Peace for the World

Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Homagama DJ charged with bribery is victim of Rajapakse conspiracy: Bribery Commission pimps exalt harlots in the streets
(Lanka-e-News-31.May.2013,8.30PM) The story that the Homagama district judge (DJ) Sunil Abeysinghe was arrested on charges of receiving a bribe of Rs. Three lakhs is a MaRa regime conspiracy out and out , as revealed by the Lanka e news inside information division.

During the period when the impeachment motion was brought forward based on a MaRa conspiracy to destroy the independence of the judiciary , this DJ was the fearless and forthright judge who gave support to the campaign against the MaRa conspiracies. This latest allegations about his bribe taking is the latest conspiracy of the Rajapakse regime to vilify this bold judge who even spoke openly against the appointment of the new chief justice (cheat justice)who until then languished in the backyard of the Temple Trees doing MaRa’s sordid biddings. 

The person who was enlisted to carry out this conspiracy is a businesswoman residing at Magamana , Homagama who owns a Hotel – ‘Siyarata Hotel’ at Amunugama junction on the Homagama – Hanwella road. Her husband’s name is R M S B Hettiarachi . Since of late , near this Hotel , a site was built displaying a Buddha statue and idols of deities . Those traveling in lorries and buses had made it a practice to stop at this venue make offerings (padhuru) and invoke the blessings of the deities. Since the hotel is close by , its income also had augmented following this practice for, those who stop to invoke blessings also order food and drinks from the hotel . To object to this commercialization of religious practices and selling of Hettiarachi’s piety to make money , the chief incumbent of the Ambulgama Raja maha Vihara has come forward . 

This monk who has visualized this issue from the present extremist view had alleged that this statue being placed in the vicinity of the main road is to harm the religion, although in fact, like the other extremists he also had ulterior motives to achieve using his robe – that is he was worried over the fact that the monies coming into his Temple Till are being diverted to this new place of offerings. He had therefore made frequent complaints to the Hanwella police. Unable to bear this nuisance, a case was filed in the courts 5 to 6 months ago. The case was heard on several occasions. Abeysinghe , being a judge who is religious minded had decided to personally investigate the disputed place , as this is not just an issue involving two parties , but rather concerning the general public.

Judge Abeysinghe had made it a practice within his powers to visit the scene and make a personal inspection to discern and get a first hand impression of the factual situation when hearing disputes between parties, unlike many other judges who deliver judgments after hearing and deciding on the case merely by being seated in their official chair. 

As usual , he had in this instance gone with his police security personnel to the venue at about 8.00 in the night yesterday. It is then the judge had been drawn into this conspiratorial net. The conspirators who implicated the judge should answer the following questions :

• The wife of the owner of the ‘Siyarata Hotel’ had reported this to the Bribery Commissioner yesterday evening.When a compliant is received that a bribe is being demanded the commission gives its marked notes to the complainant .

• The Bribery Commission closes its office at 4.00 p.m.
In those circumstances , how is that within a short period of two hours the complaint was recorded as well as made possible to mark Rs. Three lakhs currency notes ?

• A judge can meet any person privately at his residence or in his chamber. That is ,on such occasions nobody else can enter or be present without his permission.

• When a judge has such rights to deal privately away from the eyes of any other , if he is to take a bribe he can easily arrange that within his chamber . He need not go out.

• Then , how can we give credence to the story that a judge went to a public place to a hotel situated near the main road to collect a bribe ? Is he an alien from outer space who descended on the hotel ?

• Who is the fool who would go along with police out to take a bribe at a hotel close to the main road where people are jostling ?

• This businesswoman who was used to orchestrate this conspiracy is an unscrupulous stooge of MaRa stooping to any sordid level being born without any sense of shame like her leaders themselves. She had organized processions on behalf of Mara, and spent freely for MaRa’s functions .

• How could this woman lodge a complaint with the Cinnamon gardens police yesterday(30th) noon? Can the complaint be made after the arrest ?

• How did the Cinnamon gardens police get involved while the Hanwella police knows nothing of it?

• What is the power the bribery Commission officer has legally to obstruct a judge in the execution of his duties ?

• If this state of affairs is to continue , isn’t it possible for any Bribery commission pimp to use any harlot in the streets and penalize any government servant ?

Last January , the same evil Rajapakse regime similarly implicated a Customs Director , Kanagasabai Ranjan in a bribery allegation who was maintaining a clean record .

The MaRa regime has now found it easy to bring those against whom they nurse a grudge under the guillotine via bribery charges than bringing an impeachment motion against its enemies which it did earlier and just managed to succeed. This trend portends most dangerous signals. 
While the judges who should be stoned and chased away are mollycoddled by this regime , and are still freely and proudly carrying on their atrocities . The MaRa regime in its witch hunt is punishing the other judges , and trying to whitewash its own unjust , corrupt and demonic actions. 

There are 28 complaints including charges of rape against Justice Sarath De Abrew before the judicial service commission. Another fresh charge against him is while in a drunken state at a Foreign Airport threatening other judges after breaking a whisky bottle by hitting it on the ground. Such disgraceful acts demeaning himself, the judiciary and tarnishing the country’s image in a foreign country after going as a representative of his country is no trifling matter. 

A judge who is charged with rape and sexual abuse should be interdicted. Such crimes and wrongdoings soil the reputation of the country . Yet those scoundrels are free and continuing to enjoy living a life of evil and sin. On the other hand , it is unfortunate that Judges like Sunil Abeysinghe just because they followed a collision course against the Rajapakses and stood by justice , are put behind bars via plots and vicious schemes of the Rajapakses.

The ‘miracle’ is just around the corner!

logoSATURDAY, 01 JUNE 2013
The per-capita debt has exceeded the Rs.300,000 mark for the first time in history.
According to the report issued by the Central Bank of Ceylon the outstanding state debt has gone beyond Rs.6 trillion (6,000,000,000,000).
1/6th of these loans have been taken in 2012 and during the Chinese tour the President made arrangements to obtain Rs.281.6 billion more from China on very high interest.
According to Auditor General’s report for 2011 out of the loans taken, the government utilized less than 50% for development purposes.

Who are the heads of state institutions that incur colossal losses to country?

logoSATURDAY, 01 JUNE 2013
The country loses billions of rupees as a result of certain decisions taken by state institutions including Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka that exceed cabinet decisions and government circulars states Auditor General’s Department.
It has been revealed in an audit inspection that Rs.3.5 million has been spent arbitrarily when paying annual bonus in Civil Aviation Authority.
The Auditor General’s Department states the country has lost billions due to erratic decisions taken by director boards of state institutions including that of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, Ceylon Electricity Board, Water and Drainage Board and Sri Lanka Ports Authority. AG’s Department points out breaking down of most of these institutions is due to these arbitrary decisions.
When the government stated that institutions such as the CEB have been taken over by a mafia the President of National Trade Union Center (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kanthe challenged the government to reveal them. He further said the government vehemently denied when trade unions, specially the NTUC, stated that a mafia was active in state institutions.
Trade union leaders say if director boards of these institutions take decisions that exceed cabinet decisions and government circulars they would want to know who those powerful people in those director boards are.

Thai PM calls for concerted effort to protect democracy

 

LLRC

by Saman Indrajith-

Prime Minister of Thailand Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday stressed the need for the world to unite to preserve democracy, which, she said, was the best
form of government to protect the rights and liberty of people and advance society’s interest.

PM Shinawatra said democracy was not an internal affair of one country’s alone. "Democracy is rather something that the world must join to preserve." She said Thailand and Sri Lanka with their experience and lessons could contribute greatly to the advancement of the democratic process."

PM Shinawatra was delivering her special address to Parliament yesterday.

She said both countries cherished the values of democracy and Buddha’s teachings. Buddhism was established in Thailand with the help of Sri Lanka some eight centuries ago. "And 260 years ago, a group of monks from Thailand performed higher ordination for Sri Lanka monks. This eventually led to the establishment of Siyam Maha Nikaya here in this country. This makes our Buddhist link unique. And this is the reason why our people are so firmly connected. More importantly, on this day in rapidly changing world, with cut-throat economic capitalism, political turmoil and social disruption, we must work together to strengthen Buddhism as a religion and a way of life. I would like to ask all of you to join this quest so that Buddhism can be a solution that brings peace not only to the individual mind but also to human community as a whole," she said.

PM Shinawatra said that she was happy and honoured to address the Sri Lankan Parliament which had been addressed by her brother former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin. "I am so excited to address your Parliament which had been addressed by my brother ten years back as the Second Prime Minister of Thailand ... On a personal level, I deeply honoured to be addressing the same Parliament where the world’s first female Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranike once led the government."

Prime Minister Shinawatra arrived at Parliament Complex around 2.32 pm and was conducted to the House by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. She occupied a special seat beside the Chair as the sittings commenced. Introducing Thai Prime Minister, Speaker Rajapaksa said that her visit and address to Parliament would strengthen the long standing relationship with Thailand, which dated back to many centuries ago. "Both our countries have a predominantly Buddhist culture based on the Theravada tradition. We are also grateful to your country for the assistance rendered to revive Buddhist practices at a time when Buddhism suffered a decline in our country... We are also very grateful to Thailand for its support to Sri Lanka at international and regional fora, particularly at the UN Human Rights Council."

Leader of the House, Irrigation Minister proposing a vote of thanks said: "I wish to recall with gratitude the cooperation and support extended by Thailand to Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2012 and 2013 having appreciated the hardships our country has gone through facing terrorism for the last three decades and the ongoing reconciliation process."

Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe seconding the Minister said that Sri Lanka and Thailand were unique as both were the only democracies in the world where Theravada Buddhism was practised. He said that Waskaduwa Sri Subhuti Vihara and Deepaduttharamaya in Kotahena were testimonies to the long standing religious links between the two nations. He said that when he was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka the then Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra had addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament. Recalling the removal of Thaksin from office, the Opposition Leader said: "We may have been thrown out of the office, but none of us would be thrown out of the country. Democracy and people will prevail."

Excerpts of Prime Minister Shinawatra’s speech:

"First of all, I would like to say that I am so excited to address your Parliament which was addressed by my brother ten years ago as the Second Prime Minister of Thailand. It is a great pleasure for me to be here in Sri Lanka the beautiful island nation at the opposite end of the Bay of Bengal. Although we are separated by an ocean, our two countries share common religious faith and cross cultural and political belief. I feel privileged to speak to the elected representatives of the people of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan people have always cherished protecting their nation and the values of democracy. On a personal level, I feel deeply honoured to be addressing the same Parliament where the world’s first female Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike once led the government.

"About 260 years ago, a group of monks from Thailand performed higher ordination for Sri Lanka monks. This eventually led to the establishment of Siyam Maha Nikaya here in this country. This makes our Buddhist link unique. And this is the reason why our people are so firmly connected. More importantly, in a rapidly changing world, with cut-throat economic capitalism, political turmoil and social disruption, we must work together to strengthen Buddhism as a religion and way of life. I would like to ask all you to join this quest so that Buddhism can be a solution that brings peace not only to the individual mind but also to human community as a whole.

"Both our countries care deeply about democracy. Despite challenges that try to destroy our beliefs in democracy, democracy survives …. Democracy is the best form of government to protect the rights and liberties of people and advance society’s interest. And democracy is not an internal affair of one country’s alone. Democracy is rather something that the world must join to preserve and protect the people. Our two countries with our experiences and lessons can contribute greatly to the advancement of the democratic process.

"The world is facing the common threat of climate change and natural disasters. Our countries shared the fate of the tsunami in 2004. Thailand had to face one of the worst floods in our nation’s history two years ago. As climate change threatens human security, we need to work to protect our people by reducing risks from natural disasters. I call for closer cooperation, collaboration with an action plan to coordinate to work in providing disaster relief operations.

"Asia is home to almost 60 percent of the world’s population … About three billion people in Asia and Africa live around the Indian Ocean. Enhanced regional connectivity will strengthen link in the countries in the Indian Ocean rim. This is a strategy being pursued by Thailand and ASEAN. We are building better transport links between the member nations of ASEAN and other regional organizations including South Asia. We are investing 66 billion US dollars in infrastructure development. That will link us with the region. Better connectivity leads to more trade, investment, choice and better links between people. One of the key projects is our deep sea port which we are working on with Myanmar in Andaman Sea. This will link up Andaman deep with the gulf of Thailand and will open a new economic corridor between the Indian Ocean with Pacific sea. In Sri Lanka’s development of deep sea ports, we allow Sri Lanka to benefit from our ports. This would help connect Sri Lanka with member countries of the ASEAN and other destinations.

"Ultimately, with enhanced connectivity between Asia and Africa we can formulate a common development agenda. Thailand has started the Thai-African initiative in which Thailand will host a high-level dialogue with Africa in November this year. So, I hope Sri Lanka will join us in these long term efforts to connect Asia and beyond. This will help for more peace and prosperity in our region and ensure that it will remain the engine of the global economy.

"In closing, I would like to express my appreciations for the warm hospitality extended to me and the honour of addressing this parliament. Thailand and Sri Lanka have opened a bright chapter for the future. This modern partnership based on shared values and shared interests will bring the best of friends together for the peace and prosperity of our two nations, of our region as a whole. It is a great honour to stand among the friendly members of Parliament."

Sri Lanka, Thailand agree on defense

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka and Thailand yesterday called for enhanced defense and maritime security cooperation to tackle terrorism, President Mahinda Rajapakse's office said.

The two countries agreed to share more intelligence at the start of an overnight visit to Sri Lanka by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the presidential secretariat said in a statement.

"We must cooperate more closely in security-related information and intelligence sharing," the statement quoted Rajapakse as saying during bilateral talks in Colombo. It said the two leaders "agreed to enhance cooperation in defense and maritime security", but gave no further details.

However, it said Rajapakse "pointed out" that despite his troops crushing Tamil Tiger guerrillas in a major offensive in 2009, supporters of the defeated rebels were continuing their separatist campaign from overseas.

China, Sri Lanka agree loans, defence; seek to allay Indian worries

By Sui-Lee Wee-BEIJING | Wed May 29, 2013 
Reuters(Reuters) - China has offered Sri Lanka about $2.2 billion in loans for infrastructure projects and a free trade pact, the island nation said on Wednesday, moves that could stoke fresh unease in India about Beijing's expanding influence in its neighborhood.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris, however, said the agreements withChina including a separate one to enhance defense ties, should not be a cause for concern.
"But it's not at the expense of any other country, there's no danger to any other country," Peiris said in answer to a question on fears in India about China's deepening ties with Sri Lanka.
Peiris was speaking to journalists during an official visit to China by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Located just off India's southern tip, the island of 21 million has become a visible front in the competition between the Asian giants, where mutual suspicion and commercial ambition have led to a race for constructionprojects.
China and Sri Lanka agreed on $1.5 billion in private-sector investment in the northern express highway, which links Kandy in the central part of Sri Lanka, to Jaffna in the north, Peiris said.
Officials from the two sides also agreed on the extension of a railway, the southern highway and the development of the port of Colombo, the country's capital, Peiris said.
Similar port developments from Myanmar to Pakistan have raised Indian fears about Chinese political and military influence, but Rajapaksa has rejected such concerns, saying China's presence in Sri Lanka is strictly business-related.
Sri Lanka's location astride an ancient and lucrative trade route in the Indian Ocean makes it of strategic commercial and military interest to Washington, New Delhi and Beijing.
That, some analysts theorize, makes it a prime part of China's so-called "String of Pearls" strategy to surround India and project its presence by setting up coaling stations under commercial auspices at port after port in the Indian Ocean.
So far, the weapons of influence have been financial: India and China have both funded huge chunks of Rajapaksa's $6 billion post-war overhaul of roads, railways, ports and power plants.
The loans offered by China to Sri Lanka, which were signed on Tuesday along with the other agreements, make up a "preferential bias" credit facility for infrastructure, Peiris said.
China and Sri Lanka have also agreed on cooperation related to defense, "defense-related training, logistics and maritime security, and have agreed in principle to establish a free trade agreement, Peiris said.
China has stood steadfast with Sri Lanka while it has faced international criticism including from Indian politicians for alleged human rights violations in the final stages of the war with Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May 2009.
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
Asked about remarks by Britain that there would be "consequences" for Sri Lanka if its leaders did not address international concerns over the rights abuses, ahead of a Commonwealth summit scheduled to be held in Colombo in November, Peiris said that "the actions that we've taken in that area have been very, very substantial."
In mid-May, Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg told parliament "despicable human rights violations" had taken place in Sri Lanka.
"These are not things that can be done overnight, they take time, basically these are processes which have to move forward in accordance with the people's culture, their aspirations," he said. "These have to be homegrown, homespun solutions."
Tens of thousands of civilians, mostly Tamils, were killed in the final months of the war, a U.N. panel has said.
Sri Lanka has repeatedly rejected calls for an independent, international investigation into the accusations of war crimes committed during the conflict.
(Additional reporting by Terril Yue Jones; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

State institutions fork out Rs. 21 million to celebrate World Environment Day

Saturday, 01 June 2013
The Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry has taken close to Rs. 21 million from three state institutions under its purview to cover the costs of celebrations of the World Environment Day that falls on June 5th.
The Ministry has sought the monies from the National Gem and Jewelry Authority, State Timber Corporation and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau.
The Cabinet has approved this move on May 14th. Ministry Secretary B.M.U. Basnayake had informed the heads of the three institutions to send cheques worth Rs. 7 million each to the Ministry before May 28th.
The event for the World Environment Day is to be held at Temple Trees.

High-tech scanner detected

FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2013 
An American-made high tech detector ‘DBX wireless crossover’ was taken into custody by the STF in Colombo Fort today, STF said.


According to reports the equipment has the ability to scan objects 100 feet deep down in the ground. It is believed that the equipment may be used in treasure hunting.

It was the first time that such equipment was detected in Sri Lanka.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Jaffna Library burns - May 31st 1981

Remembering the Jaffna
Public Library

31 May 2013 


On 31st May 1981, 
the crucible of Tamil literature and heritage - the Jaffna Public Library - was set ablaze by state security forces and state sponsored mobs. 

Over 95,000 unique and irreplaceable Tamil palm leaves (ola), manuscripts, parchments, books, magazines and newspapers, housed within an impressive building inspired by ancient Dravidian architecture, were destroyed during the burning that continued unchecked for two nights.

Nancy Murray, a western author, wrote at the time:

"They burned to the ground certain chosen targets - including the Jaffna Public Library, with its 95,000 volumes and priceless manuscripts…no mention of this appeared in the national newspapers, not even the burning of the library, the symbol of Tamils' cultural identity. The government delayed bringing in emergency rule until 2 June, by which time the key targets had been destroyed."

The destruction took place under the rule of the UNP at a time when District Development Council elections were underway, and two notorious Sinhala chauvinist cabinet ministers - Cyril Mathew and Gamini Dissanayake - were in Jaffna. Earlier on the 31st May, three Sinhalese police officers were killed during a rally by the TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front).
  


Cultural Vandalism and Genocide

The term genocide is only a recent one, having been coined in 1945 by Raphael Lemkin, lecturer on comparative law at the Institute of Criminology of the Free University of Poland and Deputy Prosecutor of the District Court of Warsaw. Since then, it has become a crucial term for understanding events, particularly ethnic violence, in the world.

Lemkin defined genocide as "a coordinated plan of different actions aiming at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, with the aim of annihilating the groups themselves."

He said that the objective of such a plan would be disintegration of the political
and social institutions of culture, language, national feelings, religion, and the economic existence of national groups and the destruction of the personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and even the lives of the individuals belonging to such groups.

For Lemkin, "genocide is directed against the national group as an entity, and the
actions involved are directed against individuals, not in their individual capacity, but as members of the national group."

Whilst genocide has come to be associated with the concentrated killings of large numbers of people, such as in a few bloody month in Rwanda recently or during the years of the Holocuast of WW2, Lemkin's concept is just as valid if it happens over decades.

Furthermore, the destruction of a people's culture, whilst not given particular attention in the massive bloodletting which has characterised the well known instances of genocide, remains an integral part of the crime as Lemkin saw it.

"An attack targeting a collectivity can also take the form of systematic and organized destruction of the art and cultural heritage in which the unique genius and achievement of a collectivity are revealed in fields of science, arts and literature," he wrote. "The contribution of any particular collectivity to world culture as a whole forms the wealth of all of humanity, even while exhibiting unique characteristics."

"The [perpetrator] causes not only the immediate irrevocable losses of the destroyed work as property and as the culture of the collectivity directly concerned (whose unique genius contributed to the creation of this work); it is also all humanity which experiences a loss by this act of vandalism."

"In the acts of barbarity, as well as in those of vandalism, the asocial and destructive spirit of the [perpetrator] is made evident. This spirit, by definition, is the opposite of the culture and progress of humanity."

(First published in Tamil Guardian edition 06 June 2001)

Sri Lanka: Jaffna Public Library destroyed by Sinhala Police -

The Loosening Of Discipline Within The Judiciary

By AHRC -May 31, 2013 
Colombo TelegraphThe District Court Judge of Homagama, Sunil Abeysinghe and his guard Constable were arrested yesterday (May 30, 2013) allegedly while receiving a bribe of Rs. 300,000/= in order to return a favourable judgement to the bribe giver.
Judge Aravinda Perera
Immediately after the illegal removal of Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayke and the appointment of Mohan Peiris as the CJ, one of the earliest steps taken was the reinstatement of Aravinda Perera who was suspended from service by the Judicial Service Commission after their inquiries into allegations of bribery and corruption. This sent a clear signal of the loosening of discipline within the judiciary. Therefore, the Homagama District Judge being caught allegedly accepting a bribe comes as no surprise. The overall framework of the breakdown of discipline within the judiciary as a result of favouring those who are openly loyal to the Rajapaksa regime has created an environment suitable for the increase of bribery and corruption.
Added to this the new CJ, by his many statements from the bench, is discouraging litigation and encouraging outside court settlements. What is being called ‘justice at the market place’ is now encouraged in Sri Lanka. What this means is the encouragement of litigants to seek the assistance of various authorities in the hope of getting their favour. Litigation on the basis of rights and the reliance on law and legal procedure is now openly discouraged.
Sunil Abyesinghe
Driving the judiciary away from its traditional role as impartial arbiters who base their judgements entirely on the basis of law appears to be the ideological orientation now being pursued under the new administration. The arbitrary transfers of large numbers of judges and the removal of some of the officers of the Judicial Service Commission were moves aimed at bringing about the overall control of judges, not on the basis of judicial norms and standards but on the basis of political loyalties and the willingness to bend rules to suit the political aims of the government.
This overall approach will necessarily increase bribery and corruption and undermine the moral of the judiciary. The causing of such demoralisation is a policy line required to encourage the greater loss of confidence in judicial institutions and the rule of law. Such demoralisation and the people’s loss of faith act in favour of subduing resistance to the government.
In terms of these overall changes some may cynically blame the District Judge of Homagama, not for taking bribes but for getting caught. Perhaps this District Court Judge may also receive pardon in due course despite the fact that at the moment he is in remand custody. Interference with the due process of law being a common feature by now, it will come as no surprise if ways are found to return this judicial officer to the judiciary.
Earlier this week the opposition United National Party declared their aim to replace the present constitutionand some proposals for reforms have been submitted. In discussions on constitutional reform what is required is to deal with the complete derailing of the administration of justice and the rule of law in general. The implementation of a constitution depends on a functioning system of the administration of justice and the confidence that the people have in such systems. Given the level of the collapse of all the public institutions involved in the administration of justice, the making of a workable constitution for Sri Lanka will prove to be a herculean task. One of the hydra-like monsters that need to be beheaded would be corruption at all levels, including corruption in the judiciary itself.
Whether sufficient political will could be harnessed to achieve such comprehensive reforms is the test that will decide the destiny of Sri Lankans.

Geneva basing on LLRC unfortunate, 13A never a starting point: Guruparan


[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 May 2013, 19:25 GMT]
TamilNet“The Geneva resolutions premising their programme of action or their indicated programme of action on the basis of the LLRC is very unfortunate in that they fail to understand that the LLRC is merely a time buying process,” said Jaffna University law academic and civil society activist Guruparan Kumaravadivel in an exclusive interview to TamilNet this week. Answering a question on the 13th Amendment, he said, “it is not a starting point; it is not a reference point; it is not a basis.” The views coming from a prominent activist based in the island gains much significance against the backdrop of orchestrations in the diaspora defending the US-tabled, India-fine-tuned Geneva resolution, and renewed efforts of New Delhi in invoking the zombie of the 13th Amendment. 

Guruparan Kumaravadivel
Guruparan Kumaravadivel
The starting point is a pre-constitutional issue, in which the Sinhala nation has to recognise that Tamils are a nation entitled to the Right to Self-Determination within their traditional homeland. This recognition should have an international underwriting, as otherwise the Sinhala-majority State could always abrogate it, Mr Guruparan explained.

LLRC was conceived not to resolve the problems faced by Tamils, but to delay international action and to preserve the status quo of the State in international arena, Guruparan said. 

“Now the reason why 13th Amendment might be talked about as a starting point is because of the failure of the international community — failure on the part of India and the US in particular — in their ability of extracting from this government, from the Southern polity in general, anything furthermore,” the civil society activist observed. 

If there are people who are looking at the 13th Amendment as a starting point, it is because of the pressure of India and the USA on Tamils both inside and outside of the island to be satisfied with the 13th Amendment. Particularly India may have indicated to the Tamil political leadership in the country that the 13th Amendment is the highest benchmark in terms of what a political solution should look like, he said.

Commenting on the so-called ‘internal self-determination’, the law academic said, “My understanding of the Right to Self-Determination is that it cannot be split into its internal and external forms. There is only one Right to Self-Determination.” 

Guruparan Kumaravadivel“If a particular nation or a people are recognised as having the Right of Self-Determination, it is their choice as to how they exercise it,” he said, adding that “let the Tamil people decide whether that right can be exercised internally.” 

On expectations about ‘regime change’ bringing in solutions, Guruparan said that in that case solutions should have taken place long back when there were so many regime changes in the past. What is needed is a change in the stance of the Sinhala nation as a whole in accepting Tamils as a nation in the island, he said.


Full text of the interview:

Mass protest against placing Buddha statue
By Our Batticaloa Correspondent

2013-05-31 
A mass protest urging those concerned to desist from using the statue of The Buddha as a symbol of anarchy, was held in Batticaloa on Wednesday (29), with the participation of TNA Parliamentarians from the Batticaloa District, Eastern Provincial Councillors, members of local bodies and civilians.


The protest was staged to prevent the erection of a statue of The Buddha at the gateway to the Batticaloa District, in front of a temple of the Hindu deity, Lord Ganesha.


The protestors including women shouted slogans, requesting those concerned not to fan religious unrest in the Batticaloa District and to remove the Buddha statue, which has been erected in an area where Buddhists hardly live.
The placards carried by the protestors read: 'What is the need for a Buddha statue where Buddhists hardly live;' 'Don't make the 'great teacher to mankind as a symbol of anarchy.'


The management of the Ganesha Temple, opposite which the Buddha statue has been erected, accompanied by the Rural Development Society, handed over a memorandum to the Government Agent of the Batticaloa District, P.S.M. Charles, through TNA Parliamentarian, P. Selvaraja, demanding the removal of the Buddha statue at the entrance to the District.


A memorandum was also handed over to the senior military officials, requesting them to prevent steps being taken put up the Buddha statue in the said area.
Batticaloa District TNA Parliamentarians, P. Selvarajah, P. Ariyanethiran and C. Yogeswaran along with the EPC Councillors, K. Thurairajasingham, R. Thurairatnam, Jana Karunakaran, Prasanna Indrakumar, Nadarajah and Krishnapillai Vellimalai were at the forefront of Wednesday's protest.


The TNA Parliamentarians said the protest was peaceful. However, they lamented the presence of officers of the military establishment who were filming and taking photographs of the demonstration and those who had participated in the same.
TNA Parliamentarians added they too took pictures of the military officers who had been videoing them and the demonstration.

Congress parliamentarian invokes zombie of Indo-Lanka Accord

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 May 2013, 09:16 GMT]
TamilNet“We believe that discussing the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord (1987) to be a proper solution to the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka will be beneficial to the Sri Lankan Tamil People,” says Sonia-led Congress parliamentarian from Tamil Nadu, Dr E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, who convenes ‘Sri Lankan Tamil Leaders’ Conference 2013 in New Delhi, from 5th to 6th June. Saying that the conference is a follow up of the 2011 New Delhi meet of 8 Tamil political parties, including 5 parliamentarians from the island, Natchiappan this time has also invited “leaders from the diaspora Tamil community and the leaders from the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India […] to discuss strengthening and fully implementing the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord (1987).” Natchiappan recently visited London. 

The conference is convened by Natchiappan, as President of the Parliamentarian Forum on Human Rights for Global Development. Mr Seevaratnam Vaseekaran is named in the invitation as Event Secretary.

A former militant outfit ENDLF, created by New Delhi’s intelligence and is operating in India, fully backs the conference, informed sources said. 

The outfit is critical of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for not fully cooperating in proclaiming acceptance of the 13th Amendment during the 2011 Natchiappan conference, the sources further said.

Sudarsana Natchiappan
Sudarsana Natchiappan
During the 2011 conference, the convenor Dr Natchiappan was seen insinuating the participants to resolve acceptance of the 13th Amendment. The move failed as TNPF delegates Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Mr. S. Kajendren were firm in not falling into the trap and the TNA had to follow suit.

Dr Natchiappan painted a success story of the 2011 “Agony and Solace” conference, in the present invitation to the 2013 deliberations. He said the earlier conference followed India voting in favour [at Geneva] to implement the LLRC report, the 13th Amendment of the Sri Lankan constitution and equal rights of ethnic Tamils living in Sri Lanka and rehabilitation of IDP and refugees accommodated in various countries.”

Claiming that his earlier conference showed to the world that the Tamil parties are united, Natchiappan twisted the national cause of Eezham Tamils as the participants “impressed upon the Indian political parties on their struggle to achieve equal rights.”

An Indian parliamentary debate, visit of parliamentary delegation to IDP camps, dialogue in the SL parliament and direct meeting of the Indian delegation with the SL President were made on the basis of the 2011 conference, claimed the Sonia Congress parliamentarian.
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In an unprecedented uprising of youth, independent of political parties, nearly 600,000 people took to streets in Tamil Nadu earlier this year against an empty US-India resolution at Geneva that didn’t recognize the nation of Eezham Tamils and the genocide faced by them, but was talking of LLRC implementation, provincial elections etc., in a unitary Sri Lankan State.

The uprising made the Tamil Nadu State Assembly to unanimously resolve on 27 March, urging the UN to conduct a referendum among Eezham Tamils in the island as well as in the diaspora on the question of Separate Eezham.

If the Sonia-led Congress Party parliamentarian from Tamils Nadu is still bent on thrusting the Indo-Lanka Accord and the 13th Amendment that maintains the unitary character of the genocidal Sinhala State, on Tamil leaders in the island, in the diaspora and in the Tamil Nadu refugee camps (which are strictly under the grip of New Delhi’s intelligence), with the backing of Indian intelligence operated outfits, then it has to be viewed very seriously by Tamils all over the world, commented Eezham Tamil activists for alternative politics in the island.

Many Tamils have started believing that the on-going structural genocide, accelerated militarization, Sinhala colonization and overnight demographic genocide in the North and East are conducted, not only by the Sinhala State but also by New Delhi and Washington.

New Delhi particularly backs the process of Colombo’s structural genocide of the Tamil nation, and from time to time weakens further any other international efforts such as the Geneva resolutions, in order to make Eezham Tamils helpless and to intimidate them to accept the 13th Amendment, the Tamil activists in the island said.

If the Congress party continues to be adamant in upholding the genocidal unity of State in the island, Tamil Nadu polity may have to work in unison towards initiating war crimes investigation in India itself, against all those who were responsible in the New Delhi Establishment for the genocidal crimes committed in the island. Such a move, if possible with a change of government in New Delhi, would inspire the entire world and humanity. Only such efforts would stop erring Establishments treading on humanity, the Tamil activists in the island further said.