North: British HC disputes President’s claims
Posted on May 25th, 2012
By Shamindra FerdinandoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Courtesy The Island
May 25, 2012, 9:49 pm
Many an eyebrow has been raised over contradiction by British High Commissioner John Rankin of President Mahinda RajapaksaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s claim of scaling down of the military presence and the non-involvment of the military in civil administration in the Northern Province since the conclusion of the conflict.
In his video, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Ask the High CommissionerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, Rankin challenged a claim by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his address to the nation on May 19, on the third anniversary of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s war victory over the LTTE.
Rankin discussed the human rights situation in Sri Lanka with reference to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report as well as the recently launched UK Human Rights Report. Categorizing Sri Lanka as one of the 28 countries accused of major human rights violations, Rankin stressed the need for freedom of expression, minority rights, women rights while condemning the country for continuing abductions and disappearances.
Commenting on PresidentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s assertion that the armed forces couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t be moved out of the Northern and Eastern Province due to the continued anti-Sri Lanka operations undertaken by the Tamil Diaspora and the LTTE rump abroad, Rankin said that the LTTE was no longer engaged in terrorist activity. He described the absence of terrorism as a good thing, while reminding the GoSL that the LTTE remained a proscribed organization in many parts of the world, including in the UK.
HC Rankin said that President Rajapaksa had, in his Victory Day speech, declared that the military was no longer involved in civil administration in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country. Recognizing Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s right to maintain normal military bases throughout the country, like in the UK, he alleged that the military deployment in the Northern and Eastern Province was very much different than that in other parts of the country. Rankin alleged that the government was maintaining a very heavy military presence in the Northern Region.
President Rajapaksa said: We are aware that the armed forces do not participate in the administration of the North or East. These regions are administered by the public service and the police. Despite this, there are many who shout that the security forcesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ camps in these areas should be removed. They ask us why they are not removed. But no one asks whether those who make such demands are not seeking to achieve what Prabhakaran failed to obtain through the use of shiploads of arms, aerial attacks, sea tiger and human suicide bomb attacks through 30 years of war of terror. Are they now not asking this through different means?”
Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe yesterday told The Island that since the conclusion of the conflict there had been a steady reduction of military presence in the Jaffna peninsula. He revealed that at the time he took over the peninsula on Dec. 7, 2009, there had been 27,000 troops, though today there were only 15, 600. “There are three Divisions deployed across the peninsula and Jaffna islands. The 51 Div is deployed in Jaffna sector, 52 Div in Vadamaratchchy and 55 Div at Elephant Pass. DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t forget at the time eelam war IV erupted the Jaffna peninsula had the largest single concentration of armed forces and police numbering close to 50,000.”
May 25th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER IN SRI LANKA TURNS TO BE AN INTERLOPER.
What is his point interfereing with the Internal Administration of Sri Lanka. On whose behalf is he making this request to scale down the Services in the North and East ? I smell a rat here. I see it floating in the Air.
May 25th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
This man Rankin is talking through his back side and that it why he is not able to see how his own country is handling similar situations albeit in foreign lands forcibly occupied and or robbed by them. He is asking that the armed forces deployment in Sri Lanka should be at the same level as that in the rest of the country. These hypocrites should know when not to pollute the air and mind their own business in their own bit of land. Before aiding and abetting terrorism in Sri Lanka for creating Eelam he should take affirmative action to cede Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to their rightful owners.
He conveniently forgets that there was no terrorism related in the rest of the country since 1989 other than those created by Poopaharan and his band of terrorists from the North and East. The Sri Lankan state has to deploy her forces where they are deemed necessary and where there is a likely hood of the re-emergence of terrorism again.
Sampanthan laments that with the military presence there is no normalcy of life in the North and East. He forgets it is the Racist Tamil Terrorists in the North and East that made us increase the strength of the military to the current levels. The eradication of Tiger Terrorism is only 3 years old. Therefore the normalcy for Sri Lanka is to maintain adequate levels of military presence in all areas wherever their presence is called for by the State that suffered for 30 unending years.
It is important that Terrorist cat’s paw and his running dogs in the so called Tamil diaspora understand the mechanics of the New Normalcy of Life in Sri Lanka and get used to it as long as such conditions are called for.
In our hearts an minds we were never a colony of the British. Sri Lanka was country forcibly occupied by them contravening their own treaty with the Land of Sinhale’. To rule Sri Lanka they always had to depend on outside forces, be they Indian, Malay or Indonesians to safeguard their ill-gotten holdings. Reparations are due for the way they administered our motherland during their unlawful occupation from 1798 to 1948 and for the war crimes committed and human rights violated.
May 25th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
Kick this idiot out of Sri Lanka like Pres. Premadasa did to nosy David Gladstone.
May 26th, 2012 at 4:12 am
Ranking should understand that he is just another british low profile diplomat or MI6 agent and we don’t want his opinions or advices how to govern our country. What authority this man has to tell us what should do in Sri Lanka and what should not do in Sri Lanka. Does he think that he is the governor of Sri Lanka?
We Sri Lankans never employed or mandated him to talk on internal matters of Sri Lanka. As a diplomat he is in Colombo to represent his feudal woman Elizabeth’s government but not the government of Sri Lanka.
We like to ask Ranking why not they take action on tamil terrorist’s female suicide unit’s boss Adela Balasingham and Nirweli Bank robbery suspect Emmanuel Pillai. Both are living in London and spread tamil terrorism and racism to Sri Lanka with the blessing of Milliband and clique. If U.K and other western countries able to stop tamil racist terrorist supporter’s activities in their countries we can easily control tamil racism and tamil terrorism in Sri Lanka. Then it is not an issue to limit our army camps in northern and eastern provinces.
May 26th, 2012 at 7:15 am
Tamil racist elements have set fire the Muslim Congress office in Kathankudy.
These foolish Tamil racists still think of Tamil homelands and don’t tolerate others.
They must pay for their crimes.
May 26th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Well done patriotic community! The backlash against the comments made by this colonial imbecile has made a mark.
“Sri Lanka: UK envoy’s military comments cause stir” Zee News
“British envoy causes stir over Lankan military remarks” Deccan Herald
Keep up the good work!!!!!
May 26th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
As long as we patronize (and pay millions for) British junk qualifications hardly worth a penny from bankrupt money hungry British institutions they will continue to think of themselves as the pompous “masters” of our country. Unlike the foolish campaign to boycott free GMail and Google, boycotting British junk qualifications will leave a significant dent on a billion pound garbage industry.
May 26th, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Lorenzo:
“Tamil racist elements have set fire the Muslim Congress office in Kathankudy.
These foolish Tamil racists still think of Tamil homelands and don’t tolerate others.
They must pay for their crimes.”
They will, they will and the best scenario would be a deadly face off between Tamil racism and Islamic fundos. All we will have to do is sit back and enjoy!!!
May 26th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Mjaya,
NO!
We cannot just sit back and wait till they do it. What if unfortunately they don’t? We have to douse this fire with water and petrol! :)
May 26th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Latest news on the Rankin affair, check out the Lakbima editorial!
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=63
They have stated in no ambiguous terms that Rankin must be dealt with in the same manner as David Gladstone in 1991.
Lorenzo: Agreed!
May 26th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
But MR has to attend London Olympics. So we better delay this Rankin affair.
We don’t have to justify militarisation. It is our RIGHT. If anyone doesn’t like it f* from the island.
May 27th, 2012 at 4:21 am
something wrong with this fella,thy give LTTE to running a Mook,with there LTTE flags,in London,this is people who fund to LTTE,fight With government of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka must ask This fella,Question how are this ban terrorist group carrying a ban terrorists flags, if any other country Who carrying and protest with AlQuida Flags,what there reaction about,