Ira de Silva London, Ontario,Canada

Hon. D. Miliband, M.P.
Foreign Secretary
British Parliament
London, U.K.
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Dear Sir:
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I can understand your disappointment and frustration at the announcement that the conflict in Sri Lanka is over, the Tamil Tiger terrorists defeated militarily and that there will now be a ceasefire. You did your best to help the Tamil Tiger leadership demanding a ceasefire, planning a safe escape route for the murderous LTTE leaders ably aided by your partners in bullying namely Mr. Kouchner of France and Mrs. Clinton of the U.S.
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It appears that your main problem in dealing with countries that were in the British empire is that you seem to believe that since the British were there in the past using these countries to enrich Britain and ruled with an iron fist killing anyone who attempted to resistƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  British rule and got away with murder andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pillage that you believe that you can make demands, issue threats, fly over and attempt to browbeat the “natives”. Your version of diplomacyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ failed in your “visit” to India and nowƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri Lanka and you are upset because you can not “deliver” on your promises to the Tamil Tiger terrorist supporters in Britain. I suggest you get over your colonial mindset as best as you can because if you had any sense you should know that nineteenth century thinking it is not working in the twenty-first century.
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In your statement you say that “there have been very grave allegations on all sides and the British position is always that whenever serious and credible allegations are made they should be properly investigated”. I commend your attitude and suggest that you take immediate steps to apply it to British actions in Iraq andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Afghanistan. That way the criteria as well as the penaltiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for invasion of sovereign countries,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ indiscriminate bombing, use of lethal weapons killing thousands ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ civiliansƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ being passed off as “collateral damage”, abuse of prisoners, inhuman behaviour to name a few of the actions by the west in Iraq and Afghanistan can be established. InƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Iraq and AfghanistanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ these actionsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ are not “allegations” but it is reported thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ there is ample evidence that it did take place so, if you are to be believed,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ investigationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ should have taken place.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
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It would be remiss of me not to mention the unfolding catastrophe in PakistanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where over a million civilians have been made refugees because of the west’s insistence that Pakistan try to defeat the Taliban. In the case of the Taliban, who you call terrorists,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ any action is permitted, there are no negotiations or calls/demands for a ceasefire. However, in the case of the Tamil Tigers, that your country has designated a terrorist organization, you believe in negotiation and insist on a ceasefire. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You do not need to fly to Afghanistan or Pakistan to call for a ceasefire and negotiations. You can do itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from Britain. Why do you not set an example before attempting to make these ridiculous demands of Sri Lanka, a country that has had to deal with extreme terrorism for theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ last thirty years whereas in the case of Afghanistan and Pakistan it is a perceived threat of terrorism to your country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
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Regarding your statement of a “crying need for an inclusive political settlement”, it has been the people of Sri Lanka that have had to pay the price to defeat Tamil terrorism. The Foreign Secretary of Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ said today “at this point, we hope that the international community would appreciate the enormity of our achievement which was substantially our own”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, having defeated Tamil terrorists on their own despiteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the demands, threats and manipulations by Britain and other western countries, it is for the people ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to determine their future.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 
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Yours truly,
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Ira de Silva
London, Ontario,Canada
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