24 March 2021
UNHRC VOTE AGAINST THE LTTE TAMIL
DIASPORA
Voting
confirms our belief. Belief is
ownership. Where the vote is taken for the purpose of ‘winning’, it would dilute the ownership of such a voter.
It would also separate us if we do not have as our measure – One law. To the
extent we do not have One law, we need measurable outcomes to confirm mutual
respect for each other.
In terms of food – we read the Energy
levels. Likewise, in terms of outcomes that are consumed by us we need to read
through the Energy. In doing so, we need to keep in mind that too much Energy
is as harmful as too little. Too much is confirmed through wins that generate
excitement. Too little is confirmed through depression. To those who carried the LTTE leadership –
the vote at the UNHRC was against them also. The question needs to be asked as to who in
Sri Lanka became the medium of the above Energy? It is embedded in the UN’s
thinking.
The
Purpose / Cause for the UNHRC Resolution is indicated as follows in paragraphs
7, 8 & 9 of the draft resolution:
[7.Sri Lanka’s armed
conflict emerged against the backdrop of deepening discrimination and
marginalisation of the country’s minorities, particularly the Tamils. The
30-year war between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE), as well as earlier insurgencies in the south, were marked by persistent
and grave human rights violations and abuses by both parties, including
extrajudicial killing, widespread enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention,
torture and sexual violence that affected Sri Lankans from all communities.
Thousands of children were systematically recruited and used as fighters and in
other roles by LTTE and other armed groups, Muslim and Sinhala communities were
forcibly expelled from the North, and civilians were indiscriminately killed in
terrorist attacks on public places and transport by the LTTE. Successive High
Commissioners have consistently condemned these acts.
8. Despite these serious violations, impunity prevailed. Cases that
reached the courts were the subject of interminable delays, interference,
harassment of victims and witnesses and only exceptionally achieved convictions. Numerous commissions of inquiry appointed by
successive governments failed to credibly establish truth and ensure
accountability. This has led to a glaring confidence gap.
9. During the final stage of the conflict with the LTTE in 2009, there
were credible allegations of indiscriminate shelling by Government forces,
including in the densely populated ‘No Fire Zones’, and of attacks on protected
objects, resulting in massive civilian deaths and casualties. The LTTE
prevented civilians from leaving the conflict area. Strict controls over humanitarian supplies by
the Government caused additional deaths and suffering. LTTE cadres and their
dependents are believed to have been extra-judicially executed after handing
themselves over to Sri Lankan armed forces.[1] More than 250,000 people
were detained for months in military-run closed camps for internally displaced
persons.]
The
effects are indicated in paragraphs 52 to 59 and begin as follows:
52 Nearly 12 years on from the end of the war, domestic initiatives
for accountability and reconciliation have repeatedly failed to produce
results, more deeply entrenching impunity, and exacerbating victims’ distrust
in the system. Sri Lanka remains in a
state of denial about the past, with truth-seeking efforts aborted and the
highest State officials refusing to make any acknowledgement of past crimes.
This has direct impact on the present and the future. …..
The recommendations begin as follows:
[(a) Actively promote an inclusive, pluralistic
vision for Sri Lanka, based on non-discrimination and protection of human
rights for all, and in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda;
(b) Ensure constitutional and legislative reforms
address recommendations made by United Nations human rights mechanisms and the resolutions of the Human
Rights Council;…….
The above would require martyrdom by any government elected by
majority who are Buddhists. The 1972 Constitution discriminated between
Buddhists and Non-Buddhists and in theory recognized Equal status . But in
reality – it was taken as seniority for Buddhists by those who desire to ‘win’.
The parallel of the above constitutional provision was Vaddukoddai
Resolution 1976 . This was hijacked by those driven by ‘winning’ and opened
the pathway for armed rebellion. Tamils who seek (a) above would be defeated by
those who seek to ‘win’ unjustly.
As per my experience, even the Judiciary in Northern Sri Lanka are
driven by majority superiority/autocracy, including in terms of Customary Law –
Thesawalamai. My experience was as a
person related through law, which is the parallel of Non-Buddhist in government
position, in Southern Sri Lanka. Tamil judges upheld Common law and delivered
judgment in breach of the basic value of gender based diversity as per Thesawalamai
law. As is my way – I produced my Tamil book that would help the indigenous
community in Northern Sri Lanka to ‘settle’ their disputes internally and
confirm respect for our ancestors.
The way Buddhists desiring to win, assume superior status in multicultural areas,
men desiring to win assume superior status in Jaffna. Mrs Ambigai Selvakumar, who threatened to kill herself
if her demands were not recognized by the UK government would have not even thought
of doing the parallel in Jaffna under the leadership of the LTTE. Yet many Diaspora
Tamils and Indian politicians expressed support for her – as if she were a
martyr. The Colombo parallel was the Easter Bombing in which the St Anthony of
Egypt killed St Anthony of Padua, Italy.
The ordinary Christians would find it easier to understand what went
wrong, through the martyrdom of St Anthony – than through Buddhist
interpretation of secular law.
The judgement I needed in terms of Sri Lanka came to me yesterday around
1230 hrs Australian time. It came in the form of Golden Buddha about whom
Wikipedia presents the following:
[The origins of this
statue are uncertain. It is made in the Sukhothai Dynasty style of the 13th-14th centuries, though it
could have been made after that time. The head of the statue is egg-shaped,
which indicates its origin in the Sukothai period. Given that Sukothai art had
Indian influences and metal figures of the Buddha made in India used to be taken to various
countries for installation, this suggests the Golden Buddha statue may have
been cast in parts in India.. In 1801, Thai King Buddha Yodfa
Chulaloke (Rama I), after establishing Bangkok
as a new capital city of the Kingdom, and after commissioning the construction
of many temples in Bangkok, ordered that various old Buddha images should be
brought to Bangkok from the ruined temples around the country…… In 1954, a new Viharn building was built at the
temple to house the statue. It was moved to its new location on 25 May 1955;
there are a variety of accounts of what exactly happened next, but it is clear
that during the final attempt to lift the statue from its pedestal, the ropes
broke and the statue fell hard on the ground. At that moment, some of the
plaster coating chipped off, allowing the gold surface underneath to be seen.
Work was immediately stopped so that an evaluation could be made.]
The Buddhist version of the above secular account was sent to be
by my cousin in Canada. My miracle happened when I was listening to the Buddhist
version. I shared this as follows:
[Thank you
Priya. As I was listening to the golden Buddha legend I had a beautiful
experience. Gayathri is due to come here for Easter and I want her to enjoy her
stay in the guest room. Two of the days were already booked by a couple - which
meant that Gayathri would have had to use the common room. As Gayathri was
coming here after a very difficult experience regarding the walls in her
heritage home, I wanted this stay to be a happy one for her. Today as I was
listening to Golden Buddha, the cancellation came through! It is a miracle
Priya and thank you for being a part of this. You are a good Mum
Love Gaja]
In essence, I
treated our Airbnb customer on the same footing as my daughter Gayathri who
informed us after the customer – about her plans. I could have cancelled the
commercial booking with least penalty but I could not – because I bring them
into me and get the accommodation ready – as if they are family. That to me is
what affirmative action is about. The strange part was the knee problem as
stated in the message from the customer:
[Hi Gaja, my husband dislocated his kneecap so we won't be
coming for Easter. I'm going to cancel the booking today. I'm sorry we won't be
there to see your beautiful home. Happy Easter!]
It was strange because these days I also cancel events due to
knee problems. To me it was like family problem clearing the pathway for family
sharing.
The parallel of the above was by India which was caught
between China and the Tamils. Like the queen of the region, India allowed the
UN Resolution to happen. All members of the UNHRC in the Indian subcontinent
voted against the Resolution or Abstained which is a Diplomatic ‘No’. This
needs to be taken as a vote of regional solidarity. The Tamil Diaspora that
supported the LTTE stands defeated in the ownership vote. It is time for them to become true citizens in
the new nations.
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