Some of Veddha’s comments are incorrect. It is plain wrong to say that in the island’s 2500 years history there were several attempts to split up the country. The recent civil war was the first. The ancient name for the island was Taprobane. Arab traders called it Serendip. Taprobane/Serendip consisted of distinct Tamil Kingdom and Sinhalese Kingdoms. Skirmishes are on record but not “to split up the country”. In 1505 Portuguese arrived and by 1517 the island had become a colony. Dutch arrived in 1638 and by 1656 took charge of the island. The Portuguese and Dutch recognised the boundaries of the kingdoms during their rule. British arrived in 1796 and very soon the Dutch gave in without much resistance. For administrative purposes the British merged the (what were) kingdoms and named the island Ceylon. During the British regime Tamils migrated south particularly to Colombo, found jobs, bought properties (without state aid) and established businesses. From the time of independence in 1948, the Tamils were discriminated in employment and the like. State aided colonisation disadvantaged Tamils. In 1956 Sinhala was made the official language. Successive governments obdurately refused to listen to Tamil grievances resulting in the present predicament.
Veddha is somewhat lackadaisical regarding human rights. Referenda for Quebec independence have been held - human rights violations was never an issue. If Scotland demands independence, England will not use force to quell the aspiration. In Sri Lanka human rights are violated long after the end of the civil war. A culture of impunity is evolving which will be very difficult to dislodge.

Politicians like Bob Carr must be put before a lie detector whenever they make their views on media. His only intention is to stop the boats at whatever the human cost. Doesn’t he read reports from UN etc., nor he aware of the real problem the Tamils and today liberal Sinhalese face under the emerging Mugabe style dictator in Sri Lanka. I am very sick of these politicians. Labour doesn’t get my vote this time, definitely for their all sins, including getting Bob Carr as the foreign minister through back door.

Sen, Bob Carr would have to be one of the most tuned-in foreign ministers Australian has had. But of course he doesn’t know the intimate detail of the Sri Lankan situation.

<< His only intention is to stop the boats at whatever the human cost. >>

Come on. That is a very polarised statement. Carr, who has been an avid enthusiast of foreign affairs for decades, wants Sri Lanka to resolve its problems as much as anyone could, and wants Australia to play a meaningful part.

But facilitating onshore asylum in Australia has got to NOT be a part of it.

So Sen, what do you think Bob Carr or the Australian Government should be saying and doing about this?