Regarding Gregory Clark's June 11 article, "Sri Lanka and Tiananmen: Time to accept the truth": Thank you for trying to bring out the truth about these conflicts.

The Tamils in Sri Lanka did not have the privilege of having foreign news reporters among them during the last stages of the massacre. This has resulted in the government of Sri Lanka claiming that there was little civilian blood spilled in the government's military operation. At the same time the number of Tamils killed could be as high as 50,000 according to Tamil estimates and others such as professor Francis Boyle.

The truth in this case probably lies somewhere in between. The failure of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights and other global powers to stop the slaughter or investigate the truth is clearly a license to kill.

The fallout from the "terrorist" label and inaction when human rights abuses are committed can have a long lasting negative impact. This can lead to governments ruthlessly eliminating dissent, including opposition parties, under the cover of sovereignty.

pradeep thiru