Tamil genocide was planned by international powers -1

The British, the Europeans and the great powers played a dubious role. There was a peace process. But, visas were banned and the political status was denied to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. They were branded as a terrorist organisation by the European Union under the prompting of Britain and United States and they deliberately broke the peace process, which had its horrible termination in the killing fields of Rajapaksa. So, there is co-responsibility. This was not just any genocide; this was a genocide planned, including by the international powers, who knew what was going on, said Dr Andrew Higginbottom, the Principal Lecturer in Politics/Human Rights at Kingston University in London, taking part in the Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance event in London on 18 May.

Sri Lanka committed genocide of Tamils: Arundhati Roy

Roy also spoke on how the West found "moral reasons" to attack few regimes, and why certain "war crimes" were acceptable whereas others were not. She also lamented the manner in which the Sri Lankan model of genocide was inspirational to other states in the region. "Other governments are looking at the Government of Sri Lanka and thinking, if not talking: If they have done it, why can't we", Roy said.

She also pointed out that while people have the right to resort to arms, one should also look into what are the values of the people who have picked up arms. When somebody does that [resort to armed resistance], they are also responsible for what happened to the Tamil people.

"The most horrific things I have seen and testimonies I have read are from Sri Lanka" she said and expressed her angst over how the Sri Lankan state forces targeted hospitals, and bombed people after forcing them to move into a No Fire Zone. "The world allowed this to happen, and it will continue to allow this to happen" she said.

Conservative MP Robert Halfon

"Tamils deserve freedom, they deserve dignity and they deserve their independence, as they want. That is the right of any nation on earth. It is the right for the Tamils too," said Conservative MP Robert Halfon

Halfon questioned the international attitude: "Why is that the people across the world, in the Middle East, are crying out for freedom, demonstrating, and the world is looking on and is supporting them in some ways, and yet when the Tamils cry out for freedom and Tamils are murdered and detained in hundreds of thousands, why is that the world does nothing," Halfon said that this attitude has to stop.

"As a Jewish person, all I can do is to support Nations who have suffered from Genocide," Halfon said adding that the UN report was the first international recognition for Tamils plight because for the first time it had acknowledged the numbers of those who were murdered.

"You have to judge the Sri Lankan government by the company they keep. It is no accident that Sri Lanka is one of the most pro Gadaffi in the world. It is no accident that the Sri Lankan President offered Gadaffi a haven. Well, he is welcomed to it as long as Gadaffi doesn't come to the Tamil part of Sri Lanka," Halfon said.

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[1982mockingbird1982]

@christoforcolombo Didnt you allready ask this? Not everyone can get a passport to Tamil Nadu, especially not the poorer Tamils. Plus why should they have to move? They should be able to live in their own country free from persecution, violence, state-terrorism, discrimination, rape and demonization.

[1982mockingbird1982]

I cant wait to see what this does to Sri Lanka's tourism. I hope Sri Lanka pays a price for all it has done. Its not even too late. All they have to do is acknowlege the truth, and allow an open dialogue (free of violence, intimidation and state terrorism) to help uncover the truth and seek justice for the Tamil community and eventually pave the way for reconcliation between the Tamil community and the rest of Sri Lanka. This silence will only encourage more victims to take up arms.