Chemical Weapons Also Used in Sri Lanka - Why the Double Standard

Chemical Weapons Were Also Used in Sri Lanka - Why the Double StandardBy Visvanathan On 9 September the US secretary of state. John Kerry said that President Bashar al-Assad has one week to hand over his entire stock of chemical weapons to avoid a military attack. But John Kerry added that he had no expectation that the Syrian leader would comply. Kerry also said he had no doubt that Assad was responsible for the chemical weapons attack in east Damascus on 21 August. He said the entire US intelligence community was united in believing Assad was responsible. US had tracked the Syrian chemical weapons stock for many years, adding that it "was controlled in a very tight manner by the Assad regime … Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad, and a general are the three people that have the control over the movement and use of chemical weapons.                     "So let me be clear," he continued. "The United States of America, President Obama, myself, others are in full agreement that the end of the conflict in Syria requires a political solution." But he insisted such a solution was currently impossible if "one party believes that he can rub out countless numbers of his own citizens with impunity using chemicals that have been banned for 100 years". Why were these principles not applied in early 2009, when 'War Without Witness' were proceeding on unabated. In spite of the 'War Without Witness' these pictures were produced at that time but no action was taken, or did geopolitical interests preceded the extinguishing of Tamil lives.

Photographic Evidence of sample wounds Initial results of Independent investigations conducted by “War Without Witness” confirmed that Sri Lankan Government used Chemical Weapons in Vanni (Northern Part of Sri Lanka) war front both on civilians and its enemy combatants. Two victims were examined by a qualified independent doctor in Vanni ‘Safe Zone’ on 05th April and the initial results have been peer-reviewed by an experienced doctor in United Kingdom. Since the Government of Sri Lanka has banned access for all the Independent monitors, Humanitarian Workers, including UN and the media, in the combat zone were being isolated from the out side world, War Without Witness regrets that a comprehensive forensic/chemical analysis report could not be produced at that point of time. "War Without Witness urgently urge silent partners of Sri Lankan Government’s war on innocent Tamil civilians including United States of America, India, United Kingdom, China, Japan, Norway, Australia and United Nations to immediately dispatch independent observers to the war zone and ensure the safety of civilians by way of an immediate ceasefire and independent inquiry into this war crime. War Without Witness urgently urge independent organisations like Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), US Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, UKs Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) and all 186 OPCW Member States to immediately dispatch independent observers to the war zone and ensure the safety of civilians by way of an immediate ceasefire and independent inquiry into this war crime." This appeal was made when death and destruction was taking place in Vanni, but there were no takers. Preliminary investigations showed the chemicals used and it was reported as follows. Extracts of Medical/Chemical Report Chemical Substances found on the wounds are, 1)      Triethanolamine (C6H15NO3) 2)      Phosgene  (CCl2O)  Interview with those victims’ led to the conclusion that these were types of Mustard Gas attack delivered via high explosive rocket launchers and aerial bombing. Some of the observations among the victims were ‘high vomiting’, ‘mustard-coloured blisters’, ‘closed throats’, ‘breathing difficulty’ and ‘extreme pain’. Please view the tube and the download below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4TOEQGl1FJ0 Serum genocidal biomarkers 2009.doc 86K   View   Download

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The LTTE on 16 August 2001 accused Sri Lanka 

of  purchasing a banned chemical weapon and 

warned of “dangerous consequences” if it was 

inducted in the battlefields of northeastern Sri Lanka. 

The LTTE statement appeared to refer to the 

Russian- manufactured RPO-A Shmelrocket 

launcher without naming it. The Sunday Leader newspaper reported that week that the 

Government had purchased 1,000 units of the weapon. The Hindu news papers 

confirmed it.

The Sri Lankan Army spokesman, Brig. Sanath Karunaratne, confirmed the purchase of 

the Shmel, but denied it was a chemical weapon or that it was banned. The RPO-A Shmel 

is a rocket-propelled incendiary/blast projectile launcher whose warhead contains a 

“thermobaric” flammable mixture, that is, it simulates high pressure conditions when 

detonated in enclosed structures and in the open. The use of this weapon by the Russian 

Army in Chechnya came in for strong criticism by the human rights groups. The Sri 

Lankan Army higher officials were seen wearing mask to protect themselves 

from the fumes. The casualties of the attack remained unknown; however the 

number was expected to exceed at least 1500 Tamils civilians. 

The Sri Lankan Army, immediately after 19 May 2009, cleared the whole area to 

destroy all evidence of death and destruction and cremated all the bodies. 

Normal practice is to hand over the bodies to the Red Cross or similar 

organisations, but this happened to be a 'War without Witness.'

It is now (15.09.2013) reported the Syrian army had succumbed to the threats of 

US and agreed to surrender their arsenal of chemical weapons. Why was this not 

done against Sri Lanka. The war could have been brought to an end earlier and

countless lives could have been saved

This could not be done as Bush's 'War on Terror' was in process and Sonia Gandhi's

war on Prabhakaran with the aid of Karunandhini should proceed unabated. 

India considered the civilians, who stayed in Vanni, as pro-LTTE and the whole 

lot of them had to be wiped out. They were fully aware of what was going on in 

Vanni especially when their soldiers were on the ground, but kept silent.

Sonia Gandhi's anger with Prabhakaran is for killing Rajiv Gandhi is another Indian 

bull-shit. The people who killed Rajiv Gandhi are still walking around in India. 

Even if Rajiv had been killed by the guard of honour in Colombo in 1987, Sonia or

India wouldn't be so annoyed. The whole matter would have been solved 

diplomatically. Rajiv's hurried signing of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord in 1987 with

the unworkable 13th Amendment in it, was to see that Eezham was not created. All

the Militants agreed to go along with Rajiv, except for LTTE; hence their annoyance

with Prabhakaran, LTTE and people associated with the LTTE. That was why India 

aided and abetted the Sri Lankan armed forces - as you will see in the u-tube - and

was silent when the slaughter was going on in Vanni.

Now India is against having independent international investigation into war crimes

trial in Sri Lanka. India has already saved Sri Lanka in the two UNHRC in Geneva

twice in 2012 and 2013. Will it be successful in 2014 is left to be seen.

Now it is not too late to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Sri Lanka when

war crime trial starts. It is a duty of every Tamil in the world to see that this is done.

Failure to do so is an insult to the dead.

Victims of Chemical weapon attacks

Victim of Sri Lankan Landmines

Sri Lanka Uses Chemicals Weapons

Sri Lanka’s Killing of the Tamils

Killing of Tamils, Sri Lanka.