21.5.2008
By Walter Jayawardhana
A
well-respected Church of England priest and a British
citizen told Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a hard hitting
letter that it was matter for utmost regret that the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) described as the “the
most evil terrorist organization in the world” was
possible to secure the Archbishop’s apparent support
to denigrate Sri Lanka.
Rev.
Tony de Alwis of the Church of England Diocese of Southwell
and Nottingham replying about Tutu’s alleged campaign
against the re-election of Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights
Council of the UN told the Archbishop that his action
has become “a matter of the utmost regret that such
an organization has found it possible to secure Your Grace’s
apparent support in its unrelenting propaganda campaign
to denigrate Sri Lanka on the international stage.”
Rev.
De Alwis, an avowed campaigner against terrorism all over
the world said that it had been a significant coup for
the terrorists to be enabled to proclaim support for their
demented cause from someone of the Archbishop’s
undoubted stature and moral authority in the world.
So,
he wondered in his letter whether Archbishop Tutu received
information from independent sources or his sole source
is the “very active cabal of supporters of this
criminal organization, the LTTE, in South Africa. He said
the unbalanced and unfair nature of his purported comments
point to the latter. “If that is the case,”
Rev. Alwis said, “then I wonder whether Your Grace
would be open to learning the truth about Sri Lanka’s
terrorist problem from less biased sources.”
Rev.
Alwis calling the Archbishop’s condemnation of Sri
Lanka a “mistaken” one said he should “look
beyond propaganda” to explore the truth about Sri
Lanka.
The
following is the full text of his letter: “I am
a priest in the Church of England Diocese of Southwell
and Nottingham, and a British Citizen of Sri Lankan origin.
For many years, I have also been a fervent admirer of
Your Grace personally, and of your fearless efforts to
establish peace and justice in the public life of South
Africa - efforts which have brought you world-wide renown,
respect and honour. For these reasons, I was deeply distressed
to read comments which you are purported to have made
regarding the re-election which Sri Lanka is seeking to
the UN Human Rights Council.
“I
understand that your comments were initially reported
in the UK Guardian newspaper of 15th May (which I have
not seen). However, I have seen them as posted in full
on the following internet website the same day: Sri Lanka
not fit to be in UN Rights Council- Tutu
“As
Your Grace will undoubtedly know, this is the website
of the Sri Lankan terrorist organization, the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam ('the LTTE') which is currently
proscribed in the UK, the US, the European Union, India,
and many other nations for the reason that it is probably
'the most evil terrorist organization in the world' as
the FBI described it recently. I therefore find it a matter
of the utmost regret that such an organization has found
it possible to secure Your Grace's apparent support in
its unrelenting propaganda campaign to denigrate Sri Lanka
on the international stage. It has, of course, been a
significant coup for these terrorists to have been enabled
to proclaim support for their demented and criminal cause
from someone of your undoubted stature and moral authority
in the world. I wonder, therefore, whether your comments
about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka stem from
advice you have received from any independent sources
or whether your sole source is the very active cabal of
supporters of this criminal organization, the LTTE, in
South Africa? I fear that the surprisingly unbalanced
and unfair nature of your purported comments point to
the latter possibility. If that is the case, then I wonder
whether Your Grace would be open to learning the truth
about Sri Lanka's terrorist problem from less biased sources.
“Whilst
I wait to hear from you in that regard, may I also say
this: Your Grace has chaired South Africa's Truth and
Reconciliation Commission which seeks to heal the wounds
inflicted on your noble land by the apartheid regime.
I am sure that you adopted the title 'Truth and Reconciliation'
advisedly, for you have implicitly recognized that there
can never be effective reconciliation without due regard
for the truth about a given situation. If looked at impartially,
you will find that something of an identical nature is
currently taking place in Sri Lanka Against Herculean
odds, Sri Lanka is imploring the world - and eminent persons
such as yourself - to look beyond the propaganda to which
you have been relentlessly subjected and to acknowledge
the two-pronged approach she has borrowed from you.
“On
the one hand, she is asking for openness from the world
to the truth about the nature of the problem with which
she is grappling. On the other hand, she is engaged in
implementing the structural and organizational changes,
which are necessary to create a society reconciled in
truth. If I may say so, such a demanding and honestly
motivated undertaking deserves Your Grace's understanding
and your blessings rather than your mistaken condemnation
With your noted thirst for the justice and fair play,
I know that Your Grace will not be averse to reconsidering
your purported comments. I look forward to hearing from
you.”
Courtesy -Asian
Tribune