Now, It Is Very Clear Sir !

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Rajapaksa government seems to be extremely careful, with issues they don’t have adequate answers for. They’ve withdrawn 03 Bills that were designed with much importance, since May last year, despite their two thirds majority. How will the Rajapaksas react ? The answer again is a dead horse, the horse they claimed to have killed in war. This is how the rationale for that is being developed.

Mervyn Silva

“While this problem seems to be mostly international, we must realise there is a possibility, though a remote  one at this stage, that terrorists will reorganise within this country. As  mentioned  before, one of the stated objectives of the LTTE-linked groups abroad  is to encourage and facilitate the resumption of an armed struggle in Sri Lanka.”

Read More »

Impunity in north, east, south and west

Sunday January 15, 2012
By Kishali Pinto Jayawardene

The continuing failure of Sri Lanka's institutions of justice is well demonstrated in the most recent Views of the Geneva based United Nations Human Rights Committee (UN Committee) calling upon the Sri Lankan State to effectively investigate and prosecute the murderers of a small time businessman in Negombo after he, his wife and their two children had been repeatedly intimidated and threatened by police officers whom they had angered. The Committee was responding to an Individual Communication filed by the deceased's wife Pathmini Peiris.

Shrewd foreign affairs policy at one time

It is necessary first to give some background to this discussion. Under the shrewd direction of then Foreign Affairs Minister the late Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka was a frontrunner in the South Asian subcontinent in acceding to the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the late 1990's. This was a deliberate policy decision meant to signal to the world that Sri Lanka had nothing to hide and that constructive criticism, if it is for the betterment of its own citizens, would be gladly accepted.

read more..

Sri Lanka takes a beating in South Africa -- not just in cricket

Sunday January 15, 2012
By Lasanda Kurukulasuriya

In the past week Sri Lanka's political leaders have been in travel mode, with External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris touring parts of Africa, while a TNA delegation has just returned from South Africa, where four parliamentarians attended the African National Congress (ANC) centenary celebrations.

South Africa was a conspicuous omission in Peiris' trip on account of Sri Lanka boycotting the event. The government was displeased with the invitation extended by the ANC government to representatives of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), thereby giving the organisation the kind of recognition that would seem to support its Tamil separatist/anti Sri Lanka agenda. In view of this situation, the TNA's decision to attend the event appears to have hit a nerve with the government. This does not augur well for the upcoming session of the government-TNA talks scheduled for Jan. 17, 18 and 19 -- part of the ongoing dialogue aimed at a political solution to end Tamil grievances.     read more..

TNA dismisses LLRC report and sets the agenda for talks

 January 15, 2012
R. K. RADHAKRISHNAN

Barely two days before the commencement of a crucial round of talks between the Tamil National Alliance, an umbrella group representing Tamil political parties, and the Sri Lankan government, the outfit again called for outside scrutiny of the Eelam War IV.

The war concluded in May 2009 and the government has conceded that there have been civilian casualties in the war. Almost all civilians killed were Tamils.

“The need for an accountability process that meets international standards while delivering on the right of victims to truth, justice and reparations (including guarantees of non-recurrence) is an urgent and important one. Given the government’s failure to institute a process that meets these benchmarks, the TNA calls on the international community to institute measures that will advance accountability and encourage reconciliation in Sri Lanka in keeping with the recommendations of the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts,” the TNA said in its 70-page analytical ‘Response to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report. The TNA had earlier rejected the report in a short response a few days after the release. The Report of the UNSG’s Panel of Experts was seen in Sri Lanka as an affront on the country. The TNA, however, welcomed its findings.

The detailed response was released here on Sunday, barely a day before the TNA meets the Indian External Affairs Minister, S.M. Krishna. The Sri Lankan government – TNA talks are scheduled to be held on January 17, 18 and 19. “The talks will go on as scheduled,” M.A. Sumanthiran, Member of Parliament belonging to the TNA, told The Hindu, when asked if there was any change in dates for the talks. Mr. Krishna’s presence in Sri Lanka during the talks is seen as a chance for achieving some forward movement in the discussions.

The main stumbling block in the talks related to the extent and kind of autonomy that the Northern Province could be accorded. Terming the LLRC’s recommendations on this vital question “exceedingly vague,” the TNA said that these “fail to measure up to the past proposals,” including that of the 2006 report of the All Party Representative Committee’s Expert Committee.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has gone on record, saying that land and police powers will not be accorded. Recalling this stand, the TNA said that “the most current views of the President, however, reflect the government’s unwillingness to even implement the provisions of the Constitution vis-à-vis the Thirteenth Amendment.” This has only reinforced the Tamil fears on the government not being genuine about political solution based on meaningful devolution, it added.

TNA To Brief On The Lack Of Progress In Talks

Sunday, January 15, 2012
Krishna to meet TNA on the 16th
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

S. M. Krishna

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) representatives are to communicate to Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna about the lack of progress made in the talks between the TNA and the Sri Lankan government on finding a political solution to the ethnic issue.
Krishna is scheduled to meet with representatives of the TNA tomorrow (16) soon after he arrives in the country.
TNA Parliamentarian and Attorney-at-law M. A. Sumanthiran said the party would communicate the progress, or lack of it, in the talks between the TNA and the government.
“We cannot say that there has been progress made in the talks,” he observed.
He told The Sunday Leader that the talks on finding a political solution to the ethnic issue that commenced in January 2011 between the TNA and the government has taken almost one year to reach a substantive level.
He explained that it was only on December 6, 2011 that the TNA and the government commenced substantive talks on a final political solution.
At the December 6 talks, the TNA pushed for the re-merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces. The government, however, has not yet responded to the issue.
Sumanthiran said that at the last round of discussions in December last year, attention was paid to the allocation of land powers to the provinces.
The next round of talks between the government and the TNA are scheduled to commence on Tuesday (17) and is to continue on 18 and 19 as well.
The talks will coincide with Krishna’s visit to Sri Lanka.
Speaking on the lack of progress in the talks, Sumanthiran observed that the government had not responded to the proposal by the TNA to hold talks with the government on finding a political solution according to a timetable. “In our view, the talks on a political solution should have concluded quickly,” he said. The TNA however maintains that the party would not name any representatives to the proposed parliamentary select committee (PSC) to find a political solution to the ethnic issue until the party with the government reaches a substantive agreement.

Krishna visit likely to propel devolution talks

Concern over TNA statement after talks with GTF in South Africa Uncertainty over implementation of LLRC report and UNHRC sessions in Geneva

By Our Political Editor

For more reasons than one, the coming weeks remain crucial for President Mahinda Rajapaksa. With a comfortable two thirds majority in Parliament and a separatist war over, his UPFA government has still been floundering. A number of issues have begun to erode public confidence even though they are not highlighted by an impotent opposition. The largest cabinet in post-independent Sri Lanka notwithstanding, absence of good governance in some key sectors have haunted the higher echelons of power. Concerned by these reasons, senior ministers believe Rajapaksa is veering towards a series of corrective measures. On Friday, he chaired a meeting of constituent parties of the UPFA. Taking part among others were Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Wimal Weerawansa, Champika Ranawaka, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Vitharana, D.E.W. Gunasekera and Keheliya Rambukwella. A gamut of issues facing the government formed the subject of discussion. That included wages for employees in various sectors, student unrest in universities and the proposed legislation for private universities. TNA leader R. Sampanthan is being introduced by Radakrishan (Roy) Padayachie, South African Minister of Public Service and Administration to a Cabinet colleague.    South African President Jacob Zuma speaks at the ANC centenary Read more..

US "suggests" immunity to Rajapakse from suit

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 January 2012, 02:28 GMT]
In a clear articulation of US State Department's continuing support of Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse, the US Justice Department, based on a directive from legal adviser Harold Koh, has suggested to the District Court of District of Columbia that Rajapakse has immunity from the suit filed by three Tamil plaintiffs for alleged complicity in war-crimes. The US State department asserts that "the Executive Branch retains the authority to refrain from making a similar immunity determination in future cases, considering, for example, international norms and the implications of the litigation for the Nation's foreign relations," indicating that US would positively exercise its discretion in this case to intervene to prevent continuation of the suit. 

• State Dept: Suggestion of Immunity

• State Dept: Status Report on Immunity

Judge Kotelly gave the State Department till January 13, 2012 to indicate whether or not the State intends to file a Statement of Interest regarding issues identified in President Rajapakse’s motion, and if so, a date by which the State of Interest would be filed.

The response from the US Justice Department was filed Friday before the deadline.

While case law indicates no court has ever subjected a sitting head of state to suit once the Executive Branch has suggested the head of state immunity, there is continued tension between separation of powers doctrine and the "controlling" immunity determination by the State Department, legal sources in Washington said. 

Spokesperson for Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) which sponsored the legal action said, "while we are disappointed at the intervention of the US State Department on behalf of Rajapakse, and we expect Judge Kotelly to agree with the suggestion and to dismiss the case, US's action makes clear the following:

• the Justice Department or the State Department did not consider the gravity of the charges against the sitting president, the war-crimes and crimes against humanity, which are international crimes where the International Criminal Court (ICC) has recently taken a stand to indict a sitting president, Sudan's Al Bashir.
• the State Department, by positively intervening, has expressed clearly its desire to help Colombo administration to weather war-crimes charges."

The political decision by the US appears to have closed the legal space available for bringing legal action against Rajapakse in US Courts until Rajapakse leaves his office.

Bruce Fein, Plaintiffs’ attorney, told TamilNet, State Department's action is a clear violation of the separation of powers architected by the founding fathers in the US Constitution. He added that he will file a motion asking for 45 days to respond to the the suggestion of immunity.

‘Attack him and be done with’, I have already given the order: another white Van criminal operation under regime chief

(Lanka-e-. News
-14Jan.2012, 6.30PM) On the 10th, Lanka e news exposed the white Van operators under the caption ‘Operators of the white van new criminal dimension and culture exposed’. Following this exposure, Lanka e news is in receipt of copious evidence and information that this white Van criminal operations are being conducted by the regime chief . We give hereunder an incident which amply testifies to this truth.

Vasantha Senanayake is a representative of the Mirigama electorate for Parliament currently. He is a popular descendent of the D S Senanayake lineage who entered Parliament in the SLFP ticket for the first time. He is a Lawyer who is not in practice. He is a businessman. A playful youth. He is a frivolous globe trotter , and who attends Parliament once in a blue moon. When the regime chief inquired from him as to his conduct , Senanayake had told him he is mostly abroad because a business rival of his , Neil is lying in wait to kill him.

The brutal regime chief had then said , my MPs cannot be in fear like that , and ordered the white van criminals to attack the businessman Neil. ‘Gahala dhanawa’ (attack and be done with ), was his order . When Chandiyas ( thugs and gangsters), soldiers order ‘attack him’ ,it means shoot and kill him. Now the brutal regime chief’s language follows that same pattern ‘attack him’. In other words what he meant was to kill Neil.

Neil is a businessman from Katana. His main business is purchasing ‘rejects’ of clothes from the Free trade zone factories and selling them in the market. He has been engaged in this business for a long while. His other business was importing vehicles from abroad and selling them. He owns a number of car sales points. He was a long time supporter of late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. He was a SLFP er himself.

When he heard of the criminal order of the regime chief , he began hiding in fear. Neil had told the SLFP Ministers and MPs who had obtained political support from him to help him out of the crisis.

As a sequel to his request, Faiz Musthafa, Sarath Gunaratne, and Sudarhsani Fernandopulle (widow of Jeyaraj) along with other MPS and Ministers have met MaRa, the regime chief. When they began explaining that Neil is a supporter of theirs , and he had been supporting Jaeyraj Fernandopulle even when he was living , the regime chief had furiously retorted,’ No, No, he is waiting to kill an M P. I have already given the order to liquidate him’ . Those who went to meet him were shocked at MaRa’s outrageous conduct – they could not believe their eyes and ears when they heard and saw a Democratically elected leader of a country talking openly of giving orders to liquidate his own people – reminiscent of Hitler’s orders during the Nazi rule.
Neil had been hiding for a month since, while the Van had been combing the Matara district in search of him where his relatives live. He is in such a mortal fear that he is frightened to go even to the Airport to bolt out of the country. He has no faith at all in anyone , not to mention the police. His only option available to him now is to disclose his predicament to Lanka e news which fearlessly , frankly and forthrightly exposes the truth, and reveal to the whole world his dire plight , he states. We are only acting in compliance with his pathetic request as he is now in a country where jungle laws prevail with brutes , buffalos , wolves , hyenas and serpents ruling the roost.

Lamentably , this is the dangerous situation in this country .Lawlessness is enthroned with law abiding citizens having nowhere to go to get redress to their woes . When the chief who sits on that throne is lawlessness personified , those around him too are infected with that deadly contagion. Incidentally , the Kelaniya local body members are still not having a peaceful sleep with threat of death and abduction stalking them every moment of the day. They are still sleeping in abodes providing them security .

If the SLFP members who are law abiding and civilized do not take action to combat this dire and deadly environment . The next tragic drama they may well have to witness will be, an order ,‘attack him’ from the chief MaRa directed against Maithri, Nimal or Berty . When that order actually comes it will be too late for the SLFP ers to counter MaRa’s killing strategies. Perhaps, by that time they may not live to tell the tale any longer, let alone complain.

Please await more horror news about the white Van criminal operations under the ‘terror of MaRa’

Erudite Professor G .L . addresses Parliament after ‘murdering the mother’ ruthlessly

 

(Lanka-e-News -14.Jan.2012, 6.30PM) Herein is published a single page of the Sinhala version of progress report of the Foreign Ministry presented by the foreign Minister Prof. Dr. G L Peiris himself in Parliament . In this page alone there are 25 Sinhala language mistakes (marked in red). Even the English version of it is similarly abounding with errors. In English when such blunders are committed , it is disdainfully described as ‘murdering the queen’. When these mistakes are made in Sinhala , the mother tongue ,they ought to be described as ‘murdering the mother’. These are outrageous blunders which even a grade five student will be ashamed of . It is only a Govt. which has lost its sense of shame and equally or more blundering that can condone such blunders of its own Ministry.

If this erudite Professor and Hon. Minister can indulge in such gave blunders in his report presented to the Parliament shamelessly and disgracefully , it could be imagined how shamelessly and stupidly his affairs are conducted internationally. It is no wonder that the motherland is so vulnerable to vicious attacks of the LTTE Diaspora internationally, which had plunged the country’s image to the lowest depths internationally.

Chamal as P.M.; Synthetic Lawyer as Dep. Minister; Gota to enter Parliament –nepotism at its worst !

(Lanka-e-News -14.Jan.2012, 6.30PM) At the impending Cabinet re shuffle, Chamal Rajapakse, the speaker of Parliament and elder brother of the regime chief is to be appointed as the Prime Minister (P M ), according to sources within the Govt.

Since the health of the regime chief is rapidly deteriorating , this decision has been taken by the family regime . Under the laws of the country, if the President dies suddenly, it is the Prime Minister (PM) who takes over. The regime has paid serious attention to the necessity to deprive the present P M - D.M. Jayaratne of that opportunity.. The regime chief is on drugs and pills at regular intervals these days.

There had also been discussions to appoint Chamal as the P M , and to bring in Gotabaya to Parliament.

In any event , it is decided that the first synthetic lawyer of S L , Namal Rajapakse shall be appointed as a Deputy Minister of youth affairs at the next Cabinet re shuffle.

Writers like Vasanthapriya Ramanayake who was hired by the regime to extol the Govt. is now saddled with no option except write against the regime ,because the regime has muddled up and made a hash of every sphere of activity . The Govt. is in such a state of despair and despondency. To compound its confusion , Basil Rajapakse , it is learnt is slowly but surely building up a united base with the utterly disgruntled and disillusioned SLFP seniors . Currently , Basil is out of the country.

Sri Lanka’s Disappeared

Saturday, January 14, 2012

•   Mohan Peiris says will testify over reports he received
•   Police to begin probe on hundreds of missing persons

By Indika Sri Aravinda

Mohan Peiris

The police have begun investigations into hundreds of people reported missing over the past several months.  In the last 40 days alone eleven persons have been abducted in white vans.  They have disappeared with no clue except for Amal Rodrigo, Coordinating Secretary for Mervyn Silva who was returned after being abducted.
Out of the ten who were ‘whitevanned’ in the last one and a half months include two JVP rebel activists abducted in Jaffna,  Lalith Kumar Weeraraj and Kugan Murugasan, who remain missing.
Former Attorney General (AG) Mohan Peiris told The Sunday Leader that IGP N. K. Illangakoon had issued instructions to police regional heads around the country on Thursday.
Convenor of ‘We are Sri Lankans’ Udul Premaratne told The Sunday Leader that some 500 people have been reported missing in the North and East alone over the past few years.
Of those missing are 110 persons from Trincomalee, 100 from Mannar, 140 from Vavuniya and several others from Jaffna and parts of Killinochchi and Batticaloa.
Among those abducted are State employees, fishermen and university students, Udul Premaratne added.
Meanwhile former MP Mano Ganeshan said that between 2005 – 2009 there were around 550 persons reported missing in Colombo and its immediate suburbs.
He said the whereabouts of these people are still not known and blamed the government for the alleged abductions.
Mohan Peiris meanwhile said that he has already informed the relevant officials on the information he had received about the whereabouts of missing journalist Pradeep Eknaligoda.
Peiris, who is now a Presidential Advisor, said that he had received information from another source that Eknaligoda was overseas and so he asked the relevant officials to investigate the claims.
Peiris said he had received the information when he was still the Attorney General and it was now up to the relevant officials to investigate the claims.
Last year Peiris had also told the UN Human Rights Council that Eknaligoda was overseas and this created a stir with human rights groups asking him to clarify his statement.
He also said that if summons is issued on him to give evidence in court regarding his statement on Eknaligoda then he will do so.
The Appeal Court had ruled last week that Pieris could be called in as a witness to inquire into the disappearance of Eknaligoda.
Sandya Eknaligoda, the wife of Prageeth had requested courts to order the police to produce the missing journalist in courts.

Ex-US Diplomat Says India Must Block China In Sri LankaEx-US Diplomat Says India Must Block China In Sri Lanka

 Saturday, January 14, 2012
A former American Diplomat says, India must prevent further Chinese involvement in Sri Lankan affairs, as the Chinese have already made its mark on the island.
Former U.S. diplomat William H. Avery said, in a book titled “China’s Nightmare, America’s Dream: India as the Next Global Power” that India must pressure Sri Lanka to kick out the Chinese and become a kind of vassal state.
In the book, extracts of which were published in the Wall Street Journal last week, Avery describes how India just stood by and watched as China moved in to build a port at Hambantota.
Avery, now a business consultant, served at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai in the 1990s, a time when India’s relations with the U.S. nosedived following New Delhi’s nuclear tests. Avery opens the book with this see-sawing policy to illustrate how, in his view, the U.S. response to India often has been short-sighted.
Avery says, India must respond to the challenge of an authoritarian China, by spending even more on defense and using economic coercion to influence its neighbors. “India must now concentrate on the Finlandization of Sri Lanka,” referring to Finland’s subjugation by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. “In the short term this will mean preventing any further non-Indian involvement in Sri Lanka’s affairs.”

Rajapaksas’ Isolated Mindset

Saturday, January 14, 2012

By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa

There has been an unexpected reaction to my article last week titled “Rajapaksa dynasty and their education qualification saga”. A State controlled Sinhala daily carried a front page news item last Tuesday (10) which claims this writer is living in exile in New York and runs a website with NGO help and pays money to some people living in Sri Lanka for false information which he in turn spreads.

The news item further said; State Intelligence Service has identified this writer’s motive is to tarnish the Government of Sri Lanka in front of the international community. The very same story was reproduced on Swaranavahini’s “Mul Pituwa” program which is hosted by the Chairman of the state owned Lake House group and was also reproduced by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.Read More »

Kelaniya: Mervyn’s Waterloo

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema - Photos by Thusitha Kumara

Currying favour Mervyn is the President’s pet69

Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Dr. Mervyn Silva’s fiefdom in Kelaniya has fallen apart. Friends have now turned foe with Silva’s trusted allies at the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha now becoming his enemies.
The so called descendent of King Dutugemunu, Silva’s dirty deals in his electorate Kelaniya have now come to haunt him with the governing party members of the Kelaniya Pradeshiya Sabha threatening to expose everything with evidence.Read More »

Freedom from Myanmar's prisons

Burmese blogger Nay Phone Latt (C) hugs his brother in front of the Pa-an prison after his release, in Pa-an January 13, 2012. 

REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Freedom from Myanmar's prisons

Myanmar frees at least 200 political prisoners in an amnesty, as one of the world's most reclusive states opens up after half a century of authoritarian rule.           Full Story>>>

TNA seeks insights from South Africa

SATURDAY, 14 JANUARY 2012 
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said yesterday that during its recent interaction with African National Congress (ANC) leaders it had sought insights from the findings and recommendations of the Truth Commission of South Africa.
 
The TNA participated in the centenary celebrations of the ANC, which was once led by South Africa’s iconic former President Nelson Mandela.
 
When asked about the visit, TNA leader R. Sampanthan said he and three other TNA parliamentarians, talked to ANC leaders on the sidelines of the celebrations.
 
He said the ANC was vastly experienced in bringing about reconciliation and therefore meeting its leaders and seeking insights on the South African experience was a useful exercise.

When asked whether he would brief the government on what transpired, Mr. Sampanthan said they were prepared to share the insights should the government asked the TNA about it.

“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was presided over by Mr. Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. It was worthwhile meeting the ANC leaders.”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a court-like body for restorative justice after the abolition of apartheid. Those who were identified as victims of gross human rights violations were invited to share their experiences and some were selected for public hearings. Perpetrators of violence were also given the opportunity to give their testimony and request for amnesty from civil and criminal prosecution.
 
The deliberations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were seen by many as a crucial component in the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa. Despite some of its flaws, it is largely thought to have been successful.

Mr. Sampanthan meanwhile confirmed that his party would participate in talks with the government scheduled for January 17, 18 and 19. (Kelum Bandara)

Oil minnow Sri Lanka has most reasons to worry about Iran oil

By Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal
COLOMBO | Fri Jan 13, 2012 

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka may be a minnow in the oil world, but a near total reliance on Iranian crude imports means it has more reason than most to find a way to avoid being caught in the clutches of U.S. sanctions.

The island's only refinery -- the 50,000 barrels-a-day Sapugaskanda refinery -- is almost entirely reliant on imports of Iran's crude. Switching to alternatives is not easy because the refinery has been configured to handle Iran's high-sulphur and high-density crude oil.

"We don't have any other alternative than getting oil from Iran," Petroleum Resources Minister Susil Premajayantha told Reuters. "Our main problem is that you can't use all types of crude here for our machines."         Full Story>>>