Lankan Navy Attack Fishermen

Lankan Navy Attack Fishermen

PTI | RAMESWARAM(TN) | APR 03, 2012

Fishermen from this island were attacked near the international martime boundary line, allegedly by Sri Lankan navalmen who threw stones at their boats damaging about 50 of them, officials said today.

Officials quoting fishermen said the Lankan navy personnel started flashing torches and warned them against entering their territory and allegedly attacked the boats.

The fishermen had put out to sea yesterday but returned without fishing, P.Sesuraja, Tamil Nadu fishermen Association Secretary, said.

Sri Lanka's shocking allegation against India

3 Apr 2012, 0853 hrs IST, TIMES NOW

A shocking allegation from Sri Lanka has left the nation fuming. A Lankan media report has now claimed that LTTE terrorists are being trained in 3 secret camps in Tamil Nadu and exported to Lanka in the guise of fishermen to destabilise the nation. The Tamil parties are angry and India has denied these claims as baseless. Days after India voted against Sri Lanka at the United Nations came a shocking allegation. A Lankan media report claimed that LTTE terrorists are being trained in secret camps in India and are entering Sri Lanka from Tamil nadu in the guise of fishermen. A statement that has left the Tamil parties angry Stunning allegations coming from Sri Lanka say a hundred and fifty LTTE terrorists have entered Sri Lanka from India in an attempt to destabilise the nation. The report in fact quotes state intelligence services to have made these allegations. But the Sri Lankan government refused to comment when contacted. While experts say Lanka's allegations are a clear fallout of India’s UNHRC vote India has hit out at the media reports calling them entirely erroneous and baseless. While the debate rages on the question is what proof does the Lankan media have to back these claims?

Katka Kasadara's young finalists showcase their talent

Tamil Guardian 02 April 2012 

[more]

TNA cynical as usual

‘US Resolution timely’

By Jatila Karavita

TNA Jaffna district MP Suresh Premachandran said that if the government does not implement the proposals mooted in the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report it will have to face the consequences that will arise on account of the non-implementation of the proposals. He also said that the government should take note of the contents of the US sponsored Resolution adopted at the 19th sessions of the UNHRC held in Geneva last month, and added that disregarding the Resolution will also impact negatively on the government.   Premachandran also charged that nationalist hardliners such as Wimal Weerawansa, Champika Ranawaka and Douglas Devananda are continuing to place obstacles in the way of talks between his party and the government. 

Plethora of issues
Responding to what his views are on the Resolution adopted in Geneva, he said, “The TNA foresaw such a situation arising as no positive steps were being taken to resolve the plethora of issues with regard to the North and the East since the end of hostilities between the LTTE and the government troops.” Premachandran went on to say that this (the US resolution) is in effect the government’s baby and the TNA was not responsible for its adoption by the UNHRC. “The government, by its own inaction and lethargy since the end of the war, invited the wrath of the western powers led by the US, and now it has to face the consequences,” he averred. 
MP Premachandran is also of the view that his party (the TNA) cannot be held accountable and that they are content that the Resolution has put pressure on the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration to look into the issues that plague the Tamil people in the North-East which translates into finding a speedy solution to the national issue. “In that sense the US government has brought about a timely Resolution which was accepted by a majority vote and for which the TNA is grateful. We also express our gratitude to all the nations that voted to adopt it at the UNHRC in Geneva,” he said.    Full Story>>>

The 2012 TIME 100 Poll

Cast your votes for the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes you think are the most influential people in the world. Official voting ends on Friday, April 6, and the poll winner will be included in the TIME 100 issue. The complete TIME 100 list will be chosen by our editors and revealed on TIME.com on Tuesday, April 17.

Navi Pillay

By TIME STAFF Thursday, Mar. 29, 2012 

FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP / GETTY IMAGES

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2107952_2107953_2109999,00.html #ixzz1qwQdb7oJ

Age: 71
Occupation: U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights

A skilled jurist and lifelong grassroots activist, Pillay is the person turning up the heat on Syria for war crimes. She has done the same to the Sri Lankan government, which has been trying for two years to avoid being called up before the International Criminal Court — an institution this South African of Tamil descent made relevant as president of the war-crimes tribunal for Rwanda from 1999 to 2003.

What do you think?

Should Navi Pillay be on the list?

DefinitelyNo Way

Sri Lanka seeks MoU with India on nuclear power

02 April, 2012
By Thakshala Srinath

 

	Koodamkulum nuclear plant to start production in next two months

The government of Sri Lanka says it proposed India to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on nuclear disaster management.

The proposal was made considering dangers posed by India’s nuclear plants close to Mannar and northern Sri Lanka, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka told BBC Sandeshaya.

“If there is a nuclear accident that causes radiation to escape in Koodankulum nuclear power plant or any other nuclear plant, that may affect Mannar and north,” he said.

Koodankulum nuclear plant is situated in a close proximity to Mannar bay and in the event of a nuclear disaster there is fear that northern parts of Sri Lanka may affect.

Disaster Management

	Tamil Nadu is suffering from severe power shortages

“We have pointed out this to India and we are in the process of monitoring the radiation levels in the areas” Minister Ranawaka added.

Last week Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jeyaram Jayalalitha gave the
go-ahead to the plant and declared that the plant which was started in 1987 will finally start production within two months.

She managed to overcome the massive protest led by SP Udayakumar, a veteran anti-nuclear activist who campaigned against the Koodankulam nuclear plant.

According to S.P. Udayakumar, he gave up after government agreed to implement a disaster management programme and train people within thirty kilometres of the power plant to protect them in the event of a nuclear disaster.

Tamil Nadu is suffering from severe power shortages and routine power cuts had been introduced. Industries in the area badly hit by restricted power supplies.

We have asked India to start negotiations on this matter in order to prepare a plan to face a nuclear emergency   Minister Champika Ranawaka

Minister Ranawaka agrees with Tamil Nadu that the southern Indian state does not have any option other than nuclear power 'at present'.

India should discuss

However, the minister says that it is the duty of the Indian government to 'discuss issues surrounding nuclear energy with neighbouring Sri Lanka' prior to commissioning power plants.

	Sri Lanka proposed a MoU on nuclear disaster management

“We have proposed that India start negotiations on this matter in order to prepare a plan to face any nuclear emergency,” the minister told BBC Sandeshaya.

Environmentalists are not happy with the way Sri Lanka handling the issue. Reminding how ineffective Sri Lankan response to the Sethusamudram, Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) say that Sri Lanka should have registered its opposition more rigorously.

Hemantha Withanage of CEJ propose that Sri Lankans should join hands with the anti-nuclear campaigners in India.

“If we consider the nuclear disasters such as Long Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear power is not as rosy as politicians portray,” he told BBC Sandeshaya.

Educate people

Nevertheless, nuclear experts say that people had been misinformed about the nuclear energy.

Dr Prinath Dias of Moratuwa University, who once was the chairman of Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Agency argues that risks are associated with any kind of energy production.

If we consider the nuclear disasters such as Long Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, nuclear power is not as rosy as politicians portray   Hemantha Vithanage

“If world needs energy and if it cannot use fossil fuels because of the greenhouse gases, we are left with nuclear energy,” he told BBC Sinhala service.

Citing the probability of a nuclear disaster he pointed out that number of people die because of traffic accidents are far greater than the number that can be perished from a nuclear disasters.

Professor Rohini Hewamanna of Nuclear Science Department – University of Colombo believes that people are scared of nuclear power because they are not fully educated about the subject.

“If we are running out of alternative energy sources we may have to consider nuclear energy and therefore it is important to educate the people and promote nuclear science as a discipline” she said.

Geneva, Human Rights, Patriotism and the Cost of Living

‘Patriotism is in my blood but a govt sans foreign policy is another issue’ - govt clerk

By Elmo Leonard 

WK Wijedasa, a government clerk was sorry beyond words that Sri Lanka was out voted at the recent Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva. Wijedasa’s father Sumith was a staunch supporter of SWRD Bandaranaiake from the birth of the party over 50 years ago. Wijedasa and his family like his father always voted SLFP -- and Wijedasa voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa. But, Wijedasa regrets, that the present government’s ‘lack of foreign policy’ has led to Sri Lanka’srecent defeat at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 
What could have been solved diplomatically has turned gangrenous, Wijedasa said. The present attitude of government is crystal clear as seen daily on television, government ministers saying that government will not implement the LLRC recommendations fully. `When the next Human Rights Council sits in Geneva in March 2013, those nations that voted with Sri Lanka will find they have been fooled too.’ Wijedasa said.   
Wijedasa explained that the government had told India and the Indian foreign minister that ‘more’ than the 13th amendment would be implemented. As nothing was done, Tamil Nadu’s stance towards the Indian central government was that the Sri Lankan government habitually lies. Tamil Nadu cautioned the Indian government against voting with Sri Lanka. 
Mahinda Samarasinghe, the leader of the Sri Lanka delegation in Geneva said that government will implement the LLRC recommendations. Back home, minister Nimal Siripala de Silva is one minister who says, government won’t implement all the LLRC proposals. The diplomatic missions here monitor all that is said and should conclude that Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is one which always attempts ‘to fool the world.’ Wimal Weerewansa talks about banning Google and another powerful minister says, Sri Lanka in the near future will be able to give loans to some European Union member nations. All very  stupid and reflected badly on Sri Lanka. It can be compared to what Idi Amin said, that Queen Elizabeth should come to Uganda and beg pardon from him.    
Of the cost of living, and government’s call to Sri Lankan citizens to bear with them, while they wear out the affects of Geneva, Wijedasa said, ‘won’t mix anymore, as oil and water does not.’ 
He said a government servant’s salary lasts ten days and the poorest are not so hit, as the lower middle class. The lower middle class have to buy clothes to send their children to school and fees for school vans have gone up; so have  tuition fees. The affluent, can always manage. The poor don’t send their children to school and have little social life.  Full Story>>>

Russia wants LLRC report implemented

by Zacki Jabbar

Russia, which voted against the US Resolution on ‘Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka’ at the UNHRC recently, said that the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime should now focus its attention on implementing its very own LLRC recommendations.

The Russian Ambassador in Colombo, Valadimir P Mikhaylov, told The Island in an interview, that implementing the recommendations "will bring you to the best position."

Asked if non-compliance could result in the UNHRC applying pressure, Mikhaylov said: "This is not a Security Council resolution, so I don’t think that’s possible. The Sri Lankan government understands and is also capable of conforming to international laws on its own. There is no need for external force or threats."

"A political solution needs to be found to the ethnic issue," the ambassador said.

Asked if by ‘political solution’ he meant devolution of power, Mikhaylov said: "No. That is an internal matter which you’ll have to decide on. But, whatever the model it has to be acceptable to all communities. The wounds are still very fresh. It takes time to heal. Too much pressure is not good. Rushed formulas will not be durable. It should grow from among the people."

"Devolution would differ from country to country. Some want centralised regimes while others opt for various combinations," he said. "The UK is said to have a parliamentary model, but how can you speak of democracy when there is a monarchy. They arrived at their formula of governance gradually and over the years it has become acceptable to them. So it is for each country to decide what is good for it."

Asked for his opinion on India voting against Sri Lanka, he said it was more to do with internal compulsions rather than external pressure.

Media battle heats up in Sri Lanka, again

 

The UN Human Rights Commission voted to investigate alleged war crimes committed during the Sri Lankan civil war. The war itself ended back in 2009, but the battle against independent journalists is far from over.

In the past two months, state-run media have been targetting journalists critical of the government, labelling them as 'traitors'. Mervyn Silva, the public relations minister to Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan president, took to the airwaves announcing that he would 'break the limbs' of any journalist who attempted to challenge the government's narrative on the war.

Opposition voices on this island have been continuously threatened, silenced and forced into exile, so journalists and press freedom groups alike are not taking the threat lightly. In this week's News Divide, we look at the media battle that is intensifying in an already fragile media environment.

In News Bytes this week: Brazil's appalling track record in 2012 as the second worst place in the world to be a journalist gets even worse; The under-reporting on the death of an unarmed black student in Florida highlights the need for racially-diverse newsrooms in the US; A Turkish court temporarily shuts down a pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem accusing it of publishing 'terrorist propaganda'; and US Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum picks a fight, not with his opposite number, but with a New York Times reporter.

News by Egyptians, for Egyptians

Since the ousting of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak last year, Egypt has undergone huge changes but the special relationship between the country's military rulers and the sprawling state media apparatus is as strong as it has ever been, and Egypt's revolutionaries have found themselves caught in an information war.

But over the last year, a group called Mosireen has been collecting and archiving citizen videos filmed on the streets which tell a different story. Now, a nationwide campaign has emerged known as Askar Kazeboon, meaning 'The military are liars', which uses footage from Mosireen's arsenal and has found a simple, novel way of showing the public the truths that state-run media chooses to ignore. In this week's feature, the Listening Post's Ana De Sousa looks at the roving video campaign, offering Egyptians a different perspective.

Our Internet Video of the Week takes us back to last summer, and the London riots. At the time, the unrest made headlines around the world and much of the media described the rioters as thugs out to make trouble. But that picture may now be changing; last week the UK government produced a report on the causes of the riots and conceded that Britain's underclass needs to be given a bigger stake in society.

Award-winning rapper 'Plan B' is taking that message to the streets. His new single ill Manors is a mouthpiece for the underclass, a mash-up of news footage and freshly-shot material questioning media stereotypes of Britain's urban youth – and people love it. We hope you do too.

Brutal MaRa regime gives orders ‘attack and finish’-victim targeted is Mangala’s Secretary

(Lanka-e-News-02.April.2012, 11.30PM) The MaRa criminal regime has given orders to ‘attack and finish’ Ruwan Ferdinands, the Secretary of Mangala Samaraweera, according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

It is learnt that BayaGotha had given orders, as a first step , to create through the media an impression that there exists antagonism against him within the UNP , and after the attack is launched on Ferdinands , to blame on the UNP , citing the internal conflicts within it.

In pursuit of this plan , during the last few days , the Rajapakse regime’s latest bootlicking scoundrels Kili-Tiran duo have shamelessly via their media begun a most vilifying vicious campaign for no apparent reason against Mangala Samaraweer and his Secretary Ferdinands.

This Kili-Tiran unscrupulous scoundrels who would stoop to any sordid level to do the regime’s atrocious biddings have taken over the tasks of the Govt. website baboons . The latest Govt. website buffoons are this Kili-Tiran media partners , the practitioners of all the cardinal sins.

The reason for this urgent action of the regime targeting Samaraweera and his Secretary, and the instruction given to attack Ferdinands is based on the rapidly growing conflicts within the Govt. Since the disgruntled groups within the Govt . are increasing , the regime has got cold feet based on the information that Mangala Samaraweera who left the SLFP is commanding tremendous support , and is a growing force with a lot of backing . The Govt.’s fears have increased multifold because, in the past when the Alliance govt. was collapsing , it was Mangala Samaraweera and his Secretary who were the sole architects who rebuilt and revived it with the support of the JVP . The regime is fully aware of this. Due to these aforementioned reasons , these two individuals have been targeted by the regime as their next victims of its vicious vendetta and murderous violence.

Sri Lanka at Geneva Big Match

Sri Lanka at Geneva Big Match

From the 83 riots, the Lankan state had to struggle in the international arena to justify the suppression of  the Tamil insurrection. At that stage there was public sympathy in India and in most of the Western democracies to the Tamil cause, and the Sinhala were always perceived as the oppressors. In fact India armed and extended training facilities to Tamil militant groups while the left or liberal Europeans and North Americans had their sympathies with the Tamil cause and funds were raised to finance this cause.

LTTE a terrorist organization
Even during the deliberations leading up to the listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation in the western countries, liberal officials and politicians objected to so listing the LTTE, as they perceived it as a liberation organisation.  Consequently interventions by the leaders of India and Lanka ensured that the LTTE was on the list. Lanka and India put forward the view that Tamil liberation should be separated from the terror campaign. Both claimed that terrorism should be eliminated by armed repression while the liberation aspect should be dealt with a political solution. 
A deliberate and orchestrated strategy was pursued by the Lankan state to “brand” the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The LTTE countered and projected itself as a liberation organisation. The Lankan state won this contest as the international community under the pressure of India, listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.  But most of Lanka’s senior diplomats and pro government intellectuals maintained that the moral high ground of the Tamil cause was unassailable, and the new concept of “terrorism” only provided Lanka with a temporary respite.  Except chauvinists such as Nalin and Gunadasa, every body knew that at some point Lanka would have to address the issues of the Tamil cause. However, majority of the Sinhala population got carried away by the Mahinda Chinthanaya propaganda, and failed to appreciate the underlying issues relating to the Tamil cause and the validity of the right of self determination of the Tamil people. Mahinda claimed that the war was won by Lankans, without foreign assistance. But at the UNHRC, during the debate of the US backed resolution against Lanka, the Cuban delegate while supporting Lanka stated that 40% of the value of Lankan arms purchases was from the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel! Although the North Americans, the Europeans and India assisted and encouraged Lanka in its war against Tamil insurgency, the left and liberal forces in these countries had their sympathies with the Tamil cause. This political aspect has always been consistent, which led to millions of Tamil citizens fleeing Lanka to these countries.

Assistance not unconditional
Thus the assistance, political and military, extended to Lanka by North America, the European Union and India was not unconditional. There was the unwritten understanding between Lanka and global powers that after defeating the “terrorists”, the issue of the Tamil national problem will be addressed. After the end of the war, the world powers waited for some form of bourgeois balance to be introduced, but Mahinda was drifting.
Mahinda regime in Colombo thought that by concentrating on infrastructure development, the underlying issues of the national problem will fade away. However, it is a fundamental problem of democracy  and cannot be swept under the carpet. This reality was shown to the leaders by rational advisers but members of the Mahinda regime frequently labelled dissenting voices as “traitors”. That means even liberals who state, sovereignty must entail a government exercising its authority to uphold the rule of law, are traitors. With the resolution passed Mahinda regime is devalued in the international arena. Resolution does not have much power but it is a resolution of shame to Lanka. There is a huge credibility issue with the Mahinda presidency. No one believes them any more. 
But Tamils expected much more from global powers. They expected a war tribunal and serious constitutional changes through foreign intervention. As I said before, these are only day dreams. Justice can be achieved only by a revolutionary regime based on workers power and Tamil liberation.

MaRa regime reaches a milestone –8 chain snatching crimes within 12 mile radius in half a day!! destitution the cause

(Lanka-e-News-02.April.2012, 11.30PM) Last Friday in Galle within a 12 kilometer radius just within half a day , there were 8 cases of chain snatching, according to Galle Police spokesman speaking to Lanka e news. He added that these crimes were not committed by one group. Besides, thefts have increased generally , while house breaking and house robberies have shot up steeply . The police spokesman speaking further said , when an inquiry was conducted into a recent house burglary it was discovered that the thief had even eaten the plantains that were meant for the children in the house and also the yoghurt etc. in the Fridge before leaving. It is evident from this , starving thieves are on the increase .

In a survey conducted by Lanka e news , over 200 cases have been reported of house robberies and goods stolen in the Kiilapone Police area alone during the last few days.

Inside police sources say , there had arisen a situation in the country now where people are hard put to have even a bare meal a day, whereby people are taking to stealing. However the police headquarters have prevented these news being published in the media , and are giving out bogus facts , the sources added.

Meanwhile a number of Bank officers told Lanka e new s that the customers who visit their pawning sections to pawn their jewelry have increased in large numbers . The jewelries pawned are also not being redeemed b y a large number of customers and a number of articles are therefore confiscated by the Bank .

When this article was being published, a sizeable businessman speaking to Lanka e new said, since the value of a dollar shot up by Rs.5/- within a day , he had to confront a number of distressing problems . Consequently , he had been obstructed from making any extra payments to his workers for the Sinhala new year. He regretted that since his 25 years in business , this was the first time he had experienced such a difficulty – unable to make extra payments to his staff to celebrate the new year.

India slams SL media report on LTTE camps in TN

Tuesday, April 03, 2012 

Zeenews Bureau 

Colombo: The Indian High Commission in Colombo on Monday dismissed reports in a section of the Sri Lankan media that suggested the existence of LTTE-training camps in Tamil Nadu. 

“The suggestion contained in the news item regarding the training of terrorists at three secret camps in Tamil Nadu, India is entirely erroneous and baseless. Relevant agencies of the two countries have ongoing cooperation and no such information has been brought to the notice of the Government of India,” a release from the High Commission said. 

The statement came after a Sri Lankan newspaper, Divaina, claimed that around 150 ‘terrorists’ have returned to the island after receiving training in Tamil Nadu. 

According to the report, Sri Lanka police intelligence wing came to know about the terrorists while the questioning of three suspects held for the murder of a member of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP). 

Ragunathan was found with his throat slit on March 17. A note was found on the body, which said ‘they had given death penalty to a traitor and have resumed their work’. 

According to the report, the suspects tried to flee to India after the incident, but failed when police arrested them. 

As per the newspaper, it was during the interrogation that the suspects revealed that they received training in Tamil Nadu and were sent to Sri Lanka in the garb of fishermen to destabilise the North and East regions. 

The report also said the suspects were former LTTE cadres who reached Tamil Nadu via sea routes after the end of the war. The suspects have reportedly told the police about receiving an arms training at three secret camps in Tamil Nadu. 

India’s ties with Sri Lanka were strained post New Delhi’s vote in favour of a US-sponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution censuring Colombo for alleged rights violations during the war against LTTE.