THE government has launched a propaganda blitzkrieg against some foreign-backed elements accused of masquerading as human rights activists to promote a war crimes probe against this country. Regrettably, it has done precious little to improve its human rights record…. When club-wielding ruling party goons enjoy unbridled freedom to operate alongside the riot police to attack opposition demonstrations; those who torch media institutions and assault or kill journalists go scot-free with investigations into their crimes effectively hushed up; no action is taken against ministers accused by their own party men-cum-local government representatives of thuggery, extortion and land grabbing; and the government arrogantly abuses its parliamentary majority to pass laws according to its whims and fancies, it is only natural Sri Lanka’s image is tarnished internationally.

The government must, no doubt, be defended against sinister efforts by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rump in various guises striving to avenge the killing of [LTTE founder] Prabhakaran and keep its separatist cause alive. The war that crushed LTTE terrorism has benefited all Sri Lankans regardless of their ethnicity, religion or other manmade differences…. Overall, what the government has accomplished since the conclusion of the war in May 2009 is no mean achievement … But, there is no way the government could go on using the bogey of external conspiracies to justify its failure/refusal to investigate and prevent blatant human rights violations. The only way it could defeat the efforts by the pro-LTTE groups and their local agents to exploit the human rights situation in Sri Lanka to give a turbo boost to their war-crimes witch hunt is to protect human rights and restore the rule of law. The government’s patriotic outpourings may help it pull the wool over the eyes of some Sri Lankans who faithfully vote for it regardless of its human rights track record, but they are of no use in improving its image internationally. — (Jan 29)