RAM Watch

The Age-Australia இன் தலைப்பு

2007-11-08T16:59:00.001-08:00

Insensitiveness in Reporting by The Age with a title, "Barber who became Tamil Tiger negotiator"http://ramwatch.blogspot.com/2007/11/insensitiveness-in-reporting.html

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Insensitiveness in Reporting

2007-11-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the western media (or if we correctly put, the western reporters in the media) does not understand the sensitive issues of a society and it culture. The recent example for this sort of cavalier attitude can be seen in the title of Tom Farrell's obituary note on LTTE peace negotiator Mr. S. P. Thamilselvan's obituary note that appeared in The Age (of which contents were borrowed from The Guardian.)

The Guardian

Chief negotiator and international face of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Tom Farrell
Monday November 5, 2007

The Age

Barber who became Tamil Tiger negotiator

Tom Farrell
November 9, 2007

SUPPIAH THAMILSELVAN

TAMIL TIGERS NEGOTIATOR

29-8-1967 - 2-11-2007

It should be noted that The Age (of Australia) got the obituary note from The Guardian (of UK). The title seems to be given by someone at The Age.

Mr. Farrell's note seems to be a compilation of his own account, DBS Jeyaraj's obituary piece on S. P. Thamilchelvan [“Brigadier” Thamilchelvan, The “Smiling” Face of LTTE, November 3rd, 2007] and few other sources.

The title provided for this piece in The Age, "Barber who became Tamil Tiger negotiator" is
1. Factually wrong, and
2. Insensitive to the Tamil (or to be more accurate, to the South Asian) society and its culture.

According to DBS Jeyaraj, Mr. Thamilchelvan was never been a professional barber, in spite of his birth into a "barber" community in the caste hierarchy induced society. For a western reporter like Mr. Farrell, 'barber ' might a word depicting the hair styling professional. However, in a South Asian context, it is a highly discriminating word that reminds and in times still enforces the social hierarchy by birth system in a feudal society.

From Mr. Jeyaraj's article:
In what seems a crude attempt to humiliate Thamilchelvan some government websites and state controlled media refer to Thamilchelvan being of the “ambattan” or barber caste and that he was a barber before joining the movement.

This reminds one of the “snide” methods used to ridicule Ranasinghe Premadasa on account of his caste.

Those who seek to demean a person on the basis of caste are only demeaning themselves. It also shows the “caste consciousness” in the corridors of power.

Yes, Thamilchelvan belonged to a traditional barber community regarded as “low” in the caste hierarchy of conservative Jaffna.His father ran a saloon in Chavakachcheri. But Thamilchelvan was a student when he joined the LTTE and did not work as a barber. There is no shame even if he did so but that did not happen.

Also it should be noted The Age's title to the piece indirectly tries to evoke an image through the typical western reporting style of degrading the opponents (mainly to negatively connotate with uncultured and unethical personality). For example, Hitler's SS follower, Heinrich Himmler is always introduced as a one-time poultry farmer. Even to evoke the negative image of a war criminal, such phrases like "Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyons" are used in the western media. For a western reader, who has read such introductions and titles of the historical personalities with negative images, the factually wrong "Barber who became Tamil Tiger negotiator" can easily gives a wrong first impression about the person. On an eastern (South Asian) English educated middle class reader with a 'caste_awareness' in the hidden neurons of his or her mind, this phrase would remind the "social hierarchy in the society and Mr. Thamilchelvan's place in it."

At its worst, in a vehement anti-casteist point of view, this title, "Barber who became Tamil Tiger negotiator" can be seen as an equivalent to some irresponsible racist statements that can be seen in the history annals such as that of Mr. Don Imus made on college woman-basketball players and Sir. Ian Botham's few condemnable comments on Australia(ns).

Also, we have to mind it that the claim that Mr. Thamilchelvan worked as a barber itself was flatly wrong according a n native investigative journalist like Mr. Jeyaraj, who is consulted by number of western media including BBC on Sri Lankan Tamil politics. Even comparing Mr. Farrell's note shows it clear that he borrowed few information from Mr. Jeyaraj's note to compile his obituary note (Compare the information on Thamilchelvan's interpreter, George in both obituary pieces).

Mr Farrell's factual error is a not that much of important comparing his loaded title. Either providing the title purposely with the full understanding of its loaded terms or with an ignorant way without understanding the human nature of interpreting it, The Age has done a disservice to the media.

We are not much interested in Mr. Farrell's factual errors as it is purely journalistic nature and errors happen. However, in the context of using loaded phrases, we wish and hope The Age would understand a society and how his words would be read among the readers.

Online Petition: To the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on The Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka

2006-06-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

Please read this petition to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the still continuing atrocities in the island.

Recent incidents in this Indian Ocean island against unarmed civilians, especially the children in the Northeast were reported only by a very few international media. Also, these neverending series of atrocities were unfortunately yet to fall in the focus distance of the watchful eyes of many respected human rights organizations. Two citations -or rather to speak exactly, no-citation- are provided below to elaborate this pathetic state.

a. Human Rights Watch condemned in length the Gaza Beach killings of children of 9 June, 2006, an unspeakable incident, but has not utter a word till this day on the Vankali murders of a family of four of the worse caliber that seems to be predetermined and executed on the very same day.

b. In a similar line, an Indian English daily with large circulation,The Hindu reported the Gaza beach incident and the killing of a regional Tamil militant leader in Manner district on the same day, but curiously did opt not to report the gruesome Vankali murders.

This petition is for getting the attention of the international community to care about the innocent lives in the Northeast of the island.

If you agree with the contents of the petition, trust the facts and firmly believe that something that you can do nonviolently, but constructiive to change the situation, please sign, and then forward to others -anyone whom you think may understand the current deplorable conditions in the island- too.

Thank you.
============================================================================

Please Stop The Human Rights Violations By The Sri Lankan Government
To sign GO HERE
http://www.petitiononline.com/UN061506/petition.html

---- Inserting the Contents of Petition -------------------
To: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

PLEASE, STOP THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT

To
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
United Nations Office at Geneva,
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Respected High Commissioner,

We, the undersigned, bring the following to the kind attention of the UN and petition that the UN strongly condemns the human rights violations committed by the Government of Sri Lanka to the Tamil civilians living in Sri Lanka and that the UN takes immediate steps to stop such atrocities by the Government of Sri Lanka:

1. The international community has acknowledged that the Tamils living in Sri Lanka have their legitimate rights for which they have been struggling within the successive majoritarian Sinhalese Governments for the past more than three decades but in vain.

2. In the recent past, ever since the new President came to power, the number of human rights violations against the Tamil civilians is on the raise. A number of Tamil civilians including children, infants, press personnel, Tamil politicians and common men/women have been killed in a spree of attacks unleashed by the Government security forces in areas controlled by the Government as well as in areas controlled by the Tamil rebels. Examples of such violations are documented by Organizations such as Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch and are listed in References (1 to 6) below.

3. Such acts of terrorism by the Government are posing a grave danger to the livelihood of all the Tamils living in the northern and the eastern parts of Sri Lanka. It is very frustrating to see that the human rights violations by the Sinhalese Government and the Government-backed paramilitary groups are muted by the vast majority of the global press. Except a handful of news sources, neither the Sinhalese media nor the majority of the worldwide media reports such atrocities meted out to the Tamil civilians, which is not justifiable at this information age. A situation thus has arisen in which the world is turning a blind eye to the genocide perpetrated by the Government of Sri Lanka against the minority Tamils for more than three decades.

At this juncture we, the undersigned, petition the UN,

1. To condemn the violent actions of the Government of Sri Lanka against the Tamil civilians,

2. To take immediate steps to stop the genocidal crimes committed by the Government of Sri Lanka for more than three decades during which more than 70,000 people have died and millions displaced,

3. To advise the World media to justly report the human right violations by the Government of Sri Lanka, and

4. To impose UN Sanctions against the Government of Sri Lanka that has been proven to be a terror, rogue and failed state.

References on Human Rights violations by the Government of Sri Lanka:

1. Vankalai massacre. Tamil Centre for Human Rights, June12, 2006
(http://tchr.net/press_rel_urg_act_tchr.html)

2. Eight Tamils "Disappear." Amnesty International, June 9, 2006 (http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370152006?open&of=ENG-LKA)

3. Eighteen Tamils were killed (including a four month old baby and a four year old child). Amnesty International, May 16, 2006
(http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370142006?open&of=ENG-LKA)

4. Security Forces stand by during mob attacks in Trincomalee. Human Rights Watch, April 25, 2006
(http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/04/25/slanka13262.htm)

5. Seven Humanitarian workers "disappeared" close to a military check point. Amnesty International, March 10, 2006
(http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370072006?open&of=ENG-LKA)

6. Various violations including rape and murder. Amnesty International, January 11, 2006
(http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370022006?open&of=ENG-LKA)

Thanking you very much,

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

----- Contents of the Pettion Ends -----------------------------------------------

Additional documents on recent violence against civilians can be seen here

1. Washington Post, AP Saturday, June 17, 2006; 7:13 AM:
Sri Lanka Village Attacked; 5 Killed
2. WSWS, June 17, 2006:
Bomb blast kills 64 villagers and catapults Sri Lanka toward war
3. WSWS, June 15, 2006:
Escalating violence in eastern Sri Lanka
4. Amnesty International, 15 June, 2006:
Sri Lanka: Amnesty International condemns attack on civilian bus
5. WSWS, June 14, 2006:
SLMM report exposes Sri Lankan military's complicity in violence and murder

Contrast: Good, Bad & Ugly

2006-04-04T22:24:00.000-07:00

Reuters
Mon Apr 3, 1:16 AM ET
Sri Lanka renegades threaten to kill Tiger supporters
By Simon Gardner

Daily Mirror
April 4, 2006
Armed groups: SLMM expresses concern again
By Easwaran Rutnam

The Hindu
Wednesday, Apr 05, 2006
Opinion
Teaching dissidence to LTTE

Responding to HRW: CTC & Sangam

2006-03-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

Human Rights Watch:
Funding the "Final War" - full report

BBC:
Tamil rebels 'coercing diaspora'

Canadian Tamil Congress:
CTC Response to HRW Allegations on Extortion

Sangam:
HRW Missing an Opportunity: Targets victims

Way of saying NO without saying NO.

2005-12-22T13:58:00.000-08:00

The news on recent attacks on students march by the SLA army has been published by Tamilnet on December 19th on its website. There is photograph showing armymen walking around the march and some photos of the injurers. Nitharsanam website claims the contents in the following links are related to this incident. [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11] (Ramwatcher does not have any means to cross validate the facts if these photos and interviews related to this incident with other sources)

The Hindu's Sambandan can hear the news from only the army. Also there are reports of "conflicting" natured "seven civilians", on the "violence" and on the number "those" injured.

The names of wounded persons and their occupation are listed in Tamil net news column. Mr.Samabndan's news contains two parts which can be categorized as "a Classic Hindu" or "Classic Sambandan" style.

1. //Jaffna town has been on the boil for the past two weeks, with an assortment of attacks and protests by a suspected LTTE front organisation.//

Ramawatcher's question is, "What is the relation between the past incidents of "suspected LTTE front organisation" and this one?" If there had been any relation, how come Mr.Sambandan not mention about that?

2. //There are also reports of a "civilian militia", reportedly trained by the LTTE, operating in the northern peninsula.//

Ramwatch was not able to find any civilian militia involved in this incident, for that matter, is Sambandan calling "civilians" as "civilian militia?" What is the significance of mentioning this piece of information at this point where the SLA opens fire at demonstrators as per Tamilnet?

Was Mr.Sambandan not able to talk to Jaffna university vice chancellor or at least could have mentioned his attempt to try to get the other side of the story? However Ramwatch appreciates his bravery talking to Sri Lankan Army to get the unconflicted natured story.

TamilNet, December 19, 2005 06:02 GMT
[SL troops open fire on demonstration in Jaffna, Lecturer shot, VC attacked]

Sri Lanka Army troopers opened fire at a peaceful demonstration march by Jaffna University students and staff, wounding at least seven demonstrators including Prof. N. Perinpanathan, a Senior Lecturer, and a student leader of the medical faculty T. Kandeepan. Professor C. Mohanadas, the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, Prof. R. Sivchandran, Dean of Arts, and S. Kajendran, Jaffna MP were severely beaten by the soliders. The demonstration march from Jaffna University towards the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) did not proceed beyond Parameswara Junction where the troopers began firing at the demontrators around 11:00 a.m. Monday. Tension prevails in the area.

((News on the same incident on)
The HINDU
International
Flare-up in Jaffna
V.S. Sambandan

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2005

COLOMBO: At least seven civilians and three soldiers were injured in violence in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna town on Monday, the army said. There are conflicting reports on the nature of the unrest and the number of those injured. According to reports from Jaffna, Monday's tension started after a group of students from Jaffna University took out a procession demanding an end to "harassment by security forces." A clash between the protesters and the security forces resulted in troops "opening fire in the air," the army said. Jaffna town has been on the boil for the past two weeks, with an assortment of attacks and protests by a suspected LTTE front organisation. There are also reports of a "civilian militia", reportedly trained by the LTTE, operating in the northern peninsula. Redeployment of security forces from Jaffna has been a key LTTE demand.

Donors warn over Sri Lanka poll

2005-09-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

1.
In BBC version of the news says:

[BBC]Donors warn over Sri Lanka pollTuesday, 20 September 2005, 07:05 GMT 08:05 UKForeign aid donors have urged all sides in Sri Lanka not to undermine the island's shaky peace process ahead of presidential elections in November.
Full Text

The same news is published in "The Hindu" as ,

[The Hindu]Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005Show commitment to peace, LTTE told V.S. SambandanCOLOMBO: Sri Lanka's international donors on Monday said the three-year-old ceasefire agreement was facing its "most serious challenge" and wanted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to "take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change."
Full Text

A)
In BBC,

"..The US, EU, Japan and Norway said the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar had cast a shadow over peace moves with Tamil rebels....The statement called the 12 August assassination of Mr Kadirgarmar an "unconscionable act of terrorism", but stopped short of blaming the rebels directly, as the government has...The Tigers denied involvement in the killing... "

In Hindu it is said as,

"..The call came from the co-chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference — the U.S., U.K., E.U., Japan and Norway — who met in New York to discuss the situation in the aftermath of the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, by a suspected LTTE sniper..."

B)

In BBC the statemant written is,

"The donors said the only way to end Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict was a negotiated political settlement based on a federal state for Tamils."

is not written in any way differrent, but surely it does writes as follows,

"On the current standoff over talks to review the implementation of the agreement, the donors said they were "disappointed that the LTTE have not agreed to the proposed venue for talks," and urged "both parties to engage constructively" with Norwegian special envoy Trond Furuhovde..."

C)
In BBC it is written as, "The co-chairs look to all parties to refrain from violence and from statements and acts that could undermine progress toward the peaceful resolution of the conflict after the elections," they said, in a statement issued on Monday in New York..."

The same content is ideally reproduced by the Hindu as,
"...Reiterating their "unequivocal condemnation" of the assassination, they said: "This unconscionable act of terrorism casts profound doubt on the commitment of those responsible to a peaceful and political resolution of the conflict." They said an "immediate end to political assassinations by the LTTE and an end to LTTE recruitment of child soldiers," were "two such steps.".."

D)
But nothing has been , not even hinted about,

"..The Co-Chairs deplore the activities of paramilitary groups, which fuel the cycle of violence and unrest. The Co-Chairs underscore the responsibility of the Sri Lankan government under the Ceasefire Agreement to disarm or relocate these groups from the north and east..."

or

"Cooperation between the Sri Lankan government, the LTTE and the Muslim community will be important for sustainable recovery in the north and east..."

in the same news column in anywhere, and nothing to be suprised about it as for RamWatch is concerned.