CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS





 .
 .

 .
 .
.
 

AI Statement on Sri Lanka - June 6,2008

Ira de Silva
London, Ontario, Canada


Sarah Oliver
International Coordinator
Amnesty International

Dear Ms. Oliver,

I refer to the statement by Amnesty calling on the LTTE and other armed groups to comply with the rules of international law and to respect civilian life. It is a clear indication that Amnesty is out of touch with reality and is still operating in the thinking of the 1960's. It appears you have a "mental block" regarding Sri Lanka which was clearly illustrated by your e-mail last year during the cricket world cup. (AI's South Asian Group Leader, Sarah Oliver writing to AI's Sri Lankan coordinator stated that " it should be easy and fun to launch the shame campaign against Sri Lanka"The Sunday Times, 8 April 2007). It may have been fun for you but the reality for the people in Sri Lanka is that a brutal terrorist organization supported by the Tamil diaspora, foreign funded organizations, as well as Amnesty, keep committing acts of terrorism resulting in hundreds of deaths.

The news report states that Amnesty has repeatedly condemned abuses by the LTTE and has called for an end to such abuses. Although the LTTE terrorists have been provided with "moral support" by Amnesty, it is a proven fact that over the years the LTTE have paid no attention to your calls but have used you to vilify the government of Sri Lanka. The truth is that the LTTE never will pay any attention as they have disregarded calls by other organizations such as the U.N. even after giving assurances to the U.N. However, Amnesty is in a good position to get an assurance as your organization has supporters of the LTTE in Amnesty. For example, a director from the U.S. (Francis Boyle) represented the Tamil terrorists in Geneva in 2005 at a meeting with the E.U.

I note that the statement is calling on the Sri Lankan government to ensure that the civilian population is protected at all times. What does Amnesty suggest the government do? Given Amnesty's world-wide "experience" does your organization have any proposals other than calling on the government to fulfill it's obligations under international human rights and law? The Sri Lankan people and government are faced with the most inhuman, brutal terrorist organization in the world and is doing it's best, with little support from the so-called international community, to do just that because it is the duty of the government to protect the country and it's people. You would be more effective/credible if you could influence the LTTE through it's supporters in the your organization to make the LTTE stop their continuous attacks on ordinary civilians. If you are able to do that your organization may be taken seriously by the people of Sri Lanka who have only known your partisan attitude favoring the LTTE.

The latest act in Amnesty's campaign against Sri Lanka is the news that there is to be a demonstration against Sri Lanka on Monday June 9,2008 in the U.K. Is that another of your brilliant ideas such as the "play by the rules" campaign last year? I trust you do not consider this also as fun because people are getting killed daily by Tamil terrorist bombs while you are issuing inane statements and organizing demonstrations against the government but doing nothing to "influence" your members who are supporters of the Tamil terrorists.

Yours truly,

Ira de Silva
London, Ontario, Canada

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER

Copyright © 1997-2004 www.lankaweb.Com Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reproduction In Whole Or In Part Without Express Permission is Prohibited.