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The recent report by Human Rights Watch titled “Funding the Final
War: LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora” implies
that the 800,000 strong Eelam Tamil Diaspora is under siege and a
climate of fear pervades as the LTTE coerces the Diaspora to
contribute to the war effort.
We find this claim to be politically motivated, biased and
vindictive. We are deeply disappointed that HRW has wittingly or
unwittingly allowed itself to be part of the Sri Lankan regime's
political agenda.
It is our considered view that the report is made of half truths,
outright lies, selective reporting and innuendos. The methodology
used is woefully inadequate and designed to impress the uninitiated
that the report is the product of detailed research. It is
blindingly obvious that the report comprises selective reporting of
isolated events, unsubstantiated allegations of disgruntled
individuals and accounts by Tamil collaborators.
Through an adroit mixture of uncorroborated allegations and a
deliberate omission of the overwhelming support to the Tamil cause
by the Diaspora, the report seeks to imply that support to the Tamil
cause is through coercion and therefore criminal.
It is obvious that the report is designed to marginalize the role of
the Tamil Diaspora.
In effect, in a perverse reversal of its role as guardians of Human
Rights, HWR has in the name of Human Rights, attempted to suppress
the human rights of the Tamil Diaspora and its right to help its
brethren in the land of their birth.
We draw attention to the undeniable truth that if not for the
immense contribution in physical and material terms by the Tamil
Diaspora, the Tamil people in the North East of the Island would
have succumbed to Sri Lanka's policy of beating them into
submission.
The behaviour of the Sri Lankan Government in its treatment of the
Tamil survivors of the tsunami alone ought to have brought this
truth home...
We are deeply hurt, disappointed and saddened that Human Right Watch
had violated our human rights and sincerely hope that other Human
Rights organisations take it upon themselves to expose HWR's
deplorable act of turning on an entire people.
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