6வது நிமிடத்தில் இருந்து உரையினைப் பார்க்கவும்.

இதில் பேசும் தமிழர், ஜோர்ஜ் ஆர் விலி, யாழ்ப்பணத்தில் பிறந்தவர். தன் பத்து வயதில் கொழும்புக்கு வந்தவர். கனடாவின் மக்மாஸ்டர் பல்கலைகழகத்தில் சட்ட படிப்பை முடித்தவர். ஒரு குடிவரு சட்ட வல்லுனராக க்யூஸ்டன், டெக்சாசில் வேலை செய்கிறார். 1975 ஆம் ஆண்டு நாட்டை விட்டு வெளியேறியதாக சொல்லும் இவர் 1949ம் ஆண்டு பிறந்தவர்.

தனது உரையில் இவர் கூறியது ஒரு வரலாற்று செய்தியாக பார்க்கப்படலாம் :

1. நான் நாட்டை விட்டு வெளியேறியதில் இருந்து அங்கு பல அழிவுகள் துன்பங்கள் நிகழ்ந்துள்ளன

2. வயல் வெளிகளுக்கு தண்ணீர் கொண்டுவரும் மகாவலி கங்கையில் தமிழர் சிங்களவர் இரத்தங்கள் பாய்ந்துள்ளன.

3. ஒரு சொர்க்க பூமியாக இருந்த நாடு நரகமாக மாறியது. இதற்கு யார் காரணம் என்பதை விட்டு இந்தவிதமான குற்றம் சாட்டுதல்கள் நிறுத்தப்படல் வேண்டும்.

4. மகிந்தரை துட்ட கைமுனுவின் வாரிசாகவும் தன்னை ஒரு எல்லாளனின் வாரிசாகவும் ( நீ சிங்களவன் , நான் தமிழன் ) சொல்லுகிறார் ஜோர்ஜ் ஆர் விலி

5. கெமுனு எல்லாளனை ஒரு தலை சிறந்த போராளியாக மதித்தான். நாட்டு மக்கள் அனைவரையும் மதிக்க சொன்னான். அந்த வகையில் அவன், கெமுனு ஒரு சிறந்த அரசியல்வாதி ஆகின்றான்.

6. 25 வருட கால ஆயுத போராட்டத்தை வெற்றி கண்ட நீங்கள் 21ம் நூற்றாண்டின் கெமுனுவாக பார்க்கப்பட்டு வருகிறீர்கள்.

7. ஆனால் இந்த வெற்றியை ஒரு உண்மையான கெமுனுவாக மாற்ற விரும்பினால் அதன் நினைவாக ஒரு தூபியோ இல்லை ஒரு கட்டடமோ தேவை இல்லை. ஒரு உண்மையான சட்டம் - அது தான் தேவை. அதை உண்மையாக நிறைவாக செயல்படுத்தல்.

- 58ம் ஆண்டு கலவரத்தை உருவாக்கிய தவறை செய்யவேண்டாம்

- தமிழர்களுக்கு உயர் தர பல்கலைக்கழகங்களில் பாகுபாடு படுத்த வேண்டாம்

- தமிழர்களை இரண்டாம் தர பிரசைகளாக்க வேண்டாம்

- தமிழர்களின் மதமும் மொழியும் மதிக்கப்படல் வேண்டும்

8. தமிழர்களை பொறுத்தவரையில் அவர்களுக்கு அவர்கள் மொழி கடவுள்

9. இன்று உங்கள் கையில் அதிக அரசியல் பலம் உள்ளது.

10. இன்று தமிழ் மக்கள் பசியாயும் நிர்வாணமாயும் உள்ளனர். அவர்கள் இன்று உங்களை பார்கின்றார்கள் அவர்களுக்கும் இந்த நாட்டில் ஒரு இடம் உள்ளதாக எண்ணி. அவர்களுக்கு இந்த நாட்டில் இடம் உள்ளது என நிரூபியுங்கள்.

11. நீங்கள் ஒரு பிரபாகரனை கொன்றுவிட்டீர்கள். ஆனால் இன்னுமொருவன் வளராமல் பாருங்கள்.

12. இன்னுமொருவன் வளராமல் இருப்பதை வாளாலும் துவக்காலும் தடுக்க முடியாது

13. அதை உங்கள் இதயத்தாலும் தீர்கதரிசனத்தாலுமே முடியும்

14. தமிழர் மீது கருணையும் அன்பும் காட்டுங்கள் புத்த பெருமான் கூறியது போல்.

Your Excellency, Mr. Rajapaksa, Hon Congressmen, General Sheela Jackson Lee. Sheela thanking for making this, really appreciate this and Consul General Laura, thank you for making this.

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome Your Excellency to this great city. It is an ignore the oak trees and mocking birds we could mitake this for Sri Lanka. It is in Sri Lanka that I was born. Our grand fathers and grand mothers and my mother and aprents of my wife were all buried under the sacred soil of my motherland. I grew up Your Excellency, in Jaffna and moved to Colombo when I was only 10 years old. My wife is from Badulla and greew up in Diyatalawa where her father was a well a respected captain in the army.

I smelt the sweetness of Magoza trees in Jaffna and taste of the Red Jumbu fruits and left red stains on my white shirt as I walked to school in Colombo. I know the lure of Jack fruits ripening on the trees as crows begin to open them. I have seen the bright colour of pandals during Wesak and shamelessly ate food at Dansala meant for the poor. And I have heard the chanting of Kovils and inhaled the smell of jasmine and Joss sticks. I have heard the bell of All Saint’s church as I assisted Father Herath during Mass.

But since I left Sri Lanka in 1975 there has been such pain, such sorrow and such agony. The mighty Mahaweli Ganga that usually brings its sacred water to the paddy fields spat out blood. Both the Sinhalese and Tamils. From up here in the United States I have watched the land of my forefathers descend from paradise deep into hell. No one can say with certainty whom is to blame but the time for blaming is gone for long.

Your Excellency, your power be descended from Dutugemunu and my people from Elara. Remember how Dutugemunu fought Elara on his Elephant Kandula and killed Elara. Dutugemunu of course still remembered for uniting Sri Lanka for the first time. But he is also remembered for something else. After defeating and killing Elara he built a monument for Elara out of respect for his worthy opponent. He ordered all the citizens of the land to stop, mount and pay respect to Elara. In so doing he not only showed what a great noble man he was. But also proved to be a great politician. He knew that He had to rule the Tamil people after the defeat of Elara.

Your Excellency, faith and fortune and your great political skill have placed you at a unique point in history. Children years to come, will read in their history books, that a great leader, a great warrior by the name of Mahinda Rajapaksa finally defeated the rebellion after nearly 25 years where several before him failed. They may even say that you are Dutugamunu of the 21 century. But it you want to wear Gamunu’s mantle Your Excellency, you will have to build a monument too. That monument does not have to be a Dagoba or a building. It will have to be new policy backed by laws to enforce.

Do not make the mistake that parts 58 riots. Do not hold back Tamils who want to get into Universities. Do not make the Tamils feel like they are second class citizens. Respect their religion, and respect their language. There is something about the Tamil people you need to know Your Excellency. To them their language is God. There are only few cultures in the world. Which has such devotion to the language. You were trained as a lawyer and in your early career you were a formidable defender of human rights. Now you have the popularity, you have the power of the hero, like Julius Caeser, returning to Rome from his conquests. No one can deny what you are, you and I read in law school. Then we have had to study the Soulbury Constitution. Ask the parliament to pass the required legislations. If you need my help I will give it free like many of this audience were. The Tamil people are naked and hungry looking for you to assure them that there is a place for them.

Make sure they have one. You killed one Prabhakaran but do not let another grow. You cannot prevent another one with swords and guns. You can only do it with your heart and wisdom. Compassion truth and justice you learnt from Buddha are the only weapons you need. According to Dhamma Pada Buddha said that hatred does cease by hatred at any time. Hatred ceases by love. This is an old rule. That what the Buddha said.

Your Excellency as you leave this city and return to Sri Lanka, promise me that a 10 year boy walking to school tomorrow in his white shirt will have no other red stain than from Jumbu fruits. A morning crow will not open anything other than the jackfruit. That there is nothing else hanging from the Magoza trees.

Your Excellency return us to paradise, return us to paradise. Thank You

======================================================

Activities, Honors and Community Involvement

* Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association.

* Delegate, American Lawyer Delegation to Japan, 1988;

* President, Asian American Bar Association, 1991-1992;

* Co-Chairman, International Business Opportunities Task Force at the Texas Department of Commerce, 1991-1993;

* Editor-in-Chief, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Journal, 1992;

* Represented Texas Governor in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan to promote Trade with Texas, 1993;

* Member, State Bar Journal Committee, 1993;

* Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation, 1993;

* Appointee, Trade and Commerce Representative in the United States (by the Provincial Government of the Western Cape of South Africa), 1994;

* Delegate, Delegation of South Asian Leaders to the White House, 1994;

* Attendee, White House Briefing and Consultation on U.S. Policy in South Asia, 1994;

* Attendee, White House Briefings on Hillary Rodham Clinton's Visits to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, 1995;

* Participant, White House Consultation on Immigration Reform Legislation, 1996;

* Attendee, White House Briefing on Administration Policies affecting Asians during the White House Celebration of the Asian-American Heritage Month, 1997;

* Participant, Round Table Conference on Asian Issues with President Clinton and Vice-President Gore, 1997;

* Chairman, South Asian Chamber of Commerce, 1998;

* Attendee, White House Briefing on President's Trip to India, 2000;

* Attendee, President's Announcement of Appointees to the Asian-American Advisory Commission held at the White House, 2000;

* Attendee, Luncheon Hosted by Vice-President Gore in honor of Prime Minister Vajpayee's Visit to the United States, 2000;

* Charter Member, The Indus Entrepreneurs, Houston Chapter, 2000 - 2002;

* National Advisory Council, Asian American Justice Center, 2002 - Present;

* Mayor’s Appointee, Houston Zoo Board, 2006 - Present;

* Board Member, Christus Health System of the Gulf Coast Region; 2007 - Present;

* Advisory Board, DAYA, 2009 - Present.

Education

* McMaster University, Canada (B.A., Political Science and Philosophy, double honors, summa cum laude, 1979);

* South Texas College of Law (J.D. 1985).

Professional Awards and Affiliations

* Certified Mediator, A. A. White Dispute Resolution Institute, 1992;

* State Bar of Texas - Admitted to Practice;

* United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas - Admitted to Practice;

* United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - Admitted to Practice;

* United States Supreme Court - Admitted to Practice.

Position: Founder and Principal Attorney

Edited October 19, 201015 yr by akootha

இணைப்புக்கு நன்றிகள். தனக்கு கிடைத்த 7 நிமிடத்தை மிக அவதானமாகவும் ஆக்கபூர்வமாகவும் பயன்படுத்தியுள்ளார்.

மகிந்தரின் பேச்சு

அரைவாசி சிங்களத்தில், கேட்பது நிதி மிகுதி தமிழனையும் அபிவிருத்தி என்ற பெயரில் ....

தொடர்புபட்ட செய்தி

”மரண பூமியில் தவிக்கும் என் மக்களை வாழவிடுங்கள்”

http://www.yarl.com/forum3/index.php?showtopic=76613

Edited October 20, 201015 yr by akootha

மகிந்தா ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் சபையில் உரையாற்றிய போது

சைப்பிரஸ், பிஜி, மாலைதீவு போன்ற நாடுகளின் உறுப்பினர்களைத் தவிர பெரும்பாலான முக்கிய நாட்டுத் தலைவர்கள் இங்கு இருக்கவில்லை.

Edited October 22, 201015 yr by கந்தப்பு

இக்காணொளியின் இணைப்பை முதலில் நண்பர் ஒருவரின் பேஸ்புக்கில் பார்த்தேன், முதலில் பார்க்க மனம் வரவில்லை. என்ன மகிந்தாவின் கூத்தை இக்கு இணைத்திருக்கிறான் என்று! பார்த்த பின் ... எனது தலை சாய்ந்த வணக்கங்கள் இந்த அமெரிக்க தமிழரான திரு ஜோர்ஜ் ஆர் விலிக்கு!

இவரது உரை பலருக்கு சூடாக அமைத்திருக்கிறது. நாம் சிங்களத்தின் புலத்தில் இம்மாதிரியான நிகழ்வொன்றையும் புறக்கணிக்கத்தேவையில்லை, அதனை எவ்வாறு சரியாக பயன்படுத்தலாம் என்பதனை தெளிவாக கூறியிருக்கிறது அவரின் உரை! மிக மிக தெளிவான உரை! எம்மக்களின் கடந்த/நிகழ்கால இன்னல்களை அங்கு வந்த அமெரிக்க செனட்டர்களுக்கே வெளிச்சம் போட்டு காட்டி இருக்கிறார். அதற்கு மேல் சிங்களம் ஒருபோதும் தமிழர்களை நிம்மதியாக வாழ விடாது என்பதை மிக சூட்சமமாக சொல்லி இருக்கிறார். கிடத்த சந்தர்ப்பத்தை எந்தளவிற்கு பயன்படுத்த முடியுமோ, அதனை மிக அற்புதமாக பயன்படுத்தி இருக்கிறார்!!... மீண்டும் நன்றிகள், அந்த தமிழனுக்கு!

மாற்றுக்கருத்து என்று இதுவரை கூத்தாடியவர்கள் இலங்கையில் என்றுமே வாய் திறக்க முடியாத நிலை! அதை அவர்கள் மிக தெளிவாக அறிந்தே சிங்களத்துடன் இணைந்திருந்தார்கள் மட்டுமல்லாது இனி ஒரு காலமும் விலக முடியாத நிலையும்! அங்குதான் சட்டிக்குள்ளால் வெளிக்கிட்டால் அடுப்பென்று பார்த்தால், புலத்தில் தம்மை மாற்றுகருதாளர்களென்று கடந்த காலங்களில் திரிந்ததுகள் கூட வாயடைத்துப் போய் நிற்கிறார்கள்! சிங்களவன் தீர்வு தருவான், எமக்கு புலிதான் பிரட்சனை என்று கூறியதெல்லாம், இன்று சிங்களவன் பிரட்சனைக்கு அரசியல் தீர்வல்ல பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சியே என்று ஒரு போடு போட ஆகா ஓகோ என்று மத்தளம் அடிக்கிறார்கள். யாராவது ஒரு அரசில் உள்ள சிங்களவன் வந்துவிட்டால் போட்டா போட்டி போட்டு புகைப்படம் எடுத்து, அவனை மகிழ்விக்க முந்தியடிப்பும், அங்கு தமிழ் மக்கள் படும் பாட்டை கேட்கவே மிக வெட்கப்படுகிறார்கள்!! ஏன் புலத்தில் கூட இக்கேவலம் கெட்ட அரசியல் நடத்துகிறார்கள் தெரியவில்லை! இப்படியான வெட்கம் கெட்ட ஜென்மங்கள் இக்காணொலியை பார்த்தாவது உணர்வார்களா???????

இங்கு மறுபக்கம், சிலவேளை இவருக்கு இங்கு உரையாற்ற சந்தர்ப்பம் கிடைக்காது விட்டிருந்தால், அப்பேற்றபட்ட நிலையில் அவரின் முகம் இப்படியான காணொளியில் பார்க்க முற்பட்டிருப்போமாயின், பாவம் அவருக்கும் துரோகி பட்டம் அழித்து கவிரவித்திருப்போம்.

To: "immigration@grwpc.com" <immigration@grwpc.com>

Dear Mr.George Willy Ratnasingam ,

I, XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, came across your speech in front of Sri Lankan president Rajapakse last week on a you tube video , wishes to thank you from bottom of my heart.

As a person born and brought up in Jaffna and Colombo , and then moved abroad , since you left the country , I have many million stories about the atrocities of the brutal war. I , myself has missed the death by seconds during my teen aged life , and I have been put in jail three times in south even though me or my family never ever had any connections to Tamil Tigers in our life. I tried my best to escape from Sri Lanka and at last successfully I did in 2005.

Even after I left , I never failed to keep my touch with the country's political situation and I became a Tamil activists to fight for the rights of Tamils determine what they want. I believe you might have gone through million stories and even after Tigers are completely defeated , militarising the Tamil homeland never ever stopped. The key reasons for the Tamil youth to take arms which are , restricted entrance to Universities , Sinhala colonisations and human rights of Tamils are still been unanswered.

With the recent arrival of Sinhala families who want land in Jaffna is once again begun to aggravate the local Tamils who are just trying to persuade themselves to live in peace. With incidents like what happened in a public bus , where a Sri Lankan soldiers abused a 14 year old school girl front of others , have not stopped. University systems are not changed to open the entrance without racial religious discrimination. Rajapakse's government has killed thousands of youth who surrendered to Sri Lankan military. Also the youth who are taken from Vanni , based on their age from the IDP camps are kept in military monitored camps for one and a half years now. Even we hear many abuses , threaten to commit sex , and the camps are not open to world wide NGOs or common public. I personally believe current government is just enjoying the victory, and once again repeating the history by trying to keep the Tamils under guns.

They have succeeded so far due Chinese and Iranians who were keen on seeking allies with Sri Lanka. The question is we have seen that in the international arena, allies and enemies change. In this climate Sri Lanka do not believe in reconciliation with Tamils rather showing the imperialism policies with hegemonic strategies. I do not believe current Rajapakse regime will win anything by doing this. Rather Rajapakse is keen on changing legislation to bring more powers to president which J.R.Jayawardane began in 1977 which has caused the huge war.

At last Tamil have become transnational society with very good economic growth but Sinhalese are keen on capturing a small island. So provided Rajapkse listened to your speech (in fact his facial expressions showed his feelings during the speech) and acted as you requested, me too would love to see a Sinhala nation which respects Tamils in the future. We were broken into pieces when Sinhala nation danced and praised Rajapakse in May 17th which has made me personally more pessimistic about the way Sinhala nation is heading towards to.

We will continue to watch and voice for the reasonable cause.We still believe Sinhala nation can correct the whole issue at this at this point of time by allowing Tamils to have their equal power and dignity on their homeland.

Once again thank you for your wonderful brave speech.

Good Luck and please continue your noble efforts!

Sincerely,

To: "immigration@grwpc.com" <immigration@grwpc.com>

Dear Mr.George Willy Ratnasingam ,

I, XXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, came across your speech in front of Sri Lankan president Rajapakse last week on a you tube video , wishes to thank you from bottom of my heart.

As a person born and brought up in Jaffna and Colombo , and then moved abroad , since you left the country , I have many million stories about the atrocities of the brutal war. I , myself has missed the death by seconds during my teen aged life , and I have been put in jail three times in south even though me or my family never ever had any connections to Tamil Tigers in our life. I tried my best to escape from Sri Lanka and at last successfully I did in 2005.

Even after I left , I never failed to keep my touch with the country's political situation and I became a Tamil activists to fight for the rights of Tamils determine what they want. I believe you might have gone through million stories and even after Tigers are completely defeated , militarising the Tamil homeland never ever stopped. The key reasons for the Tamil youth to take arms which are , restricted entrance to Universities , Sinhala colonisations and human rights of Tamils are still been unanswered.

With the recent arrival of Sinhala families who want land in Jaffna is once again begun to aggravate the local Tamils who are just trying to persuade themselves to live in peace. With incidents like what happened in a public bus , where a Sri Lankan soldiers abused a 14 year old school girl front of others , have not stopped. University systems are not changed to open the entrance without racial religious discrimination. Rajapakse's government has killed thousands of youth who surrendered to Sri Lankan military. Also the youth who are taken from Vanni , based on their age from the IDP camps are kept in military monitored camps for one and a half years now. Even we hear many abuses , threaten to commit sex , and the camps are not open to world wide NGOs or common public. I personally believe current government is just enjoying the victory, and once again repeating the history by trying to keep the Tamils under guns.

They have succeeded so far due Chinese and Iranians who were keen on seeking allies with Sri Lanka. The question is we have seen that in the international arena, allies and enemies change. In this climate Sri Lanka do not believe in reconciliation with Tamils rather showing the imperialism policies with hegemonic strategies. I do not believe current Rajapakse regime will win anything by doing this. Rather Rajapakse is keen on changing legislation to bring more powers to president which J.R.Jayawardane began in 1977 which has caused the huge war.

At last Tamil have become transnational society with very good economic growth but Sinhalese are keen on capturing a small island. So provided Rajapkse listened to your speech (in fact his facial expressions showed his feelings during the speech) and acted as you requested, me too would love to see a Sinhala nation which respects Tamils in the future. We were broken into pieces when Sinhala nation danced and praised Rajapakse in May 17th which has made me personally more pessimistic about the way Sinhala nation is heading towards to.

We will continue to watch and voice for the reasonable cause.We still believe Sinhala nation can correct the whole issue at this at this point of time by allowing Tamils to have their equal power and dignity on their homeland.

Once again thank you for your wonderful brave speech.

Good Luck and please continue your noble efforts!

Sincerely,

நன்றிகள் அகோதா, இவை போன்ர மடல்கள், இவர்களை மென்மேலும் செயற்பட உந்துதலை அளிக்கும்,

வாழைப்பழத்தில் எப்படி ஊசி ஏற்றுவது என்று எமது நாடு கடந்த தமிழீழ அரசியல்வாதிகள் இந்த சட்டத்தரணியிடம் பாடம் எடுக்கலாம்.

எனக்கு பிடித்த வரிகளில்,

"பத்து வயது தமிழ் சிறுவனின் வெள்ளை சீருடையில் இருக்கும் சிவப்பு கறை, ஜம்புகாயின் கறையா இருக்கட்டும்"

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/10/24/%e2%80%98land-of-my-forefathers-has-descended-from-paradise-deep-into-hell%e2%80%99/

இதை facebook இலும் பார்த்தேன். 6 - 7 நிமிடத்தில் சொல்லவேண்டியதை சொன்னார். மகிந்தாவின் பதில் கேட்க முடியாதுள்ளது..இரைச்சல் பாதி..மகிந்தாவின் பதிலையும் போட்டால்..நன்றியுடையவனாய் இருப்பேன்.

அவர்கள்/ மகிந்த என்ன செய்வார்களோ தெரியாது. ஆனால் இந்தமாதிரி உயர் பதவிகளில் உள்ளவர்கள், பேசுவது இலகுவாக அடையவேண்டியவர்களை சேரும். உதாரணம் பத்திரிகைகள்.... பாராட்டுக்கள்

1. In 1980, the charges were brought against Mahinda Rajapakse assassinating the character of the opposition candidate by false allegations.

2. In 1982, Belliatta by election, Mahinda Rajapakse was charged for murdering three persons in broad daylight by shooting. He was remanded with eye witness giving evidence. Later, the courts freed him because the evidence of the witnesses was contradictory. If the courts had decided otherwise, he would have been hanged.

3. In 2005, there was another case against him for defrauding the Tsunami funds collected under ‘Helping Hambantota’ Tsunami relief. At that juncture, in order to save him from arrest, the SC moved to do justice to him.

===================================

Open Letter: Sri Lanka’s Inglorious Democracy

Mr. James Kingston

The President

Oxford Union

Mister President,

Sri Lanka’s Inglorious Democracy‏

I am Sri Lankan and have been living in France for the past 2 decades, enjoying European life style and its democratic values. It is with great sadness and regret that I have to present you with few facts about the current situation in Sri Lanka for your information and consideration.

Referring to the invitation you have proposed to the President of Sri Lanka to address the Union. I have no doubts that your invitation was extended prior to what The British Prime Minister, David Cameron has said that “there should be an independent investigation into what happened during the decisive phase of Sri Lanka's war against Tamil Tiger rebels”.

During his speech, President Rajapakse will deny any wrong doing and mislead you in his statement but he’ll remain silent on questions of human rights, political opposition, freedom of speech, freedom of press, 18th Amendment, oppression on university systems and country’s extreme cost of living in the post war period.

This is a time, when all helpless Sri Lankans including Sinhalese, Muslim and minority Tamils are seeking help from all Organizations, International community and Unions, like yours, in order to restore democracy in Sri Lanka. Eradication of Terrorism in Sri Lanka has been followed by brazen slaughter of Democracy today. It is no secret that President Rajapaksa’s regime violates all human rights and discriminates the minority Tamils. Once the President addressing a rally in the north and speaking in Tamil language, he mispronounced the copy written in Sinhalese even though he had two teleprompters. The participants made him a remark him for the wrong Tamil words he had used and the President who had been enraged had said, “Yes, we are Sinhalese. You listen to me, Tamilian. Don’t try to be too wise. If you can’t listen get out of here".

Journalists are disappearing or getting murdered (eg. Mr. Ekneligoda, Mr. Lasantha Wickramathunga), they are threatened and intimidated. There is no freedom of press or expression. Those, who are critical to the government are being arrested, beaten and put behind bars under the orders of both the President and his brother Mr.Gotabaya Rajapakse. Judiciary is being manipulated by the Rajapaksas to put in silence their political opponents.

Sri Lanka’s only four star General who crushed the terrorism was praised by the Rajapaksas as the best Army Commander in the world was put behind bars by the same people just because he contested the presidential elections against President Rajapaksa. All fake charges were brought against General Sarath Fonseka and the cases were heard behind closed doors.

All religious leaders came forward and requested President Rajapaksa to give all the democratic rights to the General.” What General. Fonseka requires is justice, not pardon” - A Statement by the Rt. Revd. Duleep de Chickera, the Bishop of Colombo.

Release General and sentence hundred Bhikkus including him to rigorous imprisonment for life says Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero.In addition to Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, Sri Lanka’s Most Venerable Chief monks of the 4 Buddhist chapters and various other religious leaders came forward to request the President to respect the Human Rights and restore democracy.

Even the former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva stated that President Mahinda Rajapaksa should lend out the same justice and fundamental rights to General Fonseka as was given to him in the past by the courts. He had mentioned that,

1. In 1980, the charges were brought against Mahinda Rajapakse assassinating the character of the opposition candidate by false allegations.

2. In 1982, Belliatta by election, Mahinda Rajapakse was charged for murdering three persons in broad daylight by shooting. He was remanded with eye witness giving evidence. Later, the courts freed him because the evidence of the witnesses was contradictory. If the courts had decided otherwise, he would have been hanged.

3. In 2005, there was another case against him for defrauding the Tsunami funds collected under ‘Helping Hambantota’ Tsunami relief. At that juncture, in order to save him from arrest, the SC moved to do justice to him.

General Sarath Fonseka, Member of the Sri Lankan parliament who is currently incarcerated under deplorable conditions. I am sure the following explanations of the facts will highlight the emerging dictatorship in Sri Lanka under President Rajapaksa regime.

General Sarath Fonseka following his retirement from active military duties as well as his resignation as the Chief of defense staff was allowed to contest as the main joint opposition presidential candidate by the Election commissioner of Sri Lanka according to the constitution of the country, against President Rajapakse who called for an early Presidential election in January 2010.

The election results thoroughly contested by the majority of the election monitoring Organizations and the opposition parties. General Sarath Fonseka had filed a petition in the Supreme Courts requesting that the re-election of Mr Rajapaksa as President of Sri Lanka at the January 26 polls on the ground that the elections were corrupt and abounding with malpractices.

Nearly 9 months later since the petition filled, on 26 October 2010, President Rajapakse has made written submissions requesting Court to annul the examination of the Presidential election petition filed by Presidential candidate and former Army Commander General Fonseka. Later on, The Supreme Court dismissed the petition without a trial.

Two weeks following the elections General Fonseka was hastily arrested and detained on unsubstantiated charges by the present Army Commander, violating the constitution of the country as well as the Army act. The GOSL as well as the Sri Lankan Army had violated the laws of the country as formal charges were not brought against him until almost 3 months later where according to the law of the land General Fonseka would have been produced in a court of law within 24 hours of his arrest.

According to the Army act of Sri Lanka the present Army commander cannot issue orders to arrest the four-star Retired General Sarath Fonseka as he is the highest Ranking officer of the military. Only the President of Sri Lanka can give such an order. However in such a situation only the civil courts of the country could hear a case against General Fonseka, since a military tribunal comprised of junior rank officers to the only four star General in the country is not acceptable and against the very Army act of Sri Lanka. Hence the military tribunals held against General Sarath Fonseka were Illegal not only as per the Army act but also according to the Constitution of the country.

While in custody General Sarath Fonseka contested the general election and was elected as a member of the Parliament further proving his democratic right to engage in active politics after his retirement which this dictatorial regime is actively trying to deprive him of. By appointing military courts, filing charges, approving charges and ratifying verdicts, the President prepared the ground for the jailing his presidential candidate opponent General Sarath Fonseka.

General Sarath Fonseka was charged in a military court in two separate trials and all tribunal members have been handpicked by the present Army Commander on the instructions of the Defense Secretary of Sri Lanka and his brother the President of the country who is the Commander in Chief of the Armed forces.

All members of the tribunal were biased against General Sarath Fonseka as during his tenure as the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army he had initiated disciplinary action against these officers. It was obvious why these members were appointed to the tribunal by the President of the country. When General Sarath Fonseka’s lawyers objected, they were disregarded. All members of the tribunal were at least two ranks below General Fonseka, which is against the Army act.

In the first Military tribunal the Attorneys appearing for General Sarath Fonseka were not given an opportunity to cross examine the government witnesses. Hearings were conducted despite their appeal not to have the proceedings at a time of Court Holidays. A guilty verdict was delivered in the absence of defense attorneys – which is unheard in a civilized and a democratic country.

General Sarath Fonseka has also being charged and convicted by the second Military tribunal appointed by the President Rajapakse for improper procurement of arms to the Sri Lankan Army during his tenure as the Commander of the army under a so called National Procurement Agency (NPA) guideline.

The only charge against him was his not disclosing the relationship his son in law had with a Company in British Borneo. But, the punishment given to him was for dishonorable conduct assuming that the father in law should know of all what his son in law does. This is not a charge that can be leveled in this civilized world.

It is needed to be emphasized that in this second tribunal, General Fonseka was not allowed to summon his key witnesses. The verdict of the second Court Martial delivered by the three Junior Major Generals with many charges against them in their military life is being seen by Members of the legal profession, experts and Procurement Consultants as a clear violation of the constitutional law of the country as NPA Guidelines has no statutory (legal) standing, since the NPA has been establish under Presidential directive but not by the legislature of the country.

During the process of the Tribunals General Fonseka as a member of the parliament appealed to the Speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament for his rights under parliamentary privileges to attend the parliament without interruption. Although the Sri Lankan courts gave a ruling that he should be allowed to attend the parliamentary sittings, the Sri Lankan army in whose custody General Fonseka was, had many a times violated the court ruling. His appeal about this contempt of court to the Speaker of the Sri Lankan parliament, who also is the brother of the president of the country, was to no avail.

The President and chief of the commanding forces President Rajapakse, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse, his brother is in charge of the Defense, Mr. Basil Rajapakse ,brother and chief advisor to the President while Mr. Chaamal Rajapakse the other brother of the President who is the speaker made sure that Fonseka’s parliamentary post is terminated. In other words, it is the brothers company which has orchestrated this whole jailing operation.

Defense secretary Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapakse even threatened to hang General Fonseka if he cooperates with any investigation into war crimes during the civil war that ended one year ago in recent BBC’s Hardtalk show.

Former LTTE Eastern Leader and now a Minister in the Rajapakse cabinet, Mr. Karuna Amman has admitted in a British court that it was the Defense Secretary Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse who had helped him to get a forged Diplomatic Pass Port for travelling to UK, violating immigration laws of our country.

Another former LTTE top cadre Mr. Shivanesathurai Chandrakanthan also known as Pillayan and now the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, made a statement, while giving evidence before the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, that his former chief Mr. Karuna Amman should apologies for the murder of 600 un armed policemen surrendered to LTTE under government orders, in the 1990s, as he was a member of the organization at the time.

Today, General Fonseka is incarcerated serving a sentence of 30-month rigorous imprisonment and his life is in danger. As a result of several blast injuries sustained to his lungs in the battle front, General Fonseka not only has shrapnel embedded in his lungs but had unfortunately developed scarring of the lungs with reduced lung capacity , thus making him extremely susceptible for serious lung infections. Prison environment is notorious for communicable diseases and he is at very high risk of developing a life threatening Pneumonia. Furthermore as a result of the suicide attack carried out by LTTE against him, he underwent several major bowel resection surgeries, which had caused significant digestive and absorptive conditions, compelling him to have frequent but small meals to sustain adequate and proper nutrition as well as bowel functions. Prison meal schedule is certainly inappropriate for his well-being. Even if General Fonseka’s courage and determination as a brave soldier to survive and fight for justice will make him endure all these difficulties, he has very limited protection against any assassination attempt to his life at the Welikada Prison, the facility in which he is incarcerated.

It is now claimed that the Sri Lankan Government has agreed to pay a top British public relations consultancy firm about £3 million a year to facelift the image of Sri Lanka and its government.

Mr. President, you were probably given a fake picture of the current situation in Sri Lanka by any consulting firm or our Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, during his recent visit to UK.

As Sri Lankans, we are proud to be a nation who had produced two of its best Sons as past Presidents of the Oxford Union, Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar and Hon. Lalith Athulathmudali, a Tamil and a Sinhalese. I may not be mistaken to say that Sri Lanka is perhaps the only country in Asia so far who could boast that two of its distinguished sons had served the Oxford Union as Presidents.

Therefore, I respectfully appeal to you and the international community not to abandon our nation which is currently suffering under the dictatorial Rajapaksa regime seeking precious help from prestigious Organizations like yours to restore democracy in Sri Lanka.

Sincerely,

Mano Banduwardena

( http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/11/open-letter-sri-lankas-inglorious.html )