Three weeks ago, I spoke with Oscar and Grammy nominated hip hop artist, M.I.A. about the on-going situation in Sri Lanka. M.I.A. spent much of her youth there as a member of Sri Lanka's minority Tamil population, which she says is the victim of "systematic genocide."
Today, I spoke with Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary, Dr. Palitha Kohona, who took exception to M.I.A.'s remarks.
This full conversation, including the initial comments made by M.I.A., airs tonight on PBS.
There is no possible excuse for not covering this war. Except abject ignorance on the part of the Corporate Masters.
They talk a good game of Globalization but then ignore the Globe.
I have no clue about the rights or wrongs of this war. What I know is that it is a civil war between two evenly matched opponents. The worst situation that can occur. (see:1861-1865)
I suspect that if the government can defeat the Tamil Tigers it would be a good thing. That any end of the conflict would be an improvement. And a benefit to the civilians, no matter their ethnic group.
I also know it is difficult to muster much sympathy for the Tamil Tigers, the ones who invented suicide bombing.
Before y'all tell the Tamils what to do, first go down south and;
Make it illegal for those uncouth confederates to sing about their fathers' treason, ban their battle flag on penalty of death, destroy their monuments to traitors, and "Cleanse" them of their warmongering treachery to the union.
Yeh, I thought so.
But I've also heard her say, numerous times, that's she's just interested in telling the story of the Tamil civilians, who she believes are never really heard from on either side of the conflict. So I'm not sure where people claiming she supports the Tamil Tigers are getting that from, I've never seen such a statement. And yes, they are a terrorist group, they fit the most basic and classic definition thereof - killing innocent people to make a political point or deconstruct a current political reality by undermining it through fear. That's what they do. Not too different from the IRA, and both of them would be (well, the IRA currently is) better off working through negotiations. I'm fine with MIA speaking out, especially if she is really trying to look out for the poor people who are always trampled underfoot in these conflicts of 'tyrannical dictator' vs. 'megalomaniacal, charismatic resistance
He vital signs still need to be monitored.
Jeez, give her a break.
The Tamil Tigers are terrorists. They blow themselves up among civilians to spread terror. They are most recently shooting Tamil's trying to escape the war zone.
See u tube for "M.I.A. - Paper Planes by DeLon" for some grew some examples of the Tamil Tiger's handiwork.
Lamont Dozier last night wasn't to shabby either...