ஈழம்

இலங்கை பிரதமர் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்கே கடந்த இரண்டு நாட்கள் யாழ்ப்பாணம், கிளிநொச்சி போன்ற தமிழீழப் பகுதிகளுக்கு தனி ஹெலிக்காப்டரில்  வந்திறங்கினார். நேற்று கிளிநொச்சி பகுதி நிர்வாக அலுவலகத்தில் பேசும் போது, போரில் இரண்டு பக்கமும் பாதிப்பு ஏற்பட்டது என்றும், நடந்தது நடந்துவிட்டதாகவும், அதை பற்றி பேசாமல் வேறு விடயங்களை பேசலாம் என்று ஒப்புக்கு சப்பாக பேசியது நல்லதல்ல. 

ஐநா மனித உரிமை ஆணையத்தின் 40வது கூட்டத்தொடரில் ஈழத்தில் நடந்த போர்க்குற்றங்களை குறித்து சர்வதேச சுதந்திரமான, நம்பகமான விசாரணை விவாதத்திற்கு வரும் நேரத்தில் இப்படியெல்லாம் பேசுவது இலங்கையில் வாழும் தமிழர்களை மேலும் வேதனைப்படுத்துவதில் ஐயமில்லை. அவர் ஆங்கிலத்தில் பேசியதன் சாரம் வருமாறு.

My friend Sulochana Ramiah Mohanjournalist reported;

https://ceylontoday.lk/print-edition/2/print-more/24366

PM Ranil Wickremesinghe called on the country to seek reconciliation by “speaking the truth, grieving together and asking for pardon” for actions taken by both the LTTE and the Govt. forces during the war at an event in Kilinochchi today  

 

By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, speaking in Kilinochchi yesterday (15), said that the Government is working on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process and mechanism to tell the truth related to the war, regret the past and ask forgiveness for a genuine reconciliation, similar to what the South Africans did.

He urged Sri Lankans to reconcile after the war by telling the truth, regretting the past and pleading for forgiveness from each other and to move forward like the South Africans moved forward after facing the TRC process.

Addressing the Kilinochchi District development review meeting,  held at the District Secretariat yesterday morning, he told the officials present that all people faced the wrath of the war in the country.

He noted that the war destroyed the North, when compared to other places and it caused destruction to the entire country too.

“Innocent people were killed and the war did not spare many of our Members of the United National Party. It destroyed everybody and from my Party, one of our Leaders was killed, along with a General Secretary, a Presidential candidate, and former Minister Lalith Athulathmudali,” he recalled.

“I am the only one who remained”, he noted.

He also recalled the death of his good friend C.V. Goonaratne and his wife who died in a bomb blast. He also recalled how former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had a narrow escape from death.

He also recalled many Tamil leaders who sacrificed their lives due to the war. He recalled A. Amirthalingam, V. Yogeswaran and Parliamentarian D. Siddharthan’s father who were killed during the war.

“All paid a big price due to the war. That was however the past and I cannot hold a grudge or fight the Tamils for that. We can only fight the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and they are also no more. 

We have all felt the pain and suffered a lot during the war but now everyone is saying there is reconciliation between all in the country. We have to continue on that path.”

He also pointed out that despite Court cases filed against the Government establishment and the LTTE that fought the Government, the country cannot go forward filing cases accusing each other.

“There are ongoing Court cases filed against the LTTE, the Police and the military. These cases were filed during the previous regime. Some of the cases had witnesses and the cases are in progress. But we cannot continue with Court cases all the time. What we need is genuine reconciliation,” he pointed out.

He suggested that the people should be able to tell the truth, express their regrets and say sorry and complete many of the activities in that manner.

“This is how the South Africans did. They did not file Court cases against each other and they ended the issue using the TRC process.”

 The Prime Minister further noted that if the people go on filing cases, the matter would drag. “How long can you keep filing cases and both sides have filed cases against each other already,” he noted.

“What is left is to speak the truth, say sorry and reconcile.”

He said that this is what the Government is working out – a TRC process.

On 12 February, a Cabinet memorandum seeking approval to establish a TRC, similar to what was established in post-apartheid South Africa, was presented.

He also added that 10 years ago the ones who fought the war and brought this country this far was the military. He also pointed out that the military is still working and performing their duties in the North too.

“Within the last 10 years, most of the issues have been resolved. Yet, what happened to the loved ones also needs to be addressed and it is a very important. Forgiving each other is also a very important task. Let’s do it for reconciliation.”

He said that the country needs to be rebuilt along with the North as well. He pointed out that Sri Lanka cannot be in debt all the time and cannot let everything crash. “Reconciliation has been projected already, hence, without any fear let’s face the problems and resolve them and move forward,” he added.

At the meeting, MPs Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Sagala Ratnayake, Rishad Bathiudeen, Rauff Hakeem, Vajira Abeywardana, Vijayakala Maheswaran, Mavai Senathirajah, S. Sritharan, D. Siddharthan and M. A. Sumanthiran were present along with officials representing the Kilinochchi District.

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K S Radhakrishnan

கே.எஸ்.இராதாகிருஷ்ணன்.

16-02-2019