gdp's Comments

Groundviews : Human rights - What human rights?

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 04:09:57 +0000

Are you still pleased for Palestine? It's funny how less than 2 weeks after this comment Israel unleashed all hell on Palestine. Air strikes that claimed over 380 casualties! Not just that they’re willing for a ground assault as well. All to defend them selves from terrorist attacks. I haven’t heard a single news channel call that genocide. When Sri Lankan air strikes take far far less civilian casualties (even with primitive technology compared to Israel) commenters here use the word genoiced willy nilly. Propaganda I say!

Groundviews : Human rights - What human rights?

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:25:31 +0000

No need for a summary. Anyone at groundviews should take the time to read the whole thing if they do care about human rights in Sri Lanka. Shame on LTTE mouth pieces here who white wash these crimes under “human rights”. As for the article highlighted by Sarvan which I haven’t come across, from what I read about it on the news media it doesn’t point the finger at who perpetrates human rights violations. So if anyone says the article suggests the government is at fault then they’re lying and twisting facts. It is most likely anyway that LTTE is responsible for the majority of it as well. Considering there is a full blown out war it is not unusual to have the country on a concerned list. Hypocrisy of that US document is that they fail to put the Iraq on that list which I personally think is in a worse situation than Sri Lanka on the so called ‘red alert’ list. Catch my drift? And then there are weak arguments equating LTTE efforts to conscription. They just fail to mention that the LTTE is a violent dictatorship which has no authority over Tamil people. I.e. NOT a democratic choice. A militia dictatorship that brutally forces its people. The torture camps found in Mulaitivu jungle of which I posted videos here before are the perfect examples how the LTTE breaks down young women and children through despicable physical and psychological violence. This is exactly the reason eastern Tamils finally took the courage and defected from the LTTE. It is unfortunate the Northern people are still suffering under their brutal clutches. Tamil racist nationalists are still shouting for racist exclusively Tamil state called eelam after much of it was ethnically cleansed by the LTTE. This is the definition of evil – racial segregation. You wonder why the government fights these animals?

Groundviews : Why are we wasting our lives in traffic jams for corrupt politicians?

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 07:20:21 +0000

You will be counting your blessings one day when you are licking only a small wound because when the suicide bomber blew itself up you were kept away from the actual target by security forces personnel who “helplessly” listened to your pompous honking – but still had the courtesy to overlook that and patiently engage in his duty showing true wisdom. But this is what they get from the ungrateful public. If you remember the 90s when VIP targets were taken out a lot of collateral went with it. Just in the last 2 years statistically collateral have been quite low and the targets actually being saved. It shows that the security detail arrangements are achieving something positive. But you know what, there is always a bunch of people who are too “posh” to be stopped at the road for their own safety for few minutes because they live in a liberal utopia.

Groundviews : Children who lost their childhood?

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 06:58:59 +0000

There are moderate muslim clerics who are put in a tight spot when the media only highlights the activities of the jihadists. But that doesn’t mean all muslims are jihadists or bad people. Bashing religions is barking up the wrong tree.

Groundviews : Why are we wasting our lives in traffic jams for corrupt politicians?

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:59:14 +0000

So true! I'm not saying all the politicians need this protection. But Sri Lanka does have probably the highest rate (guesstimate) of political assasinations! Yet people wonder why they take such precaution. Quite a few lives were saved thanks to the motorcades recently. I'd understand if these mortorcades went by spraying bullets all around the place. Or run people over frequently. But this complaining is just ridiculous. I honestly think private buses are more of a nuicance than politicains entourages.

Groundviews : Children who lost their childhood?

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:39:30 +0000

Children who lost their childhood? Hardly! Photos itself show them playing with other kids doing what kids do. You guys do know that they’re free to leave the Sangha if they don’t like it? They’re not given away. They’re enrolled into a school that gives them an education and a respectful path in life. Think military school, Christian colleges and convents that are quite common even in the western world. Just these kids’ uniforms are different. They still play, they learn and they do it all with great humility and respect. I’d say considering the fate of some kids in Sri Lanka nowadays these kids are lucky to have that guidance.

Groundviews : Human rights - What human rights?

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:22:47 +0000

Human rights are a collective issue for all the people in this world. At least when you speak in the context of Sri Lanka why not include all the ethnicities that are victims of human rights? I cannot stress enough to say that it is not just Tamils that are victims of this. It is not just the government that perpetrates human rights abuses. They include business men, law enforces, terrorists, thugs, ordinary people. Without race nor creed. People who have power essentially look down upon and abuse people of lesser-no power. Not all but some. Believe me Sinhalese and Muslims in this country are victims of human rights as much as Tamils. They suffer collectively! Why is the author not even mentioning human rights abuses by the LTTE on Tamil people? Why only hold the government as a villain? Why are you missing private sector corporate thugs that treat people like expendable slaves? Whenever you see an article that goes Racist Evil Sinhala Gov -> Kills innocent Tamils you know that there’s an agenda! Speak out for all of us Sri Lankans if you truly care for human rights. Expose all that violate human rights. Most of all present evidence. It’s not hard to whip up an article like this using that standard propaganda template.

Groundviews : Defeating the result and the cause of war - Role of the mass movement

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 06:07:41 +0000

@Justin: Defence sovereignty? How is that even remotely related to a federal ideal? Justin is pretty much rephrasing the notion of a separate state in a deceiving way. Federal law enacted by a central government should govern the operation of federated forces. You cannot have 2 military forces in the same country that's just ridiculous. Also what do you mean by financial sovereignty? That Northern and Eastern states will make enough in their local economies to self sustain and they should not have to contribute to the federal budget? Lack of overarching legislation that governs financial, military aspects means it's not even a united state. The central government must have necessary powers to defend all its citizens while letting local states have the political sovereignty to govern them selves which is what a true federal system is all about from what I understand. Practically going to a federal system is just overkill for a small country like ours let alone separate it. So really we need to enhance the devolution of power and move towards absolute secularism while combating rampant corruption at the same time. No easy feat by any means!

Groundviews : Mahaveer 2008 and Mumbai Mayhem

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 12:12:44 +0000

How is that a prescription? That is giving no hope at all! If you walk about in Colombo you will see the ethnic cooperation thriving among many communities encompassing many ethnicities going about their daily lives peacefully. So I do think there are strong resilient Sinhalese and Tamil people who are capable of coexistence despite your gloomy outlook. I just want to know what we must do if we are to abandon attempts to restore war torn nations? If the tensions are that strenuous then it is clearly not suitable for creating 2 states side by side either as that will lead to an eternity of border war (leading to further amplified carnage by your so called unhealable animosity). It will create an unhealthy precedence that will have propagating effects to other nations around the world crumbling down societies as the legitimacy of all sovereign nations come under threat by small violent groups. Unacceptable. Note it says genocide. Sri Lanka doesn’t have a genocide issue so clearly this doesn’t apply even. Irrelevant.

Groundviews : Mahaveer 2008 and Mumbai Mayhem

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 11:31:14 +0000

Isn't it a bit hypocritical that you cheer Prabakaran who denies Tamils democracy while saying "South Asia has become a region for countries that deny democracy to its citizens"?

Groundviews : Is India reaping a harvest of hatred sown by Indians? We have seen it all before-a Sri Lankan perspe

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 11:12:38 +0000

Rajiv, you hit the nail into Vijay’s coffin. I commend you for bringing out the sword of truth and slicing through his pompous rhetoric.

Groundviews : Is India reaping a harvest of hatred sown by Indians? We have seen it all before-a Sri Lankan perspe

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:43:41 +0000

This is exactly why eelam is the worst of worst ideas. Pakistan was given to the muslims during Indian independence but India is still haunted by radicals. Racial segregation is the mother of all evil. Anyone who thinks India has the answers to the Sri Lankan problem should think twice before opening their mouths now. So many pundits have said that Indian model is the way to go in Sri Lanka. You watch now, India is going to dig it self in the war against terror camp too now. Have u heard the Indian whos who commenting on the attack? they're exact copies of 9/11 comments with an Indian accent. This is just getting started for them.. Next it is TN radicals. Regardless India now has to fight a border war (kashmir) + internal extremism (deccan mujahadin). This would have been the ultimate gift for Sri Lanka as well had short sighted Ranil n co. had their way! Point is us Sri Lankans will stay standing as long as we're united under one flag. The day we allow lines to be drawn we will crumble like a sand castle and come down to India's level.

Groundviews : We do not know what no one can deny: Stephen Champion's Lanka War Stories

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:25:33 +0000

Don't bash a religion without knowing about it. Religions don’t discriminate. They offer hope to any person (despite whatever sins) who believes in it and strength to see through tough times. Whether it be Buddhism, Christianity, Muslim, Hinduism or any other sensible religion. No matter what the religion is people turn to it to make sense of overwhelming situations and challenges. People have turned to the same god on both sides of war in history. Buddhist monk who blesses the Army soldier and the Hindu priest that blesses the LTTE carder and are doing what they’re supposed to do. Offer solace to people during testing periods in their lives. In any case clergy does not wish the other party would die. They just give blessings to save their own lives – to protect them from ill. Is that something so bad?? I find it utterly disgusting that you would even take such a cheap shot at religion Justin.

Groundviews : So close and yet so far: From Pooneryn to peace in Sri Lanka

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:17:16 +0000

Well Mr. Douglas, UN human rights council is a 47 member council (http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/) that gets elected from time to time as I understand – correct me if I am wrong I'm not an expert in this area. Out of the 47 seats 4 of the seats are held by Asian states. If I recall correctly Sri Lanka simply failed to get “re-elected” - not “kicked out”. Hardly surprising considering Sri Lanka at the time was on a war footing. Given the circumstances it makes sense to appoint states that are not in an awkward position to represent the objectives of the council. To carry out its agenda to the fullest extent. So they elected Japan, Bahrain, South Korea and Pakistan this time around. Note that India wasn't elected either! Anyway according to your logic any state not being in the council implies they are gross violators of human rights. Thus all nations other than 47 out of the 192 member states are gross violators of human rights. Given the fact that Asia only has 4 seats in this council, only 4 Asian countries are classified as “saint” nations at any given time. I am also quite certain media issues had nothing to do with it. It was simply because of some NGO's were shouting foul. We all know some NGOs actively engage in propaganda activities but that's there to be debated. It is easy to twist facts and make it sound so bad in a propaganda scenario. Also writing it in all caps doesn't make an impact either.

Groundviews : So close and yet so far: From Pooneryn to peace in Sri Lanka

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:46:35 +0000

Sam and T Douglas. Since both of you loosely use the term genocide why not include the countless muslims and sinhalese murdered by the LTTE in your genoicde? LTTE's ethnic cleansing of the North? Raiding Sinhalese/Muslim border villages, raping and murdering innocent civilians so LTTE can claim eelam land? Eelam is made out of violation of human rights. Never ever humane people will let that eelam exist that is built upon the blood of innocent people. Btw, I don't search I read and these and are facts I come across. I am sorry I don't read pro LTTE propaganda where you get your facts from. For that I pity you. You never adequately counter argue my claims either. Just say "genocide" this and "genocide" that. Never you make a factually based argument nor present evidence. It's just the eelamist propaganda repeating a mantra over n over. I think for the intelligent readers here your motives are clear.

Groundviews : Artistes of hypocrisy in Sri Lanka

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:36:29 +0000

groundviews, thanks for listening to my feedback. i like the new comment system.