Friday, December 21, 2012

The Government Treats The Law As The Enemy

By Basil Fernando -December 21, 2012

Basil Fernando

Within this week alone there were three events directed against the lawyers who are opposing the impeachment of the Chief Justice. These were: the attempted attack on the lawyer, Gunaratne Wanninayaka, the President of Colombo Magistrate’s Court Lawyer’s Association and the Convener of People’s March; the shooting incident near the residence of the President of the Bar Association and Member of Parliament, Wijedasa Rajapaksa and the withdrawal of the security at the house of parliamentarian MA Sumanthiran who was among the most active lawyers working against the Impeachment.

All this has taken place when the local and international community has focused their attention on a single issue of demanding a fair enquiry by a competent and credible tribunal regarding the allegations against the Chief Justice. The government is in no position to answer the criticism brought against it of attempting the removal of the country’s Chief Justice without a fair inquiry.

The government’s problem is that it will have to take a step backwards from one of its highly advertised aims of removing the Chief Justice immediately if it were to do the right thing by way of providing for a credible inquiry. To admit that the Parliamentary Select Committee is not an acceptable avenue for such an inquiry and to admit that, anyway, the manner in which the PSC conducted the inquiry was shockingly unfair by any standards, seems to be something that the government finds hard to stomach.

The problem is that the government cannot be sure that a fair and impartial tribunal may arrive at the conclusions it wants. Indeed, such a tribunal may even come out with findings which may be adverse to the government. It may even reveal things that the government might not wish to have exposed, such as skeletons in its cupboard.

Faced with this situation the government appears to be falling back on the method that several governments in recent times have resorted to, that is to intimidate their opponents. Manufacturing chaos by acts of violence done by unidentified persons is one of the well-tested methods used in Sri Lanka quite successfully in recent times. In every case those who do such acts of violence are hidden and well protected and the government can always deny that it has anything to do with such acts of violence. On the other hand the would-be victims of such violence and the society as a whole can be intimidated by such acts.

There are well-trained cadres to carry out such actions. The Ministry of Defence has within itself total control of the methodologies by which society can be terrorised at any time. There are the paramilitary forces and the intelligence services and these are well provided with vehicles, communication technologies and personnel to carry out these operations.

While the lawyers and the Chief Justice herself have resorted to the courts as the ultimate resort on matters of law the government is boycotting the courts under various pretexts such as parliamentary privilege. Even one of the most primary notions of a society based on the rule of law and constitutionalism that the ultimate authority in the interpretation of the law is the courts ,is also ignored by the government.

It is starkly clear that it is the law itself that the government considers as the enemy. The Chief Justice is perceived as the enemy, not for any ethical reason as it is pretended, but the fact that she has interpreted the Constitution in a manner that is adverse to the government. The government wants judges who will interpret the Constitution in favour of the government. The heart of the conflict between the Chief Justice and the government at the moment is the law itself.

The senior lawyer, S.L. Gunasekara in his letter to the executive committee of the Bar Association clearly pointed out the attempt by the government to create what he calls, a ‘stooge judiciary’ as against an independent judiciary. The difference in the two is that while an independent judiciary treats the law as supreme a stooge judiciary treats the government as supreme.

Many commentators for and against the impeachment who are discussing acts which are ethical or otherwise, allegedly committed by the CJ, are missing the heart of the matter at the moment. That is the future of the law in Sri Lanka. What the government wants is a judiciary that will not oppose the proposed acts of the government on the basis of such actions being illegal. Legality and illegality is being made into a matter that is irrelevant.

The acts of violence that are taking place now are a reminder that all these concerns for the law will not be treated as friendly acts by the government. What the government demands is loyalty to itself, not loyalty to the law.

Wijedasa Rajapaksa’s security weapons in custody

FRIDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2012

Shots were fired yesterday (20th) at the residence of the President of Sri Lanka Bar association and Parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapaksa. The police that have taken statements from about 20 persons have taken into custody the weapons that were with Mr. Wijedasa Rajapaksa’s security personnel.

Meanwhile, SSP Roshan Fernando had been at Mr. Rajapaksa’s residence till 11.00 p.m. yesterday directing investigations say reports.

Communist Party To Stay Away From Impeachment

By Colombo Telegraph -December 21, 2012 |

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) has decided not to be involved in any manner in the impeachment of the Chief Justice, Colombo Telegraph understands. This decision was taken at a meeting of the Central Committee of the Party held on 15 December. Sources told Colombo Telegraph that there had been severe critism against the impeachment process. Central Committee members had pointed out that it was important to see the real reasons behind the impeachment. They had stated that while the immediate reason was the judgment of the Supreme Court in theDivineguma Bill, the long-term aim is to have a judiciary that is subservient to the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime.

Raja Collure

While the decision not to get involved was unanimous, Minister Chandrasiri Gajadheera had been conspicuously silent. An attempt by Raja Collure, known to be pro-regime, to allow the final decision to be taken in consultation with the other Left parties had been shouted down by Central Committee members. “We must inform the other Left parties of our decision and if possible get them around to our position”, several members had stated. CPSL sources told Colombo Telegraph that members were concerned that whatever the wishes of the majority were, the leaders would get together with the leaders of the LSSP and the Democratic Left Front and act contrary to their wishes. They were particularly suspicious of the role played by MinisterVasudeva Nanayakkara.

The Central Committee also decided to call for explanation from trade union leader H.W. Piyadasa who was filed an application in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Government opposing an application against the impeachment. Piyadasa was conspicuous by his absence at the Central Committee meeting.

Lawyers against attack on Wijeydasa’s residence

The members of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka today staged a protest outside the Supreme Court over the attack carried out on the Nawala residence of BASL President Wijeydasa Rajapakshe. Pix by Waruna Wanniarachchi-FRIDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2012

‘Stand Up In One Voice Against The Move Towards A Lawless, Intolerant, Authoritarian Regime’ – LfD

By Colombo Telegraph -December 21, 2012

“The attack on the residence of the President of the Bar Association, Presidents’ Counsel and Member of Parliament Wijedasa Rajapakse is obviously intended to send a message to lawyers that even lawyers are subject to attacks by goons if they stand in the way of a governments’ plans.” says Convener Lawyers for Democracy.

Lal Wijenayaka -Convener LfD

Issuing a statement its Convener Lal Wijenayake says; “First the attack was on university students, then on journalists, civil society activists, academics and now on lawyers. While we, ‘Lawyers for Democracy’ condemns this dastardly act, it is time for all sections of society to realize that it is a matter of a time for each of them to be subject to the same treatment.”

‘Lawyers for Democracy’ calls upon all civil society organizations to come together and stand up in one voice against the move towards a lawless, intolerant, authoritarian regime.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

CHILAW HOSPITAL INUNDATED…

December 20, 2012
Three hundred patients who were receiving treatment admitted at the Chilaw Hospital have been rushed to other hospitals, the Ada Derana correspondent confirms. It is report that rising water levels were flooding the hospital and its surrounding areas making it difficult to continue its operations. Pics by Jude Samantha
Chilaw hospital inundated…

Sri Lanka: Free or Charge Detained Students

DECEMBER 20, 2012
(New York) – The Sri Lankan authorities should immediately release or credibly charge four ethnic Tamil students from Jaffna University who have been detained since early December 2012, Human Rights Watch said today. The Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) arrested the students amid unrest in the northern city of Jaffna following a security crackdown in late November against attempts to commemorate dead leaders of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The four students – Sanmugam Solaman, Kanagasundram Jenamajenth, Paramalingam Tharshaanan, and V. Bhavananadam – were initially detained at the TID offices in Vavuniya. Around December 10 they were transferred to the Rehabilitation Centre in Welikanda, which holds an estimated 600 alleged former LTTE fighters. Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa reportedly told Jaffna University teachers on December 15 that the students would be released after they had been rehabilitated due to their involvement in terrorist activities.

“Arresting four students without charge and sending them off for ‘rehabilitation’ sends a dangerous message that any Tamil can be detained arbitrarily and indefinitely,” said Brad Adams, Asia director. “The Sri Lankan authorities should realize that such actions generate legitimate grievances, not reconciliation.”

The students’ parents were initially denied access to their children, but were allowed to visit them at Welikanda on December 12. The parents said publicly that the students were being interrogated intensely, with efforts to intimidate them into providing information about other students.

The government has neither accounted for the arrests by specifying what terrorist activities the students have allegedly been involved in nor brought charges against the students. The students were told that they will be detained until they have completed a 3-month lecture series on the theme of “reconciliation,” the parents said.

The four students were among a larger group detained for attempting to mark the LTTE’s Heroes Day on November 27. Heroes Day falls one day after the birthday of the LTTE’s late leader, Vellupillai Prabhakaran, who was responsible for numerous human rights abuses over several decades, including ordering suicide bombings against civilians, executions, torture, and other atrocities.

Since government forces defeated the LTTE in May 2009, Sri Lankan authorities have contended that celebrating LTTE Heroes Day is tantamount to supporting terrorism, while members of the Tamil minority have asserted that they have the right to commemorate their dead. This year, government security forces arrested at least 10 other Tamil activists and university students in relation to an alleged arson attack on November 28 supposedly linked to commemorations. Several students, on learning that their names were on a list of police suspects, surrendered to the National Human Rights Commission, a practice developed during the conflict to lessen the risk of being forcibly disappeared once in the custody of security forces. All but four named above have been released.

“The Sri Lankan government needs to recognize that engaging in peaceful activities that conflict with the government’s views is an exercise of basic rights, not a criminal offense,” Adams said. “The four students should be promptly released unless the government has evidence they violated the law and charges them.”

Protest will be held has scheduled in Jaffna town tomorrow.

Thursday , 20 December 2012

Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district parliament member Mawai Senathiraja informed the hunger protest which was announced by Tamil National Alliance Parliament member S.Sritharan, will be held tomorrow Friday appealing the release of four Jaffna university students arrested under terrorism prevention law.

After the hero’s day on November 27th, university students and those rehabilitated from Vanni were many arrested in the Jaffna peninsula.

Condemning the arrest of Tamils in the north and appealing to release the arrested Jaffna university students this protest is organized.

It is announced that the hunger protest would be held tomorrow commencing at 7.30 a.m until 4.30 p.m in the open air area located at Thanthai Selva Square.

UCL students break the silence on genocide

Students at the University College London closed the second week of the ‘Breaking the Silence’ campaign, after successful exhibitions at King’s College, Imperial College, Brunel University and London Metropolitan University.

Being in close proximity to a Volunteering Society stall as well as an Occupy protest did little to draw attention away from the ‘Breaking the Silence’ posters and artwork which was exhibited in the South Cloisters – the connecting hallway of UCL’s main building as well as the access point to the college’s main library.

Members of UCLU’s International Tamil Society were joined by students from the London School of Economics who helped to answer questions and told visitors about the recent attacks on Jaffna University students.

Second year student Shylee Shah said,

"I was shocked by the exhibition. It is unbelievable how selective the mainstream media is in what they cover about Sri Lanka. We need more initiatives like this to shed more light on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka."

Vice-President of UCLU International Tamil Society, Niro Balakumar said,

''We felt that the exhibition was a success in respect of raising awareness to those who were not aware of the previous, current and ongoing events affecting the Tamils in Sri Lanka."

"However, raising awareness isn't enough to resolve the situation of Tamils, and we should seek to involve those newly informed as well as do more as Tamil students to seek justice for our brothers and sisters and for a lasting solution to the grievances of our people."

Deans foil SL military attempt to direct Jaffna University

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 December 2012, 01:53 GMT]
The commander of the occupying Sinhala military in Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe now ventures to directly order the academics and to run the University of Jaffna from his military base at Palaali, news sources in Jaffna said, citing his call to the deans of the faculties to meet him at Palaali on Wednesday to talk to them on resuming classes at the university. All the faculty deans in unison rejected the call and told the Vice Chancellor that it amounts to militarisation of education. Meanwhile, the talks between the Student Council and the Vice Chancellor of the university on Wednesday failed as the students have categorically conveyed their decision of not attending to classes until all the student leaders detained by the SL military are released.

The Deans realising the nature and gravity of the SL militarisation of the education of Tamils comes after their meeting with the SL Defence Secretary and presidential sibling Gotabhaya Rajapaksa at Colombo, informed circles said.

The Deans who went to see the Jaffna University student leaders detained by the SL military at the Welikanda camp in the Polonnoruwa–Batticaloa border, later visited the SL Defence Secretary in Colombo to discuss their release.

Gotabhaya talking to the Deans in his typical arrogant way, told them not wait for the release of the students to resume the university, as he could release the students only after their ‘rehabilitation’ by the military, which might take time, sources close to the university circles said.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, whose appointment was decided by the SL President, is under severe pressure by Colombo and its occupying military in Jaffna to re-open the university.

The Deans of the faculties are senior academics (one of the Heads of Departments) elected once in two years by all the academic staff of the concerned faculties.

The decision of the Deans not to go to Palaali at the call of the occupying SL military commander has found overwhelming appreciation in the university circles and among the public in Jaffna.

Meanwhile some of the Deans and former Deans of the faculties are harassed in an intimidating way by the occupying military that visits their residences often, news sources in Jaffna further said.

Complaints escalate to 43

Thursday , 20 December 2012

Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission's Jaffna regional branch Regional Coordinator T.Thanagaraj informed that 43 complaints have been received about the arrest carried out by the Terrorism Investigation unit.

Continuous arrests are taking place in the Jaffna peninsula from last 27th, after the heroes’ day.

Jaffna university students, former rebels from the Tamil Eelam Liberation tigers, persons who had worked by the companies administrated by Tamil Eelam Liberation tigers are arrested by the Vavuniya Terrorism Investigation unit.

On last 17th two persons from the Valvettithurai area , one person from Kopay vicinity on last 5th and four persons on last 14th from Kilinochchi district were arrested.

Complaints in regard to these were recorded last Wednesday at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission's Jaffna Regional branch.

Four complaints were recorded two days back which totaled 43 persons from the Jaffna peninsula had been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation unit.

Out of these two complaints regarding the arrest of Jaffna university students, four complaints about the arrest from Kilinochchi district had been recorded at the Human Rights Commission.

At UNCA, of Lyall Grant & Rice, Sri Lanka & Expulsion Links, Schwarzenegger Prized

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 19 -- As Ambassador Susan Rice entered Cipriani's on 42nd Street Wednesday night, security told a couple also trying to enter to wait, "Susan Rice is going in."

"Are you joking?" retorted UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant. As he went in, the security guard said, "You don't have to touch me." Inner City Press video here. Embedded below.

Inside, the UN Correspondents Association was holding a $250 a plate dinner and giving an award to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Inner City Press, which in full disclosure has been questioning UNCA since it screened in the UN a Sri Lanka government film denying war crimes, treated this UNCA Ball as a news event, standing in front of Cipriani's and asking questions.

To a question about Arnold Schwartzenegger as a UN role model, is it appropriate, many entrants laughed and asked to go off the record. The majority then said No, it is not appropriate.

German Permanent Representative Peter Wittig, who to his credit did not ask to go off the record, said diplomatically "I don't know him well enough."

Another Security Council Permanent Representative was more emphatic, saying, "No, it's totally inappropriate, UNCA is a joke, come inside and I'll tell you more over a scotch."

But Inner City Press did not accompany him in. After Inner City Press reported on the Sri Lanka propaganda film, and that Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative Palitha Kohona had in the past paid rent for a luxury apartment to UNCA's president, a process began to try to expel Inner City Press from UNCA, to whose Executive Committee Inner City Press had been elected.

Then on June 20, 2012, after UNCA Executive Committee member Margaret Besheer told her employer (and US government agency) Voice of America that her colleagues from Reuters and Agence France-Presse supported her,VOA asked the UN to "review the accreditation" of Inner City Press. Click here to view VOA's letter to the UN.

After Inner City Press obtained related documents under the US Freedom of Information Law, these three and other UNCA executive committee members did not respond to requests to explain or comment on the documents.

(Nor have they answered two requests to know the agenda of their December 21 general meeting, or what they propose to vote on, even as they purported to remain in office past the December 31 expiration specified in the UNCA Constitution.)

So is their UNCA a freedom of the press organization? Why did they choose Arnold Schwarzenegger to receive their award? Why did they award prizes to their own Executive Committee members, two of whose media organizations have purchased full page advertisements in the UNCA Ball publication?

These questions were not answered. Outside, a habitue recounted how at the previous night's Cipriani event, for the Humane Society featuring Mike Bloomberg, a woman incongruously walked in wearing a fur coat. The crowd stopped talking; she left.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka's Ambassador Palitha Kohona went in to the UNCA Ball -- without answering Inner City Press' question.

If his deputy General Shavendra Silva of the Sri Lankan Army, depicted in the UN's own report engaged in war crimes, showed up, wouldn't it be similar to the lady in the fur coat? Except there would be no reaction. This is UNCA.

Press freedom must and will be better defended at the UN in 2013.

At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Inner City Press on behalf of the newly launched Free UN Coalition for Access -- yes, FUNCA -- asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to ensure that his Under Secretaries General hold press conferences and answer questions without discrimination or censorship.

This was a reference to USG Herve Ladsous of UN Peacekeeping, who has repeatedly refused to answer Press questions, about Silva, cholera in Haiti and most recently the Congolese Army rapes in Minova.

Inner City Press' reporting on Ladsous gave rise to a process within UNCA, initiated by Tim Witcher of Agence France-Presse (on one of whose boards Ladsous once served, in another conflict of interest), to censure Inner City Press.

On Wednesday night, Inner City Press did not witness Ladsous entering the UNCA Ball, but his spokesman Kieran Dwyer did go in. Shouldn't this be seen like the lady in the fur coat going into the Humane Society ball?

But this is 2012's UNCA -- those engaged not only in war crimes but also censorship are invited and celebrated. But did they pay $250 for their tickets?

TNA will return for bilateral talks if invited

Says cannot decipher contradictory positions of the state on 13A, Divineguma Bill

By Ravi Ladduwahetty-December 19, 2012,

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says it is willing to have negotiations with the government, if invited, as a forerunner to a Parliamentary Select Committee on the ethnic question.

"We are prepared to recommence bilateral talks with the government on the ethnic issue as a forerunner to the PSC but it is the government that is not responding," TNA spokesman, Vice President and Jaffna District MP Suresh Premachandran told The Island yesterday.

He said that he and his party could not understand the government’s contradictory statements on devolution. On the one hand it said it was for the continuation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and on the other it was trying to implement the Divi Neguma Bill aimed at usurping the powers of the provincial councils, MP Premachandra said.

He said that he was all for a Parliamentary Select Committee to solve the ethnic question but stressed the need for the continuation of bilateral talks with the government to sort out contentious issues such as the implementation of the 13th Amendment and certain matters related to the Divineguma Bill.

The TNA would also like the PSC on the ethnic question to be purposeful and not be a one sided affair like the PSC which recently tried Chief Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, Premachandra said. "As in the case of the impeachment motion of the Chief Justice, we all know what happened and we hope that this one on the ethnic question will not go the same way."

Batticaloa floats in flood water. Death increase to 22

Thursday , 20 December 2012

Due to the torrential rains in several parts of the country during the past three days, the death toll has raised to 22, upto yesterday evening. Reports states about 20 persons have gone missing and 50 or more are seriously injured. The cause for these tragedies is from floods, winds, landslides and trees getting fallen.

Disaster Management Centre said, 175,558 persons from 45 thousand and 916 families are affected by the bad weather. Out of this, 9 thousand 696 persons from 3 thousand and 394 families have been lodged in evacuation centers. Meanwhile 146 houses are completely damaged and 805 houses are partly damage.

Batticaloa severely damaged. More deaths in Matale

Due to the ongoing severe weather conditions in the country, Batticaloa district is affected severely and more deaths have occurred in Matale district.

Continuous torrential rain falls in the Batticaloa district has cause the transport service to the Paduvaankarai Batticaloa town, to come to a standstill.

Connected transport services to the villages in Paduvaankarai are completely stopped. Motor boats are utilized to carry out for transportation to Paduvankarai and Batticaloa town.

Ferry service is used for transport between villages.

Motor boats are used to transport G.C.E.(Ordinary Level) examination papers and to transport Teachers to attend to examination duties.

The one and only bridge Paninsankerni which was available for transport service in Batticaloa was damaged yesterday, hence transport service from Batticaloa to Colombo came to a complete standstill.

Details of damage due to severe weather conditions in the country.

So far 135,646 persons from 34,753 families are affected in the Batticaloa district. Two persons have died and two have gone missing.

115 houses are completely damaged and 607 houses are partially damaged due to torrential winds.2,169 persons from 556 families are affected and have been lodged in evacuation centers.

Amparai district

Many are affected due to the ongoing severe weather conditions. Many are shelter at temporary welfare centers. One had died.

Trincomalee district.

Many are affected in the Trincomalee district and one had died.

Matale district

2,930 persons from 952 families are affected from the Matale district. More deaths are from Matale which totals 8.

13 are injured and 10 or more are gone missing. 32 houses are completely damaged.

Meanwhile 82 houses are damaged. 1,583 persons from 628 families are placed in 15 temporary welfare centers.

Kandy district

402 persons from 101 families are affected from the Kandy district. Four are reported dead and 10 and more have gone missing. Five houses have got completely damaged and 44 houses are partially damaged. 160 persons from 35 families are sheltered temporarily in welfare camps.

Nuwara Eliya district.

Due to the ongoing bad weather conditions, 561 persons from 138 families are affected. 33 houses are partially damaged. 123 persons from 19 displaced families are placed in 3 evacuation centers.

Pollanaru district

5,967 persons from 2,271 families from Pollanaru district are affected. Three persons have died and 20 and more have got injured. 30 houses are completely damaged and 147 houses are partially damaged. 5,582 persons from 2,135 families are placed in 17 temporary camps.

Badulla district

233 persons from 62 families are affected in the Badulla district. Three have died. Five houses are completely damaged and four houses are partially damaged. 49 persons from 15 affected families are sheltered in one camp.

Hambantota district.

12,211 persons from 3,282 families are affected. Two persons have gone missing.

Monaragala district

306 persons from 86 families are affected in Monaragala district. 58 houses are completely damaged. 30 persons from 6 affected families are temporarily sheltered in a camp.

Kurunagal distrcit

12,990 persons from 3,558 families are affected in Kurunagal district.

Puttalam district

3,286 persons from 706 families are affected in Puttalam district. One house is partially damaged.

Colombo Puttalam road closed for transport service

Meanwhile many areas in the Puttlam Colombo road are reported underwater; hence Chilaw and Puttalam road had been closed. Alternative roads are used for conveyance.

Chilaw town submerged in water.

Due to heavy torrential rains in Puttlam district, Chilaw town is inundated.

Chilaw main bus stand, shopping complex area including localities have submerged.

Military and Police are taking action to break the Munneswaram dam to discharge water. A situation is prevailing none could enter Chilaw town or leave.

Four fishermen are missing

A complaint has been made to the Chilaw police that five fishermen who had gone fishing to the sea on last 16th night have not returned to shores.

A complaint has been lodged to the Chilaw police that three fishermen from Bangatheniya, two from Suthuwella locality have gone missing.

Chialw police are further investigation regarding the complaint made by the missing fisherman’s family.

Danger of contagious diseases spreading

Meanwhile due to the bad weather conditions in many parts of the country, there is danger of contagious diseases spreading, hence Health Service had advised public to be more cautious.

Transnational Government Of Tamil Eelam’s Parliament Endorses Action Plans

By Colombo Telegraph -December 19, 2012

“Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) concluded its fourth Parliamentary sitting in London, endorsing several action plans.” says TGTE.

We publish below the full text of TGTE;

The sitting started with an event at the British Parliament, which was attended by several British and Northern Ireland Members of Parliament.

Several of TGTE’s Cabinet Members, Senators and Members of Parliament came from around the world to attend this Fourth Sitting. Others joined through video conferencing from different countries. Entire proceedings were webcast live.

Some of the highlights:

• President of the Global Tamil Forum, Rev. Father Emmanuel, joined as a special guest and his speech was received with standing ovation.
• The TGTE’s Senate prepared a report on the roadmap to establish Tamil Eelam, which was discussed by the Parliament. The report will now be sent to the TGTE Advisory Committee and outside experts for comments and will be placed again in front of Parliament for discussion and adoption before the process of implementation starts to take shape.

Some of the Action Plans:

1)Calling for a promulgation of a Freedom Charter for Tamil Eelam incorporating the “Freedom Demands” of the Tamil-speaking people. (These “Freedom Demands” will be ascertained through Town Hall meetings, electronic and print media).
2)Calling for an Economic Boycott and Divestment Campaign.
3)Calling on the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to appoint an International Commission of Inquiry, under Article 99 of the UN Charter. According to the recent UN Internal Review Report on Sri Lanka, this step was recommended by the UN Secretary General’s own legal team in 2009.
4)Declaring 2013 as the year to Empower Women of Tamil Eelam and to take steps to achieve specific goals. TGTE considers that this will be a stepping stone to uplift the Tamil community affected by the war and will give special attention to the 90,000 Tamil war widows.
5)Calling for assistance to Hero’s families. As a first step, the “Thalir” program was launched with the aim of providing assistance to 1,000 Hero’s families by the next National Day of Mourning on May 18, 2013.
6)Condemning the attack on Jaffna University students and calling for steps to secure the release of the students who were arrested for peacefully remembering Martyr’s Day.

Two resolutions of international significance were passed:

• Congratulating the People of Palestine for being admitted by the UN as a UN non-member observer state. “On behalf of People of Tamil Eelam, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam want to salute the People of Palestine for their determination to be free despite years of untold suffering,” said the Resolution.
• Condemning the abuses and attacks on the Rohinga Muslims of Myanmar and expressing solidarity with the People of Tamil Eelam. “We understand your pain and suffering and People of Tamil Eelam stand by you, during your difficult time,” said the Resolution.

For information contact: pmo@tgte.org