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By P K Balachandran | ENS - COLOMBO
23rd October 2012 11:27 AM
The Indian government has invited Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to New Delhi for talks, ahead of next month’s session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, according to informed sources. The visit is expected to take place in the next few days because Sri Lanka’s case is to be taken by the UNHRC on November 1, under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) scheme. India is in the three-nation panel which will oversee the review.
In the last session of the UNHRC in March, a US-sponsored resolution hostile to Sri Lanka was passed. In the coming session too, the council is expected to take a critical stance.
India’s concerns
In the March session, India got the US to dilute its resolution before voting for it. This time, sources say, India may find it difficult to help the island nation in the light of some developments which it finds disturbing.
Foremost among them is Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s reported statement that the 13th Amendment (13A) of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which gives a measure of autonomy to the provinces, should be scrapped because it is fostering “separatism”.
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a constituent of the government, has started an agitation to get the 13A repealed on the ground that it was enacted at the point of the Indian gun. It has been India’s consistent line that devolution of power to the provinces, including the Tamil-dominated north and east, will bring about peace and ethnic reconciliation to the troubled island.
Copyright © 2012 The New Indian Express. All rights reserved.
Comments(59)
India's move to change Gotabaya Rajapakse's mind by explaining the bitter ground reality is not in the interest of Tamil speaking minorities. India must be honest and fair to the persecuted minorities. Rajapakse government has shown beyond any doubt that its mono-ethnic Sinhalese army that is deployed in large numbers, colonial governor ex-army commander Chandrasiri and the Sinhalese police together will not allow Tamils freedom of expression or a trouble free life. The UN HRC must be allowed to consider the ground realities in Tamil areas and take appropriate action to bring about accountability for the alleged war crimes committed by both parties and dind a solution based on equality of races.
Posted by Sithamparam at 10/23/2012 16:28 Reply to this Report abuse
The comment by Mr Sithamparam either shows his ignorance or his desire to deliberately mislead the world, as is the hallmark of LTTE, by trying to label the SriLankan security forces as mono-ethnic. Before Prabakaran started killing Tamil security officers in the Army, Navy, Police etc, demanding they resign from these establishments, the Tamils were not only senior members of these forces, but were represented well over their ethnic ratio in the country. Even with terrorist threats, many Tamils remained on these bodies and are now after Prabakaran's death, are again joining in large numbers.
Posted by Raja at 10/24/2012 06:17 Reply to this Report abuse
Actually the "mono-ethnic" military as you prefer to name it, is recruiting rehabilitated ex-tiger fighters to protect the country.
Posted by kachal at 10/23/2012 20:39 Reply to this Report abuse
This so called recruitment of ex-LTTE cadres is to hoodwink the international community, as ever by Lanka.
Posted by Kumar at 10/23/2012 21:54 Reply to this Report abuse
Do u really think SL would let its security into jeopardy just to hoodwink int community? SL has successfully rehabilitated most of ex LTTE cadres. They are given training in various professions. Also many Tamils are being recruited. For ur info many Tamils did served in SL forces even during war.
Posted by sachs at 12/24/2012 16:59 Report abuse
SL army has never been mono ethnic. It is a claim spread by LTTE propaganda and Western and Indian media. I have seen indian media spreading it even after been corrected by SLns. SL army has a muslims and even burghers in it. There were many Tamils in army as well. There were many tamils especially in police service. The claim that SL army is mono ethnic is an outright lie. The tamils in SL forces and their families were targetted by LTTE and they had to pay a heavy price for that.
Posted by sach at 12/24/2012 16:55 Reply to this Report abuse
The mosquito (Mahinda Rajapakse) is laughing at the elephant (India). India should wake up and simply recognise Tamil Eelam without any delay. India has become a laughing stocke of the international community concerning Sri Lanka. India should enjoy with China and Pakistan around.
Posted by Justine at 10/23/2012 16:48 Reply to this Report abuse
So ur point is Int community is laughing at India for not recognising Eelam which killed its former PM? what logic is that?
Posted by sach at 12/24/2012 17:01 Reply to this Report abuse
I agree, India should recognise Tamil Elam in tamil nadu as 72 million tamils live there.There is no space for Tamil Elam in Sri Lanka.Any tamil or any one can live in a peaceful country as long as they don't try separate parts for their communities.Sri Lanka is for every one to live in peace.If any one is not happy with that arrangement,please leave or if you have already left,stay where you are.There are lot of Tamils who are happy to live in Sri Lanka.Just walk along Galleface green and see for your self.
Posted by Dr.Wijebahu at 10/23/2012 17:22 Reply to this Report abuse
Why not? Let us have a referendum on Tamil Eelam and we'll know where it can be found
Posted by anand at 10/23/2012 23:00 Reply to this Report abuse
at last we all agree... a referendum is exactly what we need. Everyone is asking for a country wide referendum to decide whether: 1. to keep the illegally imposed 13th amendment without any people's mandate at a time when country was weakened by foreign funded terrorism 2. to decide whether it is right to have an ethnically pure (Hitler style) area for just 1 community living in that country while the rest of the country remain multi-cultural with equal rights to everyone .
Posted by suchitra at 10/23/2012 23:33 Reply to this Report abuse
who needs a referendum when SL has successfuly resisted any attempt to divide their country?
Posted by sach at 12/24/2012 17:03 Reply to this Report abuse
Galle face is the only place you will see Tamils hanging around because they all have been cornered to Colombo. Another riot like 1983 will exterminate them remaining easily.
Posted by Prem at 10/23/2012 17:48 Reply to this Report abuse
Uh uh, Galle Face is a place where people go for recreation at their own will, not certainly for combat. In the twisted minds of Eelamist jokers, going to Galle Face is not a sign of relaxed and free people but an evil place where people get cornered. In the twisted minds of Eelamist jokers, Tamils are now living only in Colombo, not a single Tamil in the other towns like Kandy, Mathara, etc. What a departure from reality? These jokers shall go to Sri Lanka before spewing venom of hatred next time to see what peace has brought into Sri Lanka.
Posted by Sam Perera at 10/23/2012 19:39 Reply to this Report abuse
Tamil Nadu is the ideal location for a Tamil Elam due its vast land mass and hundreds of years traditional tamil culture with over 70 million tamil speaking population comprising thousands of scholars widely recognized all over the world. Vast majority of Tamils living in this country now enjoys the freedom and comfort of prosperity who suffered for over two decades of brutal war ignited by few handful of misguided separatists. Sri Lanka is a small country a home for all multi religios multi cultural Sri Lankans to live peacefully anywhere irrespective of the ethnicities
Posted by P.Saravanamuthu at 10/23/2012 17:53 Reply to this Report abuse
Mr Saravanamuthu. Are you actually a Tamil person living in Sri Lanka or are you writing under a pseudo name? I was born in Kurunagala, grew up in Trinco amongst Tamils, worked in Tamil firms in Colombo, helped my Tamil bosses and neighbours in 1983, helped them to go to Jaffna by ship, India by ferry and subsequently to the UK as refugees. One of them returned from UK after 25 years and I accompanied him to Jaffna in June. A Sinhalese can move freely in Jaffna or go anywhere in reSri Lanka. But Not You Mr Saravanmuttu. If it was so peaceful, why is the Army still in Jaffna, harnessing youngsters 3 years after the war, if peace be; why several thousands of our refugees, still being fed and clothed by India while Indian children go starving? Isn't this enough evidence for India to wage war against us? Why not remove the army, more Police and Tamil speaking Police in Jaffna. Stop planned settlements of Sinhalese in Tamil areas. One country, One nation, all Sri Lankans; Can live anywhere
Posted by Ellison Jayewardane at 10/23/2012 21:14 Reply to this Report abuse
there was a war in these parts 3 years back for 30 years. u cant expect those areas to be free of military just now. But the truth is military presence have been reduced tremendously. Even South is not free of military. Because they have to stay somewhere. Even if N&E would be normal 100%, u would still see military camps. India doesnt feed any lankan. If u re talking abt the war refugees they have been there for 30 years and some are returning. Jayalalitha and TN jokers are heart thumping for the tamils here so they must be very happy to treat them. So why wage war?
Posted by sach at 12/24/2012 17:11 Reply to this Report abuse
Dear Gota, Dont trust Indians. we want the 13, 13A and possible 13+ all kicked out of our constitution. Dont yield to Indian pressure. We dont want racism, cast-ism and separatism in our country. We dont want likes of Karunanidhi and Jayalalitha coming up in our country, already we have thugs and jokers because of the 13. Let the Indians do their worst (they will do in any case). We should say NO to everything Indian if they start meddling with our country and our wishes.
Posted by Ellepola at 10/23/2012 18:08 Reply to this Report abuse
Don't trust India. They still playing double game even their ex-Parsi Prime Minister Rajivi Gandhi receiving world's best guard of honour from Sri Lanka, Sailor and last respect from LTTE due to double tongue. Sri Lankans always voting and sending their representatives to Parliament. Act like how Sir John Kotalawela acted against Nehru in Bandung and how R. Premadasa handle IPKF. against India. Last UNHRC India voted against Sri Lanka. Whole Sri Lankans knows dirty game of India. Remember , there is no Bangladesh, before that time Pakistan had Nuclear Weapons. Sri Lanka got two Nuclear power nations, one is Pakistan and other one China. Never ever trust India. We have to teach our future generation how India acted and acting against Sri Lanka.
Posted by Asoka at 10/23/2012 19:31 Reply to this Report abuse