As the week comes to a close, we notice Nick Paton Walsh’s report on a camp in Sri Lanka has consistently been the most-watched video on the Channel 4 News website since its broadcast on Tuesday – a likely reflection of the large international appetite for news from the country.
The report features the first independently filmed pictures from the internment camps set up by the Sri Lankan government to house Tamils who have fled the country’s civil war.
External blog posts about the report include these from Amnesty International USA’s Jim McDonald and the Canadian National Post’s Jonathan Kay.
Channel 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.
Commentsoldest first
This is a true but a rare glimpse at what life is really like for the trapped Tamils in the camps. Why arn’t the media or even the UN allowed in? The true nature of the Srilankan killers are being shown!
All I saw was a bunch of civilians moving about without any complaints, and some guy interviewing a bunch of people who are probably terrorists that snuck into the camp. What does this show exactly? Nothing.. :\. Just in the last couple weeks a whole bunch of foreign diplomats came and went from the camps without any complaints.
The video is shocking. In the recent past, we have seen media networks interviewing people without revealing their identities. In this video, they are talking to people in a place, which cannot be inside the internment camp they describe. It looks like a studio creation. Since the security around the camps are so tight in order to prevent the terrorists who have mingled among the civilians escaping, it is very unlikely that this video is made within one of the camps. This looks like the work of a terrorist outfit rather than a civilian outfit. The way the interviewer speak to the ambassador raising a question at the end of the second video the Chanel 4 posted on the same day also raises doubts.
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/international_politics/grim+scenes+at+sri+lankan+camps+/3126257
Worlds hearts are with the victims of this war. But when reporting, the media should not create news. This news item goes in line with the propaganda war launched by the terrorist outfit. We won’t the truth, not the made up stories.
The real stories will come out in future, and then Chanel 4 will have its field day !!!
What About the Bus Bombs of LTTE, U people are BLIND, and only think about your people, take it as one and see it as one
I cannot see anything wrong hapenning in this video.These people came to this side from LTTE side, why?because they are terrorists, who knows how many terorists came with those innosent civilins. so with out army and police there, who is going to provide security to them? when you get information from only one side think there is another side to the story.always remember srilankan government is a democraticaly elected government and LTTE and its suporters are words bloodiest terorists, yes I know they dont allow any media to go there to find the truth, As a responsible government how can they allow all the media to be in the warzone while they are fighting terorism..Please let them finish LTTE, every body in this small countrysuffered enough for last 25 years.
I think Israel was and is fighting “terrorism” in Gaza. The public got “hot hot” news and UN issued “hot hot” photos on what was going on inside though Israel was also practicing the type of “press freedom”.
Truth must come out sooner than later.
These Tamil IDPs will continue to suffer like this for many years illegally imprisoned in these camps unless the world takes strong action against SL. At the very least Media and Aid agencies, NGOs should be allowed in. Excuses such as ‘this is tamil propaganda’ are pathetic!
see this website:-
sites.google.com/site/helpsavetamils
TAMIL TIGERS R NOT TERRORIST. they are fighting for Tamils freedom. we will never ever stop fighting.
people who are saying this video is LTTE properganda. This is false because this video has no links with the LTTE. This is about the civilians suffering in the camps. If the Sri Lankan army has nothing to hide why were,nt they allow the UN and the independent media. We all know that were’nt happen because of the mass crimes e.g. mass killing, genocide, abduction, torture, rape e.t.c.
So you rape them torture them and starve them? And get your sister married to who rape these innocent girls?
Why do not you just go and study these camps for yourself?
Note: SL doesn’t even allow opposition party into these area…that is what democratically elected responsible government do…what a joke!!
The rescuers gave great freedom of movement for their detainees.
The response from the SL officials is full of satirical.. SL forces were kicked out of UN peace keeping force for sexual exploitation of local women in Haiti. Here he is claiming that their soldiers are disciplined. Well, good luck lying you’ll not be getting any help from the west. Hold on a sec, you don’t need help that’s right, the Foreign minister claimed they’re not a bankrupt third world country and don’t need the west.
You cannot expect anything else from persons who make a living from the job for which they are PAID. You want them to lose their jobs.
This is a response to sudharman who claims “I cannot see anything wrong happening in this video”. One question to that fellow: ” How educated are you?”.
Now, onto the report by nick paton walsh, THANK YOU. I also wish to commend the journalist interviewing the Sri Lankan High Commissioner. I think he was very insistent, and very rightly so, on bringing up the deceitfulness of the Sri lankan governement. Also, it was very enjoyable to see how the commissioner was giving out the LAMEST responses to his questions. I mean seriously, this guy should get a serious demotion!
In the eyes of the sri lankan government(and their supporters), anyone who is highlighting the real humanitarian crisis in Sri lanka, whether it be BBC, Channel 4, or many of the european countries they are all terrorists . Here you have to wonder who the real terrorist is – sri lankan government and it’s allies. Thank you to Channel 4 for highlighting the truth of the problem in Sri Lanka
[...] displaced people, some of whom are living in tents provided by the United Nations, are not good, another report from Channel 4 News shows that the situation in Sri Lanka’s internment camps appears to be far [...]
@sudharman : lets not talk about LTTE for a while to not get diverted of the actual issue.. there are international reporters who report news from most dreadful war fronts.. what on earth makes SL not allow such reporters & aid workers.. it has become a rhetoric that you have suffered enuf cos LTTE, bla bla.. but dont you know the suffering of the common Tamil civilian under SL govts rule for more than 60 years now??? and also an out-come of one such suffering is the birth of LTTE???. let equality prevail & peace comes automatically…
Its so pathetic to see this totally bious report which underestimates the efforts of thousands of civil servants including the vavunia government agent, hu is a tamil lady, and un, icrc officers and sri lanka armed forces to give comfort to these innocent poeple who were actually rescued by sri lanka army ( at the expense of their own lives) from the iron hand and bullets of tigers.
One should not forget the false propaganda going on at the moment against sl gov and of course the fact that there are tigers amongst these civilians who have saved their lives conveniently. If these were true allegations( sexual abuse) why could they not lodge complaints to un officers present in the camps, without giving underhand interviews to media orgs. Pls dont forget these camps have been visited umptying times by un officers including sir john holmes who have commended about the level of facilities. I agree there are many many ways to improve the situation of these camps, wat we need at the moment is a collective effort to achieve best standards for these truly innocent tamil ppl (unlike the crocodile tear shedders from west who are not willing to accept the curelty and final defeat of tigers) but not henious and unconfirmed reports to undermine this great effort.
To shalu, can get an idea about your educational qualifications by asking another, how educated r u.
The fact is there is no evidence at all to proof any claim in this report apart from two so called underhand interviews, which anybody could do.
Thanks.
people who are saying this video is biased. This is false because for 60 years sri lankan government is hiding the truth but when the truth reveals all the sinhalese jump up and down saying that this is LTTE properganda. This video is about people suffering in camps. If the Sri Lankan government has nothing to hide why were,nt they allow UN and independent media. We all know this will never happen because of mass war crimes perpetrated by the sri lankan government. e.g. killing innocnet civilians, GENOCIDE, aduction mass rape e.t.c.
You better visit this camps first and tell us what is going on. These camps are well aranged by Sl to show the world how they protect the tamil civiliens. But the realitity is different. The way to get more money for the war.
If SL had a true democratic system, why is there No evidence of it especially in our line of presidency. Why has there not been any other president than a Sinhalese in power…? Not just the Tamils but, we do have Muslims, Burghas etc too
What about the recent `religious cleansing’ that is currently under way in SL led by the current president. Eg. he has introduced heavy fines including imprisonment for anyone trying to convert a Buddhist. So is this `freedom’ or democracy?
Why are the Tamils that have been arrested under so called grounds of `suspicion’ not being given a fair hearing in court let alone trial?
Why is there No foreign media UN, NGOs being allowed to cover the current situation in SL and instead only one ‘view-point’ that of the SL Government being filtered-out locally and internationally. What do they have to hide if they are sure that they are approaching this the democratic way..? Are they afraid that Genocide will be proven after all..?
Why are media people who challenge the Government losing their lives…? Or media people beaten in broad day-light while in their office by so called democratically appointed ministers, if the parliament system was a democratic one how come the appointed ministers and cabinet members are all related and ‘one big happy family’? There is No other country like SL that has so many relatives holding office…?
How come in a Democratic Government there is so much foul play and corruption that even the funds raised from the Tsunami didn’t make it to the right people and instead they continue to live in camps even today?.
Why was the Air Lanka CEO – a British Guy sacked from his post for not letting the ‘honorable president and his troupe’ get on a flight at the 11th hour by ‘bumping-off’ full revenue passengers who are lesser mortals?
At the end of the day, we have to remember that the Tamil fore-fathers like Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan etc did assist in the freedom fight for SL. …Is it fair for us Sinhalese then to not let them have a say in parliament??. Is it not a case of ‘frying pan to the fire for them…. then.?
You conveniently forget that there were Tamil Chief Justices, Police Chiefs, Army generals, Foreign Ministers etc – until LTTE
started bumping them off.
Ch 4 good job in doing a dirty job on Sri Lanka get your ratings up. BTW, what will happen when the truth comes out after LTTE is defeated? You guys going to report is SL Gov going to list your biased reports on the web for the whole world to see???Think about the after math.
Sudharma Ratnayake’s comments reminded me of my very decent sinhalese friends’ who are as apalled and powerless as us tamils about what is going on. The educated people in Sri Lankan society, whether tamil, sinhalese, muslim and burgher all yearn for a government that espouses true democratic values, peace and a common identity. The sooner this government is kicked out and it’s leaders brought before a war crimes tribunal the better!
Aney Nangi, when were you born? Dont’ you know that our very strategic thinking forefathers with much foresight convinced those foolish, trusting Tamils that everything will be rosy once the British Raj left us. And ever since we have managed to systematically subordinate those idiots. We massacred the Tamil politicians and their supporters who asked democratically in the Parliament and peacefully at satyagraghas in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and in 1983. Then those Tigers came to the scene and weren’t they ferocious? That prevented us from continuing our quest to subordinate those Tamil. Afterall, we don’t like those Tamils to go back to the areas they come from – the place that we ask them to go to, whenever we kill them off in the South by the “so called riots’” that our democratically elected Governments effectively sponsored – and live peacefully and prosper. That was not the intention when we told them to “go home” whenever we massacered them during the riots. We actually, want them to live in poverty and die-off if possible. Remember, we never developed any part of Nothern of Eastern Provinces since the British Raj left. Have you forgotten how we managed to colonise and sent our people to reap the benefits of the sugar industry in the Eastern Province, without compensating any traditional, legal Tamil owners?
Now we have the current Congress based Government of India on our side and we have managed to defeat those ‘tigers’ , they have supplied us the arms and personnel. Don’t you understand that we have to finish-off those LTTE pariyas before the Indian election results are out? Otherwise, the new Indian Gaovernment may not support and we may lose the battle with LTTE. Then we will not be able to continue our quest to establish the “Buddhist-Sinhala” only state and continue to humiliate not only those para-dhemalayas, but also other non-Buddhist, then we will see who next.
Long live Arya Sinhala and the Mahavamsa. We strictly follow the ‘non-violence’ teachings of Our Lord Buddha. Did I say that Sri Lanka is God given land of the Buddhist Sinhalese? But who/ where is the God in Buddhism?
The reason we don’t have a Tamil as the President is because the Tamil Tigers have killed most of the leading Tamil politicians, the Muslims have had leading role in every single government since independnce in 1948 and as for Burghers – they “burghered off” to Australia
sounds like your a LTTE supporter just taken a sinhalese name to criticize the governement! just to let you know, your words are baseless and no one is going to listen to you! the true Tamils and Sinhalese and the Muslims are united and you guys are just wasting your precious time trying to bring out your point….so please drop your false mask and get on with some work rather than poking your finger into others affairs!
This is a positive move of Channel 4 to let the world knows what is actually happening inside one of internment camps where displaced tamils are kept. To prove, this is one of the most viewed video as this was taken independently and without any permission frpm SL government and army! Hope other foreign media will follow Channel 4’s footprints to bring the truth to the world.
“Hope other foreign media will follow Channel 4’s footprints to bring the truth to the world.”
Provided they are allowed to get in and then allowed to roam about FREELY.
Any possibility?
Kolla, well said with sarcasm.Now the British has to re capture and give independance with new treaty as Tamils can be the president of the country( hindu/muslim/christian) not only sinhalese, all three languages are official and religious representatives should not participate in any form of politics, all Indian migrants given British status( as east Africans asians), impliment state government, true democracy with freedom of speech. Remove all colonisation in the east which was not protected on first independeance treaty and to change and protected as the North, many more changes to flurish the naturally rich country to turn into the super power by literacy. Wondered what happened to the east which was bombarded on the name of LTTE from 2006-2008 to get the land by ethinic cleansing.
It is very strange that this journalist spoke to 3 people who said only things against the army. Where are the thousands of horror stories they suffered at the hands of LTTE. Mr David Milliband after visiting the camps said ‘People have fled absolute terror of LTTE’. We know that many who have said ‘they have been to the egde human suffering at the hands of LTTE’. These people who were taken from place to place for the last 18 months by cowards causing untold hardships, just to protect a megalomaniac ‘leader’ who did not mind sacrificing his people for his safety. Many international delegations including the British delegation have commended the camps which we all know arn’t ideal but thousand times better than the inhuman suffering at the hands of ’sole representatives’.
This problem is not against to LTTE, how people being treated and human rights in our country. Don’t be one side viewer. People suffer from this war. You may have seen only 3 people. I can send you a 1000 web links about the humanitarian crises in Sri Lanka. Fight for the justice forgets about the background.
Reveal the truth, don’t be shame that this is against to you. This is our country and this is what all is about.
Hope channel 4 makes a huge impact on our conflict.
You need to know the facts before commenting on this. Mr.Milliband been to these internment camps and talked to people with the PERMISSION of SL government and army. So this cannot be an independent report or claim. Also, people staying in internment camps cannot say anything against SL government and army as they fear for their lives if they do. Lots of disapperances, torture and sexual abuse and even elderly people dying of starvation inside these internment camps!
there is only one reason why LTTE didn`t let their people go, afraid og this cind of suffering! and how do u know that the camp that this camp is godd, have u been there and seen with your eyes?? because the truth is what u see, not what u hear.
the Sinhela soldiers of the sinhela only state of srilanka is the most disciplined in the entire world, can you believe it?
the Sinhela state of srilanka is the most democratically elected government of srilanka in the world.
Therefore they can do any damn thing to the minority Tamils. That they censor news the control media. They kill the journalists, they abduct, make them disappear, they arrest, hares, attack assault, threaten kidnap and so forth.
That is how the Sinhela Rajapaksa Gang (govt) of srilanka practices democracy.
Srilanka’s Sinhela is notorious for Corruption, Deception, Distortion.
Thank You Nick and Channel 4 news and especially the person who interviewed the SL govt person. This is the sort of video that will save many many lives. More of this type will follow, as the Truth cannot be hidden forever.
strange news!! Chanel 4 used this to increase their popularity. Your video does not show anything wrong but few people behind the screen say some of their fantasies. Anyone can do create any story. y.
Here is a link that will teach all you Tamils the truth you don’t seem to know: http://www.squidoo.com/tamil_tiger_terrorists_Srilanka
dont forget to remember, the LTTE Killed the innesent muslims and singhalese and kick them out from north and east within 24 hours time.There is no media coverage.
Because they counld not trust them.
Thank you channel 4 for bringing the truth to light. These civilians are suffering a great deal under the Sri Lankan Military – murder, rapes and starvation. It is time for the United Nations to take over the running of the camps. As can be evidenced by the Haiti incident where Sri Lankan soldiers were found guilty of sexual abuses, they cannot be trusted to run a civilian camp. UN Please Act Now!
Thank you channel4, thank you for investigating the truth for yourself instead of what the other media do by posting the biased information that the SL offers. The truth, women, children are raped, there’s no clothes, no food, no water, no medicine. This is what a democratically voted government does to its own people, who ever dares to talk against the government and their outrageous behaviour are branded as working for the terrorist. Well SL government are carrying out state terrorism whose going to stop this. By the time UN reacts, there wouldn’t be one Tamil left.
Thank you very much for channel 4.
I have personal experience about these types of camps in Sri Lanka between 1987 and 1991 when I was in Northen Sri Lanka.
If Sri Lankan government telling the truth why can’t they allow international media and UN official freely into the affected area. The real problem known to every one but I do not know why everybody is watching thousands of people killed. May be they have an idea of minimum number have to be killed before any actions. I think life is life no different between whether the life is Tamil Life or other.
AT LAST THE TRUTH IS BEING EXPOSED!!! Thank you CHANNEL 4 for exposing the truth in Sri Lanka about how armed forces are abusing tamils. This is what the govt do when the truth is exposed thats why its so hard for tamils to tell their stories because once it is told the govt kill them because they are always followed by soldiers 24/7. If the govt had nothing to hide they will let journalists do their job properly and not arrest them once they find out the truth.
The sinhala people commenting in this blog do not know how it is to be a tamil in sri lanka, they are the majority and not discriminated. Dogs have a better life in Sri Lanka than tamils and thats the honest truth, ive lived there when I was young and will never forget how the Sri Lankan govt and armed forces have killed innocent tamil people relentlessly.
Everytime a tamil person speaks out against the govt the are abducted or either killed, it still goes on today.
FREE THE CHANNEL 4 JOURNALISTS IN SRI LANKA!
Thank You CH4.Iam really glad that CH4 come forward to speak out the real problem of Tamils.
I will tell you one thing who ever writting good comments about srilankan president or ministers isnt true.Singhala people are real racist people in the world.I WILL TELL YOU THE TRUE STORY WHICH HAPPEND IN HOME TOWN OF MINE………
My home town in Srilanka is Nawalapitiya which is in central of the country.In 1983 I was a small kid(7yrs old) when we had the racism riots Singhala people burn the whole town coz most of the shops in the Town was owned by Tamils,not only this I have seen singhala army and the people were DROPPING A 2-3 YEAR OLD TAMIL BABY INTO HOT BOILLING TAR.Istill cant forget this incident.
THANK YOU CH4. THERE ARE LOT MORE TO COME OUT..
WE NEED PEACE
It is understandable that Mr Walsh needed something ‘contraversial’ for his report and he produced it from thin air.
However it is surprising to see no one here bothered to mention the plight of thousands of Tamil civiliand taken hostage by Tigers.
Duplicity too evident. The truth is, those who shed crocodile tears do not care at all about the sufferings of poor Tamils in Sri Lanka.
This whole footage doesn’t say anything. There are people going about freely, One doesn’t even know if it was really taken in the camp! And why are these people trying to be annonymous? if they are speaking out against the government then you don’t have to hide. It is quite obvious that this is a LTTE tape done and the Channel 4 is claiming that they have got it done.
Why aern’t they talking about the brutality they experienced in the hands of the LTTE who were keeping them as human sheilds!!!
How can they show their face when they are in our crucial army’s hand while commenting? Don’t you have a common sense? If this is produced in LTTE area they should have show their face while commenting against our bloody government.
This is the first true story describing the real situation in Sri Lanka. So far, the international community seen one side stories only. Averagely 200 civilians die in Srilanka due to SLA shelling and starvation
Thank you Channel 4 for exposing the serious human rights abuses going on in Sri Lanka committed by the Sri Lankan Army against the Tamil civilians. This highlights the need for the UN to run these ‘camps’ and protect the civilians. The racist Sri Lankan (singhalese dominated) government and Sri Lankan Army cannot be trusted to look after Tamil Civilians. It is time for the UN to act.
How the hell we know if the LTTE suppoters killed the women (i.e. if there were real dead bodies)? There over 100,000 people and three women dead – call the UN to act – Are you joking?
everybody knows now why srilankan goverment not alowing media and aid workers inside the warsone welldone channel 4
Thank you Nick & your team (Channel 4) for exposing the hidden truth and the “hitler state”.
Channels 4 confirmed that they illegally entered into the camps with the help of a few people inside. So, how does the CH4 know these people are not Terrorist propagandist or not? Isn’t it obvious that if the terrorists can kill their own civilians when leaving they can also kill women inside the camps and blame on the Army. If the reporters can buy statements made by anyone then we could say the Ch4 man is in the LTTE pay role – reason being LTTE Diaspora funds are in $ millions.
Firstly, I would like to thank Channel 4 for bringing the atrocities of the SL government out into the open and also to Nick Walsh — you’re dedication towards this matter is much appreciated. I just hope the world will get to know more about what’s really going on in Sri-Lanka so the killings of innocent tamil civilians does not continue.
For the LTTE who is taking its last few breaths, the only hope is international symphathy in some form or the other. We know that they will pay huge sums of money to get their story told. It is well known that they offered $ 1 million to a pentagon official to get US ban lifted. There are lots all over the world in LTTE pay list to say, to publish what they want.
The sad tamil LTTE supporters, still try to fly the flag knowing the misery it has caused to the tamils. 20,000 kids kidnapped and sacrificed from the arms of screaming tamil parents, allowed tamils to ‘open mouth only to eat’ in LTTE dominated areas for 25 yrs, stolen even Tsunami money from tamils who lost every thing, despite millions collected not a panadol or a grain of rice to poor tamils but the leader had many limousines, swimming pools, posh bunkers etc, destroyed the education of tamil kids while sending his kids abroad, and now having taken the whole population as hostages at the end of a gun with immence suffering had resorted to kill, shoot, burn tamils who dared to leave.
Times defence analyst Peter Voke said ‘As long as VP lives there wont be peace in Sri lanka’. Prof James Jupp- Australia said ‘VP is a psychopathic killer’. Us undersecretary MR Richard Boucher said ‘LTTE has brought only misery to the tamils’. Any one dare to disagree????
i know what is happening inside the camp. but i can nt say anything about that. you( tamils) have stopped to buy the srilankan products. Do you know one thing we are earning your money from the camp to take the people out of the camp. this is our defence secretary tactics.But channel 4 did not know that, but For other reasons we expelled the channel 4 journalists from the country.
How come ICRC, UNHCR, IOM, Save the Children and numerous other foreign aid agencies inside these camps have not reported these???
Thank you channel 4. Sinhala chauvanist always reduce the freedom struggle as a terrorist issue. Tamils want homeland back, nothing else.
One day we can go back home and develope our tamil country.
The Rajapaksa brothers are trying to cover up the truth, because they are afraid of war crime charges that could be brought against them.
It is a well-known fact that the SL Govt is one of the worst violators of human rights in the world. It is on par with Burma, North Korea and Sudan.
I think respectable international media organisations should report what is really going in the country even if there is a risk that they will be removed from the country. In the end, Sri-Lanka will have media organisations only from Burma, North Korea and Sudan with black and white cameras to cover the comedy in Colombo!
Well, the problem with British media and the British politicians is that they are too stupid to understand the differences (ie: standard of living etc) between so called developed countries and developing countries like Sri Lanka. The facilities provided at internment camps are quite similar to standard of living in a village in Sri Lanka. Therefore, before pointing your finger at the Sri Lankan government, who is doing a pretty good job, under the circumstances, please provide your staff with basic information about the country situation so that they can assess the situation of internment camps according to the country’s average standards, not 5* hotel standards or London Chelsea standards.
Thank you so much Nick and the channel 4 team for bringing the true story about our people from the detention camp. We tamils owe you. I can see here only few tamils made comment but all over the world where tamils live, they are talking they are writting (tamil media) that Channel 4 did a great job.
There is a God. I believe in him very much. You people (SLG) gives worst time ever to our people. You will be punished very soon.
I would like to Thank Channel 4 for telling the world what is really happening in these concentration camps. For Tamils who were living in the north and east of Sri Lanka since 1983, this is nothing new. We experienced these kind of treatments at the hands of sri Lankan Sinhala police and soldiers for a long time. However, the government has managed to convince the UN and other visiting western govt representatives that these detainees (not refugees) have been looked after well. The question is “how are these detainees looked after (or ill treated) once these VIPs have left these camps”. I must say I don’t love LTTE. But we had reasons to take up arms. It was the sinhalese (especially the sinhalese politicians) who forced us to take up arms. We had so many chances since 1959 to piecefully resolve this issue. But it was the sinhalese who decided that we, the Tamils, didn’t have any equal rights in a united country. That is why we took up arms for a separate state. Although I don’t agree with LTTE with their way of struggle, I strongly believe that what is happening at the moment is genocide, and war crimes by the Sri Lankan government by killing innocent tamils using shelling and bombing. I thought the new US president was going to help us, but it looks only god can help us.
Time for the Truth to come out. This is why the SL government don’t won’t independent media in the country. This is the Camp they show IC, imagine the camps they don’t show to anyone.
First of all thank you very much for bringing the real situation of Tamil people in the so called relief camps. The Tamils in SL actually need a permanent liberation from the sinhala fascist government that categorically doing Genocide for last 61 years. The world community should act now without any delay to stop a complete wipe out of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers has originated due to continuous discrimination and suppression on Tamil community by sinhala governments. They are the strengths and safe guards of Tamils.
FREE CHANNEL 4 JOURNALIST NOW
We must act now to save the Channel 4 journalist. Sri Lankan is doing this to hide the truth. They don’t want the truth exposed to the world. I want channel 4 to listen to what the Tamil people say because 1000s of innocent people are dying and the Sri lankan government is using chemical weapons to eliminate the tamil population.
In 1948 Tamils had all the rights. Even to become the President of the country. Then on Rules changed. Now you have to be Sinhalese Bhudist to become President. Sinhalese became the only national language, bhudist became the only national religion, so you must speak sinhalese to get any jobs. Police in your own city don’t even speak your languge. Is that democratic?
this is a good and best thing a media must to be free and true.thank you very much for your to bring our silince dieing to the world wich is responssible for it.please do it again and again.
Thank you channel4. This is what we the tamil sand the LTTE have been saying all this time. We need to stop this genocide of tamils. The majority of the singhalese support this. Read all their comments. I really don’t know such racist country like Sri Lanka. How can tamils live with this kind of racism? The only terrorism that is happening is state terrorism. Tamil tigers are freedom fighters.
Why Sri Lanka not allowing the MEDIA insid the war zone? of course there are many things to Hide. But for Tamils there is nothing to hide . Truth will win.
I feel pitty for people who still cry that the LTTE is Terrorist , we all tamils are supporting them and LTTE is our sole representative , not someone like Karuna and other traitors. We will win Eelam , you all wait and see .
It appears that many forget that -
1. War zones are Hell on Earth.It is essential therefore that those who advocate war as a solution and their near and far supporters review the conditions the trauma and human misery that past wars inflict on all involved. A few moments viewing footage of London, Berlin, Dresden and Hiroshima in WW2 and N.Vietrnam, Cambodia and Laos in the more recent past makes for compulsory viewing for those unaware of what a military conflict unleashes.
Yet if your belief remains that the horror that will surely unfold justifies the objective then fight you will rightly or wrongly as did the Allies in WW2 and the US in Vietnam and the Coalition in Iraq and as did the LTTE and their supporters.
2. In WW2 the victorious Allied forces bombed whole cities to rubble to minimise harm to thier own forces. In Vietnam a hundred thousand civilians were reported killed in ONE campaign of carpet bombing. Albeit in Sri Lanka the ‘enemy’ are its own sons and daughters who have no hesitation in terrorising their own brothers and sisters. By all accounts the Sri Lankan forces appear to have conducted a campaign which gave a much higher priority to the avoidance of civilian casualties than did any of the ‘developed’ nations that fought those wars of the past.
3. Refugee camps are a result of war. Life in such camps especially run by Governments with very limited resources may be far from satisfactory. But to those who now howl at these conditions please refer to point 1 above.
4. As much as there may be 200,000 tamils now subject to more than miserable conditons there are millions of other Tamils and Sinhalese and others who see current events as promising a better tomorrow.
5. There is much sympathy and support in Sri Lanka for all of those Tamils caught up in this tragedy and many are working to assist. With the exception of those of the highest rank there is I believe an offer of amnesty and reintegration into society; to all LTTE fighters. The Sinhalese, the Muslims, the Tamils, the Burghers, teh Malays all suffered terribly from the decision of the LTTE. Yet all just want to bury the past and move on.
Those of you who do not ( and it seems many are no longer even citizens of Sri Lanka) had better re read point 1 above.
6. As for the furture we hope that the present and future Governments of Sri Lanka will take serious note of the views of leaders of the Tamils and as far as is possible incorporate policies and procedures to address their frustrations.
We can best serve Sri Lanka by encouraging inclusivity and understanding – including persuading those amongst us who find this to be difficult, to accept the sometimes less than perfect situation of being a minority ethnic group. Many the world over tolerate lesser freedoms and some enjoy considerably more. However dialogue and discussion can be the only tools unless you wish to continue the misery of war. If however you do, then stand tall and accept resposibility for all the horror and tragedy which you unleash – refugee camps included. Certainly any abuses by armed forces personnel must be investigated and dealt with by the SL Army. But the abuses and exceeses of some must not condem all.
7. As for the media – too often have I seen ( especially from TV producers) a ‘hit and run’ type reporting which seeks to selective denigrate rather than provide context. This results in a distorted view often being provided within a thirty minute segemnt. The objective too often is to take sides ( determine who the under dog is and take pot shots at the other.) Many viewers see through this and sadly accept this deterioration in reporting standards ( what else can we do?). However mostly developing nations still take the media seriously and give it a status which is fast being lost in their own ‘developed’ home nations. The result is dispropotionate actions and counter reactions. The recent reported expultions of Channel 4 reporters from Sri Lanka is probably an example.
Abuses in refugee camps if that is the case is not a invention of the Sri Lankans.
It must be reported but do so in the wider context of what has been achieved and the many positives that deserve equal reporting. The not universal but sadly too often sensation seeking news reporting diminishes all of us and is an abuse of the freedom of reporting which we all so cherish.
I find their is some truth in the Channel 4 news. If the SL Government could their is only 300 LTTE left in the area which needs to be liberated by the SL Troops we dont see any reason to use heavy weapons. However to clear this 300 Artilary and Multi barrael usage are made and many are killed. Why is that. Why dont they let UN moniters to see if these heavy guns are being used by either side.
Are they going to kill 15,000 as what the government says or 50,000 as what the UN says to capture the 300 or less LTTE?
As sudarmen says where is fredom in non LTTE area ? Hindu temple festival stopped due to Vesak last week down south. Many Journalist are either killed or chased away. Why all these if their is nothing to hide ?
At least now the international community will realise that Srilankan government mostly if not always lies.
There is a network of its agents who only work is to discredit such investigations. They work for pay.
Truths are coming out of the country. Though the reporter has been expelled from the country today morning. Cos the report was taken independently. This is what happining in Sri Lanka. Government doesnt want freedom reporters to report their genocide against tamils.
United Nations, Amnesty International, Super Powers, Western World………
Please hear the cries of the innocent Tamils in S/L…….., we urge you to intervene and invoke an immediate cease fire. Please act now, before it is too late.
If the over night shelling, missile attack and bombing in S/L occurred killing almost 3,000 innocent tamil people (mostly women and children) who were sleeping in the “so called protected area” and “promised protection by the S/L government” what more evidence do you need??
Act now before it s too late and this Genocide continues where by the entire tamil population in S/L is wiped out (also the number of Tamils arrested in Colombo and other parts under so called “suspicion” has risen over night).
If this was a true democratic government why is there no freedom of press or speech practiced??. Why is the international media being arrested for trying to portray the true picture??, what does the S/L government have to hide??.
By you not stepping in, think, what kind of message this sends out to dictatorship like the current president of S/L. No doubt this would encourage such dictatorship to rise around the world. We certainly don’t want another Hitler.
Rajapassa and team is trying to rap up this ethnic cleansing only to start a religious cleansing shortly.
Anyone will not allow to bring truth from Sri Lanka to the World. That is the way Genocide of Tamils without witness by Sinhala State. Then who will protect Sri Lankan Tamils??
Thank you very much for channel 4.
Iam really glad that channel 4 come forward to speak out the real problem of Tamils.
Sri Lankan Government does not like anyone reporting from their country. This is not hidden their own Sunday Times editor was killed so there isno need to say anything further about the coverup from the government. I THANK Nick for a true Journalism. Today we expected this as Nick is banned from entering Sri Lanka. This only showns the frustration on the government as the TRUTH comes out slowly as Tamils are slaughtered in hundred. Today as many as 1000 are feared dead. These souls will not let the Singhalese rest in peace.
This report is a joke. Channel 4 News should know better than to spread the propaganda of a brutal terrorist organisation. The only thing shown here is how the reporters from Channel 4 News have been fooled by LTTE supporters in the camps. The actual pictures of the camps show perfectly healthy looking refugees walking around freely in relatively good conditions. Where are the starving, malnourished people and dead bodies lying around???
Thank You Channel4 and all staff involved in producing this video. More of the Sri Lanka/Sinhala Army atrocities are exposed at this website:
http://sites.google.com/site/helpsavetamils
Nick and his team have been very courageous in exposing the bestial behaviour of the people running these camps. Our thanks to Nick and his team for their tremendous journalistic skill and daring. God bless them!
C4 is entitled to show news as they editorially feel they must. Discerning viewers fortunately are able to balance what they see with other sources of the same news. UK paliamentarians have seen at first hand the conditions in Vauniya camps, and spoken to people in those camps, and appear to be satisfied with the conditions in them with certain reservations, like shortge of water, poor sanitary conditions. Iraq, by the way, was worse after British/US bombing and continue to be so even at present. C4 video, and how it came to be put together, is well documented in a special feature published in the Indian Express – C4 should read that feature to remind themselves about the origins of their journalistic travesty. Perhaps C4 only reads journals like NYT, Fighting terorism is an awesome task; not for the faint hearted. SL government need all the external support it can get to rid itself of Tamil Togers a terrorist outfit hell-bent on trying to achieve an unrealistic goal of a State within a State. What SL government can do without is ill.thought out journalistic muck without any regard to proper journalistic ethics and editorial integrity. Shame on you C4!
If the Sri Lankan High Commissioner is really concerned about the plight of those living in internment camps and has any real interest in discovering the truth then perhaps he might consider using his influence to send in an independent person to collect anonyomised interview data from those in the camps to verify what is really happening.
Nice try by channel 4. They want to tell LTTE is not a terrorist group. They did not shoot any civiliance. Only SLGov Army doing all the harresment. Army killing civiliance. Thats why 100,000 people came to SLGov control area? Anyway im not wondering. Not only you , so many countries , groups making misunderstanding about SL Gov. They are getting money from LTTE.
UK wants to continue this war in srilanka. They can make so much money from that. same thing happening in Afganistan & Iraq. Western countries fully responsibles for all civilian deaths. You are sleeping peacefully & making others suffer. Oneday UK will get same terrorist attack as USA had. That day you will tell “we will destroy terrorist’ but you are too late..!!
Im so sad to tell , we thought in UK living only Gentlemans. But we can see somany fox are living that country including MPs. We ( Asians ) are no more respect to England..!!
Finally Mark Twain once say “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”
So let lie to travel…. we are waiting for truth….!!!
Thank You Nick Paton Walsh for the good work you completed in Sri Lanka. What happened to your crew happened to other Sri lankan journalists. No one can talk against them. Please continue your projects in Sri Lanka and bring the truth to the world. Your pen can save innocent tamils.
• The man who says he is an aid worker cannot be an aid worker as only UN and ICRC work in the country. His claim is too seek credibility to his statement, but being an aid worker he should come out in the open so that the government can carry out investigations and bring any criminals to justice. If he is certain about his statements by coming out in the open with Channel4 news would certainly protect him and the government will have to carry out investigation in order to protect its image.
• The alleged aid worker says that he saw the dead bodies and says people don’t know who to complain to, but as an aid worker he is responsible to inform a colleague, the camp officer in charge or army officer as soon as he discovered rather than informing Channel4.
• The aid worker continues to say that we don’t know who is alive and who is dead, but the footage shows that people are alive and well. Furthermore, UK FS Mr Miliband visited the camp earlier and was happy about the conditions.
• The alleged aid worker’s statement ‘government’s only objective is to eradicate people from the areas that Tamil tigers control’ firmly shows his support for LTTE.
• The unidentified female in the footage says that women have to be bathed in the open, but that is the way all women in Sri Lanka who use wells, rivers and streams bath noting that they cover themselves appropriately. Again, without witnesses coming out in the open GoSL cannot investigate and bring the criminals to justice. In fact, withholding evidence or bringing unfounded allegations is also illegal.
• If the LTTE can kill innocent civilians for their protection there is always the counter argument that the whole storey can be LTTE staged propaganda to disrepute GoSL forces unless they come forward with evidence in a court of law.
• Channel 4 team admits that they illegally entered the camp with the help of insiders. Channel4 team is only interested in running a storey for 800,000 Tamil Diaspora thereby gaining their viewer ratings, but does not take care from LTTE propagandists who can cause more delays to the progress of the resolution of this conflict prolonging the civilian suffering and thereby delaying the political solution and development of the north and northeast of the country. GoSL decision to oust Channel4 is a good example to the rest of the world and this shows that some of the media like Channels4 is there for only making a drama out of a crisis.
I make your statement short in one sentence. You are bribed. I know you are upset to see the reality. The world knows about the Genocide my friend. Why don’t ask your neighbors (non Sri Lankans) what they know about this crisis ?
Would love to speak to Nick Paton Walsh upon his return to discuss my experience in Trincomalee and surrounding areas in Summer 2006 were I visited a NGO friend of mine working for Medicos del Mundo, Spain…before they were expelled and black-listed. The ignorance and complacency with which the Intl Community deals with this contrats directly with its reaction in Darfur. We are all complicit in our silence as were many International NGOs in 2006-7!
Ed, Lecturer, European Business School, London
This is not the only appalling atrocious thing happening to the innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. It is feared that more than 2000 civilians have been killed just overnight (10/5/09) by Mahinda Rajapakse and his ecstatic team. So far, 1200 bodies have been counted and many more seriously injured. How many more are going to get brutally killed by the government??? What else is needed as evidence to say this is a horrific genocide against Tamils? The Sri Lankan government (as they are called), have used banned weapons such as chemicals. Are Tamils really terrorists when the governemnt themselves are using illegal weapons? It is true that so many people are starving and other sad and discriminate things are happening to the civilians (Channel 4 has also shown this). There must be a very obvious reason why journalists and reporters are not allowed in the area- the government will be caught. Even Des Browne (Britain’s Envoy to Sri Lanka) and other people were not allowed to go to Sri Lanka- maybe again because the government would get caught. And, even when David Miliband went to Sri Lanka, he would not have seen the whole disaster that was happening to the civilians.
Please visit http://www.tamilnet.com for more information.
All lies.The Tamils who live in Sri Lanka specialy north badly in need of the end of LTTE. But foriegn Tamils need to continue the war. Because the depend on this ugly war.
You are a Sinhalese immitating as Tamils. This is what you all Sinhala extremists do. First be come with clean your self and don’t lie your name. I love true sinhalese. Let them speak.Give them freedom first. Just tell me where is Lasantha, Iqbal Aathas, Thisanajagam?
I live in foreign country and do not live on this ugly war….blood of my own people??
I just want this war stopped!!! same as UN, EU, USA and all Tamil Diaspora.
Do you understand my friend??
All people killed in north, 10,000 are my own blood and my roots are there all the times.
Great work channel 4 news !!!
Sunday Times editor was killed? when? speak facts, not lies. You people who have not even seen a real picture of SL are speaking of things that you are dreaming of.
The Channel 4 journalists should not have been sent out of the country. They should have been detained and taken to the courts with charge of supporting the worlds deadliest terrorsit outfit and creating false reports about our country. Visist http://www.defence.lk to get the true information about what is happening in Sri Lanka.
Well you, the covered person under the name of Irasiah Ilanthirayan, same as barbaric genocidal group covered the name of democratically elected responsible government.
If you take channel-4 to the court for expressing their findings, they have to release all evidence and SLA don’t want’t this happening..do they?
first of all thanks for Nick Paton Walsh and his team…..!!!!
There is even more things happening out
there and those have to be brought out to the world .
even you can see some ppl are saying that they can see nothing in this video so think about those who write and the way they think. and they.feel!!!!…!
The situation in Northern Sri-Lanka gets worse, people are suffering and the Government and the LTTE must now put egos aside and end this. The LTTE must surrender and give up their terrorist struggle. It is sad to see moderate SL Tamils supporting the LTTE, a totally misguided, chauvinistic organisation that is a disgrace. Not that i have faith in the incompetent leadership of the SL Government. Too many egos, and not enough common sense or brains to sort the real problems facing our communities- across Tamil, Sinhala and Burgher. Let us Lets us not forget the words of Kadirgamar who said “people who live in Sri Lanka are first and foremost Sri Lankans, then we have our race and religion, which is something given to us at birth, we have to live in Sri Lanka as Sri Lankans tolerating all races and religion”.
Together we must condemn terrorism, intolerance, discrimination and work together for a more inclusive Sri-Lanka. Many of us, even second generation Sri-Lankans love Sri-Lanka. We dont want our home land divided, seperated or at war- dividing communities. Together we are Sri-Lanka. Politicians and leaders grow up and do some positive!
What is interesting is that the more the Tamil Tigers are losing the worse the treatment of tamils becomes?
As the LTTE are down to their last 300 fighters there are over a quarter of a million tamils in ‘welfare’ camps being starved, tortured, raped and murdered.
Hmmm .. one wonders why the tamils like the ltte?
http://www.genocide.org.uk/genocide/
this site is written by a singala person about the torture suffered since 1983 by tamils.
Please read this before the SL tamils are completely wipeout.
— Tamillan
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090510_09
this is from the SLGovnt website.
PLEASE READ THIS. their report on Nick Paton.
This is what the Govt. made out of Nick’s report.
I have yet to seen the report…But, I am glad that the world will be able to see the report on Sri Lanka camps via online viewing….
Thanks for the reportage on C4 part on reporting the ongoing situation in Sri Lanka….
Dear Nick Paton Walsh and Channel 4,
As you may have seen already most of Srilankan majority who democratically elected Rajapaksa & bro Government to come of 2002 ceasefire agreement with LTTE and restart bloody ethnic war, are openly blaming Nick Paton Walsh.
And who were happy with 2002 ceasefire and wanted political negotiation for this ethnic conflict supports Nick Paton Walsh’s first independent report of suffering of “rescued” people in the hand of Rajapaksa & bro’s Army who claim themselves as human-right protectors.
Many majority singhalees agree on this report when on recalling own suffering in streets of south during 1989 in the hands of same Army.
Thank you very much for doing your job as journalists and I appreciate your hard work on all the war-zones you worked in the past.
As you and the world know, someone who have blood in their hand has to hide it.
Well done Nick Paton Walsh and GOD MAY BLESS YOU my brother!
This is not an objective reporting. Seems like tit-for-tat reaction for deporting you from the country! Sri Lankans are a proud and intelligent bunch as such you should not treat the govt as if you are dealing with Mugabe. Sri Lankans can play your own game and win too! Same can be said about the tigers. They too are Sri Lankans after all and are intelligent enough to take you for a ride which they have successfully done for decades.
Mr. Nick have you ever reportd about the Bus Bombs, Trains etc…. wher ver u then?, anyway jus leave our country coz what your goverments have done to the world of terrorism is enough so dont put those innsoent lifes for your monthly pay cheqe , so Mr. Nick we Love our President, we are with him and also let us End this LTTE Terrorism and talk about the Developments
Yes MR.Alli, you are correct. Sri Lanka needs developments, as we as you about your knowledge.
750,000 Tamils live overseas because of this crisis, and they have been spilted fromt thier family members. This information may be your President knows but you don’t my frined.
NICK WE WON AND YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT LOST OH AND NOT FORGETTING YOUR FRIENDS LTTE………TALK TO OBAMA AND BROWN AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO SAVE THE LTTE AND GRIEVE FOR THE DEAD TERRORISTS…..HAIL MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHA AND HIS HERO’S, BET ALL THESE WORLD LEADERS WILL COME TO SRILANKA SOON TO LEARN FROM US HOW TO ELIMINATE TERRORISTS! SEE WE WON WITHOUT USA AND UK’S HELP….LOTS TO LEARN FOR YOU GUYS…..AND DONT FORGET YOU PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE KILLED THE MOST NUMBER OF CIVILLIANS SO DONT TRY TO TEACH US……
I have watched this video with an open mind. I am not commenting as a person gloating over the victory against terrorism. I do not condone any atrocities to any Sri Lankan.
I do not see any alleged rape victims or dead bathers. I see an unknown cameraman filming an inside of a camp. What I do hear is the un-supported claims of a Channel 4 reporter whose reporting ability is questionable and unsubstantiated.
It is therefore my view that the western media is digging for refuse but finding no substance. If they put half this effort to other trouble spots around the globe where their armies are actually committing these alleged crimes, I would then pay some credence to these reports however unsubstantiated they may be. It leaves me with the question as to why the western media is so blatantly anti-Sri Lanka? Why don’t they put their money and organizational skills where their mouth is and help this struggling country and its’ people? Have they some ulterior motive? Are they on the payroll of the now defunct but cash rich LTTE?
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