ICG silently withdraws mischief on TamilNet

The International Crisis Group (ICG) silently removed a mischievous part of a statement on TamilNet that appeared in its latest report on Sri Lanka, No. 239, dated 20 November 2012. TamilNet on 23 November, in a news item “ICG plays mischief with TamilNet,” challenged the ICG to prove its credibility on the concerned part of the statement and said, “If an open apology is not forthcoming from the ICG, TamilNet may have to seek justice from the law of the countries where the ICG is registered.” TamilNet, on Monday, has noted the removal of the part along with its implicating footnotes in the online version of the ICG report.

The concerned statement of the ICG and footnotes as downloaded by TamilNet on 23 November 2012:

Page 13:

PDF: [ICG document] Sri Lanka: Tamil Politics and the Quest for a Political Solution

The influential website Tamilnet, whose editors are linked to the so-called Nediyavan faction of the LTTE, frequently criticises the TNA for moderation allegedly imposed by the Indian and U.S. governments.98

98 See, for instance, “TNA relays US-India paradigm for ‘nondescript’ model of solutions”, TamilNet, 7 November 2011. Norway-based P. Sivaparan, (alias Nediyavan) is alleged to control much of the remaining overseas LTTE network. “Tamil Tiger faction head questioned in Norway – media”, Reuters, 20 May 2011. He was reportedly questioned in 2011 by Dutch prosecutors investigating illegal LTTE fundraising. D.B.S. Jeyaraj, “Tigers overseas chief “Nediyavan” alias Tall Man questioned in Oslo over alleged links to LTTE fund raising”, dbsjeyaraj.com, 19 May 2011.

The modified statement and footnote as downloaded from the ICG document on 10 December 2012 by TamilNet:

Page 13:

PDF: [ICG’s modified document] Sri Lanka: Tamil Politics and the Quest for a Political Solution

The influential website Tamilnet frequently criticises the TNA for moderation allegedly imposed by the Indian and U.S. governments.98

98 See, for instance, “TNA relays US-India paradigm for ‘nondescript’ model of solutions”, TamilNet, 7 November 2011.

* * *

TamilNet considers the removal of not only the mischievous part of the statement but also the implicating footnotes as a fitting message to writers who come out with unfounded allegations on TamilNet.

However, the damage done to TamilNet by nearly 20 days of circulation and downloads of the ICG report has not been compensated or repented by the ‘silent’ removal, without an open apology published.

TamilNet is sad to note the lack of etiquette on the part of the ICG that fitting to the high-profiled world personalities associated with it, should be actually setting norms in media culture and in the delivery of justice to media.

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