We obtained some disturbing footage of apparent attacks on Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka yesterday.
The pictures – many of which we didn’t broadcast because they were too gruesome – showed rows of dead children, who had allegedly been killed by government shelling of the supposed “safe area” in the north of the island.
Note the use of those journalistic terms: “apparent”, “allegedly”. That’s because Channel 4 News doesn’t have a reporter in Pokkanai, where this footage was seemingly (there’s another one) shot.
We would if we could but we can’t, because the Sri Lankan government won’t let journalists anywhere near the frontline. So we’re reliant on whoever can film or tell us what’s going on.
I presume that the normal excuse is given – it’s for our own safety. But in fact the Sri Lankans, like the Israelis while they were bombing Gaza and the Chinese when they were rounding up and suppressing Tibetan protesters, simply don’t want independent witnesses. So they keep us out.
People often ask me what’s the most difficult aspect of my job and that’s it: governments stopping us getting to the news.
Sometimes you can’t get a visa. Sometimes they’ll give you a visa but confine you to the capital city. Sometimes they let you go to the area in question but force you to take a government “minder” whose job it is to stop you seeing or filming anything of interest.
In some countries, such as Zimbabwe, government has broken down to such an extent that journalists frequently go in as tourists and report anyway.
I’m not giving away any trade secrets here, because the reports have been broadcast for everyone to see. But other governments, and I would include the Sri Lankans here, are highly effective.
Sri Lanka gets away with barring journalists, because no outside power cares enough.
The reports we receive suggest that terrible things are going on, with government shells hitting civilians and Tamil Tigers using people as human shields.
But as long as there are no independent eye witnesses, and few pictures, it hovers at the bottom of the international agenda and the governments, including those on the UN Security Council, who might add diplomatic pressure simply shrug and say they wish they could do something, but they can’t.
Commentsoldest first
Thank you channel 4 and Linsey Hilsum for bringing the inside story of whats happening inside the safe zone of Srilanka. I appeal to the channel 4 to show more of these attrocities commited by the barbaric Srilankan Junta and save the innocent Tamils from genocide.
I really do not understand how international media showing videos which was released by terrorist organisation. It is quite distinct that the civilians are being used as sheild. Tigers escaped to no fire zone because thats wher the safety is, because thats where the civilians are hence thats where the international concern. If no civilians, no international concern, if it was the case Tigers would have been finished by now.
Jon, I was very disappointed to hear that you mention there is ethnic cleansing going on in Sri Lanka and John Holmes had to correct you. It is the Tigers who are holding their own people to ransom and killing them when they try to leave. 65thousand people have already left the hands of the Tiger terrorist. 40% of the Tamil community lives in south of Sri Lanka peacefully. It is the extremist element who is causing the trouble. Tigers know if they let the people go they will be wiped out. If there was ethnic cleansing going the army would have get rid of the Tamils in all parts of Sri Lanka. We all live peacefully apart from the extremist who wants to divide the nation.
If you speak with a Tamil in the UK, with relations in the northern pennisula you will find that they are anti government. These people are in contact with their relations who are appaulled at the treatment of Tamils by the Sri lankan government. Surely the voice of the Tamil civilians should be heard. Unfortunately the Sri lankan government will not let foreign workers/reporters into the affected area’s. Even a sinhalese person must question why this is the case.
My sincere thanks go to Lindsey Hilsum and the Channel 4 News Team for broadcasting the TRUE story of what is happening inside “Safe Zone” (The well structured Terrorist Organization- The Government of Sri Lanka’s “Safe Zone”) in the north of the island.
PLEASE show to the world more about the Sri Lanka Terrorist Government’s Safe Zone and STOP SRI LANKA’S GENOCIDE OF TAMILS!
Thanks for the article, If tamil tigers holding people as human shied, why Sri Lankan govenment prevents UN staff, aid workers and Journalist to enter this Safe Zone? Should allow them to report the truth ( Fire Zone)
Civilians are good bargaining tool for the Tamil tigers. The government is not stupid enough to send foreigners in to the no fire Zone to give Tiger terrorists a bigger bargaining chip to save its leaders who are desperately looking for way out. That is why UN staff, aid workers and journalist are prevented from entering there. I believe everybody is clever enough to understand this unfortunately some pretend to be naïve.
Sri Lankan State Terrorism : 4100 killed and 8800 wounded in 3 months
In the last 3 months, Sri Lankan Army’s (SLA) indiscriminate aerial and shell attacks along with gunfire killed over 4100 innocent civilians and injured more than 8800 according to the reports. It is to be noted that all of these killings took place in the so-called “safety zone” and the death count includes several 100s of children.
Most of the injured ones are least likely to survive due to lack of medical supplies and food. Even those who managed to flee the war zone are under enormous torture in the so called detention camps formed by SLA. Several hundreds of women were tortured and sent to military hospitals to “serve” the injured soldiers’“needs”; and thousands of young men disappeared – most likely to be executed by the SLA.
In the mean time, SLA has moved all its firepower towards the safety zone to continue the systematic genocide in the name of “war against terrorism”. It is estimated that around 330,000 civilians are still in the “safety zone”. Children dying in large numbers and injuring in large numbers are sure to leave long time scars in their minds of the Tamil community at large and Sri Lanka has to live with the consequences for very many years and decades to come. It is so unfortunate, there is no statement ship emerges from Sri Lanka to guide the country to the lasting peace with the solution satisfying the minority Tamil community, said a local aid worker in Vanni.
This article is appauling and as usual one sided. It give the impression that CH4 is supporting the LTTE. We the moderate peace-loving Sri-Lankans across Sinhalese, Tamil and Burgher communities oppose terrorism and wanted a united Sri-Lanka, supporting multi-culturalism, tolererance and a federal system like in India based on democracy. We oppose LTTE ethnic nationalism cause and their campaign of terror. They have murdered so many innocent people, killed politicians- dont forget how the murdered Rajiv Gandhi.
Oppose the LTTE, campaign for peace. Sinhalese, Tamil and Burgher people can live together. Our families prove this, we have familiy members from all these communities. Together we are Sri-Lanka. End the discrmination, end the intolerence, end the egos of the LTTE. Together we are Sri-Lankans.
I appeal to CH4 to start reporting the murders and killings of the LTTE- including of Tamil people. Listen to John Holmes, look at Amnesty’s criticism of the LTTE, read the Human Right Watch on LTTE operations in Wanni. Wake up the world knows the LTTE dont represent the peaceful Tamil movement.
How does the world know? It’s the Rajapaksas’/ JVP government used power to lable the LTTE as terrorist.How many innocent people were bombed in schools, temples by Sri Lankan forces.Did LTTE bomb any bhudhists temple or Schools or any Sinhalese public, they behave as true freedom fighters unlike the Sri lankan forces who behave as terrorists.
Reply to esh (7:39 pm on April 20, 2009)
How about the Massacre at the Sri Mahabodhi in Anuradhapura where over 150 people were killed (refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anuradhapura_massacre ), How about the attack on The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy (refer http://www.spur.asn.au/dalada4.htm ). These are very high profile attacks on Buddhist temples by LTTE. There are number of further examples such as Bomb blast at Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Bomb blast at Maradana, Bomb blast at Dehiwala where hundreds of civilians were killed. I can go on with a lengthy list. These are perfect answers for your question “Did LTTE bomb any Buddhists temple or Schools or any Sinhalese public?” Get your facts right before writing. (Oh! if you get your facts right you won’t have anything to write will you?)
Thank you Very much indeed.
Some Singhalese write nonsense stuff about the history of Srilanka. I think they don’t know the history or may be the liars. Tamils are the origin of the country of Ceylon. Singhalese migrated from Orisa, which is one of the poorest provinces in India. Tamils are most educated people in Srilanka. There was competitive exam method for enter the university in Srilanka so about 90% of the students were Tamils by this method because Tamils are very clever. So Singhala government brought a deferent system to make more Singhalese go to the universities. It is an illegal method still in place because it is only for Singhalese.
There were two kingdoms, which were Tamil and Singhala, but British Government brought together for their benefit. When British leave from Srilanka they gave the power to the Singhala Government British Government has biggest responsibilities for this problem so it is their duty to separate both nation. Tamils had many bitter incidents after 1948, which is what Singhalese called independent. Tamils are dying everyday from this independent. LTTE had formed only 30 years ago for the purpose of protecting Tamils from this Arrogant Singala Government.
1948- Srilanka got independent
1948-50 the then Prime Minister of Ceylon D.S. Senanayake launched massive Sinhalese colonization schemes in the Eastern province, the traditional homeland of the Tamils.
1956 On June 14, Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranayake, who won the Parliamentary Elections help in 1956 caused Parliament, dominated by the majority Sinhalese to enact “Singhala Only” as the official language of Ceylon. 1956
1956-1980- Violent against Tamils two times.
1982 one of the biggest libraries in Asia burnt by Singhalese in our state in Jaffna.
1983-Violent against Tamils. 4000 tamils were killed in southern of srilanka. I lived in Colombo in 1983. I can’t forget those violent days. 99% Tamils forced to display to north part of Srilanka in 1983. They have an only choice to make a land to live peacefully. That’s why Tamils formed an army, which is called LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) to protect Tamils from Singhala regiment.
Oh this should be a real historian writing this. We heard that Elamists are spreading similar story regarding the Australia as well. Talking about ancient Tamil civilization in Australia, Go ahead sooner or later they will say that the Homo-erectus is also a Tamil and so all others are invaders from somewhere
The other thing about kerbing Tamils going to the University. The system is there to give a chance for students from less privileged areas. Not only Singhalese but also Tamils from deprived areas like Vavunia and Batticlo are benefiting from this system. It is Jaffna or Colombo that takes the lead in A/L results with narrow margins. The fact that Jaffna produce good results shows that the Tamils are not less privileged as the LTTE claims. Tamils also have fair proportion of opportunities. Further, I went to a University in Colombo and one third of the students were Tamils. This is more than faire treatment because the Tamil percentage is about 12%. One the other hand one of the most deprived areas in Sri Lanka is Monaragal which is a Singhalese dominated area. Therefore claims of discrimination are not entirely true. (Please don’t take this as against majority of Tamils, this only against minority LTTE Tamils who pretend to be the majority)
Thank you so much Channel 4 & Lindsey Hilsum,
You have done a great job. I would kindly request channel 4 & Lindsey Hilsum to bring our more true about sri lankan terrorist government, who are killing innocent Tamil people in “Safe Zone”.
I would like to suggest some website for your Kind information
http://www.warwithoutwitness.com/
http://tamilnet.com/
http://tamilnational.com/
http://www.tamilnation.org/
http://www.tamilcanadian.com
http://www.tamilsagainstgenocide.org/
http://pearlaction.org/
http://www.blackjuly83.com/
http://www.tamilguardian.com/
http://www.pagegangster.com/p/2Lweq/
also I would like to suggest some paper news, who will bring some true in Sri Lanka.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/09/sri-lanka-tamil-tigers-civilians
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6074341.ece
[...] http://blogs.channel4.com/snowblog/2009/04/17/blocks-on-reporting-the-sri-lanka-fighting/ [...]
I would like to express my gratitude to Channel 4 and Lindsey Hilsum for reporting on the immense suffering of the Tamils in North East Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan govt. is trying disingenuously to conceal their long standing campaign of genocide of the Tamil people. Why else would they bar independent reporters from entering the country (The Times UK reporter: Jeremy Page was the latest to be denied entry to Sri Lanka)? In light of this, it is good to see that Channel 4 remains at the forefront of providing a voice for all oppressed people in the world – including the Tamils. Keep up the good work.
If the Sri Lankan government is innocent why they cant lift the sensorship and exposed to open how bad the terroists are.If the family and friends lived among the freedon fighters how they can be called human shield, How Rajapaksa family can rule Sri Lanka and how communist terrorist JVP got recgonition and they are the ruling party in the name of Rajapaksa.Where were the world when they did ethnic cleaning of the eastern proving in 2006-2007.Sinhalese who came from Bangladesh,West Bengal/Orissa of India should allow the Tamils who are the origins of the country (Kuvani’s ancestors) to live in peace and lift the curse of Kuvani on King Vijaya for her tears whom king vijaya stole the kingdom from Kuvani and brought the Princes from Madura and made the Queen as wife. .Why cant the UN and the world santion Sri Lanka to lift the sensorship and let all the aid agencies to be in the East and North including the UN.Santion should be no foreign aid and import export and to remove Indian solders/pilots and Pakistan, Isralie out of the country.
Thank you channel4 and Lindsey Hilsum for broadcasting the news about innocent tamil victims.Why BBC can’t broadcast a news like this? Showing innocent people’s plight is not againts the law,is it? Please bring more news about innocent tamils and children who has been affected and help us to protect them by open up world’s eye.
I wish Asika gets her facts right. Since when 40% of Tamils (descented) lived in the South of Sri Lanka.Of course the Sri lankan government wants to divide and rule, if they had equal rights to every human in that Island, there wont be LTTE now..
I grow really tired of certain pro-LTTE supporters such as Malarvili going on and on about history from a rather distorted perspective. Her comments appear to be based on the very ethnic nationalism that she accuses the Sinhalese of. Yes communities from all sides have suffered. I am no apologist for the SL Government or nationalists from any side. However going on and on about the past isnt going to help us to move forward together. As Sri-Lankans we have so many social, economic and environmental challenges to tackle. We have to bring the best brains and skills from all communities together to solve these problems. We need to put egos aside and work together. I say this as someone who has family who are Sinhala, Tamil and Burgher, also across all faiths. We must have peace and reconcilation NOW, so that our children and grandchildren want be so full of hatred like Maravili. Put the hatred aside, together we are Sri-Lankans with so much in common.
Please moderate Sri-Lankans speak out against the ethnic nationalism of the LTTE and their supporters. Support peace, tolerance and multiculturalism based on what we aspire to have in the UK.
Happy belated new year to all Sri-Lankans- Sinhala and Tamil
By the way many of us were in SL in 1983 and many Sinhalese, Burghers as well as Tamils also suffered at the hands of extremists like the JVP. So you dont have a monopoly on pain.
[...] Sri Lanka’s government continues to deny international reporters access to the small area of the country where they have cornered the Tamil Tiger rebels, we are piecing [...]
Thank you very much for artcle and Channel 4.
Thank you channel4 for showing the truth. Its very sad but true.
Thanks for your inside story, believe we will save our remaining people by support of some of your journalist help
[...] either inadequate or inaccurate and in a few instances sensational. The Sri Lankan government is blocking international journalists to enter the war zone and this has created more [...]
[...] international media reports have been inadequate or inaccurate, while the Sri Lankan government is blocking access of journalists to the north where civilians are in [...]
We, the moderate Sri-Lankans who want peace and co-operation amongst all communities: Burgher, Sinhala and Tamil. We must bring this conflict to end, we need peace, reconcilation and mediation. We need people working together to fight the poverty, social exclusion and economic challenges our country faces. We need to work together. Look at the problems we face in SL- people across all communities living in sub standard housing and a quality of life not fit for anyone. This is the fight we face. Not one based on ethnic hatred. The Government and LTTE need to grow up- put damn egos aside, work with properly with the international community and NGOs. There are so many talented Sri-Lankans living abroad across all communities who could share their knowledge and expertise. Many of us doing this already, we dont care if we are helping Sinhala or Tamil, Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Buddhist. For heaven sake, we are Sri-Lankans, work together. Shame on us for our ethnic hatred and intolerence.
It is nice to be optimistic & say forget the past, but it is hard to forget the present. The LTTE may be using the people around them as shields,but a responsible Government has a duty to protect the children. How can you say forget & get on, I think the moderate Singhalese people should put pressure on the world to get rid of the present Government who should be charged for crimes against humanity. I too have members of all races in my family. I too want peace in my land. But what is happening is not consucive to peace & reconciliation. Thank you Channel Four.
Kath, you make a valuable point. I am not being optimistic, i am trying to move beyond the ethnic hatred. None of us want to see any one killed or murdered- anyone even soldiers. Its not just about moderate Sinhalese, its about moderate Sri-Lankans- thats my point. Let us not forget that it is extremists from all sides that have caused problems- the LTTE with their terrorist agenda, the JVP in the 80’s murdering members from all communities. Yes peace and reconcilation but also justice- terrorism cannot be tolerated in any country. Yes the LTTE have used human shields, but consider all the other brutal acts of terrorism- although i note the world or CH4 news rarely has commented upon. Road side bombs- not a nice thing and vey scarry particularly when you are with your family and you feel lucky not to have been blown up by a LTTE road side bomb whilst trying to support people in your own country.
It goes without saying that I am no supporter of this or previous SL Government, poor leadership has been demonstrated.
Sri-Lankans must unite, TOGETHER we are Sri-Lankans. United we are strong, we can still respect one anothers cultures, religions and differences.
Government of Sri Lanka has reported that the arms and ammunition captured from LTTE is valued in excess of US $ 20 million. I think the LTTE supporters / funders can be really “happy” with themselves for their great contribution and to know where the money has gone into. The tamil civilians who are caught up in the conflict are the poorest of the poor and everyone must support the Government rescue effort to rescue these civilians and that’s where the money should go into. LTTE has eliminated all moderate tamil leaders.
All moderate Sri Lankans should read this article
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/05/05/jonathan-kay-on-the-legacy-of-neelan-tiruchelvam-the-tamil-tigers-have-reaped-what-they-ve-sown.aspx
Reply to esh (7:39 pm on April 20, 2009)
Haven’t you heard about massacre of 33 Buddhist monks at Aranthalawa (refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aranthalawa_Massacre). That is only one example. One example is enough to prove that the LTTE terrorist supporters are spreading false propaganda. So don’t try to white wash so-called LTTE true freedom fighters who send Tamil children who are young as 11 years to battle front to save the skin of Prabhakeran
Since Lindsey Hilsum’s report on 17th April we have been given more of the truth by the excellent work of Channel4 news team. Mr Jon Snow thank you very much for the interview with the Sri lankan High commissioner, even though he was coming out with unjustified remarks it was great to watch,….on a sad not, I have not heard from my family and it pains me to be here and them to be there..I live in hope that they are alive as one is selfish when it comes to their own flesh and blood,..and hopes that the many that have reported died is not one of them. I have heard of the rapes and abductions, stravation, members of family being separated and placed according to age and gender through the tamil community ( a visit to parliment square where demo is still taking place) but a part of me refused to believe, but watching your news last night made me realise that worse is yet to come, both of my family and that of the tamil people. Those who are reading this, be it tamil or singhalese, just be greatful for where you are, UK provides for all, you are safe, those in the so called safe fire zone are not, now many think yes we are going to be in camps, a roof over over heads etc…but the reality is inhumane torture, pro LTTE speak to your MP, get them to get UN to take action and get iNGO’s in, the Army are clearly not doing their jobs right, Singhala people put your hand on your heart and ask the question what would you do if it is your people…everyone is a human being, the basic needs should be met and treated with respect. I write with tears in my eyes. We must urge the International community for an immediate cease fire, the LTTE as stated by the Army have been cornered then keep them cornered and let the UN go in request the civilians what they want, in fact many have been uprooted from their land so they should be rehoused and cared for by the so called demacratically elected government. The Sri lankan government stating that the LTTE would regroup and rearm, this is immpossible if they are cornered. Obviously Sri lankan government is committing war crime, genocide is taking place in the name on terror. tamils in the South have been forced to live there, they all speak signhala and english just to pass themselves off as “one of them”. I know I have been there, felt the pain and still feel the pain. I live in UK because my family came to UK in 1975 for education and settled due to 1983 conflict. My mother gave me a muslim name and my sister a signhala name hoping we would not be discriminated but that did not help. she did what she could do, very little. I hope we will soon have UN to monitor and save those left to live with dignity in a beautiful island that will truly live upto it’s AKA “a pearl in the Indian ocean”.
Forget about LTTE for now; Forget even those being bombed by the military in the so called safe zone; forget who is or who isn’t keeping them from leaving.
Just think about those people who ARE in the hands of the government. They are dying of starvation. They are being abducted and killed. EVEN children aged below 10 are taken away from their parents and kept somewhere else. No one knows where.
Most importantly the young women are subjected to the worst degradation of any kind ever faced on this earth. And what is more, after all that, they are taken away by soldiers, raped and then killed. ( I HAVE PERSONAL INFORMATION CONFIRMING THIS.)
In the name of Patriotism, are you going to stand by and watch this happening? Please gather your friends and try to do something.
I do not think ANY DECENT PERSON who knows what is going on will stay silent or would write something praising the government for what it’s doing.
Thank you C4 for bringing out the truth.
I have some questions for the Sinhalese comentators. The S/L government announced in January 2009 that the political package to end the conflict was 95% complete. If so, why was it neccesary to kill 7,000 and maim 15,000 Tamils before completing the 5% and give peace a chance?
If you really care about peace in Sri Lanka go and put your energies in convincing as many Sinhalese as possible that the Tamils have to feel equal in the island for there to be peace.
For those who claim that Tamil people are living happily amongst the Sinhalese, yes, there are a large number of Tamils now “living” in the south. They “live happily” with the constant fear anguising when their abode will be raided by the “white van” death squads. They “live happily” fearing when they will be herded up at 3.00 am, loaded into a bus and sent to the North for reasons of “security”. They “live happily” wondering when thay will be dragged out of their homes and set alight by their neigbours because they are Tamils. (I apologise to the minority Sinhalese who protected their neigbours then(1958, 1962, 1977, 1983) but are keeping mum now, condoning the death of 7000 innocent men women and children).
Here is another question. Bhudhism is a compassionate religion. Yet have any of you Bhudhists stopped to think why there are Tamil Hindus, Tamil Christians, Tamil Muslims, but no Tamil Bhudhists.
For every Tamil, Bhudhism in Sri Lanka represents oppression of Tamils’ rights, not compassion. The day the Bhudists who practice Dhamma in its true spirit rise above the chauvinists, peace will dawn in the island. The first political murder was committed by a Bhudhist monk when he assassinated SWRD Bandaranaike (1959) for negotiating with the Tamils. That is when terrorism started not with the LTTE.
All what Tamils want is to live with dignity choosing their own rulers as they see fit.
If you truly believe that the Sinhalese and Tamils should live together peacefully it has to be decided by mutual consent. ie not just by imposing the Sinhala will over the Tamils. The Tamils need to consent on their own accord to live with the Sinhalese, not looking at the barrel of a gun or under a sky raining with bombs. If you believe that what your government has done in your name, in the north is right, you too are as culpable as your government.
There is one thing I can say as a Tamil. I will not allow “my” government to do that to any other community. I will be protesting on the streets if it did. Do not expect the Tamil people to forget the carnage they have witnessed by their own eyes so easily. You now have a very hard job convincing us that we can live together peacefully.
WELL DONE CH 4.
LTTE terrorists are indeed killing people inside the safe zone and accusing the government for those gruesome atrocities. This fact has been proved using aerial video footage as well as based on countless statements made by the innocent civilians escaping from the LTTE-prison inside the safe zone.
If the civilians attempt to escape, for example, if the terrorists see any preparation for escape, the terrorist carders are ordered to shoot, burn down shelters and destroy whole families. Recently, the terror leadership has ordered to attack and slaughter whole families if at least one family member attempts to escape.
LTTE terrorists have crafted this situation and created a humanitarian disaster as the final bid to survive and escape Sri Lanka. This is the only avenue open to the terrorists to survive. They are cruel, barbaric and inhumane. The west cannot comprehend the thinking of these blood-thrust terrorists. The terrorists will slaughter all civilians taken hostage unless government troops make a pathway to escape and save them.
When the government offered a truce for the civilians to cross the frontline, no civilians came through. This is because the terrorists could concentrate and tighten the grip on the civilians when they are not attacked. When the troops started attacking the terrorists they get distracted and civilians start escaping. Most recently, more than hundred thousand innocent civilians escaped terrorists grip. They have told countless gruesome facts how terrorist control food, medicine and furthermore how these ruthless terrorists slaughter innocent civilians to create a humanitarian disaster for their own survival.
It is really unfortunate that the facts get distorted and mislead the general public when the west publishes unsubstantiated stories manipulated by the world’s most ruthless terrorist organisation. This wealthiest and most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world is manipulating the truth and still funding a well oiled propaganda machine. The recent statements made by the UN about the gruesome atrocities committed by the terrorists and the statements made by the escaping civilians have proved the extent of manipulation carried out by the terrorists and their propaganda machine residing across the world.
we ain’t asking who is killing who!!!
let the ic to see the ground situation or ay the panalty
Thank you very much Channel 4. I am sure that all of your journalist work will help in saving Tamil lives.
Well Done CH4. Thank you for bringing the truth to the world. I must Thank for Lindsay Hulsum.
The Truth is that the Srilankan Government is stopping all nations to go to Vanni is, they are trying to erase the evidence and/or proofs first.
I also have to mention that some of our Singales brothers/sisters is giving the wrong information to the media. Please be neutral and bring the truth to the media.
Thank you.
[...] 4 New’s international editor, Lindsey Hilsum, wrote on World News Blog last month on the difficulty of reporting from the frontline in Sri Lanka. #hImg a img {display: none} #hImg a {display: block; width: 875px; height: 300px; background: [...]
Our community is quite uneducated people. they wont agree what the international say. if the government says “we are giving equal opprtunity to every single persons in the island”, why there is no tamils in the srilankan army ? because tamils they do nt like to join to kill the own people. on the other side, government they won’t take tamils for the SL army. because they are thinking all of the tamils are TIGERS. that is true. Thanks for channel 4 news
I think you should find out the truth before you say there is no Tamils in the srilankan army..being a Tamil i have my two brothers in the military one in air force and other in navy so we srilankans no what’s happening and what we want here channel for so call media cant change or do anything to our president,,,so we are very sad that these kind of lies been put out in a responsible media..
No matter what, LTTE are the sole representative of Tamils. Sinhaleese, please save your so called Sinhala motherland from those 4 brothers, otherwise you will regret one day !!
If LTTE are the sole representatives of tamils, then why did more than 170,000 innocent tamil civillians decided to leave LTTE controlled areas? The areal footages clearly show that they escaped LTTE territory to cross over to Government held areas against LTTE wishes amidst a shower of gun fire from LTTE terrorists. There is no ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. How come that tamils, sinhalese and muslims do business in colombo together if there was an ethnic conflict. How come that there are several senior civil servants, CEOs, directors of many commercial establishments in sri lanka belonging to all ethnic minorities. How come there are thousands of tamils married to sinhalese? How come there are several members of the tamil community serving the Sri Lankan cabinet of ministers? If there is an ethnic conflict will it ever be possible for Hon. Lakshman Kadirgamar, an ethnic tamil to become the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka (before he was killed by LTTE). A significant number of diaspora tamils working in the UK have been educated in Universities in Colombo, Moratuwa and Peradeniya by Sri Lankan tax payers’ money. Irrespective of whether you are a sinhalese or tamil you get university placements based on your A/L performance. If there is an ethnic conflict will this ever happen? A lot of moderate tamils argue that their forward march as a community has been severely affected due to LTTE terrorism. After the exodus of civillians in IDP centres, there has been many Sinhalese organisations contributing food aid and other donations to these innocent tamil civillians. These activites are not orchestrated by the Government, but by genuine concerns of like minded Sri Lankan citizens who are showing their affection to fellow citizens of Sri lanka. As I see it, there is only one problem in Sri Lanka and that is terrorism instigated by LTTE. The only way to eliminate LTTE terrorism is by military means. Some argue that military solutions can never be solutions. I disagree on that. Terrorism can only be solved by a military solution. The other alternative would be to submit to the threat posed by terrorism. Once terrorism is solved and LTTE is eliminated, then the political process should kick in for purposes of Governance and to seek any solutions for genuine concerns of all ethnic minorities. Any remaining LTTE members can renounce violence and join the political process if they so wish. They can then become a credible political force to win the hearts and minds of not only tamils but sinhalese and all other minority communities. LTTE can then say that they are the sole representatives of the tamils (Sorry, they may not be able to use the same name LTTE, as they will have to drop the name starting with “E”, as it will be totally irrelevant). In my opionion the 4 brothers are doing a fantastic job just to achieve this objective which is the wish of all Sri lankan citizens be they sinhalese, tamils or muslims. Keep up the pressure until the eventual fall of the last LTTE terrorist!!!
I thank the Channel 4 team to be brave enought to bring the suffering of the innocent tamil people. I am relieved that the government of Srilanka did not terminate these journalists and blame it on the tigers as they have done to many of the brave journalists from that country. Well done channel 4. The truth is out there, as to the incompetent, and barabric nature of this government. As long as there are people who love war this beautiful country will end up in ruins. May those who love justice, peace and truth stand up and be counted and never be afraid of these incomepetent elements who can only talk with a pointed gun. Shame on the leaders of this country, shame on men women who have profitted from the war. Shame on the Tamils who support the government and kill their own. Shame on the LTTE. God will never allow all these perpetrators conscience to rest in peace.
Thank for CH4, This is a good start by western media to brink the truth to this world, All these years listen to Sri Lankan gov lies, We need independant ppl in Sri Lanka to report and monitor, That what tamil ppl asking from 1983…also LTTE, Why SL Gov not allowing them to monitor…Please telecase more truth to this world abt SL,
Channel 4 has highlighted one of the major failures of relying upon ‘country’ based reporters. For years sri lankan journalists self censored themselves for fear of falling foul of the authorities.
The result has been a near conspiritorial blockade of the grave abuses heaped upon the tamil minority.
Well done for this detail outline of the ground realities of reporting on sri lanka and exposing the failings of the media community that has operated in sri lanka for the past decades.
Lindsey: Thanks for C4 and the time that your network is allowing for the story in Sri Lanka…
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