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      Sri Lanka’s thirty year war is now more of words than of guns, but it is no less bitter. RNW’s team in the country met with fierce resistance from the Sri Lankan government to the current calls for justice from the international community.

      But the problem is that the international community’s presence in the country is dwindling, a fact witnessed when travelling across the east of the island – where once there were distinctive white NGO vehicles on every corner, the sight is now rare.

      With the help of one remaining NGO which requested anonymity, RNW met nine freshly ‘reintegrated’ former Tamil Tiger guerillas who spoke of their desire for justice for all Sri Lankans. But people in the heavily militarized north and east live in fear of reprisal if they openly criticise the authorities – which is why a vociferous Tamil diaspora, the foreign media and a UN investigation have stepped in. The Sri Lankan government is now hitting back.

      Video counter-punch

      This week Colombo released a documentary video in response to British Channel 4’s Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields, in which it looks to discredit all claims that government troops killed and raped Tamil civilians and prisoners of war during the closing months of the conflict in 2009. The narrator of Lies Agreed Upon rubbishes Channel 4’s documentary: "Doctored footage and deliberate lies are presented as authentic. It begs for review." The film proceeds to refute claims that the military deliberately bombed no-fire zones and seeks to bring into focus atrocities committed by the Tamil Tigers.

      Reactions from the Tamil diaspora to the film are predictable – "The Tamil community is disappointed. The whole documentary is based on lies. The people speaking are all under pressure from the government. What would you do when you were a Tamil and you were under that pressure? You would probably go along with what the government wants," said Mohan, a Dutch Tamil campaigner.

      Tamils who feel free to speak openly say they want an independent, international investigation into the many claims of atrocities committed in 2009 and before. "We are requesting, pleading, begging the civilised world to stop the hypocrisy and double standards. And we’re calling for impartial investigations into missing persons," said Donald Gnanakone head of the US-based ‘Tamils for Justice’.

      Probing for the truth

      Colombo says it is investigating the period in question and that all Sri Lankans watched over by President Rajapaksa, who smiles down from countless billboards around the capital.

      Evidence of this, it claims, is his creation of the ‘Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission’ (LLRC) last year, the stated intention of which is to "focus on the causes of conflict, its effect on the people, and promote national unity and reconciliation." This body claims to have interviewed five thousand people of all ethnicities around the country in the building of its report, expected later this year.

      The international community though, led by the United Nations Secretary General’s office, is not impressed by the LLRC’s work so far, saying it is "deeply flawed, (and) does not meet international standards for an effective accountability mechanism."

      Lakshman Wickremasinghe is spokesman for the LLRC. Does he hear the ever louder calls from the outside world to make the Commission’s work more credible?

      "I hope the international community doesn’t put pressure on the Commission because it’s the best mechanism the country has."

      Whether the Sri Lankan government likes it or not, greater pressure is being brought to bear on it. The US Foreign Affairs Committee, which advises Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, says it is pushing ahead with plans to stop American aid to Sri Lanka unless meaningful investigation takes place and the guilty are brought to book.

      Wanted: justice for all Sri Lankans

      During RNW’s conversations in Sri Lanka with former Tamil Tiger fighters it was clear justice was a high priority for the Tamil community, not only indicting Sri Lankan generals but Tamil leaders too. Critics point out this is easy to say since most of the Tamil Tiger leadership was killed during the closing months of the war.

      The desire for justice is not confined to one side, according to the UN’s former spokesman in Sri Lanka, Gordon Weiss: "I think there are many Sri Lankans of all ethnicities who support accountability, who support the rule of law, who support a frank and full discussion of the past history."

      The problem is there is no history of accountability in Sri Lanka: "Almost nobody has done jail time for the crimes that were committed in 1971 when tens of thousands of Sinhalese were killed, or during the uprising from 1987 – 1990. So there is a long and very profound history of a lack of accountability," said Gordon Weiss.

      He remains hopeful about an independent investigation and justice in the future. The UN however only wants to launch an investigation with the approval of the government of Sri Lanka, which is unlikely to happen. The International Criminal Court does not have jurisdiction, as Sri Lanka is not one of the 114 countries that have signed up to the court. Direct referral by the UN Security Council seems to be the only option left, but with China, India and Russia’s major investments in the country, they would be expected to veto any resolution on a referral.

      Silenced guns or guns with silencers?

      Sri Lanka has suffered from a cycle of oppression and violence for decades. And as the former Tamil rebels in the town of Batticaloa told RNW, if basic rights are not upheld, that cycle will simply continue into the future. The danger for Sri Lanka is that silent guns continue to be interpreted as lasting peace. As the NGO vehicles pull out, fear and impunity are left behind. Former Tamil Tiger Mutu told RNW: "I think there needs to be justice supervised by the international community. Because if the Sri Lankan government does it, it won’t be done properly."

      The other articles from the RNW team in Sri Lanka:

      Sri Lanka’s white vans deliver fear and oppression

      Sri Lanka: picking up the Tamil Tiger’s scent

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      Discussion


      Ulysses Grant 5 August 2011 – 11:33pm / Sri Lanka

  • reply

      What a typical colonialist attitude displayed by the author in stating that because there is no sign of white NGO folks around (who ran around in white NGO vehicles thinking that they owned the country), that it is a sign of regression. Of course, when we had all sorts of white folks around(Norwegians in particular, who openly supported the Tamil Tiger Terrorists), the whole country was in a deep funk and was being terrorized daily. So, regardless of what these authors say, the Government is in full control and the country will not revert back to terrorism. The large military garrisons in the North and East will make sure of that.


      Ulysses Grant 5 August 2011 – 11:33pm / Sri Lanka

  • reply

      What a typical colonialist attitude displayed by the author in stating that because there is no sign of white NGO folks around (who ran around in white NGO vehicles thinking that they owned the country), that it is a sign of regression. Of course, when we had all sorts of white folks around(Norwegians in particular, who openly supported the Tamil Tiger Terrorists), the whole country was in a deep funk and was being terrorized daily. So, regardless of what these authors say, the Government is in full control and the country will not revert back to terrorism. The large military garrisons in the North and East will make sure of that.


      Ulysses Grant 5 August 2011 – 11:33pm / Sri Lanka

  • reply

      What a typical colonialist attitude displayed by the author in stating that because there is no sign of white NGO folks around (who ran around in white NGO vehicles thinking that they owned the country), that it is a sign of regression. Of course, when we had all sorts of white folks around(Norwegians in particular, who openly supported the Tamil Tiger Terrorists), the whole country was in a deep funk and was being terrorized daily. So, regardless of what these authors say, the Government is in full control and the country will not revert back to terrorism. The large military garrisons in the North and East will make sure of that.


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 11:26pm / australia

  • reply

      how many civilian deaths are there in the middle east wars created by the US

      ARE THEY ALL INVESTIGATED


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 9:14pm / USA

  • reply

      I was in Sri Lanka 2 months ago, it has fast become a desirable place. If one goes back on war and what happened, you also have to go back 30 years, investigate every atrocity caused. Tamil Terrorism has more blood in their hands. None of the media or even UN questioned when Tamil Terrorists committed a massive war crime by killing 670 police men who surrendered during a peace agreement. It is a wash, now, let that beautiful country move forward.


      Dissanayake 5 August 2011 – 9:09pm

  • reply

      The author of this news item is a blood thirsty vulture. He does not want to see that we are in peace again after three decades of pain and surow.

      Of course, it will take time to redress and to repel doubts and misunderstanding among diffrent ethnic communities because this is a very complex issue. Seeds of this issue sowed when the Dutch colonists brought Tamils (Vellalas) from South India for tobaco cultivation. Vellala means agricultural labourers. They are the dominant force in north province of Sri Lanka.

      The actual problem started when the British colonists used the devide and control method for the governance. Greedy Tamil leaders who benifited from the British rule insisted upon the same dominance even after the colonists left the country in 1948.

      This problem was turned to a large scale terrorism when Prime Minister Indira Gahandi decided to give arms and financial support to more than dozen number of Tamil armed groups including the LTTE. The sole reason was that she wanted to punish the then Sri Lankan president (1977-1987), Jayawardhana for his close aliance with the the USA government and his support for open economy.

      In addition, she wanted a leaverage to control Sri Lanka, which was in a promising development path. India could not throw her hegemonic force to us if Sri Lanka went beyond India in terms of development. The great irony is India is now very friendly with the US and both governments try to punish us for defeating the LTTE.

      Now, the UK, the USA and India still indirectly harbour the LTTE rump like V. Rudrakumaran, Douglas Ganakon, Rev. Emmanuel, Surandiran, Nediyavan who are actively mobilizing the LTTE international network still .

      I beg the RNW please leave us alone to sort out our problem, There are no instant solutions for this issue. If former LTTE members think they can start another war. Let them try. They will find a hell again. They are day-dreaming. We now have good experience and understanding of the modus operandi of the LTTE. Many Tamils, the low level LTTE members and section of the international community thought that V. Prabakaran was invincible but now they should realize the reality. He built a very stong war chest over 30 years. It was crushed over 3 years.

      If anybody want to resurrect the dead LTTE, it will bring great harm to all counities in particular, innocent peace loving Tamils who bore the brunt of the war against Sinhalese by the most brutal and megalomaniac terrorist leader in the world, Prabakaran. Sinhalese do not have big issue with normal Tamil people. In fact 55% of them are living peacefully outside north and east provinces where the majority is Sinhalese. If there is so called descrimination and genocide against Tamils by Sinhalese, Tamils will not live with sinhalese so harmoniously. Geonocide of Tamil is the greatest lie in the 21st century.


      Dissanayake 5 August 2011 – 9:03pm / Sri Lanka

  • reply

      The author of this news item is a blood thirsty vulture. He does not want to see that we are in peace again after three decades of pain and surow. Of course, it will take time to redress and to repel doubts and misunderstanding among diffrent ethnic communities because this is a very complex issue. Seeds of this issue sowed when the Dutch colonists brought Tamils (Vellalas) from South India for tobaco cultivation. Vellala means agricultural labourers. They are the dominant force in north province of Sri Lanka. The actual problem started when the British colonists used the devide and control method for the governance. Greedy Tamil leaders who benifited from the British rule insisted upon the same dominance even after the colonists left the country in 1948. This problem was turned to a large scale terrorism when Prime Minister Indira Gahandi decided to give arms and financial support to more than dozen number of Tamil armed groups including the LTTE. The sole reason was that she wanted to punish the then Sri Lankan president (1977-1987), Jayawardhana for his close aliance with the the USA government and his support for open economy. In addition, she wanted a leaverage to control Sri Lanka, which was in a promising development path. India could not throw her hegemonic force to us if Sri Lanka went beyond India in terms of development. The great irony is India is now very friendly with the US and both governments try to punish us for defeating the LTTE. Now, the UK, the USA and India still indirectly harbour the LTTE rump like V. Rudrakumaran, Douglas Ganakon, Rev. Emmanuel, Surandiran, Nediyavan who are actively mobilizing the LTTE international network still . I beg the RNW please leave us alone to sort out our problem, There are no instant solutions for this issue. If former LTTE members think they can start another war. Let them try. They will find a hell again. They are day-dreaming. We now have good experience and understanding of the modus operandi of the LTTE. Many Tamils, the low level LTTE members and section of the international community thought that V. Prabakaran was invincible but now they should realize the reality. He built a very stong war chest over 30 years. It was crushed over 3 years. If anybody want to resurrect the dead LTTE, it will bring great harm to all counities in particular, innocent peace loving Tamils who bore the brunt of the war against Sinhalese by the most brutal and megalomaniac terrorist leader in the world, Prabakaran. Sinhalese do not have big issue with normal Tamil people. In fact 55% of them are living peacefully outside north and east provinces where the majority is Sinhalese. If there is so called descrimination and genocide against Tamils by Sinhalese, Tamils will not live with sinhalese so harmoniously. Geonocide of Tamil is the greatest lie in the 21st century.


      Karu 5 August 2011 – 8:49pm / SL

  • reply

      Leave us alone.Those living in other countries should not interfere into our affairs.You look after yours.


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 8:47pm

  • reply

      so according the author, the only people deserves justice are the people who terrorisised the country for 30 years and their financiers….so we must reward them for terrorize us…


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 8:10pm

  • reply

      sri lankans army destroyed the left side red flag already and no more fag flags


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 8:03pm / CANADA

  • reply

      First look at the 2 flags, the Tamil Tiger flag is with guns and bullets,and a tiger’s face that depicts attack position. this shows there motto is pure violence and blood bath, any idiot could understand. I can write 10,000 words in here.


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 7:28pm / Sri Lanka

  • reply

      Looks like this author wants to start the war again.


      Kumar 5 August 2011 – 7:23pm / USA

  • reply

      There are many foreign nationals that want the war (NGO business) to return!


      Kumar 5 August 2011 – 7:23pm / USA

  • reply

      There are many foreign nationals that want the war (NGO business) to return!


      Anonymous 5 August 2011 – 7:00pm / USA

  • reply

      Did it occur to you that there are less NGO vehicles in Sri Lanka because the conditions of the country has vastly improved? I am in Sri Lanka currently and I can tell you first hand, the lives of the Sri Lankans are finally returning to normal. I dont know the politics of this but Sri Lanka is so much better off without the LTTE. In fact, I know a few dutch nationals looking for work in Sri Lanka!

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