alertnet.org,  Fri Mar 17 20:55:01 EST 2006

    (LTTE) to obtain funds from Tamils in the West. The extortion activities described in our report are being carried out by a small number of individuals claiming to represent the LTTE or groups linked to the LTTE, including the World Tamil Movement. While a large number of Tamils are subjected to demands for money, we do not suggest that significant numbers of Tamils are engaging in extortion or other unlawful activity. We also note that many Tamils actively and willingly support the LTTE.
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- The Academic

It seems now HRW is backing off from their sensational report of wide spread intimidation.  Yes, many Tamils give willingly because they see no alternative because of the failure of the Sinhalese to recognize Tamils rights.  HRW identified people through (anti LTTE?) journalists to investigate.  Of course always there is a group who complain, but to elevate that to a level of pandemic is dishonest on the side of HRW.  It is no secret that LTTE or its reps are collecting money.  How can it be a secret when they solicit money from thousands of people!

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Human Rights Watch investigations are based on qualitative rather than quantitative research.

This is very low class of reporting without proportionality, perspective and not asertening the veracity of statements as many people have axes to grind with vested interests were also involved.  Irrespective about the real or aparent levels of violations or abuses, HRW loses it's credibility by employing these kinds of poor and substandard reporting methodology.


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They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin

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It seems now HRW is backing off from their sensational report of wide spread intimidation.

HRW is not backing off from anything and it is only the profoundly dishonest who can even pretend to see that in the reports.

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as many people have axes to grind with vested interests were also involved

I'd have an axe to grind if I was told that my family would be in danger if I didn't cough up the money.

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HRW loses it's credibility by employing these kinds of poor and substandard reporting methodology.

Yea, how dare they write anything without checking with Taminet first.

Stephen Jones wrote:

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HRW loses it's credibility by employing these kinds of poor and substandard reporting methodology.

Yea, how dare they write anything without checking with Taminet first.

Refrain from obtuse comments.  The standard of reporting needed is applicable to evey body that is the real issue I addressed.


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They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety - Benjamin Franklin

Dear Mr. Stephen Jones

Diplomat wrote:

Stephen Jones wrote:

Yea, how dare they write anything without checking with Taminet first.

Refrain from obtuse comments.  The standard of reporting needed is applicable to evey body that is the real issue I addressed.

I'm afraid that Diplomat brilliantly saw through your weak attempt to identify with our cause.  Any self-respecting LTTE groveler like myself knows that Tamilnet is washed up and that the best source of timely news for the lickspittle community is www.nitharsanam.com.  Where else will you find photographs of traitors shot dead on the road for us to celebrate.  Diplomat and I were aggrieved that HRW did not adhere to this standard of reporting.  I would build on his erudite comments by making the following policy recommendation:

HRW and other "human rights" organizations should acknowledge extortion as a very valued and integral part of certain cultures in the world.  Condemning things like extortion and recruiting children as soldiers is basically imposing your "Western" beliefs upon us, even though we live in Western countries and happen to benefit from liberal democracy.  It is no different from the very unfair condemnation of female genital mutilation in Africa which is a very beautiful practice and should be celebrated.  HRW is being no different from those mischievous "human rights" groups which made an annecessary issue out of the torture at Abu Ghraib.  Instead of condemnation, bringing back these forgotten Western traditions should be praised.


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If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.- Abraham Maslow

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The standard of reporting needed is applicable to evey body

And as Taraki points out www.nitharsanam.com follows this strictly. It has interviewed all the corpses and not one of them complained of LTTE violence.

The collectors indicated they were either from the LTTE, World Tamil Movement or the British Tamil Association. These organisations are all fronts for the LTTE. The following reasons are being given for collection of funds -

- Tamil families and business owners were told that the LTTE had a plan for driving out all Sri Lankan army forces from the North and East within two months, and that within that period the war would be over.
- Others were told that the LTTE was preparing to declare “Tamil Eelam” (i.e. independence) and needed to build its treasury.
- Some members of the community were also told that the funds were needed to gain United Nations (U.N.) recognition of Tamil Eelam, and that the U.N. would subsequently provide funds to the new Tamil state.

http://hrw.org/reports/2006/ltte0306/5.htm#_Toc127961775

I just cant believe the Tamil Diaspora are stupid enough to buy this fluff.  

When TLA first reported about aggressive fund raising by LTTE in Uk and Canada, LTTE waterboys here in the net cried out loud questioning the report (saying fake report!)
Now that HRW is putting out the report they are retreating.
http://theacademic.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1486


Boys. Your days are coming to an end. Jump off the sinking ship!!!