INDICTMENT AGAINST SRI LANKA

Black July 1983: the Charge is Genocide

But who were the planners of this plan
which was directed against the Tamils but not against Government institutions nor against Sinhalese capitalists nor against multinationals?

Who were the planners of this carefully conceived contingent plan that was to be put into operation on the happening of a suitable 'legitimising' event, which would provide the 'cover' and at the same time, the emotional base for the planned action.?

What are the facts? The attackers were Sinhala people - without exception. They attacked the houses of Tamil Members of Parliament. They attacked large and small business establishments owned by Tamils. They attacked the homes of Tamils. They attacked Tamils who were doctors, Tamils who were lawyers, Tamils who were clerks, Tamils who were labourers on estates, and Tamils who were petty traders. They attacked Tamil women and Tamil children. The attack was directed against Tamils - again, without exception.

Another self evident fact was that there were no attacks on government institutions. There were no attacks on the police or the army. There were no attacks on cabinet ministers. There were no attacks on members of parliament of the ruling party. Cabinet Ministers and Sinhala Members of Parliament travelled freely, without fear, in Colombo and elsewhere. There were no attacks on government personnel. There were no attacks on government owned corporations. There was nothing to suggest that the attack was directed against the government.

Who were the planners of a plan which was not directed against the government but against the Tamils?

It was also a fact that there were no attacks against Sinhala owned business establishments, whether large or small. There were no attacks on Sinhala landowners. There were no attacks on Sinhala capitalists. There were no attacks on multi national enterprises even where their local partners were Tamils.

"...Significantly none of the business operations in the government sponsored 'new economic zone' near Colombo's international airport were attacked by the mobs. The zone was set up soon after President Jayawardene came to power in 1977. It is based on principles tried and tested in Singapore, and was established with guiding Singapore expertise..." (Daily Telegraph, 3 August 1983)

There were no attacks on foreign owned hotels and other tourist enterprises. There was nothing to suggest that the attack was directed against capitalists or multinationals. There was nothing to suggest that the attack was left inspired.

Who were the planners of an attack which was neither directed against the government nor directed against big business but was directed against the Tamils?

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