Norwegian and French newspapers compare media coverage of Gaza and Sri Lanka

"Even at the UN tragedies are not equal. [...] If in January the war in the Gaza Strip, rightly, provoked a whirlwind of diplomatic activity, punctuated by nocturnal meetings of the Security Council, Sri Lankan civilians die in relative indifference."

Source: Norway, Israel and the Jews

Business editorial states "There is a difference between Singalese and Jews"

"Dagens Næringsliv is Norway’s largest business daily. Yesterday many readers found the following editorial a refreshing change from the same-same of Akersgata (Norway’s Fleet Street):

"Social commitment - The tragedy of Sri Lanka is entering its temporarily last act

During the next few days the last little piece of land still controlled by the LTTE, the Tamil Tigers, will probably be conquered by Singalese troops. After almost three decades of war 70,000 people - at least - are dead. The island’s commercial life and environment have been severely injured. Millions of Tamils have been displaced and exiled. The problem, integrating the Tamil minority, is unsolved.

This should concern us. Norwegian authorities, led by our present Minister of Development Erik Solheim, has been strongly committed to creating peace. The conflict is in many ways an enlarged edition of the conflict in the Middle East, where also Norway was engaged in peace attempts, with about the same miserable result.

LTTE behaves as brutally as Hamas and Hizbollah - at least, with suicide bombing and recruitment of child-soldiers as its specialities. At the same time the Singalese governments’ warfare makes Israel’s conduct against the Palestinians appear mild and humane.
But even though the sufferings are greater, we are less concerned. Media coverage is far more muted. Academics and artists do not sign petitions, musicians do not arrange supportive concerts. Concerned doctors are busy elsewhere. When 3,500 people participated in the demonstration in Oslo earlier this month, there was hardly a white face in sight.

There is, obviously, a difference between Tamils and Palestinians - and there is a difference between Singalese and Jews. Whatever the reason may be.""
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Source: LE BLOGNADEL

From Le Monde :

"Even at the UN tragedies are not equal. Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans are learning it at their own expense. For three months in the north-east of the island, they have been trapped in heavy fighting between brutal government forces and the unscrupulous Tiger rebellion. If in January the war in the Gaza Strip, rightly, provoked a whirlwind of diplomatic activity, punctuated by nocturnal meetings of the Security Council, Sri Lankan civilians die in relative indifference.

The UN lukewarm reaction is difficult to explain. According to the Organization's unofficial figures, unverifiable in the absence of observers, nearly 6,500 people have already died - five times more than in Gaza." (April 30)

"The crime is almost perfect. Close to 6,500 Sri Lankans have died, according to United Nations' estimates, and no corpse has hit the front pages of newspapers or TV screens. The authorities in Colombo have effectively banned all witnesses from the war zone. " (May 2).

Gilles William Goldnadel asks: "At this point, if I humbly point out that the Sinhalese are not Jews, will I be told again that I am overreacting ?"

Good point indeed.