Senator Hugh Segal and his snide remark in Colombo
Posted on March 26th, 2013

Asoka Weerasinghe Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . Canada

25 March 2013

The Honourable Hugh Segal
Member of the Senate of Canada
Parliament of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

Honourable Senator Segal:

Here is what I read on reports of your visit to Colombo.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sunday March 24, 2013, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-GL (G.L.Peiris, Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Minister of External Affairs) reacts angrily to Canadian SenatorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s commentsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It was Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s number one diplomat, External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris in a burst of anger, Peiris was to tell the Senator in the presence of all, that had he not been a guest of the Government, he would have known how to deal with him.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ HmmmmƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..rough going I see, Senator!

The Daily News of Monday, 25 March 2013, said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL COMMONWEALTH DOCTRINE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Minister PeirisƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And it continued: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Senator Segal was also asked by a journalist: When the Canadian indigenous people went on hunger strike, the Canadian courts gave a ruling adverse to the Canadian government?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Yes, we did not however impeach the Chief Justice due to that adverse ruling, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Senator Segal said.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Had I not been the host I would have retorted to that inappropriate remark in a much sharper manner, Minister retorted.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  HmmmmƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..uglyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦uglyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..ugly, Senator!

So you delayed CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Ides-of-March by one week to do your ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Et tu BruteƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ on Sri Lanka in Colombo. But this time it was not with a dagger but with a closed fist to hit Sri Lanka below her belt.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  You asked for it, and I wish Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris, ripped into you, guest or no guest of the Government of Sri Lanka, and it would have been an exciting debate for all who were at your presentation at the Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute to be judge and jury, and to show you that Sri Lanka too can, perhaps better Canada, with Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s brand of fire works, compared to what you are used to on a July1st.

We Canadians seem to be a cocky bunchƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  with a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We are Holier than ThouƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ attitude, arenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t we, who feel that we have a moral right to go after Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s allegedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Human Rights violations when we have not displayed our Pearsonian-dignity, nor ourƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  basic honesty to acknowledgeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s text book classic Human RightsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  act of giving back to the 22 million of her people their right-to-life by eliminating the most ruthless terrorists in the world, the Tamil Tigers, on 19 May 2009, when they had hijacked that basic human right of these people for 27 killing years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When Canada lacked the basic honesty to acknowledge, up to now, that the Sri Lankan soldiers liberated 295,873 Tamils who were kept as a human shield for 30 months by the Tamil Tigers and shot at if they tried to escape.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And it is unfortunate when Canada represented by people like you andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Minister Jason Kenney lost its dignity in the eyes of Sri Lankans. They say that we Canadians are a bunch of Humbugs.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-No, kiddingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, IƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢d say.

I mentionedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Minister Jason Kenney to you.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He was an embarrassment who goes to Colombo, pretending that he is the Son of a Preacherman and preaches to the Sri Lankan Government personnel about Human Rights when our First Nation peoples were demonstrating that very same day at his parliamentary office door step at Victoria Island accusing the Canadian government of the same violation of human rights.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Canadians are a bunch of Humbugs the Sri Lankans hollo at me.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When they are absolutely right, I canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t defend you two nor the Canadian government you represent.

And then Minister Kenney comes back and reports to his Ragavan-Tamils at a closed door round table briefing session, what he did for them in Colombo.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Sinhalese were excluded at this meeting.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This incident has left most Sinhalese plucking daisy petals including me repeatingƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Conservatives love meƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦they love me notƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦they love meƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ they love me not, to decide whether we/I should vote for the Conservatives at the next federal election.

You know what Senator, Canada has still up to now NOT acknowledged that Sri Lanka performedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  an amazing humanitarian act by preparing a million meals a day for these liberated 295, 873 Tamils, to feed them a hearty breakfast, lunch and a dinner every day, and not let them starve to death.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That was a miracle forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  their puny island nation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Not even a gentle pat on Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s back by Canada saying ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Way to go, Sri Lanka!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  yet you all go to Colombo with an uppity arrogant attitude saying that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We are HolierƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  than thou!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That is unfortunate.

I can bet my last dollar, that given the chance that every native person from the Attawapiskat Reserve would have moved heaven and earth to exchange places with the liberated 295,873 Tamils who were housed in their own homes, fed, schooled and medically looked after ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” every infant, child, teenager, adult and senior of theirs.

And now coming to your snide below-the-belt comment that made the Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs angry.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is too easy to parrot anti-Sri Lanka comments, and I think it is a shame on you to participate in such careless rhetoric which was a cheap shot at Sri Lanka.

Honourable Senator, in case you are not aware, Sri Lanka is a democracy since she accepted a Parliamentary system of Government, and it has a Constitution, and no Constitution is perfect.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  These imperfections are rectified by Amendments, and so does Sri Lanka have amendments to its Constitution striving for perfection.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Thus Sri Lanka is no banana republic.

Sri Lanka has been dragged through hell and has experienced worse times, once when she was underƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the colonial rule and next which was still worse under Tamil terrorism for 30 killing years, which was aided and abetted by Canada for 13 of those yearsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  underƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Prime MinisterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Jean Chretien’s and Paul MartinƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s leaderships.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka was the only country in the world that got rid of terrorism single handed, when they decided to take on the Tamil Tigers challenge onƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  June 2006, and the Tamil Tigers went down on 19 May 2009 in the East coastƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Nandikadal lagoon.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  There were deaths in the process as the soldiers were not given by the UN nor Canada a War Manual, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-How to Win a Terrorist War without Killing a SingleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Enemy for DummiesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, or they would have adhered to the clauses to a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-TƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In the process the Sri Lankan soldiers liberated 295,873 Tamils who were herded like unwashed cattle from the west coast to the east coast for 30 months by the Tamil Tiger terrorists. And they sacrificed 7,000 of their colleagues in this humanitarian operation.

But what is most important for you to note is that Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, that island did not cave into anarchy or civil war, and they still remain a democracy now in the process of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation, and miracles do keep happening and you westerners don’t like it.

The Legislature, the Judiciary and the Executive in Sri Lanka are independent of each other in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Judicial independence is accepted, and they expect exemplary standards of conduct from the members of the Judiciary.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  But when members of the Judiciary have acted beyond the law of the land, passed by the Legislature and implemented by the Judiciary, then such judges have to be brought before the law just like any other Sri Lankan that breaks the law.

So this is what happened in the context of your snide remark about impeaching theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  last Chief Justice.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Judges are not taken before a court of law to plead before another Judge.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  However, they can be taken before the highest court of the land to be judged by the people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Therefore, this case you hinted at with a snide remark, was taken before the highest court of the land to be judged by the people, and that was before the parliament, the representative of the peoples that this Chief Justice was taken to be judged which is called an Impeachment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  And that was democracy.

Well, you may not like it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  For HeavenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sake before your parrot again with snide remarks and punch Sri Lanka below her belt, study Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This may well be worth it as you, stand guilty in front of the court of the Sri Lankan peoples, who will tellƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚Here comes another Canadian smart- alec who thinks he knows all aboutƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  our internal affairs more than us.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

I will be lying to you if I do not admit that I am a bit taken back byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  your arrogance, when Canada has failed my litmus test of honesty, when Canada has still not acknowledged that the Sri Lankan soldiers liberated 295,873 Tamils who were held hostage as a human shield for 30 months by the Tamil Tiger terrorists, and much more importantly that the Sri Lankan Government gave back the right-to-life to 22 million of her peoples when they eliminated theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  most ruthless terrorists in the world, the Tamil Tigers, who perfected suicide bombing with the suicide body pack, detonated 388 human suicide bombs and assassinated two heads of state, Rajiv Gandhi of India and President Premadasa of Sri Lanka.

Make an effort to understand Article 107 of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Constitution which duly empowered Parliament to impeach a judge of the Supreme Court of the Court of Appeal.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Legislature had the right to ignore judicial interpretations under separation of powers embodied in the Constitution. This might certainly help you to stop parroting anti-Sri Lankan snide remarks and hold your dignityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  high that carries with your status as a Senator in the Parliament of Canada.

Sincerely,

Asoka Weerasinghe (Mr.)

5 Responses to “Senator Hugh Segal and his snide remark in Colombo”

  1. Lorenzo Says:

    Canada has the LARGEST Tamilian diahreah.

    So it is to be expected.

  2. Vis8 Says:

    The terror-money and promised votes of the Tamil refugees in Toronto is doing the talking for this moron. He and other Canadians will learn all too soon that they have been duped by the “innocent refugees” ….

  3. Voice123 Says:

    Its not just in terms of numbers of refugees in Canada. It is well in the sphere of U.S. influence. At the end of the day, whatever government Conservative or Liberal or whatever, will do what the U.S. diktates in terms of foreign policy. However, Canada’s economic and other ties with China have increased, albeit not as importantly as for Australia. Lets watch and see if there is any “regime change” within Canada in the years to come, and how the terrorist self-destructor brethren in Canada adapt to that – or if they be “swatted” like flies.

  4. Lorenzo Says:

    US-China trade has grown HIGHER than any other!!

    If shareholders own a company, US govt. is OWNED by China.

    The more wars USA has, the MORE they borrow. And who is the lender? CHINA!

    So the world should encourage USA for more and more wars. NEVER give it a break.

    Iran will have the bomb by March 2014. USA MUST attack Iran before that else……..the law of the jungle applies. That means more expenses, more borrowings, more Chinese control.

  5. Sri Rohana Says:

    Canadians invaded Afghanistan with yankee master. What nonsense they talk of human right after invaded a sovereign state. What rights Canadians have to invade an independent country? Very simple word is it is a war crime.
    In dirty Libyan invasion we have seen Canada, Norway, France and England’s war crimes. These are just two examples to remind Canadians. But biggest joke is Canadians think they are saints. The biggest human right violators and war criminals in this world are Anglo Saxons (including Canadians) since 1600.
    “People who lives in glass house, should not throw stones”
    Asoka! Please don’t get offended there are good Canadians of your calibre, but I mainly don’t agree with Canadian corrupted politicians and bureaucrats.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 

 


Copyright © 2024 LankaWeb.com. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Wordpress