Broke Sri Lanka relying on India

[chaminda_00]

I am not here to endorse the Sri Lankan governments point of view. The Tamil terrorists are still what they are - terrorists.

In our own country, my fellow Sikhs waged a struggle to get a homeland for the Sikhs. I dont want to go into the rights and wrongs of the demand of that separate homeland (Khalistan) but the use of terror which resulted in thousands being killed across the country but largely in the Punjab was disgusting and shameful.

They too forwarded all types of grievances against the Indian government to justify the terrorism but that doesn't change a thing as far as the disgust that terrorism will and should provoke in all right thinking people across the globe.

Forget justifying the terrorism, even refusing to speak out against it at every possible opportunity disgusts me.

I'm not really sure what the situation is surrounding the Sikhs. But IMO unless you understand the reason behind the civil war you can't really call them a terrorist. Yeah there is no doubt the methods they use maybe shameful at times. But there is no difference between the methods they use and what many armies have used in the past and many still use.

For the first 20 years of the civil war they were never classified as terrorist. Then after 911, there was this big catch cry about any organisation that were against an US backed government being terrorist. Really if anyone actually looks at the situation properly there is no way you can call them terrorist in the same way as some groups in the mid east.

In no way I'm saying they are perfect, but really there is as much innocent blood from both sides. Really there isn't a great deal of difference between the way the Government Army goes about their business and Tamil Army. It is just one side has control of western media and only tells on side of story. I'm sure in 20 odd years hopefully earlier we will see what the real story in Sri Lanka really is.

 

[chaminda_00]

a) There is not one shred of evidence that 100 innocent civilians were even killed over the last week by the SL government. Parroting TamilNet as a academic source is like quoting "Dear Penthouse" letters.

How about the people that live in Jaffna and had the excape the shooting word? But simply both sides use as much proprangda as each other. I wouldn't believe TamilNet anymore then the Daily News.

 

[SJS]

I'm not really sure what the situation is surrounding the Sikhs. But IMO unless you understand the reason behind the civil war you can't really call them a terrorist. Yeah there is no doubt the methods they use maybe shameful at times. But there is no difference between the methods they use and what many armies have used in the past and many still use.

For the first 20 years of the civil war they were never classified as terrorist. Then after 911, there was this big catch cry about any organisation that were against an US backed government being terrorist. Really if anyone actually looks at the situation properly there is no way you can call them terrorist in the same way as some groups in the mid east.

In no way I'm saying they are perfect, but really there is as much innocent blood from both sides. Really there isn't a great deal of difference between the way the Government Army goes about their business and Tamil Army. It is just one side has control of western media and only tells on side of story. I'm sure in 20 odd years hopefully earlier we will see what the real story in Sri Lanka really is.

You really are naive.

That is the difference between an 'internal struggle' for independence/autonomy and terrorism where 'fear' is used a a weapon. Fear that any innocent man woman or child at school work or in a shopping mall going about his daily life might be blown up by a complete stranger for no reason except to spread the 'fear of terror'

 

[lionheart]

I'm not really sure what the situation is surrounding the Sikhs. But IMO unless you understand the reason behind the civil war you can't really call them a terrorist. Yeah there is no doubt the methods they use maybe shameful at times. But there is no difference between the methods they use and what many armies have used in the past and many still use.

You don't need to understand the situation in Sri Lanka to denounce the LTTE as terrorists. Anyone who uses terrorism as a means to achieve their measures is a terrorist. Their “methods maybe shamefull” – I guess that statement alone declares you’re abhorrent and misguided view of terrorism.

For the first 20 years of the civil war they were never classified as terrorist. Then after 911, there was this big catch cry about any organisation that were against an US backed government being terrorist. Really if anyone actually looks at the situation properly there is no way you can call them terrorist in the same way as some groups in the mid east.

No, the LTTE were branded terrorist long before 9/11. It’s just that the rest of the world didn't care. The United Nations definition of the word ‘terrorism’ hasn't changed since 1988 when the definition was first tabled.

In no way I'm saying they are perfect, but really there is as much innocent blood from both sides. Really there isn't a great deal of difference between the way the Government Army goes about their business and Tamil Army. It is just one side has control of western media and only tells on side of story. I'm sure in 20 odd years hopefully earlier we will see what the real story in Sri Lanka really is.

There is no comparison between the two sides. To equate the LTTE as the "Tamil Army" is to say that Al Qaida is the army of Islam. If the LTTE was the army of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka then why did they violently silence every other Tamil militant group in Sri Lanka? Why do they continue to murder every Tamil dissenter from the LTTE dogma? Why are they currently fighting a faction that broke off from them in Eastern Sri Lanka? Why did the LTTE ethnically cleanse Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka of virtually all its indigenous Moorish, Malay and Sinhalese inhabitants? Why does the vast majority of Tamils call central, western and southern Sri Lanka home?

You make it seem like the LTTE is fighting for a democracy. They are not. The LTTE's fights for an ethnically hemogenous authoritarian communist military state - not a democracy not for civil liberties and freedom. I suggest you study the history of the Sri Lankan conflict before you post these absurdities.

 

[chaminda_00]

You really are naive.

Have you heard of the Kurds - I am sure you have. The Kurds and their 'army' of 'peshmarga" have been in existence far longer than your 'Tamil army' and have waged wars against the Iraq regime for long in order to get an Independent Kurdistan.

But they did not go about bombing random civilians in order to do that.

That is the difference between an 'internal struggle' for independence/autonomy and terrorism where 'fear' is used a a weapon. Fear that any innocent man woman or child at school work or in a shopping mall going about his daily life might be blown up by a complete stranger for no reason except to spread the 'fear of terror'

As I said before I don't agree with the methods they use to fight for independence. Yes in a perfect world they wouldn't use these methods of attack. But in a perfect world similar attacks from the government wouldn't also occur in Tamil cities. In relaity most of these attacks are tic for tac. Two wrongs don't make a right. But claim one as terrorist and the other not is bit wrong IMO.

 

[lionheart]

How about the people that live in Jaffna and had the excape the shooting word? But simply both sides use as much proprangda as each other. I wouldn't believe TamilNet anymore then the Daily News.

I don't use the Daily News as a source of news, or for that matter any Sri Lankan newspapers as a source of information. I follow the AFP, CNN, BBC, Hindu, scholarly documents and other reliable services which have a semblance of journalistic integrity.

 

[chaminda_00]

I don't use the Daily News as a source of news, or for that matter any Sri Lankan newspapers as a source of information. I follow the AFP, CNN, BBC, Hindu, scholarly documents and other reliable services which have a semblance of journalistic integrity.

The thing is all news that comes from Sri Lanka is controlled by the government. It not often that you often get to read truelly independent article about Sri Lankan situations, as sources generally come directly from government sources.

Also probably went around the wrong way about this. But yes the LTTE are terriorist organisation due to methods they use. But the problem I had was that every Tamil organisation even the ones you noted before who have frought against the LTTE, are also labelled terrorist. Even many aid organisation.

 

[Bracken]

For the first 20 years of the civil war they were never classified as terrorist. Then after 911, there was this big catch cry about any organisation that were against an US backed government being terrorist.

Categorically wrong. India proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist group in 1992, by the US in 1997, and the UK in 2000. All well before September 2001.

Really if anyone actually looks at the situation properly there is no way you can call them terrorist in the same way as some groups in the mid east.

Invented the use of the contemporary suicide bomber. Regularly commits acts of sea piracy, including killing foreign, neutral crews in cold blood. Conducted ethnic cleansing campaigns against Muslims and Sinhalese within the territory that they held. Massacred police officers that had surrendered. Extensive history of executing unarmed civilians, including those that are trying to flee, and those inside churches and shrines.

Bombed commercial airliners. Assassinated elected officials. Assassinated Buddhist monks. Assassinated foreign dignitaries. Conducted a coordinated bombing campaign against civilians on public transport. Raided unarmed villages and hacked civilians to death.

And much, MUCH more.

Now, which part of that, if looked at "properly", would suggest that the LTTE isn't a terrorist group that is every bit as violent, brutal and evil as any Islamist group?

 

[lionheart]

The thing is all news that comes from Sri Lanka is controlled by the government. It not often that you often get to read truelly independent article about Sri Lankan situations, as sources generally come directly from government sources.

Indeed, but most legible sources of news from SL report that the information they have received is from the government and/or military and similarly they also report information received directly from the LTTE "press wing" and/or TamilNet. As a whole these sources get it right.

Also probably went around the wrong way about this. But yes the LTTE are terriorist organisation due to methods they use. But the problem I had was that every Tamil organisation even the ones you noted before who have frought against the LTTE, are also labelled terrorist. Even many aid organisation.

Not quite sure what you mean. The SL government at the time labelled the other groups as terrorists, but overwhelmingly the international community called them 'rebels' and 'guerrillas'. As for aid organisations - the money trail doesn't lie.

 

[chaminda_00]

Indeed, but most legible sources of news from SL report that the information they have received is from the government and/or military and similarly they also report information received directly from the LTTE "press wing" and/or TamilNet. As a whole these sources get it right.

But I think you will find any sources from either the military and LTTE are always going to taloired towards one side and don't provide an independent view of the situation. You can only report from what they have been 'told', not from what they have seen first. Most if not all this information is 2nd or 3rd hand. any The biggest problem with any news from SL is that it is all 2nd hand.

Not quite sure what you mean. The SL government at the time labelled the other groups as terrorists, but overwhelmingly the international community called them 'rebels' and 'guerrillas'. As for aid organisations - the money trail doesn't lie.

The thing with the aid groups any money trail that leads to LTTE is generally due to stolen money and no direct link with LTTE. But by labelling them terrorist it makes it impossiable to provide funds or food to cillivans. Basically providing them with no relief. Majority of Tamil aid organisation have been labelled terriorist. You can't honestly tell me they are all link to the LTTE.

 

[lionheart]

But I think you will find any sources from either the military and LTTE are always going to taloired towards one side and don't provide an independent view of the situation. You can only report from what they have been 'told', not from what they have seen first. Most if not all this information is 2nd or 3rd hand. any The biggest problem with any news from SL is that it is all 2nd hand.

I tend to disagree, if anything most reports have a slightly anti-establishment tone to them. But I take you're point, most information from the front lines are 2nd hand reports - they are still neutral and hold more water than most of the locally produced pieces.

The thing with the aid groups any money trail that leads to LTTE is generally due to stolen money and no direct link with LTTE. But by labelling them terrorist it makes it impossiable to provide funds or food to cillivans. Basically providing them with no relief. Majority of Tamil aid organisation have been labelled terriorist. You can't honestly tell me they are all link to the LTTE.

Forgive me if it seemed like I was tarring all aid groups with the same brush, but what I meant was virtually every aid group that has been implicated is for the most part - guilty. There are still manly organisations which operate freely, transparently and independently in Sri Lanka.

 

[chaminda_00]

I tend to disagree, if anything most reports have a slightly anti-establishment tone to them. But I take you're point, most information from the front lines are 2nd hand reports - they are still neutral and hold more water than most of the locally produced pieces.

I was questioning more the accuracy of the information then the tone. The further down the chain you go the less accurate information you are given. No doubt they hold more water then local pieces. But I wouldn't be basing my assessment of situation on what you read in overseas newspapers.

Forgive me if it seemed like I was tarring all aid groups with the same brush, but what I meant was virtually every aid group that has been implicated is for the most part - guilty. There are still manly organisations which operate freely, transparently and independently in Sri Lanka.

The problem comes with majority of these organisations that run freely aren't able to operate in areas most needed. As most of these organisations that haven't been labelled terrorist are western organisations and for various reason can't reach the real trouble areas. Also most were found 'guilty' on the basic of any minor link to LTTE, rather a continual funding of money. Fair enough if their was a continual funding of money, but most of those minor links are a result if money being stolen.

 

[Prince EWS]

Move 'em to the Gold Coast!

Best post.

 

[Smudge]

Move 'em to the Gold Coast!

Best post.

Agreed. Up there for Post of the Year for mine.

 

[Craig]

Agreed. Up there for Post of the Year for mine.

Well considering the year is about 33 days old...

 

[Smudge]

Well considering the year is about 33 days old...

Well, we can rule out any of your past or present posts for starters...

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Move 'em to the Gold Coast!

Your finest moment. Savour it.

 

[Nate]

Golden by Nick. Love the guy.

 

[pasag]

Don't want to inflate his ego anymore than it already has been, but I did lol.

 

[JASON]

I find it infuriating when this cricketing forum is turned into a Political forum and then even more infuriating when people who have no first hand of knowledge of the struggling innocent Tamils of Sri Lanka come and gang up on one guy and try and force their view point...

In this I refer to SJS whose absolute lack of knowledge of Sri Lankan Politics or the suffering of the oppressed Tamils and their struggle for Independance is blatantly obvious...

This is not a Political forum...But if this is turned into one we need people with clear idea of what they are talking about , not people with idealogies and no real knowledge of the Politics of Sri Lanka...