இசைப்பிரியாவையும் அவர்போன்ற போராளிகளையும் வியாபாரம் ஆக்காதீர்கள்:- திரைப் படத்தை நிறுத்துங்கள்:-

தாயார் வேதரஞ்சனி உலகத் தமிழர்களிடம் உருக்கமான வேண்டுகோள்- - உணர்வுகள் வரிகளாக - இணைப்பு 2-24 ஜூன் 2014

23-06-2014 - 13:14

முள்ளிவாய்க்காலில் உயிர் நீத்த ஊடகப் போராளி இசைப் பிரியாவையும் அவர்போன்ற இசைப்பிரியாக்களையும் தத்தமது நலன்களுக்காக வியாபாரமாக்காதீர்கள் என சோபனா என்ற இசைப்பிரியாவின் தாயார் வேதரஞ்சனி குளோபல் தமிழ்ச் செய்திகள் ஊடாக உருக்கமான வேண்டுகோளை உலகத் தமிழர்களை நோக்கி முன்வைத்துள்ளார். அவரது வேண்டுதல் அவரது குரல்வழியாக தரப்படுகிறது கேட்டுப் பாருங்கள்.

எங்களுக்காகவே தம்மைக் கொடுத்த அந்த ஆத்மாக்களுக்கு நாங்கள் செய்யும் மரியாதை இதுதானா?

எங்கள் குடும்ப உறுப்பினரான சோபனா என்ற சொந்தப் பெயரைக் கொண்ட இசைப்பிரியாவை உங்கள் எல்லாருக்கும் தெரியும். அவர் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பில் தன்னை முழுமையாக இணைத்துக்கொண்ட ஊடகப்போராளி. திருமணமானவர். ஒரு குழந்தையின் தாய். இறுதிவரை விடுதலைப் புலிகள் அமைப்பின் உறுப்பினராக இருந்து தன் தாய் மண்ணிலேயே சிங்கள ஏகாதிபத்திய அரசால் அழிக்கப்பட்டவர்.

அவளது மரணம், அதில் நிகழ்த்தப்பட்ட குற்றம் - போர்க் குற்றமாக அறியப்பட்டு ஐநாவில் ஆவணங்களுடன் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட்டு, விசாரணைக்கு எடுக்கப்படவுள்ளது. இதற்கு நாம் எந்த மறுப்பையும் தெரிவிக்கவில்லை. ஏனெனில் தமிழ்மக்களுக்கான உரிமைகள் எமக்கு கிடைக்க வேண்டும் என்பதற்காக பல ஈடுசெய்ய முடியாத அர்ப்பணிப்புகளை தந்து அதற்காக நாம் காத்திருப்பவர்கள். ஆனால் அதற்காக தமிழர்கள் வரம்பு மீறி நடப்பதை அனுமதிக்க முடியாது. 

இசைப்பிரியாவின் மரணம் நடந்து 5 வருடம் முடிவடைந்துவிட்டது. இன்றுவரை அவரது அரைகுறை ஆடைகளுடன், அல்லது அவையும் இல்லாத நிலையிலுமான புகைப்படங்களும், காணொளிகளும், தமிழ் சமூக வலைத் தளங்களிலும், செய்தி இணையங்களிலும், முகநூல் பக்கங்களிலும் வலம் வருவது நிற்கவில்லை. எதை ஓப்பிண் (open)  பண்ணினாலும் - எமது விடுதலைப் போராட்டத்திற்காக தங்களை அர்ப்பணித்து, இறுதிவரை அந்த மண்ணிலேயே நின்று மரணம் அடைந்த அந்தப்  பெண்களினதும், ஆண்களினதும், நிர்வாணக் காட்சிகள் மறைக்கப்படாமலேயே, தமிழ் இணையங்களுக்கு உள்ளேயே இதனைப் பகிர்வதில் எங்களுக்கு அப்படி என்ன கிடைக்கப் போகிறது.

அந்தக் காட்சிகளில் உள்ள குடும்ப உறவுகளின் மன நிலைகளை நீங்கள் என்று புரிந்துகொள்ளப் போகிறீர்கள். இதில் இருப்பது
எனது அப்பாவா?
எனது அம்மாவா?
எனது சித்தியா?

என அவர்களின் குழந்தைகள் தமது குடும்பத்தாரை கேட்ட செய்திகள் உங்களுக்கு தெரியுமா? அந்தப் பிஞ்சுமனங்களின் ஏக்கங்களுக்கு உங்களின் பதில் என்ன?

எங்களுக்காகவே தம்மைக் கொடுத்த அந்த ஆத்மாக்களுக்கு நாங்கள் செய்யும் மரியாதை இதுதானா?

அவர்களது உயிர்த் தியாகங்களை ஏன் வியாபாரமாக்குகிறீர்கள்? ஒரு செய்தியை மற்றவர்களுடன் பகிர்வதற்கு முன்னர் அதன் விளைவையும் சிறிது சிந்தியுங்கள். எல்லோரது குடும்பத்தினர்களுக்கும் தமது கருத்தை வெளியிடும் வசதி கிடைக்கவில்லை. இல்லாவிட்டால் எல்லாக் குடும்பங்களும் உங்களிடம் இதைத்தான் கேட்பார்கள்.

இதுமட்டும் அன்றி தற்பொழுது தமிழ்நாட்டில் எமது போராட்டத்தின் வலியை திரைப்படமாக்கும் - பணம் தேடும் பல முயற்சிகள் ஆரம்பிக்கப்பட்டதையும், தமிழக உறவுகளால் அவை முளையிலேயே கிள்ளி எறியப்பட்டு வருவதையும் அறிகிறோம்.

அந்த வகையிலே இசைப்பிரியா என்றழைக்கப்படும் எமது குடும்பப் பெண்ணான சோபனாவின் வரலாறும் தன்னிச்சையாகப் படமாக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. இது எத்தனை தமிழ் உறவுகளுக்கு தெரியுமோ தெரியாது. குடும்பத்தினரான எமக்கே அண்மையில்தான் தெரியும்.

கர்நாடகா மாநிலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த கணேசன் என்பவரால் போர்களத்தில் ஒரு பூ என்ற பெயரில் இந்தப் படம் எடுக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. எமது வீட்டுப் பெண்ணின் வரலாறு, எமது குடும்பத்தின் வரலாறு, தியாகம், கர்நாடகா மாநிலத்தில் இருக்கும் கணேசனுக்கு எப்படித் தெரியும்? ஊடகங்களில் வரும் ஊகங்களை வைத்துக்கொண்டு ஒரு பெண்ணின் வாழ்க்கையை, கதையாக்கிப் படமாக்க முடியுமா? அந்தப் படத்தின் விளம்பரங்களைப் பார்த்தாலே அவர் இந்தக் கதையை தேர்ந்தெடுத்ததன் நோக்கம், தெளிவாகப் புரியும். வியாபார நோக்கிலான இந்தப் படத்தை நாம் என்றும் அனுமதிக்க மாட்டோம்.

நாம் நேரடியாக கணேசனுடன் தொடர்புகொண்டும், கனடா, பிரான்ஸ் போன்ற நாடுகளுக்கு இந்தப் படம் தொடர்பான நிகழ்வுகளை நடத்த கணேசன் சென்ற போது, உறவினர்கள் நலன் விரும்பிகள் மூலம், தொடர்பு கொண்டு நாம் பேசினோம். இந்தத் திரைப்படம் வெளிவர அனுமதிக்க மாட்டோம் எனத் தெளிவாகக் கூறி வந்துள்ளோம்.

ஆனால் அவர் இவை எதனையுமே பொருட்படுத்துவதாகத் தெரியவில்லை. நீங்கள் சொல்வதைச் சொல்லுங்கள், நான் செய்வதைச் செய்வேன் என்ற போக்கிலேயே நடந்து கொள்கிறார். படத்திற்கான இசை வெளியீடும் முடிவடைந்துள்ளது.

அண்மையில் லண்டனில் கூட இசை வெளியீடு செய்ய முற்பட்டு இருந்தார். அமைப்பாளர்களுடன் தொடர்புகொண்டு இதனை நிறுத்தினோம்.

 அவர் தன்னை தமிழ் உணர்வாளன் எனவும் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு விழிப்புணர்ர்வு கொடுக்கவே இந்தப் படத்தை எடுப்பதாகவும் சொன்னார். 

பின்னர் பிரான்ஸில் பேசும் போது ஒன்றரைக் கோடி தந்தால் படம் எடுப்பதையே நிறுத்துவதாக சொன்னார். இதன் மூலம் அவரது தமிழ் உணர்வை நாம் உணர முடிகிறது.

கணேசன் போன்ற சிந்தை கொண்ட தமிழ் உணர்வாளர்களுக்கு நாம் தயவாகச் சொல்லிக்கொள்ள விரும்புவது என்னவென்றால், இலங்கையிலே எம் தமிழ் உறவுகளுக்கு மத்தியிலே எத்தனையோ இசைப் பிரியாக்களும்,  பாலச்சந்திரன்களும், பிரபாகரன்களும், உயிருடன் வாழ்ந்துகொண்டுதான் இருக்கிறார்கள். அன்று விடுதலைப் போராட்டத்தை கேலி செய்தவர்களும், வேடிக்கை பார்த்தவர்களும் கூட இன்று அதன் வலியை உணர்ந்து நிற்கிறார்கள். முள்ளிவாய்க்கால் வரை அவர்களுடன் சென்றவர்கள் நாம். ஏங்கள் உணர்வுகளுக்கு நீங்கள் வரைவிலக்கணம் தராதீர்கள்.

எம் தமிழ் உறவுகளையும், எம் அரசியற் பிரதிநிதிகளையும், இசைப்பிரியாவின் குடும்பத்தினரான நாம் தயவுடன் கேட்டுக்கொள்வது, இசைப்பிரியா தொடர்பாக வெளிவர இருக்கும் படத்தை தடுத்து நிறுத்துங்கள். தமிழக உறவுகளே எங்கள் மனவலியை புரிந்துகொள்ளுங்கள். பெண்கள் உரிமைகளை முன்னெடுக்கும் அமைப்புகளையும், தமிழ் மக்கள் உரிமைக்காக போராடும் புலம்பெயர் அமைப்புகளையும், நாம் கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறோம். 

இந்தத் திரைப்படத்தையும் இசைப்பிரியா போன்ற பெண் போராளிகள், ஆண் போராளிகள், பொதுமக்களது ஆடையற்ற நிலையிலான படங்களையும், காணொளிகளையும், வியாபார நோக்கத்திற்காக இணைய வலைத் தளங்களிலும், முகநூல் (Face book) பக்கங்களிலும், செய்தி ஊடகங்களிலும் வெளிவருவதை தடுக்க முன்வாருங்கள்.

அனைவரும் இணைந்து இதைச் செய்ய முன்வருவீர்கள் என நம்புகிறோம்.

விடுதலைக்காக விதையான ஆத்மாக்களுக்கு இதன் மூலம் மரியாதை செலுத்துவோமாக.

நன்றி
வணக்கம்.
இசைப்பிரியா என்ற
சோபணாவின் அம்மா
வேதரஞ்சினி

Defending BBS barbarity on Muslims

JHU adopts their Zionist friend’s strategyBy Latheef FarookWhile Sinhala Zionist Bodu Bala Sena  thugs were burning, looting and destroying  Muslim owned  properties in Aluthgama, Beruwala and Dharga Town   on Sunday 15 and Monday 16 June 2014 under cover of curfew, in a despicable show of fathomless venom  here in Colombo, Jathika Hela Urumaya,JHU,was busy demonizing Muslims to create smokescreen to cover up BBS barbarity.

Defending BBS Barbarity on Muslims by nelvely

ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IS NECESSARY TO FORESTALL ANOTHER COMMUNAL CONFLICT--JEHAN PERERA

 23 June 2014

The government appears to have woken up to the gravity of the problem posed by repeated attacks on the Muslim community. The police have announced that they will not permit meetings that cause ethnic or religious hatred to be generated. This new policy is to be welcomed to the degree that it is implemented in fact, and is not simply restricted to rhetoric. The police have become a scapegoat for permitting the BBS to hold the public rally that ended up in anti Muslim violence. However, there is a doubt whether the government will instruct the police to go ahead and arrest and prosecute those who instigated the violence and that this will be done on the ground. Although President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself has denounced those who engage in violence, the indications are that the momentum in favour of continuation of sporadic violence that keeps the country on tenterhooks will be hard to reverse in these circumstances.

Zero Tolerance Policy is Necessary to Forestall Another Communal Conflict--jehan Perera by nelvely

Will Sri Lanka Become A Killing Field Again?

By P. Bertie Ranaweerage -June 23, 2014

Bertie Ranaweerage

According to Karuna Amman there had been only 80 LTTE  armed cadres byJuly 1983. JR who did almost nothing to protect the Tamils and their properties during the Black July Days in 1983 had no alternative but to send  those who managed to save their lives to the Northern and Eastern provinces. It is in the public domain that a large number of  Tamil youths who were sent to the North and East willingly joined the LTTE either to get revenge on the Sinhalese or on the belief that Eelam was the only remaining panacea  for all the problems  the Tamils. Karuna further said that  the number of  armed cadres of the LTTE had gone up to 40000 by the time he left the LTTE.

The Sinhala extremists and their leaders such as Elle Gunawansa, and Cyril Mathew who plotted and launched the Tamil pogrom in 1983 never in their wildest dreams  did think that the terror they unleashed on the Tamils would result in a 26 year disastrous internal war. Hence we have to ask ourselves now whether the terrorism of the blood thirsty BBS would  push the Moor /Muslims to extremism which may result in more destruction more violence and more bloodbaths .

Nobody never ever thought that this government would  do what  JR and Premadasa did  during the Black July days in 1983. We do remember that JR did not utter a single word against massacring of Tamils until the thugs and murderers had finished their job. Like wise the MR government took no meaningful measures to stop the Aluthgama mayhem and the President waited from June 15 to June 21 to make an appeal to the public to desist from attacking the others on the grounds of religion or ethnicity.                                                                              Read More

Has history repeated itself?



Riots in Aluthgama
By Manekshaw

One would wonder whether history repeats itself, exactly in the same manner, observing the riots against Muslims in Aluthgama a few days ago.

In 1915, the first communal riots against Muslims broke out when a Buddhist procession was interrupted by Muslims, when it was proceeding through an area where the Muslims lived in the hill capital Kandy.

Has History Repeated Itself by nelvely

ஜனாதிபதி நீ ஓர் இனவாதி என பேசியது உண்மைதானாம் மழுப்பும் றிசாட்டும் ஹக்கீமும்

TAMILKINGDOM

WE ARE TAMILS

Monday, June 23, 2014

அண்மையில் நடைபெற்ற அளுத்கம கலவரமும்

அதன் பின்னர் ஏற்பட்ட அரசியல் மாற்றங்கள் இடம்பெறும் என எதிர்பார்க்கப்பட்ட வேளையில் முஸ்லீம் அரச அமைச்சர்கள் மௌனம் காத்ததாகவும் அவர்கள் எப்போதும் அரசுடன் சேர்ந்திருப்பதன் மூலம் ஒன்றும் ஏற்படப்போவதில்லை என ஆதங்கப்பட்டதும், இவ் முஸ்லீம் அமைச்சர்கள் ஜனாதிபதியுடன் முரண்பட்டதாகவும், ஜனாதிபதி இவர்கள் இருவரையும் கடுமையாக பேசியதாகவும் செய்திகள் வெளிவந்திருந்தன.

அதன்உண்மை நிலை என்ன என்பதை இந்த காணொளியில் இருவரும் ஒத்துக்கொள்ளுகின்றனர். அத்தோடு நிகழ்ச்சி தயாரிப்பாளர் ரங்கா அவர்களால் கடுமையாக கேள்விகள் கேட்பதையும் அதற்கான பதிலையும் நீங்கள் காணலாம்.

Notorious royal wealth robbers 'gobble' up Bogambara Ehelapola's treasure trove too

(Lanka-e-News- 23.June.2014, 3.00PM) After the historic Bogambara prison at Kandy was shifted to Pallekelle , the Bogambara prison was entrusted by the prisons department to the care and custody of Urban development authority. On that occasion , the President participated in a function to mark the handing over. On midnight that day (20) , at that venue a secretive fowl sacrifice ritual was held after the police were evacuated from the place. It is now the oft raised question among the people , what was this so called sacrifice that was made so secretly at midnight ? 

The truth of the matter is , the historic Bogambara prison building that was built on a 12 acre land by the British after its evacuation ought to be handed over to the archeological department , yet the MaRa government entrusted it to the urban development authority under Gotabaya Rajapakse.

This handing over of the building function took place during noon , and Medamulana MaRa made it a point to attend this event although a handing over ceremony of a building of one Institution to another does not warrant such pomp and fuss , to involve and invite a President of the country who if he is truly concerned with the country must busy himself with much more important tasks on behalf of the people . Mind you , Medamaluna MaRa was the first to be there !

Later , that same day (20 th Friday) at midnight , after the police were warned not even to come into the vicinity , and with the assistance of the Presidential security division and the army commando force soldiers , a monumental ritual had been performed within the historic building . At this ritual a large number of fowls and goats were sacrificed. The massacred fowls and goats were loaded into a truck of the forces and transported the following day. The Presidential security division (PSD) had told the Kandy police , the foundation was laid for the refurbishment of Bogambara prison , and according to the ‘nekatha’ (horoscope) of the President , midnight is the auspicious time . Hence , the ritual was performed at that time. 

Astrologers however say , there is no such midnight auspicious time. Senior citizens of the village who know the history say , the wealth of Ehelapola Nilame is buried in the Bogambara prison. 

After Ehelapola Wijesundara Wickremesinghe Chandrasekera Amarakoon Wasala Ranamuka Mudiyanse alias Ehelepola Nilame who was the chieftain of the hill capital’s King and second to the latter fled in 1811 , his family members were captured and killed. Historians say , the enormous wealth which were in his possession , and who was the possessor of the next highest amount of wealth after the King, remain buried in the Bogambara prison. The treasure trove includes valuable gold , silver , gems , jewelry and pearls . 

The historians also claim , though it is widely believed that Ehelapola Kumarihamy was killed by drowning , that place where supposedly the drowning took place is truly the place where the treasure trove was buried since there is no water stream deep enough for drowning at that place. The British are not that foolish to erect a building in a place where water is flowing , the historians point out.

Security divisions and the people of Kandy are of the view that the rogues who robbed the Colombo museum artifacts including the ancient saber and who are given to robbing national wealth have again given the ‘work’ (stolen) to the treasure trove in the Bogambara prison.

Sri Lanka’s anti-Muslim riots signal deeper malaise

ALUTHGAMA, 23 June 2014 (IRIN) - Sri Lanka’s government should take action to prosecute acts of communal violence and promote peace, say observers, following the worst clashes in five years that left at least two dead and over 80 injured.

On 15 June clashes between Muslim community members and hardline Buddhist groups broke out in Dharga Town, a Muslim-majority town in the southern Kalutara District, about 60km from the capital Colombo.

“There is a real risk of violence spreading elsewhere unless the government acts immediately,” David Griffiths, Asia-Pacific deputy director at Amnesty International, told IRIN.

“This is an issue that has been brewing for some time and that should have been addressed long ago,” he said, pointing to a history of tension in the lead-up to the 15 June violence, which saw two days of riots by the hardline Buddhist group Bodu Bala Sena (“Buddhist Force” - BBS) following a rally in the town of Aluthgama, 5km from Dharga Town.

Ajith Rohana, a police spokesperson, said 50 people had been arrested on suspicion of taking part in the riots. “We are conducting investigations into what took place and who was responsible,” he said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the violence on 16 June, adding: “I am very concerned this violence could spread to Muslim communities in other parts of the country… The authorities must immediately bring the perpetrators of such attacks to book and make it clear… that there is no place for inflammatory rhetoric and incitement to violence.”

According to Mohideen Iqbal, a resident of Dharga Town who witnessed the initial clashes before fleeing, “most of the town’s Muslims were at the mosque when the [BBS] convoy passed through, and there was a lot of tension in the area.”

Sri Lanka’s President Rajapaksa on 18 June met religious and community leaders in the area, and promised an impartial inquiry into the incident and government assistance to rebuild damaged property. Police have subsequentlybanned all forms of religious rallies.

However, analysts say, in order to prevent further violence, the government’s response will need to go beyond repairing property and relations after this specific event.

“The government must show minorities, including the Muslims, that they are part of this country, that they have the same rights like anyone else,” argued Jehan Perera, who heads the national advocacy body the National Peace Council (NPC).

Over 250,000 displaced Muslims

Sri Lanka is home to about two million Muslims, a large number of whom live in the east and northwest of the country - areas which were beset by violence during the 26-year-long civil war that ended in May 2009.

Some 75,000 Muslims were forced to flee northern Jaffna District in 1990 after being threatened by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. With the displaced Muslim population now numbering over 250,000 and no resettlement plan, leaders have criticized the government for its lack of attention.

“There have been instances of deliberate targeting of Muslim-owned business premises in the past,” said Hilmy Ahmed, spokesperson for Muslim Council of Sri Lanka, pointing to incidents such as the 13 May 2013 attack on a Muslim-owned clothing store just outside Colombo, and the alleged arson at a Muslim-owned clothing store on 21 June 2014. Both incidents are under investigation.

After the 11 April BBS disruption of a Muslim press conference in Colombo, leaders were concerned about the potential for violence around the BBS rally.

Muslim leaders, including Faiszer Musthapha, deputy minister of investment promotion, wrote to the Ministry of Law and Order before the rally warning that tension was high in the Aluthgama area and seeking more security.

In a second letter sent by a collective of Muslim groups to the inspector-general of police on 14 June, leaders said: “We call upon you to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard the lives and property of Muslims in Aluthgama and surrounding areas.”

Government inaction criticized
NPC’s Perera argued that for violence to break out even after such clear warnings demonstrated the government was not taking the issue seriously.

“It shows a breakdown in law and order. Now it is time to show the victims and the rest of the country that the government is willing to take hard, uncomfortable decisions,” he said.

Amnesty’s Griffiths said preventing the spread of violence required the government to match its words with action.

“Sri Lanka has a long track record of setting up supposedly independent investigations into human rights violations at politically opportune times, but most have accomplished very little,” he said. According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sri Lanka’s government has promised to amend and enhance existing laws with regard to hate speech, but has not yet acted on the promise.

Iqbal, who returned to Dharga Town on 17 June, found his home partly damaged - windows broken and the house partially burned. He told IRIN that while the immediate need was financial assistance to recoup the damages, there was fear within the community.

“How things happened, when police or army or someone in authority could have stopped them taking place, has created a lot fear among us. We feel like we can’t trust anyone,” he said.

“If those responsible are not held to account, the impunity will only feed the cycle of violence,” Griffiths said.

contributor/kk/cb

Theme (s): Conflict, Human Rights,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

Pussyfooting when the country burns 

EDITORIAL-June 23, 2014 

If the unchecked sectarian violence that erupted in Aluthgama and Beruwala a week ago left three dead, over 80 injured and thousands displaced, there was more to be seen last Saturday when a popular garment retail outlet in Panadura burned to the ground. Though people see this as sabotage, foul play or retaliation for the hartal launched by the Muslim community in Colombo and in other major towns on Thursday by unruly elements, the police say initial investigations have the fire it could have been caused by a short circuit.
 
A warehouse of a clothing store in Pepiliyana, also belonging to a Muslim, was attacked by unruly elements about a year ago over which the police took no action but simply watched while the act was in progress. The incident in Panadura immediately following the destruction in Alutgama, has caused a feeling of loss and hurt among the Muslims.
 
The assurances of the President, who returned to the country cutting short his visit to Bolivia, that all communities in Sri Lanka co-exist in peace, that they are free to follow their faith without any hindrance, and that it was only a handful of unruly elements who were behind the mayhem, has not in any way gone to heal the feelings of those who suffered damage and humiliation in the violence. Neither his visit to the scene of destruction and assurances to the affected people have had any effect on them; nor have these assurances soothed the concerns of the international community who are shocked by events unfolding in Sri Lanka, which lays claim to a culture of over 2500 years.
 
Events that have occurred in the country over the past few years have gone to strengthen the belief that there is utter mistrust among the people and that though we keep a smiling face and pretend to live in peace and harmony, there is an underlying hatred of those who are different from us. Racial hatred raises its head off and on. Places of worship have been attacked and destroyed by unruly elements, with the government and the people, majority of them, showing the least concern.
 
Law and order has broken down to such an extent that extremist organizations of monks run riot asserting their superiority over everyone, pretending they are some sort of militia installed by the government to right every wrong, without even a word of disapproval from the government. In every instance where these extremist elements engaged in their acts of destruction, the security establishment has stood-by providing security to the outfits and their cohorts, than the people suffering at their hands. This has even prompted the people to ask, who is in charge, whether it is the government or a set of unruly monks and their cohorts.

The pussyfooting by the government on the unchecked religious violence in Aluthgama, which has caused death, destruction, injury and misery to the people, has prompted moderates in the government to fix responsibility for the mayhem on the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) and its General Secretary; and call on the government to act decisively and arrest those responsible. They had pointed out that it was not the people of the area who were responsible for the violence, but those brought from outside by these unruly elements. In the absence of a proper opposition, the government certainly has to listen to right thinking people in its own ranks and act sensibly if the country is to see any progress. The three decades of war has already ruined the country, and the people of this country certainly do not wish to undergo a similar experience again.
 
The ordinary citizen is seething with anger and disgust at what is going on around him with no way of giving vent to his exasperation. He is amused by the antics of the 'Left Brethren' who shout empty slogans, often irrelevant, just to show they are among the living, but hardly doing anything to offer relief to the suffering masses. The country is more like a circus, with everyone doing his own thing to amuse the other, when problem after problem piles up on the people with no solution in sight. Only diversions and empty rhetoric are offered as distractions.
 
The events in Sri Lanka over the past few days have already appeared in the radar of the UN, prompting a call from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to express his concern and ask the government to take measures to safeguard the people. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as several foreign embassies in the country, while expressing concern, have called on the government for measures to protect the citizens. No doubt there will be many more calls from countries and governments that are concerned about the welfare of this country and its citizens.
 
If things like this continue, a day will come when the government will not be able to say they are internal matters for the government of the country to handle, and the government would have to struggle even more than in the past few days when Parliament was asked to pass a resolution to prevent the intervention of the UNHRC into the human rights violations in the last days of the war.

SPECIAL: Statement By Former President C B K. On The Riot In Aluthgama

| by Chandrika B Kumaratunga

( June 23, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I’m deeply concerned about the outbreak of communal violence and Anti- Muslim attacks that occurred in several areas of the country, in the past week. I’m saddened by the loss of precious lives, the displacement of families and the wanton destruction of property. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and their livelihoods.

File Photo

I’m appalled by initial reports that the violence seems orchestrated and followed a public meeting and a provocative march by violent extremists who pursue their narrow, personal goals, in the name of Buddhism.

It’s a matter of great concern that the law enforcement authorities have failed to deal with the hate mongering and blatant violation of the Law for nearly 18 months.

Government connivance with communal violence in 1983 led the country to a terribly destructive war for 25 years. Since then, several governments of Sri Lanka led the military, the Police and the peoples of Lanka to defeat terrorism and separatism.

The present government played an essential role in finally bringing an end to war and terrorism.

We now have before us, an extraordinary opportunity for Progress and Prosperity by creating a Pluralist, Inclusive Democracy, giving to all our citizens, equal economic, socio-cultural and political opportunity. The freedom of belief and of expression is key elements of a free, democratic society and of a politically stable, economically prosperous State.

It is the duty of Government to protect the lives of every one of its citizens, to guarantee the rule of Law prevails for all alike. It is the sacred responsibility of the highest authorities of government to ensure this.

I say this, without hesitation, as I’m aware of how speedily my government successfully halted acts of provocation and communal violence, on several occasions, against Christian churches and also against Muslim persons and their property, which occurred in several Districts in the South and the East. Immediate and strong action resolved the issue.

In the name of the immense sacrifices made by our peoples for a quarter of a century ,during the ethnic conflict and the ensuing terrorism, I urge that of the large number of leaders, organizations and individuals to call upon the government, especially its leaders, to take immediate action in every way possible, to bring a halt to this communal and religious violence, to institute an impartial inquiry into the incidents ,without delay and to direct the law enforcement authorities to take strict legal action against the instigators and perpetrators of this savage violence.

We cannot, we must not allow our Motherland to be dragged into another civil War, by a small group of extremists. The vast Majority of Sinhala Buddhists believes in the path of understanding, loving kindness, generosity and rationality.

We must all unitedly strive to eliminate this dangerous affliction of hatred towards the other communities and build an United Lanka, where Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic and Christian peoples live in Harmon.

Blood on Bodu Bala robe

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Today the Bodu Bala Sena stands in the dock indicted with the heinous charge of attempting to return this nation to the blood-soaked barbaric age of violence from which it had risen so recently. It stands accused of repeated anti-Muslim attacks that have now resulted in inevitable bloodshed and death; and it stands condemned for outraging the religious sensitivities of the Buddhists by presenting to the world’s reproach and contempt, its distorted, savage and warped version as the sworn practical translation of the Buddha’s noble doctrine of Ahimsa.

A soldier patrolling the streets of Aluthgama after it came under mob violence. Pic by Indika Handuwela

With the 

Blood on Bodu Bala Robe by nelvely

Aluthgama clash was due to SIS’s misleading of police!

 Monday, 23 June 2014

The main reason for the communal clash that took place in Aluthgama on June 15 is the State Intelligence Service (SIS) not having provided correct information to the police officials involved in the matter, say sources at the police headquarters.

That was due to the failure of Defence Ministry consultant, retired Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendawitharana of the military intelligence and SIS chief DIG Chandra Nimal Wagista to channel the correct information to the Defence Council in consultation with the government, Bodu Bala Sena, Ravana Balaya, Sinhala Ravaya and other Sinhala Buddhist extremist groups.

The SIS report mentions that following the attack said to have been staged on a monk by the name Samitha by a group of Muslims youths at Aluthgama town on Poson Poya Day, a meeting was to be organised in the town on the morning of June 15 to receive him after being discharged from hospital and to take him in procession via Darga Town to his temple.

On the way, a clash could take place near the mosque, and the SIS chief in his report has advised that the law enforcement authorties be deployed to contain the situation.

Accordingly, senior DIG Anura Senanayake has taken over the operation on the morning of June 15 and sent 400 policemen and 500 STF commandos to Kalutara. DIG Senanayake began coordinating the operation from Aluthgama police station with assistance from SSP in charge of Colombo division Palitha Siriwardena. These two senior police officers were also responsible for the functioning of the Aluthgama police station too, as it did not have an OIC due to a dispute over the appointment of ASPs.

In the meantime, convener of Ravana Balaya, Akmeemana Dayaratana Thera has met with DIG V. Indran, who was in charge of Kalutara division, and prewarned him, “Mister. Today is our day. We are in charge of the duties today. You do not get involved in any matter. We will take care of everything. But, do not come to obstruct us.” Immediately, the DIG has informed the IGP of this warning, and was told by his chief that the Security Council has empowered senior DIG Senanayake and he will take necessary action to contain the situation.

DIG Senanayake has tasked DIG Sumith Edirisinghe and SSP Premalal Ranagala with ensuring the security at the Aluthgama meeting, providing them with 100 policemen and 100 STF commandos.

Also, 100 policemen and STF commandos each led by the SSPs of Kalutara and Kelaniya were sent to protect the mosque at Darga Town. In addition, 100 policemen and STF commandos each were stationed alongside the road which the procession was to take.

By that time, the two SSPs had informed DIG Senanayake that more than 2,000 Muslims had gathered at the mosque at Darga Town. Guessing that if the procession goes ahead as planned, a serious situation could arise, he has telephoned western province governor Alavi Moulana, minister Fowzie, deputy minister Faizer Mustafa and legal adviser to the defence secretary, President’s Counsel Ali Sabri, and pleaded with them to get the gathering at the mosque dispersed.

DIG Edirisinghe and SSP Ranagala, who were in charge of security at the meeting, had got into the platform along with a representative of Kapila Hendawitharana and requested Galagodaatte Gnanasara Thera to suspend the procession and to ask the gathering to disperse peacefully. Rejecting the request point blank, the Thera said he would guarantee that no violent incident would take place. Both police officers had got into the vehicle of the Thera along with him.

In no time, the procession turned into a rally and the police provided protection to the participants who marched on shouting patriotic slogans. As the procession was passing the mosque, a club had been thrown at them from the direction of the mosque. Immediately, Akmeenama Dayaratana Thera of Rawana Balaya, using a loudspeaker, shouted, “A monk has been cut inside the mosque. Do not wait any longer.” The enraged patriotic participants of the procession had stormed the mosque and attacked its occupants with swords, clubs and daggers and set fire to the premises.

Unable to bring the situation under control, DIG Edirisinghe, SSP Ranagala and Gnanasara Thera had avoided the place and went on. Saying that patriotism is nobler than mother’s milk, Gnanasara Thera had left for Colombo. Police had fired tear gas to disperse the troublemakers. But, they had been provided with only 300 teargas canisters, which lasted less than half an hour. The water cannons brought to contain the gathering had to be used to extinguish the spreading blaze. Those machines, too, were exhausted in a very short period.

In the meantime, organized armed gangs began looting shops at Beruwela and Aluthgama areas and setting fire to them. Several businessmen who had opposed them, died in their hands. Anyhow, DIG in charge of the area V. Indran and his policemen arrested 13 armed men, who had been looting shops and setting fire to them. The arrested persons had been taken to Aluthgama police station. At midnight, SIS chief Chandra Nimal Wagista and defence ministry advisor Kapila Hendawitharana had ordered that the arrested men be freed immediately. Strongly opposing them, DIG Indran has responded that they would not be released under any circumstance, and that they would be produced before courts on the following day.

On Monday, a meeting had been chaired by the prime minister in Kalutara to discuss resolving communal clashes, and also participating were ministers of the area Kumara Welgama, Rohitha Abeygunawardena as well as Basil Rajapaksa. Storming the event, BBS secretary Galagodaatte Gnanasara has said that he would launch a suicide mission if the 13 arested thugs were not freed. A badly frightened Basil Rajapaksa had told senior DIG (administration) Gamini Nawaratne, who was at the meeting, to go to Aluthgama police station and get them freed.

As per the minister’s order, senior DIG Nawaratne had gone to the Aluthgama police station and told DID Indran to free them because of the order from the higher up. Strongly objecting to the order, DIG Indran has stressed, “Sir, if these men are released. I will file a human rights petition in the Supreme Court against you.” Losing his temper due to the reply, DIG Nawaratne had used his powers and released the 13 men. In addition, he has recommended to the IGP that a disciplinary inquiry be held against DIG Indran.

Accordingly, the IGP has instructed that Aluthgama and Beruwela police stations be released from the control of Kalutara DIG Indran. DIG (traffic and road safety) Amarasiri Senaratne has been appointed to supervise these two police stations.

‘Maha Loku’ Hartals Are Organized For Minor Incidents, Mahinda Slams Mulsim Hartals

President Mahinda Rajapaksa today heavily criticized the protests and hartal campaigns that were carried out in the country.

Speaking at the opening of the fuel storage facility and a re-fuelling terminal at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport and the Magampura Harbour yesterday, the President was extremely critical particularly of hartal campaigns.

“During the conflict period, the LTTEkilled people irrelevant of their ethnicity. Certain groups that didn’t dare stage a single hartal campaign during the LTTE period have now started them. Large scale (maha-loku) hartal campaigns are organized for even the most minor incidents,” he said.

He was careful not to mention which hartal campaign or protest he was referring to. However, the most recently held hartal was organized by the Muslim Rights Organization last week in the wake of anti-Muslim violence that erupted in Aluthgama and Beruwela. It was carried out in several Muslim dominated areas in the country including parts of Colombo, calling for the immediate arrest of culprits responsible for the clashes.

The President also said he would not allow any one community to betray, down-trod or suppress another. “The fate of this nation should not fall into the hands of any of these minor factions of this country – we cannot stand by and let it happen,” he added.

Furthermore, he promised the law will be promptly enforced on ‘certain’ incidents that have occurred.

“Extremists on both sides have carried out actions that has incited racism; it is time both sides stopped it,” the President said.

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