I am doing for Tamils what Mahinda did for Sinhala people in 1989
March 5th, 2008
By Mano Ganesan
The victims of human rights violations during the 1989 period are activists, supporters and family members of JVP. It was a well known fact. Mahinda Rajapakse fought on behalf of their plight. That did not make him a member of JVP. He fought for the human rights of the people. JVP attacked sacred Dalada Maligawa. They threw bombs inside the Parliament. They killed Buddhist monks, politicians, police, security forces and their family members. But nobody accused Mahinda of dealing with JVP and supporting JVP’s terrorism against security forces. Today the victims are Tamils and most of them are accused of LTTE affiliation. People who struggle for political solution and stand against war are also condemned as LTTE supporters. If there are LTTE members, they must be dealt according to the law of the land instead of extra legal punishments. That is what Mahinda Rajapakse wanted for JVPers in 1989. Today, there are many innocent people who are punished for being Tamil from north and east. There are Sinhalese who speak against war are also condemned as ‘Sinhala Kotiyas’. Irrespective all these facts my fight is for the protection of human rights of the victims. It is similar to then struggle of Mahinda Rajapakse. Can anybody produce one reasonable difference between my today’s campaign and Mahinda Rajapakse’s campaign of 1989? Can anyone of those government politicians, their extremist allies in JVP and JHU, cronies and members of hardliner private and state media who accuse me of treachery and abating terrorism come up with the answer, challenged Western Peoples Front Leader and Civil Monitoring Commission Convener Mano Ganesan MP during his address to WPF politburo.
Ganesan said further in his deliberation,
Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse as a SLFP Parliamentarian championed human rights during the late 1989 period. He campaigned against extra legal killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary arrests and detentions. He documented (symbolically or otherwise) incidents of abuses and took the issue to the international community. He traveled to Geneva , as some of our human rights activists travel to Geneva today to make cases at UN human rights council.
Democratic Left Front general secretary and presidential advisor today comrade Vasudeva Nanayakara worked along with Parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapakse in this mission. I am told that Vasudeva accompanied him to Geneva and both of them faced government screening and intimidation at the Katunayake airport.
Notwithstanding this respectful, commendable and exemplary past HE Mahinda Rajapakse today heads a government which is the guilty party and cause to the grave human rights violations occur in this country. There are other actors, LTTE and various Para-groups are also in the scene as offenders. But they are non state actors. HE Mahinda Rajapakse heads the government and the Sri Lankan state. The government is bound by the national and international laws and conventions.
[Mano Ganesan MP]
This government accuses human rights defenders on two counts.
(01) Human Rights defenders are accused of ‘discrediting’ the country by taking the subject matter issues out of Sri Lanka to the international community.
(02) Human Rights defenders are accused of ’supporting and working’ for the LTTE.
This killer campaign has now reached great levels. It is targeting all members of human rights defender community. The human rights defender community in Sri Lanka consist Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Sri Lankans and foreigners. There are men and women. All of them are targeted. Government politicians, their extremist allies, cronies and hardliner private and state media are doing overtime in this merciless offensive killer campaign.
I am under this willful attack very often. The reasons are there. I am an ethnic Tamilian by birth and I have a political face.
I am accused of bringing ‘discredit’ to the country by ‘complaining’ to the United Nations and other players in the international community or rather keeping this campaign alive. I am accused of ‘telling and talking’ to the international media. I am accused of ‘traitorous disservice’ to my country. I am accused of ‘dealing with and working for LTTE’. I am accused of ’supporting terrorism’.
These are activities; I will never do even in my wildest dreams. But the accusers never wanted to listen and understand.
I am very much confident of the fact that what I am doing now is that Mahinda Rajapakse did in late 80s. Can anybody dispute me? On the strength of my confidence I have very often asked few simple questions inside and outside the parliament.
Can anybody produce one reasonable difference between my today’s campaign and Mahinda Rajapakse’s campaign of 1980s? I challenge anyone of those government politicians, their extremist allies, cronies and members of hardliner private and state media who accuse me of treachery and abating terrorism to come with the answer.
But I have some answers to my own questions. Yes, there are some basic differences.
On the one hand, Mahinda Rajapakse is a Sinhala man by birth. I am Tamil man by birth. He is member of the numerical majority community. I am member of the numerical minority community. On the other hand, those who faced human rights violations in the forms of extra judicial killings, enforced abductions during 1980s are mostly members of the Sinhala community. Most of the victims today are members of the Tamil community.
Are these the differences? You disregard and even approve these abductions, extra judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, extortions because of the fact that the victims are Tamils and in some cases Muslims?
The victims during the 1989 period are family members, activists and supporters of JVP. It was a well known fact. Mahinda Rajapakse fought on behalf of for their plight. That did not make him a member of JVP. He fought for the human rights of the people. Nobody accused him of dealing with JVP and supporting and JVP terrorism. Today the victims are Tamils and most of the time they are accused of LTTE affiliation. People who struggle for peace and stand against war are also condemned as LTTE supporters. There may be LTTE members. They must be dealt according to the law of the land. There are many innocent people who are punished for members of the Tamil community. Irrespective all these facts my fight is for the protection of human rights the victims. It is similar to the struggle of Mahinda Rajapakse.
Those who did not and cannot put JVP label on Mahinda Rajapakse are today unfairly putting LTTE label on me. This is the sad fact when the defender and the victims happen to members of the Tamil community in this country.
This is yet another typical example of the prevailing ethnic discrimination in this country.
I cannot understand this logic and peculiar reality.
UNP was the ruling party during the 1980s which was accused of state terrorism. UNP today supports our campaign for the protection of human rights. SLFP was the party which championed the human rights. Especially non other than the president headed the campaign. This party is the ruling party today. SLFP led government practices state terrorism against Tamils. This does not end here. There is another dimension. The victims of 1980s are the JVPers. This party supports the military campaign and justifies the human rights violations against Tamils.
Entry Filed under: transCurrents Commentary
36 Comments Add your own
1. Navod Ediriweera | March 6th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Simple to understand really..
There are no human rights violations done against the Tamils. The rights of the LTTE members are of course violated.. but it cannot be helped.
There is no state terrorism against Tamils. Saying it aloud without proof does not make it true.
The alleged state terrorism is a campaign by the opposition to gain power.
**
MR was not labeled as a JVP supporter because he had a clear vision. He spoke about human rights violations done by the state and the JVP (Unlike YOU and the UNP who are only targeting the govt.).
Mr. Mano G. Can shout all he wants and shouting does not make extra judicial killings and the “enforced” disappearances true.
2. Mahi-Wansa | March 6th, 2008 at 6:47 am
What Mano Ganeson has written is 100% correct.
I am a Sri Lankan
3. sam | March 6th, 2008 at 7:17 am
May be the President should seriously look into what to me sounds like reasonable arguments by Mano Ganeshan.
sam
4. Damian | March 6th, 2008 at 8:14 am
wELL sir your are spot on but ebd of the day JVP was finishd and now more Tamils are in the South including you and live in peace and at that time can a Sinhalise fo to the North and can they go today????????????
Its hard but we have to finsh the LTTE in good means or bad means and that will ahve a feature for all Tamils and will not have ti fight with arms from the age of 12 and be killed…… Is that what you want Mr. Mano????????
5. samuel | March 6th, 2008 at 9:13 am
All what he has said is correct. He is the only one who has the guts to say this and act accordingly.
Today anyone who complains against state repression is labelled an LTTEr.
This is a conveniant way of disregarding what is happening.
Mr is a victim of the extremist JVP & JHU whom he does not wish to antagonise for fear of being toppled from the Bandwagon of the Rajapakse Junta which wishes to survive forever tasting the
cream of the nationcake whle allowing the hangers-on to taste the crumbs which fall off the table.
This will go on until the next election is due, when he may try to do what JRJ did - to prolong his, his cronys’ and hangersons’ survival fore some more time.
6. Sukumaran | March 6th, 2008 at 9:39 am
We know Mano Ganeshan very well. He is just coughing for money. Patriots of this type can be collected into gunny bags in our country. Suku
7. asoka | March 6th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Its perfectly alright to protect the Tmails rights. However no one should overstep & try to supprt terrorists and also any race supporting them. Every one should realise the fact that sinhalese are majority comprsing over 74 % of the population of this country. Mahendra
8. NORBERT PERERA | March 6th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Descrimination and Human Rights just a two worlds from english dictionary. With this two words most people are fooling the world to get advantages. Go to west, go to any other country and see the discremination. Go to middle east and find out how is human rights working there. This two words same like what is inside the Bible and Holy Quran. More over its same like Lenin’s theory. People who got guns should be deal with guns. People who have ideas like Hitler and Sadam Hussain should wipe out in this world. Then others can sleep well. Only you are the only tamil defending tamils. The ex-foreign minister Mr. Kadirgarmar not defended tamils? Is Mr. Anandasangari born politician not defending tamils. Is Mr. Mano Ganesan is a saint. He knows how much money he is donating to LTTE. If he telling no then he is not a Tamil. If he not donating anything to LTTE then he is a traitor to Tamils race. Sri Lanka is a democratic country. We all wants to stop this terrorist way of life in Sri Lanka. Forget the human rights erradicate with any cost this LTTE terrorists. People wants peace not war. In this world for the name of the religion started terrorists activities. You can fool the world once not twice.
9. Nam | March 6th, 2008 at 11:57 am
You have our blessings.
10. Anonymous | March 6th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
you r doing the right thing.Just go ahead
all the best.
11. Rohana Arambewala | March 6th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Mr. Ganesan’s argument is valid as long as he can validate what he is saying. He is comparing himself to Mr. Rajapakse in 1989. But the biggest difference then was that no person, organisation or country came forward to protect the innocent sinhala people who were killed by both JVP and the Government. When one compares something it is important not to pick few areas that is beneficial to you only, but to compare everything and prove your point. There was not a single Tamil leader or politician who came forward to protect the Sinhala people in 1971 or 1989, but throughout our history, every time there was trouble to Tamil people of Sri Lanka many Sinhala people came forward not only to talk on behalf of them but to protect them. I know this because my father protected hundreds of Tamil people and their property risking himself against these few idiots who called themselves Sinhalayas and carried out looting and killing only for their benefit and I can tell you not because they love the country or the Sinhala people.
Mr. Ganesan is trying hard to tarnish not only the country but the so called “Sinhala Buddhists” by his attitude. Anyone who listens to him and others like him will think that all Sinhala Buddhists are killers and against Tamils. The difference between his prejudice and the Sinhala politician is that I have never heard any Sinhala politician calling all Tamils are killers or LTTE supporters. They distinguish between the innocent Tamils and the LTTE terrorists very clearly, otherwise Mr. Ganesan would not enjoy all the luxuries he is enjoying in Sri Lanka among the SInhala Buddhists at their expense.
If sinhala Buddhists are as bad as Mr. Ganesan is saying, can you please explain to me how the hell is all these Tamils live among SInhala Buddhists? How do they work with Sinhala people? Where do their children go to school? Who do these Tamils do business with? If all Sinhala Buddhists stopped buying or dealing with all Tamil businesses what will happen to their livelihood?
Like in 1971 and1989, many innocent Sinhala Buddhists were killed by both parties as both parties suspected of these people supporting one or the other. Unfortunately until LTTE Terrorism is wiped out of the country one thing is that the Tamil people have will have to go through some hardships such as random checks, and arrests if identity or reasons cannot be proved etc.
If Mr. Ganesan is such a protector of the Tamil people, the biggest thing he can do is take his case to LTTE and explain to them what is happening to Tamil people and the reason being LTTE. Ask LTTE to come to the negotiating table with proposals that can be achieved and that is unique only to all the Tamil people. That is the best thing he can do to protect these Tamils. If after that still these harassments continue I join him to protect Tamils.
I have never seen Mr. Ganesan talking about the hardships, harassments, forcible recruitments to LTTE of innocent young women and children, etc by the LTTE. Come on Mr. Ganesan I challenge you to condemn the LTTE for the way they treat the Tamils in the north and the killing of the Tamil leaders of Sri Lanka by the LTTE while their children are educated and live abroad. I like to hear that and see how long he will live after that.
I also like Mr. Ganesan to explain to me, who represents the Tamil people of Sri Lanka? Is it LTTE, TULF, TNA etc? Who the government should negotiate and what? Who decided who can represent all Tamils or part of the Tamil people? Have they been democratically elected to represent the Tamils of Sri Lanka?
Mr. Ganesan appears to be biased in his selective memory and good at blaming JVP and JHU for talking to protect the country. There are Tamil parties to “protect” Tamils of the North, East and Upcountry, but there is no Tamil party to protect the Tamils of the south, west and the rest of the country, there are many parties to protect the Muslims of the country, therefore can you tell me what is wrong to have a party to protect the rights of the Sinhala Buddhists of the country? Their rights have been violated by not only Tamils and Muslims but Sinhala Buddhists in the past. The JHU has never spoken against the Tamils or Muslims, but talk about injustices, ruin Buddhist places, violence against Sinhala villagers, destroy of the history etc and most importantly about a united country under which all people of Sri Lanka should live in harmony while some of these Tamil and Muslim parties are talking about is their own territory for their own people. What these so called saviours of Tamils and Muslims are only trying to divided the country in to pieces. That is where we need intelligent people and parties to protect not only the Sinhala nation, Buddhism but the country of Sri Lanka.
As a Sinhalese I have been discriminated in many places in Sri Lanka, and many other sinhala people have been discriminated due to their health, education, caste, upcountry, low country, wealth etc. That is life and this happens in UK, Australia, Canada, USA and every country. It is upto us to overcome these prejudices by some people.
So Mr. Ganesan if you love the Tamil people and the country let us all get together first and get rid of this LTTE menace and unite the country and work for all. If we can do that everyone in Sri Lanka will have a better future, specially our children and grand-children irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, caste, wealth, education and family background.
“Please do not ask what the country can give you as we have all been given free education, health etc by the country but ask yourself what you can give the country now”.
12. Gerard Nicholas. | March 6th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
As long as Rajapakse & his brothers are the rulers of Sri Lanka, none of these inhuman acts can be eradicated, just for the simple reason they are the leaders behind all these kidnapping, abductions, ransome demands, murders ect. The Rajapakse & his brothers will be multi millioners soon, they are hording all these illgotten fortunes in various parts of the world, in time to come they will own empires, big business, world wide chain of business establishments. The Sri Lankans are very short memoried, they will forget all these in no time. Mark my word & see whether what I say today becomes a rrality or not. Mahinda swindled a few Thousands when he was a Prime Minister & called it that he was supporting Hambantota, now when he sees all these billions, do u think he will keep quiet?
13. V Siva | March 6th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Well done Mano.
Human Rights Watch just released a report on Kidnapping and Disappearences of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Its time for the Intl community to take a strong action against state terrorism.
14. Siripala | March 6th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I cannot understand the meaning of “numerical majority community”. Do you mean that 18% of the population would become a majority in someother way?
15. Kobal | March 6th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Resonable arguments but never going to get into stupid Sinhalese politicians
16. 2ndClassTamil | March 6th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Why do you have to defend like an accused, your eminently laudable political activities? Vulnerability, is it not … in today’s jungle that is SL? As a true son of the soil your wish to be with your people in your righteous struggle is understandable and much appreciated locally and internationally. But, but, but, … you will have to balance it against the security threat. To my mind though, barking at this MR govt, the worst in the history of SL, especially w.r.t. law and order, appears more and more to be at your own peril, with diminishing returns.
Take care Mano! What ever you do, I implore you to be friendly with the DPU.
17. Hela | March 6th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Hi Mano,
I have a small problem in supporting your case.
For me, human rights is universal. In Sri Lanka, it should be equally applicable to Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay & any other community.
A human rights defender should be standing up for all of them. If one is selective and if that person is a politician, then there is a legitimate question about the motive.
Mano, what have you done locally and internationally in defending the rights of Sinhala people who were evicted from the North and killed from entire villages or by the bus loads? What have you done to defend buddhist sites of worship venerated by Buddhists world over, such as Sri Maha Bodhi or Dalada Maligawa and the killing of devotees?
What have you done to defend the rights of tens of thousands of Muslim people evicted from the North? What have you done to defend places of Muslim worship and the faithfull from destruction and murder?
What have you done to defend the Tamil leaders who did not toe the line of LTTE or were obstacles to LTTE agenda such as Luxman Kadirgarmer, Neelan Tiruchelvam, A Amirthalingam, Yogeswaran or the living Tamil leaders under threat suck as V Anandasangaree?
Your response related to action you have taken locally and globally in defending the rights of all the above people will determine your right to stand up as a Sri Lankan human rights defender.
18. Suresh M | March 6th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Mano,
You’re doing a fine job! Keep it up.
19. Jey P | March 6th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
For all those who say “human rights be damned lets get rid of the terrorists”, remember the means never justifies the end. This will come back to haunt all of us in due course. Once a government gets used to dealing with problems in the manner they are doing right now it will never end. Remember Bon Hoffer?
20. NORBERT PERERA | March 7th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Keep going like that. Amirthalingam and other TULF leaders also same path what you are now. At the end you also getting same treatment from LTTE
21. M.thiru | March 7th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Mano Ganesan is a symbol for democracy because he speaks the truth as an elected MP and a human rights activist.
Lakshman Kadirgamar was not an elected MP. The Sinhalese made use of him and never gave him the PM position or the president position. Now Sangaree is not a elected member. Why sangaree did not contest in a colombo constituency to prove his worth using Sinhalese , Tamil and Muslim votes ? Nobert Perera can file a case against Mano Ganesan and request the courts to make Cheif Justice Mr. Silva hear the case.
The problem in Srilanka is political and Sinhalese leaders are the first ones who used the state terror on Tamils in many form. Sinhalese leaders are still not accepting the fact that only constitutional change and devolution of power first can bring lasting peace and prosperity. War first political solution later Chinthanaya will never win the hearts of majority of the Tamils.
22. cgudu | March 7th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Mr.Ganeshan,
Can you ever quote, when and where you opposed to the abductions, extra judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, extortions done by the LTTE? or at least can you quote as to when you raised your concerns about these so called human rights when one of your own member of parliament was tried to be killed by an LTTE suicide bomber?
So please do talk sence, because there are other Tamil members of Parliament who talk and practice a deifferent view , not only you are a Tamil,
23. Subra S.Massey | March 7th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Mr.Mano Ganeshan,
What we need is an absolute system to defend the rights of the people. Man is physicallly a brutal animal. How do you keep it under control for a controlled behaviour. Democracy is good for man who has been tamed(civilized)
Untamed animals have to be either put down or caged.
There are ways of making sure that there is an “Equalizer”
that can act as a deterent. I live in North America and America is always ready to defend it self. I guess we are lucky. We run huge defiicits and invest in the future safety of the people. The biggest investment we made recently is free market economy in India and China, about 2.5 billion people were saved from feudalism!
People say America is down and out; no we incorporated two most populace countries into our system. We changed Germany, Japan, now China and India.
If the Sri Lankans are willing USA is very ready to do so.
We need a constitution like the US constitition and a market driven international economy.
I operate a business for the last 26 years without showing a loss or deficit. I have two things in favour of me, A country with an Equitable government and an economy that is driven by supply and demand.
You need them both in Sri Lanka. Only country that can help us is USA.
24. Subra S.Massey | March 7th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Mr.Siva #13
We are the internatoinal community. Let do something about it. We just spent some money to keep the world informed by personal emails. Do some thing within your financial means.
25. scandi | March 7th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Hi Mano,
what a fantacy idea you have. help Tamils because they need that. but the question is can you understand what they realy want? poor tamil people,
pls do and talk something with a meaning.
26. r.veera | March 7th, 2008 at 7:06 am
What a response from sinhalas. please mr dbs do not allow so dumps.
27. ramesh | March 7th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
A president who comes to power with the thinnest of the margins, shamelessly bringing all his close relatives to be in all important positions in the Govt.
One of the smallest countries in the world having the highest no. of ministers.
A country having the reputation of state terrorism at the highest level, abducting its own citizens for ransom and extra-judicial killing.
The president having despicable underworld goons as his ministers and shamelessly safeguarding them for selfish reasons..
A country with the biggest begging bawl, highest rate of corruption and lawlesslness, highest inflation rate but with the president and ministers with idiotic courage and audacity to hit out at donor countries and UNO.
Only Govt. in the world to send its underworld goon to UK with a forged diplomatic passport, and shamelessly lie after it got caught red-handed.
The most inefficient and laughable Govt. since independence or time immemorial in SL, survives and goes on only due to the daily score….”45 LTTErs killd today…50 LTTEers killed yesterday..” and so on….which are unconfirmed…!
Sinhala chauvinism is reigning at such level that the citizens are willing to come to the road begging due to this economy’s bankruptcy, so far as they get this daily scores which no body can verify..
We as a country will go down in history, as the classic example of a failed state due to racism, chauvinism and majoritarianism; in spite of possessing very good human resources…
28. Expatriate | March 7th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I salute Mano Ganesan for what he is doing courageously. However, I am afraid this Rajapakse gang will try to kill him. Simply talking or pleading or trusting the judiciary in SL, when these killer gangs have impunity to kill, is naive. Tamils in the diaspora, individually and collectively, need to take drastic steps in whatever form or shape possible. I will leave it at that.
29. M.Thiru | March 7th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Looking purely from Srilankan democratic frame, Mano Ganeson is an elected member of parliament. If they are not happy peole can vote him out.
Anyway since 1931 Srilankan semi democracy, and later full democracy given in 1948 and republicanism introduced in 1972 and 1978 JR constitution giving power to the executive president has not stopped the SL politics going along racial and religious line. From KMP Rajaratna,RWG Senannayake to Cyril Mathew to Mervin Silva and Rajapakse brothers the Sinhala voices in and out of parliament has always been asserting their supremacy because they are the majority.
Even leaders like DS Senanayake, SWRD, Srimavo, JRJ, Chandrika and Mahinda all have been taking their pro Sinhala Buddhist agenda sucessfully because they are the majority.
Therefore Mano Ganesan defending the helpless minority youths is perfectly alright. Muslim leaders do the same thing and it too is perfectly alright.
Which Sinhalese leader will not speak in defence of the Sinahlese buddhist majority ?
First Cahnge the constitution to secular one and a fair one or let the minorities go their own way within the island.
30. ilaya seran senguttuvan | March 8th, 2008 at 11:15 am
To borrow from Al Gore, Mano Ganesan is under attack from some only for telling “the inconvenient truth”
Mano’s analogy of MR in 1989 and those of his and others
giving voice to Tamil atrocities is perfectly in order.
Sukumaran (6) has to be more responsible before making the charge of “money.” I have’nt heard anyone accusing Mano this way. Let’s be reasonable and keep the debate wholesome.
Rohan Arambawela (11) may be reminded Mrs Sirimavo B
walked to Amirthalingam and the TULF MP’s in Parliament
in folded hands - with that endearing smile of this gracious lady
endowed with natural sophistication and who is “Mother” to many of usl - thanking him for standing up to that
powerful Govt of JRJ when her civil rights were removed.
Amir spoke strongly and long to defend her pointing out
“this is the beginning of a period of fascism in the country”
He was right. Other Tamil MP’s also strongly defended Madam
B. Similarly TULF MP’s raised their voices against injustice
to Sinhala JVP youths in 1971 and 1989. Hansard has it all.
Norbert Perera’s (20) comments are unfortunate and nothing but a naked threat Ganesan will be killed like the other Tamil MPs
s. Good Sir, please note Mano Ganesan also has a wide support base among the Sinhalese in Mutwal, Mattakkuliya, Kotahena, Maradana and elsewhere - which is why the UNP gave him nomination against opposition from many. It is not difficult to get someone to kill another in this country today. You can do this
for a few thousand rupees. But what Norbert Perera should do is not to encourage or plan to kill others but spend his time and energy is building a peaceful and united society.
31. GANGA | March 8th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Mr. Navod Ediriweera (Comment # 1)
Sir, you have made following opinion. I repeat your own words here.
“…. MR was not labeled as a JVP supporter because he had a clear vision. He spoke about human rights violations done by the state and the JVP (Unlike YOU and the UNP who are only targeting the govt.)….”
We are glad that since you have raised two important maters. They are,
(1) The ‘ vision ‘ of Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse in his human rights campaign.
Can you kindly explain about this? We wish to know what it was Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse’s vision in view of universal human rights and how it differs from Mr. Mano Ganesan’s views and vision.
(2) Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse’s stance against JVP Terror in 1989.
Can you kindly provide credible information as to WHEN, WHERE, WHAT Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse had spoken on and against JVP terror violations in 1989? If in Parliament, pls tell us the dates of the Hansard. If elsewhere, pls tell us the dates of the newspaper reports or other available material with you so that we can find them in the archives.
We know, as per Mr. Mano Ganesan’s above statement, Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse went to Geneva with Mr. Vasudeva Nanayakara. He had submitted a report to UN Human Rights Committee during his visit. As per your views, Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse must have criticized and evidently made complains against both Government’s state terrorism and JVP’s insurgent terrorism in that report. Where is that report? Is it available with you? Can you please enlighten us on this matter, sir?
32. siva | March 8th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
I agree 100% with Mr Mano Ganeshan. We will support you sir . We appreciate your courage against state terrorism and all those abductions sponsored by the government of the 4 muskateers.
33. Veera kathi | March 12th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
o Major Sinhalese political parties and Majority of the Buddhist Monks are totally racist and anti Tamil.
o In July 1983 the Sinhalese thugs aided, supported and encouraged by Sinhalese politicians, Buddhist monks and Sinhalese army and police killed thousands of Innocent Tamils, burned down their houses, business premises, medical clinics and lawyers offices and ganged raped Tamils girls and this is known as ‘ July Holocaust’ or ‘ Black July’ .
o The Tamil armed struggle gathered momentum after this foolish act of Sinhalese and resulted in the development of present day Tamil Army known as ‘Tamils Tigers’
o Some feel that creation of a Tamil Federal state or a Scottish style Tamil Parliament will bring peace; this solution will not work, because this type of political system to work, the central government should be trust worthy and Tamils have no trust in Sinhalese central government or Sinhalese politicians. They cannot be trusted, because Sri Lankan army, police and state machinery is one hundred percent Sinhalese.
o The only option for Tamils to fight Sinhalese state terrorism is to create their own state which existed before Portugese, Dutch and British came to Colonise Ceylon – Sri Lanka.
o WITH OUT A TAMIL ARMY TAMILS HAVE NOTHING – POLITICAL POWER GROWS OUT OF BARREL OF GUN - ARMY IS HE CHIFE COMPONENT OF STATE POWER –
o The ‘Tigers’ control their own territory and run it like a totalitarian dictatorship now, after winning an independent state for Tamils, they have to grant democracy to all people, otherwise Tamil people will revolt
o Tamil Army is a militant army with a cause, to disarm them is impossible and no army can fight them forever.
o The ‘war on terror after 9/11’ has been used by Sri Lankan States (past & present) to suppress Tamils and opposition descendants and get plenty of foreign aid from US, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, China and Israel. Tamils and their Tamil Army are not terrorist, but freedom fighters. The Sinhalese and International media describes the entire Tamil people as terrorist and remain silent about Sri Lanka state terrorism for the benefit of their Geopolitical agendas.
o Regardless of whether the war in Sri Lanka is recognized as a war of national liberation in the exercise of the right to self-determination or a civil war, support for the LTTE from the Tamil people cannot be criminalise. The Tamil people, whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere, have the right to freedom of opinion and belief, the right to freedom of expression and the right to support political parties or groups of their own choosing.
o FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IS A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT.
34. Debbie | March 12th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Hi CGUDU,
There are many who raise their voices for singalese when something go wrong but very few who speak on behalf of tamils and the hardship they go through. please try to understand this
35. Kumar | March 18th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Dear Rohana Arambewala,
I’m not here to argue in favour of or against Mano. To be frank I haven’t completely read his article. However I have read your comments in full.
You guys simply think just wiping off the LTTE is the end of the solution. Just think for a moment why in the first place LTTE came into being?
If only Sri Lanka had a foresight leader, now we would be able to proudly call ourselves Sri Lankans. But thats no longer the case.
Many of you all simply argue that many Tamils are living PEACEFULLY in the south among Sinhalese. This is a hollow argument. The reason why many Tamils come to Colombo is for survival. Not necessarily because they HATE the LTTE or love the Sinhalese.
There is no proper Medical facility, no communication, cost of living more than double that of what you have in Colombo….its a long list. Kids are malnourished…under constant aerial bombardment. If only you have to go through these hard ships you will realize what I mean
If only you had been to Jaffna or Vanni, you would readily understand why people wanted to leave from there.
I can tell you that my parents are in Colombo and I have been thinking of visiting them soon and putting off again and again simply because I’m afraid of going to Colombo. Simple reason I’m a Tamil. That should explain the state of affairs in Colombo.
Being a Sinhalese you might think its a simple matter of inconvenience for Tamils at the check points. Its much more than that
LTTE will NOT survive without the SUPPORT of the Tamils and SL Govt ensures that Tamils DO Support the LTTE.
36. Jan. | March 27th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Whoever knows the exact total number of disappearances in SL for the last 20-30 years won’t disagree with Mano here! There is not much left to discredit Srilanka by Mano; the successive governments of SL had done their best in that front for the last 60 years. So stop your crocodile tears and join hand with people like Mano to build a civilized Srilanka!
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