Three powerful women leaders who could bring about justice and peace for the Tamil people!

by Rajasingham Jayadevan

( April 20, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) It is with much humbleness, I write this appeal expressing my sincere feelings on the stands taken by both India and America on the issues affecting the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. Both are powerful nations on their own strengths.

It is no secret that thirty years of painful war in Sri Lanka, only reached the international corridors within the last three years, due to progressively changing world politics in dealing with nations that treat their own citizens abysmally.

An Appeal to Hon. Hillary Clinton, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Smt Jayaram Jayalalitha

America’s role in reshaping the international politics since nine eleven and in particular in the last few years have paved the way for Sri Lanka to be made accountable for its acts of undue violence against its citizens. It is timely and is appropriate. Such farsighted way forward of the international community will forestall the criminal behaviour of nations that act against its citizens by suppressing, exterminating and exercising undue control over them to extend the authority of the majority under the guise of enjoying the sovereign status and demanding non interference to international cries.

The conduct of the countries that do not truly respect the constitutional principles of separation of powers and rule of law to evolve good and accountable governance gives birth to abusers of authority-the very state terrorism against the people due to inherent prejudices and controlling mindset. Read More »

Major General Prasanna Silva’s Immunity Was Questioned At UK Parliament

April 20, 2012

Siobhain McDonagh

“if the attaché is allowed to leave without being questioned, that will undermine Britain’s proud reputation for not tolerating war criminals. If we are soft on Sri Lanka, other shady regimes will surely also begin to regard us as a refuge for people who commit atrocities.” the Labour Member of Parliament, Siobhain McDonagh for Mitcham and Morden said.

Yesterday, Thursday 19 April 2012, under Business Statement by the Leader of the House Sir George Young, a question was raised by the Labour Member of Parliament, Siobhain McDonagh  on the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ decision not to declare Major General Prasanna Silva (Defence Attaché at the High Commission of Sri Lanka in London) persona non grata.

The full text of the question and answer could be found in the UK Parliamentary Hansard publication for 19 April 2012. The relevant web link is as follows:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/352/#c352

The relevant video link is as follows:

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=10602

The exact point of question will be at 2:25:25 on the timeline of the video which could be found at the bottom right corner.

Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) (Lab):

Three months ago a dossier about war crimes committed by the defence attaché at Sri Lanka’s high commission in London, Major General Prasanna De Silva, was sent to the Foreign Office. However, the Foreign Secretary has reportedly refused to strip him of diplomatic immunity so that he can be questioned about these terrible accusations. I hope we can have a debate about the case and about the abuse of diplomatic immunity, because if the attaché is allowed to leave without being questioned, that will undermine Britain’s proud reputation for not tolerating war criminals. If we are soft on Sri Lanka, other shady regimes will surely also begin to regard us as a refuge for people who commit atrocities.

Sir George Young:

I understand the hon. Lady’s concern. It is important that diplomatic immunity is not abused. There was an opportunity on Tuesday to raise this with the Foreign Secretary. I am not sure that it will be possible to raise it again before Prorogation, but I will ask the Foreign Secretary to drop her a line explaining what action he is taking in response to her concern about the continuing diplomatic immunity of the individual to whom she referred.

NDU delegates meet Sri Lankan authorities

Staff Reporter
Islamabad—An 18-member delegation from the National Defense University (NDU), during their visit to Sri Lanka, have interacted with a number of prominent personalities from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and civil institutions. The delegates met with Chief of Defense Staff, Acting Governor Central Bank, Commanders of Sri Lankan Air Force and Navy and Foreign Secretary. The delegates would also be visiting Jaffna, Trincomalee and Central Province of Sri Lanka. The delegation, currently visiting Sri Lanka, comprises of senior officers from Pakistan’s Armed Forces and civil services as well as officers from Malaysia, Germany, Turkey and Nigeria who are undergoing National Security and War Course at the NDU.

Brig Akhtar Jammil Rao leads the delegation. The Defense Advisor of Pakistan to Sri Lanka Colonel Sheryar Pervaiz Butt is conducting the visit for the delegation, says a press release received here on Thursday. The one-week visit, which started on April 16, aims to gain overview of the defense, economic, domestic and foreign policies of Sri Lanka and to explore areas of mutual interest for enhancing mutual cooperation in various spheres. The Sri Lankan Chapter of Pakistan’s National Defense University Alumni Association was launched last month in Colombo during the visit of Pakistan’s Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, NI (M).

The NDU is the premier institution of Pakistan, catering for the needs of senior leadership from various segments of the society, both domestic and international, in comprehending security issues and policy/strategy formulation. The NDU is a centre of excellence in academic and research pursuits in diversified disciplines providing well thought out inputs on national security at strategic level. The University imparts higher education inpolicy and strategy formulation at various tiers with emphasis on national security and defense, and act as a national think tank. ‘The National Security and War Course’ at NDU covers essentials of both National Defense Course and Armed Forces War Courses.

The courses, now being combined, bring rich experience of participants from divergent backgrounds to add value to the process of learning in addition to creating increased interaction and understanding. 

by A Special Correspondent in Jaffna

Rape allegation against 3 Catholic priests in Jaffna

( April 20, 2012, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) It was reported from Jaffna that on the 17 April 2012 that three catholic priests belong to Manalkaddu parish and Vaddakacchy parish, were alleged to be involved in a gang rape of 2 married girls.

All 3 priests be-friended the 2 girls in Pointpedro and offered a day trip to Kilinochi in their vehicle on the morning of 17 April 2012. They took the 2 girls to Vaddakacchy parish and asked the servant to prepare lunch. When the lunch was prepared the servant knocked on the priest room and got no response.

Subsequently the servant used a ladder to climb on to the window of the room to see what was happening and found the priests in bed with the 2 girls. the servant with the help of the local people broke the room door and caught all 3 priests. The 2 girls were in distress and asked the locals to help the get back to Pointpedro.

Both girls were married and their husbands living in London. the incident was reported to the police. The rape allegation was notified to Jaffna bishop Rt Rev Soundaranayagam who is due to visit London on 24 April 2012. It was a big surprise to Jaffna people that the bishop did not suspend the 3 priests involved in this incident.

Criminal investigations are continuing, Police Inspector General had informed us that arrests will be made soon. Despite the damage this incident has caused to public relation with the church, it was amazing that the bishop of Jaffna did not take firm action against the 3 priests involved in day rape.

The 2 victim's husbands were shocked and dismayed of this incident and blame the 3 priests for their ill behaviour and breaking the priest hood vowel.

Public reaction to this incident was alarming and distrust at the church and clergy. Unless bishop of Jaffna take immediate steps to suspend all 3 priests the situation may escalate to out of proportionate.

The Archbishop of Colombo is making enquiries in to the allegations, when we spoke with Archbishops house today this serious matter was not reported and archbishop was not aware of this incident. However when we alerted about the incident we were assured that steps will be taken immediately. Bishop of Jaffna is leaving shortly to visit London. The Catholics of Jaffna hopes that the bishop will take firm action against the 3 priests before he leaves Jaffna on his London visit.

Fri Apr 20, 2012

Sri Lanka awards $252 mln dam deal to Sinohydro

COLOMBO, April 20 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has awarded a $252.3 million project to Chinese dam builder Sinohydro to construct a reservoir, the island nation's government said on Friday.

"The cabinet granted approval to award the contract for the construction ... to Sinohydro to a sum of $252.3 million and to enter into a commercial agreement accordingly," the official cabinet decisions released by the government showed.

The cabinet memorandum obtained by Reuters stated Sinohydro will arrange finance assistance for the project from a bank in China on terms and conditions acceptable to Sri Lanka.

Officials from Sinohydro were not available for comments.

The Chinese firm is already involved in a $1.5 billion port construction and a $100 million road project in the former northern war zone.

Sri Lanka has been increasingly depending on China for its post-war infrastructure project financing amid heavy pressure from Western countries to probe war crimes stemming from the last phase of a 25-year war ended in May 2009.

China was Sri Lanka's largest lender in 2009 and 2010, giving $1.2 billion and $821 million respectively.

(Reporting by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Ed Lane)

FRIDAY, 20 APRIL 2012 

Karunanidhi can have Eelam in India: Gota Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said if DMK Leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s unfulfilled dream was a Tamil Eelam, he should work for it in India because the largest population of Tamils live in the Tamil Nadu state of India and not in Sri Lanka.   “A much bigger population of Tamils live in Tamil Nadu in India than the Tamil population in Sri Lanka. If Karunanidhi wants a Tamil Eelam he can have it in Tamil Nadu. He should not come to make Eelams in Sri Lanka. This is a sovereign country.  We consider those who talk about Eelam as terrorists,” the Defence Secretary told the Daily Mirror.  The Defence Secretary expressed these views responding to a statement made by india’s DMK party President and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi to the effect that India should urge the United Nations to bring pressure on Sri Lanka to hold a referendum regarding Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka. Karunanidhi wields significant political power with the Indian Central Government as his political party is a significant constituent of the Indian Congress led ruling alliance – the UPA.   “There is no war now in Sri Lanka. There exists ethnic harmony and every one lives peacefully. Karunanidhi should not attempt to arouse the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Karunanidhi is also one among the many Indian politicians who are bent on destroying our country by making controversial statements. It is a pity that they are adopting to such low political tactics. Karunanidhi should realize that ours is an independent country and should not attempt to establish Eelam, and if he wishes he could do so in Tamil Nadu where a larger concentration of Tamil people live,” the Defense Secretary further stated. (Duminda Sanjeewa Balasuriya)

Lalith and Kugan taken away from the CCD

Thursday, 19 April 2012

The two activists from the Movement for People’s Struggle, Lalith and Kugan who were being kept at the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) office in Dematagoda from the 12th of this month have been taken away at around 2.20 this morning, it is reliably learnt.

We revealed on the 12th that the two of them were being held at the Police Welfare building. They were immediately taken to CCD building after the report was published.

However, we refrained from reporting that they had been taken to the CCD building on the 12th night due to the possible risk on their lives.

Nevertheless, the two of them have been taken away from the place separately in a Land Rover with AA-C026 garage number plates and van with tinted glasses. The security lights at the CCD office have been switched off a few minutes before the vehicles had arrived at the premises.

Lalith and Kugan have been taken to the vehicles covered from head to toe in bed sheets. Although abducted persons are usually blindfolded when they are brought in and out of the premises, Lalith and Kugan had been covered in this manner in order to prevent any office staff from recognizing the two of them, it is learnt.

One person who was taken in such a manner has reportedly been wearing a black trouser and the other had been bare feet. However, both of them have walked with great difficulty.

We reiterate that Lalith and Kugan were held in the Police Welfare building till the 12th although Police Spokesperson SP Ajith Rohana has told the media that the two of them were not being held in the Police Welfare building.

We report with great responsibility that Lalith and Kugan were alive this morning and call upon all those who value democracy to intervene to secure their release.

Gota cut down to size and taught an unforgettable lesson in Malaysia

 

(Lanka-e-News-19.April.2012, 11.55PM) Gotabaya Rajapakse who toured Malaysia recently had been taught an unforgettable lesson, according to reports reaching Lanka e news.

Gota who wanted to extract respect ( since he has never learnt to command respect) and display his vain pomposity had , before visiting the Central temple in Malaysia , had taken a call to the Temple chief incumbent , Ven. Bootewatte Saranankara Thero and informed him ahead that he was getting ready to visit the Temple.

It is never a custom or practice attaching to an individual who is preparing to attend a temple to make a din by informing the Temple incumbent saying ‘ I am going to come’, I am on the way’, ‘ I am close by’, or ‘at last I have come now’. But this Gota has forgotten momentarily that he is by birth a boor , and pretended he is a great pundit , simply because the temple incumbent in Malaysia has been a soldier under him . It is on this ground that he had made a big din and given pompous notice of his coming to the Temple.

The Ven. Saranankara Thero who sincerely follows the Buddhist tenets and a true sanghanayake bowing only to the Buddha dharma and not to political hypocrites had replied, ‘ it does not matter if you don’t come’. Got who was obviously startled and mentally shattered , had questioned , “ why hamaduruwane , don’t you like my coming?”

“Why , you would have visited countless temples in Sri Lanka . Surely ,you would not have come to visit the Temple here , but for very serious official tasks. Hence it is better you perform those tasks peacefully. Your not coming here is immaterial” , the Ven. Thero had told Gota in a calm and composed manner.

Gota had taken calls again yesterday and today , but the Ven. Thero had given this same answer. Gota had then abandoned his idea to visit the Central Temple , and traveled to Singapore to meet his bosom pal kudu Duminda to inquire after his health and happiness.

It is well to recall that it is this same Gotabaya throwing his weight about now, who fled from his motherland in fear of the war, and never even thought of SL for 15 years while working as a computer operator in the US. Gota became a ‘Lokaya’ only after his brother became President , and Gen. Sarath Fonseka won the war for them and the country. Now Gota thinks the whole world is dangling on his forefinger . He does what the demon in him fancies : jails people; pedestals and pampers kudu (heroin) peddlers and murderers; abducts and kills harmless and unarmed innocent civilians in thousands. This Gota who parades as the greatest ‘aiyya’ on earth was cut down to size by a true Buddhist ‘malli’ , the Ven. Saranankara Thero abroad , who taught him a most valuable unforgettable lesson .

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Secretary ,Sirisena Amarasekera who holds a position officially above that of the defense Secretary who toured Malaysia in connection with a different task had yesterday and today humbly visited the Central Temple without any pomp and fuss , and without any obstructions hindering him, it is learnt.

India’s diplomatic stand on the resolution against Sri Lanka

Muthukrishnan Kumarasamy, 19 April 2012
India has tried to strike a balance between support for the Sri Lankan government and calls for Tamil rehabilitation - ultimately backing the UN resolution ^↑ urging Sri Lanka to investigate abuses of international law during the final phase of the civil war. Behind this lie a number of external, internal and strategic factors.
As the US began to move its successful UN resolution^↑  against Sri Lanka, the Indian government faced some difficulty in striking the right balance between its internal and external affairs. India attempted to support its neighbour in the council, while calling for reconciliation and Tamil rehabilitation in the future. In the end it supported the resolution, but many of the factors that influenced India’s stand on this sensitive issue remain in place.    Full Story>>>

Separate Tamil nation will become a reality in Sri Lanka: Karunanidhi

THE TIMES OF INDIA
PTI | Apr 19, 2012

DMK chief Karunanidhi said the "blood spilt and the sacrifices made by Tamils" in Sri Lanka would not go waste and a separate nation will come into existence some day.

CHENNAI: Two days after welcoming the idea of a referendum for a separate 'Eelam', DMKchief M Karunanidhi on Thursday said the "blood spilt and the sacrifices made by Tamils" in Sri Lanka would not go waste and a separate nation will come into existence some day.

"A separate Tamil Eelam rings in the ears of Tamils living all over the world as a liberation song. The sacrifice of lives and the blood spilt by Tamil people in Sri Lanka would not go waste," he said in a letter to party workers.

The DMK leader said "if not tomorrow, Tamil Eelam will come into existence day after."

Referring to the demand for a UN-sponsored referendum for this purpose, Karunanidhi said countries including East Timor and South Sudan had come into existence following such an initiative by the international body.

He recalled earlier DMK resolution in 1983 demanding a separate homeland for Tamils, saying it was not possible for them to co-exist with the majority Sinhalas "in the wake of the genocide."

Karunanidhi had on April 17 welcomed the idea of a referendum for creation of a separate Tamil Ealam and called for India to play a role in this regard.