Extracts from our editorial of August 23, 2006 (see full text here ): “Despite its Buddhist pretensions, the Sinhala state invariably and swiftly resorts to a strategy of collective punishment when faced with what- in moments of forgetful sincerity - it calls ‘Tamil terrorism.’ Embargos on entire districts, bombardments of whole villages and towns, massacres of entire neighborhoods, pogroms. These are the tools Sri Lanka’s state intuitively deploys against the Tamils. “The massive forced displacements of the past month, and the earlier waves that began in April, have all been directed to...
With India’s opposition parties, including the BJP and CPI(M), now united in demanding justice and autonomy for Eelam Tamils, the ruling Congress party’s continued silence is striking. Adding to demands for India to take a tougher, more decisive role in on Sri Lanka's war crimes and genocide, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha pledged his party’s commitment to Eelam Tamils and determination to ensure justice is done. Speaking at a protest rally organised by MDMK chief Vaiko in New Delhi, Sinha mocked the Congress government for cowering before China for fear of losing regional influence. “ This shows mere helplessness that we have lost all our clout and friends and that we have to surrender ourselves to China. It is a matter of shame for our country and it is [a] matter of great shame for the government” said Sinha. His remarks echo those of fellow BJP senior member Jaswant Singh, who asked if India's geopolitical concerns justified inaction over Sri Lanka's warcrimes, said: “ I am always extremely chary of this catchall phrase, ‘geopolitical’ . I tend to be very suspicious about the use this phrase because it is a coverall phrase which can mean anything and everything . “ I don’t think a great country like India can determine its policies and practice its policies in apprehension of the activities of any other country. ” See here for CPI’s call for autonomy.
Realisation that economic sanctions and international isolation will be needed to compell the recalcitrant Sri Lankan regime to ensure an independent, international investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity is growing. The calls for such decisive action are most vocal in India and particularly Tamil Nadu where the chief minister J. Jayalalitha is calling for India to impose economic sanctions, following a unanimous resolution condemning Sri Lanka passed in the state assembly. Little wonder these developments have triggered a furious tirade from Colombo. Defence secretary...
Angry mobs attacked police stations in Valaichennai, Samanthurai and Potuvil in Sri Lanka’s east on Thursday and Friday respectively, ColomboPage reported. S ee reports here and here . Predominantly, Valaichennai is inhabitated by Tamils, Samanthurai and Potuvil by Muslims.
Comments by Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. For full text click here. "It has been more than two years now. Early 2009 was a frightening, chilling time for hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka. Trapped between an advancing Sri Lankan military offensive and the retreating armed opposition LTTE (or Tamil Tigers), they were caught in the middle of intense, unrelenting fighting and suffered abuses from both directions. Thousands of women, men and young people were killed and there were massive levels of displacement. Sri Lanka now faces immense...
From a recent Reuters’ fact-box (see full text here ), with added details from the BBC and others: Trade In the first half of 2011, trade between China and Sri Lanka was worth $1.28 billion - but Sri Lankan exports to China were worth just $68 million. Lending China was Sri Lanka's largest lender in 2009 and 2010, giving $1.2 billion and $821 million respectively. China Development Bank Corporation has agreed to provide $1.5 billion within three years for construction of roads, bridges, power plants and water and irrigation schemes. However, the projects China is financing are built by...
“As evidence of the Sri Lankan army’s mass killings mounts, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s charm offensive is proving to be a futile exercise. It’s time the president and his younger brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa stopped seeking solace in a deliberate state of denial and realised that they can no more cover up the horrendous crimes committed against innocents on their orders. “Sri Lanka’s stand has the support of a handful of countries that do not have an enviable human rights record. Yet, there’s no way President Rajapaksa can escape the growing clamour for justice. The UN chief has so far not...
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) released Wednesday a report drawing attention to one of the most crucial yet overlooked humanitarian issues of today: violence against health care. The 24-page report is available here . The ICRC has been documenting violence against health-care facilities and personnel, and against patients, since 2008 in 16 countries where it is working. Sri Lanka is one of them. In a press release announcing the report, the ICRC states: “The number of [attacks] that have been recorded is striking. But statistics represent only the tip of the iceberg: they...
These are comments on Tuesday by US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland came in response to questions posed by Headlines Today television’s Washington correspondent Tejinder Singh. Tejinder : In an interview with Headlines Today, Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Rajapaksa rejected calls from the UN, US, and international communities for a neutral international investigation into the war crimes. And the top Sri Lankan diplomat today reiterated his stand. So what is the latest from the US for these people who are homeless and in the camps? Nuland : Well, we have said repeatedly for a long...
Extracts from Krishan Francis ’ report for AP (see the full text here ): Sri Lanka is again a palm-fringed tourist paradise, the government says. But for Tamils living in the former war zone, it is still a hell of haunted memories, military occupation and missing loved ones . Hundreds of thousands remain homeless, and no effort has been made to reunite families separated two years ago during the final bloody months of the war between the now-defeated Tamil separatists and the ethnic Sinhalese-dominated government. A power-sharing program that President Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to enact...