Monday, August 15, 2005
Misinformation |
I spent about a half an hour going through different blogs to see what people were saying about the assassination of LK. The picture is quite distressing. The misinformation spreading online is shocking and it's propagation can only contribute to the divisions in Sri Lankan society and harm Sri Lanka.
Let's look at a few of them...
Indi has a headline that says 'LTTE Kills Kadirgamar'!!! I would certainly expect a bit more tact from Indi, but it seems he to has fallen pray to making statements that one can't really verify without depending on 'gut feeling'.
Prabath of Nidahas says 'Yesterday night, [the LTTE] murdered Lakshman Kadirgamar.'
Hold on, the Government of Sri Lanka has not formally accused the LTTE of the assassination, and the LTTE too have not issued a statement taking responsibility for the deed. On the contrary they have issued a statement denying any involvement in it. So why do Indi and Prabhath both make statements like the above?
Because I am not in Sri Lanka right now, I have been relying on online sources for my news. When I got my call at about 11.30 SL time I was sitting in a dingy little hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi. In the hours following the incident I managed to find a computer and thanks to friends who kept me updated with the occasional call and constant text messages, I followed the story as best as I could.
Over the next what became clear was how many people, especially those online, were quick to condemn the LTTE for the assassination. True, the LTTE are the most likely perps. But note: most likely, not definite. To state that the LTTE did carry out the assassination, without a shadow of doubt, as both Indi and Prabath have done, is to ride on the anti-LTTE bandwagon that forms each time something like this happens. Political groups like the JVP, JHU, PNM, media like the Island and the Divaina, and a whole host of other interests at various points in the political spectrum come together to shout down the voices that say 'hold on, how do we know for sure the LTTE is behind this?'
The work that they do in propogating such a black and white image of what is going on in this country can only damage Sri Lanka's standing in the international stage. These people are not shouting out the truth, they are shouting out what they want to hear, and what they want the rest of the world to hear. Truth means nothing to them, and in the same way the American War Machine uses CNN and Fox TV, it is the loudest voice that gets heard, not the truth.
To blame the LTTE for this incident, when there is no clear proof of their involvement (well, at least no proof that will stand up in court) is to jeopardize the peace process unnecessarily. The LTTE could use and does use such propaganda to show that world that the Sri Lankan Government and the Sinhala people are not rational (I'm not too sure about this myself), and are prone to judge and convict the LTTE and the Tamil people on purely circumstantial evidence.
This either-you're-with-us-or-against-us gung ho attitude displayed by Indi and Prabath is distressing and I strongly urge them both to show a little care when they comment online about something as serious as this in the future.
Fortunately there are also quite a few people who seem to have a firm grasp on reality. Hats off to Mahangu, Scourge, Ian and Anush for balanced commentry. Keep up the good work, the only way to counter misinformation to make the truth available, and the fact that even a few people are trying to do that gives me hope.
Let's look at a few of them...
Indi has a headline that says 'LTTE Kills Kadirgamar'!!! I would certainly expect a bit more tact from Indi, but it seems he to has fallen pray to making statements that one can't really verify without depending on 'gut feeling'.
Prabath of Nidahas says 'Yesterday night, [the LTTE] murdered Lakshman Kadirgamar.'
Hold on, the Government of Sri Lanka has not formally accused the LTTE of the assassination, and the LTTE too have not issued a statement taking responsibility for the deed. On the contrary they have issued a statement denying any involvement in it. So why do Indi and Prabhath both make statements like the above?
Because I am not in Sri Lanka right now, I have been relying on online sources for my news. When I got my call at about 11.30 SL time I was sitting in a dingy little hotel in Paharganj, New Delhi. In the hours following the incident I managed to find a computer and thanks to friends who kept me updated with the occasional call and constant text messages, I followed the story as best as I could.
Over the next what became clear was how many people, especially those online, were quick to condemn the LTTE for the assassination. True, the LTTE are the most likely perps. But note: most likely, not definite. To state that the LTTE did carry out the assassination, without a shadow of doubt, as both Indi and Prabath have done, is to ride on the anti-LTTE bandwagon that forms each time something like this happens. Political groups like the JVP, JHU, PNM, media like the Island and the Divaina, and a whole host of other interests at various points in the political spectrum come together to shout down the voices that say 'hold on, how do we know for sure the LTTE is behind this?'
The work that they do in propogating such a black and white image of what is going on in this country can only damage Sri Lanka's standing in the international stage. These people are not shouting out the truth, they are shouting out what they want to hear, and what they want the rest of the world to hear. Truth means nothing to them, and in the same way the American War Machine uses CNN and Fox TV, it is the loudest voice that gets heard, not the truth.
To blame the LTTE for this incident, when there is no clear proof of their involvement (well, at least no proof that will stand up in court) is to jeopardize the peace process unnecessarily. The LTTE could use and does use such propaganda to show that world that the Sri Lankan Government and the Sinhala people are not rational (I'm not too sure about this myself), and are prone to judge and convict the LTTE and the Tamil people on purely circumstantial evidence.
This either-you're-with-us-or-against-us gung ho attitude displayed by Indi and Prabath is distressing and I strongly urge them both to show a little care when they comment online about something as serious as this in the future.
Fortunately there are also quite a few people who seem to have a firm grasp on reality. Hats off to Mahangu, Scourge, Ian and Anush for balanced commentry. Keep up the good work, the only way to counter misinformation to make the truth available, and the fact that even a few people are trying to do that gives me hope.
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here's something fron NDTV Even the evidence is now piling up against the LTTE. The Sri Lankan police has told NDTV that it has conclusive proof that the Tamil Tigers were behind Kadirgamar's killing. The police gave NDTV more details of their investigations, saying ballistic and forensic reports had been carried out on bullet casings. A sequence of events pieced together show that Kadirgamar's attackers had been living in an adjoining house overlooking his swimming pool for at least two days. The snipers had used an improvised tripod, tied with a cloth to the railings of a bathroom window, a vantage point, into the minister's house. A 7.62 mm rifle was used to shoot the minister at least three times. The weapon has not been not traced, though investigators found cyanide caspules and bullet casings from the area. The police have now nabbed dozens of suspects and are matching the DNA and fingerprint samples picked up from the tripod and bathroom window. The police say this is conclusive enough evidence that it was the LTTE. "The LTTE used similar tactics when they killed someone called Robert in Jaffna two years ago. We have collected all the DNA samples and now have dozens in our custody. It's only a matter of time before we narrow down the culprits," said Chandra Fernando, IGP, Colombo. President Chandrika Kumaratunga has now called on the international community to sit up and take notice. "The LTTE has denied involvement in the murder. Their denial contradicts the facts and our knowledge of their long held desire and repeated attempts to murder both my Tamil cabinet colleagues," she added. |
Forgot to commend Lohan on his very wise remarks on the significance of LK's so called contribution to Sri Lankan politics. Kavi |
Interesting comments, but some (primarily the ones spilling with hatred for the LTTE) verge on hysterics without really attempting to discuss the issue. There's a pretty stellar debate here that began immediately after the assassination; read it in addition to what everyone's saying here. |
Almost forgot- yes there are clean politicians in the world. G.L.Pieris is another. You have to know them to believe it. Kavi |
So I take it you are a Gemini! Oh no I am not campaigning for anyone. just thought I'd give you another example. That's all. Kavi |
Not bad . . .I am impressed. So what else can you teach us? How about capricon? anything on that? Kavi |
as frar as i know this is from a very reliable source(we can take it as inside information). The LTTE MURDERED LK! confirmed. So there goes all our theories! |
as frar as i know this is from a very reliable source(we can take it as inside information). The LTTE MURDERED LK! confirmed. So there goes all our theories! Kavi |
I know it wasnt an insult, i've been following this blog for a while so i'm aquainted with your way of writing (it's very entertaining btw) |
Thanks Ananthan - then you will know that I'm quite sensitive & don't like being scolded - snif :-( I'm glad you find my comments entertaining - I am serious though about the issues I raise .... |
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