Lanka’s ambassadors clarify fact from fiction:
INGO attempt to mislead UN gathering foiled
Sri Lankan diplomats yesterday foiled an attempt by International Non
Governmental Organizations to mislead a gathering at UN Church Centre by
screening the documentary titled ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’.
They convinced the gathering of the inconsistencies and the biased
narration of the documentary.
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Major
General
Shavendra Silva |
Dr.
Palitha
Kohona |
The screening of this documentary at UN Church Centre was sponsored
by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International
Crisis Group who claimed that the documentary reinforces the findings of
the Controversial Darusman Report. Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative
to the UN Dr. Palitha Kohona and Deputy Permanent Representative Major
General Shavendra Silva proved that the Channel 4 video fiasco is a
well-planned ploy to tarnish a country which succeeded in eradicating a
deadly terrorist organization which held thousands of innocent civilians
hostage.
Though Ambassador Major General Shavendra Silva accompanied
Ambassador Kohona to the screening, he was not invited by Amnesty
International. Perhaps due to the fact that the Deputy Permanent
Representative, Ambassador Silva, is the only person who witnessed first
hand what transpired during the final stages of the conflict.
The documentary “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” was screened at the UN
Church Centre yesterday. The event was sponsored by Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch and The International Crisis Group,
who claimed that the documentary reinforces the findings of the Darusman
Report.
During the opening statements, Amnesty International stated that the
documentary presented “very strong evidence of war crimes” and that
there was a “consistent pattern of human rights violations within the
Sri Lankan forces.” Human Rights Watch also alleges that this
documentary proves that war crimes were committed and that “the Sri
Lanka government cannot be relied upon for justice”. The purpose of this
screening, they claimed was to urge the international community to
conduct independent investigations.
All of the above accusations as well as the credibility of the
Channel 4 documentary was scrutinized by Sri Lanka’s Permanent
Representative to the UN, Dr. Palitha Kohona and Deputy Permanent
Representative, Ambassador Major General Shavendra Silva, who were given
the opportunity to respond to the documentary. Though Ambassador Major
General Shavenrda Silva accompanied Ambassador Dr. Kohona to the
screening, he was not extended an invitation by Amnesty International.
Perhaps due to the fact that the Deputy Permanent Representative,
Ambassador Silva, is the only person who witnessed firsthand what
transpired during the final stages of the conflict.
The inconsistencies as well as the biased narration of the
documentary were immediately brought to the audience’s attention by the
Ambassador Shavendra Silva. Proclamations which were known to be blatant
lies as well as the true identities of the individuals in which the
movie revolves around were pointed out by Ambassador Silva. Video
evidence to support these explanations was unfortunately not permitted
to be displayed by Amnesty International.
Ambassador Major General Shavendra Silva informed the audience, that
one visual shown in the documentary, displaying an aerial bombing to a
specific target in the jungle area, but the Channel 4 uses that
particular clip fighter jets purposly bombing a civilian gathering but
it was two separate locations but the narrator tried to portray that the
casualties occurred owing to the bombing, which the audience accepted.
General Silva informed the audience during this clip, the filmmaker
uses two eyewitnesses namely Vany Kumar and Dr. Shanmugaraj. Vany Kumar
she had three different aliasas in different locations. Namely,
Damilvany Kumar, Vany Kumar, Damilvany Gananakumar. The Channel 4
programme says she had been in Sri Lanka only for six months but
Ambassador Silva highlighted her stay in Sri Lanka, what her family in
the UK has informed through the guardian.co.uk in an interview and
proved to the audience that she was infact an LTTE activist and her
credibility in the documentary.
Ambassador General Silva also shed light on several statements made
by Dr. Shanmugaraja who admits to have given false information to the
International Media due to LTTE pressure.
The filmmaker Cullum McRae seemed devastated when Ambassador Silva
pointed out the false translation depicted during the clip where
civilians are in a trench was also brought to light. The civilians in
the trench are shown shouting at the cameraman for recording this and
the false translation provided for the Tamil being spoken, is clear
evidence that this was infact staged.
Finally, the filmmaker in a desperate attempt to save his image in
front of the audience informs that Ambassador Silva would have appeared
in front of the LLRC which he had not done. At this moment Ambassador
Silva, informs the audience again how untrue the facts and the
allegations made by the filmmaker without knowing the correct
information where Major General Silva has appeared twice in front of the
LLRC to present testimonies. The Filmmaker and the NGO were rendered
speechless with the abundance of facts being thrown at their faces. The
attendees informed that it was a failure on the part of the NGO to try
to present false information.
The audience virtually had no questions during the discussion period
following the outstanding counter presentations by Ambassador Dr. Kohona
and Ambassador Major General Silva who clarified fact from fiction of
this “mocumentary”. The screening which intended to tarnish the image of
Sri Lanka was remarkably countered, where even the filmmaker himself,
Callum McRae seemed to concede to the points made by the two senior
diplomats.
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