the present rise in communal disharmony we are not going to find answers to its solution. The present coalition government is a result of a successful regime change. Note the personalities placed in various positions are all part of & linked to those that plotted the regime change. The same forces have links & influence over media & virtually every group that connects with people. Anyone claiming these allegations are conspiracy theories probably have not followed any of US covert operations globally.

The use of covert action by the US & West & copied by non-Western nations too have proved successful in so far as it denies negative publicity and US involvement.

The CIA is only one of sixteen intelligence agencies that make up the U.S. Intelligence Community. However, CIA is the only independent agency not affiliated with other governmental departments or branches of military. It is important that we try to link CIA covert operations to what is taking shape & place in Sri Lanka. CIA covert operations involve
1.   Giving political advice
2.   Giving subsidies to individuals
3.   Giving financial support & technical assistance to political parties/groups
4.   Supporting private organizations including labour unions & business firms
5.   Designing covert propaganda
6.   Giving individual training
7.   Designing economic operations
8.   Paramilitary or political action to overthrow or support regime change including assassinations.

So which of the above are applicable to Sri Lanka & who are the likely beneficiaries of these covert operations via funding, training or other support mechanisms? Can Sri Lankan citizens identify the local individuals, businesses, civil society groups & political parties that have been roped in for US covert operations? Think about it & prepare your own list.
Some of CIA’s operations reveal the lengths taken by US through its intel agencies to protect its geopolitical & trade interests and should make Sri Lankans wonder exactly what is  being rolled out in Sri Lanka and who are the locals, politicians, political parties on payroll.
·      Operation AJAX in Iran to topple the democratically elected Mossadeq in 1952 -53 & replaced with a dictator Shah.
·      Operation MK-ULTRA – brainwashing program on mind control by giving LSD & other drugs to American subjects without their knowledge. Funded partly by Rockefeller & Ford Foundations.
·      Operation PBSUCCESS in Guatemala to unseat the democratically elected Arbenz government in 1953 simply because he planned to nationalize the Rockefeller-owned United Fruit Company in which CIA Director Allen Dulles had shares.
·      Interference in Laos democratic elections 1957-73. CIA even dropped more bombs in Laos than bombs used during World War 2
·      Operation FUBELT in Chile to overthrow the Allende regime in 1973
·      Operation Mockingbird – CIA recruits journalists as spies & disseminators of false information. CIA’s media assets became ABC, NBC, CBS, Time, Newsweek, Associated Press, Reuters – CIA has admitted that at least 25 media & over 400 journalists became CIA assets. Wonder how many Sri Lankan journalists are CIA assets?
·      1959 Haiti – US is silent as its man ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier creates his own private police force & terrorizes the Haiti populace and his son continues thereafter. No wonder the West was silent during JVP-UNP terror reign of 1980s/90s
·      1961 – Cuba Bay of Pigs invasion when CIA uses Cuban exiles to invade Cuba (Operation Mongoose) the operation was a failure which led to the sacking of the CIA head Allen Dulles
·      CIA-backed military, forces democratically elected Ecuador President Jose Velasco to resign & CIA man Carlos Arosemana is replaced. Who are the CIA assets in Sri Lanka’s political system?
·      US-UK assassinate Congo’s democratically elected leader Patrice Lumumba… CIA installs Mobutu Seko as dictator
·      1964 Brazil becomes next CIA target overthrowing its democratically elected leader Joao Goulart & replaced by a string of dictators led by General Branco whose deaths squads are said to be trained by CIA! Did the same happen in Sri Lanka?
·      1965 Indonesia – CIA overthrows another democratically elected leader Sukarno & replaces him with Suharto who massacres close to 1m Indonesians whose names are supplied by CIA!
·      Greece – CIA helps remove George Papandreous as Prime Minister for failing to support US interests in Greece.
·      It was in 1966 that a magazine called Ramparts emerged carrying anti-CIA articles detailing how CIA paid University of Michigan $25m to hire ‘professors’ to train South Vietnamese students in covert police methods. Apparently other universities had also been receiving payments. We have to now wonder how many academics in universities are also on CIA payroll in Sri Lanka?
·      Operation CHAOS 1968 – CIA had been illegally spying on US citizens since 1959. CIA agents function as undercover student radicals to disrupt campus – how many student leaders in Sri Lanka are funded ‘radicals’?
·      1970 Cambodia – CIA overthrows popular Prince Sahounek to replace with US puppet Lon Nol
·      Bolivia 1971 CIA military coup overthrows President Torres with dictator Banzer who arrests, tortures & executes political opponents without trial. No resolutions by UN
·      1983 Honduras – CIA gives Honduran military the Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual 1983 teaching how to torture people. How many other countries military have been given this manual?
·      1989 Panama – US invades Panama to overthrow Noriega who had been on CIA payroll since 1966 & when they don’t take orders, out they go!
·      1990 Haiti – Catholic priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide wins election but is deposed by CIA backed coup & CIA begins disinformation campaign projecting Aristide as mentally unstable. This shows the levels CIA & agents will stoop to and should make people in Sri Lanka wonder what types of campaigns had been funded in Sri Lanka

There are reasons to doubt NGOs & civil society groups too.

Not many Americans may know that their money has been spent to overthrow foreign governments & funnel to NGOs to create mayhem & chaos in these countries.  

In 1967 Mike Wallace after 45 years of investigations, prepared this video exposing how CIA uses NGOs

Programs carried out by CIA linked NGOs – National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, International Centre for Journalists, Centre for International Private Enterprise, Millennium Challenge Corporation, USAID are just a handful who funnel money from their budgets to humanitarian organizations, private companies to further US agenda.

·      fake polio program in Pakistan for intelligence gathering that led to assassination of Osama bin Laden. USAID even funded sterilization camps in India.
·      Egypt uprising in 2008 with US embassy in Cairo helping a young dissident attend US sponsored summit for activists in New York & keeping his identity secret from Egyptian police. Who are the Sri Lankan youth sent to US on similar youth programs & what type of training have they been given?
·      How NGOs helped topple Libya’s Gaddafi is shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WrWC7KDpM5E
·      The National Endowment for Democracy was created by President Reagan in 1983. NED has also been accused of interfering in elections of Panama, Nicaragua, Chile, Costa Rica and Czechoslovakia. NED funded 22 journalists for a program organized by Transparency International Sri Lanka https://www.tisrilanka.org/galle-regional-journalists-trained-in-investigative-journalism/Throughout 2017 NED has been involved in various programs across Sri Lanka covering human rights, children, land rights, promoting subnational governance, https://www.ned.org/region/asia/sri-lanka-2017/ NED has been funding – Centre for Policy Alternatives, Law & Society Trust, Verite Research, Uva Shakthi Foundation, AFRIEL, The Social Architects, Janawaboda Kendraya, Centre for Human Rights and Development, The International Working Group on Sri Lanka, Viluthu, Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), International Republican Institute (IRI), Adayaalam Centre for Policy Research – it would be good to monitor what these entities are really up to.
·      Wikileaks cable exposed Jasper Tumuhimbise who suddenly went into hiding after publishing a ‘Fame & Shame’ booklet on Ugandan Government’s corruption. The booklet had been funded by Millennium Challenge Corporation. Anti-corruption drive was another US-funded program and questions the status of similar programs now being rolled out in Sri Lanka. Not surprisingly Millennium Challenge Corporation decides to enter Sri Lanka in 2016 investing $700m in policy stability, access to land, and transport and its project office in inside the Prime Minister’s office!
·      In 2012 Egypt’s military government announced that 43 people, including 19 Americans and 14 Egyptians, faced prosecution on charges of using foreign money to influence Egyptian politics. Some of the US officials were even banned from leaving the country on account of the anti-democratic activities they had been involved in. NDI is one of the key funding partners of the Centre for Policy Alternatives. http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/The-US-and-AID-Sri-Lanka-s-dangerous-liaison-122324.html
·      Egyptian authorities cracked down on US entities The International Republican Institute (IRI), the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Freedom House http://www.peoplesworld.org/article/egypt-blocks-national-endowment-for-democracy/In 2009 two month Freedom House training was given to 16 young Egyptians in Washington – they were trained to lead youth movements & social media & alternate computer simcards to evade state surveillance. Who are the Sri Lankan youth given similar training?
·      CIA-NED has also been accused of funding three local media outfits to run  articles criticizing the Philippine President Duertes. http://www.manilatimes.net/cia-conduit-funding-anti-duterte-media-outfits/355377/How many such media outfits & journalists have been used in Sri Lanka too?
·      CIA role in media is explained in an excellent article by Prof. James Tracy published by GlobalResearch in 2015 https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-cia-and-the-media-50-facts-the-world-needs-to-know/5471956
·      USAID The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was created by Pax Americana to provide a cover for CIAagents under the pretext of helping the 3rd World. https://www.globalresearch.ca/cia-front-usaid-spreading-democracy-gearing-up-in-ukraine-suharto-ii/5381174 / USAID has funded various regime change through social media, twitter, youth programs etc. It is not without reason that USAID has been kicked out of various countries including Russia, Bolivia, Ecuador,
·      The Corbett Report highlights CIA role in international narcotic trade https://www.corbettreport.com/the-cia-and-the-drug-trade/

The US political, economic, trade, corporate interests have been safeguarded by a plethora of entities that work in cohesion independently but interconnected and covering covert & overt operations that use various entities funded to interfere in foreign nations through various camouflaged programs that hide their ulterior motives.

Every country that has experienced destability & chaos either internally or externally have had some form of US or allied involvement. US & Allies backed rebels that turned Libya into a nightmare ousting its erstwhile leader, The Pentagon spent $500 Million training Syrian rebels. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/world/middleeast/cia-syria-rebel-arm-train-trump.htmlPentagon had also spent millions producing fake videos. Is it a surprise that we question every allegation being made against Sri Lanka using questionable videos & documentaries.

Therefore, it is important that all of us take incidents happening in Sri Lanka & ask some crucial questions

When CIA & associate entities have been funding individuals, organizations, political parties, media, unions, rebel groups, youth etc is it not possible that sudden issues, demands, extremes, altercations etc might be planned & executed expecting an outcome that gives those planning it several options & alternatives.

Is it not possible that the sudden emergence of ethnic issues might be instigated by these entities funding both parties – Sinhala extremists, Islamic extremists, Tamil extremists, Christian extremists & even Buddhist extremists? Is it not possible that the same entities that encouraged Wahhabi associated extremism among Muslims also funded the Sinhala extremists to go against the rise in the Islamic extremism? Is it also not possible that the same entities that funded & helped LTTE & TNA are also funding the anti-LTTE & anti-TNA lobby – either way the political system of Sri Lanka would be in chaos & turmoil and that is perfect excuse for foreigners to poke their nose into our internal affairs.

Is it also not possible that anyone involved in and taking part in these foreign funded campaigns have no love for the country, no love for their ethnicity or religion but are only inspired by the money given to them to cause mischief & mayhem? Can you identify some of these personalities?

No community would wish to have the world blame them unless there is a bigger plan and is this not what is taking place – blaming the Sinhalese for Tamil ‘discrimination’ lead to the justification for a separate state, who benefits from that? Blaming the Sinhalese for ‘discrimination; against Muslims also helps justify foreign interference & gives foreign envoys & UN the power, to demand changes to the constitution, changes to laws, penal codes, involvement of foreigners to rule in hybrid set ups etc…

Can you now picture the possibilities that we are all being fooled by a group of people manipulating us.




Shenali D Waduge


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No Housing Facilities to Sinhala IDPs in Jaffna but for Tamil IDPs by SLA


A housing project in Keeramalaya in Jaffna was declared opened by army commander, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake who has pioneered this housing project when he was appointed by pro-federal Yahapalana government lead by Sirisena and Ranil as the Jaffna Commander. The construction work has been carried out by  Joint Project Management Team (JPMT) which is  comprised of Army, Navy, Air Force personnel and some potential house owners.

This second phase of the housing project provides 25 new houses to the Internally Displaced Tamil People (IDP). The official ownership documents were also handed over to the house beneficiaries in a ceremony held on 30th March organised by Sri Lankan Army and District Secretariats of Jaffna.

Each house has been built on a 20-perch land at a cost of around Rs. one million. The house comprised with two bed rooms, living and dining area, kitchen, toilet and a bathroom. In addition to that basic infrastructure like water, electricity roads, community center, drain systems etc. are also being provided in the settlement.

Earlier, the Keeramalaya Housing Project was declared open by pro-minority mind set Maithripala Sirisena in October 2016 under the so called one sided reconciliation programme for Tamils.

The so called Yahapalana government and SLA has not taken similar initiative to address the grievances of internally displaced Sinhala people in Jaffna. Before the LTTE Tamil terrorism in Jaffna there were over 50,000 strong Sinhala communities in Jaffna. A Sinhala school, Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya in Jaffna, was well functioned with over 1,000 students. Presently, while all other Tamil lands, Tamil properties are being handed over to the Tamil no Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya being handed over to the Sinhala people in Jaffna.
Nearly 50 Internally Displaced Sinhala families presently are cramped into a piece of land in Nawakkuliya in Jaffna without any basic amenities and without any support from the local officials and from the so called Yahapalana government.  Most of the Sinhala families are suffering without proper employment and schooling facilities in Jaffna for their children. Their children are separated from the parent and are studying other places in the country. Extremist, racist and politically motivated Tamils and Tamil politicians are constantly threatening and harassing these Sinhala villagers and the Buddhist temple in the village. The politically and racially motivated Tamil officials are denied the land ownership for the Sinhala villagers and have taken court order to stop all development works of the Buddhist temple in the village. The Yahapalana government has not taken any actions to address these issues of the Sinhala people while addressing all the issues of minorities under so called one-sided reconciliation.

While Sirisena and Ranil had visited several numbers of time to Jaffna to look after the plights of Internally Displaced Tamil People and have addressed their problem but never visited the only Sinhala Village in Jaffna in Nawakkuliya nor provided any development assistance such as building of houses, infrastructure, schools for Sinhala children, development of Buddhist temple under the pretext of so-called reconciliation.

The Joint Project Management Team (JPMT) which is comprised of Army, Navy, Air Force personnel have not also supported to the development of  Sinhala village in Nawakkuliya while they are building houses, roads, churches for the Tamils in Jaffna under pretext of so-called reconciliation.



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The Joke of a Government-backing Opposition in Sri Lanka’s Parliament

Nowhere in any parliamentary democracy has anyone heard of an Opposition that supports the Government in power even debating in favor of the Government. Nowhere in the world is there an Opposition comprises just 16 MPs. If the main role of the Opposition is to question the government & hold them accountable to the public, why is the present so-called Opposition voting en bloc to safeguard the Prime Minister at a no confidence motion based on a monetary irregularity that has affected the entire country & not based on any false propaganda? Moreover, how can a Prime Minister agree to demands made by this Opposition party for his personal political survival?  

a cartoon circulating on social media

The Opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. Instead of doing that the present so-called Opposition members are using the floor of the Parliament to argue in defense of the Prime Minister & his Government. At no time has the present Opposition Leader used the floor of the house to speak on behalf of the citizens except make demands for LTTE missing/dead referring to these terrorists as ‘political prisoners’. This is an unprecedented scenario and what baffles everyone more is that the apostles of democracy & good governance in the West are all silent without even pointing out this discrepancy while they are funding millions for programs to uplift the democratic & parliamentary process mechanism in Sri Lanka!

What everyone has conveniently forgotten is that the TNA is a product of the LTTE. If not, there should be a Commission of Inquiry appointed to investigate the LTTE-TNA links. TNA-LTTE links are confirmed even by the EU Election Observation Mission Chief John Cushnahan released the EU report on June 17, 2004 clearly establishing the LTTE-TNA alliance:

Quote:Firstly, the LTTE intended that no other rival Tamil party (or Tamil candidate from the mainstream political alliances) to the TNA would be able to claim to represent Tamil interests.A chilling message to this effect was sent early in the campaign when a UNP candidate and an EPDP activist were murdered. Incidents such as this seriously restricted the right of the parties other than the TNA to campaign freely in the Northern and Eastern Districts. During the 2004 elections, the major incidents of violence was perpetrated by the LTTE, whereas at the earlier elections; the primary source of the violence (although not all), were the two largest political parties. Unquote  

LTTE had been campaigning for TNA in the 2001 & 2004 elections. The Commission may also confirm the authenticity of the allegation that 5000 LTTE ‘volunteers’ helped rigged the polls for the TNA to facilitate their entrance to Parliament.

Sivajiingam entered Parliament as a result of this alleged rigging. It was also with the help of the LTTE ‘volunteers’ in the East that Selvam Adaikkalanathan also made it to Parliament. The same person that has announced the agreement with the PM for their support for the no confidence motion. Has TNA similarly rigged elections held thereafter calls for another investigation. Present TNA leader also made it to Parliament with help from TNA.

The present UNP leader & PM signed the infamous cease fire agreement agreeing to LTTE territory in 2002. The TNA MPs including its leader and many of the MPs in Parliament have been regular invitees and guests to pro-LTTE events globally where they have openly advocated the demands of the LTTE. Many of these pro-LTTE groups remain proscribed by the GOSL under the UNSC Resolution 1373.

The election manifestos of the TNA virtually uphold every demand made by LTTE. Anyone in doubt need to take out the election manifestos of TNA in 2001, 2004, 2010 & 2013 as evidence. https://www.onlanka.com/news/tamil-national-alliance-ltte-separatist-manifestos-2001-2004-2010-and-now-2013.htmlTNA is even dubbed Tiger Nominated Agents!

There are plenty of photo evidence of the present TNA leader with the LTTE leadership & statements to back their connections.
 


TNA MP Sridharan was an ardent supporter of the LTTE and was a member of the LTTE for a brief period. TNA MP Sridharan is married to the sister of Theepan (one time head of LTTE military wing) TNA MP Sridharan’s brother migrated to Switzerland and is running anti-SL websites promoting LTTE ideology.

Every demand TNA members make is identical to the demands LTTE has made.

The TNA head who is also the Opposition Leader is doing exactly what Amirthalingam did as Opposition Leader in the late 1980s – promoting a separate state ideology. Both these Opposition Leaders are misusing & abusing their position to advance a racist separatist agenda & it demands that the vote base of the present so-called National Government realize the detrimental consequences of allowing such separatism to be politically given space.

What LTTE did with the gun the TNA is doing politically

What is getting clearer to understand is that the well-orchestrated regime change that installed a set of puppets & brought forward the 19th amendment clipping key executive powers of the President, peddled a ‘national government’ to cater to the selfishness of SLFP MPs to bind them with Ministerial posts so that the title of “Opposition” could be given to the other puppet the TNA and completely erase Opposition to the Government misadventures in Parliament.

The no confidence motion has become another fiasco wherein the winner is not the Prime Minister against whom the motion was presented but the TNA & SLMC whose MPs voted en bloc to herald a situation where minority racist political leaders & their agendas that are linked to foreign plans will rule the day.

This can be clearly seen in the manner that the PM has agreed to 10 demands made by the TNA for their vote at the no confidence motion. How can a Prime Minister for political survival agree to racist demands is something his own political party leadership and his vote base will need to ponder while everyone else must question the PM for agreeing to such demands.

The following are the TNA proposals accepted by PM Wickremesinghe:

(1) providing a political solution to the North-East problem expeditiously

2) enactment of a new Constitution with a two-thirds majority in Parliament before the next national election

3) ensuring that the military vacates all property belonging to civilians

4) a general amnesty to all political prisoners (LTTE are NOT political prisoners)

5) probing the wartime disappearances (who are these?)

6) protecting of rights of those living in the Northern and Eastern Provinces (Govt is bound to protect rights of all citizens not only those in North & East)

7) employment for youth living in the Northern and Eastern provinces (a Govt is bound to provide employment to all not discriminate)

8) ensuring that those who are not resident in the North and the East will not be employed in the two provinces at the expense of eligible candidates there

9) appointing Tamils as Divisional Secretaries of eight Northern and Eastern administrative districts and (another racist demand)

10) taking into consideration views of members representing Northern and Eastern Provinces in respect of development projects as well as priority for projects undertaken by the Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils.

The West that is now showering praises of ‘vibrant democracy’ in SL may well like to explain the allegations of bribery, threats, media attacks & thuggery that were all part & parcel of the no confidence motion outcome. Are these the initiatives they have spent millions on of late. None of these western envoys or their nations seem to be bothered that billions have been lost to the state from 2 bond scams, that MPs are being bribed for votes, that the bogey of national government excuses the dishing out of portfolios inspite of 19a restricting cabinet to 30 MPs and the mass scale corruptions completely go without comment or reprimand to the Government the West installed to advance their agendas.

In a 225 Member Parliament how can the Opposition comprise just 16 MPs?



Shenali D Waduge

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By Rear Admiral (Dr.) Sarath Weerasekera, VSV RWP USP ndc psc

An article by columnist D.B.S. Jeyaraj was published 17 March in Weekend FT on the above title. In it, through his own analysis of the incident, Jeyaraj tells the reader in no uncertain terms that the “Sinhalese Buddhist” majority “harass” the minorities in the country. He further says that the present situation in Ampara poses a very difficult existential dilemma for the innocent Muslim residents in Ampara town, because they are being pressurised both tactfully and brazenly to refrain from seeking justice and not to encourage prosecution of the alleged perpetrators.
 
With regard to the violence per se, he mentions that “a former Parliamentarian from the Ampara District who is notorious for his hawkish views, is the brain behind this violence”. Quoting Jeyaraj, another columnist via his Facebook account, inquires about that “sinister/crazy former Parliamentarian” and wants to figure out the “extremist’s next move and where?”

I am an ex-Parliamentarian myself from Ampara and my consistent firm stand against 13A, 19A, federalism, the National Anthem being sung in Tamil, Government cosponsoring 30/1 Geneva resolution, the Constitutional amendments, etc. may definitely look “hawkish” to Jeyaraj who is an ardent supporter of all above. Hence I have all the reasons to believe that he had me in his mind when he mentioned about the “ex-Parliamentarian from Ampara with hawkish views”. Also some of the facts he has mentioned in his article were untrue. Therefore I consider it prudent to respond to his article to expose his sinister motives.

This is in no way to “justify” any type of violence against any community. The perpetrators in this incident, whoever they are, should be severely punished and every law abiding citizen should assist the law enforcing authorities in the relevant investigation. Withholding or hiding such information too, is as very serious as the crime itself. At the same time, whoever who tries to use the incident to enhance the hatred of one community towards another by exaggerations and deliberate falsehood should be dealt with severely.


Same chain of a conspiracy

In my opinion, the attack on the Muslims in Ampara, imposing a State of Emergency in the country, and well-articulated articles such as Jeyaraj’s, are all links of the same chain of a conspiracy. The conspiracy was to stage/mastermind an anti-minority attack to coincide with the Geneva 37th HRC session where the HC was going to make a special announcement on Sri Lanka. The objective being to facilitate the Government to implement the rest of the recommendations of Geneva 30/1 resolution and at the same time to justify the resolution by letting the world know that the minorities are still being harassed in Sri Lanka by the majority.

The plan worked. The “attacks” on Muslims began, Emergency was enforced in the State and as per the resolution, the staff of the “already-established OMP” was immediately appointed and the ‘Enforced Disappearance Bill,’ which was postponed on two earlier occasions due to the pressure of the Buddhist monks and the public, was passed in the Parliament without any hue and cry. This law includes provisions to caste the responsibility to the higher command for any “crime” committed by subordinates and also to extradite a person alleged to have committed war crimes to any other country for trial.

When the Government was hastily carrying out the recommendations of the resolution under Emergency, the so-called “columnists” such as Jeyaraj, and the one who quoted him, started publishing articles putting the entire blame of the violence on “Sinhala Buddhists”. It was an additional support given to Zeid Al Hussein, the High Commissioner of HRC in Geneva, to come down hard on Sri Lanka. None of them wrote anything about the above-mentioned international convention which was never ratified nor legalised by any country like the USA, UK, Australia or the whole of South Asia.

These writers who have a reputation for writing pro-federalist, pro-13 A and anti-Sinhala Buddhist articles, never blamed the Tamils when the Tamil Tigers killed scores of innocent Sinhalese in border villages and 300 innocent Muslims inside a mosque at Kattankudy. They never even think of blaming the Muslim race for ISIS atrocities. But they would never hesitate to put the blame on Sinhalese Buddhists whenever a bunch of ruffians attack or unleash violence against the Muslims or Tamils in an isolated incident.


Ampara attack

Jeyaraj says in Ampara, the Sinhalese mob had entered the Jumma Masjid Mosque, assaulted the Muadhin who conducts the prayers and other people who were there, and defiled and burnt the copies of Holy Quran It is not true. The Police have taken written statements from the (Muslim) gatekeeper of the mosque, the Maulavi or the Muadhin that Jeyaraj mentioned, and eight other visiting Muslims who were in the building at that time.

As per the Police, none of them or any other had mentioned in their statements that copies of Holy Quran were ever tampered with, defiled or burnt in the mosque. The Muadhin in his statement has neither mentioned that he was ever assaulted nor got admitted himself in the hospital with any injury. The gatekeeper Farhan, in his statement, says that the mob called him by his nickname, asked him to get to a side, and damaged the vehicles but never assaulted him.

Out of the eight people who were there only two, in their statements, have mentioned that they were assaulted and their mobile phones robbed. The mobile phones were later found by the same people in the same location and the Police was informed accordingly. Those two people who were admitted in the hospital were discharged after one day and it is believed that they were slightly injured in the commotion. Hence Jeyaraj’s statement that the Maudhin was beaten and copies of Holy Quran were burnt inside the mosque were glaringly obvious lies.

If the burnt Qurans were found somewhere else, then it cannot be the Qurans that belonged to the mosque because if the books were taken away from the mosque, then it would have been mentioned in any one of the above statements. Everyone knows that tampering with the Holy Quran would definitely antagonise/create anger amongst not only the devout Muslims in our country but also in the whole world. Hence Jeyaraj’s above false statement was a deliberate attempt to create hatred amongst the Muslims towards the Sinhalese.

Jeyaraj also says, that as per the victims of the attack, the mob has kept shouting “let your Allah save you all, if he can”. Here again, as per the statements given to the Police by those who were in the Mosque including the Head Priest, there was absolutely no comment to that effect. How come the “victims” said something to Jeyaraj which they didn’t tell the Police? Again it is only a diabolical speculation/presumption of Jeyaraj to get the Muslims more angry towards the Sinhalese by informing the Muslim world that they have “insulted” their Almighty God.

He also says that the Police made no effort to tackle the violent elements and some cops were seen conversing with the mobsters in a jovial manner and others were only passive onlookers whilst the attacks continued. If the Police had behaved in such a manner it is a disgrace on the Police and IGP must take stern action. If it is not true, and if it is yet another sinister “speculation” of Jeyaraj to inform the Muslim world that the attack was carried out with the connivance of the “Sinhalese Police,” then it’s an issue which the Police should take serious note of.

Arrest of youth

Jeyaraj, in his contemptuous attempt to create a permanent wedge between Muslims and Sinhalese, has again made yet another statement which is not true. He says when initially five youths were taken into custody, about 2,000 people including 200 monks had gathered in a hostile and a boisterous mood, and demanded that those responsible for violence be released and should not be penalised. It’s again a blatant lie. The monks or the crowd, as per the Police, have never said that the perpetrators should not be punished. What they said was not to remand the innocents but to catch the real culprits for which they would also support.

Those five youths, who are known to be men who take part in all Buddhist work in area, were in actual fact, handed over by the monks to the Police because Police wanted to take statements from them on suspicion but not on any clear evidence against them. As they were taken to Police by the Buddhist monks on assurance that they would not be remanded, the monks told the Police not to harass the men unnecessarily before conducting a proper investigation.

Subsequently, 13 men were arrested and remanded of which six were charged under ICCPR. None of the five initially handed over by the monks to the Police were in the above lot. That was a clear indication that the Police never had solid information regarding the five at the time of their arrest and hence it was natural for the crowd, including monks, to demand that they be released until solid evidence if any, were collected. So here too, Jeyaraj purposely twisted the story to tell the world that there exists a state of impunity when it comes to imparting justice to the minorities in the country.

This matter was taken up by one of the pro-LTTE NGO members in one of the side events in Geneva HRC and wanted our explanation for it. This is how journalists of Jeyaraj’s calibre directly or indirectly support the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora in their effort to justify foreign judges and special courts mentioned in Geneva 30/1 resolution.


Visit by ex-Parliamentarian

Jeyaraj in his article, says that the ex-Parliamentarian who was the brain behind the violence against the Muslims had visited Ampara a few days before the incident, talked to the “boys”, organised the attack and also spoke to the Police officers before he returned. The subsequent lethargy shown by the Police in controlling violence, he says, may have been due to the influence of the “extremist politician”. That’s how he tells the world indirectly that our Police is highly politicised!

Now by trying to dramatise the incident Jeyaraj has looked a fool of himself because, nowadays, considering the manner in which the underworld thugs plan and carry out crimes from inside the prison, a politician or anyone, if he really wants to doesn’t have to spend 14 hours up and down on the road to go to Ampara to organise an attack. He could easily do so by being in Colombo through various other means.

Someone can argue, if at all the so-called ex politician was powerful enough to influence the Police to act as per his instructions, then he has to be a one from the ruling partyhout being remanded! So the argument is that Jeyaraj himself has indirectly admitted that the attack has been a conspiracy of the Government!


Also the man whom Jeyaraj himself has mentioned as the “main culprit “of the attack is the nephew of one of the UNP Provincial Council members of Ampara District and that person is still at large witEx-diplomat’s stance

Citing Jeyaraj’s article, another columnist, an ex-diplomat, who is an ardent supporter of 13A and notorious for his consistent “anti-Sinhala Buddhist” stand, queries as to who the extremist ex-politico mentioned by Jeyaraj, the “reputed columnist”, is and wants to find out what will that crazy politico trigger off next and where. This ex diplomat, during his diplomatic assignments abroad, has an infamous reputation of removing the customary Buddha statue kept at the reception in any Sri Lankan Embassy no sooner he takes over duties and prohibiting the National Anthem from being sung on our National Independence Day! If I am the one he too has in mind as the “brain behind the violence,” what I would trigger off next, as soon as the next government comes into power, is to request the rulers to take action to call for explanations for the above and make him apologise to the nation for his crazy behaviour as a diplomat.

If Jeyaraj knows the “extremist politico” who was behind this heinous attack on Muslims, then before writing to the newspapers he should have informed it to the Police. Withholding such information is as grave as the crime itself. The Police could then inquire into the whereabouts of that politician during that period and also ask the Muslim community, including the Maulavis in mosques, as to how that particular politician had treated them whilst he was in power. Jeyaraj could still lodge that complaint with the Police, if he is sure about the said “role” of that ex-Parliamentarian in this attack. Failing to act even now could be viewed as an intentional move of him to tarnish the image of the politician.


Diga Kalliya’

Jeyaraj talks about a ‘Diga Kalliya’ in Ampara. Nobody, not even the Police, has ever heard of any such a “kalliya” in the district. The investigations are still being carried out and after scrutinising the CCTV cameras thoroughly, the Police had recently arrested two more and remanded them. The gatekeeper Farsan has given the names of the mob who came to the mosque and carries out his duties as usual. The Muadhin also has given statements against the mob and conducts daily prayers without any difficulty.

Out of the 15 now in remand eight have been charged under ICCPR and being kept without granting bail. Then what is this “existential dilemma” for the Muslims and the state of “impunity” that Jeyaraj is talking about? He urges a “strong political will” to address the above. Does he mean strong political leadership to grant independent federal status to the east and the north as recommended by MP Dharmalingam Siddharthan, the Chairman of the Constitutional Amendment Centre Periphery Sub Committee? Is that the aim of his consistent writings about discrimination, impunity, existential dilemma of minorities, etc.?  Although the LTTE miserably failed in achieving its objective, the separatists in civil are still operating in multifaceted forms to achieve what the LTTE couldn’t achieve through terror. Cry, beloved country!


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Are Sri Lankan leaders & Diplomats aware UN Resolutions are Non-Binding & have no legal status

If the General Assembly resolutions are legally non-binding of UN Member states except the resolutions of the UN Security Council, it should also mean that the UN Human Rights Council Resolutions are also legally non-binding except carrying political weight over & above their recommendation. If so, why have Sri Lanka’s government co-sponsored questionable & country-specific resolutions by the UNHRC which commits to change sovereign laws to align to the UNHRC resolution demands since the UN has no legal powers to do so? This faux pas should be immediately reversed with a change of government given that the present government has been installed by a regime change orchestrated by the very parties presenting the resolutions through the UNHRC!


The UN General Assembly comprises 193 member states. The UN Charter does not grant the General Assembly (or the International Court of Justice) authority to enact or amend international law.

Article 10 of the UN Charter states:
“The General Assembly may discuss any questions or any matters within the scope of the present Charter or relating to the powers and functions of any organs provided for in the present Charter, and, except as provided in Article 12, may make recommendations to the Members of the United Nations or to the Security Council or to both on any such questions or matters.”

“affirmation” means merely a declarative statement of sentiment. It is not a directive. It is not law.

Thus, UNGA lacks legislative powers.

When the Philippines delegation proposed in 1945 to vest the UNGA with legislative authority to enact international laws which are binding of its member states after its approval by the UNSC, the proposal was rejected 26-1.

The General Assembly has no power to compel action by any government. However, the resolutions do pose political weight and soft diplomatic pressure. However, though there is no legal status to the UN Resolutions, they can reinforce rules of customary law. Resolution 217 on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights though not legally binding, does influence national constitutions, treaties and/or international laws.

Article 10 -17 outline the powers & functions of the UN General Assembly. General Assembly passes resolutions but all of them are merely recommendations and NOT LAWS thus they are NOT BINDING of any member state. None of the UNGA Resolutions have a legal obligation for UN Member states to implement them. No UN Member state is even bound to even consider these resolutions. Resolutions are simply a diplomatic bullying tactic. Isn't this why Israel has ignored all of UN’s resolutions!

Inspite of the non-binding nature of the UN Resolutions when such resolutions are drafted and passed, the General Assembly becomes aware and are made conscious of issues. However, what is emphasized here is that unfair, impartial & biased resolutions are being passed as a result of money & lobbying that creates a wrong world opinion against member states. Member states must seriously address this in the light of increasing country-specific resolutions being drafted by powerful nations who are engineering conflicts to justify their R2P interference.

However, in accordance with Article 25 of the Charter, UN Security Council Resolutions are binding & legal. Any decision of the Security Council is legally binding upon all U.N. member states, whether or not the text of the resolution explicitly references Chapter VII.

The UN Security Council has 15 members, five of which are permanent (US, UK, Russia, China & France) The UN Security Council is tasked with ensuring peace & security. Resolutions of the Security Council unlike the General Assembly are binding of all states as per Chapter VII which confers it authority. The example of UNSC action against Yugoslavia UNSC Resolution 820 in 1993 can be cited.  

International law is law that governs the legal relations between or among states or nations. International law is found in Treaties, Judicial Decisions, Customs or General Principles.

According to Sir Hersch Lauterpacht, a former member judge of the International Court of Justice:
“… the General Assembly has no legal power to legislate or bind its members by way of recommendation.”

Professor Judge Schwebel, former President of the International Court of Justice, states that:
“… the General Assembly of the United Nations can only, in principle, issue ‘recommendation' which are not of a binding character, according to Article 10 of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Another former ICJ judge, Sir Gerald Fitzmaurice rejects what he labeled the “illusion” that a General Assembly resolution can have “legislative effect.”

Professor Julius Stone points out:
“In his book The Normative Role of the General Assembly of the United Nations and the Declaration of Principles of Friendly Relations, Professor Gaetano Arangio-Ruiz5 is led to conclude that the General Assembly lacks legal authority either to enact or to ‘declare' or ‘determine' or ‘interpret' international law so as legally to bind states by such acts, whether these states be members of the United Nations or not, and whether these states voted for or against or abstained from the relevant vote or did not take part in it.”

If so, it questions why Sri Lanka’s leaders & diplomats have spent unnecessary money to lobby the UN without simply challenging the UN & its associate entities & their officials to produce evidence before drafting resolutions & embarrassing a member state. UNHRC is simply an inter-governmental organ within the UN system. If the UNGA does not have legal jurisdiction with resolutions that it passes, how can UNHRC have legally binding resolutions?
Why have Sri Lanka’s leaders & diplomats allowed Sri Lanka to be coerced by UN officials knowing the legal status while foolishly changing Sri Lanka’s internal laws in line with the UN Resolutions that put into legal action what the UNGA Resolutions are unable to do?

A complaint must be filed with the UNGA & UNSC bringing to light these legal arguments & questioning the manner that the UNHRC/OHCHR has abused & violated the spirit & Charter of the UN against Sri Lanka. The manner that other abused states & where bias & manipulations have led to collapse and chaos of nations like Libya, Syria etc warrant UNGA Members to demand that the UNHRC stop the witch hunt against Sri Lanka as these actions create precedents that will affect & apply UN interference to other countries as well.



Shenali D Waduge


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Reasons why LTTE are neither Political Prisoners nor Prisoners of War

LTTE is a globally designated terrorist organization banned in Sri Lanka & in 32 nations including US, UK, EU, Canada & India. However, Sri Lanka’s Opposition & Opposition Leader are demanding the release of LTTE claiming them to be ‘political prisoners’. There is no legal basis to make such a demand & the citizens of Sri Lanka as well as the GOSL & the world must be made aware of this. While there is no legal definition for terrorists, so long as one country’s terrorist becomes another country’s freedom fighter and when countries manufacture arms for profit while also manufacturing conflicts to sell these arms and the same countries fund rebels & non-state actors against other states, we are unlikely to see any globally acceptable term for terrorists either.

LTTE are UnLawful Combatants (Illegal Combatants/Belligerents)

Sri Lanka’s conflict is termed a NON-INTERNATIONAL ARMED CONFLICT – NIAC (Internal Armed Conflict)

Features & Laws applicable to a NIAC

1.    A NIAC the conflict is between a State and Non-State Actor (LTTE)

2.    International Humanitarian Law, Customary IHL & Local laws are applicable. Non-State Actors are OBLIGED to abide by laws that govern IHL. IHL does not confer legal status to an armed opposition group. In short, LTTE has no legal status but abide by laws that govern IHL,

3.    IHL Treaty Law permits a state’s domestic law to determine the appropriate detention & internment powers in NIAC. IHL does not deny a government’s right to suppress rebellion & charge them domestically for crimes committed. GOSL can put on trial LTTE & Prabakaran can be charged posthumously.

4.    In an NIAC - Common Article 3 to the Geneva Convention (in all 4 Geneva Conventions) & Article 1 of the 1977 Additional Protocol II to the 1949 Geneva Conventions apply

5.    Whether LTTE cadres are rehabilitated or not they are not immune from criminal charges in domestic court for violations of IHL. There is no reason to release or compensate them without filing charges against them & allowing the domestic courts to declare them guilty or not guilty of allegations charged.

6.    NIAC does not confer title of combatants or prisoners of war status to armed non-state actors. This means LTTE are neither combatants nor prisoners of war. TNA, Jaffna University, LTTE Tamil Diaspora, NGOs on payroll of LTTE Diaspora & even John Kerry,  please take note.

7.    Prisoner of War (POW) status is given only to International Armed Conflicts. POWs are members of one of the parties to a conflict. POWs cannot be prosecuted for taking direct part in hostilities. These captured enemy soldiers are combatants. Their detention is not a punishment but only to prevent further participation in the conflict. POWs must be released & repatriated after the end of hostilities. Sri Lanka’s conflict was not an International Armed Conflict therefore LTTE are not POWs.

8.    There are 2 types of Enemy combatants – Lawful & Unlawful Enemy Combatants.

  • Enemy Combatant status is applicable to ONLY International Armed Conflicts. LTTE is thus not entitled to Enemy Combatant status.
  • Lawful Combatants are entitled to prisoner of war (POW) status& protections of the Third Geneva Convention.
  • UnLawful Combatants (Illegal Combatants/Belligerents)are not entitled to prisoner of war statusnor entitled to receive full protections of the Third Geneva Convention. The Geneva Conventions do not recognize

9.    Geneva Conventions do not afford any lawful status for unlawful combatants& a State dealing with them is legally bound ONLY to observe Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions & may ignore all other Articles. GOSL has every right to capture & detain LTTE unlawful combatants & subject them to trial & punishment for acts which render their belligerency unlawful.

10.Where civilians directly engage in hostilities – Red Cross considers them unlawful or unprivileged combatants or belligerents. This means any Tamil pretending to be ‘civilian’ but engaged in hostilities whether voluntarily or by force will be classified as a unprivileged combatant or belligerent.

11.Unlawful combatants ARE NOT protected by Conventions on Civilians as civilians that take up arms lose their privileged status as a civilian.This is why we continue to question HOW MANY CIVILIANS died without engaging in hostilities & HOW MANY LTTE unlawful combatants/belligerents dressed & fought as CIVILIANS and died. Without knowing this, no one can accuse the GOSL forces of killing civilians. Let us also not forget that LTTE had a trained armed civilian force.


12.    Any armed non-state actor that does not show they are belligerents by wearing an uniform to fight are also excluded from protection under the rules of war. LTTE fought both in uniform & civilian clothing. How can a soldier identify a LTTE unlawful combatant in civilian clothing?

13.    Political Prisoners are persons detained for their political views. Terrorism & Terrorist activity does not cover political activity or political views. LTTE are therefore not entitled to use title of Political Prisoners.

The Attorney General’s Department is bound to press charges against LTTE unlawful combatants/illegal combatants/belligerents under provisions available in existing domestic laws for crimes committed over 30 years.

UNHRC & everyone trying to revive LTTE are reminded that Sri Lanka has every right to put LTTE on trial for their acts of war crimes & terror over 30 years BEFORE holding any ad hoc hybrid tribunals based on falsified evidence prepared to advance other agendas.

JUSTICE for unarmed civilians : LTTE committed crimes against unarmed civilians
·      The civilians of Sri Lanka must get justice for every premeditated murder targeting unarmed civilians in Sri Lanka. An armed group must engage in hostilities with a State & its military NOT unarmed civilians and evict them from their homes & habitats while confiscating their lands & property.

JUSTICE for members of Armed Forces & Police killed by LTTE
·      Some 5000 wives & families of soldiers have filed cases of missing in the UNHRC & with the Presidential Commission on Missing Persons. It’s now 9 years and UNHRC has done nothing.




Shenali D Waduge



References:
            ICRC Law of War Manual
            Geneva Conventions & Treaties
            The Law of War and Illegal Combatants by Ingrid Dette
            Enemy Combatants – CFR publication

            Combatants – Penn State University

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Appoint a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Ethno-Religious Issues in Sri Lanka
 
When military interventions and R2P have taken place based on false flags, false rescues, fake videos/documentaries, false allegations & fake witness accounts, when media has been used to fool & lie to the general public, when actors/actresses are hired to pretend they are victims we have every right to wonder whether events have authenticity or whether they have been created or manufactured with other intents & agendas in mind. When there has been no historical evidence of the Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims living in disharmony in the past and all troubles started after arrival of colonial invaders using their divide & rule policies, it is time a Presidential Commission was appointed to generate Island-wide participation from the citizens to ask them their inputs & for the Commission to put down the reasons, the actions, the reactions, the external players & funds that have created the disharmony that prevails. Any solution must come AFTER the public are given an opportunity to put on record their views and solutions must come from them.

The Presidential Commission must cover
·        How many racial conflicts have taken place before 1505, from 1505 to 1948 and since 1948. What has been the background to the start of these conflicts – who first started it, how, has anyone funded it externally & why, are their names, political parties or external players that can be identified & named?
·        How did armed militancy start in Sri Lanka – both JVP & LTTE, who initially trained, armed & funded them, who later adopted them to align to their political agendas? Are there any government, INGO, NGO, individuals, officials linked to these groups – can they be identified & named & what has been the actions taken against them? Are they active now & in what ways do they contribute to the tensions. Why are those who try to convey the truth demonised and called names? Is it to silence them or to ensure people are mentally programmed to not take in what they have to say? These are time-tested tactics that are applied globally. Every person trying to highlight the other version are called all sorts of denigrative names.
·        What are the reasons for some ethno-religious tensions – is it the rise in extremist fundamentalists – if so how have they been allowed to promote their extremism, who is funding them, how are they getting their funds, where have they infiltrated, are politicians involved – can these be identified & named? Who threw the first stone, why is that never highlighted and instead only the reaction is given prominence by media?
·        How have disproportionate-to-population rise in mosques, kovils, churches, madrassas, prayer centres contributed to tensions. Most of these start out not as such but end up becoming religious places & when people object it is quickly promoted as racist/racial discrimination thus ignoring the illegality of such but allowing it which instils distrust & anxiety among communities.
·        Have sudden demographic change & the inequality in application of laws for all become reason for the anxiety – if so what are these? Is it the demand by ethno-religious political parties, politicians, civil society groups that have played a role in increasing these tensions, if so what are the examples that can be given? Allow people to name these examples. Give both versions a chance.

·        Have incursions into sacred heritage sites, destruction of sacred sites, ancient architectural & archaeological sites, cunning bulldozing of ancient sites & building other religious structures on top of it, bribing of government officials and accruing illegal buildings/lands & facilities contributed to these tensions –if so what examples can be cited? Allow people to place allegations of these taking place throughout the country.
·        Have the political bargaining of ethno-religious political parties using global en bloc country pressure diplomatically, in the UN, through their religious entities & through trade contributed to the animosities & tensions? Has it been an option to throw money & silence authorities from taking action?

·        Have ethno-religious tensions contributed as a result of the funding and bribing of ethno-religious politicians, even Sinhala politicians, media, law enforcement authorities and others contributed to the rising tensions where the minorities have found it convenient to bribe and get what they want done & then use media to cry foul when the majority react – if so, what are the instances that can be cited for such scenarios.
·        How have media contributed to the ethno-religious tensions in the country. How relevant are the findings of the Press Commission Report to the present day conduct of media, editors & columnists many of whom are writing under pseudonyms and media is giving them an open platform to denigrate? Are they following proper ethics in their writings, have they promoted or fanned ethnic tensions – the public must be given instances to bring out allegations against the media for their bias in reporting and how these have contributed to the ethno-religious tensions particularly keeping in mind the violations committed by global mainstream media in the manner they have helped lie to the general public to justify invasions, military interventions & regime change in countries by relaying false news, fake witness accounts, fake rescue operations, fake videos etc. How relevant & applicable are these to Sri Lanka as well.

·        What is the role of Foreign Embassies, Envoys, foreign NGOs & locals on their payroll including the UN & associate entities in inciting racial tensions – have they funded programs, initiatives etc that have contributed to these tensions, are initiatives like Democracy in Elections nothing but devising ways to rig elections, are programs like Good Governance in Parliament nothing but helping regime change? – if so, what are they & people must be given an opportunity to express their views and opinions of the instances they feel that these entities have applied covert & overt operations & actions to create racial tensions.
These are just a handful of scenarios that are never taken to consideration when throwing allegations at parties claiming them to be guilty. Funnily enough those making the allegations are the usual culprits that have contributed to tensions in other parts of the world. Therefore, it is very important that we do not take their version of things as it is anyway biased and advancing other agendas. People need to identify what is taking place in Sri Lanka with that of what has taken place in other parts of the world where these targeted countries are now in ruins. We do not wish to be another victim nation.
It is time the public, given that they end up the ultimate victim whoever is responsible for tensions, should have their say and a Presidential Commission must call for public hearings & written submissions from people that will cover all and more of the above scenarios that may have contributed or are the actual cause for the tensions that exist or have been manufactured to shut the voice of one party to enable the agenda using the other party/parties to continue without objections.

The truth must come out – there is no single version to things but there are actions that generate the animosity to create a reaction or actions which are purposely created to trigger a reaction. The authentic & false actions/reactions are what we need to now identify and find solutions to only the authentic grievances & not the manufactured ones.


Shenali D Waduge




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SriLankan Democracy in Peril
Kanthar Balanathan
DipEE(UK), GradCert(RelEng-Monash), DipBus&Adm(Finance-Massey), CEng. MIEE Australia

Since 2015, people of SriLanka have perceived that the democracy that triumphed from 2004 to 2015 has weakened & shrunken as a result of a few politicians, taking the law into their own hand as if the country is their own, not being patriotic. This creates a cloud into everyone’s mind whether the country is run by a democratically elected government or a dictatorial tyrant assisted with corrupted politicians. Can the people postulate that it is because of some politicians who have been overexercising their power delegated or is it because of their mentality of the third world culture? People can pinpoint on focused issues that hurt the democratic principles, however, will the politicians understand that they are on the wrong path putting the people's life at risk?

Since 2015, GOSL executive appointed the leader of a minority party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as the Leader of Opposition (LOP) inducting the whole world to ridicule and laugh at GOSL. The old Sambanthan’ s mind is clouded to perceive that he is the leader for the Tamils ONLY. However, his duty was focussed on helping his crowd to get jobs with the GOSL. He was not at all interested in initiating any development on the island to which he is the LOP. The number of seats TNA held is only 16. This is a fundamental flaw in the politics and against democratic principles. Maybe all politicians have to undergo to complete a Law degree and learn democratic principles. This appointment was based on ethnicity and racism, not on democratic principle. 

The vote of no confidence was initiated as a result of illegal malpractices thought by the majority of the GOSL members. This can be viewed at Ref: http://www.parliament.lk/en/news-en/view/1506?category=6Text: The “No-confidence Motion” signed by 55 UPFA Members of Parliament, was handed over to the Hon. Speaker on the 21st of March 2018 and subsequently included in the Addendum to the Order Book No. 8(7) issued on 26.03.2018. Most of the points mentioned in the motion, associated with the Bond issue which occurred at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.Please refer to a letter written to Professor Ricardo Hausmann: http://nrnmind.blogspot.com.au/2016/01/28-the-January-2016-professorricardo.html.

The No Confidence Motion (NCM) is a valid submission as a result of irregularities in the government. However, the politicians and members were bought over for four to five Crores of Rupees to vote against the motion. Total bribe amount to several crores. Ref: http://tamilleader.org/?p=7121

Selvam Adaikalanathan of TNA/TELO claims that TNA voted against the NCM based on ten conditions put forward to RW.  These can be viewed at Ref: http://tamilleader.org/?p=7101. It is obvious that RW agreed to settle the ten conditions if he wins. This is again partiality, not national.
What is the function of the LOP? Quote:

The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. The Opposition's main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. It is discernible in the political sphere that the Opposition represents an alternative government and is responsible for challenging the policies of the government and producing different policies where appropriate.

The LOP and the TNA voting against the NCM are violating the fundamental principle of democratic norm creating a new form of democracy.

This reflects the intelligence of the LOP and its party members and the lack of knowledge in politics and democratic principles. What the LOP demanded was partial and racial. LOP is common to all the people in SriLanka (SL).

Douglas Devananda (DD) is the leader of EPDP which was a driver for the development in the North during the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s period. DD and EPDP were threatened and pressured by UNP and SLFP high-level MPs to vote against the NCM in favor of RW. This demeans and brings shame to democracy in SL driving down to third world democracy similar to India. Maybe, an act of rowdyism?

Just to add a point: A government should issue bond as and when in highest need. Not to bribe politicians to support an individual. This is another pitfall on GOSL policy. Intimidation, frightening, retribution are not methods of politically achieving objectives which is against democratic principles.
The vote on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe reflects the vibrant democracy in Sri Lanka and the government should seize the opportunity to further strengthen the team that wants to undertake reforms, a delegation of the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) said today.

Goodness gracious, the European Parliament Committee who made the above statement should be laughed off. They need to refresh their studies on politics. Is the European Parliament another neo-colonialist?

The current situation in SL is that the rich are growing faster than ever becoming billionaires and the people in the village cannot have three meals a day. Not even a sound single meal a day. The gap between the rich and the poor is widening and alarming.

If the PM was decent enough in the society, he should have dissolved the parliament and/or resigned as the PM to shield his reputation. The current GOSL is held in ransom by the Tamil Diaspora who may or may not bribe GOSL for MPs to support the PM and them. The illiterate MPs can only see money and nothing else.

On the whole, the NCM was voted based on bribery, intimidation, conditional ethnic favors, retribution threats, violation of law & order, and support from the Tamil Diaspora and the West. It was not on democratic principles.


Let the SriLankan mass know this and enlighten themselves to elect a patriotic politician.

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Demand for the abrogation of Ranil-Sambandan Pact


By : A.A.M.NIZAM – MATARA

There were reports that the joint opposition was now contemplating to bring a No Confidence Motion against the official (illegal) opposition leader Sambandan, which is a welcome move that should be undertaken without any further delay.  What the country expect from the joint opposition now is to carry forward unceasingly the successes it achieved through the No Confidence Motion against Ranil Wickremasinghe which split Sirisena’s SLFP, exposed Sirisena’s double games and treachery, identified the blokes who would without any self respect and moral principles stoop to any bottom level to protect their perks, privileges, and and undue benefits, and Ranl Wickremasinghe’s sell out of the country to the Tamil racists under a 10 point secret agreement without approval or even without the knowledge of the UNP parliamentarians.  It was reported that this agreement had been signed by Ranil Wickremasinghe placing his signature along with few lines indicating that he had taken due note of the points mentioned and that he would guarantee speedy implementation of those proposals.

The proposed No Confidence Motion should be well crafted indicating that ‘it is against Sambandan illegally holding the post of Opposition Leader with minority representation in the Parliament  and misusing this position to enter into a clandestime 10 point agreement with the Prime Minister without approval from the Prime Minister’s political grouping’ and it should be submitted immediately after the New Year and each and every member in the joint opposition should make every effort to give maximum publicity to the vicious 10 point agreement with dedicated participation of the members of the Maha Sangha and Prelates of other religions of the respective areas and personally apprise all non-TNA members of Parliament on the dangers hidden in the agreement and seek their cooperation to get this NCM passed, particularly to get the agreement abrogated..  The 220 odd Municipal and Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Saha Institutions under the control of the SLPP should also carry out an islandwide agitation demanding Ranil Wickremasinghe to abrogate the Ranil-Sambamdan Pact publicly similar to the abrogation of the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact and Dudley-Chelvanayagam Pact in the past.  .
Political analysts point out that this sell-out agreement is worse than the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) signed by Ranil with the megalomaniac Prabhakaran in  2001.  They say that even implementing a few points of the vicious agreement would be utterly detrimental to the country and would violate the sovereignty, the territorial integrity and fundamental rights of non-Tamils.

The Tamil biased writer D.B.S.Jeyaraj in a lengthy article to Daily Mirror on 10th  April has strongly justified and commended Sambandan and the TNA for what he says rightly deciding to defeat the No Confidence Motion and entering into the10 point agreement
Let us critically view the justifications and the appreciations being made by Jeyaraj in this article.  :
  • the leader of the opposition Sampanthan departed from tradition by criticising the NCM and supporting the Prime Minister. All 16 MPs of the TNA voted against the NCM.They played a crucial role in ensuring the defeat of the attempt to topple the Prime Minister.
  • the weight of TNA support helped tilt the scales in favour of Wickremesinghe. That is why the ire and wrath of the NCM proponents have turned against the TNA in the aftermath of the vote.
  • Crude attempts are being made to communalise the issue by racist elements supportive of a Rajapaksa return to power. Some hawkish elements are trying to spread a canard that the LTTE and pro-LTTE elements in the Diaspora got the TNA to support Ranil because he was going to give the Tigers a separate state through a federal constitution.
  • If saner counsel does not prevail and the NCM against Sampanthan is put to the vote we may very well witness another political absurd drama where the Prime Minister and the bulk of the Govt are likely to repay Sampanthan by voting against the joint opposition motion. If these events do take place then Sampanthan and Ranil Wickremesinghe would go down in Parliamentary history as the leader of the opposition who safeguarded the Prime Minister of the Ruling Govt and the Prime Minister who protected his leader of the opposition.

  • Once it became apparent that the proposed NCM against the Prime Minister was a tripartite plot hatched by anti-UNP elements, sections of the SLFP led by Sirisena and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) of which Mahinda Rajapaksa was the unofficial” leader, the TNA hierarchy began to get perturbed. These sentiments got further exacerbated when percolating media reports speculated that Sirisena was having plans of replacing Ranil with Karu Jayasuriya as a stop-gap measure.
  • This then made Ranil Wickremesinghe indispensable to Sampanthan’s vision and political goals. The TNA leader has been somewhat miffed with Ranil for the tardy progress on the Constitutional front ever since the interim report of the steering committee was released.
  • Wickremesinghe remains the best choice of what is available for the minority communities in general and Sri Lankan Tamils in particular. There was no alternative to Ranil whose unseating was certain to paralyse the political quest of a new power-sharing Constitution.
  • There was another reason also for the TNA to support Ranil. The TNA has been closely associating with India and other influential western nations like the USA, Britain, Canada and Norway to help bring about a political settlement and ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Most of these nations were also of the view that it was politically important and imperative to ensure the continuation of Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, who now regards Ranil as the sheet anchor of the present Govt. Replacing Ranil with another was not to be countenanced. The TNA being on the same political wavelength concurred with this perspective.
  • Finally, the inner -party discussions ended with all MPs agreeing that the TNA should support the PM by voting against the NCM and they felt that they should extract some concessions from the Prime Minister in return for supporting him.
  • The issues raised were categorised into ten main points which became the crux of the 10 point agreement. .
  • The Tamil National Alliance can take justifiable pride in voting against the no-confidence motion. It was the TNA decision that removed uncertainty and tilted the decision in the Premier’s favour.
  • Once it became known that the TNA was firmly behind Wickremesinghe, it was obvious that the NCM would be defeated and this impacted on the voting stances of undecided parties and MPs. Also it was the TNA support which helped Ranil Wickremesinghe greatly to exceed the magic number of 113 by nine more votes.

This ten-point agreement is a glaring example of the Tamil politicians attempting to subdue Sinhala leaders of Sri Lanka at times of difficulty without any concern for the peaceful co-existence of the country and only thinking about to get what they want by hook or crook and Sinhala leaders shamelessly genuflecting before them with total disregard for the welfare of the country and the people.

Contrary to the justifications presented by the Tamil bias writer Jeyaraj, the veteran journalist Sunday Island political columnist C.A.Chandraprema comments that (Sunday Island – 0804,2018)

Some of these points such as the formulation of a new constitution before the next election are obviously not practicable. The constitutional reform process grounded to a halt months ago due to the inability of the Muslims and the upcountry Tamils to agree to the devolution proposals put forward. It is very unlikely that this reform process can be resuscitated before the next presidential election is called in October next year. Even if it is, the possibility of getting a two-thirds majority in parliament is now virtually non-existent.

The demand to release all ‘political prisoners’ however gives cause for serious concern. What the TNA means by the term political prisoners are the several dozen hardcore LTTE terrorists who are still in detention awaiting trial. Even though over 11,000 LTTE cadres were released, these several dozen hardcore terrorists who are considered beyond rehabilitation were kept in detention to be tried. It is these people the TNA wants released as ‘political prisoners’. The problem is that they were never political activists or dissidents but the most dangerous terrorists in what were once formally declared by the USA to be the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world.

Another extremely dangerous condition is the appointment of only Tamils as District Secretaries (Government Agents) in the north and east. This combined with the conditions that government jobs in the north and east should be given only to those who are resident in those two provinces and that the views of the two provincial councils should be respected in matters relating to development work, would be an unprecedented move that will turn the north and east into a ‘liberated zone’ for the TNA.. These are conditions that the opposition should vigorously contest.”

Meanwhile, Kanthar Balanathan, a patriotic Sri Lankan Tamil resident in Australia who is the retired Director and Specialist Power Systems Engineer. Australia in an article to Lannkaweb titled Sri Lankan Democracy in Peril” asks whether Sri Lanka is run by a democratically elected government or a dictatorial tyrant assisted by corrupted Politicians.  Mr Balanathan, unlike the Tamil biased D.B.S. Jeyaraj strongly find faults with the appointment of the leader of a minority party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) as the Leader of Opposition (LOP) inducting the whole world to ridicule and laugh at GOSL. He says that the old Sambanthan’ s mind is clouded to perceive that he is the leader for the Tamils ONLY and he is not at all interested in initiating any development on the island to which he is the LOP. Mr Balanathan emphasizes that The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in a Westminster System of parliamentary government. The Opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day and hold them accountable to the public. It is discernible in the political sphere that the Opposition represents an alternative government and is responsible for challenging the policies of the government and producing different policies where appropriate”  and asserts that the leader of the opposition and the TNA voting against the NCM are violating the fundamental principle of democratic norm creating a new form of democracy.. In conclusion of his article, he states that on the whole, the NCM was voted based on bribery, intimidation, conditional ethnic favours, retribution threats, violation of law & order, and support from the Tamil Diaspora and the West and it was not on democratic principles.

Under these circumstances, the joint opposition and the SLPP LG institutions have a great responsibility to defeat Sambandan-Ranil manoeuvres and save this country from falling into this latest trap of subjugating this country to Tamil Diaspora, the Western powers and hegemonic India.  The Joint Opposition should undertake this move immediately after the New Year Holidays on a full-time basis. 


May the New Year be a prosperous and happy New Year that will free this country from all bondages and foreign servitude!

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Is Syria part of a return to days of the Christian Crusades?

Why is it that when Western states, majority of whom are avid Christianity following countries never mention or purposely omit mentioning the Christian aspect to a conflict though the same states & their media channels go overboard in attacking other countries tagging religion to it? News coverage on Sri Lanka is full throttle anti-Buddhist and so too is coverage of news in Myanmar, same when stories emerge against Hindu India and Islam. Look at the numbers of mainstream media & even face book accounts that are Anti-Islam by Westerners but only when a non-Westerner puts a similar anti-Islam post does the news go right up to the UN & leads to condemnation by the entire world. What kind of hypocrisy is this? Hypocrisies are many & people must also know their history enough to understand that there is a historical background to the aggression & revenge that shrouds the West’s action against Syria.

The Western nations today preaching human rights and freedoms were the very nations that denied people human rights & freedoms when they saw fit to take sail to ‘discover’ nations that were already discovered & inhabited but were ordered by the Church through Papal Bulls to declare them Christian & Missionaries sent to forcefully convert or kill those that refused. If anyone challenges this they are first advised to look up every country that Spain, Portugal, Britain, France invaded, occupied & converted and the horrific crimes they committed to the innocent people of these territories in particular the Inquisitions which mirrors the present UNHRC & ICC determinations against only non-whites or enemies. Not stopping there, they even disenfranchised these natives and today they sing a national anthem with their hands across their hearts clueless the nation they are proud of was stolen from the natives that lived there!

These Western nations demanding justice, retribution for crimes committed & accountability refuses to even acknowledge or account for the crimes they committed upon every country they invaded, occupied & plundered. If these Western countries refuses to atone for their sins what right do they have to demand other countries should be punished only. After all, they are suffering & dealing with the evils these colonials planted and left as a result of their divide & rule policies.

The countries that ridicule Dharmic religions completely ignore that it was the Pope that bade calls to take up arms for the 1st crusade & it was the expansionist ideology that created foot soldiers in Christianity & Islam & this is how Christianity & Islam spread to cover more than half of the world populace. There have been no wars to defend Buddhism.

It is Islam & Christianity that have been in competition to dominate. Is it to show their religious superiority or to simply grab territory & control people & resources? There have been 8 Crusades fought against Muslims for the Holy Lands between 1096 and 1270 C.E. Crusade comes from the latin word cross, and the crusaders were defenders of the cross wearing uniforms with symbols of the cross of Christ with shields painted with crosses and no different to how the West pursues its military interventions in the present. The Knights of Templars still exist inside the Vatican!

Pope Urban II’s call to arms in 1095 which led to the first crusade was primarily due to the Muslims cutting off excess to Jerusalem to the Christians no different to the manner the West is now cutting of trade excess routes, creating no fly zones & imposing sanctions. The winners always dictate history as was seen in the outcome of the World Wars & putting on trial only the defeated and much of the history we know as history has been written by Western historians or locals taught history by the West. Not many have seen fit to challenge some of the conclusions derived. Political correctness stops short of that challenge!

What is curious is that Islam & Christianity have returned to its birth place & where they first started to spread. Islam starting out in the 7th century spread across Middle East & North Africa, Southern Europe, Central Asia to Sudan, India until Christianity made a comeback in the 11th century.  Shiites ruled Egypt & Sunni’s ruled Syria & Iraq. The British role in both Iraq & Syria will doubtless raise eyebrows as to how Britain is continuing its destructive role now.

Is the Franks as the Christians were known then the present US, EU & NATO forces? Is Saladin the OIC majority Muslim member states? Is this the showdown we are now returning to. Is the War on Terror a reflection of that Crusade and is the Western slogan ‘You are either with us or with them” having greater meaning & significance?

Let it also be known that the West was then undeveloped and the Crusades were attacking urbanized and culturally sophisticated areas. http://siliconafrica.com/terra-nullius/Europeans did not need to bring any civilising to Africa - Africa is now uncivilised because of the Europeans! Even during those times non-Europeans were shocked that these white people bathed once or twice a year & never washed their clothes and isn’t this the same view people have now with perfumes supplementing for bad odour!

Colonial imperialism is no doubt the same with the desire to completely vanquish the cultural & historical heritage of countries that had proud and rich civilizational history that the West hadn't. Cultural genocide began and continues with the West & even political Islam. Today neocolonialism and using the puppet of the UN both the West & Political Islam are getting away using slogans of political correctness & multiculturalism.

Was the destruction of those areas then clothed with the same revenge, jealous mentality that prevails presently in the manner precision bombing by the Western forces directly ordered to destroy centres of cultural heritage and isn’t that what the Western-trained & funded Al Qaeda/ISIS and its co-partners are also doing of late entering museums and destroying ancient artefacts & relics. These incidents require much soul searching and search into the past & analyzing the dynamics that led to forces being ordered to destroy what was others. But to be fair by the Christian West, this is exactly what the Islamic conquerors did when they set off to capture territory that they now claim as theirs – every non-Islamic monument was brought to the ground & replaced with Islamic structures. You cannot find many Hindu monuments in India for this reason. We all know what befell of the world’s oldest library & university at Nalanda when Islamic invaders arrived not only to burn the library but to kill the monks mercilessly as well. The story of the Bamiyan Buddhas too has been the outcome of not just Taliban but many other Islamic leaders trying to destroy it.

In essence both these Abrahamic Faiths have proven to destroy others & the planet & be self-destructive by their actions as well. What difference is the Crusades by the Christians & the Islamic Jihad to all those who are victims? Both indulge in cultural colonialism, trade colonialism, faith colonialism. Both forms attempt to rule theirs over others and it is certainly a clash of civilization returning.

However, the Muslims defeated the Christians and is this all about avenging the historical loss by the Christian West? Although it must be said that apart from the brainwashed followers of both parties the general public belonging to both faiths are against any form of violence as can be seen by the protests against the US, UK, France & Allied decision to bomb Syria on the pretext of chemical bombs which probably these very countries would have planted to justify their actions. The many fake videos of even children being trained to pretend they were attacked and artists painting blood to show wounded and media happily relaying them to a gullible public shows that the Crusades & Jihad have climaxed to a modern platform but where will all these lies, bombings, destruction & mayhem eventually lead?



Shenali D Waduge


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DO NOT FORGET – the Sinhalese suffered & are victims too

The narrative needs to change and no one needs to feel shy to challenge it bogged down by chants of political correctness & reconciliation. Truth is truth – lies are lies – no slogan should silence that. Presently it is being written either purposely omitting or ignorantly omitting some crucial facts. By doing so, not only is a wrong impression being promoted locally & globally but it is also contributing to creating distrust & mistrust while likely to create further animosity.

No one can disassociate the present crisis from the legacy of colonial rule & the ills that has been handed down with it. No one can also deny that the leaders that took over post-independence were all groomed to think & act like their colonial masters. The handful that challenged the status quo were removed from the scene. If after 70 years people complain about the quality of our leaders they should now realize the reason why most lack nationalism or patriotism. To survive in politics not many can think nationally or will be allowed to act nationally. To understand this better, people need to study the dynamics of political systems globally & the manner that national leaders have been dethroned through regime change for their national policies – the South American examples are excellent to understand this.

That rulers have failed to be consistent in their leadership affects not only minorities but the majority as well and in terms of population ratio the majority is affected more. The scrooge of privatization will only lead to more misery as every national asset is put a price tag. People have yet to understand the trade & political dynamics of the en bloc countries in particular the demands aligned to trade & political agendas of the EU & OIC nations.

Those today commenting on racial violence pinning complete blame on the Sinhala majority were completely silent during 30 years of LTTE reign…why? Were Muslims treated greater under LTTE rule? Were Tamils enjoying full freedoms under 30 years of LTTE rule? Why have minorities forgotten this? How fair is it to claim that the UNP led coalition won the 2015 election entirely on the promises for ‘justice for the minorities’ what kind of racist election propaganda is this? How can minorities who never hesitate to hold slogans against so-called racism openly and proudly claim to have voted for the UNP coalition simply because it agreed to fulfill their demands. Minorities are faulted for making such demands & the UNP coalition is faulted for agreeing to such which is why these unrealistic promises are not seeing light of day. In minorities object to the majority will getting their way, how justified is it for minority will to get their way against the wishes of the majority (by majority what is implied is the majority opinion of people not majority race)

The very people calling for justice for victims of the war need to answer some crucial questions first. Who are the victims? Is it the LTTE or the victims of LTTE terror. Those calling for justice for people killed in the last phase completely ignore to mention that LTTE shot quite a number of Tamils – we would like to know how many. These are certainly victims of LTTE. As for those accusing the Army of killing people, there too we need to first know how many LTTE cadres who were in civilian clothing were killed and how many civilians who were engaged in hostilities (voluntarily or by force) died as a result, for any civilian engaged in hostilities and dying is not defined as a civilian, and the international law books says so very clearly. Without answering these basic questions no one can accuse the Sri Lankan military of killing and no one can demand compensation either – for why should the tax payers pay for LTTE families or dead LTTE cadres? Every TNA commemoration is of dead LTTE and not of Tamils killed by LTTE!

Why is no one raising a voice for the missing 5000 soldiers & their names are logged with the UNHRC not like the nameless 40,000 missing which has now shot up to 150,000 and has been a favorite past time to quote missing / dead.

Moreover, victims constitute all victims – not just Tamils or even Muslims. Let it be reminded to all that more Sinhalese have died since independence than anyone would like to mention. There was the first JVP insurrection, then the 1980/90s JVP-UNP killing spree, there were plenty human rights organizations even then but none chose to demand accountability from the UNP Government, was it because Sinhalese lives did not matter or the media did not find it newsworthy enough? There are plenty of missing persons that cover both these horrific periods far more gruesome than the LTTE period, if people can still remember. A piece of paper was enough to stop people going to work, school and homes were in darkness. Youth disappeared never to be found again. Why are these missing not given justice by the Office of Missing Persons. If the OMP is sincere they must begin by finding the missing from every period that people went missing. OMP was opened not just to find missing LTTE cadres. But as many commentators say if OMP has been launched only to find missing Tamils, let them search for Arjuna Mahendran first.

While the whole world comes down on Sinhalese for claiming the Sinhala Buddhist heritage and ownership for building the nation until it was deceptively confiscated by colonial invaders, when the minorities make racist demands there is stoic silence. Presumably one of the demands by the TNA for their vote at the no confidence motion was to appoint only Tamil divisional secretaries – Is this not racism? There are also demands to have Tamil policemen, Tamil military personnel but then when anyone says Sinhala Army, Sinhala policemen there will be resolutions against Sri Lanka! What kind of disjointed logic is this? A government should have the guts to say that every citizen must know the language of the majority Sinhalese especially when close to 80% of the population speak it. It makes logical sense for the 20% to learn Sinhalese than spending money & time getting 80% to learn what the 20% only speak. What good is it to have only Tamil speaking police & army – are they to serve in only Tamil areas, if so is this a bigger plan of the eelamist lobby?

A countrys military or police should recruit people who are patriotic, nationalistic and willing to uphold law & order & protect the country against all odds, not because a person is Tamil or Muslim. Quota system should not be allowed in any element of public service. It is totally against the basic arguments of equality which another lot are promoting. Let it also be reminded what a fiasco the local government election has turned into with the quotas for women! As for the demands for lands – why should a state give any land without anyone producing deed evidence to claim they actually owned the land. Simply giving into public uproar and well-funded media hype is something the government is advised to avoid.

The minorities that claim to want a competent and benign central government must also explain why they would continuously chose to vote for racist minority leaders & their ethno-religious political parties – TNA’s links to the LTTE, racism of SLMC leaders have still not stopped minorities voting for them, therefore in what context can there be any healing of wounds when there are political parties & leaders that promote and thrive on racism & racist demands, where every election manifesto is peddling for ethno religious demands only. At no time do these parties or their leaders make any statement or demands pertaining to the entire citizenry of the country.

These are the very parties that demand a new constitution from the very party that is said to have come into power to fulfill the demands of the minorities… so can the majority be blamed for opposing this new constitution for it has no relevance to the entirety of citizens in Sri Lanka. Where have you heard of a constitution being created only to fulfil the racist demands of the minorities?

There are many taking the brush to portray the racist Tamil & Muslim leaders as championing a ‘cause’ without acknowledging the damage they have done. Let us also mention that when the JVP began a killing spree targeting innocent people no different to how the LTTE began, the Sinhalese were quick to completely denounce the JVP but why have Tamils failed to do the same with the LTTE, same with Muslims. People must be well read enough to understand how the dark forces work upon political leaders parties, individuals, through businesses, through media, through local organizations etc.. it is only in identifying and watching their actions that people can not only challenge and question them but also not allow themselves to be steered by various initiatives that they fund to provoke people into violence. In watching the lies unfold to bomb Syria, the manner that entities like White Helmets have been used to stage bogus scenes, train people to act, use children to stir emotions, should immediately make people to question whether the same took place in Sri Lanka in the manner the C4 videos began to emerge at every important international event & UN session. These were well programmed & timed to embarrass the Sri Lankan Government the same as is being done to Syria.

If we are drifting to a crisis at many levels the minorities must take a large chunk of the blame for in their unfair & racist demands using the en bloc international pressure through the UN, EU & OIC they have exerted unfair demands on every government that have created more problems than solutions & that is what led to JVP, LTTE & now a multitude of issues that are not easy to even categorize as they come cloaked in multiple outfits & agendas. If minorities are today complaining about politicians, they must ask themselves in what ways they have deceptively cornered politicians through various monetary & other influential pressures thus making them compromise country-centric decisions for personal perks. Again, what have the minorities not enjoyed that the majority are enjoying? Absolutely nothing. The rich in the Sri Lankan polity care not for any ethnicity, faith or country – they are united by the will to make more money at whatever cost. In the end who enrolled to protect the nation? The rural Sinhala Buddhist youth, a handful of Malays and Tamils most of whom were gunned down by the LTTE if we can recall the Millennium City debacle and post CFA signing by UNP & LTTE.

Since independence more Sinhalese have been victims than any other community, more Tamils have died at the hands of the LTTE the supposed sole-representatives of the Tamils, more Muslims have died by this same sole-representative of the Tamils too. Without showcasing these ground realities, what are the experts & analysts trying to preach


Shenali D Waduge


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Stop All  efforts of  reconciliation  with Tamils immediately.

By Charles .S.Perera

He is gone……!!!
President Maithripala Sirisena is gone after giving 683  acres of land back to Tamils  to honour  the reconciliation demands of the CHOGM leaders, who will now receive him as a real democrat who is prepared to sacrifice any thing to be received and hugged by Theresa May and other White  Leaders of the white Commonwealth, and be allowed to shake in addition the gloveless hands of the Queen.
President Sirisena is completely duped by the Western White leaders and he will never rid himself of his Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe who is really the pet of the West, who introduced  Maithripala Sirisena into the USA and Western white political circle. Thanks to PM Ranil Wickramasinghe he can even have tea with the Queen at Buckingham  Palace ,which he at last found in UK, and not in New York as he had thought before.
There was a time when this  circle of White Western leaders including  the then Black USA President, received Colonel Gaddafi of Libya and even allowed him to put his arm round their necks, but laughed behind him and finally allowed him to be murdered by his own men. So beware President Maithripala Sirisena you never know what you can expect from the West.
However, it is imperative that this comedy of reconciliation is put to an immediately. It was Ranil who got his then Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera to meet the Christian  Emmanuelle of  the Global  Tamil  Forums and other Tamil Diaspora Representatives without  informing the Parliament or the President to talk on equal terms about the Yahapalanaya reconciliation plan.
As a result of it, Sirisena Ranil Yahapalanaya planned the writing of  a New Constitution in consultation with the Tamil Diaspora , the  USA Ambassador Athul Keshup, and India. They also removed  several important Military Camps from the North and the East. They allowed the National Anthem to be sung in Tamil, and released thousands of acres of land taken over by the Armed Forces  for security purposes.
But all these have been done in the name of reconciliation with Tamil but the Tamils in return ask for  more and has not given anything in return for the all efforts of this Stupid Yahaplanaya Government’s  concessions to Tamil, which if not stopped now would eventually end up with a Federal Constitution and a Tamil only Provinces in the North and East.
While the Government continues to meet the demands of the TNA, the West and the Tamil Diaspora, the CM Wigneswaran of the Northern Provincial Council complains that  the Sri Lanka Government has not done anything effective to oust the Sinhalese who have illegally occupied  the lands and houses of  the Tamils ever since they fled the Island following ethnic crisis. These appears to be  absolute lies as no mention of such illegal occupations had been reported , nor have a large number of Sinhala families chased away by the terrorists have been allowed to go back to the  lands they were forced to abandon.
North Provincial Councillor T Raviharan organised protests in front of the Mullaitivu  Distict Secretariat on the 10th April,2018,  to oppose the settlement of outsiders.  The Tamils raised objections in December, 2017,  against holding funeral rights of the late Gnanananda Thero the Chief Prelate of the Nagavihara in Jaffna.
The Tamil politicians  protest against the construction of  Sambodhi Vihara in Mullaithivu by venerable Tissapura Gunarathana thero.  They call him an extremist Buddhist Monk.  Building Buddhsit temples in the North and East the Tamils say negates reconciliation. Sumanthiran and TNA want a secular constitution to Sri Lanka removing from it the special place given to the protection of Buddhism.
Are these protests against Buddhsism which is the very life blood of the Sinhala Buddhist a show of gratitude of the Tamils for having given into their demands to promote reconciliation ?
Is there any one single thing the Tamils have done by way of reconciliation with the Sinhala people ?
Is there any reason why Sri Lanka should listen to the UK Government  or the Canadian government the Ministers of which attend extremist Tamil Functions and support their demand for an Eelam in Sri Lanka ?
It is time for Sri Lanka to stop further reconciliation efforts with the Tamils, until the Tamil politicians stop their baseless demands for devolution of power  in their search for reconciliation.
The government of Sri Lanka should, instead of handing over acres and acres of land back to Tamils, resettle the Sinhala people who were forced away from their lands by the terrorists. If their lands have been occupied by Tamils , they should be given  new lands and stop the Tamil politicians in the North and East harass them continuously once they have been settled down.
The Sri Lanka Armed Force should also be informed that they have no right of its own to hand over land to Tamils without  obtaining prior permission from the Parliament.
Enough is enough the Yahaplanaya Government has lost the confidence of the people and they cannot con  as nothing has had happened in the  country out side the Parliament after the No Confidence motion against the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe was lost in Parliament.

The Parliament consists only of 225 persons and all of them do not to a great extent after their election three years back retain the confidence of the people who elected them.
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