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Lankan inquiry of no use says former SLMM Chief
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Kulakottan
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2582
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12 Oct 2006 07:40:31 GMT Report for Abuse
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Berty,
It's a pity that we do not have an independent press in Sri Lanka. Even the organizations which are relatively independent have to comment based on information fed by the state or the biased media from NEast.
If there is an independent press, both communities will know the real price of WAR and the fact that no one is winning. Then you will see the real opinion of people. Right now the majority community is living in a euphoria created by the so-called victories based on what the state media says. The more casualties mount on the security forces side you will see more control of media being enforced. I see that happening in Sri Lanka now. However, no one can stop the noise of the Ambulance sirens along the Galle Road.
Once again we can see Jayaratne Florists being active and probably making profits. |
BitterTruth
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1026
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12 Oct 2006 07:45:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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The Sri Lankan military on Thursday claimed to have killed over 200 Tamil Tiger rebels in heavy fighting that also left at least 44 soldiers dead and over 430 injured.
However, the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said they lost only 10 of their fighters and claimed that they captured the bodies of 75 government soldiers.
Military sources said the bodies of 38 soldiers and six officers had been brought to Colombo till Wednesday evening and the number of troops wounded was placed at more than 430.
An entire platoon of troops and two tanks were also missing.
'The LTTE recovered more than 75 bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers,' the Tigers said in a statement.
'Efforts are now underway to hand over the bodies to the Sri Lankan military through the International Committee of the Red Cross.'
As more than 100 troops were evacuated to hospitals in Colombo, President Mahinda Rajapakse ordered his ministers to attend to the welfare of the victims, spokesman Chandrapala Liyanage said.
'The president sent ministers to all the hospitals to attend to the needs of the soldiers,' he said.
The heavy casualty figures came a day after Tamil Tiger rebels, in ferocious battles lasting over six hours, stalled a government offensive in the northern peninsula of Jaffna.
http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/oct/12ltte.htm
How many soldiers are there in a platoon? |
BitterTruth
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1026
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12 Oct 2006 07:48:03 GMT Report for Abuse
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A platoon is a military unit. In an army, a platoon is a unit of thirty to forty soldiers typically commanded by a lieutenant assisted by a non-commissioned officer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon |
SenaM
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12 Oct 2006 07:48:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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LionTalks
You are right as regards how Tamils (in general) think about the Sinhalese. They cannot 'get over' the privileged position they enjoyed during the time of British rule in SL. The British used them for their own purposes - to tule over the Sinhalese .. So, they helped them with their education, and those who were not too bright, they helped them in other ways to find jobs, and remain a step above their fellow Sinhalese. The Sinhala people were largely ignored - as regards education, until good men like Col. Olcott (of the USA), came down to SL and helped to get a string of good schools established for them.
Mr SWRD Bandaranaike, sent to Oxford by his doting father - to be turned into a proper 'kalusudda', saw thro' British hypocrisy and came back to SL determined to do what he could do - to speedily up-lift his people. He needed political power to do what he wanted to do, and since this was to be denied him from 'his' own party, the UNP (where he was a senior member), he decided to form another party. A resource-ful person, he formed the SLFP, and got the support of nascent nationalist forces - including the Sangha.
I believe he was right in bringing the Sinhala language to the fore - that was the quickest way to enable the Sinhala people to catch-up on every-thing they had missed during the time of British rule. Firstly, release them from their 2nd Class status - up to that time.
But he can be criticzed also for two things - 1) Getting budhist priests actively involved in politics (in the long- term this is going to harm the practise of 'true' budhism in Sri Lanka), and - 2) Ignoring the legitimate interests of Sri Lankan Tamils. While their fathers may have benefited from British policies, the Tamils are very much a part of the national fabric - future generations of Tamil-folk had to be assured of equal opportunities in SL (for their advancement), if their loyalty to Mother Lanka was to be retained. He failed to address that issue - for which he can be faulted.
Those omissions of Bandaranaike policies on Education have been largely addressed, now. SL Tamils would do well to look back and see the 'Why' and 'How' - of the patronage extended to them by the British. They need to look forward to the future - to see how they can forge fresh bonds of friend-ship with the Sinhala people, and march together to a bright FUTURE which beckons to them - in fact to all those who would call them-selves 'Sri Lankan'.
Edited By - SenaM - 12 Oct 2006 08:06:30 GMT |
BitterTruth
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12 Oct 2006 07:56:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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Over 75 Lankan soldiers killed in Jaffna battle
PK Balachandran
Colombo, October 11, 2006|23:30 IST
The Sri Lankan Armed Forces' offensive in the Muhamalai sector, launched early on Wednesday, has apparently been blunted by the LTTE's stiff resistance.
A spokesman of the Scandinavian-staffed Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) told Hindustan Times that the LTTE had informed the monitors that it would like to hand over 75 bodies of Sri Lankan soldiers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday.
The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website said that the bodies were lying in Kilaly, a coastal village in Thenmarachchi.
The government's National Security website had admitted 22 deaths. It put the number of wounded at 113.
Other reports quoting unnamed military sources put the figure of the Army dead at 35.
According to the LTTE, it lost six fighters in the battle which had raged throughout the day from 6.30 am.
The government blamed the LTTE for starting the hostilities with an artillery and mortar barrage against the Forward Defense Lines of the Army on the Nagarkovil-Muhamalai-Kilaly sector, south of Jaffna.
The LTTE's fighters had infiltrated into the government-held area, the National Security Media Unit said.
The Army retaliated with artillery and mortar fire and simultaneously called for Naval and Air support.
The Navy and the Air Force took on identified LTTE targets.
Though the LTTE put up 'fierce' resistance, the Army was able to advance several metres south of its Forward Defense Lines.
However, as the day wore on, the scales tilted in favour of the LTTE.
Apparently, the LTTE had been able to push the Army back to its original positions.
While the LTTE described the Army's operations as an 'offensive', the government said that the operations were purely 'retaliatory' in response to unprovoked aggression by the LTTE.
The LTTE had been complaining that the Sri Lankan Army was amassing troops and equipment in the Muhamalai sector for a major offensive.
Apparently, the target was to capture Elephant Pass and Pooneryn, further south.
The LTTE had warned that it would review its decision to go for talks with the Sri Lankan government in Switzerland on October 28 and 29, if the Army were to continue its military operations and amass troops for a new offensive in the Muhamalai area.
Wednesday's fighting, one of the most intense in recent times, has seriously jeopardised peace talks. |
sansare
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12 Oct 2006 08:14:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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TAnna,
Tamils are not referred as Sri Lankans but as Tamils.
So the so called 'Sri Lankan' does not exist!!
I forgot what I had in my BC..?
Any idea Sinhala folks?
I agree, as you said, Nationality must be Sri Lanka for all.
I hope, all these issues(one by one) will count in next talk round.
There may have very fair reasons from Tamil side, but to create a separate country by dividing the island, can be only through a disastrous war, or by pushing the idea for a long duration (which creates a handsome history for the concept).
Live together, and share together,..the BEST! |
coventrytamil
Joined: Aug 2006
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12 Oct 2006 08:17:31 GMT Report for Abuse
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| It seems everyone is making comments without any relevance to the article. 'Lankan inquiry of no use says former SLMM Chief' that is the article. If Lion Talks want to talk about how good the Sinhalese are, I will tell you a Little bit about them. Until 1970s all the top government positions in Sri Lanka were held by the Tamils. All most all the permanent secretaries of the ministries were Tamils, but only the ministers were Sinhalese. Suddenly the ministers in their wisdom questioned their position. Here they are elected members of Parliament being advised by the permanent secretaries as to how to run the country. Sinhalese people are naive and ignorant and not as clever as the Tamils. Hence they are called Sinhala Moodaiya!! |
Berty
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12 Oct 2006 08:19:57 GMT Report for Abuse
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Lion Talk,
Thank you for your post malli..I told you what i felt like when you mentioned Tamils instead of LTTE and I am sure you knew you made an error..and I appreciate the way you apologized. No one in this world is perfect malli and we all do make mistakes and the best way to accept it to put your hands up and apologies and move on..
Do not test by proposing to a Tamil girl...! what will you achieve by friend.. There are Tamils as well as Sinhalese girls who never lived in Sri lanka but still can't love someone from the other race cos their parents are against it. There is a reason malli cos they feel they will be left out by their own society..I suppose it will take time.
Regarding Cricket--u need to change your views..the beauty of any sports is that simply brings everyone together..as i have mentioned in my earlier post we play cricket in Hk as SL social club with all races together.we are SRI LANKANS in a cricketing field..
anyway now that it is sorted out..we should move on!! |
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