Hero or war criminal?

Good old joe
By Good old joe

LONDON: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was once a human rights activist, campaigning with the mothers of the "disappeared". Now, he is accused of presiding over war crimes and crimes against humanity, and his government actively prevents the families of the "disappeared" from protesting.

After the war ended, Rajapaksa boasted that his "troops went to the battlefront carrying a gun in one hand, the Human Rights Charter in the other". That is not, however, the conclusion of legal experts at the United Nations, who said in a 2011 report that, "the conduct of the war represented a grave assault on the entire regime of international law" and accused the government of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

There's no question that Sri Lanka is run by a family dynasty now, with a third brother, Basil, as the minister for economic development, a son being groomed as the heir apparent and many other relatives in key positions of power.
 

By FathimaH• 16 Nov 2013 20:07
FathimaH

All in a days work for em politicians. As the saying goes: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely! God protect the minorities of SL who seem to be bearing the worst of the brunt of all those political tactics played by their leaders and their henchmen!

By happygolucky• 16 Nov 2013 12:57
happygolucky

That is what politics is all about. Talk something to get power and then something else, even completely opposite, when in power or to remain in power.

By saysai• 16 Nov 2013 12:11
saysai

war criminal... hear those horrifying stories for yourself from Channel 4 UK

By britexpat• 16 Nov 2013 11:28
britexpat

One could say the same about his "friends" - who are now turning against him..

By Good old joe• 16 Nov 2013 11:04
Rating: 2/5
Good old joe

He was once a human rights activist, campaigning with the mothers of the "disappeared". Now, he is accused of presiding over war crimes and crimes against humanity, and his government actively prevents the families of the "disappeared" from protesting. What a way to change colours and policies once they get to be the leader

By Sulieman• 16 Nov 2013 09:42
Rating: 2/5
Sulieman

It is not the first time, Bashar Al Asad was once an arab hero, bcs he was against Israel, Now he is a War Criminal after killing his own people

By britexpat• 16 Nov 2013 08:04
britexpat

It is all politics.

By acchabaccha• 15 Nov 2013 23:24
Rating: 4/5
acchabaccha

It is the same situation in Pakistan also. There appears to be a power-sharing understanding (behind the curtain) between the Sharifs and the Bhutto families. The sons of both families are being groomed to take over power and rule the country turn by turn.

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