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AI campaign: Have your say | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sri Lankan government has launched a strong protest against Amnesty International's (AI) latest campaign against Sri Lanka's human rights violations. Government alleged that 'Play by the Rules' campaign is aimed at demoralising the cricket team focusing on 2007 World Cup. But the AI says the protest is only timed parallaly with the World Cup but has nothing do with the Sri Lanka cricket team. Sri Lanka team manager Michael Tissera told BBC Sandeshaya that no impact whatsover on the team. Have your say. Some 4,000 civilians are dead; over 300,000 people are displaced; homes, schools and places of worship have been destroyed, all since the fighting intensified in April 2006. A pattern of enforced disappearances in the north, east and the capital Colombo has re-emerged. Unlawful killings, recruitment of child soldiers by armed groups, and abductions have also increased. AI continue to ignore the human rights by the Tamil Tiger terrorists,while unfairly targetting a democratically elected government of Sri lanka. A world class multi-ethnic cricket team is admired and loved not only by the Sri Lankans but by fans all over the world. The enforced disappearances phenomenon is but one in a long list of problems plaguing the Tamil people of Sri Lanka in recent times. People suddenly disappear or go missing .There have been some incidents where Muslims and Sinhala people have gone missing too but the overwhelming cases of Missing or Disappearances pertain to the Tamil people alone. Though these incidents are loosely called disappearances they are really involuntary disappearances or enforced disappearances. I come to Raddoluwa every year to pay tribute to my missing son. He was a student in Empilipitiya. He went missing on August 2nd 1989. I do not know what has happened to him. I miss my son. Nobody can bring my son back to me. It is a fact that both GOSL and LTTE are not doing enogh to protect human rights in SL.It is also evident that AI's role towards human right issues in SL has always been questionable. AI is actuall trying to gain an undue publicity through Cricket World Cup?I think instead of protecting HR, AI is actually violating HR by being bias towards LTTE and by not trying to expose gross HR abuses carried out by LTTE. According to the Manager of the SL World Cup Cricket team, AI's "Play by the Rules" campaign has had no impact on the SL cricketers. One has to be blind with "myopic chintanayas" not to see that the AI's campaign is not about cricket but about blatant human rights violations carried out by ALL parties to the bloody senseless conflict in Sri Lanka.It is now obvious whom (and where)the AI's campaign has hurt the most. Fortunately for the world, neither SL government nor the LTTE can exert their perverted form of power and justice over prestigious International NGOs such as the AI. It is no wonder that AI or any other NGO carried out such campaigns. Because they survive on marketing conflicts, atrocities, destructions etc. But they are very choosy on this. Their premier targets are non Christian countries and third world countries. But time to time make a little voice against western countries. A good thing done by AI! Human rights is aserious issue not to be treated as a joke mixing up with cricket balls.BBC sinhala has joined amnesty's ball game by launching this column for LTTE supporters to launch their googlies against srilanka.More tamils seems to view sinhala service wonder why? AI has to continue the good effort to bring peace in SriLanka by exposing the people behind the Killings and abductions. AI should start listing the individuals involved in human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Finally, prosecute the leaders and individuals who support the killings and human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Hey AI, Why don't you people send some 'Play by the Rules" balls to Wanni and ask LTTE team to play cricket there. However you must not send umpires of your own who are scared to the call of players but not to the civilsed rules of any game. AI says that nothing to do with Sri Lankan cricket. When the AI balls are thrown to the field when Sri lankans are fielding is there nothing to do ? Sri Lankans know Darel Hair and Amnesty International both. Majority of the people in Sri Lanka now can understand and sniff these so called Human Rights Protectors before they come in to the arena. Why do we waste so much of words on this? The GoSL is worried not because that the criketers might be de-moralised ( They are not!), but because of the fear that the government and the military would be demoralised in carrying out a genocidal and suicidal war! While the attention is being drawn towards the Carribean Islands a deadly game is being played by the GoSL at the cost of 1.5 billion US dollars (the defence budget)in a land where 49 percent of pregnant women suffer from aneameia. Many in the South are waiting to see the promised victory over the LTTE as they are watching the TV with the hope of a World Cup victory, unaware of the zealed coffins of the soldiers that are arriving to the neighbourng village, scores of abductions in Colombo. We are being illusioned by ourselves at a high cost!!! Who is paying the cost? Judging by the responses more tamils seem to be following BBC Sinhala service and lambasting the Srilanka Government.This clears the pitch bbc sinhala is an LTTE front.Ai campaign is another part of the LTTE propaganda network. This campaign should hopefully stop when England gets kicked out of the World Cup. A young Tamil woman working as financial executive of an airline firm is abducted by unknown persons from her residence in Borupane road, Ratmalana. Nothing is known of her whereabouts so far. In a separate incident another young Tamil woman working as an information tech executive in the private sector is also abducted. But she is fortunate in having UNP Colombo distict MP Thiyagarajah Maheswaran as her uncle. The world respect AI for his valuble service against human right violations but this "Play by the Rules" campaign dramatically damageges AI credibility and reputation. AI must talk about human right violation by LTTE too. Puffing the ethnicity images of Muralitharan or Arnold doesnt mean that Sri Lanka is an equal society, while some other cricketers had changing their names to survive in mainstream cricket. There is a serious ethnic and religious imbalance in our mainstream cricket. Sri Lankan Cricket has failed to accommodate more inclusive behavioral patterns instead they are moving towards more patriotic and towards dominant ethnicity. In brief Cricket in Sri Lanka serve to the market interests that dominates by majority ethnic group covered with nationalism as their urge to the deeply divided society. AI is funny company who lives from terror money. I have never seen they condem LTTE killing hundred thousand people in Sri Lanka and even in UK that they kill dozen of tamil who do not agree with them. AI is not protecting human rights but they want spread terrorisom in whole world. AI is violating human right supporting terrorist such as brutal & barbarian LTTE. Cricket is on of the sports in Sri Lanka interfering of government is minimal, thats why boys are performing exceptional well. Game is enjoyed by people all over the country without any ethnicity. Either players or fans not responsible for human rights violations in the country. AI selected wrong path for there campaign. If AI has guts why are they not coming to Sri Lanka and carry out there so called campaign? Definite impact on the cricket team. The entire Sri Lanakn cricketing psyche is Singhalese dominated and there is no space for minorities unless you are coming from Colombo or Kandy cities. I am saying these things, as there are no proper products from north and east for last 25 years. Only a player appeared recently with northern background due to the peace created by CFA. If any body claiming that there shouldnt be any influence of politics on cricket then I would like to question why there is no development in cricket in north and east, which is the political pattern of Sri Lanka. Why dont AI ask British goverment to play by rules in IRAQ. I think this is timely good campaign of AI. The match results show that Sri lankan players have not been demoralised by the campaign. But vast awarness and attention has been developed about the Human rights violations of Sri lanka by both parties as tat for tit. AI has sellected a good occation to alert the human rights concerned world against the on going purposefull hr violations in Sri Lanka. How can we rightfully expect poor SriLankan government to play by rules, when the BBC itself not playing by rules. In my opinion Amnesty International shouldn't mix cricket with politics. Cricket is a popular in Sri Lanka and cuts through political and ethnic lines. Even the pro-LTTEers watch and enjoy Sri Lankan cricket. It is the only thing that brings us together as Sri Lankans. At this stage, AI shows the real picture of Sri Lanka. The world understand the different between innocent Tamils and state terrorist. We were always with AI. AI contribution for human rights in SL is great.But the cricket ground is not a right place to protest SL government."Play by the rules" campaign dramatically damageges AI credibility and past reputation. Who proposed the campaign? AI should work with people.Without sri lankan people trust how AI can achieve its goals? If your campaign were targeted all the countries which abuse human rights no one come forward againest AI but unconditional help. Thank you very much AI, thank you again for telling the whole world about tamils getting killed everyday. Why doesn't AI go to LTTE controlled areas and check what's happening there? AI's agenda is now to help LTTE by spreading false details about the present SL government ? Killing Tamils is not cricket, it is a shame that a cricket loving country like Srilanka can not adhere to the virture of the great game in solving ethnic issue. AI basically targetted the Sri Lanka Vs England match. They wanted Sri Lanka cricket tems moral down before the match So that Englsnd can claim an easy win. My above comments are based on the facts that AI organizers are all from London and also has connections with LTTE. Is not the campaign aimed at both the government and the rebels? Even so I feel sorry for the SL players since they have come to the carribbean to play cricket and win it for their united country no matter what the ethnicity is. Both sides are commiting violations and hopefully the terrorism in this beautiful island will end soon enough. I think AI has made a big mistake. Because there were very little human right violation by government forces compire to the human right violation by terrorists in Sri lanka.Therefore AI should have compaigned against terrorism in proper places first. Definitely not inthe sports places. Human suffering in Sri lanka has become part of daily life.when some one tells you it is horrendous and stop it, this request is peceived as support for terrorism.I am ashamed of calling my self a Lankan.My gratitude to AI. Its a SHAME. LTTE is not representing the tamil people. The LTTE is a terrorist organisation without any public support from the Tamil community. The AI should pressure the UK and French government to stop LTTE fund raisng (one euro per day) campaigns. "Play by the Rules" is for both; the LTTE and for the GoSL (and its terrorists alies). AI is fair. We banned Sth Africa from cricket, why not Sri Lanka for cousing 200,000 Sri Lankan refugees in their motherland by aerial bombing on the pretext of fighting terrorism. This not only coverdish but immoral for a democratically elected government. Long live AI for exposing LTTE and the terrorists alies of Govt. and the terror unleashed by the Govt. against Sri Lankans in the east. The vice - chancellor of an Eastern university is threatened by an armed Tamil group and moves to Colombo. His resignation is not accepted by the UGC. The VC attends a top academic conference in a high - security area of Colombo. He is last seen around noon at the venue. Many appeals have been issued and representations have been made to the President himself but the man who went missing many weeks ago remains in the ranks of the disappeared. We tamils, muslims and sinhalese cheer as one for our team in the world cup.sportsmanship is something that unites us.there are players representing all the ethnic groups in the team and they are setting us all a good example and showing the world that the problem srilanka is having right now is not an ethnic problem but simply TERRORISM. that is what has hurt both the AI and LTTTE. I can undestand AI can deal only with governments not with terrorists but with this latest Sri lankan issue is not accecepable.AI can handle this issue in a proffessional way, not like nursary school level. They shouldnt interfere the Cricketers at all. For pity's sake please keep out of sports. Let the cricketers do their job and let the fans enjoy! Thanks, BBC for opening up a forum for the LTTE sympathizers to spread their bogus claims as if AI is not giving enough publicity to TIger propaganda. From time to time the LTTE is bringing up some thing to further their goals and the world forgets all the dastardly acts done by them. So everyone else jump in the bandwagon and follow them. I ahve yet to see AI condemning the recent bus civilian bus bombings by the Tigers in Sri Lanka. AI is biased and people should not support biased organiztions like that. It's all good to talk about Sri Lanka and its appalling HR record. It would be a lie to say that SL is free and fair. Mahinda Rajapakse has a bit of Mugabe in him. But My question is; The British & the Americans have killed 100,000 Iraqis, They are invading other peoples countries. Where was AI when these countries carried out these atrocious acts? AI campaign raises the question of its impartiality. It never speaks about the denial of human rights by LTTE, forcible conscription of school children in their terrorist activities. AI has merely gone to the low levels of making a living out of misery in conflict regions. Rather than being a champion of human rights, AI has indirectly been a violator of human rights by its indirect support to the violators of human rights. Is this is all that AI could do? Sinhala government = State terror its a fact. During the ceasefire period specially after this government came to power a year ago nearly 1703 innocent Tamil civilian murdered, 754 disappeared and 252000 displaced by the terrorist Sinhala armed forces and paramilitary. Jaffna peninsula is an open prison occupied by 40000 armed forces, almost all the murders and disappearances take place during the curfew hours and not a single person was arrested or prosecuted for this terror. WHY? Because, its all done by the state terrorist. AI What has done for Iraq or Afganistan.I am sure they are only third hand of LTTE...? This is the attitude of the SriLankan government, intimidating and harassing anybody pointing out their unlawful killings and genocides. By comparing things happening in Iraq and other war torn countries, they are simply accepting it is the same thing they are doing in Srilanka, these people need to be educated, and necessary punishments imposed on them. AI is doing the right thing. Yes it is white game.they want to demoralize sri lanka cricket team. It seems that AI has got some strong Tamil lobbyists within their ranks who are pulling the strings. AI should look at ground realities and happenings at the site of conflict rather than touch on sports matters. Sports in Sri Lanka builds unity rather than the opposite and Cricket is a wonderful example. We must leave sports out of politics. Its true that the human rights violations are on the rise since of late in Sri Lanka. Both the Government(Elected by ballot) & the LTTE ( formed by the bullet) are responsible for these violations.The terrorists LTTE, there is no doubt that the order of the day is terrorism, killings, destructions and all types of human rights violations.But, my humble opinion is that we cannot expect the democratically elected government to behave like a terrorsist organisation.But, once again I must emphasise that AI has no right to humiliate Sri Lankaan cricket and Sri Lankans by this type low level campaigns. Instigating by terrorist movements and other non-state actors, Amnesty International is launching aggressive human rights campaigns on selected countries abroad but remains silent on the illegal activities and human rights violations of the terrorist movement themselves.
What do they have to say now ,killing of six innocent sinhalese women in Vavuniya by LTTE ,play by rules LTTE!!! "Play by the Rules" is a very creative campaign by AI to bring awareness to the world about the Human rights abuses in Sri Lanka by all parties including the government of Sri Lanka. Kudos to AI for coming with an effective campaign! I would like to see this as a another weapon used by the West to intimidate other weak countries speacially in third world. I am challanging AI to get acess to see the inmates in guantanamo camp in Cuba. This has happend during the 1990s in Russia. This is a part of globalisation and neo-conservatism. All the "independant" and "masters of human rights" and "Media" (BBC is in forefront) in a whitewashing campaign to the Bush_Blair version of neo-colonisation. AI-Mind your Business!!! I totally endorse AI campaign. Because, as we all know, Sri Lanka ranks top in the list of human rights violations. Not only innocent tamils are killed by Sinhala terrorists, but also many Sinhalease are also abducting and dissapearing every day in this country. BBC your web site and channel also helping very mcuh to propagate all the kinds of bullshit, please stop and make these games nice, because england is loosing so you people also get upset, dont do any more publicity to these kind of animal behaviour. I am realy sad to see still some authors in this forum talk about ethnic cleansing carried out by sinhalease. They cant be genuine hindus. They worship god shiva daily in their home shrines. How could they resort to false propaganda such as ethnic cleansing when outside world knows what is happening in sri Lanka and who actualy is enaged in ethnic cleansing as recent as last week. AI has missed the plot. They deliberately ignored Simbabwe(Mugabe)& Australia (Plight of aborigines) However nobody cares commercialised institutions like AI these days. Money talks. Only those who love the people of Sri Lanka truly love the country. All the others are false pretenders. AI is campaigning for the protection of the people in Sri Lanka. Only the false pretenders will object to such a campaign. World cup criket; That is one of the greatest event all ethnic groups of Sri Lanka get togather and cheer. AI, for the god sake, don't spoil that! Kumara Fernandez says that SLG is protecting tamils. why is it that then Sinhalease are given bunkers by the army but not the Tamils. The biggest HR violaters are the SLG who is supposed to be everyone's govt. Sri lankan forces are fighting against world's no 1 terrorist group, to rescue innocent tamils and to protect human right of them. AI should help GOSL to prtect innocent tamils' human rights from LTTE terrorist. But what they do is not in line with AI's goals. They are helping LTTE indirectly. They shut their mouth about the innocent tamils' human right violation in LTTE control area. Why is Sri Lankan Government is excited about AI's propaganda. Why some of the commentators are worried about other countries like Zimbabwe, Guntanamo etc. Keep your house in Order. Sri Lankan Democratically elected Government - is a big bull shit. Srilanka is ready to protect the Bulls right but not human rights. It seems the politicians are trying to protect themselves. Way to go. Why AI forgot Zimbabwe? Nagaland ,kashmr and a couple of provinces in India? gen. Musharraf's pakistan? The england criceters also with them.What happening in Iraq and Afghanisthan?Supling bombs,missiles for poor iraqies?It is shame.We should shout slogans againest SL government. It is true.But why at the cricekt ground againest to only one country?Thee are some other countries among them. The Sri Lanka Cricket Team manager Michael Perera has told that Amnesty International's Campaign against Sri Lanka's Human rights violation has no impact on the team. the world is suspicious why the Sri Lankan Govt. is very much concerned while the Liberation Tigers have welcomed this campaigned. Why did the GOSL had to oppose AI than negotiate with them...Doesn't it tell the world something fishy is going on with it...As Ranil W mentioned, making tamils disappear won't help to bring down LTTE. Its just show how stupid AI management is! In Sri Lanka Cricket unites people. Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or whatever We all are proud of our team! Do you think AI is really helping human right abuse by this? No they just spread hate and divide people even at a sporting event. You don't need a rocket scientist to make you understand what can can hate is the origin to ignorance and abusing power. So let the people heal. It is very sad! SL is protesting against AI. Sri Lanka's human rights violations are so high. Tamil People are dying everyday by SL forces and their Supporting Tamil Para- military personals. International community is not doing anthing to stop the killing. More than 200 thousands Tamil people are displaced internally by government forces. AI is Good for help the Terrorist,They cant security of human rights futhermore. I applaud the AI, for using an event with world wide following to high light the HR vilolations in Sri Lanka, by GOSL and the paramilitary organisations. There is a genocide going on Sri Lnka and the world is turning a blind eye. Unfortunately there is no folling of crickrt in the USA. Suicidal practice and policies of successive governments have taken the country to this mess within the last 59 years. AI is trying to remind us of the need to adopt human rights for the good of not only Sri Lankans but for the whole world.
AI seems to be wearing colour glasses. Humantarian issues are quite differant from politics. First they have to understand this and "play by the humantarian rules" without showing their naked back. Way to go! There is a Darfur like crisis right in the middle of a supposedly democratic government in Sri-Lanka with daily abductions, extra judicial killings and torture being the norm. Anyone daring to criticize the government including the media is branded as traitors and collaborators and put behind bars under fabricated charges. Its about time the Sri-Lankan government is brought to book and treated like a pariah nation in the same way as apartheid South Africa, Sudan and Serbia. We welcome the efforts by the AI and all other human rights organizations. What Right has AI got to discriminate one countrys human rights record against another. Are they blind to whats happening in Zimbabwe never mind rest of the world? Come on AI be a SPORT and PLAY BY THE RULES. It's not nice during world cup invlove with team, which play game at highest merit & team which is selected from best without any ethnic biased. But AI has right to campaign , my question is against legitimate Government , they could call for saction , tarnish the image. What is impact on Ltte? Could UN been able to stop they recruting child soldiers? Will any of such campaign will halt their brutal killings of innocent people? So you only put pressure on one side. By doing so , you strengthen terrorism. To play by rule , you need 2 equal partices. If US is in War with Russia , yes we we say play by rule. But when US in war with Alqaida. There is no rules , because terrorists do not have rules. If South Africa was banned from playing, why not Lanaka?
50,000 ! thats is numbr of the children who died as result of UN sanctions imposed on iraq ...which were backed by US and Uk....Guantanamo where prisonsers get tortured and humilated every day ....But i am yet to see AI or any other NGO carry out protests in sporting events where US participate...doesn't it say the story? AI is world wide known as terrorists organisation and therefore we should eliminate LTTE and AI as well. We should ban Sri Lankan teams participating from any international sports event until they stop human rights violation and having a tamils from north and east in the teams. Sri Lanka should implement a plan to develop sports in north and east before their allowed to play again in the international arena. There is no humanright viorlation either with Sri Lankan cricekt fans or cricket team. I stronly belive that AI has NO right what so ever to bring Play by Rules campain against Sri Lankan Cricket team or fans on 2007 World Cup. AI has violated our rights of peaceful enjoyment of Sri Lankan cricket and team right to have a competition of free of harasments. The campaign by AI has no impact on SL cricket team this is the message from the manager of the team Michael Tissera. I agree with him, as they are professional, this action by AI has no impact, this is evidence by the way they played the last match. I also agree with AI, there are quite a lot of people has no knowledge of human rights abuses that taking place in Sri Lanka. Introducing independence monitors will put pressure on parties who involved in human rights abuse. I am suspicious why SL government is so concerned about this campaign while LTTE is welcomed it, does SL government has something to hide? What has AI done so far to expose the HR violations by LTTE? At the end of the day AI wants to get more publicity by attacking a democratically elected government than a terrorist outfit with a dictator. How fair is that? | LOCAL LINKS  No impact on cricket team - Tissera11 April, 2007 | Sandeshaya ICC rejects Sri Lanka claims08 April, 2007 | Sandeshaya 'Protect civilians' in conflict zones06 April, 2007 | Sandeshaya Mahinda "invited" HR observers in 8904 April, 2007 | Sandeshaya | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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(For) The terrorists LTTE, there is no doubt that the order of the day is terrorism, killings, destructions and all types of human rights violations.But, my humble opinion is that we cannot expect the democratically elected government to behave like a terrorsist organisation.But, I must emphasise that AI has no right to humiliate Sri Lankaan cricket and Sri Lankans by this type low level campaigns. 
