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An Open Letter to the US Ambassadorby Prof. Aaron Rajah, San Diego, California
Dear Mr. Blake, I am once again writing to you regarding your one-sided view of the killing of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. I reviewed your recent statement on the killing of civilians. It is clear that the only time you come out with condemnation is when civilians from the island's majority population who control the government, the Sinhalese, are killed. In your latest statement on January 9, 2007, you claimed, “Attacks that deliberately target civilians are clear acts of terrorism. The United States extends its deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.” It was sad that not a single condemnation was made concerning the recent Air Force bombings of civilian targets in Mannar on January 5, 2007 in which innocent children and their parents lost their lives. Your representation of the American people’s value of life is tarnished when you take sides over the deaths of civilians in this part of the world. While death does not discriminate, you have decided to discriminate death itself. In your statement you continue: “We reiterate that there can be no military solution to this conflict. 25 years of terrorism has not improved the lives of the Tamil people. Similarly, the on going violence in Vakarai has caused significant hardship for Sri Lankans living in that area. The solution in our view lies in a negotiated settlement that meets the aspirations of all of Sri Lanka’s communities – Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim. The current APRC process and the SLFP-UNP agreement to cooperate on the peace process mark a significant opportunity to develop a power sharing proposal that can form the basis for renewed peace talks.”
All in all, it is about time American actions reflect your political statements. Platitudes alone will not resolve a conflict of more than 25 years. Help the starving Tamils in Vakari. Demand that all civilian killings be stopped; yes, Tamils do live in Sri Lanka, too. Sincerely,
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