LLRC, USA resolution, reconciliation and sovereignty
Posted on March 14th, 2012
By Nalin de Silva-
The much-awaited US resolution on Sri Lanka was brought before the UNHRC last Wednesday. It made the opponents of the government, who propagated the lie that the latter has created a gonibilla to divert the attention of the people from fuel prices, bus fares, electricity bills etc helpless. It exposed them to such an extent they now state that the US and its allies in the west are against the government and not against the country.
In Sinhala they say kata boru kiwwath diva boru kiyanne nehe, and this statement is an excellent example for the truth as revealed by the tongue. It is clear that the US wants to topple the present government as the former is against the latter, and to install a UNPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”TNA government, if possible, with Sarath Fonseka as the President. It should not be forgotten that Fonseka initiated the white flag story which commenced the war crime issue even before the last Presidential elections and that the TNA supported him at the elections. Now, who should have the power to decide which government should rule the country? Is it the Sri Lankan people or the US State Department? If the State Department can decide on the party or alliance that should rule the country is it against the country or against only one of the alliances?
The UNP and the TNA and their former leaders who supported the English against the Sinhala people, especially the Sinhala Buddhists, are now doing the same, supporting the US and good old England, how much the latter has given us including some of our leaders, political as well as so called civil, with their education, and of course their wives who had the same English education, not necessarily in English medium.
When some of these political leaders claim that it is the government that opened the gates for western hostilities they utter the truth. If the UNP-led UNF government of Ranil Wickremesinghe had continued, there would not have been charges of war crimes as there would not have been any war crimes real or imaginary without a war.
The UNP would have signed a few more pacts with Prabhakaran and the US and the UK would have facilitated the establishment of Eelam through Norway. When some of these leaders claim that this government is worse than even the colonial governments with respect to human rights, we know where we and they stand. It is becoming clearer and clearer that what we gained in 1948 was a limited independence.
In general, those who want the government to implement the US resolution if it is adopted by the UNHRC, are those who were against humanitarian operations and claimed that the LTTE could not be defeated and that there was no other path to achieve peace than through negotiations that Norway ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”facilitatedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢. At Geneva those who are behind the US resolution are generally the western countries. Most of them are former colonial powers notorious for their track record on human rights. The US wanted to bring a strong resolution but it is clear that the resolution is somewhat diluted.
Some people seem to think that a resolution against Sri Lanka at an international forum, especially at the UNHRC, is the end of the world. It is not so and it is clear as we have mentioned before the US-led west is acting very cautiously. They did not have much support for a strong resolution and now want to mislead the non-European countries with a not-so-strong resolution. They were gradually building up pressure from white flags to Ban Ki-moon, various statements by the US State Department officials that include US ambassadors and secretaries in the embassy, threats, resolutions at various so-called international fora and now the US at the UNHRC, after Canada failed last year. The west is very cautious simply because there is no case against Sri Lanka.
If there was the slightest evidence that they had been able to prove that Sri Lanka violated human rights they would have already imposed economic sanctions and even attacked using NATO bombers without going through the UN. The limited independence and the strength of the non aligned movement, Russia, China and other countries together with the fact there is no evidence of war crimes by the Sri Lankan armed forces prevent the US from taking such action and they want to make their action as “legal” as possible. They will come out with many more Channel Four myths in time to come in order to convince the non-European nations that Sri Lanka and its President, Secretary of Defence and some officers have to be punished for committing war crimes.
As mentioned many a times it is time for a strong anti-west movement, forget the non aligned name board as we have to be aligned against the west, at least because of their hegemonic education that has ruined the world together with the resources, after leaving counterfeit mannerisms among the western educated men and women in the Afro-Asian countries. The US resolution is not going to be their last attempt and the government should take all measures to defeat it if the west presses for a vote. In any event there will be more resolutions in the future whether the US resolution is adopted or not at the UNHRC.
With the present resolution the west wants to monitor the so-called reconciliation measures thereby having a hold in our internal affairs. In this regard whatever the policies of the minister in the past Prof. G. L. Peiris has to be commended for the strong stand that he has taken against the West. Reconciliation is our business according to our traditions and not that of the westerners who have had no policy on reconciliation at all in their countries at any time of the history.
In the meantime, the government appointed the LLRC to come out with a report in the good old traditions of commissions since Colebrook Cameron days, on lessons learnt and reconciliations. As in the case of almost commissions there were no members from Sanga, Veda, Guru, Govi, Kamkaru in the LLRC. After all Colebrook and Cameron were not from Sanga Veda Guru Govi Kamkaru and the President from Medamulana could not change the tradition. The government gave the following mandate to the LLRC. “To inquire and report on the following matters that may have taken place during the period between 21st February, 2002 and 19th May, 2009, namely:
The facts and circumstances which led to the failure of the ceasefire agreement operationalized on 21st February, 2002 and the sequence of events that followed thereafter up to the 19th of May, 2009, whether any person, group or institution directly or indirectly bear responsibility in this regard; the lessons we would learn from those events and their attendant concern, in order to ensure that there will be no recurrence; the methodology whereby restitution to any person affected by those events or their dependants or their heirs, can be affected; the institutional administrative and legislative measures which need to be taken in order or prevent any recurrence of such concerns in the future, and to promote further national unity and the reconciliation among all communities, and to make any such other recommendations with reference to any of the matters that have been inquired into under the terms of the Warrant.
It would have been better if the government did not appoint the LLRC. After all the Sinhala people have a history going back to more than two thousand five hundred years compared with a history of three to four hundred years of Americans and Europeans after the modernity was introduced towards the latter part of the fifteenth century. The west never respected human rights of the people lived in the colonies except perhaps of those who happened to have the “best of their education” and when people complain that the Europeans had a better record of human rights protection than this government it is clear whose human rights they are interested in.
We have experience in nation building and we know how Yaksha, Naga, Deva and the groups who came from what I call Ardha Vedic Bharath were all united under one umbrella (eksesath) to form the Sinhala nation. Of course, it did not happen overnight and it took hundreds of years to finally reconcile all these groups, which we may call gothras not having the same meaning as tribes as used by the English.
The tribe is translated wrongly as gothra by those who were educated by the English and we can only laugh when they claim that we follow the English when we use the term gothra. It was a reconciliation par excellence (vishistathama would have been better), if I may use an English expression, and we have that experience behind us. It is unfortunate that the LLRC does not mention of this reconciliation in our history.
It was the Dutch first and then the English who segregated the Tamils from the Sinhalas, first in Nagadeepa, then in Madakalapuwa, and finally on the coffee and tea estates. The English allowed only those who had their education to mingle with each other but they wanted the Tamils with the best of their education to become the leaders of the country over their Sinhala counterparts thus creating the present problem.
The English had no respect for the other Tamils and they were left as a non-entity under the yoke of the educated Vellalas until Prabhakaran came on the scene. It is this ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”non entityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ that the government has to take care of without dancing to the tune of frustrated Tamil Vellalas with the best of English education and their masters in the west.
Part II next week
March 14th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
If LLRC was appointed to inquire and report about what went on, who asked LLRC to recommend. I wonder as there were Pro-LTTEers, as I read, there, that they did not recommend the only solution as Peelam.
When west appoints any committee they appoint only the people frinedly or reliable to them. A good example is the group prepared the Darusman report, Or the people they appoint to head the UN, or head UNHCR etc., etc., Even the Church when groups of people to convert people from other countries { I am talking about what is happening here] they choose people from minorities. So, thqat gives very good public opinion from the observers of these melodrams.
But, our people did not want to paly the same gqme the west played and they appointed pro-LTTEers.
Simply stupidity.
March 14th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
I don’t agree to the comment that it is General Fonseka brought the White Flag case. I don’t agree to that all.
West knows very well what went in Sri Lanka. All the Western spy organizations were in Sri Lanka. Most probably, sri lankan bureaucrats and other higher officials including some of those in the forces were very keen to talk these things with those Ladies and gentlemen among the Diplomats.
On the other hand, West want to control Sri Lanka without hurting the feelings of India. That is what they are trying to do, I think.
Govt was stupid. Govt just uses the WAR WIN and live on that. They were terrible in handling the post war. Sri Lankans may not be able to admit while living in Sri Lanka and while holding responsible positions in Sri Lanka. Other than that, the govt is responsible for screwing it up day by day.
March 14th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
The sad reality is that our cherished war heroes such as Shavendra Silva, Prasanna Sivla, Jagath Dias, Jagth Jayasuria, Admiral Karangoda and Admiral Samarasinghe (just to name a few) are facing difficulties because of Mr. Fonseka and his foul green card driven mouth. It was Fonseka’s “white flags” statement followed up with similar vulgar vindictive statements that has created this terrible situation for Sri Lanka, much to the glee and excitement of the Tamils and their Western backers (same West which was also backing Fonseka). And of course Ranil, the UNP, the JVP, the Colombians, the NGOs along with Fonseka himself who were all brimming with jealousy, hate and lust for power, were finally given an opportunity to further themselves at the expense of the country.
After the May 2009 victory the Tamils and the West were at a loss on what to do, they were demoralised and humiliated beyond any previous level. The look on their faces right after the victory was a clear indication of a defeated people, lost, demoralised, saddened and importantly accepting defeat. They realised that they cannot “get at” Sri Lanka. Their masters in the West were hurriedly trying their best to come up with something but in the mean time even their NGOs, such as AI & HRW were admitting “they had nothing to get Sri Lanka with” and were on the verge of giving up. The Tamils were also considering “its over” for they had NOTHING to “work with” (nor did the West and its NGOs) to punish Sri Lanka and exact revenge or “keep on the fight”.
The Tamils in the West who just a year before made a massive gala festival revelling in the 25th anniversary of 1983 riots that enabled them to access the West (many of the “crimes” being self inflicted to justify asylum) were DEAD SILENT in July 2009. Not a peep, not a protest, not a single yell, even Tamilnet was silent and you’d expect these people to put on a giant show after crying about “genocide” a few months earlier. Nothing happened, not even in their “heroes week” in November 2009. Then low and behold Fonseka opened his mouth in December 2009 and these people, the Tamils, the West, their NGOs who were all demoralised and thinking about “giving up” because they “cannot get at Sri Lanka”, came back to life getting a turbo boost of energy.
Fonseka thanks to his greed and short sighted selfish stupidity gave them something to work with, he gave them an opening which they have expanded, twisted and milked to the maximum –Channel 4, the UN report, and all the other over zealous turbo charged slanders against Sri Lanka can be traced back to this moment. For the enemies of the nation it was their time “of being born again” and their perusal of exacting revenge was done in the typical Christian evangelical zeal. Part of this process involves crucifying our heroes.
March 14th, 2012 at 4:51 pm
AnuD Says:
March 14th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
“I don’t agree to the comment that it is General Fonseka brought the White Flag case. I don’t agree to that all.
“
Well there’s a surprise.
Anud is a well known Fonseka sycophant and JVP activist who quickly buries his head in the sand over the obvious elephant in the room regarding Fonseka (yes we’ve seen you on LNP). Fonseka dishonoured and defamed the nation and the Armed Forces thanks to his foul mouth. He did more damage to this country and in particular the very institution he boasts so much to be part of (which he apparently ran as a one man show), than the enemies of the state could ever dream off. All thanks to his ugly ego, selfishness and lust for a green card.
I am deeply proud of our soldiers, their sacrifices and dedication giving us this hard earned victory which united our nation and gave our people the freedom to go about their lives and access parts of their own country without being threatened with a brutal death at the hands blood lusting Tamils. Equally importantly is the fact that the victory broke the shackles of serfdom to the West. Naturally the West has bitter frustrations over the loss of a powerful and vital asset used to control and manipulate Sri Lanka. They have spent the last few years desperately trying to seek revenge for this loss and create a new tool to replace the LTTE which is what all the fabricated “war crimes” fairy tales are about (to which they have no evidence or concrete proof to support other than faceless, nameless “witnesses” in the shadows and repeated propaganda said again and again in hopes of manufacturing the truth).
This is no excuse for the MR Governments excessive corruption, criminality and thuggary but they (in particular only GR) are the ones who delivered us this freedom. This was done in spite of the highly charged actions of the worthless opposition, the Western backed and opposition facilitated NGOs and all the other traitors and mentally enslaved losers only obsessed with their short term happiness and power lusting agendas, zealously obstructing the war victory and the well being of the nation. These people could not care less if the country disintegrated next week, if war continued for another two decades or Sri Lanka turned into a Burma (under a Fonseka dictatorship has planned/hoped for by the US) if it meant they could even have an inkling of tasting an ounce of power, some how, TODAY, fulfilling their selfish ugly greed, ambition and mental enslavement to their masters.
A powerful shackle breaking victory was achieved in spite of the traitors within continuously back stabbing the nation and doing more damage than the enemies at the gates could ever hope for.
It is thus our duty to defend that powerful shackle breaking hard earned victory at all costs against all who tarnish it and try to deny us it.
March 14th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Again I emphasise there is no excuse or justification for the MR Governments corruption, criminality and thuggary. However defending the country is a must, as we have to perverse and protect the honour, the sacrifices and the names of our soldiers. This is a duty that transcends the today and the petty desires of the now. It is something we must do today and now because it will last deep deep into our future, long after the Rajapakses are gone and forgotten. We cannot allow short sighted selfish thinking to override our ability to see the long term consequences, otherwise our future generations will suffer for our failures, just as our generation is suffering for the older generations failures as they too were driven by short term desires without foresight or concern for the consequences.
March 14th, 2012 at 5:48 pm
I agree with Dr. Nalin de Silva’s suggestion that an international “anti-west” movement has to be built up to counter the strategic and concerted efforts of the western countries to destabilize the developing countries, there by sending them backwards by ruining their development efforts by several decades. Their aim, it appears, is to retain these countries as developing countries for ever. Only one has to look at Libya, Afganistan and Iraq. However, this is no easy task, partly because the west has their stooges in these countries who would hand over their country on a platter for a mere fistful of the greenback!
Nalin also mentions that the government has to win over the Tamil “non-entity”, which I agree with. However, to win them over, the government must not only look credible, but also must act credible. Just look at what is happening in Sri Lanka. Most of the politicians in SL are the village thugs who are in politics to make “hay while the sun shines”. They have little or no interest in the future of the country. We still retain this 13th amendment forced on us by the Indians, making way for more village thugs to get into politics and “lead” the country. These greedy politicians have no respect for the existing law, leave alone any interest in making new laws. Today’s “Lankapage” states that” Local politician of Sri Lanka ruling party arrested for shocking double murder’, a school girl and her mother, for apparently refusing to obey his orders. Daily Mirror gives more details. These are the “law makers” of Sri Lanka. What has Sri Lanka come to!
This is ideal ground for the western stooges to woo them into their strategic scams for destabilizing the country. (Please read the excellent article “How US topples its puppets” by Shenali Waduge in the Lanka Web for details). Look at what is happening in Sri Lanka. Brig. Fonseka, who could have lived like a king, ended up in the prison! His son’s mother in law was caught with a whole bunch of US$, which begs the question as to how she got that money. What followed, appears to be a great secret to all!
Nalin, though he is right that countries must unite against the new imperialism by the west, we have to clean up the government. Corruption in the government is the problem with the developing countries and this weakness is exploited by the west. When some of our own idiotic politicians say that there should be foreign influence on the government for it to be straightened up, when the government is voted into power by the majority of the people of the country, what more can one expect from them?
Now that the terrorism is no more, if we are to see any positive change, the politicization of the country must be reduced to a minimum. My humble opinion is that the 13th Amendment must be removed and the country must be brought under one strong central government rule by politicians with a long-term vision committed to develop the country and not their own livelihoods.
March 14th, 2012 at 7:09 pm
Look at what is happening in Sri Lanka. Brig. Fonseka, who could have lived like a king, ended up in the prison!
This is Cheap. It is all about cheap politics. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka is full of people who are willing to support that kind of politics.
I don’t think that trying to win Tamils will ever work. I read some where some one saying, even after all these most of the Tamils in Sri Lanka would like their own country. Probably, they have the same sentiment that LTTE was looking for and developed over the time by brain washing.
But, making the life easier for tamils would make them think twice before taking any decisions against Sri Lanka.
Yet, we should never expect SL – Tamil politicians to change their style of politics.
March 14th, 2012 at 7:24 pm
Historically there was an independent Tamil nation in the world called Tamilakam. It was in South India. Today it is fair that Tamils demand and dream of an independent Tamil nation. But Tamilakam cannot be established today because India (world’s 6th most powerful nation) doesn’t allow it.
The next option is to get it from somewhere else. Sri Lanka is the obvious choice.
The push for a Tamil nation from every Tamil community around the world will not cease no matter what because it is a fair demand and for thousands of years Tamils had their own nation in India. They deserve a seperate nation but not from Sri Lanka.
It is naive to think Tamils around the world will ever give up their demand and dream to have a Tamil nation. Anybody would like appeasements. But appeasements, bribes or distractions cannot appease the need to have an independent Tamil nation.
As much as we hate Tamil separatism, we have to admire their consistency and undying craving for an independent Tamil nation.
March 15th, 2012 at 3:14 am
There was no India before British made it.
In history the only time Bharata (India’s official name) was a unified country was under Asoka. The land mass that was under him was smaller than the current Bharata.
March 15th, 2012 at 5:07 am
there is no question that Sinhalese can fight foreigners, but the question is for whom you fight. The patriotic Sri lanka loving Sinhalese communities from Australia, US, EU, Canada have been working almost 24 hour to help remove foreign devilish group off Sri lanka, but how many Sinhalese and how many politician know that some part of the world coming against them.
And anybody from outside can see what happening in Sri lanka. Crime wave are way high. Foreign spies involvement is clear evidence. They goal is to sabotage to bring down Sri lanka economy.
Latest is Emirati couple death from food positioning. How come in a hotel? Here is the clue! It is tourist industry and Sri lanka is trying to attract tourists from neighbors and try to be independent from west. Also, Palestinian aid worker also, killed and the result from uk tourists is right there. The aim of getting Palestine aid worker killed is not just to lower Tourism but to create a rip between Muslim world and SL Govts. This is not just that, analyse just last three weeks crimes and including outside Sri lanka, it is very clear these are works of a foreign agency
All these info can’t be discussed in a website but right solution is to put a revolutionary foundation for a global meeting of above mentioned SL community leaders to meet once in a month in many capitals around the globe. I plan to write about this in more detail to SL embassies to urge them to organised this meeting to be held starting from this April. The copy of this info will be delivered to SL communities too.
Until then, please kindly and keenly watch what what will happen in this four weeks in SL and outside world.
March 16th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Bloody arrogant hypocritical up themselves Americans.