H. L. D. Mahindapala

The reports on Sri Lanka written Amantha Hodge, the South Asia Correspondent of The Australian, have one recurring theme: to blacken the image of Sri Lanka by using Tamil Tiger propaganda as the only valid yardstick to measure Sri Lankan events. In her latest report titled Sri Lanka hunts for Tamil Tigers operating abroad (14/5), she regurgitates the familiar Tamil propaganda without balancing it with reality checks.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For instance, she quotes the Tamil propagandists who say that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-40,000 Tamil civilians (were) killed in the last days of the 26-year civil war.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ She picks that figure ignoring even the lowest UN estimate of 7,000 which too has no reliable statistical basis. Not even the UN or any of its agencies had counted the number of casualties. The initial figure of 7,000, it is said, was based on the figures provided doctors in the war zone who admitted later to have exaggerated the casualty figure under LTTE pressure.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Of course, there is no war without civilian casualties. The West calls it ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-collateral damageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ when their planes bomb civilian targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. In contrast, the Security Forces captured Jaffna (1995) and East (2006) in two separate operations without the hue and cry about causing civilian casualties. If those two successful operations ran smoothly with hardly any accusations of civilian casualties why was only the operation in the last stages of the war overloaded with the issue of civilian casualties? IsnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t this a vindictive tactic to hit the Security Forces after they dealt a crushing blow at the Tamil Tiger terrorists? Besides, isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the responsibility of causing civilian casualties primarily with the Tamil Tiger terrorists who ruthlessly used 300,000 Tamil civilians as a human shield to gain political mileage from the resulting civilian casualties?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The issue of civilian casualties came to the fore only with the military operations that led to the total annihilation of the Tamil Tiger terrorists in the Vanni region where the Tigers were putting up their last stand under cover of a human shield of 300,000 Tamil civilians. As stated earlier, the UN Representative, Weiss, an Australian, came up with a figure of 7,000 which was disputed by the government. After he left UN service Weiss, jacked up the figure to 14,000. The London Times correspondent did one better and claimed 20,000 casualties based on aerial photographs. The well-known Tamil propagandist Fr. Joseph (ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-GoebbelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚) Emmanuel now has put the figure 40,000. The other propagandist in America, Prof. Francis A. Boyle, perhaps based on pictures taken from outer space, has topped the list with a figure of 50,000.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So you can take your pick. Amantha Hodges, who views Sri Lanka as a hell hole worse than the Australian Aborigines in outback who have been deprived of all their fundamental rights since the arrival of the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-white fellaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, (i.e., the ancestors of Amantha Hodge) has stopped at 40,000. We must be thankful to her for small mercies because the rest of her report proceeds to elevateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the mythical ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Tamil government in exileƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ as the next in line to represent PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s defunct fascist regime in the Vanni. In the same breath, she paints the Sri Lankan government as persecuting the Tamils abroad through the embassies.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Her report is neither news nor can it be rated as in-depth analysis. Her report is a collection of propaganda circulated by the Tamil disapora headed by Fr ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-GoebbelsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Emmanuel. He is the committed Tamil propagandist who is on record saying that he is a Tamil first and a Christian second. He even compared Prabhakaran to Jesus. So it is not surprising for him to say the things he told Amantha Hodge and it is not equally surprising to see her acting as his megaphone.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Of course, Sri Lanka is concerned about the activities of the Tamil diaspora which, according to JaneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Weekly, funded the Tiger terrorism to the tune of 200-300 million dollars per annum. They pose a threat to security and peace not only for Sri Lanka but the region as well. She is concerned that the 272 Tamil expats elected in a flimflam poll to represent PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s defunct regime in exile are ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-blacklistedƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Does she want them to be given visas to walk into Sri Lanka and stoke the fires of terrorism again?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Not surprisingly, she has not cast her eyes across to India which has refused to let PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s mother, Mrs. Velupillai, to enter India even for medical treatment. Mrs. Velupillai is considered a threat to IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s stability because the chances are that the pro-Tiger elements in S. India will exploit her presence to promote, among other things, a separatist movement in Tamil Nadu. Besides, has Amantha Hodge forgotten that the Irish leader, Gerry Adams, was refused a visa to enter Australia by John Howard because he was considered a threat to Australian security? India even refused a visa to Prof. Peter Schalk, one of the leading propagandist for the Tigers, as a threat to IndiaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s security.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So why is Amanda Hodge pointing a finger at Sri Lanka for blacklisting 272 Tamil agents of Prabhakaran who are hell bent on undermining the territorial integrity and regional security? Is she committed to balanced reporting or merely circulating Tamil Tiger propaganda? Why is she promoting her prejudices against Sri Lanka as news?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ HereƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s a typical sample of anti-Sri Lankan reporting:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The threats against the Tamil diaspora (i.e., 272 elected to work against Sri Lanka) sparked an appeal yesterday to the host countries of large international Tamil communities not to allow Sri Lankan diplomatic staff to harass their citizens abroad. Global Tamil Forum president Father Joseph Emmanuel told The Australian that he feared Sri Lankan embassies would persecute Tamils.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In case she does not know, The Australian should inform her that every country has a right to protect itself from foreign agents working against its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity. These are Tamils who are bent on restoring the political goals of Prabhakaran which they bankrolled when the fascist regime was in power in Vanni. All those who participated in the poll were committed agents of Prabhakaran abroad. Since they were a part of the terrorist outfit that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-eliminated more Tamils than any other forceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ (S. C. Chandrahasan, son of S.J. V. Chelvanayakam, the father of separatism) and since they have taken the running of the mythical state of Prabhakaran abroad, serious consideration should be given to leveling charges of acting against a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-friendly nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚a hostile act prohibited by domestic and international laws. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Besides, since they claim to have taken over from where Prabhakaran left shouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t they also be held responsible for the crimes committed by Prabhakaran against his own Tamil people? After all, they were all partners in the crimes against the Sri Lankan people. Israel never ceased hunting the Nazi war criminals. Sri Lanka should follow that example and hunt them down .wherever they exist.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Australian also has a duty to bring down Amantha Hodge for a refresher course in journalism. She must be taught that cut-and-paste reporting from Sri Lankan newspapers, or providing quotes from know agents of Tiger terrorists do not add up professional and quality journalism. The Australianr can cut its cost down by employing a local hand to do the same in Sydney or Melbourne instead keeping her posted in an Asian capital.