NPC And LSSP Make Bold Moves: Sobitha Hamuduruvo Takes A Stand
Prof Kumar David
Maduluwave Sobitha hamudurovo has told it like it is in an interview with E. Jayasuriyan in the Sunday Thinakural (Tamil) of 2 February, print edition page 5, website www.thinakkural.lk. This is a volcano but the Sinhala and English press have still not picked it up (Tuesday 4 February). But no ways will anyone get away with self-censorship; it will come out. I will summarise the interview in a moment, but let me touch on two other points first.
Only a charlatan or a dunce would still believe that that there is even a remote possibility of this regime undertaking a genuine investigation of civilian deaths, disappearances and accountability issues – SL State and LTTE – during the civil-war and preceding it. Therefore it is welcome and appropriate, that in a body blow to President Mahinda Rajapakse, the Northern Provincial Council “unanimously” adopted a resolution targeted at the UNHRC demanding “an international investigation to uncover war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out against the Tamil people. . . the people do not have faith in any domestic investigations into past massacres or ongoing human rights violations”. In the absence of any truthful follow up what else are the mother’s of the disappeared and people of the North expected to do? Twiddle their thumbs and pretend nothing happened?
The NPC stand follows the TNA’s landslide victory in the September 2013 PC elections, which elections a reluctant Mahinda Rajapkse, kicking and screaming, could no longer prevent. Indian and pre-CHOGMpressure forced his hand, he had no choice; this was no gesture by a great democrat. (Self-serving ex-diplomats should stop making everyone laugh!) The NPC now represents the formal elected voice of the Tamil people and the UNHRC must accept and act on this. Let us not have another case of the world remaining silent; an international investigation is a must.
