President, very far from fact! How is it possible harmony to exist in this country? Question raised by Alliance Saravanabawan MP

Tuesday , 12 February 2013

Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim people are living in Sri Lanka with equal rights and with unity hence will not permit the elements to divide the country, the statement of President, which cannot be accepted.

 His statement is deceiving the Tamil community and actually we feel that he is very far from truth was said by Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district parliament member E.Saravanabawan.

He revealed a report and it further states, we are in a state of facing to the challenges of foreign elements. By getting released from these, through national harmony among the ethnics, and developments, the country could be built.

Sinhalese Tamil and Muslim people are living with equal rights and with unity and will not permit the elements dividing the country was stated by President in Sri Lanka's 65th Independence Day speech.

Being the President of a country, an Independence Day speech is much significant in that country's journey towards its future. But Sri Lanka President's speech deceived the Tamil community and actually it felt it is far from truth.

Minister Douglas Devananda who is in the status of cabinet minister, made a statement at an event said, the Tamil National Alliance is screaming rights, and rights is losing what is in possession. What is in possession is lost means, that what is in possession is snatched, the truth he is accepting.

Politics which grabs what is in possession,   he is also an associate of it , and the 18th amendment, supporting  the "Divineguma" act, giving a lengthy hand for those grabbing is affirmed by him which I should say.

Through national harmony, and over stable development, can defeat the challenges of foreign elements which we accept. But the government headed by President, the oppression activities advanced against the national harmony, is the cause for foreign elements interference which should be realized by President.

Every action processed by the Sri Lanka government, establishes of snatching the fundamental rights of Tamil people, and to oppress the ordinary normal life. In this state, how could national harmony get originated in this country?

Before President's speech got dissolved in air, the Tamil people’s dwellings in Waligamam north had been demolished by the forces. Many thousand hectare lands owned by Tamil people are confiscated by forces and are erected by barbed wire.

Concerning this, Military Spokesperson Warnakulasooriya commented, there is nonexistence of high security zones in any part of Sri Lanka. Only 2000 hectare lands in north are constructed as camps by forces and if needed for development activities, will be taken over legally. Further he said, forces did not demolish any houses.

Medias are targeted when exposed such illegalities. "Udayan" press was at many times attacked, many times its employees were killed, Chief Editor, News Editor including many employees were attempted for assassination which clearly expose the suppressions for freedom of opinion.

Killing, attempts of killing, attack, scorched and much violence are unleashed against Medias, but none is arrested in connection with this. None got punished.

Camps of troops are constructed everywhere, and police are given powers, but such violence were not prevented.

If such oppressions continue against the Tamil people, what are the elements disturbing the national harmony? Who are behind them? Which is aware?

Northern provincial council Governor Major General G.A.Chandrasiri, Northern region Military Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe who have expanded their powers in every point of Northern Province have the responsibility to reply to these queries

They have implemented a civil administration military familiarized in the north. They are handling everyone, state officials, and state employees as their soldiers abiding to their orders. Due to this democracy in north has become a question mark.

None is respecting the parliament members elected by the people, divisional council leaders and members’ .The projects which are submitted by them concerning developments are ignored. Arbitrary activities are advanced and in this state, how could peoples representatives could partake in developments.

The activity of young secretary stuck with northern provincial Governor Major General G.A.Chandrasiri, performs assignments similar to the military dictator’s method of work, is the allegations cropped up from many angles. In the manner of satisfying the Governor, the orders coming from the EPDP head office, activities are continuing are the opinions strongly prevailing.

Due to this reason many state officials are unable to perform their duties in the proper manner. Whether to tolerate the pressure forced against them  or work according to law are the undecided situations faced by some. In this state, some officials have submitted retirement papers. Some more have taken transfers. If they are transferred for distant areas, they may face problems on their children education, hence in fear are working with deep frustration.

Meetings concerning developments, discussions the invitees list is forwarded to EPDP head office and obtaining approval are the conditions processed, was the grief established by some officials.

On the basis of Public Administration officials, employees are subject to the Government Agent.  None other than government agent could order them, but now government officials are pressurized from many angels.

Some deputy government agents functioning with impartiality and audacity are facing variety of pressure. Divisional councils which were elected by people are not operating in the rightful manner.  Divisional council Secretaries  placed  many obstructions in  their working projects.

 Today, any official engaged in abuses to satisfy the Governor and some politicians, the representatives selected by the people tomorrow, when power comes to their hand, they would be placed in a state to reply which I wish to state. Such military oriented administration is forced into Tamil people, is permitted by President, how could he say that Tamil people are living with equal rights'

Another main role taken to disturb the normal life in the north is by northern Commanding Chief Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe.

According to his powers, the presence of military is essential in every event in schools and the events held in the region which is an existing law, but not legalized.

Mainly concerning the university students’ attempts to commemorate the heroes, their arrest, release, Commander made statements like a civil official. Not only this, he gave his objection that concerning the university students crisis, politicians are interfering.

We parliament members are elected by people. We have some privileges. If our people have any problem anywhere we have to stand for them, that is our duty. Government employees cannot criticize us for which they do not have authority which I wish to state explicitly.

Sri Lanka military is in the manner operating as the security force, in the routine of protecting the people, should have prevented and found those connected, with the mysterious assassinations carried out by unidentified persons attacks and violence against the journalists.  We will welcome such activities.

Government machine, government officials, state forces, politicians joined with the government engaged  continuously causing hostile activities against the Tamil people, and disturb their peace, the national harmony cannot be originated which should be understood by President was mentioned.

TN PARTIES LOBBYING FOR SUPPORT ON RESOLUTION AGAINST SRI LANKA

February 12, 2013 

With Parliamentary session all set to begin, the UPA Government is girding up to withstand pressure from both the DMK and AIADMK to support a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) against Sri Lanka. The Centre is, however, keeping all options open

  

The US had announced last month that it would introduce a ‘procedural resolution’ during the next session of UNHRC. The resolution is expected to be put to vote before the session ends on March 22, when the Indian Parliament will also be in session.

With the DMK begining the groundwork, it remains to be seen, if there would be a re-run of last year’s intense pressure mounted by the Tamil regional parties.

Since Monday, a delegation led by DMK leader M K Stalin, including senior members of Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO), visited a number of foreign embassies to lobby in support of the US sponsored draft resolution. They have reportedly held talks with diplomats from Italy, Malaysia and Montenegro.

The delegation also met the US embassy officials and Russian diplomats. Last year, Russia had voted against the resolution and asked Sri Lanka to launch a probe into war crime allegations. On Friday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had demanded India to take initiative in introducing a resolution in the UN council to impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka, till it agreed for a political settlement, providing equal rights to the Sri Lankan Tamils.

The pressure is likely to mount on the Centre, with both the AIADMK and DMK expected to outdo each other during the Parliamentary session, which begins from February 21. 

According to sources, the DMK is likely to press for a calling attention motion in both the Houses, while the AIADMK is expected to demand a half-an-hour discussion on the subject, where it would refer to the status of rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils and the progress made on political settlement.The TESO, which enjoys the DMK support, is slated to hold a conference in Delhi on February 7. The venue is Constitution club - a stone’s throw away from the Parliament. Keeping the pressure on Sri Lanka, the US had announced its plans for a resolution in the UN council, when a three-member state department delegation visited Colombo last month. In a statement it had said that the 24 countries, which had supported the 2012 resolution, would do the same this time.

Contrary to impression created in Sri Lankan media, India has not yet taken a call on the resolution. The decision would largely depend on the final wording before it is put to vote. The US indicated that the resolution would be a stock-taking exercise of the action taken by Sri Lanka, since the previous resolution.Last time, India had tried to engage Sri Lanka in making changes to the resolution but in vain.

Yet, Indian diplomats worked with the US and other sponsors to make sure that the final resolution was not very intrusive. “It had been a totally unilateral move (to renegotiate the resolution),” said sources.

This time, India may not take such an active role, since there isn’t much political imperative to do so. It was to appease the Jayalalithaa Government that the UPA had backed the 2012 resolution. It was then in a hurry to mollify the state government, whose cooperation was required to crack down on the protests against the Koodankulum Nuclear Power Plant.Instead of getting involved, India wants the Americans and Sri Lankans to have direct talks  on the resolution. It means that Colombo has to make a u-turn from its stand last year, when it wanted to have no role in negotiating the resolution.

A lot will depend on the wording of the draft resolution. The US and other sponsors would submit the draft to the council 10 days before the final vote. “Even the draft will undergo lots of changes at the last minute, before it is voted upon. So, it is too early for us to take a call right now,” said a senior government official. (ENS)

Hospital becomes breeding ground for disharmony between Tamils, Muslims in Ampaa’rai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 February 2013, 22:16 GMT]
The Base hospital of Kalmunai North in Ampaa’rai district has become a breeding ground for disharmony between Tamils and Muslims following systematic posting of 22 Muslim health workers with the backing of SL ministers aligned with the Colombo regime with an intention of causing communal dissension, health officials at the hospital say. 

Sri Lankan ministers in Colombo, through one-sided appointments, have made the 130-year old Base hospital of Kalmunai North, which is situated at a place where Tamils live in majority. 

Since the recent appointment of a new Medical Superintendent, he has brought 22 Muslim medical officers to the hospital, transferring away Tamil medical officers.

A demonstration was held Wednesday under the auspices of Hospital Development Society alleging several irregularities at the hospital. The people of the area also participated in the protest along with the employees of the hospital. 
The new MS on the first day itself ordered the photograph of Pi’l’laiyaar to be moved out of the hospital, causing disharmony among the Tamil and Muslim communities.

Tourist tattooed with image of Buddha arrested

Kandy – Kamal Suraweera-2013-02-12  The Tourism Unit of the Kandy Police Headquarters has taken into custody a young female, reportedly a Netherlands national, who has a tattoo of the Buddha on her back. Patrina Irene Bronco (26) who said she came to Sri Lanka with her fiancé had been at a leading restaurant in the city, and dressed in a manner that revealed the tattoo of the Buddha. A group of Sri Lankan youth in the restaurant who had seen the tattoo on her body had flown into a rage, resulting in a heated argument between the two groups. Another youth who was in the restaurant at the time, had informed the police of the incident. The police had arrived at the restaurant and arrested the foreigner. When the statement was being recorded by the police, Bronco, had said she had got the tattoo done in the Netherland, and she was not aware that it is an offence. She had also said that, if having a tattoo of the Buddha on her body is considered sacrilegious in Sri Lanka, she would tender an apology. The Tourism Unit of the Kandy Police had produced the tourist before the Kandy Magistrate, who had warned her and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000. She was released thereafter.

Mini tornado hits Ampara

[ Tuesday, 12 February 2013, 04:39.02 PM GMT +05:30 ]

More than 10 houses at Samandhurai divisional secretary were damaged by mini tornado.

Several houses and shops at the Ampara coastal areas were also damaged from this mini tornado.

Cardinal Ranjith a contender for Pope: Forbes

TUESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2013 

With Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation, Sri Lanka’s Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith (65) is also among the front runners for head of the Catholic Church, the Forbes magazine said.

For the first time in 600 years, a pope is resigning after less than eight years in office. Today Pope Benedict XVI, 85, made the surprise announcement that he would step down on Feb. 28, citing his advanced age.

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi, said a successor could be elected by Easter, which falls on March 31.

Already speculation is running rampant. Vatican experts say there is no clear favorite. Several Italians top the list (Italians hold a quarter of the seats in the College of Cardinals, which will pick the next pope), but a Canadian is also a frontrunner, and many are speculating that the next pope will come from Latin America, home to 42% of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, or from Africa. Here are some of the leading contenders as reported thus far.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70, Archbishop of Genoa. He made headlines last year for attacking then-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and other Italian leaders as unethical role models. He’s “fairly savvy about both secular politics and the media,” writes National Catholic Reporter Vatican specialist John Allen. USA Today ranks him as one of the top possible picks. Church historian Matthew Bunson told USA Today that Bagnasco is “an intellectual heavyweight” who speaks multiple languages. Bagnasco has twice been president of the Italian bishops’ conference.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, 70. Archbishop of Milan. According to the National Catholic Reporter, his is the most commonly mentioned name among cardinals. He is a scholar on Islam and Christian-Muslim dialogue. Church historian Matthew Bunson, told USA Today that Scola is “well positioned for dealing with the challenges of secularism and materialism in the West.”

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, 70. Another Italian, who became a cardinal in 2010, he heads the Pontifical Council for Culture, which works on the relationship between Catholicism and different cultures. Known for his intellect and communication skills, he is a bible scholar, based in Rome.  John Allen has said that Ravasi may have a disadvantage because he has never been a bishop with an archdiocese. “Some would wonder if there were substance beneath the charm,” Allen told USA Today.

Christoph Schoenborn, 68. Cardinal of Vienna and a former student of Pope Benedict, he has been a cardinal since 1998. He heads the Austrian Bishops Conference. He has spoken out against sex abuse in the Church and said that the celibacy of priests should be re-examined in light of the scandals.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68. The former Archibishop of Quebec, Ouellet now heads the Congregation of Bishops, an influential post. Experienced in dealing with secularized Catholics, he is also hailed as smart and intellectual.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri,  69. A longtime Vatican diplomat, he heads the Vatican’s office for eastern Catholics. Born in Argentina, he has held church offices in Venezuela and Mexico and would be the first pope from South America. He is currently No. 2 in the Vatican Secretary of State’s office. When Pope John Paul II died in April 2005, Sandri read the public announcement.

Odilo Scherer, 63, archbishop of Sao Paolo. He became a cardinal in 2007. He was born in Brazil of parents of German ancestry. Considered a theological moderate, he has taught philosophy and theology. He has criticized liberation theology’s Marxist orientation but praised its work on social justice and poverty.

Peter Turkson, 64. From Ghana, Turkson heads the Vatican’s justice and peace department. He is often named as the frontrunner from Africa. Turkson studied at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, where he earned his Bachelor’s in theology. He is the first Ghanaian cardinal. Though he has said condoms are not a solution to the AIDS crisis, he has also said that if one person in a faithful, married couple is infected, condoms could be useful.

Francis Arinze, 80, converted from animist beliefs to Catholicism at age nine. He was appointed cardinal in 1985. His name was floated in 2005 to succeed John Paul II. Arinze became known during the Nigeria-Biafra war in the late 1960s when, as Archbishop of Onitsha, he organized the distribution of food and medical supplies.

Other contenders who have been floated this morning:

Cardinal Tarsicio Bertone, 78, Italy. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, Argentina. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, 63, U.S. (New York). Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith, 65, Sri Lanka. Antonio Cañizares Llovera, 67, Spain. Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, 71, Mexico. Cardinal George Pell, 70, Australia. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, 68, Italy. Cardinal Angelo Amato, 74, Italy. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, 69, Italy.

Pope Benedict XVI ranked in the No. 5 slot on Forbes’ most recent list of the most powerful people in the world.

Cardinal complains to IGP of harassment

Cardinal complains to IGP of harassment

by Madura Ranwala -February 6, 2013

The Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith on Tuesday, complained in writing to Inspector General of Police N. K. Illangakoon of police harassment directed at Catholics and requested him to particularly stop the harassment of the parishioners and the parish priest by the Avissawella police.

Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has sent copies of his strongly-worded letter to the IGP to the Chairman of the Road Development Authority, DIG of Sabaragamuwa Province, Chief Engineer, Road Development Authority, Avissawella and OIC of the Avissawella police, regarding the torching of a fiberglass statue of ‘Mother Mary’, which was placed on a bare land in front of the church of ‘Mary, Mother of The Eucharist’ Church at Avissawella, the only church in Sri Lanka, having a history of 150 years.

The Cardinal has also stressed the fact that the installation of the statue there had been done in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Seethawakapura Urban Council as the parishioners, together with the parish priest, had sought the relevant approval from the Mayor and it had been approved unanimously at a general meeting held in 2011.

However, the statue was set ablaze by some unknown persons on Jan. 27, the Cardinal has said.

Parishioners told The Island yesterday that the police instead of looking for the culprits were busy recording statements from the parishioners in a bid to ascertain how the statue had been brought there and who had funded it etc.

Asked whether there were any objections from any religious community in the area to the statue, they said five chief incumbents of the temples in the area had in writing condemned the attack on the statue and had expressed their solidarity with the Church to pursue with the project.

Parishioners said that they were puzzled by the manner in which the police were handling the matter.

"Udayan" press reprimanded by Commander

"Udayan" press and Tamil National Alliance parliament member Saravanabawan was simultaneously reprimanded by Jaffna district Commanding Chief Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe.

Commanding Chief said, activities are processed to file case against parliament member E.Saravanabawan.

A press conference was organized by the Jaffna district military Commander was held yesterday morning at Jaffna civil administration office.

Commanding chief said, the "Udayan" press is always reviewing the military.  If most of the incidents occur in Jaffna, and the location where a specified incident occurs, the "Udayan" press normal practice is to publish that the military camp is located 200 meters away.

People, who were in the dark before, are now leading a happy life. The road check points which were earlier are not in existence now. Write this, without writing unnecessary things, and don't waste your newspaper columns..

Father raping his own child, or youth society getting drifted or the obliteration of the cultural values of the Tamil people, are some of the issues which are not written by you'll, but why only about military?

Newspaper should function with responsibility.  Pirabakaran has died; it is no use of discussing about it and directing the country towards devastation path, write something to develop the country.

Without always quoting that   there is nothing, is better to write about the volume of opportunities given to the people. Publish such developments.

Writing erroneously and earning is equal to the money get from stealing. This will not lead a peaceful life. Your children also will suffer by these earnings.

Parliament member Saravanabawan has made a statement that he is aware about the "Thinakural" newspaper burnt incident. He says that it would not have happened without my knowledge. This has caused severe annoyance to me.

I should have supreme power if I had to exist in all the areas in Jaffna.  If I am in all the areas, I will not permit for such incidents to occur.

 I am scrutinizing to take legal action against parliament member Saravanabawan concerning this matter  in order to tarnish my reputation was mentioned by him.

Tuesday , 12 February 2013

Sri Lanka’s National Plan of Action vis-à-vis Reconciliation

Sri Lanka’s National Plan of Action vis-à-vis Reconciliation

Groundviews -Gnana Moonesinghe-12 Feb, 2013

Image courtesy Centre for Human Rights

“Reconciliation requires changes of heart and spirit, as well as social and economic change. It requires symbolic as well as practical action” – Malcolm Fraser

With the Human Rights Commission meeting coming up in March 2013, the focus of the people of Sri Lanka is on the National Action Plan formulated by the Government to implement the LLRC recommendations.

The difficulty in reviewing the progress on the National Action Plan is the non-availability of information on any kind of assessment on the movement forward in implementing the recommendations of the LLRC. The comments on this paper are therefore based on random reporting in the media as well as conversations with individuals from the North and the East. While it is necessary to state that the observations below are based on unsubstantiated evidence, the comments made are in the best interests of the Nation. It is nonetheless necessary to point out that the authorities have been remiss in not feeding the public with information regarding the progress made in the implementation of the National Action Plan.

Even as the country moves into the dawn of 2013, in Sri Lanka too, a persistent perception prevails that there is an unhurried approach by the authorities to implement the findings of the commission. In the post conflict period, to the average Sri Lankan the most pertinent part of the commission’s mandate are the areas that concentrate on reconciliation and nation building. Many of the recommendations also make reconciliation the focal point for ethnic harmony and nation building. As a prelude to the healing process it was recommended that “a collective act of contrition by the political leaders and civil society of both Sinhala and Tamil communities” for their failure to forge a consensus for a political solution to the ethnic problem be made. The blame falls jointly on the Government, the opposition and the minorities who have failed to make the accommodation essential for compromise and movement forward. It seems that by the post war period the leaders from the majority and minority ethnic groups have jelled once again into the familiar track of non- accommodation and that very little effort is demonstrated to find new approaches to the causes of conflict and its resolution.

Continue reading »

The Sri Lankan President’s Twitter archive and Propaganda 2.0: New challenges for online dissent

Groundviews -12 Feb, 2013

The President enters Twitter
Last month, the President of Sri Lanka began tweeting officially as @PresRajapaksa. The account is already authenticated by Twitter. Though @PresRajapaksa’s profile notes that “tweets from the President are signed MR.” there is, to date, not a single tweet penned by the President himself.

The launch of the account was instructive in how the regime is perceived online by voices not usually openly vocal about mainstream politics. Under the hashtag #PresidentTweets, dozens of voices on Twitter openly poked fun at the President’s entry to Twitter. The tweets, only a fraction of which are captured below, poked fun at the President’s closest political associates, his role in the impeachment of the Chief Justice, his violent, autocratic tendencies and the Rajapaksa family’s nepotism.

Continue reading »

UNHRC resolution on SL: Why India should finally stand up

• ALSO SEE

  • Rajapaksa rules out greater political autonomy for Lankan Tamils

  If India has been constrained to side with Sri Lanka on the ethnic Tamil issue as well as in blocking international pressure for its alleged war crimes because of geopolitical weakness, it can seize an upcoming opportunity: the 22nd UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session to be held in March.

  Dissatisfied with Sri Lanka’s inability to comply with international demands – even after a resolution at the UNHRC last year – the US is planning a “procedural resolution” against the country. In spirit and intent, it will be a near-repeat of the last resolution, which wanted Sri Lanka to implement its own recommendations on the 2009 war excesses and punish the guilty.

Reuters quoted visiting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Moore in Colombo as saying, “The US and the other 23 members of the UNHRC who voted for that resolution in 2012 believe that the government of Sri Lanka needs to fulfill its commitments made to its own people.”

It’s time for India to stop behaving like an insecure lover: Reuters

Following the war against the LTTE, in which about 40,000 Tamil civilians were allegedly killed and scores of others executed, Sri Lanka had set up an expert group called the LLRC (Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission) to investigate alleged excesses and recommend action. However weak its recommendations were, Sri Lanka dragged its feet in implementing them.

Tangled in bureaucratic procedures that Sri Lanka goes at length to explain as the process of their implementation, the LLRC recommendations have been gathering dust for over two years now.

India’s role at the UNHRC in March last, where the US and its allies pushed for the anti-Sri Lanka resolution, was dubious at best. It voted supporting the resolution at the 11th hour, but spoiled its efficacy by watering it down. Before and after the resolution, the country appeared to be vulnerable to the deception of the island nation, which even did some hostile posturing through its proxies.

It’s the geopolitical quadrangle involving China and Pakistan that is making India’s knees weak when it comes to its island neighbour. The wily Sri Lankan regime constantly dangles this geopolitical quadrangle, forcing India to behave like an insecure lover. In the process, China has reportedly made considerable economic and strategic gains in the country, which has even prompted the opposition UNP to advise caution.

“Sri Lanka has gone out on a limb to offer projects to China since the inception of this year,” newspaper Nation quoted UNP member of parliament and economist Dr Harsha de Silva. “Sri Lanka has sidelined India for unknown reasons and this shortsightedness could prove to be harmful in the long term considering that the UNHRC summit is months away.”

Besides the Hambantota port and international airport, China has reportedly bagged another highway project and investments in other sectors such as agriculture.

Notwithstanding intense international pressure and the last UNHRC resolution, Sri Lanka has grown even more brazen in handling dissent, and its regime has become more undemocratic and intolerant to criticism. The latest in its rising defiance was the impeachment of the Supreme Court chief justice Shirani Bandaranayake, even as civil rights groups at home and the international community stridently asked the government to stop this undemocratic process.

In a gross violation of the separation of powers, which is an inalienable characteristic of a democracy, the Mahinda Rajapakse regime removed the chief justice because she exercised her judicial right to question the government. Justice Shirani had asked the government not to take back the powers of the provinces without the Court’s approval.

In a funny procedure, that befitted the conduct of a banana republic, Rajapakse then used his massive parliamentary strength to send her home, and appointed a pliable ally as the next chief justice. With this, the vital separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive has in effect vanished in Sri Lanka, letting the President virtually handle both. He is now the country’s first democratically elected autocrat.

The impeachment has sent a clear signal to the judiciary to fall in line or get out. In comparison, even a crumbling Pakistan has a better judiciary.

As Firstpost had noted, Justice Shirani’s impeachment was India’s foreign policy failure, because with her removal Sri Lanka has ensured that its aim not to devolve powers to the Tamil provinces is now unopposed. This was against the promise given to India, with regards to the 13th amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution. (The 13th amendment sets up the Provincial councils and outlines some devolution of power)

India has always pacified Tamil groups in the country citing 13th amendment, promise of more inclusive politics and the reported rehabilitation efforts. The impeachment exposed Sri Lanka’s double standards on the issue and betrayed its treacherous designs with India.

The Sri Lankan President’s address on the 65th independence day, where he ruled out autonomy for Tamils and promised only equal rights, confirmed that India has been cheated out of the game. This was against what has been historically agreed with India.

Now, as many independent observers and rights groups have warned time and again, the country has completely gone back on its promise. It may be easily concluded that the question of Tamil autonomy is now more or less a closed chapter; it’s not even a pipe-dream.

Available information shows that the ethnically and culturally distinctive (Tamil) north and eastern areas of the country are more homogenised and militarised now. The regime would want to culturally unify the distinctively Tamil areas, which will prove to be detrimental to the interests of the Tamils as the Sinhala language policy had done a few decades ago.

India has other reasons to get out of its geopolitical weak spot.

There is considerable political protest brewing in Tamil Nadu. President Rajapakse is scheduled to visit India, ostensibly on pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya in Bihar, and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, and the Tamil groups are planning black-flag protests.

At a DMK-led Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) meeting on Sunday in Chennai, Karunanidhi asked the union government not to encourage Rajapakse in India. He said Rajapakse was a an enemy of humanity. He also wanted the centre to facilitate a resolution at the upcoming UNHRC session asking for a referendum in Sri Lanka.

The US resolution will be yet another opportunity for India to call Sri Lanka’s bluff and take action on its blatant dismissal of the demands of human rights groups and international community. Over the years, it has perfected the art of lying, dodging and ganging up with countries that have scant respect for human rights and democracy to thumb its nose at civility. India has been a willing victim.

Even now, Sri Lanka is certain that India will side with it. “Our position is that India is our greatest friend and closest neighbor and they have been extremely supportive in many issues and they have been a friend indeed. So, we believe that stand,” media minister Keheliya Rambukwella has reportedly said.

It’s time India played back the geopolitical card.

Is The Country Willing To Go The Whole Nine Yards?

By Vishnuguptha -February 12, 2013 

I was intrigued by an article authored by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka last week, where he argues quite lucidly, as he always does, for what seems to be a four-tiered ‘roadmap’ to counter the present regime. I would rather call it a roadmap than a manifesto. I am sure Dayan, the prolific wordsmith, would agree with me on the usage of the lingo. The basic presupposition of his ‘roadmap’ is a ‘regime change’. As a neutral observer, Dayan presents his arguments for such a regime change based on four prerequisites (emphasis is mine). His contextualization of the whole argument is extremely neat and the evidentiary cases that he presents are worthy and profound in content. I would like to deal with each of his prerequisites as follows:

Firstly, the sources of legitimacy 

Dayan argues: “National legitimacy will almost always trump democratic legitimacy, especially in a context of victory. In the context of military defeat, nationalist legitimacy remains as powerful but acts against the regime, as in the case of J.R. Jayewardene after the ’87 airdrop, the Argentinean Junta after the Falklands/Malvinas defeat and Serbia’s nationalists and Socialists after losing Kosovo. Crudely put, any election which pits the present Leader of the Opposition and the UNP against Mahinda Rajapaksa is akin to Marshal Petain running against de Gaulle or Neville Chamberlain contesting against Churchill.”However, there is an exception to this. In the United States, whenOsama Bin Ladenattacked the World Trade Centre under the watch of George W. Bush, although I personally cannot think how such an attack on your own soil by a private army of a terrorist group could be termed as a victory in military or social terms, the public relations and media outfit that helped Bush to come to power in the first place, managed to turn that tragedy into a countrywide rallying point for the US President. In fact, it would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Bush to gain re-election three years later, if not for the 9/11 tragedy. They turned that security debacle into a rallying cry for the incumbent. 

Yet, the fact that the present Leader of the Opposition had lost credibility among the Sinhalese Buddhists, the core voter group in any election in Sri Lanka, is beyond dispute. The legitimacy issue as far as the present UNP leadership and its hierarchy is concerned, is very legitimate and troubling to the dwindling, yet loyal and diehard UNPers in the villages.

This legitimacy issue is even more valid in the context of the youth. All the achievements of the past UNP Governments are not relevant to this segment of the population. The last time the UNP was in power was in 1994. Even a baby that was born in that year is a voter today. For that ‘baby’, the so-called achievements of the UNP Governments are just subjects to read about only in civics or maybe history and geography books. No politician can draw empathy from this new generation of voters.

This trend of new voters increasingly getting alienated from the UNP is more apparent when one observes the attendance at functions organized by the UNP Parliamentarians, whether they represent the Ranil Group or the Reformists Group. One can hardly spot a youthful lad or girl among the attendees.

How can the opposition win confidence or legitimacy as Dayan calls it, from this voter group? If the present lot is not acceptable to the greater majority of the people, and if the present leader of the government would outstrip the current UNP leader, given the bubble within which the UNP is functioning at present, it is impossible to field a candidate from within the UNP against Mahinda Rajapaksa. In such a scenario, all avenues for anyone who is serious about a regime change seem to be closed.

If any noteworthy attempt is undertaken to oust the present President at the next elections, that attempt must include, among others, a legitimate candidate of national stature from amongst the opposition personalities with legitimacy in so far as national pride and patriotism is concerned and that emerging personality should be able to match the current President’s claims for legitimacy, especially among the majority Sinhalese Buddhist voters. I cannot agree with Dayan more that Ranil Wickremesinghe is indeed a very risky choice. 

Secondly, the vital importance of shifting to and occupying the centre

In generic terms, a shift to the centre is always more politically savvy and beneficial in the long run. Yet what happened especially in the just concluded US Presidential elections was something else. The victory by the Republicans, spearheaded by the Tea Party faction, at the mid-term elections in 2010 gave them false hope and confidence that the country has made a decisive shift to the right. The Tea Partiers dragged the Republican Party to such a corner, it was impossible for the would-be candidates to articulate any middle-of-the-road policies at the Primary process. The eventual candidate, Mitt Romney painted himself as such a ‘severe’ conservative; any shift back to the centre would have been seen as a retreat for core conservative principles. Consequently Barack Obama and the Democrats did not have to move to the centre, either in rhetoric or actual policy positions. Obama eventually won comfortably even though he did not have to move to the centre which is usually occupied by the undecided, uncommitted voter. The positions assumed by Romney and his surrogates were so far right, those undecided voters chose Obama as the ‘reasonable’ choice.

In Sri Lanka, the present regime has taken the country to a corner all right but as Dayan quite rightly states, the country seems to be comfortable dwelling in that sphere. Repeated appeals to the ‘Mahawansa Mindset’ have buttressed that position so much that any shift from that right-wing corner appears to indicate vulnerability and weakness. Yet most of our opinion-makers who hail from the middle-class and the lower middle-class might adjust to a shift to the centre. But that centre should be portrayed exclusively in terms of economic policies. Any noticeable shift in the ethno-socio positions would be treated as unpatriotic and treacherous. The emerging leadership of the Opposition should be able to strike a very delicate balance among these competing social forces. Occupying the centre is a must, yet one can extract some advantage by defining that centre in his own terms.

Thirdly, a grasp of Gramsci and the importance of triangulating the factors of the ‘national’, the ‘democratic’ and the ‘popular’ or pro-people

If a marriage between the freedom of the individual and that of nation/country (sovereignty), as Dayan points out, could be achieved, the journey towards convincing a majority of the people, whether they occupy the centre or an extreme, becomes much more manageable and would eventually open new byroads in this roadmap. Yet the absence of a credible speaker who could articulate such nuanced political positions is greatly felt in the Opposition corner. The old UNP had Premadasa, Lalith and Gamini who could convince a majority of the people both at public level and at limited-audience level. In this sphere, the acceptance of the speaker or the chief narrator by the people at large and the mutual empathy that should be created between the two are crucial, if not critical. Among the opposition ranks all these talents are available but, at least as of now, they seem to be occupying the JVP ranks. One cannot seriously consider that the JVP is a viable alternative to either the UPFA or the UNP.

Against such a backdrop, it is almost impossible to find such a person or a group of persons within the existing political structure. Having been entrenched in the current stalemate, almost all political leaders in the Opposition seem to be quite happy to be dwelling in their own ‘comfort zones’.

The one who dares to leave this ‘comfort zone’ would ultimately lead this struggle. Yet that person’s emergence is more a product of wishful thinking than that of accurate political forecasting. Triangulation of the factors of the ‘national’, the ‘democratic’ and the ‘popular’ or pro-people seems far away at least for the time being.

Fourthly, political content must not be sacrificed for organizational forms

Among the arguments Dayan presents in this fourth tier, the most compelling case is that of Chandrika Kumaratunga. Whereas, both D. S. Senanayake and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike broke away from the ruling party, (in DS’s case, it was the Ceylon National Congress that was the leading political organization in Ceylon at the time), Chandrika created her sense of independence and tenacity while her Party was languishing in the opposition benches. Premadasa, although he formed a Citizens’ Front would not have broken away at that time with Dudley and JR at the helm of the UNP. The other exception is the DUNF formed by the trio of Gamini, Lalith and Premachandra.

After breaking away, or being banished by the UNP, the Gamini/Lalith/Premachandra trio managed to secure 18% – 23% of the vote base in Sri Lanka at the Provincial Council Elections. We must also be mindful of the fact that Gamini, Lalith and Premachandra challenged the Premadasa-led UNP at a time when Premadasa was in fact the most popular leader in the country. However, many attempts undertaken by the so-called Reformists Group led by Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya at displacing Ranil Wickremesinghe from the UNP have failed. The sentiments generated by these groups against the UNP Leader are still fresh and lingering. Nevertheless, there is another option available, not only for the UNP and its reformists but also for the country at large as well.

If the DUNF could muster roughly 20% of the electorate when the leader whom they challenged was so popular and acceptable, the same avenue that the DUNF trod is very much open to the Reformists’ Group. But they will have to say good-by to Presidential hopes. Instead, if they can form another alternative force that can secure 20 % of the electorate vote, they surely will be the ‘king-makers’ in the making at the next parliamentary elections. That option is available and all one needs is a gutty leader who has the courage of his or her convictions. If not, the prognosis is not very appetizing. Is the country or the potential leader willing and ready to go the whole nine yards?

Of course, in addition to the four tiers that Dayan has enunciated, another practical, yet very important issue is the availability of funds and the awesome advantage that the Rajapaksa regime enjoys at present in this regard. It could be safely said that for every 10 rupees that the collective opposition could garner, the regime could offer Rs. 10,000 or more. Thus any credible roadmap for regime change has to take that factor into account.