Statement at U.N. in Geneva
Posted on September 28th, 2011
Ira de Silva London, Ontario
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hon. John Baird
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Dear Sir:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
I wrote to you when the Canadian Ambassador to Sri Lanka spoke of calling for “accountability” from Sri Lanka during the final stages of the terrorist war in Sri Lanka. I have today read your statement made in Geneva.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It states that you singled out Sri Lanka for trying to stop investigations into possible war crimes committed during the island nation’s decades-long civil war. Can you explain why Sri Lanka should not stop investigations into possible war crimes when there is no credible evidence that it has done so? Do you believe that because it is a small third world country that it should submit to bullying by the west?
Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Dear Sir:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
I wrote to you when the Canadian Ambassador to Sri Lanka spoke of calling for “accountability” from Sri Lanka during the final stages of the terrorist war in Sri Lanka. I have today read your statement made in Geneva.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It states that you singled out Sri Lanka for trying to stop investigations into possible war crimes committed during the island nation’s decades-long civil war. Can you explain why Sri Lanka should not stop investigations into possible war crimes when there is no credible evidence that it has done so? Do you believe that because it is a small third world country that it should submit to bullying by the west?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
It is obvious to the world thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ this calling for an investigation is fromƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ countries who are known to have aided and abetted the Tamil terrorists in their terrorism by enabling their citizens to fund Tamil terrorism, provided political support, military bases, military training and diplomatic support while all the while pressuring the Government of Sri Lanka to negotiate and capitulate to terrorism. The same Eurocentric countries including Canada thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ put forward and supportedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the resolution at the Human Rights Council in 2009, ably assisted by Ms. Navi Pillai, were defeated in their attempt to avenge the death of the leadership of the Tamil terrorists who they were doing their utmost to save,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seem to want to continue to “terrorise” Sri Lanka and herƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ people because by their united effort they were able to stop terrorism in Sri Lanka. The duplicity of Canada’s actions are obvious when it supportsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ other western countries in their supposed war on terrorism killing thousands of civilians,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ destroying the livelihood of millions and creatingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ millions of refugees.
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In the case of Sri Lanka, your Government objects that Sri Lanka is trying to stop investigations into possible war crimes. Sri Lanka has every right to do so.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Your call is based on a flawedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ documentary which shows a video clip that has been proven to be false, consists of doctored photographs – it has been proven that the photographs are for the most part from the Tamil terrorist propaganda which showƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that they have been staged. As for the report to the Secretary General, are you aware that the panel’s mandate did not extend to fact finding or investigation? For your information, as I am sure that you are unaware of what is in the report, it contains the following:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
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1) page 6 – it was an advisory panel and that it was not engagedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in any investigation,
2) page 14 – stresses that the panel’s mandate precludes fact finding or investigation,
3) on page 3 it is stated “the panel has not conducted fact finding as that term is understood in United Nations practice,
4) most importantlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in paragraph 53 the panel states “this account should not be taken as proven facts, and any effort to determine specific liabilities would require a higher threshold”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
5) the panel admits that facts detailed in paragraphs 55 to 245 are not proven facts which same “facts” it states indicates the commission of crimes.
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Are you aware that the panel in reality had no credible evidence? Material provided to it is regarded as strictly confidential and for twenty years there is nobody on this planet who would have the right to access this material. Is that what you would call “transparency”? Sri Lanka is not aware of who has provided information and the panellists themselves recognize the difficulty of finding reliable material because in the opening page of the report they state “due to the scarcity of objective reporting from the conflict zone, it was difficult to determine precisely what had happened during the final military assault”. Therefore, what you and your other western countries are calling for is a licence to criminalize the Government of Sri Lanka just because you want to pander to a fewƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thousand of your own citizens who supported Tamil terrorism in the hope they will vote for you. You must know thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in doing so you are violating the rights of allƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Is that what you believe the UN Commission on Human Rights is mandated to do – deprive citizens of selected countries of human rights while showing complete indifference to the gross violation of rights by western countries who areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bombing, murdering and otherwise terrorising millions ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ civilians in other countriesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in your war on terror particularly when the whole world hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seen the evidence.
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In the case of Sri Lanka, it was terrorised for thirty years with your help. When are you going to be accountable and transparent and investigate your own actions in supporting terrorism in Sri Lanka. Before you call for investigations in Sri Lanka, Canada and the other western countries who supported terrorism in Sri Lanka should set up investigations in their own countries where even today there exists the left over leadership of the Tamil terrorists,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ investigate them and bring them to justice, not let them dictate your policy on Sri Lanka even if they are members of your own and other political parties in Canada. Making statements as you have done in GenevaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ indicates that Canada continues to support terrorism from Canada.
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Yours truly,
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
Ira de Silva
London, Ontario
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
September 28th, 2011 at 7:05 pm
As for the report to the Secretary General, are you aware that the panel’s mandate did not extend to fact finding or investigation? For your information, as I am sure that you are unaware of what is in the report, it contains the following:
1) page 6 – it was an advisory panel and that it has not engaged in any investigation,
2) page 14 – stresses that the panel’s mandate precludes fact finding or investigation,
3) on page 3 it is stated “the panel has not conducted fact finding as that term is understood in United Nations practice,
4) most importantly in paragraph 53 the panel states “this account should not be taken as proven facts, and any effort to determine specific liabilities would require a higher threshold”.
5) the panel admits that facts detailed in paragraphs 55 to 245 are not proven facts which same “facts” it states indicates the commission of crimes.
Excellent!
This seals the fate of the Darusman report. These 5 points should be reminded to anyone relying on the contents of the report.
September 29th, 2011 at 3:09 am
Madam Ira De Silva!
Thanks very much for speaking out not only Canada, but many western countries who make it their primary duty to blame smaller countries, as they know these smaller countries have no way of protesting againt mass media supported by LTTE and their front organizations.
For over 30 years, why the so called Int. Community including India never investigated CRIMES commited against a Sovereign, legitimate Govt. namely Sri Lanka. Why NOW only investigate selective periods avoiding ANY criticism or action against LTTE, a banned organization which terrorised, killed Rajiv Gandhi, presidents & Prime Ministers & 600 unarmed policemen.
I would venture into say the plight of Aborigibal peoples who still suffer immense hardships. Shouldn’t Canadian and other govrements attend to the needs of their own poor & disadvantahed peoples & solve their problems first.
Always like in the UK it is VOTES in tamil dominated areas of these countries matter to leaders of these countries.
Very useful facts that will educate us about the hipocracy of some leaders of the so called Int. Community.
Thanks again! Ira de Silva from London, Ontario for the valuable contribution….Gamunu Alahakkone, Canada
September 29th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Great letter Ira..! A good eye opener for this naive politician.
What they do not realise is, after the war is ended, majority of Tamil diaspora have distanced themselves from LTTE (mainly to avoid paying their ‘war tax’. Now, only less than 10% of Tamils have the LTTE influence.. So, all these naive Canadian politicians are going after about 12,000 votes spread across Canada.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Dilrook, Ira de Silva is a very experienced writer and an observer. I am sure she is aware of every word in the report. And she was there in person at the meeting, so did Sunanda Desha apriya.