Louise Arbour: The ICG’s comment on Sri Lanka’s “triumphalism”
Posted on July 21st, 2011
Asoka WeerasingheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kings Grove Crescent . Gloucester . Ontario . K1J 6G1 . Canada
21 ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ July 2011
Ms. Louise Arbour
President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Crisis Group
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 149 AvenueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Louise, Level 24, B-1050 Brussels, BelgiumƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Dear Louise Arbour:
I just read the ICG statement in an AP report which said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s postwar policies are a hindrance to reconciliation between countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s embittered ethnic communities, two years after the end of a civil war, and international think tank has said.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Belgium based International Crisis Group said in a report published Monday that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s intransigence and triumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ after defeating Tamil Tiger rebels ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-has meant the country is yet to see any semblance of compromise or inclusiveness.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Woman, you must be joking!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If that statement was meant to be a joke then you were pulling my wrong leg as the jingle bells were tied to the other leg, and that is why it didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t tickle me pink with laughter.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Louise, you are full of NewfoundlandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Cods wallop, arenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-TriumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ you accused Sri Lanka for celebrating and honouring the soldiers who liberated Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s North and East after a 30 year bloody war from the Tamil Tigers. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Thousands of the soldiers gave their lives but unfortunately died before they could enjoy the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”triumphƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and celebrate the cause of their valour. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Why shouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the Sri Lankans celebrate such a war triumph, after all we Canadians, that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ includes you and I, are planning to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a war in which our predecessors repelled an ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ invasion by the United States, the War of 1812, a major formative event in CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history, on June 18th, 2012 at 11:OO a.m.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is going to be the official kick-off date for the whole province of Ontario.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There will be a number of activities and events planned during the bicentennial celebrations on the August 25th & 26th, 2012 weekend.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We certainly wonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t be gathering at Wellington and Elgin Streets corner to play games of tidily-winks, as the plans are to celebrate with great oomph and hoop-la, lady! ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Remember the dates and come along?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These events will make you keep your mouth shut regarding Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”triumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. So what makes you feel so damn superior to show your ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”white-arroganceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ against puny bronze peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s of Sri Lanka.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Was it not ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-triumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ when we Canadians arrived in droves in Dieppe in France on 19th August of 2007 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the famous Canadian battle of World War II. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That day, our Minister of Veteran Affairs Reg Pagtakhan said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Today we mourn the tragedy and celebrate a triumphƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So why are you complaining about Sri Lanka celebrating its amazing triumph over Tamil Tiger terrorism with no help from NATO forces and when every western diplomat prophesied that the EelamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ War was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-an unwinnable warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Phooey to themƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, I say.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you realize that thousands of Tamils in the North and the East who did not pick up a one-way plane ticket nor pay $40,000 to get on a rusty boat to fly and sail out of the cuckooƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s nest and land on the Pre-Cambrian soils of Canada saying that they are running away from persecution, too celebrate the war triumphs and thank the soldiers for liberating them from the clutches of Tamil Tiger terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You got my goat Louise, so letƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s cut out that white-arrogant bull shit.
This is what was reported in the Veteran Affairs Canada Press Release in May 2000,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On the 55th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-National Parade in Apeldoorn
Standing for two hours in the bright 25 degree sunshine in Apeldoorn and basking in the radiance generated by more than 300,000 grateful Dutch people for more than 1,000 Canadian veterans on Parade, you begin to get a sense of what the liberation of Holland must have been like 55 years ago – the pandemonium.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These years have not diminished the Dutch peoples love and enthusiasm for their Canadian liberatorsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Louise, if the white-liberators can soak in the glory of their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ triumph, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be generous and let the brown-bronzed-liberators of Sri Lanka enjoy that moment of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ having liberated the north andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ east of Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and its Tamil people from the most ruthless Tamil Tiger terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is inded your problem lady and leave Sri Lankans alone? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You seem to have lost it big time Louise. Just cut out your foolishness!
Now I see the relevance of CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Vic Toews, the Manitoba Conservative MP and President of the Treasury Board yelling during Question Period on June 6, 2008, from the floor of the House of Commons, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SheƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s a disgraceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ when Liberal MP, Martha Hall Findlay, a lawyer herself, called the Stephen HarperƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s government to acknowledge Louise ArbourƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s work as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I watched the drama on TV. It was high drama, when you were portrayed as an irrelevant person in high office by your own country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Wow!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is a heavy duty revelation, Louise.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With your silly comments about Sri Lanka, I now know why. Hmmm!
Sincerely,
Asoka WeerasingheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
21 ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ July 2011
Ms. Louise Arbour
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Crisis GroupƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 149 AvenueƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Louise, Level 24, B-1050 Brussels, BelgiumƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Dear Louise Arbour:
I just read the ICG statement in an AP report which said: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s postwar policies are a hindrance to reconciliation between countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s embittered ethnic communities, two years after the end of a civil war, and international think tank has said.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Belgium based International Crisis Group said in a report published Monday that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s intransigence and triumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ after defeating Tamil Tiger rebels ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-has meant the country is yet to see any semblance of compromise or inclusiveness.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Woman, you must be joking!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If that statement was meant to be a joke then you were pulling my wrong leg as the jingle bells were tied to the other leg, and that is why it didnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t tickle me pink with laughter.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Louise, you are full of NewfoundlandƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Cods wallop, arenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-TriumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ you accused Sri Lanka for celebrating and honouring the soldiers who liberated Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s North and East after a 30 year bloody war from the Tamil Tigers. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Thousands of the soldiers gave their lives but unfortunately died before they could enjoy the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”triumphƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and celebrate the cause of their valour. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Why shouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t the Sri Lankans celebrate such a war triumph, after all we Canadians, that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ includes you and I, are planning to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a war in which our predecessors repelled an ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ invasion by the United States, the War of 1812, a major formative event in CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history, on June 18th, 2012 at 11:OO a.m.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is going to be the official kick-off date for the whole province of Ontario.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There will be a number of activities and events planned during the bicentennial celebrations on the August 25th & 26th, 2012 weekend.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We certainly wonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t be gathering at Wellington and Elgin Streets corner to play games of tidily-winks, as the plans are to celebrate with great oomph and hoop-la, lady! ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Remember the dates and come along?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These events will make you keep your mouth shut regarding Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”triumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. So what makes you feel so damn superior to show your ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”white-arroganceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ against puny bronze peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s of Sri Lanka.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Was it not ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-triumphalismƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ when we Canadians arrived in droves in Dieppe in France on 19th August of 2007 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the famous Canadian battle of World War II. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That day, our Minister of Veteran Affairs Reg Pagtakhan said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Today we mourn the tragedy and celebrate a triumphƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So why are you complaining about Sri Lanka celebrating its amazing triumph over Tamil Tiger terrorism with no help from NATO forces and when every western diplomat prophesied that the EelamƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ War was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-an unwinnable warƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Phooey to themƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, I say.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t you realize that thousands of Tamils in the North and the East who did not pick up a one-way plane ticket nor pay $40,000 to get on a rusty boat to fly and sail out of the cuckooƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s nest and land on the Pre-Cambrian soils of Canada saying that they are running away from persecution, too celebrate the war triumphs and thank the soldiers for liberating them from the clutches of Tamil Tiger terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You got my goat Louise, so letƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s cut out that white-arrogant bull shit.
This is what was reported in the Veteran Affairs Canada Press Release in May 2000,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On the 55th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-National Parade in Apeldoorn
Standing for two hours in the bright 25 degree sunshine in Apeldoorn and basking in the radiance generated by more than 300,000 grateful Dutch people for more than 1,000 Canadian veterans on Parade, you begin to get a sense of what the liberation of Holland must have been like 55 years ago – the pandemonium.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These years have not diminished the Dutch peoples love and enthusiasm for their Canadian liberatorsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦..ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Louise, if the white-liberators can soak in the glory of their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ triumph, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be generous and let the brown-bronzed-liberators of Sri Lanka enjoy that moment of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ having liberated the north andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ east of Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and its Tamil people from the most ruthless Tamil Tiger terrorists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ What is inded your problem lady and leave Sri Lankans alone? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ You seem to have lost it big time Louise. Just cut out your foolishness!
Now I see the relevance of CanadaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Vic Toews, the Manitoba Conservative MP and President of the Treasury Board yelling during Question Period on June 6, 2008, from the floor of the House of Commons, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SheƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s a disgraceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ when Liberal MP, Martha Hall Findlay, a lawyer herself, called the Stephen HarperƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s government to acknowledge Louise ArbourƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s work as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I watched the drama on TV. It was high drama, when you were portrayed as an irrelevant person in high office by your own country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Wow!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is a heavy duty revelation, Louise.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With your silly comments about Sri Lanka, I now know why. Hmmm!
Sincerely,
Asoka WeerasingheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
July 21st, 2011 at 4:36 pm
If 20 million people (or most of them) are not triumphant when the curse of their nation (terrorism, suicide bombings, sea terrorist attacks, air terrorist attacks, atatcks on villages, attacks on economic nerve centres, attacks on mosques, temples, churches, kovils, killing elected leaders in India and Sri Lanka, ethnic cleansing of all non-Tamils from the north, etc.) was finally eliminated, they must be mad.
How many people were triumphant when Hitler was defeated? Its the same thing.
Out of triumphalism Soviet and American troops did many things – good and bad. But they eliminated the bigger evil.
July 21st, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Whatever the “triumphalism” its enoght now. Let stop “triumphalism” and get into the next MOST important tast to develop the countty without unwanted spending tax payers money.
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:43 am
Here we go again – the ICG is back to its old meddlesome self.
If you care to look at the ICG website, you will find it said that “The International Crisis Group is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to preventing and resolving deadly conflict”. Note carefully that the ICG’s declared role is in “preventing and resolving deadly conflict”. So, what on earth is Louise Arbour going on about? Is this not a clear case of the ICG acting outside its scope of interest? It is certainly not acting to prevent any conflict – the conflict has come and gone – nor is acting in the resolving any conflict – that has already been done.
Louise Arbour is another of those busybodies who cannot help interfering even where they have no mandate, perhaps because they are intent on pursuing some agenda to which they are committed or they need to justify their bloated emoluments. It is time that self appointed guardians of international good behaviour, like the ICG, are reminded that it is unacceptable for them to usurp the role of duly established bodies like the UN, or to put it bluntly, it is time groups like the ICG are asked to go to hell!
July 22nd, 2011 at 7:20 am
Louise Arbor is spewing her hatred again. Why doesnt this moron go to Sri Lanka and see for herself how happy Tamil people are, without fear of their children being abducted by terrorists. Sri Lanka is peaceful and prosperous, and not a place for ICG to be. There is no ‘crisis’ in Sri Lanka for ICG to make statements just to make their living. By the way, Tamils are finally not scared to show their approval of Sri Lanka:
Tamil National Alliance Candidate joins UPFA (the ruling party), Praises President’s services to people:
A TNA candidate contesting the Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha at the forthcoming Local Government election joined the UPFA on Wednesday in the presence of Tharunyata Hetak Organization’s chairman and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. M Suppaiah, a resident of Karachchi PS lauded the services of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government for the uplift of people in the Northern Province.
He added that he was impressed by a massive development drive in progress covering all nooks and corner of the province.
Suppaiah said that he has never seen such massive development projects being implemented in the Northern Province since independence.
He was of the view that the TNA can never think of such a massive development drive taking place in the country.
“I believe that the Tharunyata Hetak Organization is capable of doing many things for the welfare of people in the region,” he added.
Suppaiah said that he has tremendous faith in the Tharunyata Hetak organization and the government headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He added that neither the LTTE nor the TNA was able to solve the problems faced by the Tamils.
“I joined the UPFA expecting nothing in return. I want to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is striving to promote the living standards of the people in this area by launching various projects,” he added. Suppaiah added that he lost his three children due to the LTTE. “One of my children was studying at the Engineering Faculty of Peradeniya University and he was abducted by the LTTE,” he added. He said that he was forcefully enlisted to the LTTE’s fighting cadre and he lost his life.
Suppaiah said that he has only four children. “I do not want to drag the country into a another gruesome period again. That’s why I expressed my support to the government,” he added.
He was of the view that it is the government and the UPFA that can ensure peace and prosperity in the Northern region and the country at large.