Arun humiliates Diaspora during Geneva confrontation

(By Shamindra Ferdinando)

Slain EPRLF MP Sam Tambimuttu’s son, Arun, targeted the Tamil Diaspora on the sidelines of the current session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), in Geneva. The outspoken SLFP organizer for Batticaloa, Arun Tambimuttu told the Diaspora that he wouldn’t seek revenge from those who had assassinated his father and mother in Colombo over two decades ago. They were shot dead on May 7, 1990. Tambimuttu said that he wouldn’t go after LTTE personnel responsible for the killings, though he could have pursued the issue. "I was 14 years of age when the LTTE assassinated my parents. I fled the country. Now I’m back and I want to move on without seeking revenge." Arun Tambimuttu was speaking at a ‘side-event’ arranged by the Sri Lankan government in Geneva, where government delegates clashed with Diaspora groups, led by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), over accountability issues as well as the national reconciliation process. Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe presided over the event.

Tambimuttu urged the Diaspora to follow his example. Pointing out that the government had given an opportunity to those who once fought for the LTTE to start afresh, he urged the Diaspora to re-think post-war strategy. What would have happened if the government wanted to prosecute all ex-LTTE personnel? Would such a course of action have helped the national reconciliation process, he asked. The young politician asked whether those raising accountability issues on the part of the government would have ex-LTTE cadres investigated for past atrocities. Those fighting for human rights were silent on crimes committed by the LTTE, he said.

Diaspora representatives accused Tambimuttu of being a government agent, though none of them challenged his accusations. The Diaspora alleged that Tambimuttu was a part of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s team. Minister Samarasinghe said that those who represented the LTTE’s interests were engaged in a major disinformation campaign against the government. Samarasinghe alleged that a major reason for the ongoing Diaspora campaign was to pressure foreign governments to grant asylum to their members. In Switzerland alone, there were about 50,000 Tamils of Sri Lankan origin. As one third of them had still not been given asylum, the Diaspora was trying to pressure Switzerland to accommodate them on the basis of false allegations. Russia, Pakistan and Venezuela made statements supportive of Sri Lanka.

TULF leader V. Anandasangaree’s son, Gary, threw a spate of allegations against government representatives, particularly EPDP leader Douglas Devananda. Anandasangaree strongly challenged Minister Devananda’s right to represent the government in the backdrop of his group still being armed. Citing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) report, Anandasangaree attacked the government. He also accused the government of preventing civil society members from reaching Geneva in time for the 19th sessions. Veteran politician Anandasangaree was given protection by Army Commandos during the eelam war IV.

(The Island)