Re-displacement of Menik Farm inmates to Kombavil (Mullativu)

 *groundviewsjournalism Forcitizens

On 20^th September 2011 the Government of Sri Lanka had announced that Menik Farm, hosting 7394 persons (2097 families) will be closed down.[i] The solution imposed on these people has been to send them to Kombavil, an interior village in the Mullativu district.

Although the government claims the people are not allowed to go back due to landmines, the latest Joint Humanitarian Update[ii] has stated that “8.5 Grama Niladhari Divisions (GNDs) that currently remain closed due to continued military occupation and thus, remain inaccessible for humanitarian mine action and resettlement”.[1]

It is people living in these areas that are being forced to go to Kombavil.

Kombavil is a remote area, in the interiors of Puthukudiruppu, in middle of overgrown shrub jungle. When we were there, we observed that houses were very small and appear very basic. Workers confirmed that these houses would standard size of 12 feet by 15 feet, irrespective of family needs. The government had decided to send a first batch of 100 families to Kombavil on 5^th October, but workers in Kombavil said it would be difficult to complete even the basic semi permanent shelters and toilets before 5^th October.

When we visited Kombavil, it was clear that no infrastructure was in place. Fisherfolk would certainly face serious problems if they are compelled to live there. Infact, the people of Kombavil told us that even many of villagers from Kombavil have not yet been allowed to return after displacement.

The people are unhappy that after two and half years, instead of being allowed to go back to their own villages, they are being sent to an area they have never been to or known. Widows have expressed concerns about security and difficulties they would face in such an unknown area in rebuilding their lives and establishing livelihoods without support of men. Fears have also been expressed that no possibilities for fishing and farming exist in the proposed area and that no facilities exist for schools, places of worship, water etc.

There had been “come and tell visit” in which officials had briefed people about the plans to send them to Kombavil instead of their home villages. There had also been a “go and see visit” in which people to be sent to Kombavil were taken to see Kombavil. However, it is clear that these were just to present information after decisions had been taken, and not occasions where people affected could discuss options and alternatives.

Essentially, this is a decision imposed on these people, without any consultation and certainly not voluntary.  In a petition submitted to the IDP Project Office for the Vavuniya district of the National Human Rights Commission on 29^th Sept. 2011, people concerned have stated that “we want to go to our own homes and resettled”.

Exclusive: Experts urge Commonwealth action on human rights

By Adrian Croft

LONDON | Sat Oct 1, 2011 7:21am EDT

(Reuters) - The Commonwealth must act decisively to uphold human rights among its 54 member nations or risk a slide into irrelevance, according to a report set to divide the group's leaders at their summit this month.

A confidential experts' report to Commonwealth heads of government, obtained by Reuters, called for wide-ranging reforms that it said are essential if the organization is to make a real difference to improving the lives of its people.

                   Full Story>>>

Misplaced Loyalties: ‘Pink Left’ Countries and Sri Lanka

October 1, 2011

By Karthick RM. The author is a freelance writer based in Chennai

“How long yet will the madness of despots be called justice, and the justice of the people barbarity or rebellion? How tenderly oppressors and how severely the oppressed are treated!”
-Maximillien Robespierre

The informal discussion held in Geneva on the 21st of September regarding Canada’s proposal to debate the outcome of Sri Lanka’s ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ (LLRC) was revealing on the position of various countries that participated.

Full Story>>>

Some thoughts on the Buddha and his teaching

May 16, 2011, 12:00 pm

by Professor Emeritus
Y. Karunadasa PhD

=======================

Sinhala Buddhist monks attack Japanese Buddhist temple

Tamil Guardian 01 October 2011 Over 100 Sinhala Buddhist monks and supporters attacked a Japanese Buddhist Temple in Kollupitiya on Sunday, forcing worshippers to barricade themselves in for fear of assault. The Sinhala monks, followers of the Theravada sect of Buddhism, reportedly launched the attack to protect Sri Lanka from the Mahayana sect of Buddhism - the form practised at the Japanese temple. One worshipper who hid inside the temple as the Sinhala monks stormed the temple, said, “The Buddhist monks forcibly entered the premises shouting out that we stop our prayer session. The monks said we should only have Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and not Mahayana,” Worshippers were trapped inside for over four hours before the police were able to free them and escort them to safety. In addition to the aggression exhibited by the protesters, the rescue operation was further hindered by five bhikkus who sat in front of the closed door and refused to permit the police to enter. Freed worshippers, chanted "Budu Saranai" ('May the blessings of Lord Buddha be with you') as they were escorted out by the police, only to find their olive branch provoked yet more vociferous protests from the Sinhala monks. Despite the violent scenes, police spokesperson, Maxie Proctor, confirmed that no arrests have been made. The Sinhala monks were reportedly led by two monks, Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratne and Ven. Hakmana Nandajothi. One of the trapped worshippers, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that this was the fourth such attack on the temple by Sinhala Buddhist monks. She accused a former professor of Peradeniya University being behind the attacks.  “We found out that the so-called professor who was asked to leave the university now works as a tuition teacher,” said the worshipper. See 'Monks destroy Muslim shrine as police stand idle' (Sept 2011) =======================================================

Chief incumbent of Thames Buddhist Vihara charged with raping underage girl (Lanka-e-News -19.Sep.2011, 11.55P.M.) A Buddhist monk has been charged with raping an underage girl in the 1970s, the London Metropolitan police has said. Pahalagama Somaratana Thera, chief incumbent of Thames Buddhist Vihara, Croydon, has been charged with four counts of sexual abuse, police said. The alleged rape and three counts of indecent assault occurred in Chiswick, west London, in 1977 and 1978. The 65-year-old from Dulverton Rd, Croydon, will appear on bail at Feltham Magistrates’ Court on 23 September. There was no immediate response from Thames Buddhist Vihara, which is one of the major Sri Lankan Buddhist temples in London.     ================   Monks destroy Muslim shrine as police stand idle ==========================  By Walter Jayawardhana PANDEMONIUM AT KUMAR RUPASINGHE ORGANIZED ANTI-WAR www.lankaweb.com/news/items06/190806-6.html - Cached - Similar The photo shows how Buddhist monks were being pushed out of the Kumar Rupasinghe anti-war rally at Vihara Maha Devi Park (Photo by AP)

Britain’s Labour Party backs international inquiry into Sri Lanka

Tamil Guardian 02 October 2011

Britain’s main opposition Labour Party has unequivocally called for an international commission to be set up to investigate the allegations of war crimes in Sri Lanka. Speaking at a 'Tamils for Labour' event on the sidelines of the Labour Party conference last week, Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander said the party's entire front bench was united on the view that Sri Lanka’s own inquiry, the LLRC, is not capable of holding an independent inquiry. Mr Alexander expressed the Labour Party’s disappointment with the UN Human Rights Council and the continued delay in addressing accountability for alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. But he also demanded that Britain itself must be held to account with regards to its responsibilities in ensuring war crimes are investigated and the perpetrators held to account. Mr Alexander said that the primary responsibility in investigating the allegations lies with Sri Lanka but expressed concerns the Labour Party holds about the credibility of Sri Lanka's domestic commission, the LLRC, referring to the safety of witnesses and the neutrality of the panel. He pointed out it was impossible to ‘judge [the panel] as a genuinely neutral body in assessing evidence’. "I feel it is right, and after discussions with my shadow frontbench team, to say we are not convinced that this Commission can do its work even with international participation and there does need to be an international commission that looks into the evidence." Mr Alexander stressed the Labour party is also concerned not just about the past, but about the ongoing situation in Sri Lanka. The continuing disappearances of civilians speaking up against the government and the manner of resettlement of IDP’s are ongoing human rights issues that the Labour Party wants addressed. The labelling by Sri Lanka of over 3000 individuals as ‘ex-combatants’ was also questioned by Mr Alexander, who he said "we know include [..] secretaries and clerical workers." The Shadow Foreign Secretary pledged that Labour MPs will continue to raise Sri Lanka’s human rights issue in parliament and gave his word that there is a "real and genuine concern and a continued determination to give voice to this concern." See Mr. Alexander's full speech: See also the address to the Labour Party annual conference by Mr. Sen Kandiah, the Chair of 'Tamils for Labour' - said to the Labour Party's fastest growing affiliate organisation.

Ministers To See Stars

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is to reshuffle his cabinet early next year, a government minister told The Sunday Leader adding that some ministries are also expected to be removed.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader on the condition of anonymity the government minister said that some believe the reshuffle is in order to satisfy the President’s astrological beliefs.
“The President believes a lot in astrology and due to some predictions he is going in for a cabinet reshuffle next year,” the government minister said.
He also said that most ministers are not very happy with their current portfolios and have informed the President of their displeasure.
Currently, key ministries such as Defence, Highways, Ports and Aviation and Finance and Planning are under the President’s control while Tourism and Economic Development have been handed over to his brother Basil Rajapaksa. Following his inauguration for a second term as President in November last year, President Rajapaksa appointed a new cabinet and also named D. M. Jayaratne as the Prime Minister.
Among the 59 ministers and 33 deputy ministers were 16 newcomers.  Lakshman Senevirathne and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauf Hakeem, who had crossed over to the government, were also rewarded with ministerial portfolios.
Rajapaksa’s first term saw more than 100 ministers being appointed, but some of them lost office in the last general elections.
Successive UPFA governments had jumbo cabinets which analysts had said undermined transparency and accountability and paved the way for decisions to be made by a non-transparent ‘kitchen cabinet’.  (JN)
===================================================

‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’  ( Sri Lanka Guardian )

“You can bend it and twist it... You can misuse and abuse it... But even God cannot change the Truth.”

by Gareth Thomas

( July 02, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) I rise to raise two issues. 

                               Read More
========================================================

Monks destroy Muslim shrine as police stand idle

================================================
  But a prominent Muslim in the area said he was very sad and the sentiment was shared by many Sinhalese too.  
Full Story>>>

========================================================

Ganadeviya (deity) statue at Anurapura burnt down using tires



 (Lanka-e-News -16.March.2011, 11.00PM) According to reports reaching Lanka e news, a Hindu Temple situated at Devanam piyatissa Mawatha, Anuradhapura had been set on fire by a violent marauding group on the 14th night.

This Temple which had been in existence since 1983, are visited by Tamil as well as Sinhala people for religious activities. 
Full Story>>>

========================================================================

Bishop's House appeals to Vatican to urge Colombo to renovate Vanni churches