cricketworldcup,  Sun Apr  1 22:23:22 EDT 2007

    Sri Lanka on Sunday accused the London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) of trying to tarnish the island nation's image during the World Cup tournament currently underway in the Caribbean.

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- The Academic

this is ridiculous and over acting from this AI- white tigers.,
let sports conducted away from politics and this AI .. should keep away from sports on god's sake.

Hope this will make SL team more stronger like they was humilated in 95 in Aus and came back strongly to win WC 96.


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Wannilage Gomarie
Dambana
Sri Lanka

Lets not get carried away with unsophisticated response such as calling HRW "white Tigers". Instead, the govt should request HRW to give an example from the history of the world, where when an insurgency of a similar scale was thrust upon a state, the state somehow managed to quell the insurgency without incurring HR violations. Until they find such a fine example for govt to follow, they should really put the blame on the LTTE aggressor whose actions result in all HR violations related to the conflict.


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Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth. - Albert Einstein

Quote:

Sri Lanka on Sunday accused the London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) of trying to tarnish the island nation's image

What is there to tarnish ?

If the match venues are being used to carry out the AI campaign, SL cricket authorities can request the WC organisers to stop it, because match venues cannot be used for political purposes.

If the campaign is carried out outside match venues, there is hardly any action that the GOSL or the Cup organisers can take to prevent it.

In the late 80s, MR himself used HR organisations to highlight human rights abuses by the GOSL at the time. The JVP leader himself sought, and received, refuge in a foreign country from persecution by the GOSL.

Neither of these two nationalist and patriotic leaders cared two hoots about Sri Lanka's good name at the time. So, why should the AI care?


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"I do not suffer from Autism, but I do suffer from the way you treat me." -Tyler Durdin

Hammer wrote:

Quote:

Sri Lanka on Sunday accused the London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) of trying to tarnish the island nation's image

What is there to tarnish ?

Simply said The Island nation's image. and it is ...

Are you a part of AI (Artificial Intelligence not human intelligence).

Sri Lanka has already a badly tarnished image. What is is the connection between the world cup and Sri Lankan image ?.  Absolutely nothing. You immprove your image by conducting yourself  in public and private life in a civilized manner with respect for the rule of law and the basic civil and human rights of others and an incorruptible government and not by bowling a hatrick or a quck century against the West Indians.

It is Mahinda and his kith & kin who are tarnishing the image of Sri Lanka, and not the HRW or the AI. Didn't Mahinda himself go round the world 'tarnishing' the image of Sri Lanka when human rights violations were committed by the Premadasa regime? However, I admire the Sri Lankan cricketers for doing their best to uplift Sri Lanka in spite of Mahinda and his cabal's efforts to turn Sri Lanka into a killing field!

Kolama


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bahubhuta

to---->Kolama,

you are behaving very much according to your nickname in comparing MR with RP as these 2 regimes are worlds apart in
HR as during RP tenure, ppl were killed like cats and dogs.

With a fight against the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world, IMO, MR batting good in his wicket and hopefully he can solve this terrorism in 2-3 years time.


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Wannilage Gomarie
Dambana
Sri Lanka

AMICUS wrote:

Sri Lanka has already a badly tarnished image. What is is the connection between the world cup and Sri Lankan image ?.  Absolutely nothing. You immprove your image by conducting yourself  in public and private life in a civilized manner with respect for the rule of law and the basic civil and human rights of others and an incorruptible government and not by bowling a hatrick or a quck century against the West Indians.

It is the 'modus operandi' of organizations like AI.  This is their marketing strategy.  So, if you want to high light SL's Human right Record, you have to find a PLACE where Sri Lankans and other Cricket fans (to get their signatures) gather. AI uses open markets, exhibitions, to high light human right violation of Governments and this is not peculiar to target SL. Cricket venues have been used to humiliate Sri Lanka even before. Remember the World Cup played in UK?  There, LTTE supporters hired a light Aircraft and displayed a banner.  This Aircraft made few rounds over the ground while SL was playing and later it was stopped and even the British authorities apologised.

In this case, SL can make a complaint to the tournament organizing body.  This is a free world and it is up to the fans to refuse signing these documents if they feel this is a nuisance.  After all, folks came to see Cricket!

The Academic wrote:

cricketworldcup,  Sun Apr  1 22:23:22 EDT 2007

    Sri Lanka on Sunday accused the London-based human rights watchdog Amnesty International (AI) of trying to tarnish the island nation's image during the World Cup tournament currently underway in the Caribbean.

Government owns both the Cricket and its share of HR violations.  
Cricket is not an independent body of the government.  When the SLG officials is watching cricket live in the Caribbeans using public money, AI should have the banners hanging on their faces.

As far as AI is concerned, it is a fair game.  

We love AI when they speak against LTTE and hate when they are against the government.  The fact of the matter is the government has its share of sins in Sri Lanka.  

We can't seek the glory when we have dirty laundry in the closet.

No one has to tarnish the image in SL unfortunately.


I read following statement from Sunday Observer:

"Though they show that they are protecting human rights, it?s the very same organization that has violated the human rights of Sri Lanka cricketers and its supporters."

I don't believe the HR of Sri Lanka's supporters and cricketers have been violated.  AI is using somewhat cheap
and low-class tactics and that could get backfired within the international community.  

Sri Lankans should be educated on HR.  Cricket shouldn't be a distraction to everything wrong happening around us.
We live in the real not the fantasy world created by the world wide attention.


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"What is left when honor is lost?"

The cricket fans who are at the game now have a responsibility.  Their voice can be very powerful against AI.
I'd say go to AI guys and say to their faces butt-off.  Find the appropriate avenue to send the message.

They can have their own publicity stunt asking to keep sports separate from politics, if the minds aren't influenced by booze.


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"What is left when honor is lost?"

I think MR is tarnishing our cricketing image as the the best gentleman cricketers in the game today.

Mahinda was a human right activist during Prema time and worshipped AI during that time. MR went on walking (pada yathra from Colombo to south) against human right abuses.

Now clock has turned 180 degrees and MR is at recieving end.
white vans without number plates, remanding of journalist etc... Mahinda have a lot of explanation do. MR don't hide behind cricketers you come out the hole you dig in....

I think this government is a close second to the Premadasa government in terms of human rights violations. By saying so I am sure I am going to be branded a terrorist and a traitor. But in my books, true patriotisms does not mean that we embrace everything that government does but it requires that we question and criticize the government when appropriate so that the rights and liberties of all its citizens are safeguarded. With this government neither are the sinhalese or tamils safe. If the government feels that it has an impeccable human rights record, it should provide Amnesty and similar groups access to the country so that they can endorse this record. However, the cagey response of the government clearly shows that it has something to hide.

Yes, we musn't let AI tarnish the image of the " killing fields ". Must be traitors, no ?