Wednesday, May 06, 2009

An Open Invitation to Indi Samarajeeva and Sanjana Hattotuwa for Answering These Questions

Dear Indi & Sanjana,

This is not a challenge or a kind of commanding. This is purely an invitation to both of you to respond to some unanswered questions I’ve thrown at both of you in some of my recent posts.

I would like both of you to read on; and I invite other Kottu users as well, to read this from top to bottom first.

I have been blogging on Kottu for last 3 years, and you both know that from the beginning; my opinions and beliefs were totally different from you two. More than that, the way in which I express my ideas were totally different. Some people interpreted the way in which I express my ideas as “rude, abusive, and extremely impolite”. Yet again, some other people thought that my English usage is way below the professional level, and I should quit blogging for that reason. Some said, it is unfair for an anonymous blogger like me to write high tempered posts aimed at two named bloggers like you. Both of you, took these reasons time to time to ignore the points I’ve raised in my blog, and you two always “actively avoided” responding to most of the questions I pin pointed at you. I believe, language and anonymity are not a reason for avoiding a valid point. Anonymity is a primary right on social media internet; and English language weaknesses is a valid excuse for a person who’s first language is not English. Given those two facts; I don’t see any acceptable reason for you to avoid the questions I’ve directly aimed at you. If you believe the claims I make are false; you still have the option of proving that it’s false.

Now here is my invitation.

If you don’t like to comment on my blog (If you are worried I’m tracking your IP to locate you as a sub contract from Rajapakshe brothers); you can respond to the questions I’ve asked, on a 3rd party blog. Anyone of you can name an independent moderator out of the Kottu bloggers. It could be RD, Sam, or someone else. That person will start a new blog post on his blog for us to converse. You two have to start the conversation, by answering to the questions I’ve aimed at you in my recent posts, and on some recent comments. I will respond if necessary; and any of the other Kottu user can join in the discussion at anytime. The moderator blogger, should allow full comment access (No moderation), but without “Anonymous comments”. Those who make comments, need to link to some sort of an online Identity like a Google ID, Open ID, WP ID or a direct personal website to link.

If you are worried about my aggressive language; be assured I will not call you “tiger ass lickers” or “traitors of the motherland” in any of my follow up comments (If required to comment). So; it will be a little less “masculine” than the RD language; but will not go to the extreme of NB language.

Here are the open questions! You can take them or leave them. If you like; you can start the conversation on this post itself. (Say OK; and I will disable anonymous comments option, and we are straight in business). Or else, name a 3rd party to moderate the discussion, and ask him to start a new discussion (by listing these questions)


------------Begining of Questions-----------

@ Indi (Indrajeet) Samarajeeva,

Question #1 - You have remarked MP Mano Ganeshan as an “outspoken Tamil human rights MP” in your blog posts, and you have talked many a times about his “heroic acts” on human right activities. You have raised your voice to defend him, when the CID taken him for questioning related to “supporting terrorism” charges. When me and some bloggers clearly identified him as part of the “Ealam blue print”; you identified him as a freedom fighter. But, I believe you have seen the video in which MP Mano Ganeshan talking in an LTTE rally, wearing the Ealam map in his shirt. According to the Sinhala translation made by Saman Kumara Ramawickrama, he says “People of Tamil Ealam! Take weapons and fight against Sinhala nation”.

a) With all these facts; would you still recognize him as an outspoken Tamil human rights MP? Or do you now agree with us, that Mano Ganeshan is a pro-Ealamist?

b) If you agree with the second option; do you agree that you have made a mistake in projecting an untrue personality of a pro-terrorist who violated the constitution of this country? If so, would you agree to write a public apology on your blog? If you can’t; why?

Question # 2 – This is about “censorship on Kottu”.

Do you believe, that Kottu is your private property (which is true) and because of that matter, you have the sole right of deciding who should have a voice on Kottu, and who should not?

If your answer to above question is “Yes” you don’t have to answer below questions. We will respect your “authority” and we will come to a judgment about your interest in “freedom of speech” and government censorship.

Question # 3 – This is also about “censorship on Kottu”.

Given the fact that you blocked Tamilnet.tv for the reasons as mentioned by the owner of that blog; (Technically it's a blog)

a) Why didn't you blocked “Ranjith Fernando Sucks” and “Prof V K Samaranayake” blogs, when they were directly attacking popularly known public figures of this country?

b) Why are you allowing Jathika Chinthana Pravahaya to be syndicated on Kottu; when they clearly operating as a tool for insult the Buddhist clergy, some Sinhala nationalist leaders, and Sinhalese people in general?

c) Why didn't you de-syndicated Dinidu De Alwis, when he re-written the story of Sinha Bahu, and Prince Vijaya's arrival in Sri Lanka (origin of Sinhala race), in a way which is offensive to the Sinhalese people in general?


@ Sanjana Hattotuwa,

Question #1 – The Mano Ganeshan question is also aimed at you. Please don’t escape from the question by say ng “Groundviews is not me, and I am not Groundviews”. You have actively promoted interviews taken from Mano Ganeshan on several occasions, and you also projected a picture to us that Mano Ganeshan is a true human rights activist. But, now his links to the tigers is obvious. You have still not made any comment on your blogs, about this incident. Why?

a) Are you afraid of, if your donor organizations get to know that you supported a pro-terrorist that they will cut your funds?

b) Do you agree Mano Ganeshan violated the constitution of Sri Lanka, by actively speaking on behalf of a separate state called a “Tamil Ealam”?

c) Let’s make the (b) above bit easier. Do you believe that Tamil Ealam is a reasonable idea, and it should be a “considered solution” in solving the problem in North? If your answer here is “Yes”, you don’t have to answer (b) above.

d) Do you agree that the LTTE is a massive human rights violator of all times? If so, what’s your opinion about “human rights activist” Mano Ganeshan speaking in favor of the LTTE in one of their rallies?

e) o you agree with us, that you made a mistake by promoting Mano Ganeshan as a hero? If so; are you willing to make a public apology on Groundviews? If you can’t; why?

Question # 2 – About your comment on this post.

Going back to your comment about Defence.lk, and Army.lk being “pro-Rajapakshe”; do you believe that being “pro-Rajapakshe” (Or for that matter being pro-Wickramasinghe) is a sin, or a guilt as much as being pro-Prabhakaran? The way you have toned your comment; that's what we feel. You are saying that, being pro-Rajapakshe is not any better than being pro-Prabhakaran. Do you really mean this?

------------End of Questions-----------

Now these are my open questions to Indi Samarajeeva and to Sanjana Hattotuwa. All I expect is clear cut answers to these questions, and point me with follow up questions if you want. I don’t want to hear about your track record in humanitarian missions, or your past activities to benefit mother Lanka, with Sarvodaya or any other organization. These questions are not related to any of those stuff.

We all are part time bloggers; and we somehow find few hours to spend on reading and writing blogs. I’m sure, both of you will not come up with the excuse “due to the lack of time.. blab la bla..”.

To all the other reasonable bloggers on Kottu! I’d appreciate, if you could put pressure on Indi and Sanjana to accept this invitation, and answer these questions. You can re-blog about this on your own blog, and compel them to accept the invitation.

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7 People Had Something to Say about this post. Read them and add your thoughts....

Acromantula said...

Dont bother...u know they're going to ignore u..lol

indi said...

running a bit late, will try to answer as best I can.

1. I don't know Mano Ganeshan and haven't been following the story much at all. I don't think I've endorsed him in any particular way besides advocating the right of MPs not to be killed.

2. No. It has a set of rules which could be administered by a trust.

3. Kottu does have prohibitions on libel and obscenity. These are published at kottu.org/about. Legally, these words don't apply as much to public figures or organizations.

Public figures (including me, Fernando and Samaranayake) are legally open to a level of attack that private figures are not. Satire like the Jathika Chinthana Pravahaya is also permissible under most libel and obscenity law. Again, rewriting the Sinha Bahu story (which I haven't read) which, while it may be offensive, is not necessarily obscene.

By contrast, TamilNet.tv publishes pretty obscene pictures of simulated gay sex, which is also attacking Tamils and homosexuals in general, groups which are sort of protected by hate speech laws.

In this country, in particular, inciting hate is pretty strictly contravened by the Prevention of Terrorism Act, though I don't really agree with that.

Kottu does have standards, and this hews pretty closely to existing copyright and libel/obscenity law.

I don't just randomly decide, hence I 'allow' people to say false things about me there since people are within their rights to criticize me as a 'public figure'.

Hope this make sense.

Voice in Colombo said...

You haven't touched on your claim that Mano Ganeshan is an "outspoken Tamil human rights MP" or the video in which he is delivering a pro-Ealam speech. Now you speak about rights of MPs. Then what about the auths of MPs? They are sworn to protect the constitution of this country, and Mano has viloated it? What's your view on that? You are obliged to express your view, because you have expressed on your views on Mano's rights as a MP, and you should balance it by commenting on his duties as a MP. Let me make it easier for you. Do you believe, Mano is a pro-Terrorist or not? Don't tell "I haven't followed the story". You can watch the video which is public on Youtube, and you can take as much as time you want. I can wait up to two weeks for an answer from you.

Why do you cite some US constitutional links to prove yourself? Talk in Sri Lankan context. Kottu is all about Sri Lanka, and Tamils in Sri Lanka, Gays in Sri Lanka are not protected by US laws.

//Public figures (including me, Fernando and Samaranayake) are legally open to a level of attack that private figures are not.\\

Don't get offended; but this is pure bullshit. Don't you see a difference between an "attack" and an "insult"? Public figures are open to attack; true. But are they open to insult? If I use a blog title "Indi lies"; that's an attack on you. But when NB use a title on his blog "Indi Farts"; that's an insult.

//Satire like the Jathika Chinthana Pravahaya is also permissible under most libel and obscenity law\\

You want me to just trust you on this, or are there any other proof to verify?

I'm not stressing you much on the Kottu censorship thing. You can simply leave it at this level, and "not answer at all". I will come to my conclusions based on your decision.

But I would like to have straight "Yes" or "No" answers to these. Of course you can follow up with a "But" explanation.

a) With all these facts; would you still recognize him (Mano) as an outspoken Tamil human rights MP? Or do you now agree with us, that Mano Ganeshan is a pro-Ealamist?

b) If you agree with the second option; do you agree that you have made a mistake in projecting an untrue personality of a pro-terrorist who violated the constitution of this country? If so, would you agree to write a public apology on your blog? If you can’t; why?

indi said...

Please note that language certainly has nothing to do with why I don't always respond. I don't think I've said anything regarding that or even tone.

I simply don't have time to read everything going on, let alone respond.

shehal said...

@Indi's argument of:By contrast, TamilNet.tv publishes pretty obscene pictures of simulated gay sex, which is also attacking Tamils and homosexuals in general, groups which are sort of protected by hate speech laws.if you have watched south park, satan has a homosexual relationship with sadam husain. south park depicted satan and sadam having anal sex in a few episodes. in addition, the south park creators often depict offensive content. repeatedly eric cartman attacks jews and insult them saying "don't try to jew your way out" etc.

it's true that tamilnet.tv depicted the ltte leadership to be having gay sex with each other etc. but that would be in the same context as south park.

so if the us, canada etc do not consider south park to be in violation of hate speech laws then the i don't see how tamilnet.tv is.

if that is the case VIC's blog should also be removed from kottu.org as he uses hate speech against indi, sanjana, dinidu, etc.

@Indi's argument of:Kottu does have standards, and this hews pretty closely to existing copyright and libel/obscenity law.if tamilnet.tv was removed on grounds of obscenity, then i agree with the removal. but then again if people use obscene language repeatedly would such sites be allowed on kottu? is the obscenity criterion specific to images and video?

N B said...

As usual Indi is not answering any of the questions directly. See how he is evading. Smart people don't evade. They face them head on :-)

Don't waste your time Bro. No point. You and I can't change the world. It is full of hypocrits and that seem to be the norm unfortunately. Live with it. I know what you are trying to say, but the fact is not many will think your way. Ass kissing and politically correct statements are the norms in paradise island.

NB

Serendib_Isle said...

@VIC, Guess you knew what to expect, at least Indi found time to answer your queries.

@Indi, bloggers do understand kottu standards, but its the spirit of the law that matters, not the letter of the law.

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