Taking a Stand on Sri Lanka – October 29,2010
Posted on October 30th, 2011
Ira de Silva London, Ontario
The Editor
Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Dear Sir:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
This article epitomises the writers lack of any knowledge of the ground realities in Sri Lanka, reliance on unsubstantiated allegations and hoping thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ repeating falsehoods willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ make themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ facts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is well known that Mr. Harper’s stand has little to do with rights but everything to do with trying to get the so-called Tamil vote in the Toronto area where known Tamil terrorist supporters, as indicated in the Canadian media, were candidates for the Conservatives.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To attend or not is his choice, he is one of fifty-four.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Before 2013 it is hoped that Canada too will show accountability on human rights because in the case of Sri Lanka, terrorism was funded and supported from Canada by Canadian citizens.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
No mention is made as to where the “tens of thousands dead” information has been sourced. All reporting by the UN indicated that the numbers were much less. Perhaps the writer has confused Sri Lanka with Afghanistan where there is irrefutable proof thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tens of thousands of civilians have been killed by incessant drone and other attacks. Further, nowhere has the UN said that there are “credible allegations of point blank executions, torture, rape and other war crimes” except in the theatres of war where the western alliance is operating.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Reference is made to President RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s “triumphalist” government – the citizens of Sri Lanka celebrated the end of terrorism in the days after the elimination of the leadership of the Tamil terrorists who had terrorised all Sri Lankans for nearly thirty years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Contrast that the the events in Libya last week.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ News reports were full of people supposedly celebrating in Libya firing weapons and dancing in the streets.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The word “triumphalism” however was not used by the western media. Contrast Sri Lanka to what Mrs. Clinton said when an aide showed her a picture of Gaddafi’s dead body – with a “triumphant” smile she said “Wow”, we came, we saw, he died”. In Sri Lanka during the final days she said “let us pause (the offensive) let us negotiate” – why not follow the same approach in Libya where the offensive was led by NATO and theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ rebels funded and trained by NATO? Other leaders of NATO followed with similar remarks. The same countries that supported the saving and evacuation of the Tamil terrorist leadership through negotiation. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A classic example of western duplicity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Toronto Star
Toronto, Ontario
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Dear Sir:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
This article epitomises the writers lack of any knowledge of the ground realities in Sri Lanka, reliance on unsubstantiated allegations and hoping thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ repeating falsehoods willƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ make themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ facts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is well known that Mr. Harper’s stand has little to do with rights but everything to do with trying to get the so-called Tamil vote in the Toronto area where known Tamil terrorist supporters, as indicated in the Canadian media, were candidates for the Conservatives.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ To attend or not is his choice, he is one of fifty-four.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Before 2013 it is hoped that Canada too will show accountability on human rights because in the case of Sri Lanka, terrorism was funded and supported from Canada by Canadian citizens.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
No mention is made as to where the “tens of thousands dead” information has been sourced. All reporting by the UN indicated that the numbers were much less. Perhaps the writer has confused Sri Lanka with Afghanistan where there is irrefutable proof thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ tens of thousands of civilians have been killed by incessant drone and other attacks. Further, nowhere has the UN said that there are “credible allegations of point blank executions, torture, rape and other war crimes” except in the theatres of war where the western alliance is operating.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Reference is made to President RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s “triumphalist” government – the citizens of Sri Lanka celebrated the end of terrorism in the days after the elimination of the leadership of the Tamil terrorists who had terrorised all Sri Lankans for nearly thirty years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Contrast that the the events in Libya last week.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ News reports were full of people supposedly celebrating in Libya firing weapons and dancing in the streets.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The word “triumphalism” however was not used by the western media. Contrast Sri Lanka to what Mrs. Clinton said when an aide showed her a picture of Gaddafi’s dead body – with a “triumphant” smile she said “Wow”, we came, we saw, he died”. In Sri Lanka during the final days she said “let us pause (the offensive) let us negotiate” – why not follow the same approach in Libya where the offensive was led by NATO and theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ rebels funded and trained by NATO? Other leaders of NATO followed with similar remarks. The same countries that supported the saving and evacuation of the Tamil terrorist leadership through negotiation. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A classic example of western duplicity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Mr. Harper is entitled to make his opinions known. The same applies to other countries. The countries that have suffered centuries of western subjugation, murder, rape and plunder can not and should not agree to new ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “colonialism” by Britain and it’s two white colonies that were created by displacing and violating the rights of the indigenous peoples. IfƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mr. HarperƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ does not want to attend any Commonwealth conference thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is his prerogative – sixteen countries did not attend the current conference. However,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka should not be expected to pay the price for Canadian domestic political gain particularly whenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it is toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ gain votes fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these same Tamil Canadian citizens who were responsible for funding terrorism in Sri Lanka for decades sending two million dollars a month while politiciansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ supported them and did nothing to stopƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thousands being killed in Sri Lanka and the economy destroyed.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Yours truly,
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Ira de Silva
London, Ontario
October 30th, 2011 at 11:44 am
Do you think, that Canada has the same international reputation when Trudeau or Chretian was governing the country ?
Will the Canadian passport be that worth overseas ?
October 30th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Canada is the foremost Christian Country responsible for the carnage created in Sri Lanka by the Christian dominated LTTE. Canada is their biggest sponsor in terms of funding. Canada must be held responsible for sponsoring and spawning terrorism in Sri Lanka. Canada must be held responsible for tens of thousands of terrorism related deaths in Sri Lanka.
As for triumphalism, the victorious Western Allies still gloat over the victory over Nazism during World War II. There are war memorials in every village in these countries. In Britain alone they say there are only three villages without such memorials. Sri Lanka should follow suit and erect war memorials in every village to keep in memory and in perpetuity the remembrance of the 30 year terrorist war. This must not happen ever in our motherland again. Just as theWest does, we too should write war stories, produce war films and write patriotic songs to keep the memory of our war heroes for the posterity.
We must strengthen our security forces and intelligence networks. We must be ready to face any terrorist or similar threat from within the country or from outside. The Christian West is honing her skills in spawning uprisings similar to what they have done and supported in the former Soviet republics and now in the Middle East.
Eternal vigilance should be the price of our liberty and independence.
October 31st, 2011 at 3:02 am
Dear Ira De Siva,
Thanks so much for speaking up with real facts. When 30 years of TERROR unleashed against a Sovereign Govt. & its people, the majority Sinhalese the so called HUMAN RIGHTS activits, Goverments of the Int.Community including INDIA( who aided and armed the LTTE) were silent.
Let Sri Lanka suffer and even at last stages of WAR India failed to supply arms, where as Pakistan & China plus USA to a lesser extent supported overhelmingly the Govt. of Sri Lanka. This is why when all SO CALED FAKE refugees coming from Sri Lanka, we Sinhalese & some canadians proteted sayiing that THEY are just economic immigrants jumping the line.
Geneuine refugees had to take a back seat because of these Tamil fake refugees, NOW amass to 300,000 or more in Toronto alone, have their own MP. Very soon they might demadn a seperate STATE in Toronto suburbs.
Sri Lanka has late in convincing the Foreign forums & governments about TRUTH about rehabilitation, reconciliation taking place since LTTE was defeated in may 2009.
Even some officials of Canadian Border Agency are of the conviction that REFUGEES have visited Sri Lanka and enjoyed their stay while painting a grusome pictire critical of sri lanka to the outside world.
This is how they operate, Credit card skimming, People smuggling, Drug trade & prostitution are the norm activities BUT most Western Govts: turn a blind eye & let them carry out their illegal activities. Ofcourse to PROTEST against anything & everything is the name of the game of LTTE sympathizers, Front oraganisations & Forums.
I hope Prime Minister Harper would not try to gain political mileage by associating with this LTTE RUMP just to make sure NDP will not get the Ethnic vote. Where was Harper in Afgan War, Iraq war & recent activities in Libya. Why not ask investigations to those atrocities, before embarking on a small country to adhere to Colonialist agenda.
Sri lanka is & always will be for JUSTICE & FAIR Play, whether to defend Japan in 1945 in San francisco Conference as with Pakistan when they wanted refuel in Colombo in their war with India, and more recently with respect to FIJI another member of the commonwealth.
Our successive governmets just do not go with the majority of nations if we feel a smaller country or even develped country like Japan is harrassed.
I feel like Ira De Silva more Sri lankans & Sri Lankan Canadians should speak up express their support to Govt, of Sri lanka. Long live UNITED, INDIVISIBLE, ONE NATION, UNDER ONE FLAG,, May God Bless Sri Lanka & May the Noble triple gems guard her in the hour of need……….Thanks you…..~ Gamunu Alahakkone., Retired Engineer- Canada