CHOGM and moral defeat for Canada and the LTTE rump !
Posted on November 2nd, 2011
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ P.A.Samaraweera, Australia
Attempts to humiliate Sri Lanka by the LTTE rump and terror backers ended in disaster at the CHOGM in Perth. They took to the streets to vent their anger on Sri Lanka President during the Opening Ceremony. One of their members filed a human rights case against the President in Melbourne but the Australian govt did not allow it to proceed citing diplomatic immunity.
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Some time back the LTTE rump sabotaged the President’s speech at the Oxford Union. Their tactic in Perth as well was similar but it back-fired.
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Among the member countries at the meeting, CanadaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ spearheadedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ canvassing against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes but had no support as it was considered a domestic issue. Failing this, Canada’s bid to re-open the CHOGM 2013ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ venue issue was thwarted as 15 other countries had strongly supported Sri Lanka. Their unanimous decision was a reward to Sri Lanka and Canada had to bite the bullet. This shows that the LTTE rump can buy over some countries with their votes and funds but not all.
Canada fails to recognise the fact that the democratically elected Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ govt protected the sovereignity of the country by putting down the world’s number one terrorist outfit.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Last week, in the Canadian Parliament, Sri Lanka had been the focus of attention. So the Canadian Prime Minister’s effort in Perth was to getƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil votes as some seats in the Parliament had been won by the Opposition recently.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
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While the LTTE rump was making every effortƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to disrupt Sri Lanka at the CHOGM,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their LTTE proxy the TNA, claiming to be the sole representatives of the Tamils, had rushed to the US to briefƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ State Dept officials about the current situation in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The TNA openlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and blatantly supported theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LTTE.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the past, the TNA rushed to India at the drop of a hat and now they run toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ someone more powerful, the USA !
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:44 pm
I’m not sure who advised MR to hold the CHOGM 2013 ( to my mind it’s waste of time and tax-payers money) but more importantly the “spot light” will remain on Pres MR and Sri Lanka on accountability and human rights issue until CHOGM 2013.
I regret to say, MR fell into a well orchestrated trap set by UK, Canada, Aus and India to keep the “spot light” firmly on the door step of SL.
November 2nd, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Holding CHOGM 2013 and even the Commonwealth Games should be thoroughly discussed. As Marco says these are not value of tax payers money. Greece held Olympics a few years ago with much fanfare and we can see where Greece is today. There are better places to spend a countries money than these expensive extravaganzas. They only help to boost politicians egos!
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:43 am
Why is that GOSL does not tell Canada, that they have supported bogus refugees, favoured Tamils, discriminated against Sinhalese, allowed Canada to be used for fund raising for racist terrorist war against Sri Lanka and that the true victims are the Sinhalese. It is the financial power of the Tamils that enable them to operate a false propaganda machine.
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:59 am
Marco, Ratnapala, don’t be naive, these gatherings are not only for money, it is to gain what we lack now, the confidence of the people in the other countries the prestige. It is to dispel the wrongful ideas they insist upon, the lies agreed upon. We cannot be isolated in the world for ever especially when the others are trying to do so.
When the CHOGM is held in 2013 the heads of the other member countries will visit Sri Lanka. They will be taken around and see it for themselves about the development. They will see how 54% of the Tamils live in harmony with the rest in the south. They will see that more majority of the population in Colombo are Tamils and live happily. They will see that most of the businesses in Colombo are owned by the Tamils and the Sinhala patronise them. The visitors will be enlightened except for the Canadian rouge Mr Harper. These people will have to get back and convey this to the rest of the world. Having Visitors in our pad is a good this to improve relations, make friends.
So please stop barking with the rest against Sri Lanka. President is trying to do his best and please let him,
November 3rd, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Sri Lanka may well be satisfied with the way that CHOGM 2011 went but the country cannot afford to get too carried away with the outcome or afford to be complacent in regard to the issues affecting Sri Lanka that were brought up. And, it seems to me, that to say that CHOGM 2011 was a ‘moral defeat for Canada and the LTTE rump’ is something of a over-statement.
The venue for CHOGM 2013 had already been previously decided and it was not very clever of the Canadian Prime Minister to re-visit the matter. It was hardly surprising then that the thing did not proceed far.
Whilst the likes of Professor GL Peiris dealt very capably with them, the many charges and issues that were brought up will, however, continue to be raised. And they will need to be meaningfully addressed by the government before they can be finally ‘put to bed’. At CHOGM 2011, Sri Lanka may have obtained only a reprieve – not necessarily, a stay of execution.
I can appreciate what Kamal is saying but I am with Marco and Ratanapala about the wisdom of Sri Lanka hosting CHOGM 2013. The cost of running these events far exceeds the benefits they bring, and Sri Lanka does not need an event like this to advertise itself to the world. There is very little extra for visitors to learn of the island that they don’t already know or can ascertain otherwise. And hosting CHOGM 2013 also means that the focus will continue to be on the island for the wrong reasons – the LTTE rump and other interested parties will ensure that happens.
November 3rd, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Agree with Kamal. That is the idea.
MOST BS believed by politicians in the west are fabricated lies. When they see the reality in their own eyes they will not believe TEs. That is why TEs are against it.
When CHOGM is held in SL that will provide a model to develop SL as a conferences destination. It is high end tourism. Not the average cheapie tourist.
There is another side to this. MOST commonwealth nations represent British SUBJECTS. Only a few (UK, Australia and Canada) represent the COLONIALIST. Creating this division is a MUST. CHOGM will be a fantastic opportunity to create this division or threaten to create this division. That empowers SUBJECTS of the British empire to have a bigger say.
Divide and “rule”.
Divide the UNP, JVP, LTTE, international community, UN, UNHRC, UN security council, CHOGM but NEVER devide the nation!