Sri Lanka set to play another time buying exercise, Mano Ganesan tells visiting EU officials
Western Peoples Front Leader and Civil Monitoring Commission Convener Mano Ganesan MP met with visiting officials of the European Commission’s office of the external relations Director-General, Ms. Helen Campbell and Andrea Nicolaj yesterday (14th March) at the EU premises in Colombo.
Mano Ganesan MP told the visiting EU officials that Sri Lanka Government’s proposals to establish a new IIGEP with eminent persons drawn from SAARC countries, is merely a time buying exercise. “We reject the new government proposals as another set of ploy to buy time. We are compelled to take this stand as we have gone through many committees and commissions and many state agencies established by this government in the name combating human rights violations”, says a statement issued by the office of Mano Ganesan MP.
Ms. Campbell is the head of the EC’s unit overseeing Sri Lanka and other south Asian countries except India. Andrea Nicolaj is in-charge of the relations with Sri Lanka. Both represented the External Relations Directorate-General of the European Commission.
Media communique issued after the meeting from Mano Ganesan’s office further said:
Discussions centered on the prevailing political and human rights conditions in the country. CMC Convener Mano Ganesan explained to the officials that now the government is coming out with proposals to establish a parliamentary select committee on Human Rights and a new IIGEP with eminent persons drawn from SAARC countries. This is in view of the withdrawal of the IIGEP and the increasing concern on the deplorable human rights conditions in the country and subsequent demand for meaningful international participation in monitoring human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.
We reject the new government proposals as another set of ploy to buy time. We are compelled to take this stand as we have gone through many committees and commissions and many state agencies established by this government in the name combating human rights violations. The long list begins with the formal National Human Rights Commission, the Mahanama Tilakaratne Commission, the Special Presidential Commission, the IIGEP and a government Ministerial committee. In addition there are the special police units and the Ministry for human rights. None of these have helped to improve the human rights conditions in this country.
Retired Judge Mahanama Tilakaratne supposed to have handed over his report to the government. But it has not been made public despite our repeated demands to do so. We have noted a tone of deliberate attempt in the comments made by Mahanama Tilakaratne. He puts the domestic disappearances and the systematic enforced disappearances together and narrates the story of ‘missing people returning home and going abroad’. This is to deceive the nation and the international community.
The most worrying factor is the enormous level of the culture of impunity prevailing in this country. This government is yet to come out with name of one single person who is arrested, indicted, charge sheeted and sentenced in view of the large number of incidents of abuses we are witnessing on a daily basis.
Talking of a new South Asia (SAARC) based IIGEP is pathetic because the withdrawing IIGEP is headed by respectable Indian retired judge Mr. Bhagawati. There was another eminent member from Bangladesh too. It appears that human rights minister Mahinda Samarasinghe is not accustomed to the ground situation and lost directions in this all important human issue.
The credible steps that the government could take at this juncture begin with the establishment of the constitutional commission. The opposition parties and the OPA are for this move. This will pave way for the independent commissions. It will be a step in the right path. But the victims of the human rights abuses will not be satisfied with this move alone. It is an urgent immediate necessity that the office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner in Sri Lanka is strengthened with field presence covering both territories controlled by GoSL and LTTE.
The issue of the personal security for Mano Ganesan MP was also discussed at the meeting.
Related: Eminent Persons Group Quits Monitoring Presidential Commission Inquiry
Ratna said,
March 15, 2008 @ 11:00 am
The Last Man Standing (Go Wesley Go).
Ram said,
March 15, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Mano Ganesan MP
Is this guy practising constructive critisicm
or
Divisive politics along ethnic lines?
Winston Martin said,
March 15, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
He is the only spokesperson on behalf of helpless Tamils and Muslims in Sri Lanka who are undergoing great suffering under the Sri Lankan government. He has fearlessly let the the rest of the world know what is happening there under a democatic cloak. Every day under the supervision of the Sri Lankan government of MR Holdings there are killings, kidnappings, torture, rape, bombing, and ethnic cleansing going unabated. What is the UN and the rest of the so-called International Community doing? When are we going to see an end to this misery? All the countries including Pakistan, China, India, and Russia should stop supplying weapons and aircraft to the the Government of Sri Lanka if we want peace to that part of the world. Mano, you are doing great work in exposing these crooks, and God will be with you and protect you to continue with your marvelous job in fighting for the poor and helpless minorty communities in Sri Lanka.
Thamil said,
March 16, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Well done, keep your good work, the whole Tamil race wish you all the best and feel proud of you.
Others need to learn a lot from you, be aware of these elements trying to sabotage the Tamils cause.
God bless you.
2ndClassTamil said,
March 16, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
Mr Ram (#2)
Mano’s ‘criticisms’ are invariably based of facts and figures. As they thus enable parties to correct their mistakes they are construed to be ‘constructive’.
For your information: When ‘young Tamil males’ are targeted the terms ethnicity and divisiveness are used in commentaries. (I wonder why you discuss these terms when they are not used in the article).
But then, you seem to have just woken up and not found your identity!
Gayan said,
March 20, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Fighting for human rights is fine but fighting for human rights based on race is wrong .
Where was Mano Ganesan when the LTTE suicide bomber killed the school children of D.S. at the fort railway station? killed elderly pilgrims on a bus? firing at fleeing cilivians at buttala?
Why doesn’t he condemn LTTE brutal acts? Is he a real rights activist? or just another cheap politician ! .
GANGA said,
March 22, 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Mr. Gayan (#6)
What is your argument, sir?
You say that ‘fighting human rights is fine’. Whose fight? Is it Mano’s fight you mean? Whose rights? Rights of Tamil people? It is which is being now abused. Do you agree that human rights of Tamils are being abused?
There is long list from Mahinda in Colombo to Dayan in Geneva, the government and it’s state power, the Lankan media, the Sinhala Parliamentarians, political parties UPFA, UNP, JVP, JHU, MEP with the Tamil, Muslim ’sold-out’ parties, the Buddhist clergy so on to talk about LTTE’s brutalities on innocent Sinhala civilains. Who is there for the Tamils? Sometimes I wonder if this man Mano Ganesan is a loner. TNA legislators have gone into hiding behind Vanni or in the west, some in India. Certain independent world and local media talk with Mano on the human rights violations. That’s all.
Now, you wanted this small voice also to be shared?
You make conditions. You tell him to condemn ‘also’ the LTTE brutalities. Or is that this ’small’ voice hurting you? Great people have told us that if the voice is honest and fair, no matter how small it is, it would stand against any force. We have learned it from Mahatma Gandhi. So you are scared? Is conscience hurt you?
LTTE is responsible for many numbers of brutalities. It is terror group. We condemn. I have noted Mano Ganesan condemning LTTE brutalities. Or may be I am wrong and he doesn’t condemn. But let it be at it.
Where is your list of people? Have they condemned the state terrorism on Tamils? Number of ‘Tamil’ DS schools, ‘Tamil’ busloads of people, ‘Tamil’ Buttala villagers and the military massacres, more brutalities than LTTE brutes in number and also large in depth during the last five decades. Have your so called leaders condemn these? Do they condemn the abductions and extra judicial killings of Tamils?
Assuming that Mano Ganesan condemns the LTTE brutalities, will you and your bunch of state terrorists condemn the human rights violations of Tamils? How can they? They can’t because they are the state. They are the terror. Whom are you fooling?
Please allow Mano Ganesan (god will protect him) to continue his struggle for this voiceless and helpless people who are suffering because of the terror, brutalities and sins of both Mahinda Rajapakse and Velupillai Pirabakaran.
Please correct me sir, if I am wrong.
Peter said,
March 22, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
Mano Ganesan as well as all the tamils do not relish the death of innocent people, whether Sinhalese or tamils, as some Sinhalese do by branding all the dead tamils as LTTE. But the Sinhalese have the all powerfull GOSL ,Army,Navy,Airforce and Police to protect and even to condemn,but Tamils have nobody except some farsighted,Decent and educated Sinhalese and people like Mano Ganesan. Rememeber he is under threat of getting killed for doing the right thing. When you look at the way how the Srilankan Embassy in Paris gave a twisted version of the security arrangements for Mano you can easily judge who is behind the threats.Hare Ram!Hare Ram!
Gayan said,
March 23, 2008 @ 6:13 pm
Mr GANGA (Comment #7)
Im afraid i cannot correct you sir,You have to correct yourself (If you are capable of such)
The “small ” voice in my head ,that you said is “hurting me” is actually “amused ” by your post.
Can you point out to me where did i mention about the impartiality of southen politicians or political parties? or for that matter any subject regarding the southern politicians and their human rights campains? .Can you even point out one word from my previous post to support your claim?
If the “list” that you talk about is too narrow then indeed please add your particulars too .You dont need my permision to do so !.I never mentioned the incidents i have pointed out is alone/one off .Again can you point out where i have said so?
Quote “you and your bunch of state terrorists ” unquote.
How did you assume that i’m working for the state??did i say so?? again please point out where???or do you have highly devoloped brain cells that can detect a person’s occupation by reading a post?
Mr GANGA SIR ,I believe it is YOU who is “hurt” by “small voices” .Imagining things that i never said.Please take an appointment with your Doctor at your earliest
I stand by my comments SIR .Let Mano Ganesan condemn human rights violations regarless of the perpetrators and the race of its victims.Or otherwise he is just another politician to me.
Just for your information Mr GANGA ,any person has the right to post here and their posts reflects his/her opinion only and nobody is better than the other nor anyone has the right to “manipulate” other’s opinions as you have done !.Its called their “right of opinion” ….or manybe you need to confirm that with MR Mano Ganesan !!
Thank You,
Regards
GANGA said,
March 24, 2008 @ 5:07 am
Mr. Gayan (#9)
Thank you sir,
I was referring to Mr. Ganesan’s voice as the ‘small voice’ amidst the powerful. Sorry if I did not provide proper explanation. Now please read it, everything will fit in. I never meant to manipulate (to which I have no right) nor undermine you anyway. Sorry, for unintentional hurt, if any.
I have some difficulty in understanding your comments, may be it is my incapability. But still sir, please be kind enough to approve/ disapprove/ answer followings.
1) You are against the terrorism perpetrated by LTTE in the name of Tamil nationalism?
2) You are not part of or supporter of the state terror. You are also against the terrorism perpetrated by the state in the name of Sinhala Buddhism?
3) Your prime problem here is that Mr. Ganesan is not condemning LTTE brutalities. Therefore he is another cheap politician?
4) If Mr. Ganesan condemns (I believe he has) LTTE his human rights campaign is ok with you?
5) Why do you think Mr. Ganesan is asking the proposed UN-OHRC to be strengthened and has field presence in Kilinochchi in addition to other cities?
Thank you again. I am, Ms. Ganga.
Devinda Fernando said,
March 26, 2008 @ 12:35 am
Mano Ganesan is not concerned with human rights violations against Tamils as he claims here, he is engaging in a covert attempt to create Eelam via UN intervention.
The trend of Human Rights violations has been drastically going down,… at the beginning of this recent escalation of war (July 2006) there were something like one thousand or so abductions, now this year its more like a hundred… The situation is being brought under control yet this will never be good enough for Mr. Ganesan who knows the reality of the situation yet talks in rhetoric and ideals. Fact is when this war ends, and it will soon enough all the killing and Human Rights abuses that are associated with conflict will cease.
Furthermore, if Mr. Ganesan is so concerned with Human Rights violations, he should be spending his time and energy lobbying the LTTE to stop conscription of Tamils in the North who will no doubtedly become cannon fodder to the Sri Lankan army in the days to come. What is worse for the majority of Tamils? But then again Mr. Ganesan already knows but does not say…