LTTE, TNA and UNHCR

There are two aspects to the manner in which the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein seems to view what is broadly called ‘The Tamil Problem,’ in Sri Lanka. His views and opinions are a mirror-image of TNA Leader R. Sampanthan’s. They are a mirror-image of the opinions of the pro- separatist Tamil Diaspora. All these opinions and so-called convictions lack one thing: Balance. We are not arguing against all that is right and just in many of their collective and individual stances. Only a fool would do so.

But, what we are saying out loud and clear is that all these voices seem to have conveniently forgotten that not very long ago… and for nigh on 30 years of unfettered blood-curdling attacks by their belligerently armed champions of separatism, theirs was a single voice vehemently demanding Eelam at the end of a million gun barrels which spewed death, destruction, leaving hundreds maimed and families without fathers or brothers… all of them victims of the unbridled scourge of terrorism that spanned all of three decades during which successive UN Human Rights Commissioners said not a word against collective LTTE terrorism that was bent on establishing a separate annexed state from Sri Lanka.

It was of course none of Zeid’s business, one might suppose, at that time, since he was a non-entity in this sphere then.
But, one supposes he was human enough to find a place for revulsion in his questionable ‘heart’ for the million of Sinhalese, Muslims and all others including the string of Tamil leaders slaughtered by the LTTE that even today has the full blessings of the TNA leadership that ad nauseam calls for a quicker pace of resettlement and total evacuation of the Army from the North and East.

Zeid reminds us that Martin Luther King Jr. “spoke of the deep shame reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight”. Pray tell us more my dear Zeid: Did Martin Luther refer to the brutally murderous LTTE and its then vociferous backers the TNA over a bloody 30-year cross-country blood-letting spree in which even infants and early adolescent Samaneras were put to the sword or was Dr. King talking about the knee-jerk Sinhala-Buddhist response to that blood-letting about which your predecessors in office did nothing about for all of those 30 years of unbridled mayhem. Or would you rather have had the UN system continue blind to LTTE atrocities for another 30 years more?

We do not see the UN crying over the brutal annexation of the Crimea from Ukraine where in a short and brutal period of three-years of unrelenting bombardment the UN stayed dumb in the face of the fate of separatism that befell Ukraine. So much for the UN and UNHRC defences and hot air!

Forgive us for being blunt, but since you presume to be qualified to hold the position you now do, don’t you think it’s time you manifested more of a sense of historical balance when you speak out of the side of your mouth when you say that “the actions of the Police, Security Forces and all other agents of the State must be in line with relevant human rights obligations and minimum standards. When reports suggest violations of human rights, we call on the authorities to conduct investigations to establish the facts, prosecute perpetrators and ensure redress for victims. Economic, social and cultural rights are vital, and their respect must include equitable access to resources, services and opportunities. Refugee law must also be respected, especially the principle of non-refoulement. And all forms of discrimination must be eradicated, to ensure that every member of society can freely make choices and participate in decisions.”

How convenient that this same rule of thumb was not applied by the UNHRC during those 30 years of tyranny to which today’s TND subscribed unreservedly?

History does not lie Zeid, but it can be made to look like it does when men in your position deem it fit to forget the more overarching factors of tyranny which led to what were the reactions of a pent-up fear and a desire to hit back at the murderous oppressor.
The TNA protests that “There is no structured programme of action taken to address the urgent and essential needs of the affected people to enable these people to rebuild their lives by providing them with housing and livelihood support. The engagement by the military in economic activities causes immense harm and deprivation to the local civilian population.

All of this is exactly what the TNA and LTTE heaped upon the Sinhala majority and other races in the country for 30 years during which The UNHRC has no structured or any other programme, to end that tyranny!

Many of these matters have unfortunately not been referred to in the resolution adopted by the myopic UN Human Rights Council.

at which everyone seems to be wearing blinkers which blind them to the wider picture of truth.
This, Mr. Zeid, is why the President and our Prime Minister will in the ultimate essay not dance to any tune played by the UNHRC or the international community.

Internal political party squabbles and animosities and even personal level ego clashes in Sri Lanka do not detract from the fact that the real voice of the Tamil people is not necessarily that which is magnified by sections of the diaspora and the TNA. Lanka’s cross-political stratum is agreed on that.

The government in Colombo is trying its level best to do what is in the best interests of all of Sri Lanka’s peoples. The objectives of the UNHRC that you represent appear to demand that there be an “inclusive and meaningful engagement of all Sri Lankans, when implementing the resolution on Sri Lanka adopted by the UNHRC last year’.

We trust the sole and inclusive, meaningful engagement means just that, and that it means it includes the overriding facets of total sovereignty and the government’s non-negotiable responsibility to ensure the continuity of common sovereign rights of all of its people and none at the expense of “more sovereign rights” to those who have been twisting the arms of the mist influential members of the global community who finance and pull all the strings at the UNHRC.

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