Ben Silva

Open Letter

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
United Nations

Dear Sir,
Human rights Watch (HRW) report on Sri Lanka

Introduction

I wish to expose HRW as a malicious group against Sri Lanka. HRW is just a noisy group singing for their money. New evidence is emerging that civilians are being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan on a daily basis. Over one million civilians have been killed in Iraq. Drones used by USA regularly hit civilian targets.

HRW is just making a noise to earn some money, perhaps to continue the luxurious lifestyles of their officials. They may even be racist.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Massive human rights violations in Iraq and Afghanistan

Before any investigation is done on Sri Lanka, UN should investigate the killing of millions of civilians by coalition forces on false pretext of WMD. Also an investigation should be carried out on who funds HRW and how the money is spent. An investigation may reveal the source of bias of HRW. An investigation is needed as HRW has been anti Sri Lanka and at times parroting LTTE propaganda. It has to be investigated if LTTE money has been pouring into HRW and if LTTE has infiltrated HRW. Due to the nature of LTTE and HRW seeking funds, LTTE money finding its way to HRW and infiltration of HRW by LTTE are possibilities. The sites in the reference give the massive Human rights abuses carried out by Western forces. HRW`has been silent on atrocities of coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and marginalized LTTE atrocities . It shows their bias and anti Sri Lankan stand.

Recent news show that 73 civilians have been killed when an US controlled Pakistan army jet bombed a remote village in Pakistan’s tribal region of Khyber ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8617843.stm

Further, Nato rockets kill 12 Afghan civilians. (Ref: 3) Pregnant women and children have been killed by US special forces and they have even made an attempt to cover up. The interesting question is why is it that HRW is not asking for investigations of above mentioned atrocities and only interested in hounding Sri Lanka ?. Is it because, HRW is part of the cover up or is it because imperialist killings are ignored by HRW.

There is more than enough evidence to ask for investigation of violations of Human rights by Western countries. Yet HRW has been silent.

HRW is cherry picking evidence to suit its stand and support its anti Sri Lankan stand. HRW should be exposed as a malicious organization, whose reports are not worth the piece of paper it is written on.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Self promotion and marketing

We have to be aware that organization such as HRW, ICG produce sensational reports to attract donors, for marketing purposes and for self promotion. We also need to be aware that various NGOs, HRW and even UN are lobbied by LTTE fronts and all these orgs may get the same LTTE propaganda and hence produce similar reports. Also these organizations get publicity irrespective of the accuracy of the reports.

For the aove mentioned reasons, we should not attach much weight to the garbage reports produced by the NGOs mentioned above.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Terrorist activities and war against te state

LTTE and their supporters should have known what to expect when they carried out terrorist activities and waged war against the state. When there was a rebellion in the UVA province of Sri Lanka, the British killed all male Sinhalese adults and destroyed the irrigation system so that the Sinhalese would not survive, without water for cultivation.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Using human misery to earn a living and techniques of LTTE

It is sad that HRW officials use human misery to make an unethical living and in the process discredit Sri Lanka, the victim of terrorism. Many also wonder if LTTE has offered a bung to HRW to do its propaganda. Did LTTE tell HRW ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…” You Look after me and you get tenfold ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- ?. It is difficult to say if LTTE has used honey traps, apparently used on NorwegiansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, or some activity (sexual or otherwise) going on between LTTE agents and HRW. LTTE has used every conceivable method to influence people, which includes lobbying, threats, bribery, gifts, entertainment, using alchohol and drugs, building up friendships, use emedia, print media and films for propaganda warfare, Payroll (as in the case of Tamil Nadu media and politicians), networking, exhibitions, hiring lawyers, politicians, academics, , professionals (Eg Fein, Hughes, Schalk, Boyle, Tutu etc), funding political campaigns (Clinton), advertisements, using sports and religious events etc. It is clear that LTTE have been very professional in their approach to influencing people, whereas Sri Lanka has only shown apathy. In the murky world of terrorism and dirty money, and the fact that HRW is always seeking funds, any thing could happen. Any one heard of Fergi seeking money from reporters ? Money has an effect on people, specially those always seeking funds such as the HRW. Many would like to know if HRW told LTTE ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I have no money. Look after me and WeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ll look after youƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. What is certain is that HRW is under the influence and in the pockets of LTTE or its fronts. Certainly it is difficult to justify the unholy alliance between the terrorist group LTTE and HRW to discredit Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Reliability of HRW reports

HRW reports cannot be relied upon as they have a hidden agenda of discrediting Sri Lanka and earning a name for themselves. HRW has ignored deaths due to avoidable disease, starvation and poverty etc and is spending its energy hounding Sri Lanka, a victim of terrorism, giving rise to the possibility that HRW is a bogus human rights organization.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Countering malicious reports

It is sad that GOSL still do not appear to have a department to deal with malicious reports by enemies of Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Yours sincerely,

Ben Silva

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ References

1. http://www.thewe.cc/weplanet/asia/afghanistan/afghanistan.html

2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/16/baha-mousa-inquiry

3. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/14/nato-rockets-kill-afghan-civilians

4. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7092522.ece

5. http://www.redress.btinternet.co.uk/amnesty.htm

6. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/civilian-death-soldiers-not-just-few-bad-apples-1790935.html

7. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWdresden.htm