Tamil Voices Growing Louder Over Sri Lanka War Crimes and Nepotism

Sri Lanka's 'band of brothers' are a threat to the lives of honest reporters.

Special thanks to Donald Gnanakone

(SALEM / CHENNAI) - The voice of the Sri Lankan Tamils that was silenced by war crimes only three years ago is finding itself again. The sound is lighting up the world with a rich call for justice and increasing numbers of individuals, institutions and governments are suddenly taking notice.

It can't happen fast enough.

Gota Goes Berserk! by Frederica Jansz

Those who are following the story of Sri Lanka's minority Tamil Hindu and Christian community know that before, during and since the genocide of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and surrendered Tamil Tiger resistance fighters in 2009, reporters who failed to side with the government were tortured and murdered.

The courageous handful of journalists on the island who have weathered the storm of reporter killings; smaller than ever before, includes Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz.

Last week, assuming she would receive a reasonable response, this journalist 'dared' ask the President's brother, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, about the use of a scheduled SriLanka Air flight for the purpose of privately transporting a Rajapaksa family dog.

Tale Wagging the Dog

Sunday Leader editor Frederica Jansz

Both the question and the mention of the scandalous story went over like a lead balloon with this big-shot. The response of 'Gota' was a foul, extremely profane, long-winded spew that reminds us in the end that aggression, threats, intimidation and violence are the only tools this barbaric loser government knows how to use consistently.

This top official who is actually in control of the deadly and irresponsible Sri Lankan military, did not hesitate to fire a frightening barrage of threats against Frederica and this alone is all anyone needs to know.

The guy's a fruitcake; a real spinner if you know what I mean. Personally I wouldn't trust this man to take my dog for a walk around the block.

He's tried and proven anyway; Gota's illegal behaviour is what defines him. The man is not operating at full capacity.

Tamil Voices Heard Around the World

The rising chorus of voices include Tamil MP Sumanthiran, whose words are building both hope and strength in the Tamil community and also among Sinhalese who seek peace and a future that includes both cultures coexisting in peace.

It is encouraging to see Tamils Members of Parliament daring to highlight the plight of the Tamils in Eelam, in spite of the threats and intimidation of the Sinhala army to silence them.

In his speech in English translated into Sinhalese, Sumanthiran not only attacked the army for the way it treated the Tamils, but also wanted the President to sack his brother the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya for abusing female journalist Frederica Jansz in such vulgar language.

Please view the u-tube from Rajanayagam of Germany for details

Extremely brave indeed, but he was lucky Gotabhaya wasn't there to pour profanities on him; worst still he would have not just threaten to kill him, but actually killed him.

In an article published by groundviews last week, EQUALITY, UNITY, AUTONOMY, DEMOCRACY, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka wrote of MP Sumanthiran's speech:

“

Since we aren’t naive, we must assume that his dogged optimism is based on a combination of external factors such as the Tamil Diaspora, elements in Tamil Nadu, pressure from certain quarters in the West, the campaign in the Western dominated international media, reinforced by and reinforcing a campaign of agitation on the ground. Such a strategy has to be guarded against and it is only future history that will judge whether or not that version of the secessionist project will be successful.

”

Support of Tamil Nadu

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Our team observed the solidarity from Tamil Nadu last weekend at the FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) and USTPAC (United States Tamil Political Action Council) Conference in Baltimore.

Problems in Sri Lanka were at the center of the USTPAC meeting which was expected, as USTPAC is primarily comprised of Sri Lankan Tamils; they deal with all of the problems relating to the Diaspora.

However FeTNA, which mostly consists of North American Tamils with ties to India, featured the war crimes and genocide in Sri Lanka as a primary focal point, leaving no question that people throughout India's Tamil regions; Tamil Nadu in particular, and their families in the U.S. and Canada, are supporting their Tamil Eelam brothers and sisters in their fight for justice. It is on everyone's minds.

They know that it is obscene that the three Rajapakse brothers cover for each other the way they do, and that family connections are so rampant and powerful that even a family dog is valued more highly than Sri Lanka's citizens; Sinhalese and Tamil alike. Apparently to Gotta, these more affluent, flying Lankans, are lower in importance than a dog.

UNP Says Gota Go Now

The tone becomes more severe in Sunday Island's article, Gotabhaya must go says UNP. It explains how the United National Party (UNP) of Sri Lanka is calling for the the Defence Secretary to be removed from power without delay:

“

The UNP yesterday called for the immediate removal of the Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa stating that his conduct was unbecoming of civilized society. Coordinator of the UNP Media Committee Mangala Samaraweera said that it was only about a month ago that they warned the public that the country cannot afford to allow "an inefficient and non-administrative service person, such as Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, to handle a serious and important ministry as its Secretary and allow the country to go chaotic and into anarchy. People of this country, whatever their political affiliations cannot live with such unsolved crime, dictated by politically backed armed thugs under a Secretary, who is not even willing to accept that he is a total failure as a State officer. "Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has again proved us more than right. He has not only proved he is inefficient, he has also proved he is wholly uncultured and uncivilized too, to hold even the most menial of public posts. His verbal purging thrown on journalist cum editor of the Sunday Leader, Fredrica Jansz, should have immediately grounded the entire print and electronic media into a loud halt in any other country. Most unfortunately it is not that here. Even those men and women who talk about internet obscenity and want websites banned for polluting a great ‘Sinhala culture’, are yet to speak their first words on how vulgar and threatening, the language of the Defence Ministry Secretary is. With such a person who continues to break all the rules of the establishment code with his arrogant, uncouth and psychotic behaviour giving leadership to the Ministry of Defence, it is not surprising that the law and order situation in the country has totally collapsed. The law of the jungle is prevailing today and it is not surprising to hear the Police media spokesperson say that during the first six months of this year, the police have recorded 975 cases of rape against women and 700 of them were against teenage and little girls.

”

The crimes Sri Lanka's army is accused of committing against the Tamils, challenge the senses of the world's most diabolical psychopaths. They are highly documented violations of international law and the related images tell a host of stories about the conduct of this war, that are easy to prove.

The madness that continues in the meanwhile from the defence secretary, is a signal of impending doom for this callous regime, this band of brothers. Gota's irrational behavior confirms that the slightest reason no longer exists to justify trust in this broken, barbaric band of Buddhist zealots who see butchery, intimidation, terror and threat as their tools of political control. They must see that the organized Tamils are both patient and calculated in their approach toward bringing this regime down.

Back in the USA

Agron Belica and Tim King last week in Baltimore, at FeTNA. Photo: Coral Theill

In America we are taught the concept of equality from an early age. This one aspect of the U.S. education system is both successful and extremely important. It is one thing to agree that all cultural and religious bias and racism in general, can never be completely eliminated. However we all too then must agree that Sri Lanka's government of self-applied religious superiority can never even begin to find its proper position with its citizens, until all laws that discriminate against Tamils are struck from the books. And that is just a starting point.

Singer/Songwriter/Author Agron Belica has a new video that celebrates the achievements and solidarity of the Tamil Diaspora. His first song about Sri Lanka's Tamils, 'Depression', has been very successful; opening eyes to the grotesque handiwork of the Sri Lankan government.

Another development that shows the growing western interest in the Sri Lanka Tamil Genocide, is my invitation to be a guest on the National Public Radio (NPR) program, 'Interfaith Voices'

NPR's Andrew Hartsmith and Laura Kwerel, sent this information to our newsroom about the program:

Interfaith Voices is the leading religion news magazine on public radio. We air on over 60 stations nationwide, and we have about 100,000 listeners each week. Here’s the full list of when and where we air: http://interfaithradio.org/Ways_to_Listen/On_the_Radio

I was in a pre-interview for Interfaith Voices when I was in Maryland last week and then Friday, we received the notice that I had been officially selected to be a guest on an upcoming program. I will discuss the many religious aspects of the Sri Lanka conflict and how those relate to the fear and terror that were unleashed upon the people of Tamil origin at the end stages of the country's three-decade long civil war.

And I will of course talk about Frederica Jansz.

Tim King's previous Salem-News.com reports on Sri Lanka:

Jul-11-2012: US Media's Role in the Silent Death of Sri Lanka's Tamils - Political Perspective by Tim King Salem-News.com

Jul-09-2012: Significant Honor With Tamils from Around the Globe for Sri Lanka War Crime Reports

Jul-01-2012: Did a Ghost Crawl Inside My Laptop?

Jun-24-2012: Sri Lanka Can't Deny This... Disturbing Video Proves Sri Lanka Army Committed War Crimes - Tim King Salem-News.com

Jun-21-2012: New War Crime Videos Surface from Sri Lanka Tamil Genocide

Jun-10-2012: UN Targets Reporter Who Criticized Sri Lanka War Crime Suspect

Jun-08-2012: Captive, Handcuffed and Dying... 'Brutal' and 'Shocking' Describe Newly Released Sri Lanka War Crime Images

May-07-2012: Sri Lankan Buddhist Mobs Call for Mosque Demolition

Apr-27-2012: Big Trouble for Sri Lanka: UN Has Cluster Bomb Evidence from Northern Province

Apr-12-2012: Carpetbaggers in Sri Lanka: Traitors Terrorize Northern Tamils

Apr-10-2012: Sri Lanka: Genocide and Poor Toilet Training

Mar-23-2012 UN Warns Sri Lanka Against Retaliating Toward Humanitarian Activists

Mar-22-2012: White Flags, White Vans and White Lies? A Closer Look at the Death of Colonel Ramesh

Mar-18-2012: Is Google Earth Hiding Sri Lanka's Ghosts?

Mar-15-2012: Channel-4 Documentary Proves Sri Lanka Committed War Crimes

Mar-11-2012: War Crime Court and its Conflicting Interests

Mar-08-2012: Sex Abuse and Murder in Sri Lanka- New Photos Emerge

Mar-02-2012: A Very Uncivil War - Ghastly Images- Gross Detail and Denial of Sri Lanka's Genocide

Feb-28-2012: Americans Praise Sri Lankan Politicians who Orchestrated Genocide

Feb-28-2012: Tweets from Tamil Eelam

Feb-24-2012: Two of Sri Lanka's Foulest War Crimes

Feb-19-2012: Will Another Documentary on Sri Lanka's Genocide Impact the Geneva Human Rights Session?

Feb-08-2012: The Questionable Effectiveness of Lighting Yourself on Fire

Feb-03-2012: Sri Lanka's Independence Day- a Black Day for Tamil Eelam

Jan-11-2012: While UN Claims Zero Tolerance, No Discipline of Sri Lankan Abusers in Haiti

Dec-28-2011: Why Was a Red Cross Manager on Vacation from Gaza Murdered in Sri Lanka?

Nov-24-2011: Fear, Genocide and Torture in Sri Lanka

Nov-21-2011: London Calling: Time for Sri Lanka's Release of Post-Conflict Report

Nov-11-2011: Ode to a Humble Hero of Sri Lanka: Dr Brian Senewiratne

Oct-15-2011: Genocide 101: World and Media Apathy

Oct-08-2011: Sri Lanka Joins Israel in Naval Attacks on Unarmed Fishermen

Oct-05-2011: War and its Aftermath... a Real Killer for Tourism

Oct-01-2011: Sri Lanka in the Crosshairs of Canadian Parliament

Sep-13-2011: Sri Lanka Recalls Diplomat Accused of War Crimes

Aug-31-2011: 'No Song and Dance' Over Sri Lanka War Crime Admissions

Jul-25-2011: Former Sri Lanka President's Children 'Reacted With Anguish' to Tamil Genocide Program

Jul-22-2011: M.I.A. - A Beautiful Reflection of the Besieged Tamils of Sri Lanka

Jul-17-2011: 44 Prisoners Join Hunger Strike at Vavuniya Prison in Sri Lanka

Jul-14-2011: The Bush Administration's Role in Sri Lanka's Tamil Genocide

Jul-13-2011: Fields Should be for Sports, not Genocide... Sri Lanka

Jun-29-2011: Sri Lanka Continues Genocide, Thumbing Nose at UN and World

Jun-20-2011: Sri Lanka's Violence Toward Tamil Minority Continues

Jun-18-2011: 'International Day in Support of Victims of Torture'Remember the Tamil Genocide

Jun-17-2011: European Tourists Waylaid in Sri Lanka, Resurgence of 'White Van' Crime

Jun-15-2011: Tamil Genocide Explored in Sri Lanka's Killing Fields

Jun-02-2011: UN Experts: Sri Lanka Tamil Genocide Video is Real

May-31-2011: New Song 'Depression' - Graphic Truth of Sri Lanka Tamil Genocide

May-31-2011: Sri Lanka Tamil Genocide: Killing the Messenger

May-03-2011: Confronting the Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka

Apr-27-2011: Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka Emerges Into Public View

Apr-22-2011: World Ignores Genocide of Sri Lanka's Tamil Population

Tim King in 2008, covering the Iraq War

Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer

Tim King has more than twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. Tim is Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. His background includes covering the war in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and reporting from the Iraq war in 2008. Tim is a former U.S. Marine.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing from The Associated Press the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs, Electronic Media Association and The Red Cross In a personal capacity, Tim has written 2,026 articles as of March 2012 for Salem-News.com since the new format designed by Matt Lintz was launched in December, 2005.

Serving readers with news from all over the globe, Tim's life is literally encircled by the endless news flow published by Salem-News.com, where more than 100 writers contribute stories from 20+ countries and regions.

Tim specializes in writing about political and military developments worldwide with an emphasis on Palestine and Sri Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the U.S. Marines. You can write to Tim at this address: tim@salem-news.com. Visit Tim's Facebook page (facebook.com/TimKing.Reporter)