End the farse, free doctors

by sivakaran | July 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm

310 views | 56 Recommendations | 12 comments

Robert Templer, Asia program director of the International Crisis Group called government of Sri Lanka to alter course, provide a clear timetable to resettle the IDPs, and release the doctors.

An estimated 300,000 Tamils remain in the internment camps run by the Sri Lankan government.

The group of doctors who worked "heroically to save lives and alert the world to the humanitarian disaster" in the war zone , who were forced to recant their stories on July 8th still remain in custody. And Mr. Templer called "This farce should end: They should be freed".

One case deserves special mention. Three Tamil government doctors and one senior health official are known to be in government custody and are now threatened with prosecution for cooperating with the Tamil Tigers. As just about the only remaining officials inside the war zone in the final weeks, they worked heroically to save lives and alert the world to the humanitarian disaster endured by civilians trapped in the fighting. On July 8, their captors forced them to recant their stories. This farce should end: They should be freed.

Further, Mr. Templer called internatioal community to play a clear role and donor countries to "pressure the government to be as serious about securing a just peace as it was earlier this year about winning the war."

The international community has a clear role to play in convincing the Sri Lankan government to take these steps. The cochairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka — the United States, the European Union, Japan and Norway — have particular responsibility as they prepare to meet in August. They must send an unequivocal message.

All donor countries, both acting alone and using their influence in key institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, should condition all new non-emergency economic assistance to the country on their implementation. Creating the basic conditions necessary for a sustainable and equitable peace demands no less.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

cyn.khoo

at 12:59 on July 22nd, 2009

Thanks for this story.

sivakaran

at 08:06 on July 23rd, 2009

You're welcome. Thank you for recommending and commenting.

158

at 14:49 on July 22nd, 2009

good story.

Sri Lanka just ended a long civil war.

They will not rush into releasing prisoners.

sivakaran

at 08:10 on July 23rd, 2009

Rush into?

Its been over two months since they were captured, and they are not produced for a trail either.

B12N

at 05:47 on July 23rd, 2009

The war is not ended for 10% of the Tamil population. 300.000 Tamils are still held in concentration camps.

No freedom of movement

No visitors allowed

Restricted access for aid agencies

All who justify the actions of the Sri Lankan government should go these camps and stay there. Then they know the real problems tamils are facing in those camps!

sivakaran

at 08:06 on July 23rd, 2009

Even people living at their homes are living in fear under highly militarized zones.

In fact, the government is planning to expand its armed forces. Chief of Defense Staff Sarath Fonseka has said that he wants a 50% increase in the size of the 200,000-strong Sri Lankan Army .

JamalDavid (not verified)

at 15:44 on July 23rd, 2009

Why should we go to those camps. You lost the war, not us.

We will make sure that Tamil terrorism and separatism is crushed with resounding force. You will beg for mercy from your Sinhalese masters now, and the whitey is nowhere to save their old faithful slaves.

sivakaran

at 16:21 on July 23rd, 2009

Its unfortunate, you are still living in the 19th century and thinking of keeping fellow human as slaves.

Yes, you won the battle committing many human right violations and violating international war ethics.

If you know mahabharath, you would know that the pandavas' (good guys) lost initially but then came back to win.

You may have won, but its temporary and justice will prevail in the end.

Tamiya

at 22:15 on July 23rd, 2009

So what about the story of "liberating" Tamils from "terrorism" and all ?....

The fake color is starting to wash off, eh?!!

sivakaran

at 08:11 on July 24th, 2009

good one Tamiya.

Jamalagunda (not verified)

at 18:14 on July 23rd, 2009

Why some 'dravidargal' quote 'magabaratam'? Did not your DMK basses like annaththurrai and garunanidi taught you that this 'magabaratam' is an evil book written by Aryan white racists migrated from Greece and Iran? That too in their evilest language (languish?) called 'chamachgritam' (Sanskrit).

All eelam supporters are living in stone age and equally retarded in thinking. You started this war and you must face the consequences. It is refreshing to know that so called tamils fought this war 'fair and square' - using suicide human bombs, targeting civilians traveling in buses and trains, abducting minor children and forcing them to fight someone else's war and in the final stages of the war.

If take the 'Mahabharatha' example too, it is fair that Sri Lanka won this war. Remember those days the 'world tamils' rejoiced 'yeeeee..!' when you read about the initial setbacks faced by Sri Lankan forces? Can you still feel the heaviness of that overwhelming euphoria sitting like a heated stone in those swelled chests ?

See, how the justice prevailed at the end?

PIM of SPAIN

at 01:38 on July 24th, 2009

Hope when the doctors are freed they do a better job as the British doctor in the story below:

A man who was upset because he was not dead.

A man who had been given only six months to live by his doctor. The man had cancer; the doctor said he was a goner.

So, he drew out his retirement funds and decided to enjoy the last of his days. He fixed up the house. He took a vacation. He did whatever sensible people do when they realize they are checking out.

But then, wouldn't you know it, he didn't die. And now he's really cheesed off. He charges that his doctor gave him bum advice. He wasn't really dying of cancer at all. Instead, he says he had some other ailment that went away on its own. And now, he's as healthy as a cow pie weed - but he has no money left. So he's suing the doctor and the National Health Service.