Sri Lanka: FAQs on Channel 4 videos on war crimes - Part 2

Transcurrents.com had carried my earlier blog on Channel 4 videsos

(http://transcurrents.com/news-views/archives/2202#comment-8859). It evoked large scale response from readers. While some of them were the familiar India-bashing type, one of the reader asked a few interesting questions which reflected the suspicions about India's role in Sri Lanka prevalents among sections of Sri Lankans. I chose one to answer that had the most interesting questions. I am giving below my answers to this reader  which are carried in www.transcurrents.com  under the heading "Sri Lanka did not bother to listen to international friends who helped it win the war - Col R Hariharan"

(http://transcurrents.com/news-views/archives/2339  for your reading. 

Since Jazz has raised some interesting questions. I am normally accustomed to abusive language, which Sri Lankans seem to be fond of while discussing India. However, as he has politely worded his questions, I am answering them:

1. Do you believe that military forces around the world conduct ‘clean’ wars? If so, please be kind enough to mention those forces. Do you honestly believe that any kind of ‘war’ can be ‘clean’ in present day context?

Sri Lanka: FAQs on Channel 4 Videos on War Crimes

Col R Hariharan

  

I have received a number of mails asking for my comments on the Channel 4 video ‘Killing Fields of Sri Lanka’ on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan Army, particularly after I participated in a panel discussion on Headlines Today TV channel recently. I am giving my views and comments on questions summarised below:  

Question 1: Do you think the Sri Lanka army’s war crimes depicted graphically on Channel 4 video are true?

There are two issues related to the allegations war crimes.

First is whether the video footage is genuine or not; the footage has been examined by international experts (including some from the UN) who believe they are original. However, Sri Lanka government’s experts claim they are doctored. I feel the video establishes a prima facie case for an international commission to look into the war crimes allegation; the same commission can also get the video footage examined by neutral experts in the course of its inquiry.

Sri Lanka Perspectives: June 2011

By Col R Hariharan

Sri Lanka- India relations

The recent political changes in Tamil Nadu and the stodgy attitude of Sri Lanka to increasing Indian concerns on a whole lot of issues connected with Tamil minority and the Eelam war appear to have started having its adverse impact on Sri Lanka-India ties. In a frank assessment, India’s prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh in an interaction with selected editors of Indian media vocalised India’s concerns. He acknowledged his dilemma in handling Sri Lanka Tamil issue calling the grievances of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka ‘legitimate.’ He said the Tamils felt “they are reduced to second-class citizens.” He said that within the Sri Lanka population there were hotheads, and “the Sinhala chauvinism is a reality.”