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Sri Lanka probe urged as video airs in US

US lawmakers and rights advocates on Friday stepped up calls for an international probe into Sri Lanka's civil war as they screened a British documentary that purports to show war crimes.

"Sri Lanka's Killing Fields" was shown to the public inside the US Capitol complex. First aired on Channel 4 in June, the 50-minute documentary caused shock in Britain and angry denials from Sri Lanka's military.

Representative James McGovern, co-chair of a US Congress human rights commission named in honor of late lawmaker Tom Lantos, said that the film was "a gruesome example of humans at their worst."

"These scenes provide much more than simply shock value, however: They also are powerful evidence of the need for an independent investigation to hold those responsible accountable for the crimes," said McGovern, a member of President Barack Obama's Democratic Party from Massachusetts.

"If the Sri Lankan government is unable or unwilling to act, then the international community must respond in its place," McGovern said.

McGovern said that anyone found guilty of war crimes should be punished, regardless of whether they belonged to government forces or the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.

The documentary, which includes footage from mobile telephones allegedly shot at the scene of war crimes, showed what appeared to be prisoner executions and the aftermath of the shelling of civilian hospitals as the military crushed the Tamil Tigers in 2009.

It showed the bodies of female Tiger fighters who appeared to have been sexually assaulted. It also pointed to abuses by the Tigers, who were known for suicide bombings during their nearly four-decade-long separatist insurgency.

A UN report has also spoke of abuses, alleging that the government executed rebel leaders who had worked out a surrender. The United Nations has said that up to 7,000 civilians were killed in the final months of fighting.

Sri Lanka's military has said that a local panel will take action if war crimes allegations are proven but denied any civilian deaths. The military said original footage showed that soldiers -- presented in the documentary as executing prisoners -- were actually rebels dressed in army fatigues.

Sri Lankan media said last week that authorities detained a Briton for allegedly helping produce the documentary.

US lawmakers, after lobbying from Tamil Americans, have led calls for a UN-led inquiry into war crimes allegations. The State Department has warned Sri Lanka that it must ensure accountability or face growing global pressure, although it has stopped short of fully backing an international probe.

Amnesty International helped arrange the US screening of the documentary. Adotei Akwei, the rights group's US managing director of government relations, said the event was meant to "counter an effort to describe the end of the war as neat and precise by the Sri Lankan government."

"I think that there has been either a reluctance or an unwillingness by the administration to be a champion on this. This documentary will make it much harder for that to continue," he said.

Sri Lanka must probe war crime: India

Headlines Today Bureau  | New Delhi, July 15, 2011

Headlines Today had aired the Channel 4 documentary on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

Eight days after airing Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, the government has finally broken its silence, saying Colombo needs to examine concerns about war crimes.

Headlines Today had broadcast a Channel 4 documentary, which showed the horrific way the Sri Lankan Tamils were butchered in the last days of the army's war against the rebels.

The documentary has been received with shock and horror across the world with calls for war crime charges against the Sri Lankan army. Now for the first time, India has reacted and demanded a full inquiry by Sri Lanka into what was shown in the documentary.

During an interview with Headlines Today, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs has said the Sri Lankan government has to address the concerns being expressed on the human rights violations.

He said a fair and reasonable settlement of the political issues concerning the minorities in Lanka was very important.

Until now India has been keeping silent, saying its Lanka's internal matter. But after Headlines Today showed the documentary, the Ministry of External Affairs has been forced to call upon Lanka to investigate.

Tense atmosphere in Jaffna ahead of elections, women’s vote at risk

15 July, 2011 

by Melani Manel Perera
Someone threw pieces of dead dog into Tamil campaign offices. Intimidation of opposition candidates also, who have interrupted their campaigns. The Women's Political Academy demands investigation.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - It is "urgent" to ensure a free and fair polls, in view of forthcoming elections in 65 local government districts, to be held July 23. The Women's Political Academy has written a letter to Mahinda Deshapriya, new election commissioner, to open an inquiry into a series of incidents in Jaffna (Northern province capital). Nimalka Fernando (see photo), Sri Lankan activist for the rights of women and director of the association, said she had reports of intimidation and violations from Elangai Arasukatchchi Thamil, a Tamil party in the area.

"Parts of dead dogs were thrown in front of and inside the campaign offices of the supporters of the Tamil National Alliance - says Fernando - a clear sign that someone wants to intimidate them." The Women's Political Academy points out that "the opposition candidates are most affected, and in many cases fail to conduct their election campaigns." The body calls on the election commissioner to encourage candidates to continue with their campaign until 23 July.

Even if elections are being held throughout Sri Lanka, similar incidents only took place in the Northern province, particularly in Jaffna. The area where the majority of the population is Tamil, has been the hardest hit during and after the long ethnic conflict: the monitoring centre for internally displaced persons (IDPs) records more than 220 thousand IDPs throughout the country, mostly in the northern province. And the government, which for months has launched a series of development programs to jump-start the economy of the country and rehabilitate its image - even in the eyes of the international community – fears loosing consensus (and elections) in Jaffna.

Nimalka Fernando finally recalled that the CEDAW Committee has sent a special recommendation to the government to increase the political participation of women. But the current climate is also likely to have a negative impact on the tendency of women to vote. Similar incidents are "a clear violation of rights - reaffirms the Women's Political Academy - and a threat to free and fair elections."

Sri Lanka: Rajapakse versus Jayalalitha

15-July-2011

Guest Column: Dr Kumar David 

The much-watched rebroadcast of the Channel-4 video on an Indian TV network has heightened Indian public opinion about the Sri Lankan civil war and it is reported that a version with Tamil subtitles is being produced for broadcast on the Jaya-TV channel said to be associated with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha. It is certain to anger Indian Tamil opinion, but in Lanka, the Sinhalese in return, are becoming enraged and isolated; the government is like a caged animal under attack on all sides. The conflict is set for collision course and a quick or amicable settlement seems impossible since the protagonists on the two sides, Jayalalitha and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, are playing to diametrically opposed galleries.  

From considerations of tactics and instincts of self-preservation alone, leaving aside moral judgements, it would seem unwise for the Lankan government to assail the Ceylon Tamil community at this time. Is it not suicidal to have the army break up lawful Tamil National Alliance (TNA) meetings, to attempt to rig the July 23 local government elections, behave in bestial ways by cutting of the head of a Tamil MP’s pet dog and impale it on his gatepost? To provoke a Tamil Nadu backlash by waving a red flag at a worked up Indian public seems like a death wish.  

Therefore there must be immense contrapuntal forces that the government is subject to and it cannot restrain itself from engaging in certain actions that appear to spell disaster. Perhaps the government reckons the ‘play fair and square by the Tamils option’ will bring disaster in other ways? I will return to this crucial question, but after a narrative detour. 

A statement tabled in Sri Lanka’s parliament                      Full Stry>>>

Commonwealth signs co-operation MoU with International Criminal Court

International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge
Sang-Hyun Song (left) with Commonwealth
Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma
on 13 July 2011.

13 July 2011

ICC praises Secretariat for sterling work in promoting implementation of international criminal law

International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge Sang-Hyun Song and Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, 13 July 2011 to strengthen and develop co-operation between their organisations to jointly support states implementing international criminal law.

The signing took place at the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Sydney, Australia, and was witnessed by law ministers, attorneys-general and senior officials from the 54-member Commonwealth.

The ICC President commended the Commonwealth Secretariat for its sterling work in promoting the development and implementation of international criminal law.         More news...   
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Sri Lankan nationalists doubt legality of 13th amendment

15/07/2011Colombo, Jul 15 (PTI)

The 13th amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, which incorporates devolution plan for the Tamils in the country''s north and east, needs to be probed by Parliament to examine its legality, a nationalist pressure group has said.
"The 13th amendment was never a demand by either the Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. Even at this late stage the amendment needs to be rejected," Elle Gunawansa, a pro-government Buddhist monk who leads the ''National Organisations Collective'', said.
The amendment was adopted in 1987 as a result of the Indo-Lanka accord between then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and ex-President JR Jayawardene.
The JVP and the rest of the opposition led a vicious campaign against the amendment and the system of provincial councils that came with it. However, the provincial councils later came to be accepted by the very forces who opposed it.
The Tamil parties have been pressing for the conferring of full powers to the councils despite the LTTE''s violent opposition to the system.
Omare Kassapa, another monk, said the provinces should never be given police and land powers. "We know the President''s thinking on this. He is opposed to these powers being given."
Gunadasa Amarasekera, a leading activist of the movement, said "the 13th amendment was illegal. If any more action is to be taken on it, such action needed to be subject to public approval."
The amendment needs to be probed by Parliament to examine its legality, leaders of the pressure group said.
The debate on the amendment has been revived in the country since the visit of a high-power Indian delegation last month.
The government had informed Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon that police and land powers could not be vested in the provincial councils and that Rajapaksa intends to formulate a solution to the problems of the Tamil minority through a Parliamentary select committee process, officials here said.

Alarmed of Sankili King’s drawn sword: over 100 yr. old statue of Jaffna’s last King to be eliminated

thursday 14 of July 2011
(Lanka-e-News -14.July.2011, 3.30P.M.) Major General Mahinda Haturusinghe the commanding chief of the north has given orders to the Jaffna Municipal Council Mayor Yogeshwary Pathgunam to remove the statue of the last King Sankili of Jaffna which has stood at the Muththirai junction for over hundred years. The Mayor in accordance with this order has taken measures to clear this statue from its place, and since yesterday this statue is covered by a cloth.

The Jaffna Municipal council Commissioner Saravanabavan stated that Major Gen. Haturusinghe had explained , since the Ministers , MP’s and the general public who come from the South are getting alarmed at the sight of the statue of Sankili King with a drawn sword , this decision to eliminate this statue was taken. (see picture)

Haturusinghe had also told Saravanapavan that in place of this statue of historic value with the drawn sword , another statue without a drawn sword made by sculptors of India is to be substituted.

Kingdom of the Arya Chakrawarthy reigned uninterrupted in Jaffna from 1215to 1619 after Christ. Following the conquest by the Portuguese, the Sankili King of 1617 lost to the former in the battle with the Portuguese in 1619 , and he was taken captive. This last King Sankili was taken to Goa by the Portuguese and killed by hanging. 196 years after this , similarly the last King of the Kandyan Kingdom Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe was captured by the British and taken to Malabar, India where he died while he was a prisoner.
But what is most interesting to note more than the history of these Kings ,is the latest fad in Sri Lanka where there is a proliferation of relatives at every nook and cranny who are claiming blood relationship and of lineage to these two Kings , Rajasinghe of the Hill capital and Jaffna King Chakrawarthy .

The present Prime Minister has linked himself this way ancestrally to the ancient Kandyan Kingdom ruler based on the claim that his place of birth is the Kandyan Kingdom.

Recently, it was announced that President Rajapakse is a blood relative of Sudhodhana ,ancient King of India ,the father of Lord Buddha.

It is hoped that the ancestors to whom links are so established will not turn cartwheel inside their hallowed graves hearing of these announcements.

At this crucial juncture when the Govt. is loudly professing that it is committed to creating and promoting peace and harmony among the ethnic communities , and the opposition leader also stating that he is ready sans ulterior motives and conditions to contribute to achieve that goal of the Govt., the elimination of the statue of King Sankili is something most strikingly significant.

Have Sri Lanka's Tamils been forgotten?

AlJazeeraEnglish

 Sri Lanka's civil war came to an end in 2009, but many online say now problems facing the country's Tamil minority are going unnoticed.

The civil war in Sri Lanka was one of the world's most brutal conflicts and lasted nearly 30 years. Both the Sinhalese-majority government forces and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were accused of using dirty tactics. When the war ended in 2009 with the defeat of the LTTE, the Sri Lankan government pledged rehabilitation for hundreds of thousands of Tamils languishing in jails and in refugee camps. The government also promised to rebuild the war-torn north and east. But has that happened? And has the mainstream media forgotten about the Tamils of Sri Lanka? The war may be over, but do the old prejudices still endure?

We asked for feedback from our community, specifically asking for pictures, videos and comments about how Sri Lanka's Tamils are faring.

Many of the responses we received, on both Twitter and Facebook, pointed us to the Channel 4 (UK) documentary "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields", which focuses on the final weeks of the civil war in 2009. The video has been viewed over 60,000 times on YouTube and in the introduction, the presenter explains "we believe this footage represents devastating evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity. And a powerful case for bringing those guilty of these crimes to justice." The documentary features mobile phone video behind Tamil lines and in the refugee camps many Tamils found themselves in as the war came to an end.

Not all online were united in a call for more attention to the plight of the Tamils. One Twitter user, @UKLPSL responded to our call-out with over 75 tweets, many containing links to articles that highlight work the government has been doing to develop the north and the east and to assist Tamils .

In our segment we interviewed Sri Lankan bloggers Indi Samarajiva and Kumaravadivel Guruparan. The conflict between the Tamil and Sinhalese ethnicities dominated the discussion, though Samarajiva responded that, "You've framed the debate in terms of Tamils and Sinhalese, but I think it's really about Sri Lankans….The question is how do we reconcile as Sri Lankans?" Guruparan, who is Tamil, said that he thought it was impossible to separate ethnicity from the issues facing the country. "The reasons for the conflict, the fundamentals for the conflict remain exactly the same…There are specific issues that Tamils in Sri Lanka that are specific to Tamil."

Thumbnail image: A civilian refugee camp in Sri Lanka. 2009. [EPA]

These are some of the social media elements featured in this segment.
Independent video journalism site VJ Movement made this video on the tension between the Singhalese majority and the largely displaced Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.

Channel 4 (UK) produced this documentary on the Sri Lankan civil war called "Sri Lanka's Killing Fields."

Full Story>>>

Sri Lanka: FAQs on Channel 4 Video on War Crimes

14-July-2011

Col. R. Hariharan

(I have received a number of mails asking for my comments on the Channel 4 video ‘Killing Fields’ on alleged war crimes committed by Sri Lankan Army, particularly after I participated in a panel discussion on the subject in the Headlines Today TV channel recently. I am giving my views and comments on questions summarised below): 

Do you think the Sri Lanka army’s war crimes depicted graphically on Channel 4 video are true?

There are two issues related to the allegations war crimes.

First is whether the video footage is genuine or not; the footage has been examined by international experts (including some from the UN) who believe they are original. However, Sri Lanka government’s experts claim they are doctored. I feel the video establishes a prima facie case for an international commission to look into the war crimes allegation; the same commission can also get the video footage examined by neutral experts in the course of its inquiry.                                  Full Story>>>
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14-year-old boy taken for anti-UN demonstration reported missing

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 July 2011, 22:45 GMT]

A 14-year-old student of Yarltan College in Kaarainakar, Jaffna, Thiruchelvan Kajeethan, who was enticed by the EPDP and taken to Colombo to participate in the anti-UN panel report demonstration that took place on May Day, is so far missing. The parents of the grade-6 student, disappointed in getting a reply from the EPDP have approached TNA parliamentarians in Jaffna to find out what had happened to the boy. In recent times, there are many instances of school children, below the age of sixteen, missing in the country of Eezham Tamils.

Kajeethan, coming from Maruthang-ku'lam locality of Kaarainakar Island off the Jaffna peninsula was taken by the EPDP to Colombo without the knowledge of his parents.

The parents of the boy had also directly approached Mr. Douglas Devananda, the leader of the EPDP, to know the whereabouts of their child, but they didn't get any reply.

The EPDP has taken many of its supporters from Jaffna to participate in the anti-UN panel report demonstration convened by SL president Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on the May Day.

There is a widespread fear whether the missing children of the Tamil country are inducted into any of the paramilitaries or sold as child labourers and sex workers in the south.

In Batticaloa, a 11-year-old student of Chiththaa'ndi Maha Viththiyaalayam, Ramachandran Mariyaraj, was abducted and sold to a Sinhala gang in Dambulla that deployed the boy into child labour in May 2011. The grandfather of the boy, Velmurugu Sivalingam, who managed to trace and rescue the boy from the grips of ‘treasure hunters’ was later subjected to threats.

There have been cases of men in military uniform abducting boys and taking them towards South through Vavuniyaa from Vanni.

In Colombo, a 16-year-old Tamil girl from Mullaiththeevu, who ran away from the National Hospital in Colombo, where she had been warded for an operation to prevent pregnancy after being forced into prostitution, led the police and the officials of the Colombo-based National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) to rescue eight girls. Six of the girls, between the age of 16 and 24, were from the Tamil country, who were exploited as prostitutes locked inside a room.

Tamil human rights activists say that the structural violence is systematically committed with genocidal mentality.

Posted by Thavam

Fields Should be for Sports, not Genocide... Sri Lanka -New program explores two year old mass Genocide of Tamil people under Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa regime.

Jul-13-2011

(SALEM, Ore.) - There is much to consider when watching this important program on the killing fields of Sri Lanka, and there are many questions that must be addressed. During and preceding World War Two in Europe, the extermination of human beings, mostly Jews, led in part to the United States entering the planet's greatest military debacle, tragedy and ultimate victory.

The thing that really burned people, that really got humans hot underneath the collar, even before they realized what Adolph Hitler had in store, was the invasion of China by Japan. This is remembered as the 'Rape of Nanking' and saw thousands upon thousands raped, pillaged and murdered by the warring Japanese. Cruelty with a side of bullets.

Acts of Genocide in the 1930's and 40's turned the world on its side and led to the famous quotes, "Never again" and so many more. But as it turns out, they were false. Today those impassioned cries for humanitarian justice are just distant remarks in history that were not stated with real conviction, at least not a lasting one.

We learned this in the early 1970's, scarcely three decades later, when the Cambodians came under the slaughter of Khmer Rouge guerrillas in Cambodia. The United States built the game board for that nightmare that left millions dead, with no real accurate numbers.             Read Full Article 
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DAP man on mission to help war victims

K Pragalath | July 13, 2011

The Teluk Intan MP will engage with New Delhi and Tamil Nadu in the interest of Sri Lankan Tamils.
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP’s M Manogaran is determined to help Sri Lankan Tamils deal with the aftermath of the 30-year civil war in their country. He told reporters today that he would seek help from India by engaging with both New Delhi and the Tamil Nadu state government.
The civil war ended in 2009, when the Sri Lankan army crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the island nation’s Tamil-dominated north.
Since then 300,000 civilians have been living in camps under military rule.
“We will meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha in a week or two,” said Manogaran, who is the MP for Teluk Intan. He visited Sri Lanka last month with Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul and Senator S Ramakrishnan.
They held the press conference today to publicise their fact-finding report.
“We are seeking India’s help for meaningful change to happen for the war victims,” Manogaran said.
India is seen as an influential big brother in South Asia.
Manogaran also spoke of plans to form a parliamentary caucus on Sri Lanka, but said he was not confident of its effectiveness. “We have a caucus on Myanmar, but motions are not allowed.”
He added that he and Ramakrishnan would meet Foreign Minister Anifah Aman to brief him on their findings and to “explain why Malaysia should take a pro-active stand”.
Malaysia is Sri Lanka’s largest trading partner.
Manogaran said he was making his group’s report available to the public in an effort to spread awareness about the Sri Lankan situation.  Those who are interested can order copies by email at manotelukintan@gmail.com

Canadian Tamil Congress sues global terror expert

THE TIMES OF INDIA      Jul 13, 2011, 

The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), which claims to represent over 300,000 Tamils of Sri Lankan origin in Canada, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Sri Lankan-born terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna.

The lawsuit, filed here, stems from his allegedly defamatory statements made against the Canadian Tamil Congress in an interview to a Sri Lankan newspaper a few months ago.

In that interview to the Lakbima News, Gunaratna had alleged that the LTTE is “operating in Canada under the name of the Canadian Tamil Congress, which is the main LTTE front organization in Canada.”

An international terrorism expert who is frequently seen on major global TV networks, Gunaratna is a professor of security studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

In the interview, Gunaratna had also falsely said that the Canadian government is investigating that the “LTTE is operating under the name of Canadian Tamil Congress,” the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, Gunaratna’s statements are defamatory and falsely portray the Canadian Tamil Congress as an entity through which the LTTE has conducted operations in Canada.

David Poopalapillai, the national spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress, said, “While the CTC’s mission is to work with various levels of government in Canada to address issues of significance to Tamil Canadians, it does not, and never has, functioned as the front in Canada for the LTTE movement.

“The Canadian Tamil Congress brought this lawsuit to combat the harm done to its reputation and ability to address issues of importance to Tamil Canadians as a result of Gunaratna’s statements.”

Poopalapillai and Umasuthan Suntharamoorthy, who is a director of the Canadian Tamil Congress, are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

A statement by the Canadian Tamil Congress said, “Gunaratna has been served with the statement of claim in Singapore but has not yet defended the lawsuit. Lakbima News, which published the allegedly defamatory interview with Gunaratna, is also a defendant and is aware of the allegations against it.”

There are over 300,000 Tamils of Sri Lankan origin in Canada, wi
There are over 300,000 Tamils of Sri Lankan origin in Canada, with most of them settled in the Toronto area. 
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Lawsuit against Rohan Gunaratna

13 July 2011

Toronto: The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), which claims to represent over 300,000 Tamils of Sri Lankan origin in Canada, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Sri Lankan-born terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna. 
The lawsuit, filed here, stems from his allegedly defamatory statements made against the Canadian Tamil Congress in an interview to a Sri Lankan newspaper a few months ago.            Full Story»>
(The times of India)
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Jayalalithaa should play the role like Indira Gandhi on Bangladesh

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 July 2011, 16:12 GMT]
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa should make it a mission to campaign for the independence of Eezham Tamils in the other states of India and elsewhere. For two years before the independence of Bangladesh Mrs Indira Gandhi quietly undertook a diplomatic campaign for it all over the world. Now there is no one except Ms. Jayalalithaa who is bestowed with the mantle to play such a role for the independence of Eezham Tamils.

                                                           Tamil Net Editorial Board
Full story >>

Posted by Thavam

Where the mind is without fear

July 13, 2011
What will I miss most if I leave Sri Lanka? After much deep and soul-searching introspection I realized that it would be the set of family values preached by the first family. Specifically, the way the family has tried to inculcate these values in the rest of the country. Say, by staying united in the control of 94 government ministries and departments ranging from the zoo to the powerful and disciplined military. How, for example, economic development for the whole of Sri Lanka including the Tamil-dominated north and the more demographically equitable east can’t be steered, fortunately I’d say, other then by the family.
Then, I will miss the way the huge and magnanimous cutouts of the dynasty members adorn junctions, instilling a sense of security and stability.
If this could happen to an Indian, I daresay, Lankans would easily be more beholden. Every country needs a hero in times of crisis; not many countries had or probably will have the joyful option of choosing among many during and for years after a crisis.
How will I not miss the LKR 1000 currency note with a smiling president Mahinda Rajapaksa on one side and soldiers with Mongoloid features hoisting the Lankan flag Iwo Jima-style on the other side? I intend to keep one as an heirloom.
Reacting to a recent story I wrote on an allegedly fake, doctored, bilingual documentary on war crimes, an Indian doctor used probably Tagore’s most quoted line: “Where the mind is without fear.” Journalists, for one, operate here without an iota of it. Those who have been harassed, thrashed, jailed or killed must have practiced a brand of journalism that was suspect. 
Most politicians too operate here in an atmosphere free of fear. Some call it operating with a total lack of accountability.
But how, for example, can you tie up an erring official to a tree for taking a day’s leave if a politician has to explain this kind of perfectly sane behaviour?
And for the record, contrary to the title of this column, I have been sleeping very soundly here watching all sorts of soothing dreams about dictators, state terror, ruthless insurgents and hollow, haunting innocent faces caught in crossfire not of their making. Can’t say I’ll miss that too much though.
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Boycott Srilanka Campaign at Chennai

A group of young people assembled at Express avenue on Sunday morning with banners and placards marking a visible campaign to boycott Srilankan products in Chennai
After the release of UN Report on genocide in Srilanka Many youth groups in Tamil Nadu have spontaneously come up and are organising campaigns against the Srilankan Government. Apart from the known political parties such as MDMK, Naam Thamizhar, PMK, VCK etc various human rights organisations have stepped in to register their protest in public.
Many organisation have expressed anger on the calculated silence of the Indian Government about the genocide in Srilanka. However they stage protest only against the Srilankan Government. These youngsters organize peaceful demonstrations for the specific purpose of bringing attention on the Srilankan genocide of Tamils.                         Read More          

Liam the 'Flying Fox' attacked for globe trotting

12th July 2011

'Flying Fox: Defence Secretary Liam Fox has come under fire from armed forces officers for his globe trotting

Defence Secretary Liam Fox came under fire yesterday for jetting off on 30 foreign jaunts at taxpayers' expense while troops are facing cuts.
Dr Fox has so irritated senior officers with his frequent absences while globetrotting that they have nicknamed him 'The Flying Fox'.
Ministry of Defence records show he has notched up nearly 150,000 air miles in the 14 months since the Coalition was formed – the equivalent of travelling six times around the world.
Dr Fox has made four trips to Afghanistan, where British troops are fighting the Taliban. But he has not yet been to Libya, where the RAF is patrolling the no-fly zone.
He also travels to defence conferences in Singapore, Bahrain, Munich and Geneva.
However, military sources believe he has made several unnecessary visits that ought to be the preserve of Foreign Secretary William Hague.
One senior military officer said: 'It's basically another country every other week.
'Given the cut-backs facing the forces and the two wars on the go it's hard to justify this level of travel.'
Read more:  
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FeTNA concludes 24th Tamil Convention

July 8, 2011
Charleston – USA, July 07 (TruthDive): The 24^th Tamil Convention organized by FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) – the umbrella organization of North America’s Tamil Community concluded this week on July 4^th. The three-day event was attended by prominent members of Tamil community from India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and other countries. Movie artists, Politicians and other prominent personalities attended the event at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium at Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
FeTNA conducts the Convention at different locations in North America every year and is generally attended by large number of Tamil Americans of Indian and Sri Lankan origin. The event includes cultural events, competitions, socializing events and networking opportunities for the Tamil and South Asian communities living in North America at large.                    Read More       

Lanka war crimes: No comments, says Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao

New Delhi, July 11, 2011

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

The Indian government has had nothing to say for the last four days on the gross violation of human rights in Sri Lanka.

Four days after Headlines Today aired chilling evidence of Sri Lankan army's atrocities against Tamils, India has maintained a defeaning silence. Meanwhile, Colombo claims the atrocities were committed by the LTTE fighters.

Chilling evidence of crimes against humanity was aired by Headlines Today on Thursday night. The Channel 4 documentary, Sri Lanka's Killing Fields, presents perhaps the most disturbing images ever shown on any TV channel.

The images clearly proved that war crimes of the worst kind were committed against the Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka by its armed forces in the culmination of the civil war two years ago.

However, despite the glaring evidence, India's Ministry of External Affairs has avoided reacting to it.

When asked for her reaction on the video footage, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, "I will not comment on this matter."

Asked if the Indian government has failed in its response, former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh had told Headlines Today on Friday, "The government must act constitutionally and politically. No government can afford to sit on the fence."

The UN report on Sri Lanka had recommended an international investigation, but the Sri Lankan government has done nothing.

Former UK foreign secretary David Miliband had also said that the report was shocking and that Sri Lanka must allow international probe into the war crimes. "There is a need to give Lanka a deadline to look into the war crimes and see to it that the deadline is fulfilled," Miliband told Headlines Today on Friday.

Lankan military spokesperson Maj Gen Ubaya Medawale maintained there was "no need for international probe". 

"The video, done by individuals who come from the ranks of refugees spread over different parts of Lanka seeking international assistance, is fake," Medawale had said on Friday.
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Relatives allege rape and murder of Tamil woman at Kathirkaamam

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 July 2011, 10:57 GMT]
31-year-old mother of two children, Santhakumari Krishnapillai, from Thampiluvil, Batticaloa, who was on a pilgrimage to Kathirkaamam was raped and killed allegedly by Sri Lanka Army on Sunday early hours, the relatives of the woman told media. The incident took place near the riverside of Va’l’liyamman Temple at Kathirkaamam. The Sri Lanka police came out with contradicting stories that the woman was killed either by a leopard or bear.

Relatives who went to the spot allege they noticed traces of rape. The body has now been taken to Tissamaharama hospital for autopsy.

Relatives of the woman found bite marks as well as cut injuries on her breast and semen stains on her dress. Village officials who visited the spot differed in the interpretation saying there were clear marks of attack by an animal. A proper autopsy would be the only reliable way of establishing what had happened, they said.

A TNA parliamentarian of the Batticaloa district also alleged that according to his information the woman had not been killed by wild animals but had been raped and killed.

Post-mortem report is yet to be produced to the courts, the police said reiterating that the woman was killed by an animal.

‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’

The Diplomat speaks with Callum Macrae, director of 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields,' about his documentary film and the controversy surrounding it.

In May, the UN Panel of Experts set up to investigate allegations of war crimes during the final weeks of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009 reported ‘credible allegations, which if proven, indicate that a wide range of serious violations of international humanitarian law and international rights law was committed both by the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE.’
Last month, British TV station Channel 4, aired the documentary ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’, which included graphic footage of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The British Foreign Office Minister expressed shock at the film’s content, but the Sri Lankan High Commission in London stated that the film was ‘driven by a political agenda against Sri Lanka.’ The Diplomat’s Stewart Watters speaks with the documentary’s director, Callum Macrae, to hear his take on the controversy.       Full Story>>>
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TNA calls for foreign monitors

11 July, 2011 By Charles Haviland
BBC News, Jaffna

	TNA says people connected with the ruling coalition are intimidating its candidates

The largest Tamil party in Sri Lanka has called for foreign monitors to have a presence at local elections in northern Sri Lanka that are due to take place later this month.

It says people connected with the governing coalition are using foul means to intimidate its candidates. The government denies it.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the main party that explicitly speaks for the country’s Tamil minority, has accused the government of obstructing its election campaign in three northern districts, including areas that were a war zone until two years ago.

One of its MPs, MA Sumanthiran, says he has sent a list of complaints to the election commissioner in the capital.

Dog's head

He said that a dog’s head was hung on the gate of one candidate, and that stones, mud and faeces were thrown into the houses of others.

His concerns have been echoed by human rights groups.

Mr Sumanthiran said the government was afraid that his party would sweep the board in the local elections due on 23rd July and was trying to concoct an excuse to postpone them.

But a government parliamentarian, AHM Azwer, denied the accusation and said the government wanted free and fair elections.

He said it was the TNA that feared losing as a result of large infrastructure projects being developed by the government.

Here in northern Sri Lanka the BBC has been allowed to move around freely for the first time in years.

There are numerous posters to be seen advertising President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his coalition candidates but almost none on behalf of opposition parties.

Government figures including the president’s close relatives are visiting the north and campaigning hard; they have block-booked the only hotel in the town of Kilinochchi until polling day

President is running out of time as ICC and UN bang on his doors

by Pearl Thevanayagam

(July 11, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Most corrupt leaders give themselves a decent interval of at least a couple of years before they descend into dictatorial mode and ensconce their family members in positions of power. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa came pre-packaged and ready to distribute the wealth of the nation to his family and he already had a head-start on this.                  Read More       
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Democracy and SAARC

 

File Photo

Speech made by Mangala Samaraweera MP at the 5th conference of the association of SAARC speakers and parliamentarians.

(July 11, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) Mr. chairperson, Hon. Speakers, fellow Parliamentarians, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentleman, 

In the latter part of the 20th century, there was a "fashionable" school of political thought prevalent in some sections of our societies, which argued that democracy is not conducive for economic progress in developing countries. In the guise of wanting to achieve economic development, some countries moved towards oligarchy and autocracy with disastrous results for the countries concerned.                         Read More      

Six Hospitals in North East deserve a place in Guinness book of records! –PC Minister himself exposes the despair of the patients

(Lanka-e-News -10.July.2011, 6.30PM) Recently , it was exposed that there are six Hospitals in the North East which merit a place in the Guinness book of records , not for excellence but for Govt.’s monumental neglect of those Hospitals. Six Hospitals in North East are without doctors , and there is only one doctor for 12 Hospitals in the North East ! . All the work of these Hospitals is run by this single doctor .None other than the North central province health Minister Peshala Jayaratne himself made this startling revelation.

The Minister made this disclosure at a recent national reforms program held at the Anuradhapura district health office aimed at enlisting the support of the people towards the program.

The provincial council Minister speaking further said , this acute dearth of doctors and nursing staff had in addition , seriously impaired the performance of duties at the Gramiya (village) hospitals. The Minister pointed out that doctors are reluctant to come to village hospitals because of lack of facilities to them including official abode. Because the monthly rental in those areas is about Rs. 6000-7000 rupees , doctors are unable to secure suitable abodes when they come to serve there , he added.
The Minister also lamented that because the replenishments and medical supplies from the Central Govt. are wanting, the health service is compelled to provide a poor medical service.
Minister Jayaratne bemoaned that after a survey conducted by him , it has been realized that in the North East region , owing to this inadequate medical service , 65 % of the patients there are seeking private medical services paying money. The Minister also expressed that following his survey ,a discovery was made of a very peculiar pathetic plight to which the patients are driven into , where they have to go to the same doctor who is serving in the Govt. hospital and seek attention via his private practice after payment because the Govt. Hospitals haven’t facilities to serve them , and the waste of time the patients are subjected to at Govt.
hospitals.
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UK Defence Minister accuses Labour regime for Sri Lanka’s war

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2011, 13:14 GMT]
The visiting British Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox, while delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture in Colombo on Saturday, accused the previous Labour government of UK for neglecting a political process he had worked out in 1997 and thus contributing to war in the island. “The incoming Labour government showed little interest in Sri Lanka or in taking forward the political process we had begun. The agreement subsequently withered on the vine, to my very great sadness, and the cycle of violence brought more misery, more violence and more death,” he said. Dr. Fox, viewed as one of the ‘friends’ the Rajapaksa regime is harping on, pinned his hopes now on the LLRC report expected in November and made only a passing remark on the need of an inclusive political solution.

Dr. Liam Fox

Fox, speaking at length on global ‘terrorism’, economic interests and strategic interests, commented that Fukuyama’s book should have been titled as “The End of Geography”, instead of “The End of History.”

But he made a special reference to Sri Lanka’s ‘geography’ in the struggle for maritime security.

“Sri Lanka is located in a pivotal position in the Indian Ocean with major international shipping routes between the Far East and the Gulf within 25 miles of your coast.

“In Trincomalee, Sri Lanka has a formidable strategic asset in this struggle that has yet to be fully realised.

“So there is significant potential, for Sri Lanka to play a greater role, in issues such as counter piracy,” Fox said in his address.                        Full story >>   

Posted by Thavam

DEMOCRACY GETS A BEATING

Sunday, July 10, 2011 Protestors continue to get attacked
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Mayhem: Thugs assaulting the protestors in Kurunegala, An injured protestor at the hospital and Thugs carrying batons chasing away protestors and running riot

Democracy and freedom of expression have once again received a beating with another protest being brutally attacked allegedly by government sponsored thugs last Wednesday (6) in Kurunegala. Many protestors have sustained injuries during the attack.
Last Wednesday’s attack was the third protest to come under an attack by thugs or police personnel within a span of one and half months. Attacks on protestors have now become a common feature with little or no action being taken by the authorities on the perpetrators.       Full Story>>>
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China Becomes Key Lender To Government This Year

China increasing aid to gain influence says US Report 

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Amidst findings of a US Congressional Report about China trying to gain influence amongst Indian Ocean nations through foreign aid, the Finance and Planning Ministry in its latest report has revealed that the Chinese government has become the country’s key lender by committing US$ 760 million of new loans in the first quarter of 2011.      Full Story>>>

 

A POTHOLED ROAD TO PEACE-Resettlement Not A Tender Process In Jaffna

Resettlement Not A Tender Process In Jaffna
By Abdul H. Azeez in Jaffna - Photos by Thusitha Kumara

Child plays by a boat as his parents sort the catch, Marutankeni, Awaiting the next tractor by the roadside, Vettilakeni, A camp that houses some of the persons displaced by the HSZs in the North, Shops in the former HSZ in Thelippalai that have now been released to the civilians, Struggling onto tractor at Vettilakeni AND A plush military built house donated to a lucky family

In the ‘neck’ of Jaffna, people are just settling down in their old homes after having spent months and even years in IDP camps. They have returned to villages completely flattened by shells strikes, and a land made almost a desert through the ravages of war and harsh weather.
Taking the van south from Point Pedro, parallel to the A9 the land is green at first. We move on past the checkpoint at Nagarkovil and green gradually turns into brown. This continues until we are in a veritable desert that stretches from the coast inland as far as the eye can see. Ravaged by war, all buildings here have been destroyed by shells. Whatever greenery that called these arid lands home has not yet recovered fully thanks to harsh weather conditions that have  not seen rainfall in months.                   Full Story