Atrocity in Sri Lanka.Amantha Perera's article 'The fading roar' (Currents, June 2009) does not mention the killing of an estimated 20,000 Tamil civilians (according to internal UN sources) in northern Sri Lanka as a result of sustained Government shelling during the closing stages of the war, which undeniably amounts to one of the worst war crimes in recent times. Nor does the article mention the continuing and indefinite internment of 250,000 Tamil men, women and children in appalling conditions within camps, without external access to the ICRC ICRC abbr. International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC n abbr (= International Committee of the Red Cross) → CICR m ICRC n abbr or UN aid agencies. Nor does it mention the countless extrajudicial That which is done, given, or effected outside the course of regular judicial proceedings. Not founded upon, or unconnected with, the action of a court of law, as in extrajudicial evidence or an extrajudicial oath. killings and disappearances carried out by pro-Government death squads with total impunity. Nor does it mention the almost complete lack of media freedom in Sri Lanka. The list goes on. The Tamils in Sri Lanka are a forgotten oppressed op·press tr.v. op·pressed, op·press·ing, op·press·es 1. To keep down by severe and unjust use of force or authority: a people who were oppressed by tyranny. 2. minority in an increasingly repressive (albeit democratic) failed state. The UN, the international community and much of the media have at best ignored the Tamils' suffering, and at worst colluded in their subjugation Subjugation Cushan-rishathaim Aram king to whom God sold Israelites. [O.T.: Judges 3:8] Gibeonites consigned to servitude in retribution for trickery. [O.T.: Joshua 9:22–27] Ham Noah curses him and progeny to servitude. [O. . Many countries secretly sold weapons to the Sri Lankan Government and funded the war under the guise of counterterrorism coun·ter·ter·ror adj. Intended to prevent or counteract terrorism: counterterror measures; counterterror weapons. n. Action or strategy intended to counteract or suppress terrorism. despite grave concerns about human rights. Name withheld on request [This letter refers to a web-only Currents article-www.newint.org/columns/currents/2009/06/16/fading-roar/] |
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