Tuesday, February 26, 2013

LTTE hoodwinking Intl community

Propaganda by the LTTE rump groups has a dominating influence at the UNHRC. This has been the case ever since the end of Humanitarian Operations in Sri Lanka. The international community is being conditioned by a well thought out strategy by these groups, and unfortunately, many international players don't seem to realize that they are being deceived, Military Spokesman, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya stated in a media release.


He said: “Take the case of the current Channel 4 video and photo ‘exhibition.’ These photos (alleged to be those of Prabhakaran’s son) have been published a long time ago in open domains and were available for any interested party to view. If anyone really wanted to, the pictures could have been published then. The fact is they never wanted to publish them at the time, nor did they hand them to any authority with the relevant information (that they claim they know for certain beyond any reasonable doubt) for investigation. This indicates their objective is to keep the tempo going before each HRC session.”


“Obviously, this is part of a major campaign focused on Sri Lanka by all interested groups. It is very clear that publishing photographs of alleged violations in Sri Lanka at the most opportune time -- well timed and spaced, is a good marketing strategy and the LTTE rump do not want to lose that leverage. That’s why such propaganda is timed to coincide with certain international events,” he further noted


The release also stated the unfolding of events prior to each HRC session is very similar and at every time the LTTE rump has focused on:


a. Campaigns organized before the HRC meets with book launches, conferences, media campaigns, and other activities.


b. Influencing decision makers through mass email, petitions, use of social media, visits, media releases, and other avenues.


c.   Strengthen arguments/allegations by releasing reports - TGTE, AI, HRW, ICG, amongst others.


d. Last minute emotional touch release of photos, videos - Channel 4, and other propaganda.


This sequence is visible on the following two occasions:


Activities prior to 2012 HRC 19


19 May 2011 - Gordon Weiss released his book “Cage”


24 February 2012 – HRW released report “Sri Lanka: No Progress on Justice”


26 February 2012 – TGTE released book “We Accuse: War Crimes & Genocide”


13 March 2012 – Amnesty International released report “Locked away: Sri Lanka’s security detainees”


14 March 2012 – Channel 4 released film “War Crime Unpunished”


23 March 2012 - HRC 19/2 Resolution Passed…............................


Activities that have been taken and will take place targeting 2013 HRC 22


4 October 2012 – Frances Harrison released her book “Still Counting the Dead: Survivors of Sri Lanka's Hidden War”


10 February 2013 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released her report calling for an independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international law in Sri Lanka


13 February 2013 - Amnesty International welcomes UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ repeated call for an independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international law in Sri Lanka


19 February 2013 - HRW urges HRC 22 to launch an inquiry on Sri Lanka:


22 Feb 2013 - HRW released report “We will teach you a lesson: Sexual violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces”


27 February 2013 - Channel 4 will release its new film “No Fire Zone”


22 March 2013 – HRC 22/... Resolution ……………………… ???


Do not be surprised if a similar pattern becomes apparent in 2014 as well.


The LTTE rump’s demand is to have international intervention. In spite of the fact that Sri Lanka has a well established system of investigation, those who claim to have evidence will not hand over anything that they claim to possess to the relevant authorities.  


They will keep their cards well concealed and use only one at a time. 
2013-02-26