Answering the Lies
Posted on June 15th, 2011
S. Vasudevan
This was a letter sent to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Guardian NewspaperƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the UKƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by a Sri Lankan Tamil Activist living in London, to protest an article being produced in the newspaper regarding Sri Lanka and the end of the war in 2009
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my disappointment and disgust with the article on Comment is Free, published 13/06/2011 entitled ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Lifting the lid on Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s war crimesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ As a Sri Lankan Tamil living in the UK, I totally oppose the assertions being made in the article.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Having visited Sri Lanka at least four times after the end of war in 2009, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I have had many opportunities to interact with and speak to hundreds of war victims whose story bears no resemblance to ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ imaginative article found in the Guardian.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These Tamils who have managed to escape the war are still praising the Sri Lankan army for their courage and dedication during the war despite the loss of at least 6000 soldiers.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The real story is that these Tamils were held as hostages by the LTTE.
I would like to challenge the figures being quoted of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-40,000ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Tamil casualties which interestingly are ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the same figures being reported by the BTF (British Tamil Forum ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s UK Branch). If you were to actually do some investigations into the reports on missing people from the conflict being listed during 2009, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ you would have got a more accurate figure.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ When I spoke to people on the ground especially the war victims about the figures quoted by the BTF (and subsequently by you), they simply laughed it off and said it was LTTE propaganda in order to get the international attention to save them from the defeat.
Now you may see this as the thoughts of a single man, but if you were to read theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ interviewƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ given by a former Tamil National Parliamentarian, who was trapped inside the war zone during this period, on the 18thƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of April 2011 to the Asian Tribune , you will see that he also exposes the failed political agenda of the LTTE and the vested interests of the West.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This former Member of Parliament said that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”he has seen the horrors of the war and seen people ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” innocent Tamils, who were treated as stray dogs, shot and killed mercilessly by the LTTE gunmenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Despite being charged by the Sri Lanka Government for refusing its orders to leave the LTTE controlled areas and staying in the region during the height of the war, the MP said that the United Nations and Western Countries wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not privy to any firsthand information about the horrors, killings, destructions and the human tragedies that occurred during the final days of the battle.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He rubbished the UN Experts PanelƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s report and said the UN document was based on third or fourth personƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s reports and on biased materials prepared by the rump LTTE campaigners and vested interest groups. He challenged whether those three UN Experts could authenticate any of those allegations they have raised and included in their so called report?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He clarified that even those people who were in the Vanni in the last days of the combat between the Government Forces and the LTTE were not privy to any firsthand reports, as they were never allowed to stray out of their bunkers and places where they were confined by the LTTE gunmen.
It is a known fact that during the heavy fighting LTTE also moved its heavy artillery positions near the safe zones which were declared by the Sri Lankan forces to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ no fire zones. The LTTE not only moved its artillery within these no fire zones but also positioned it within the hospital compounds. The Tamils who objected to this move were brutally shot dead. These have been corroborated by the war victims and even former LTTE cadres and can be viewed for yourselves onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You Tube
I was in the Vanni last month and many Tamils have also confirmed the above claim. The LTTE not only killed innocent Tamils but also robbed them of their wealth and savings during the last battle.
As a Tamil, it would have made sense to support the LTTE, but you have to understand that as Sri Lankan Tamils, we have borne the brunt of the atrocities by the LTTE.
For example, I have listed below a small portion of unarmed innocent Tamil Politicians, Government Servants and other VIPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢S that have been brutally killed by the LTTE
- A T Duraiyappah SLFP Mayor for Jaffna
- A Thiagarajah Ex ACTC MP for Vadokoddai
- K T Pulendran UNP Organiser for Vavunia
- A J Rajasooriar UNP Organiser in Jaffna
- Mala Ramachandran UNP MMC for Baticaloa
- Gnanachandiram Ex District Judge, Point Pedro and Government Agent, Mullativu C E
- Anandarajah Principal, St Jones College, Jaffna
- B K Thambipillai President, Citizens Cimmittee
- P Kirubakaran Primary Court Judge Kathiramalai
- Sarvodaya Leader Vignarajah Assistant Government Agent,
- MR.Samanturai Anthonimuttu Government Agent, Baticaloa
- S S Jeganathan Assistant Government Agent, Baticaloa
- Sinnadurai Assistant Government Agent, Trincomalee
- M E Kandasamy Principal, Palugamam Maha Vidyalaya
- Kanapathy Rajadurai Principal, Jaffna Central College
- S Siththamparanathan Principal, Vigneswara Vidyalaya, Trincomalee
- S Wijayanadan Distric Secretary, Ceylon Communist Party
- Velmurugu Master TULF Organiser and Citizens Committee Member, Kalmunai
- Rev. Father Chandra Fernando President, Citizens Committee, Batticaloa
- Rajjshankar President, Citizens Committee, Tennamarachchi
- S Sambandamoorthy Ex TULF Chairman, District Development Council, Batticaloa
- V M Panchalingam Government Agent, Jaffna
- K Pulendran Assistant Government Agent, Kopay
- A Amirthalingam TULF Leader and National List
- MP V Yogeshwaran Ex TULF MP for Jaffna
- T. Kailainathan Director of Vocational Qualification
- Dr (Mrs) Rajini Thiranagama Lecturer in Anatomy at the Jaffna University
- Ganeshalingam Ex EPRLF Provincial Minister for North and East
- Sam Thambimuttu EPRLF MP
- Mrs Thambimuttu Wife of EPRLF
- MP V Yogasangari EPRLF MP in Madras
- P. Ganeshalingam EPRLF provincial minister
- P. Kirubakaran Former EPRLF Finance Minister, North Eastern Province
- A Thangadurai TULF MP for Trincomalee
- Mrs Sarojini Yogeshwaran TULF Mayoress for Jaffna
- Thomas Anton Deputy Mayor of Batticaloa
- Pon Sivapalan TULF Mayor of Jaffna
- Pon Mathimukarajah TULF General Secretary, Jaffna Branch
- S.T. Tharmalingam SLFP Organiser, Jaffna District
- Canagasabai Rajathurai EPDF Member for Jaffna
- Veerahaththy Gunaratnam Member of the Pachchilaipalli Pradheshiya Sabha (PS) in Jaffna
- Dr Neelan Thiruchelvam Leader of TULF (29 July 1999)
- N. Manickathasan Vice President of Tamil Political party working with the Sri Lankan Government
- Vadivelu Vijeyaratnam Point Pedro Urban Council Chairman (14 Jan 2000)
- Anton Sivalingam EPDPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Municipal Council members in Jaffna (1 March 2000)
- Kanapathipillai Navaratnarajah TELO member of Arayampathi, Batticaloa ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” on 7 June 2000
- Rajan Sathiyamoorthy Tamil National Alliance
- Kethishwaran Loganathan (54) Deputy Secretary General of Sri Lanka Peace Secratariat, SCOPE
- Lakshman Kadirgamar Foreign Minister and SLFP MP (National List)
- T. Kailainathan Director of Vocational Qualification
- Markandu Eswaram Chief Engineer
- I.Shanmugalingam STAFF REPORTER, Eelanaadu & EELAMURASU newspaper, Jaffna
- Venerable Sivashri Kungaraja Kurukkal.
The above numbers do not mention the Sinhalese and Muslim politicans, intellectuals and academics that have also been assassinated by the LTTE and are also just a drop in the ocean as they have killed thousands of innocent Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim and others in Sri Lanka and abroad.
The LTTE had so many opportunities to follow the path of peace and come to a political settlement vis-a-vis the ethnic issue.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However they shut the door for peace on many occasions, always opting instead for conflict. This left the Sri Lankan government with no option but to finish off the LTTE. Yes this war against LTTE was a horrible and brutal war but it would have been worse if the LTTE had remained in existence today. The Sri Lankan Government has already started an inquiry into all the human right issues with regards its conduct and I am confident that accountability will be taken soon.
I am so happy to see the Tamils in Sri Lanka are now living peacefully with the other communities.
The peace and future reconciliation of the country remains a threat by the publication of such inflammatory and faulty articles.
Please do not open up the old wounds and disrupt the ongoing healing process among the communities in Sri Lanka.
Kind regards
S. Vasudevan
June 15th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Thank you Vasu for this letter. But I would be very suprised if The Guardian published it, unfortunately. But you can send it to Island.
June 15th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
As Raj says, I too say Guardian will not publish this article for it is not unbiased as it projects. Like all other media houses, Guardian also has its own interests, likes and dislikes. So we are not amused that Guardian backs the British government’s campaign to put the noose around Rajapakses necks. Make no mistake, the end game of Westerners ‘trash Sri Lanka’ campaign is to put anglophile evangelist, RanilW at the helm.
What westerners do not know is; the more they try to screw Sri Lanka the more we are determined to back Rajapakses in spite of Rajapakses many short comings.
Leela
June 15th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Leela said ‘What westerners do not know is; the more they try to screw Sri Lanka the more we are determined to back Rajapakses in spite of Rajapakses many comings.’ This is the attitude that is need of at this time of adversity. What Sri Lankan people of all persuasions need to realize is that this is not about Rajapakses or Wickremasinghes or whoever. This is all about colonial domination and control of Sri Lanka and its people by the wealthy foreigners and foreign companies. The time has come for all Sri Lankans to unite against this aggression otherwise it won’t be too long before Sri Lanka becomes another Iraq, Libya where foreign troops will be deployed and the country turned into pieces of rubble in the name democracy, human rights.
June 15th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Add to the list the following too.
1. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle – UPFA MP, Chief Government Whip
2. T Maheswaran – UNP MP
3. Raviraj – TNA MP
4. Srinivasan – TNA MP
5. J Pararajasingham – TNA MP
June 16th, 2011 at 2:58 am
Dear My Tamil brother Vasudevan Anna !
What you were doing last 33 years Anna. Now Mahinda Maththaya gave you life ?
When We crying for LTTE terrarist coward work no one , no one in our Tamil comminit bothered .
(Nalai pirakkum Tamil Eelam ! Vachan Sinhalavan Appu at Mullivaykakkalila !)
Your night mire tomorrow Tamil Eelam will born , kapputh at Mullivaykkal !
Now Come to real Lanka ! strat to sell what ever you can at pittakodda parment !
Maththaya , Lapapa , Lapaya, Lapaya……………………..
back to 1974………
June 16th, 2011 at 3:52 am
Please dont forget those 70,000 plus murdered by LTTE.
Especially those 600 unarmed, surrendered, Government employees murdered on 11th June 1990. Well, that was Sri Lanka’s real KILLING FIELDS.
Let us remember them, let us make a real film about Sri Lanka’s real KILLING FIELDS.
It appears C4 garbage had some effect. Three out of 40 deported to Sri Lanka have managed to stay in UK. Well done.
June 16th, 2011 at 4:37 am
Vasudevan you have written a truth and no one can deny.
The worst scenario is BBC, Channel 4, Gurardian, British foreign ministry and British High Commission in Colombo get together planning to create 1815 situation in Sri Lanka. They want to change the regime, bring their puppet Ranil to power, divide Sri Lanka and create eelam, destroy Buddhist civilization and Sinhala nation.
As Leela correctly said “the more they try to screw Sri Lanka the more we are determined to back Rajapakses”
June 16th, 2011 at 5:22 am
Highly commendable act by Vasu by raising objections for the obliterated publications in London Guardian faulting Sri Lankan Govt as all those roughes are being BRIBED BY LTTE DIASPORA and the entire WEST are trying to create another scenerio like what happened in 1815 as Sri Rohana says.
As such I too aggree with Leela, WE ALL SHOULD RALLY ROUND RAJAPAKSES TO RETAIN THE PEACE ACHIEVED, WITH MUCH DEDICATION BY THE GOVT AND THE FORCES and never allow the LOCAL COWBOY RANIL TO GRAB POWER AND DESTROY SRI LANKA AND BUDDHISM TOO!!!
June 16th, 2011 at 6:27 am
Its is not new that many foreign countries believe or give nudge to evil doers, some who have never visited Sri Lanka, sit in judgement.
Evil doers can anythingagainst the motherland as long as they are not prosecuted. International Community should use full strength of their laws to punish these remnants of yeter years as they could not achieve their aims. Now anihilated licking their wounds makes so much false alligations. The respective goverments turn a blind eye or even disregard legimitate complains made by law abiding peace loving Sri Lankans.
June 16th, 2011 at 7:29 am
Even before the LTTE war, some Tamils were gentle people. I am happy to find still they are there.
June 16th, 2011 at 8:46 am
AnuD
Sinhalise & Tamil live together last 2600 year in mother lanka & will for another 3400 years !
till Our Lord Bhuddha’s Holy land exit !
June 16th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Nice to see a Tamil bieng honest and truthful on SL situation when all what the western media publish are lies.
June 16th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
As AnuD, andylingam and Chintha stated, there are many honest Tamil brothers and sisters who consider Sri Lanka as their motherland; borne and grown, got the free education from the kindergarten to until some of them passed out from SL universities. They live all parts of the country peacefully and live in harmony with the rest of the people. They know them real truth. All these days they maintained silence due to fear of LTTE or its rump.
Now it is high time to provide opportunities for them to speak the real truth as Kumaran Pathmanathan (KP), ex TNA MP S. Kanagaratnam did recently and S Vasudevan has done here.
June 16th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Many tks to Mr.S. Vasudevan, there are so many good people like him living in uk, I associate many like that, why do not this tamil bros understand that LTTE is finised and we have to move on in one direction all together this is our country why do we sell our country to western idiots, they took most of our things long time ago now they wants to make another problem , no way mait we all are SRILANKS we do things together , we do not have fear , to any one including foolish Jayalalitha she is a mut…………. please think carefully do not let C4 or any Western idiots to ruin this beautiful country may God Bless all SRILANKS.
June 16th, 2011 at 7:33 pm
Good work Mr S. Vasudevan.
Silence of good men is worse than the trouble of bad men. This has been the bane of the Tamil community. The few good loud men and women will killed and the rest kept silent allowing the loud racists to go on rampage.