Rajiva Wijesinha

“ It is in fact outrageous that ICG should claim that government acts 'regardless of the cost to civilians'. More officers and men have died in the last couple of weeks precisely because the forces are not using heavy weapons. It seems that Gareth Evans and his heartless crew not only want to see more sacrifices on the part of the Sri Lankan army, but insist on lying about it. ”

“ It is precisely because the army is holding back on use of heavy weapons, in deference to the human shields the LTTE is using, that the LTTE is continuing to resist, that the number of civilian casualties is far fewer than when the LTTE used their heavy weaponry from amidst civilians, and that in fact the Sri Lankan forces are suffering heavier casualties than previously. ”

“ They also seem unduly wary of anyone who can correct their mistakes. Human Rights Watch has failed to respond to my rebuttals of their claims and most recently, despite what seemed initial enthusiasm on the part of their Director, refused to meet me in Geneva. International Crisis Group, in the form of its presiding genius Gareth Evans, failed to answer in 2007 to my detailed refutation of his suggestion that Sri Lanka was ripe for his own version of the doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect. ”