Protection of human rights,
Terrorism in Sri Lanka and Australian pathologist
An Open letter to The International Commission
of Jurists Switzerland.
Ben Silva
UK
Dear Sir,
Protection of human rights, Terrorism in Sri Lanka
and Australian pathologist
Your web site says your organisation is there to promote protection
of human rights. It is indeed a very noble aim and we should educate
every human to protect human rights. If we look at history, human rights
have been violated by powerful countries.
Now I am referring to the situation in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is the only home of Sinhalese which has been their home for
over 3000 years. The Sinhalese have got ethnically cleansed by Tamils,
who originated from South India.
Ethnic cleansing by Tamils have happened in the past and is happening
now. The Sinhala civilisation was destroyed by Tamil invaders, in a
similar manner to the Aztecs being destroyed by the Spanish Invaders.
Have you even lifted a finger to protest or investigate ethnic cleansing
by Tamils.
I have given references below.
Is the ICJ aware of the ethnic cleansing, murders that have taken
place in Sri Lanka ?
References on ethnic cleansing
(1) http://www.spur.asn.au/ (Good
site for LTTE atrocities )
(2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/526407.stm#
(3) http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/July31132233SL.html
(4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJTIL_3GaY&NR=1
Did you protest, investigate or even look into the Dollar and Kent
farm massacres? 62 Children, women and men in East of Sri Lanka were
massacred.
Is the ICJ aware of the Dollar and Kent farm incidents?
References
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_and_Dollar_Farm_massacres
(2) http://www.slideshare.net/Lankan/ltte-terrorist-attacks-in-sri-lanka/
(3)* http://www.sinhaya.com/kent.htm
(4) http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=3611&
You made a big fuss, now about the murder of aid workers and rightly
so. It turns out your allegations are false. ref
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/03/asia/AS-GEN-Sri-Lanka-Aid-Worker-Massacre.php
But please do not forget the Dollar and Kent farm victims. Now that
I have reminded you, please inform the IC about the horrors of terrorism
committed by LTTE agents, specially Mr Evans of ICG, who do not appear
to have much of an idea of the crimes committed by LTTE. State to the
IC the need to defeat terrorism. I believe they alrady know, but they
apply double standards. So please inform them, in the name of justice,
the the same laws should be applied. After all you claim to be jurists,
therefore you should have a knowledge of justice.
I myself tried to find out the motivation for killing aid workers.
I could not see the motivation of the Govt. to kill aid workers, who
were doing a service to the people, making the Job of the Govt. easy.
In the past LTTE killed people who helped the Govt. This could be a
possible motivation. Also it is not the tradition of Sri Lankan officials
to do coverups for others. They have a higher standard of integrity
and ethical standards, compared to the standards that you may be used
to.
Also remember the case of Jean Charles de Menezes and Steven Lawrence.
Have you investigated if there were any cover ups there ?
Now , ICJ, the law should be the same for all and applied in a consistent
manner. I can quote many other situations, but let us try and bring
justice in Sri Lanka.
I get tired of dealing with NGO's that simply regurgitate LTTE propaganda
or comment on things without doing basic research .NGO's may quote from
strategically placed LTTE agents, reflecting LTTE propaganda. NGO's
should avoid being the propaganda arm of LTTE. Please remember with
a budget of over 200 million dollars
(http://www.janes.com/press/press/pc070719_1.shtml
) LTTE is very capable of influencing MPs, reporters, NGO s etc. Any
expenditure is advertising and marketing expenditure for LTTE and they
can easily afford it.
Please use your influence for coherence implementation of international
terrorist laws and not to have double standards.
Please reply to me in view` of the serious nature of the content
in this letter.
A copy of letter sent to the ICG is given below. The letter is informative
and many points there are applicable to you.
Thanking You,
Regards
Ben Silva
Response to Gareth Evans -Ben Silva
- UK
International Crisis Group
Brussels
Belgium 3 - 08 -07
Dear Sir,
Neelan Tiruchelvam Lecture and Terrorism in Sri Lanka
The root cause of the problem in Sri Lanka could be attributed to a
number of factors. Favouring Tamils by Western countries in giving residency,
turning a blind eye to their fund raising, allowing bogus charities
tax free fund raising, providing grants to Tamil groups by local authorities
and probably providing free legal aid. See Jane’s Intelligence
Review.
(http://www.janes.com/press/press/pc070719_1.shtml
)
Sinhalese received none of the favours mentioned above from Western
States but had to suffer the effects of bombs and terror, that was purchased
from funding from Western countries. (Not providing the same favours
to Sinhalese is racial discrimination of the Sinhalese, but for the
moment leave at that, without diverting from the main issue.)
The Sinhalese are the true victims, fighting to survive in an empire
building effort by a terrorist, international racist, criminal gang.
The Sinhalese are fighting to save their only home country they have,
which appear to be getting smaller by the day.
In Sri Lanka the indigenous population for over 5000 years was Sinhalese.
Archaeological and ancient documents such as Mahavansa (http://www.nexcorpsl.com/sinhala/Mahavansa.htm
) indicate that Sri Lanka was the home of Sinhalese. Ruins of ancient
cities such as Anuradhapura and Pollonuruwa have ample evidence that
Northern Sri Lanka was the home of Sinhalese. Further, if we look at
recent history, it is documented that Robert Knox, the first Englishman
to visit Sri Lanka, who landed in Trincomalee was taken to the King
in Kandy. This clearly indicates that Trincomalee was under the control
of the Kandy King.
Ref http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Knox_(sailor).
Even Mutur, Sinhala name Mooduthora was a Sinhala area, with a Sinhala
name. What a load of codswallop for LTTE to claim it is a Tamil area.
It appears that the IC and the ICG has been taken for a ride by LTTE.
You have not done your research, but merely regurgitated LTTE propaganda
material.
In fact the Sinhala kings had to flee to Kandy to escape Tamil invasions.
It is generally known that the great ancient Sinhala civilisation was
destroyed by Tamil invaders.
Having said that, I believe Sri Lanka is for all its citizens and there
should be no division on ethnic basis. I mean no offence to our peace
loving Tamil brothers and sisters, who have suffered due to LTTE terror.
I have respect and affection for our peace loving Tamil brothers and
sisters, who have contributed to Sri Lanka. Poor Sri Lankans, what ever
the ethnicity have economic problems to overcome, and they could solve
these problems by working together.
Racial integration and nation building should be the way forward.
Any division on ethnic grounds will lead to blood baths in the future.
(ack. Ira de Silva ref. http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/010807-1.html
) The Tamils were the invaders from south India where the state
of Tamil Nadu is, the Tamil homeland. In the north of Sri Lanka which
the Tamils now trying to claim as their "homeland", the Tamils
for over 30 years have systematically driven out the Sinhalese and Muslim
populations to create their "homeland". However, even today
according to the laws of Sri Lanka, all Sri Lankans have the right to
live in any part of the country.
( Ack. Asoka Weerasinghe
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/030807-3.html ) Sri Lanka was
a democracy which was the envy in Asia as a model democracy and the
world encouraged other states in the region to follow her example. But
that envy lasted only until Indira Gandhi’s India, the mighty neighbour,
trained Tamil terror groups (in 1983) in military warfare, funding them
and sent them back after they graduated to become terrorists in military
fatigues and jackboots, cradling AK47s like babies, hand grenades stuck
in their pockets like lollypops and festoons of bullets around their
necks to fight Sri Lanka’s democratically elected government. That
was 24 years ago, when not a single western nation, including Australia,
even attempted to pretend a cough to warn India not to intervene in
Sri Lanka’s internal affairs nor bully her.
And now the International Crisis Group has the audacity to tell Sri
Lanka not to defend Sri Lanka, when invasion in Iraq has resulted in
the deaths of over 650000 civilians. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/10/AR2006101001442.html)
What ever the death toll in Iraq, it is massive compared to the potential
death toll in Sri Lanka.
I think you need to go back to basics, have some Principles and a
set of good core values that you can practice. If we have a set of good
core values, practice this set of core values, then there is no need
for violence in the world.
The mind that we all need to develop are:
- respectful (a notion which goes beyond mere tolerance, but which
will be necessary in such a diverse world);
- ethical (which involves a preparedness to act ethically for the
greater good of others, even where that may go against one's self-interest).
Ref. Prof. Gardner.
It is sad, when the ICG has to be reminded of ethics and values.
It appears that Mr Evans is preaching racism. In Sri Lanka racial integration
is appropriate as Tamils and other ethnic groups are living in harmony
all over Sri Lanka.
Another case of tragic human conditions have been exposed by Ravi Randeniya.
ref http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/030807-4.html
If Mr Evans is thinking about R2P, then he should start that in Australia,
his home country.
Unfortunately some Western countries have double standards and change
the rules as they go along, to suit them. We have to recognise that
if terrorism is not acceptable in USA, UK or Australia, then it should
not be acceptable in Sri Lanka as well. Credit and acknowledgements
to USA for correctly enforcing anti terror laws. and supporting Sri
Lanka
The law should be the same for all, and should be applied in a consistent
manner. There should not be one law for powerful countries and another
law for weak countries.
Remember Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian was shot eight times
and killed by the Police, after boarding a London Underground train.
Remember Steven Lawrence, an innocent Black student killed and the
killer was not given any punishment. Lawrence case is merely tip of
the ice burg, and I am sorry that I had to mention it. UK could not
even catch a murder and punish the killer.
Sri Lanka has to take practical steps to defeat terrorism as it affects
the life of all citizens and the economy of the country.
Further, ICG paid no attention to ethnic cleansing, killing, child
fighters by LTTE and did not come up with any practical solution to
the terror problem. ICG failed to realise that LTTE is a global, racist
terror business empire, even more dangerous and cleverer than Al Qaeda.
Even today, LTTE is carrying out ethnic cleansing, and poor Sinhalese
villagers have to live in fear. The Govt. of Sri Lanka has to take practical
action against terrorism and not just talk about it.
The fundamental failure of Sri Lanka, is that Sri Lankans have not
learnt lessons from history and they have failed to develop their own
defence industry, with local talent. The crisis now is due to the past
politicians not taking defense seriously and not developing the Sri
Lankan defense capability. I hope that even during this late stage,
they will give their young engineers the opportunity to develop the
Sri Lankan defense industry, with local talent, jointly with overseas
friends. A small start and thinking big may be useful.
The present Govt. should be given a gold medal for their effort to
eradicate terrorism and bring freedom to the people of the East.
Is the ICG aware of the ethnic cleansing, murders that have taken
place in Sri Lanka ?
References on ethnic cleansing
(1) http://www.spur.asn.au/ (Good
site for LTTE atrocities )
(2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/526407.stm#
(3) http://www.colombopage.com/archive_07/July31132233SL.html
(4) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJTIL_3GaY&NR=1
Is the IGC aware of the dollar farm incident?
References
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_and_Dollar_Farm_massacres
(2) http://www.slideshare.net/Lankan/ltte-terrorist-attacks-in-sri-lanka/
(3)* http://www.sinhaya.com/kent.htm
(4) http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=3611&
Is the ICG aware of the history of Sri Lanka or do they merely hear
the LTTE side of the story?
REF: http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/buddhism/srilanka/pollonnaruwa.html
Is the ICG aware of fund raising and terrorists living freely in
UK?
References on terror and fundraising in UK
1. Ross Kemp examines Sri Lankan Tamil Gang Crime in London.
Violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Murder are committed by Tamil gangs
in Britain.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqZlBygiVlg
2. LTTE tax collection by Al Jazeera
LTTE extortion in London, to raise money for racist Tamil empire building
and terror war in Sri Lanka.
http://www.tamilaffairs.com/node/57
3. Ureported World - Sri Lanka - part 3
Ethnic cleansing of Muslims by LTTE. (Just a remark -Throughout history
of Sri Lanka, Tamil war lords from South India committed ethnic cleansing
of Sinhalese, continuously)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiJTIL_3GaY&NR=1
4. Terrorist and child solder training by Adele Balasinham
LTTE female child soldiers (virgin killers and Adela Balasingham )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh30mUhI92c
Please do visit the ancient cities such as Anuradhapura and Pollonuruwa
and see the magnificant ancient cities, destroyed by the Tamils.
Ref: http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/buddhism/srilanka/pollonnaruwa.html
The destruction is similar to the destruction of Aztecs by Spanish.
If you do not have the time you may “Google” to get an idea
of Anuradhapura and Pollonuruwa.
The Sri Lankan govt. should arrest the destruction by Tamil terrorists
and liberate the North of Sri Lanka asap.
Any intervention of the type suggested by Mr Evans could have lead
to a situation similar to Iraq and a blood bath.
Terrorism in Sri Lanka can be stopped if the International Community
block fundraising by LTTE terrorists, their agents and fronts and also
stop arms smuggling into Sri Lanka.
Others have commented on Mr Evans and his competency in crisis resolution.
http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items07/020807-7.html
This "crisis expert", who preaches peace to us, earned the
wrath of all decent Australians for angrily threatening another woman
MP in the Parliament that she should be garrotted!. Now the world is
aware as to how the "crisis expert" resolved a crisis.
A person or an organisation engaged in crisis resolution should not
be biased and should have high integrity and hopefully a knowledge of
the subject matter (In this case a knowledge of Sri Lanka and its history
).
On all counts, ICG needs development, but ICG has to be commended for
recognising that it is foreign states that allowed LTTE to build up
power. Also errors on the ICG report on Sri Lanka needs to be corrected.
I wonder if a LTTE agent did the research for you. Your report looks
more like LTTE propaganda material. For example, your report should
indicate “The Sinhalese have been ethnically cleansed from their
homes, who traditionally inhabited the northern and eastern regions.
Some parts of the north have been the home of Tamils”
It is sad that many NGO’s have been fed on a diet of LTTE propaganda
material and the NGO’s have not done independent basic research
to ascertain the truth. The same problem was exposed when AI got involved
in the cricket campaign.
As for LTTE, with a profit in excess of 200 million dollars, propaganda
expenses or entertaining NGO officials, politicians or reporters simply
become advertising and marketing expenses. For some of us, it is the
unpaid time, telling the `world the truth. I wish NGOs do their home
work and do not rely on LTTE propaganda (professionally produced) for
their information.
Acknowledgements
Lankaweb for providing a forum for discussion
Prof. Hudson McLean for the correct ethical stand
Ben Silva
Copy to PM (UK),
Embassy of SL (London )
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