Selected Writings by
Sachi Sri Kantha
Disssecting the Semi-fictionalized Survey of Jo Becker
[see also Who is Human Rights Watch
and
Human Rights Watch Report: The
Conclusion & Some of the Facts]
22 March 2006
In responding to the flurry of outbursts from the Eelam Tamil
diaspora to the half-baked, mud-slinging report prepared by Ms.Jo Becker, the
Human Rights Watch (HRW) had stated:
�Human Rights Watch investigations are based on qualitative
rather than quantitative research� [Reuters report, March 16, 2006].
The two key words here are, quality and research. Now, let me
quote from an authority on research. To paraphrase an aphorism of Einstein on
�quality�, �It�s no use if the wrapper is of better quality than the meat it
covers�.
The so-called research of Jo Becker on the fund-raising activities of LTTE among
the Eelam Tamil diaspora carries the imprimatur wrapper of Human Rights Watch
(HRW). But the quality of the �meat� wrapped inside was sub-standard and
unhygienic for consumption. Reading this report on LTTE fund-raising among the
Eelam Tamil diaspora, gave me an impression that Jo Becker is nothing but a Head
Rotten Warbler (HRW). I provide my low-down on this Jo Becker survey, strictly
based on its contents and omissions, under the following heads:
(1) Pretentious Disclaimer,
(2) Reasonable Facts,
(3) Named Sources,
(4) Innuendoes and Incomplete Analyses,
(4) Forgotten Homework, and
(5) Missing Context.
Pretentious Disclaimer
�Because of the significant security risks for Tamils
interviewed for this report, the names of most individuals are kept
confidential. Some locations and other identifying details are also withheld or
changed in order to protect the identity of those who spoke with Human Rights
Watch. Some cases reported to Human Rights Watch have been omitted entirely,
because it was not possible to describe the reported incidents without putting
the individuals involved at risk.�
These three sentences hardly help corroborative checking of facts by curious,
independent Tamil analysts who are more culturally attuned to history and events
in Sri Lanka than Jo Becker, the author of this survey. How many anonymous
�individuals� presented in this report are composite characters are also
unverifiable. What is laughable is that not only the identities of the
�individuals� who were contacted by Human Rights Watch �are kept confidential�,
but also the identities of so-called �LTTE intimidators and extortionists� are
not publicly divulged. Isn�t this somewhat akin to an unlikely scenario of the
Watergate scandal�s elusive source �Deep Throat� releasing the damaging details
to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on President Nixon�s underground operators
under a cloak of anonymity, while at the same time withholding the specific
identities of Nixon�s minions?
Reasonable Facts
One can buy the following reasonable facts, expressed in
numbers.
�As of 2001, the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora was estimated at
600,000-800,000, accounting for approximately one-quarter of the global Sri
Lankan Tamil population. The majority of Sri Lankan Tamils are found in
Western Europe, India, Australia and North America. The largest numbers are
found in Canada (approximately 200,000-250,000), India (approximately
150,000), U.K. (approximately 110,000), Germany (approximately 50,000),
Switzerland, France and Australia (each approximately 30,000).�
But, why USA is missing from the list? I presume that on
a conservative estimate, 10,000-20,000 Sri Lankan Tamils live in USA now. And
the HRW�s headquarters is in New York! Did Jo Becker bother to check with the
representatives of Eelam Tamils living in USA on the allegation of LTTE fund
raising within American boundaries?
Named Sources
The identified real names cited as sources or purported victims
of LTTE aggression, in Jo Becker�s report, are as follows: D.B.S.Jeyaraj
[Canada], Namu Ponnambalam [Canada], Rajasingham Jayadevan [UK], Arumugam
Kandiah Vivekananthan [UK], V.Ramaraj [UK], Seyed Bazeer [UK], Vaithiyanathan
Loganathan [Germany], Selliah Nagarajah [Australia], N.Kandasamy [location not
identified], Sabaratnam Sabalingam [France] � deceased, Subramaniam Muthulingam
[Australia] � deceased, and Kanakapathy Rajadurai [Sri Lanka] � deceased. That
quite a few among this cluster, like Jeyaraj, Ponnambalam, Jayadevan, Ramaraj
and Nagarajah, are anti-LTTE partisans is known to Tamils in Sri Lanka and
diaspora. Thus, that their expressed views on the deeds of LTTE have an inherent
bias is unchallengeable.
Two names of law enforcement personnel also appear in the report; that of Philip
Perry [UK; Inspector, Metropolitan Police, London] and Steve Irwin [Canada;
Detective Inspector, Intelligence Services, Toronto Police].
Innuendoes and Incomplete Analyses
The report is replete with innuendoes and incomplete analyses. I
limit to one specific cited example here. Jo Becker has re-told the 1993 assault
of journalist D.B.S.Jeyaraj, as follows:
�In February 1993, an incident that is widely known in the
Tamil community, four individuals attacked Jeyaraj in a car parking lot
after he attended a movie with his wife. The assailants beat Jeyaraj with
baseball bats, and broke both of his legs. Although he reported the incident
to the police, and Jeyaraj had information about the identity of his
assailants, no one was ever arrested for the crime.�
Make a note that LTTE is not mentioned specifically in the three
sentences, describing the assault. Is it because, whether the �assailants�
belonged to LTTE is in doubt? The last sentence describing the incident also
appears to hide some information. Although Jeyaraj had reported the incident to
the [Canadian] police then, �no one was ever arrested for the crime.� Does this
imply that Jeyaraj�s information on his �assailants� was not convincing enough
for the police to make an arrest? Does this also mean, that the Canadian police
had been working in cahoots with the LTTE?
Forgotten Homework
I like to focus on two roof-top barkers who are recognized for
their anti-LTTE tripe; namely, D.B.S.Jeyaraj [Canada] and V.Ramaraj [UK], since
their perceived biases and activities are in public record. According to Jo
Becker�s report,
�Staff and volunteers at the London-based Tamil Broadcasting
Corporation (TBC) have been particular targets. The TBC is an independent
radio station that regularly broadcast programs that are critical of LTTE
abuses. TBC�s program director V.Ramaraj, has received death threats, and
volunteers at the station regularly receive abusive and threatening
telephone calls�.The volunteer with TBC mentioned above said that at a
social function in late 2005, he learned that rumors were spreading in the
Tamil community that he was receiving money from the Indian secret service��
Now for relevance, let me present an excerpt relating to this
issue, from one of Jo Becker�s named sources. D.B.S.Jeyaraj himself has
identified V.Ramaraj � the TBC�s program director � as having links with Indian
secret service. Here is his report:
��One reason for the relaxation of some rules could have
been the arrival in India of ENDLF Leader, Veeraiya Ramaraj alias Mustapha
from Britain. Ramaraj, who runs the Tamil Broadcasting Corporation Radio in
London, was at one time the ENDLF general secretary. He is now a central
committee member and virtually directs overseas operations of the ENDLF.
Ramaraj is said to enjoy a close rapport with RAW and influential Indian
politicians. He has been staying for weeks in India trying to contact
leaders at central and state level to get the ENDLF men out.� [Sunday
Leader, Colombo, Dec.26, 2004]
How come Jo Becker failed to do her home work on the past
scribblings of D.B.S.Jeyaraj? The same V.Ramaraj alias Mustapha - portrayed
as a victim of LTTE�s �abuses� - was in news last month in Geneva, when he was
arrested by the Swiss police on Feb.23, 2006.
Some segments of Jo Becker�s report are nothing more than �cut and paste� job
from the partisan commentaries generated in the anti-Tamil websites. Here are
two clich�d sentences in this category.
�The Tigers used suicide bombers to assassinate former
Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991, and Sri Lankan President
Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993. A failed assassination attempt by a suicide
bomber in 1999 wounded Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and killed
twenty-one others.�
What has escaped Jo Becker�s notice are the facts that before
Rajiv Gandhi and Premadasa succumbed to their untimely deaths in 1991 and 1993
respectively, they were also targeted by the Sinhalese assassins, identified
sympathizers of JVP, in 1987. Within a span of three weeks, Rajiv Gandhi [on
July 30, 1987] and Premadasa [as well as many members of the then Cabinet of
President J.R.Jayewardene, on Aug.18, 1987] would have been killed in Colombo,
if not for fortuitous good luck. As for the failed assassination attempt by a
suicide bomber on Chandrika Kumaratunga in 1999, even immediately after
assumption of office in 1994, the then President had publicly accused some rogue
elements in the Sri Lankan army and her opponents in the United National Party,
of trying to assassinate her.
Missing Context
What I found most devious in Jo Becker�s report is the missing
context on LTTE�s need for raising funds. Why has the LTTE been engaged in fund
raising among the Eelam Tamil diaspora? For proper perspective, I provide a
short Associated Press newsreport, which appeared in May 2000.
�Sri Lanka�s government said it was increasing its defense
spending for the year 2000 by 180 million dollars to help fight Tamil Tiger
separatists. �We are buying new weapons and other military hardware from
seven different countries and we need the extra money to make the
purchases�, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar told reporters. Sri Lanka�s
current defense budget is 700 million dollars and with the increase,
Kadirgamar said, it will reach 880 million dollars.� [Mainichi Daily News,
Tokyo, May 19, 2000]
Let me sort the numbers here. The quoted currency is American
dollars. Annually, the Sri Lankan armed forces [consisting of ~97 percent
Sinhalese] are fed with 880 million dollars. This amounts to a spending 2.4
million dollars a day. What for? To prepare for and wage war against Eelam
Tamils and destroy their lives, limbs and ecological wealth of Tamil homelands.
This is not idle talk or paranoia. The
track record of the Sri Lankan armed forces from 1983 to 2002 proves what
happened in the past. LTTE remains as the only force which can keep the
agression of Sri Lankan armed forces in check.
To counter and be on par with the military spending of the Sri Lankan
Government, theoretically speaking, LTTE has to receive $1,000 from each living
Tamil man, woman and child among the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. According to Jo
Becker, �Various sources estimated the amount of money flowing from the Canadian
diaspora to the LTTE in the late 1990s at anywhere between Cdn$1 million and
more than Cdn$ 12 million a year.� If this has to be believed, majority of the
Eelam Tamils feel pretty satisfied with the job performance of LTTE, despite the
petulance of named and unnamed tale tellers of Jo Becker�s semi-fictionalized
survey.
Buchwald�s words and wisdom
An year ago, humorist Art Buchwald wrote a satirical piece on
the prevailing political culture in Washington DC. It was entitled, �It�s a Mud
Mud Mud Mud World� [Washington Post, March 17, 2005]. Considering the fact that
(1) the HRW also has an office in Washington, (2) the HRW also actively solicit
donations from the public for their high profile activities, and (3) this Jo
Becker�s semi-fictionalized report on behalf of HRW, about LTTE�s fund raising
is nothing but political schlock to a higher degree, its of worth to reproduce
the initial segment of Buchwald�s biting thoughts.
�The truth is that there is more mudslinging going on in the
country than ever before. But where do people get the mud?
One of the most succcessful mud-making factories in America is in
Washington. I visited it the other day. The head of marketing, Ike Seller,
showed me around.
Next to the factory was a railroad siding, where a freight car was pouring
unrefined mud into the basement.
�Where do you get the mud?�
�From all over,� Seller bragged. �We make the best mud of any factory in the
land. When our customers sling it, it sticks.�
�How�s business?� I asked.
�Better than ever. We�re now working three shifts.�
�Is there a shortage of mud in America?�
�There is always a shortage of mud, particularly in a democracy��
Isn�t a pity that Human Rights Watch also has turned into a
mud-making factory of Art Buchwald�s depiction?
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