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Humanity, what crimes are committed in thy name!
Saturday, 8 July 2006 - 4:06 AM SL Time
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The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), a well known LTTE front, has been fined Rs. 28 million for importing two luxury vehicles on the false pretext that they were ten-seater petrol vans meant for humanitarian work.
The bogus claims in question point to how NGOs are abusing the concessions they have been given for carrying out humanitarian work in the tsunami hit areas. It is believed that the two vehicles have been imported for the use of the LTTE in the Wanni. The TRO is not alone in the game. Most NGOs are having a field day at the expense of the tsunami victims. The worst ever catastrophe the country has suffered has turned out to be Golconda for a large number of swindlers and conmen in the garb of Good Samaritan. Some NGO activists thriving on human misery, have the audacity to call the tsunami waves rattaran jalakande (Waves of gold)! There are, no doubt, good men and women who, driven by altruism, are rendering a selfless service to the tsunami victims and other hapless people and we raise our editorial hat to them! They need all assistance from the state to carry out their good work. But, by and large the distribution of tsunami relief has become a big racket.
Perhaps those human vultures that descended on corpses and stripped them of gold chains and other valuables in the immediate aftermath of the disaster are less shameless than those NGO ladies and gentlemen who are robbing the survivors of relief.
The tsunami struck only the littoral, which is accessible from the unaffected areas right round the country. Even in the worst hit East, where the killer waves went a couple of kilometers inland, the affected areas could easily be reached. They were cut off only for a few days because of the debris. But it was removed in record time and roads became motorable soon afterwards. So, why should any NGO be permitted to import high powered four-wheel drive vehicles for tsunami relief work'
Most luxury vehicles robbed in the South, according to the police, find their way into the North for the use of LTTE leaders. There are organised gangs in the South subcontracting for the LTTE and the stolen vehicles are going for a song in that terrain. In the good old peaceful days, the people of the North were known for their proclivity for Austin A-40s and the LTTE has graduated from that simple yet sturdy and reliable sedan, which easily matched the stamina of a Sherpa, to ultra modern Land Cruisers. All those controlling the destiny of the people in the South and the North appear to have one thing in common: their insatiable desire for luxury. The LTTE, despite sending `children of fire` to greet Southern politicians with blasts, are apparently emulating them in many respects. Prabhakaran and his trusted lieutenants have sent their children abroad for education and are living in clover, albeit underground. (Prabhakaran also poses for pictures in military fatigues and dancing shoes to boot in elegantly furnished offices!) Leaders mustn`t be grudged some luxury, must they' A wag says the government should give serious thought to making the LTTE leaders more and more addicted to a luxury life by waiving duty on Kilinochchi bound vehicles and other luxury goods so that they will be weaned away from their suicidal tendencies and will want to enjoy life and hopefully adopt a live-and-let-live policy.
A Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) has been appointed to probe NGOs and the priority should be given to investigating those who handle tsunami relief. But, it is doubtful whether the PSC will be able to effectively probe the activities of the TRO, which is operating mainly behind the Iron Curtain. Like the importation of the two vehicles at issue, there could be many more fraudulent deals that the LTTE carries out through its fronts that keep up the masquerade of humanitarian work. Perhaps, the objective of the LTTE in launching a scathing attack on the NGOs operating in the tsunami affected areas of the North and the East is to pave the way for the TRO to have monopoly over the relief distribution.
New legislation is called for to make fraudulent acts committed in the name of social work ' especially disaster relief ' criminal offences that carry deterrent punishment.
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Kumara741
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 62
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8 Jul 2006 13:22:06 GMT Report for Abuse
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Well, crime and corruption are part of Srilankan life. TRO or any other NGO is not an exception. But, before tarnishing the image or the good work of the NGO's please allow the Independent investigation to hand over the report to the public. That's where fair play comes to effect.
TRO might be a front organisation but the work it has done in the Srilanka should be commendable. I mean not even the Srilankan Govt., was able to help it's citizens during Tsunami. There was so much of corruption during Tsumani fund distribution. Even, the President of Srilanka was no exception. But , he got away because of Politics. So, before we accuse others because of our cheap political gains we should see the bigger picture of Humanity.
Good luck, guys. |
saliya
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 365
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8 Jul 2006 13:54:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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The concessions given to most of NGOs and foreign investment projects and companies misuse them significantly. Specially use use these concessions to import luxury goods like vehicles, equipments and apparatus.
NGOs have been given these concessions for carrying out humanitarian work but organizations like TRO misuse them.
I think government should stop these cons sessions for luxury things like vehicles and furnitures. |
bulto
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 220
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8 Jul 2006 23:15:36 GMT Report for Abuse
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Something doesn't compute in this story.
If the LTTE gets its supply of stolen Pajeros and Double Cabs, as I'm sure they do, then why on earth would they have to go through the process of importing vehicles through TRO? Why pay full price when you can get it for a fraction of that? |
Thambi
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2808
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9 Jul 2006 13:36:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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The main issue in this article is TRO . as a non profit Tamil organization .TNA was beaten in parliament by the GOSL MPs , what else could expect for TRO ?
My hats off to TRO for its efficient service for Tamils and sinhalese,with out TRO most of the TSUNAMI victims in North and East would have ended in 6 feet under . |
Patriot41
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
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9 Jul 2006 16:22:01 GMT Report for Abuse
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| The Colombo elite are firmly behind Ranil Wickarmasinghe and the UNP. The people who have been living in Colombo for generations, educated in the superordinate schools are die-hard UNPers. When i mean Colombo i mean the real Colombo! Colombo city!! not suburbia. 95% of the Colombo elite revile the SLFP, JVP and the rest of the leftist parties. All those who have 'migrated' to Colombo recently, suburban riffraf, drug peddler, carpenters, fisherman, shanty dwellers, government servants, rustics and all the inferior folk support the UPFA led alliance whilst the real Colombo elite support the UNP. The same applies for Kandy, Galle and all the metropolitan in the Island. |
Patriot41
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
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9 Jul 2006 16:23:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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| We should also ban the biggest NGO in our country: the Patriotic National Movement. |
Poruthotage67
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 232
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10 Jul 2006 11:01:04 GMT Report for Abuse
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Patriot41,
I agree when you say that the PNM is the biggest NGO in Sri Lanka and continue to grow bigger. But it is not a corrupted organisation like TRO and some others. I understand your frustration because the PNM stands against the LTTE terrorism. LTTE terrorism must and will be defeated in Sri Lanka and no doubt that the PNM would take a leading role in that process. |
BABA
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 505
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10 Jul 2006 14:32:18 GMT Report for Abuse
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Srilanka is corrupted by double end sword one is political chavunism the other is terrorism.Sharp bullet should be fired at it to bring the country back to normal.
Edited By - BABA - 10 Jul 2006 14:36:41 GMT |
tamilcanuck
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8128
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10 Jul 2006 17:38:41 GMT Report for Abuse
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But it is not a corrupted organisation like TRO and some others.
yeah right. Thanks to TRO tsunami relief flowed. if not for them and their dedication most of the relief work wouldnt get done. |
Mathanamuthas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1051
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10 Jul 2006 18:13:43 GMT Report for Abuse
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Thanks for TRO. It was TRO not the gov. helped the tamils after tsunami. If there is no TRO every surveying tamil should have died with out food . This writer, I hope Jealous of the name TRO gets in the world Arena. Even there are talks to involve TRO in Major releive efforts worldwide emergencies like Tsunami, Earth Quake etc...etc....
This writer knows the truth that is why he wanted to write this article to discredit TRO at this time.
Keep it up the good work TRO. Don't listen to these guys. |
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