Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Back resolution against Colombo, say activists

March 21, 2012
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

‘On addressing reconciliation, Sri Lanka has done little apart from setting up LLRC'

Women's rights groups and individuals have appealed to the government to support the U.S.-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the 19th U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva.

In an appeal on Tuesday, they said, “We also note the role of the Indian government in urging the government of Sri Lanka to move forward on key issues relating to a political settlement and reconciliation.''

While Sri Lanka had taken some steps towards strengthening peace, there were specific issues where there was no tangible progress. On addressing reconciliation, the government had done little, apart from establishing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and allowing the report to be released publicly. Since then it had taken no substantive action to implement the recommendations.

Full Story>>>

Salt on Old Wounds: Post-War Sri Lanka

International Policy Digest

By The Social Architects March 20, 2012

Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, Switzerland

Disclaimer: The following document was anonymously submitted to International Policy Digest (IPD) by The Social Architects (TSA).

‘Salt on Old Wounds: The Systematic Sinhalization of Sri Lanka’s North, East and Hill Country’ the first study published by The Social Architects (TSA), seeks to set out the systematic, increasing and widespread process of Sinhalization that is taking place in historically Tamil areas in the North, East and Hill Country in post-war Sri Lanka. While focusing on the process of Sinhalization that is currently being implemented, this monograph seeks to situate it within the broader historical process of Sinhalization that has been carried out by different governments spanning a number of decades. Full Story>>>

Philippines should stand for justice

Last month the Philippines abstained in a vote at the United Nations General Assembly calling for accountability for government atrocities in Syria. Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario defended the abstention by saying that Filipinos in Syria were “highly vulnerable” and assistance was needed from the Syrian government to get them out. Soon the Philippines will face another test of its willingness to join other governments demanding respect for human rights, and this time there are no Filipinos at risk. But will the Philippines give Sri Lanka a pass too?

Later this month a number of countries will sponsor a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council calling on the Sri Lankan government to take action to ensure justice and promote national reconciliation following the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which ended in 2009. The Philippines should support it.

The Sri Lankan government has not kept its commitments to the people of Sri Lanka or the United Nations to take credible steps to provide justice and accountability for widespread and serious wartime abuses by all sides. More than 100,000 civilians, especially in the country’s north and east, are believed to have been killed during the 26-year war. Full Story>>>&gt
;

Sri Lanka asks India to re-think vote on UN resolution on war crimes

Full Story>>>

Ottawa presses Sri Lanka to reconcile with Tamil minority

The Globe and Mail

The Harper government is dispatching a delegation to Sri Lanka as it presses the country to launch a post-war reconciliation with its Tamil minority.

Sending the delegation to Sri Lanka, which has sometimes restricted access for foreign officials, is intended to underline Ottawa’s keen interest, which includes lobbying other nations to back a United Nations resolution calling on the country to act on human rights.

It is the latest measure in the Conservatives’ turnaround from reluctance to criticize the Sri Lankan government during its civil war with the Tamil Tigers, which the Tories banned as a terrorist group, to one of Colombo’s most vocal critics.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird is sending three representatives, MPs Rick Dykstra and Chris Alexander – a former ambassador to Afghanistan – and new senator Vern White. They will conduct a kind of fact-finding mission intended to shape the government’s next steps in dealing with Colombo, a government source said. Full Story>>>

SRI LANKA: Rupee Devolution May Lead to Malnutrition and starvation Among the Poor

March 20, 2012
The value of the rupee came down to 131 for a US dollar. This is the highest point reached relating to the value of a rupee ever. In all likelihood, it will go up further even though by artificial means, it may be brought down a little now and then. Thus, the high devaluation of the rupee has come to stay.

How this will affect the livelihoods of ordinary folk is a central issue of concern from a human rights perspective. Food, medical care and education will be areas in which there will be a worse form of impact. All these three areas affects the lives of people now as well as for the future. In the future, the impact of losses in this area will affect physical and mental health and also the possibilities of acquisition of skills and knowledge that the young would need in order to maintain stable lives in the future. Thus, these matters should be of highest concern for the government and for everyone else who is concerned about the welfare of the people.
Read More...

SRI LANKA: Charades and its price

Article : The entire country, not just its diplomatic missions, is in a dilemma today. This has its roots beyond the present regime's misuse of authority. Absolute authority it did attain, since the Big Ben alarm sounded three years ago after winning the coldblooded war against the LTTE. Since then the government has spared no opportunity to make a drama out of every tragedy. The LTTE and the daily war that the country and its people fought are tragedies. Celebrating such a misfortune is also a tragedy. Perhaps the only people who do not know this are those who devour absolute power in Colombo. Or are they orchestrating a celebration out of everything to hide their stupidity?
Read More...

SRI LANKA: Quo Vadis – Support for US Sponsored Resolution

20-Mar-2012

Guest Column by Ashik Bonofer

The “inclination” of the Government of India to support the US sponsored resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which goes for voting on 23^rd March, comes as a surprise to most Sri Lankan watchers in India and abroad. Knowing India’s stand all through, this time again the general feeling is that India would support Sri Lanka in the Human Rights council similar to its earlier stance since the end of Eelam War IV. Although India has expressed inclination to support the US resolution, it has also cautioned that it would wait until it receives the full copy of the text of the resolution. Is this stand by India final or is it just a ploy to reduce tensions created by the political parties in Tamil Nadu? What were the circumstances that pushed for change in its stand? What will be the repercussions of this new stand by India? The following discussion attempts to find some answers to these important questions.

India’s decision though unexpected is timely when its support is crucial for arm twisting the Sri Lankan Government to address the issue of accountability, war crimes committed during the Eelam War IV and also expediting the process of reconciliation, which the Sri Lankan Government has delayed for years. India’s support to the resolution will also provide a boost to other nations in the Human Rights Council to support the resolution. Will India’s support make difference, which the US has not been able to achieve? Until now this resolution was seen as a western diktat to the developing world, especially on the issue of human rights. Most African and other developing states were uncomfortable with this diktat hence required a non-western front nation to lead the way. With India supporting this resolution, there is a chance that other developing nations will soon follow suit.

What was the reason for India to change its stand? For the past two years and more, Indian government has been supporting and protecting the Sri Lankan government in various international forums. India gave its unconditional support to Sri Lanka despite the pressure from the political parties and human rights groups from Tamil Nadu and aboard. Foreign Minister’s statement in the Parliament last week and also Prime Minister’s letter to the DMK chief was ambiguous on India’s stand at the Human Rights Council. But circumstances in the Indian polity in the last one week have proved that Congress should take its allies demands serious. Starting with Congress’s poor show in Utter Pradesh elections followed by West Bengal Chief Minister’s demand to remove the Railway Minister and finally DMK leader’s threat to withdraw support to the government has all added fears to Congress leadership of its dwindling support base. With grim prospects of losing support of its allies it appears that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to change his stand.

Is DMK’s threat the only reason for Congress to change its stand? Threat from DMK is not new to Congress. A similar threat was also issued at the time of the arrests of Mr. Raja and Ms. Kanimozhi in the 2G scam but with no avail. But this time the pressure there was from all sides. Also the Congress’s waning popularity in Tamil Nadu could be another reason. The Tamil Nadu Congress for a change is seen proactive in their stand on the Sri Lankan issue. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President B.S.Gnanadesikan issued a press release on 18^thMarch that the TNCC would continue to demand for support to US sponsored resolution with the Central government. By this stand the Congress hopes to rectify its poor performance in the past elections. Whether the voters would fall for this ploy can only be answered by time.

What would the repercussions be for India from this new stand? India’s new stand must have already shaken the apple cart. Relations between both the countries will be at the flow for some more time. There is a chance that Sri Lanka will turn to China and Pakistan for support and would go the extra mile to prove to India that it can counter India’s influence in the region with the support of both these nations. There is also chance that Sri Lanka would provide China easier access into Indian Ocean with more projects and closer economic relations. While all these could have an effect on India’s larger security parameters, India’s new stand will help in boosting its global moral image on human rights concern. Security issues can easily be handled considering India’s regional supremacy. But India should not miss this opportunity to prove to the world her high moral standards and prove to the external world that India continues to be the leader of the developing world.

The truth behind India’s dilemma with UN Resolution On Lanka

By Sam Rajappa
20 Mar 2012

Posted 15-Mar-2012
Vol 3 Issue 11

Sri Lankan war crimes and India’s refusal to support the US-sponsored watered down resolution censoring Colombo at the UN Human Rights Commission meeting in Geneva in spite of the majority of members cutting across party line supporting it rocked both the Houses of Parliament as the 2012 budget session began.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee was forthright, saying India was opposed to country specific resolution while external affairs minister SM Krishna spoke of India’s concern for the wellbeing and welfare of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, exposing total lack of understanding of the history of Tamils in our neighbouring country and our own country’s policy towards its neighbour.

Countdown begins, now: The US backed resolution on Sri Lanka at UNHRC has set alarm bells ringing in Colombo (Photos courtesy: Channel 4)

The search has now begun for the 'Indian hand' in the murder of Tamils

Though Tamils and Sinhalese lived as two separate nations for more than two millenia, the British merged the two into an unitary state in the 19th century and departed in 1948, handing over power to the Sinhalese, who constitute about 75 per cent of the population, and since then, all the Prime Ministers and Presidents of the country have been Sinhalese only. Read More

Abstain on Lanka vote now, vote for it next time

rediff.com
India Breaking News

Sri Lanka [ Images ] President Mahinda Rajapaksa [ Images ], notwithstanding all his assurances to India [Images ], has shown little interest in promoting the process of genuine reconciliation with the Tamils by bringing to book those responsible for the horrific war crimes against Tamil civilians in April-May 2009, says Satish Chandra, the former deputy national security advisor and distinguished fellow, Vivekananda International Foundation.

One of the many thorny foreign policy-related issues currently confronting India is the upcoming vote on the United States-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The resolution is prima facie clearly unobjectionable and calls on Sri Lanka to:

1. Initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity, accountability and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans,

2. Present a comprehensive action plan detailing the steps the government will take to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and also to address alleged violations of international law,

3. Accept the advice and technical assistance on implementing the aforesaid measures from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

India has, for the last several years, been voting against country-specific human rights resolutions as these are usually selective and motivated. If strict objectivity had been observed in the matter, Pakistan would surely have been in the dock as it has over the decades been unabashedly engaged in massive human rights violations.

India Breaking News

U.N. to debate Sri Lanka resolution

MARCH 20 2012
GENEVA, Switzerland, March 20 (UPI) -- Sri Lanka says it will fight a proposed U.N. resolution calling on the government to address the deaths of as many as 40,000 civilians during its civil war.

The New York Times says Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is rallying leaders in Asia, Africa and Latin America to fight the resolution put forward by the United States. A delegation of more than 70 people was sent to Geneva, Switzerland, where a debate on the resolution is scheduled Thursday.

Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Gamini Peiris, says the resolution is "strikingly divisive and polarizing."

Human rights groups accuse the Tamil Tiger rebel group and the Sri Lankan government of serious abuses during their 25-year conflict. Tens of thousands of people were killed in 2009 when government forces defeated Tamil rebels.

A U.N. report last year said Tamil rebels and Sri Lankan forces "failed to respect the norm of international law."

In Sri Lanka, criticism of India's stand on war crimes resolution

Full Story>>>

PM indicates support to anti-SL resolution, Jaya says not enough

March 20, 2012

A college student wearing a mask of Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is chained during a demonstration in Coimbatore Monday. —DC

With this, he also staved off a possible DMK desertion of his cabinet, besides combined wrath of political parties in Tamil Nadu and Tamil outfits who had announced bandhs and fasting on the issueBowing to Tamil sentiments expressed worldwide, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament Monday India was “inclined to vote” in support of a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes at United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC).

With this, he also staved off a possible DMK desertion of his cabinet, besides combined wrath of political parties in Tamil Nadu and Tamil outfits who had announced bandhs and fasting on the issue.

Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, however, brushed aside the exuberance pointing out that PM had not come out clearly in support of the US resolution, nor did he condemn Sri Lanka for war crimes.
PM’s statement was evasive and useless and all that he did was to help ally and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi keep away from a daylong fast he announced Thursday to press for Indian support to the US resolution and call off Tuesday’s DMK high-level committee meet, she said. Full Story>>>

Indian PM's reply in the Lok Sabha debate on the President's address

Monday, 19 March 2012

Madam Speaker, I rise to join all Members of this august House in conveying our sincere thanks to the Honourable President for her enlightened address. The debate on the President’s Address has been very wide-ranging and Shri Jaswant Singhji has made his contribution as well. I thank all the Hon. Members from all sides who have contributed to this debate.

The President’s Address lays down the objectives and the roadmap that our Government is following and will pursue with greater vigour to deal with the challenges that are mentioned in the President’s Address. The President’s Address in paragraph 10 refers to five important challenges that our country faces today. They are :-

1) to strive for livelihood security for the vast majority of our population and contribute to work for removal of poverty, hunger and illiteracy from our land;

2) to achieve economic security through rapid and broad-based development and creation of productive jobs for our people;

3) to ensure energy security for our rapid growth;

4) to realise our developmental goals without jeopardizing our ecological and environmental security; and

5) to guarantee our internal and external security within the framework of a just, plural, secular and inclusive growth.

Madam, these five challenges sum up the task that lies ahead of our Government in the two-and-a-half years that remain.

Capitalism: A Ghost Story

Arundhati Roy: Capitalism - A Ghost Story (4th Anuradha Ghandy Memorial Trust Lecture)

‘Mining happiness’ Vedanta is stripping all that the Dongria Kondh tribals hold sacred. (Photograph by Sandipan Chatterjee)

Antilla the Hun Mukesh Ambani’s 27-storey home on Altamont Road. Its bright lights, say the neighbours, have stolen the night.

Is it a house or a home? A temple to the new India, or a warehouse for its ghosts? Ever since Antilla arrived on Altamont Road in Mumbai, exuding mystery and quiet menace, things have not been the same. “Here we are,” the friend who took me there said, “Pay your respects to our new Ruler.”

Antilla belongs to India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani. I had read about this most expensive dwelling ever built, the twenty-seven floors, three helipads, nine lifts, hanging gardens, ballrooms, weather rooms, gymnasiums, six floors of parking, and the six hundred servants. Nothing had prepared me for the vertical lawn—a soaring, 27-storey-high wall of grass attached to a vast metal grid. The grass was dry in patches; bits had fallen off in neat rectangles. Clearly, Trickledown hadn’t worked.

But Gush-Up certainly has. That’s why in a nation of 1.2 billion, India’s 100 richest people own assets equivalent to one-fourth of the GDP.

sorcerer who is no longer able to control the powers of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells”.

Full Story>>>

Democracy and Dissent in China and India - Arundhati Roy with Dibyesh Anand

Museum robbery -Are MR (museum robbers) and MR (MaRa) in league in this robbery?

(Lanka-e-News-19.March.2012,11.50PM) There had arisen a number of doubts and suspicions in regard to the recent robbery at the Colombo Museum where a number of valuable articles including those of great historic value were stolen. So far , it has been detected that 8 ancient swords of the Kandy kingdom era , 18 most valuable rings and currencies, 3 upper portions of walking sticks have been robbed. The police say they have initiated a scientific investigation. But , by now a great many doubts and suspicions surround this crime.

The first of these is : contradictory views are being expressed in regard to the security camera system. According to the Museum Directress , Prof. Ms.Nanda Wickremesinghe the camera system was functioning perfectly and the video tape was handed over to the police, adding that this camera which is sans alarm signal had a night vision system. Yet ,Minister Jagath Balasuriya of Hela Urumaya says, from two days prior to the robbery the camera system had not been functioning. More >>

Govt. opposed to external monitoring mechanism

March 19, 2012
article_image

by Zacki Jabbar

With India likely to back the US resolution to the UNHRC on accountability and reconciliation issues in Sri Lanka, to be taken up in Geneva this week, the government says that it is opposed to external monitoring of the implementation of the LLRC recommendations.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday told a joint sitting of parliament that his government was "inclined to vote in favour of the US Resolution if it covers our objectives, namely the achievement of a future for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka based on equality, dignity, justice and self respect."

"We are still waiting for the final draft, but we intend to vote in its favour", the Prime Minister, who is facing an ultimatum from the DMK, whose support is required to keep his government in power, had said, adding that "India has asked the Sri Lankan government to stand by its commitment to broaden the dialogue with political parties, including the Tamil National Alliance to achieve forward looking and meaningful devolution of power."

Cabinet Spokesman and Acting Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said on Friday, that the US Resolution did not refer to war crimes, but inter alia calls for "another team" to monitor the implementation of the LLRC’s recommendations, which was where the problem arose.

The crux of the resolution was that the eradication of terrorism should have been done in conformity with international law, refugees should have been protected and "Another Team" be appointed to monitor the implementation of the LLRC’s recommendations, he said.

The involvement of external monitors in what should be an internal process was questionable, the Minister observed, while adding that such assistance could be requested if the need arose.

The government was ready to face the US resolution that was scheduled to be taken up at the UNHRC on March 23, Yapa said adding "I cannot say if we would win or lose. Some members have been influenced to vote against us. We are confident of receiving India’s support. Special envoys have been sent to canvass the support of countries, where Sri Lanka does not have diplomatic missions."

The government was cooperating with the UNHRC, but would not be dictated to by local and foreign NGOs. Representatives of a particular NGO had arrived in Geneva and were receiving special treatment, he said.

The Minister said that the problems faced by the Tamils who were displaced by the war, would be speedily addressed.

Monday, March 19, 2012

TNA welcomes Indian move

MONDAY, 19 MARCH 2012

TNA parliamentarian Mavai Senadirajah commended Indias support towards the US led resolution at the UNHRC. “This decision taken by the government of India is most welcome because their role is very important in the efforts of national reconciliation and a lasting political solution for the ethnic problem” he said.

Senadirajah said that TNA is not against the country and the support for the move made by India is due to the impact it will have towards reconciliation. “ India is the biggest player in the region and it has a major role to play in supporting efforts of lasting peace in this country.

We believe that through this the government will be held to be more accountable towards keeping its promises to the world and to the people of this country” he said. Senadirajah however said that the TNA is yet to know as to the exact content of the proposed resolution.

“ we are yet to know the exact content of the resolution which is to be put before the council, but we believe that it would contain everything that is being debated on a national level in the country which will help give lasting and sustainable peace to the country” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)

Jayalalithaa slams PM's statement on Sri Lankan war crimes

Monday, Mar 19, 2012

Dismissing as "non-committal" and "futile" Prime Minister ManmohanSingh's statement on India's stand on the US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka at UNHRC, Tamil NaduChief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday said it made no reference to alleged human rights violations by Colombo.

"He didn't make any reference to human rights violations. He has not said Sri Lanka will be condemned for these. This is a non-committal and futile reply," she said reacting to Singh's statement in the Lok Sabha today.

She said the PM had only said while he did not have the final draft of the resolution, "India was inclined to vote for it and that its objective was to ensure equality, self-respect and dignity for the future of the Tamils."

Taking a dig at her arch rival DMK chief M Karunanidhi for announcing a fast and party high-level committee meeting on the Sri Lankan issue, which he later withdrew citing Singh's reply, she said he had enacted a drama.

With parties in Tamil Nadu including UPA's key ally DMK mounting pressure to support the US resolution in United Nations Human Rights Council against Lanka for its alleged war crimes, the Prime Minister told the LokSabha that India was "inclined to" vote in favour of the resolution which meets "our objectives" with regard to the future of ethnic Tamils.

Jayalalithaa said there was no response from the Prime Minister on her two letters to him on the issue.

His failure to make any mention about violation of human rights by Sri Lanka was "regrettable", she said.

Attacking Karunanidhi, she said he had staged a similar drama in 2009 at the height of the conflict between Sri Lankan armed forces and the LTTE by staging a fast only to call it off claiming that Home Minister P Chidambaramhad conveyed to him that a cease fire had been declared.

The situation is similar now with the DMK chief having called off the proposed fast based on the Prime Minister's statement, she, said addingKarunanidhi would do well not to "re-enact

U.N. Panel Seeks Vote on Carnage in Sri Lanka

Ishara S.Kodikara/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Hundreds of Buddhist monks demonstrated on Monday in Colombo against a United Nations resolution calling on Sri Lanka to probe wartime human rights abuses.