MEDIA RELEASAE ON SRI LANKA - JOHN MURPHY MP

I wish to share with you the statement made by John Murphy MP (Member for the Electorate of Lowe in NSW) on 5 May 2006 on the current development in Sril Lanka, for your information. You can see this in the tamilnet.

Please mobilise a few supporting letters to Mr. Murphy (John.Murphy.MP@aph.gov.au) and share this media release with others who could consider voicing similar views to keep the pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL)'


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Indiscriminate Attacks strengthen case for Tamil self-rule- Aussie MP

[TamilNet, May 05, 2006 10:10 GMT]

"Whatever the provocation, targeting Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan Government clearly demonstrates that it does not regard the Tamil people to be part of its population. It thus strengthens, in my view, the Tamil people's case for self determination," said Australian parliamentarion John Murphy, Member for the Federal State of Lowe, in a media release issued Friday.

Full text of the media release follows:

"In my view, the spiraling violence in Sri Lanka can only be brought to an end by implementing the Cease-Fire Agreement entered between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
in February 2002.

Media reports of air strikes by the Sri Lankan regime on 25th and the 26th April are appalling in that they have resulted in the deaths of at least 15 civilians and displacement of well over 15,000 people. The air strike was claimed by the Sri Lankan Government to be retaliatory attacks mounted to avenge the bombing at the Military High Command in Colombo. Whatever the provocation, targeting Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan Government clearly
demonstrates that it does not regard the Tamil people to be part of its population.

It thus strengthens, in my view, the Tamil people's case for self determination. The failure to implement vital clauses in the Cease-Fire Agreement is, in my view, the direct cause for the spiraling violence. In my opinion, had the Government of Sri Lanka at least implemented the Joint Mechanisms agreed between the parties to address the damage caused by the war and the damage caused by tsunami, the negotiations could have resumed. These were agreements that were reached between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE during the 4 year Cease-Fire. They had the potential to rebuild trust between the Sinhala and Tamil people.

I refer to the observations by the Canadian Liberal party parliamentarian, Hon. Maria Minna, following her fact finding mission to Sri Lanka in March 2005: "To be honest with you, I am not terribly positive about the possibility of getting back to peace discussions if they can't agree on the reconstruction from the tsunami because that should be an easier one" The implementation of the Cease-Fire Agreement is vital and the Australian Government needs to do more and use its influence
with the Sri Lankan Government to end the spiraling violence. Sri Lanka could then begin negotiations with the Tamil leadership to find an enduring political solution based on the Tamil people's right to self determination.

All of us want to see a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Reproduction of this news item is allowed when used without any alterations to the contents and the source, TamilNet, is mentioned.

Terrrorism & Western Foreign Policy

Some article that I came across:

Sinhala State Terrrorism & Western Foreign Policy
by Vettivel

The problem is that, whether a country has a terrrorist list or not, the LTTE is the authenticate representative of the Tamils, and there will be no talks without the LTTE. Tamils have completely no trust in the Sri Lankan constitution or laws. In simple terms, for Tamils, the Sinhala-dominated state machine is the enemy. This is the naked reality in Sri Lanka.

Recently Canada listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization and, meanwhile, it warned the Sri Lankan government to stick to the ceasefire agreement. Many Tamils are disappointed at the listing, and the decision sparked many local debates among Tamils. If Canada found the LTTE to be a terrrorist organization, Canada should have even more reason to ban the Sri Lankan government. Most Canadian Tamils raise these questions, and most of those who voted for the current minority Canadian government in the last election now regret their wrong decision.

Using violence for a political cause is the main reason for the Canadian ban on the LTTE. The funny thing is that, when a government uses violence, it means using 'force,' but when an oppressed community reacts violently it is 'terrrorism.' Since the word 'terrrorism' is meaningless in current world politics, then how can a list of terrrorists make sense? After all, it is better to understand what 'terrorism' means to the western world.

Does terrrorism mean killing civilians? If yes, then why is the Sri Lankan state not considered terrorists because they have killed more than 40,000 Tamil civilians, and, even after the ceasefire, they have killed Tamil civilians using its state military machine and paramilitaries. The Sri Lankan state has been well known for killing Tamils even in state prison, Temples, Churches, Schools, and refugee camps. Therefore, terrrorism doesn't mean killing civilians.

Does terrrorism mean using child soldiers? If yes, why is the UK, where the recruiting age for the military is 16 years,not terrorists. Therefore, terrrorism doesn't mean underage recruitment.

Does terrrorism mean using suicide bombing? Did anyone ever hear of suicide bombing before the US invasion in Iraq? Why is there an increased number of suicide bombings after the US invasion? The most civilized people don't want to find an answer for this question. Suicide bombing is a weapon. Like the cruise missile, bunker buster, artillery shells, sophisticated tanks, or F18 bomber, human suiicide bomber is also a weapon for a weak party that doesn't have access to sophisticated weapons in the struggle. In the Second World War, Japan used suicide bombers, the US used nuclear weapons. The deadly napalm bombs - chemical bombs - were also common used. The Sri Lankan air force used napalm bombs and even toilet wastes in Jaffna during the war. War is ugly, and there is no limitation when it comes to using weapons against an enemy. In reality, if any of the nuclear nations entered into a war with another powerful nation.

Does terrrorism mean using power to achieve political goals? The Sinhala majority government's goal is to make Sri Lanka a Sinhala country. This is why they changed the name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka, made Sinhala the official language, and centralized all power in the Sinhala majority parliament, and made the minority voiceless. The Sri Lankan government systematically colonized the Tamil homeland, chased the Tamils away, and defend the occupied territory by giving weapons to colonized Sinhala thugs and criminals. The Sinhala government has used military power to suppress non-violent Tamil protests, and used the military to destroy Tamils property and life. The Sinhala state is still terrorizing the Tamil homeland using its military and paramilitaries, and has killed many Tamils, including parliamentarians and civilian activists. The Sinhala state has heavily used its power to achieve its goal.

Does terrrorism means being anti-democracy? The TNA won almost all the seats in the Sri Lankan elections that were observed by International monitors. However, a TNA parliamentarian couldn't even get a visa to enter Canada. The TNA says the LTTE is the authentic representative of the Tamils, and this was the mandate TNA used before the election as well. Unfortunately, being anti-democracy also doesn't explain terrorism.

What we can get from all these arguments is that terrrorism means something else. Terrrorism really means that, if someone or some organization acts against a state that has some friendly western states, it is terrrorism. It is OK if the state uses "FORCE" to oppress any community to maintain "stability." This definition can fit well to the western policy towards terrrorism. The reality is that the current world doesn't care if a small community is fighting for its rights. The world is ready to compromise a small community for political "stability."

By listing the LTTE as a terrrorist organization, Canada has put itself outside the peace process. It can be noted that the US, UK, India, and Australia already don't have any direct influence in the peace process because they are prevented from talking to the LTTE by their own laws.

The problem is that, whether a country has a terrorist list or not, the LTTE is the authenticate representative of the Tamils, and there will be no talks without the LTTE. Tamils have completely no trust in the Sri Lankan constitution or laws. In simple terms, for Tamils, the Sinhala-dominated state machine is the enemy. This is the naked reality in Sri Lanka.

The western world asks Tamils to get protection from its enemy. It is almost equivalent to asking Israel to get protection from the Arab world. In essence, banning the LTTE means encouraging Sinhala state terrrorists to continue their regular activity of terrrorizing the Tamil inhabitants of the island.