Can't call it 'genocide': Rajitha

11 February 2015 08:52 am - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Terming the resolution an ‘extremist position,’ Health Minister and Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said President Maithripala Sirisena had promised to initiate an internationally approved, domestic inquiry process into alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan Army and the LTTE.

“This is a period of reconciliation, and both sides should engage constructively, rejecting extremism,” he told The Hindu.

Northern Provincial Council (NPC) on Tuesday passed a strongly worded resolution accusing successive governments in Sri Lanka of committing ‘genocide’ against Tamils.

The 11-page document details different episodes of violence and oppression in Sri Lankan history — from the time of the country’s controversial Sinhala Only Act of 1956 — terming them ‘genocidal’ acts targeting Tamils over the years, culminating in the brutal final phase of the war that, according to U.N. estimates, claimed 40,000 civilian lives.

While the NPC may be justified in raising concern over alleged war crimes, “they cannot call it genocide,” Mr. Senaratne said. “Choosing confrontational ways will hamper forward movement on the issue,”

When contacted, the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has declined comment.

NPC Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran has said that it should not be considered an epistle only to the international community, but a challenge to the moral integrity and humaneness of the Sinhalese majority, whom he called his 'brothers and sisters.'

In January 2014, when the NPC passed a resolution calling for an international probe into Sri Lanka’s rights record, it was Mr. Wigneswaran who insisted that the word ‘genocide’ be dropped, observing it had a very specific meaning legally and hence had to be used with caution.

Northern Province Council member M.K. Shivajilingam of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), who had earlier proposed the resolution, said the Chief Minister had decided to move it after carefully studying various incidents over the years.

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Comments - 17

Eng.M.V.R.Perera Wednesday, 11 February 2015 06:51 PM

they will not be satisfied unless they are given elam and they will never get it

Senator Tuesday, 17 February 2015 02:46 PM

Why Wigneswaran not arrested as yet?

Nihal Amarasekera Thursday, 12 February 2015 03:54 PM

If this is the way they act when the new government is bending backwards to please them, I feel sorry, seems no way for reconciliation.

kalu Thursday, 12 February 2015 03:31 PM

innocent civilians on both the sinhala side and the tamil side paid with their lives due to actions of both combatants.we cannot bring them back but we can prevent a repeat tragedy.Are we proceeding in a confrontational pathand spark a repeat tragedy or are we proceeding on a reconciliatory path and avoid such tragedies in the future.HUmans are not capable listen to Gods Word,Buddhas word we cannot go wrong

vithura Thursday, 12 February 2015 03:10 PM

Tamils too share the same sentiment, but regarding the Sinhalese.

Ponnu Samy Thursday, 12 February 2015 02:24 PM

What about the LTTE activities from 1983 to 2009, It is the real genocide?

words Thursday, 12 February 2015 10:47 AM

The fact remains that the it is the TNA that promotes racisms....

gayan Wednesday, 11 February 2015 08:24 PM

Reconciliation with TNA not possible. Dont waste time or energy with them.

sg Wednesday, 11 February 2015 07:07 PM

This is not a path to reconciliation. Tamil politicians must be ended their extremist ideology otherwise they will never archive sustainable compromise with Sinhala majority.

Jay2 Wednesday, 11 February 2015 02:58 PM

What a timid government. Wonder what is the new governor doing there.

Sinhalaya Wednesday, 11 February 2015 05:21 PM

These people still behave like they have won the war, which will not help in anyway for any reconciliation process

Iqbal Wednesday, 11 February 2015 05:20 PM

Genocide or not, 5 of the acts listed by UN Convention and listed in the NPC Resolution necessitates an impartial inquiry to arrive at a conclusion.

kumara Wednesday, 11 February 2015 05:12 PM

Poor Chief Minister. He is pressurized by the powerful diaspora..

smith henry Wednesday, 11 February 2015 05:08 PM

This has always been the reality with all tamil political parties. What the government has to realise is that whatever the government do, they do not change.

tamilsingh Wednesday, 11 February 2015 05:08 PM

I appriciate the resolution which is made by Hon. Chief Minister Wickneswaran is correct. This is the true history and cannot be errased.

Liberal One Wednesday, 11 February 2015 03:11 PM

Agreed. If this happened in India Wigneshwaren would be in Jail now. Probably northern provincial council dissolved by now too.

moodayoo Wednesday, 11 February 2015 03:11 PM

Seems thses guys have no genuine agenda.

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Can't call it 'genocide': Rajitha

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