The thing with the human rights situation in Sri Lanka ...
One of the key elements to winning the war against the bad guys is to recognize and accept when we do things that makes us the bad guys. Historically, most parties to a conflict who have struggled to maintain a descent level of dignity, compassion and value have come through as victors. In Sri Lanka, while we are clearly fighting the bad guys - those who deliberately killed civilians standing at bus stops, assassinated intellectuals and opponents and recruited children to name a few - successive Sri Lankan governments have been tempted to cross the line and do things that they do. As of recent, those things - abductions, disappearances and insensitivity to the effects on civilians during battle - have increased substantially suggesting a narrowing difference between those who are "bad" and those who are supposed to be fighting to uphold the rights and virtues of humanity.
It is unreasonable, however, for western countries to demand better human rights from the government forces when their actions (or inactions) significantly contribute towards the problems in Sri Lanka. The LTTE violence is almost entirely funded by capital raised in western countries and arms are smuggled into the country by a complex network that spans the whole world. The airplanes that the LTTE recently acquired that took the conflict to a new dimension is rumoured to have been purchased in Australia. So demanding better human rights is little like complaining about the neighbour's messy yard when you throw your garbage over their fence.
In addition, while not defending anything short of absolute conformity to the highest standard of human rights record, to be fair to the government and the army, 20 years of war can take its toll. The truth is the conduct of the government forces - a third world army with extremely limited resources, training and motivation - have been, thus far, close to outstanding. Not that there haven't been breaches in the code of conduct - some serious, but considering these have been over a period of 20 long years of continuous conflict, turmoil and hopelessness the forces have done a tremendous job. Keep in mind American soldiers - again isolated incidences - started stealing watches of dead Iraqi soldiers a week into the Iraqi war and prisoner abuse in Abu Graib, planned rape of a teenage girl in the suburbs of Baghdad and kidnapping and killings of civilians in Hamdania to name a few took place in the next few years. These are some of the inevitable evils that come out in reasonably good people at times of war but is - fortunately - seldom heard of in Sri Lanka - yet.
So yes, the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating and the government needs to do everything possible to uphold law and order in the country. Without which not only are we not going to emerge as outright and deserving victors but there is also little point in fighting when values for which we have fought for so long have been contaminated. But also, I hope the rest of entities that has a significant impact in the situation in Sri Lanka also own up to their part in the conflict in Sri Lanka and help curb the bad guys by assisting unconditionally in the fight against terrorism . Else - you don't need a PhD in social politics to know - that the line between the "bad" guys and the rest will increasingly blur and the human rights situation along with the rest of the good things in Sri Lanka will no doubt further worsen.
It is unreasonable, however, for western countries to demand better human rights from the government forces when their actions (or inactions) significantly contribute towards the problems in Sri Lanka. The LTTE violence is almost entirely funded by capital raised in western countries and arms are smuggled into the country by a complex network that spans the whole world. The airplanes that the LTTE recently acquired that took the conflict to a new dimension is rumoured to have been purchased in Australia. So demanding better human rights is little like complaining about the neighbour's messy yard when you throw your garbage over their fence.
In addition, while not defending anything short of absolute conformity to the highest standard of human rights record, to be fair to the government and the army, 20 years of war can take its toll. The truth is the conduct of the government forces - a third world army with extremely limited resources, training and motivation - have been, thus far, close to outstanding. Not that there haven't been breaches in the code of conduct - some serious, but considering these have been over a period of 20 long years of continuous conflict, turmoil and hopelessness the forces have done a tremendous job. Keep in mind American soldiers - again isolated incidences - started stealing watches of dead Iraqi soldiers a week into the Iraqi war and prisoner abuse in Abu Graib, planned rape of a teenage girl in the suburbs of Baghdad and kidnapping and killings of civilians in Hamdania to name a few took place in the next few years. These are some of the inevitable evils that come out in reasonably good people at times of war but is - fortunately - seldom heard of in Sri Lanka - yet.
So yes, the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating and the government needs to do everything possible to uphold law and order in the country. Without which not only are we not going to emerge as outright and deserving victors but there is also little point in fighting when values for which we have fought for so long have been contaminated. But also, I hope the rest of entities that has a significant impact in the situation in Sri Lanka also own up to their part in the conflict in Sri Lanka and help curb the bad guys by assisting unconditionally in the fight against terrorism . Else - you don't need a PhD in social politics to know - that the line between the "bad" guys and the rest will increasingly blur and the human rights situation along with the rest of the good things in Sri Lanka will no doubt further worsen.
posted by Hitch at 5/23/2007 02:10:00 AM
14 Comments:
It is easy to point fingers and blame everyone else for the deteriorating situation thanks for the governmnet. I suggest you look at your government for answers and stop waiting for foreigners to come and save you all the time. This is your war initiated as a result of racist policies. Now stop whining and deal with it.
This is very true. I mean are the other government waiting for some miracle to suddenly improve the situation in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is fighting terrorist against a lot of odds and if the internatinal community is not willing to help then stop demanding miracles. The situation will worsen before it gets better. Eveyone knows the LTTE leader is not interested in any peaceful settlement. He is a power craving, selfish, evil man.
As NGO person in this country, I can tell you it is the mentality of the people. Like one said they should stop pointing fingers and start ruling the country according good human rights. It is no one elses fault.
I disagree with the bloody ngot!! The article is so true. Obviously things will get worse if the international community allows terrorism to be imported to this country. If they are serious about human rights they should help the government to wipe out the terrorists who not only kill civilians but inveted most of the tools like suicide bombings that are not used world over.
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070524_02
hmmm. Good.
A big part of Sri Lanka's so called 'Human rights problem' are the infestation of NGO maggots who feed off of the bogus putrefication they create thru false media.
Perhaps we should turn some of our so well known anti-human rights guns against these parasites and give them a taste of what it is like to screw with us..
This is not anyone else's problem. Sri Lankan's seems to think that foreigners come to destroy the country. But on the contrary they have very little influence and certain no intention to get involved in local politics. So you should stop pointing fingers and adopt more humanitarian and non-discriminatory objectives to solve the ethnic issues. NGOs have no interest in the country other than helping the unfortunate. That's all there is to it.
all the sinhala government knwos is to point fingers. they know nothing else. They are terrorist, who kills and makes the Tamils suffer.
Sinhala race should be marked as a terrorist race.
Yes the government does point fingers but the suffering - sad to - say - has to be attributed to the LTTE who chose terrorism over democracy to fight injustice.
our nice Tamil terrorist friends, you say that innocent Tamils are been killed, your pro-LTTE - Terrorist website reports incidents where you are responsible for killing innocent tamils. who are the people destroying the TAMIL race? its the LTTE
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=22297
I don't know what the big mystery is here. Sri Lanka has signed a number of international agreements, promising to abide by human rights. They are violating these agreements using terrorism as an excuse. Sorry, but that argument does not hold water - fighting terrorism can be an explanation but it is not an excuse. Pointing fingers left and right when accused of human rights violations is infantile - stand up and take it like a man - if you break your promises you will be criticized. This goes for man and state.
When was the last time you hear G.W. Bush say "Yeah, but why can't I violate Human Rights when Mahinda can"?
The only comparison necessary is between promises given by Sri Lanka to other member states and actual performance.
Sri Lanka today that paints a very bleak image. ACF killers still on the loose, abductions, disappearances, Red Cross workers killed....surely that is not the fault of Australia, Canada or Norway? I doubt if Norwegian Commandos and Canadian Home Guards were in Muttur in the morning of August 4th....
What proof have you got stating that the government did it?
For me, the timing says that its done by the LTTE/UNP to discredit the government of SL. After all, there has not been any proof that the government did anything?
People can always point fingers, but without proper proof, how come you talk crap?
Whereas, for all the LTTE crimes, there is proof and no one talks about it. Eg: Child soldiers, murders of civilians, assassinations, drugs, credit card fraud... the list is endless...
The whole world treats tamils as terrorists based on well documented acts of sub-human barbarism.
Tribal at best of times, racist all the time, sub-human in any given time.
Vanni tamils are Semi-evolved, tribal neolithic fuckfaces.
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