Up to President to remove us – Hasan Ali

By Ravi Ladduwahetty-2013-06-28 

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), one of the constituent parties of the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), will not pull out from the Alliance or the government, despite it not being appointed to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to make amendments to the 13th Amendment.

"We will not be leaving the Alliance or the government, despite not being appointed to the PSC; it is up to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government to sack us," SLMC General Secretary, M.T. Hasan Ali, told Ceylon Today yesterday.

He also said his party has already taken their case of not being included in the PSC to the media, but emphasized the party did not go behind the government to receive nomination.

"On the other hand, we have no regrets about not being nominated to the PSC unlike some of the major parties including the United National Party (UNP), Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and even the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP), which being within the government is not represented in the PSC. Even the ideologies of the constituent parties of the government remain... ..different," the SLMC General Secretary said. Meanwhile, two SLMC Provincial Councillors of the North-Western Provincial Council, who voted with the motion brought by the Council that the 13th Amendment should be diluted, have been suspended, from the party membership.

The two suspended Provincial Council members are Rizwie Jawaharsha and Abdeen Yehiya. The suspension has been made by SLMC Leader and Justice Minister, Rauff Hakeem, and the party leadership, Hasan Ali confirmed.

He said the reason for the suspension was due to the two members going against the party's stand that it will not support any moves by the government to amend or dilute the 13th Amendment.

Sources said the two Provincial Councillors had originally opposed the motion, but had supported it later.

Political Machinations: In Praise Of Prof Pieris

BY RAJIVA WIJESINHA -JUNE 29, 2013 

PROF. RAJIVA WIJESINHA MP

AFTER MANY MONTHS OF THINKING PROF G L PIERIS WAS LEADING THE PRESIDENT DOWN THE GARDEN PATH, I WAS PLEASED RECENTLY TO FIND THAT HE HAD LIVED UP TO HIS INTELLECTUAL REPUTATION AND GIVEN SOME REASONABLY SOUND ADVICE. THIS WAS WITH REGARD TO THE EFFORT TO AMEND THE 13^TH AMENDMENT, AS TO WHICH INITIALLY THERE WERE FOUR AREAS OF APPARENT CONCERN.

POLITICAL MACHINATIONS IN PRAISE OF PROF PIERIS BY NELVELY

Are the Muslims falling asleep ? – Bisthan Batcha

June 29, 2013

The question is being asked in various for a as to whether the Muslims in Sri Lanka, who were subjected to mental trauma and physical harassment in the recent past by the actions of certain racist Groups, have now deemed it to be ‘safe’ once again for Sri Lankan Muslims. Have the Muslims slipped into a state of complacency ? Do they believe that it was just a passing storm which has now lost it’s sting ?

When the anti-Muslim diatribe of the Bodhu Bala Sena reached it’s zenith, coupled with the apparent apathy on the part of the State, many Muslims were of the opinion that there were just two reasonable courses of action that the members of the Community could take.

Option 1 : To maintain a low profile and keep one’s head down until the whole thing blows over

Option 2 : To directly counter the threats and allegations made against the Muslims

The key problem with Option 1 is the complete lack of control over the unfolding events. The Muslims had no idea about the nature, content or duration of the vicious attacks they were subjected to or whether such attacks will ever end or whether the attacks will become a part of the social fabric of this Country in the future. An alarming signal in this regard, which many may have missed due to it’s ‘low noise’, was that many Buddhists who expressed outrage at the behaviour of the BBS nevertheless ended their criticism by saying “…. But there is an element of truth in what the BBS are saying, no ?” (Kiyana ekey aththakuth thiyanawa, ne ?)

The main failing of Option 2, which may have escaped even it’s protagonists, is that in attempting to counter the allegations of the BBS, many Commentators were becoming emotional and actually launching tirades against the BBS – which after all is an Organization of Buddhist Clergy. When a group of Religious Leaders is under attack, it is almost a reflex action on the part of the Laity to defend the group – whether or not they agree with the words and deeds of the members of that religious group. In fact it was reported in one Web article that the BBS felt that “the halaal issue had strengthened the Buddhist community”. Let us not forget that when the ACJU was at the receiving end of various unsubstantiated allegations regarding the halaal issue, most Muslims (including the anti-ACJU groups) found themselves defending the actions of the ACJU. Therefore there is a strong possibility of the anti-Muslim feeling becoming more hardened and more widespread if Option 2 is adopted.

Does this then mean that there is no course of action that the Sri Lankan Muslims could take to overcome the threat to their physical and mental well-being posed by such racist groups as the Bodhu Bala Sena and Sinhala Ravaya ?

Actually, there is a third option which, unfortunately, has not received the attention that it deserves. This involves the strategy of Identifying and Neutralizing the Concerns and Apprehensions that the Buddhist Community may have regarding the Beliefs and Practices of Muslims in Sri Lanka. The most important feature of this Strategy is that it is Proactive (Acting before a situation becomes a source of confrontation or crisis) in nature and therefore very much under the control of the Muslims – unlike Option 2 which is of a Reactive (Solving matters as they arise) type.

However, the most regrettable feature of this entire episode is the utter failure on the part of the Sri Lankan Muslims to focus strongly and sharply on what unites them as a Community and not to dwell on their differences. This failure has had many cascading effects – the major disappointment being the non-emergence of any kind of ‘Group’ to provide leadership and direction to the Muslims in these times of trials and tribulations. We are told that there is an attempt to form a Consultative Committee. We are told of various informal multi-ethnic Groups that are working ‘quietly’ behind the scenes to resolve the growing ill-feelings between the two Communities.

When other concerned Muslims hear and read of such developments they are left with a sense of not wanting to upset the apple-cart by initiating some form of action or dialogue of their own. The absence of proper Leadership at this crucial juncture in the history of the Sri Lankan Muslims is the single most important reason for the perceived Inaction and Disinterest on the part of Muslims at this point in time.

My Muslim Brothers and Sisters would do well to take a leaf off the book of the BBS when it comes to goal-setting, planning and implementing strategies for the benefit of their Community. The BBS identified their Target Group, they identified a Single Issue and they successfully sold the benefits of their Idea to large segments of the Buddhist Community. We too need such a Leadership, but consisting not of Politicians or of the Ulemas, but of respected Members of Muslim Civil Society who are capable of winning the trust of the Ummah because of their standing in the Community. We need a Leadership that can persuade the Ummah to look not just at the ‘dots’, but rather at the Big Picture obtained by connecting the dots.

Are the Muslims of Sri Lanka able to put aside their differences and to focus on the urgent need to introduce measures to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the members of their Community in the years ahead ? Are the Muslims able to empathize with their Buddhist Brothers and Sisters to the extent that they of their own volition change patterns of their behaviour which cause concern and apprehension to the Majority Community ? Or do the Muslims feel that they alone are entitled to the right of being angry and offended ?

- See more at: http://www.anvermanatunga.com/english/are-the-muslims-falling-asleep-bisthan-batcha/#sthash.CzZ0di41.dpuf

 Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka to rally against the 13th Amendment on July 2nd
Thu, Jun 27, 2013, 07:31 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

June 27, Colombo: Thousands of Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka will hold a rally in Colombo on July 2nd calling for the abolition of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The rally, organized by the National Movement for the Abolition of Provincial Councils (NMAPC), will be held in Maharagama.
The NMAPC has stated that 3,000-4,000 monks from all over the country would participate in the rally.
A member of the organizing committee Ven. Rajawatte Vappa Thera has openly invited the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter of the Siam Nikaya and members of the Maha Sangha to take to the streets on July 2nd.
Ven. Vappa Thero has said the 13th Amendment should be abolished before the Northern Provincial Council election.
He has observed that it was the actions of the bhikkus that have saved the country whenever there was any disaster and the politicians.

According to Ven. Vappa Thero, some elements were trying to use the 13th Amendment to separate the country.

Electricity tariff claims first victim

By Shivanthi Fernando
and M. Malintha--2013-06-29 

A senior citizen succumbed to a heart attack yesterday after learning that his electricity bill has increased by an exorbitant amount, when he arrived at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Head Office, Colombo, to pay his monthly bill.
Ceylon Today learns, S.P.P.G. Samaradasa, a 61-year-old resident of Robert Gunawardena Mawatha, Battaramulla, had arrived at the CEB with his bill, between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., and had inquired from an official at the counter, the reason for its significant increase. Upon receiving an answer, he had sat down in the waiting area before sliding down to the floor, seemingly unconscious.

However, it had immediately become evident that Samaradasa had passed away, and the cause of death was identified as heart attack. According to the Outdoor Patient Department (OPD) of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), where Samaradasa was taken by ambulance from the CEB premises, he had already died by the time he was brought to the hospital.

General Secretary of the CEB Joint Trade Union Alliance, Ranjan Jayalal, commenting on the matter said, "We strongly suggest that senior citizens with known medical conditions should not be sent to pay the bills from now on, because many of them can die after taking a look at their monthly bill. No CEB officials are willing to speak about this matter as well. An emergency medical unit should be placed at the bill payment counters of CEB offices in the country, as the consumers' health cannot be taken lightly."

He also said this was one of many occasions when electricity consumers had complained of the increased bills.

Sri Lanka And Burma: The Conjunction Of Genocidal Processes And Imperialist Adventures

By Athithan Jayapalan -June 29, 2013 |

Athithan Jayapalan

Burma is often most renowned for its military Junta, repression of democratic rights and the imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi that spanned over two decades. Such it is when in line with Western countries interest and their explicitly displayed values. Unfortunately what is lesser known is the multiple national independence struggles fought by suppressed nations in Burma, and the state sponsored persecution and terrorism against minorities. In 2012, Burma was being praised by the West for freeing opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, liberalizing its economy, allowing political parties, extending democratic rights, and for the abolishing of media censorship. In the backwaters of these events, with the West applauding what it considers positive steps taken by the new civilian government under President Thein Sein, a war was unleashed to eradicate the resistance of the Kachin nation in northern Burma (1).  As the West is supplying funds, handing Burma international repute, facilitating it with international space to self-narrate the progress of the country, the Burmese army is unhindered in pursuing its structural approach towards minority nations. After a 17 year truce with the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), it launched an extensive military offensive on June 2012. This decision coincided with the work on the billion dollar Sino-Burmese hydropower projects in the irrawaddy river in the Kachin homeland. In order to secure these areas for Chinese exploitation, the Burmese military is entrusted to drive out the Kachin people (2) . With both the subtle blessings and sinister involvement of contemporary imperialist powers, the West and China alike, a chauvinistic state is facilitated to carry out genocide. Another process which also began in 2012 summer, was the genocidal ethnic cleansing of the Rohinyga Muslims, in the central west of the country. In matter of few weeks, thousands of Rohinygas were reported butchered by Arakanese mobs, Buddhist monks, state police and federal forces, with tens of thousands being displaced. This brings to mind the parallels between the Burmese state and the Sri Lankan state and their interaction and liaisons with international powers.

Sri Lanka and Burma the Conjunction of Genocidal Processes and Imperialist Adventures by nelvely

MONK ARRESTED OVER MURDER IN GALL

June 29, 2013 

A Buddhist monk has been arrested in connection with a murder which took place in the Labuduwa area in Galle.

The monk had allegedly assaulted an individual at a temple in Labuduwa recently while the victim, who was in critical condition, succumbed to injuries last night.

The deceased is said to be a 44-year-old father of two and was a former Police Constable (PC).  

The monk was arrested by following investigations into the incident by Galle Police and is schedule to be produced before court. 

Case transferred to Cbo due to threats-

British tourist’s killing:

June 28, 2013

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday informed the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court that the case of the murder of British tourist Kuram Shaikh had been transferred to Colombo due to the suspects allegedly threatening witnesses.

The case which was initially heard at the Tangalle Magistrate’s court was taken up in Colombo yesterday after the Attorney General’s department requested the transfer on special grounds.

The court directed suspects not to interfere with witnesses, while ordering them to appear in court on Nov. 1.

British Member of Parliament Simon Danczuk recently urged Premier David Cameron to boycott the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) over the failure on the part of the Sri Lankan government to conduct a proper investigation. The British media quoted Danczuk as having said: "Despite assurances from the government that there would be a swift and straight forward trial this is going nowhere and ministers and police are sitting on their hands.

Every year thousands of British tourists visit Sri Lanka … and what happened to Khuram could happen to anyone. It’s not enough to keep building tourist resorts if there is no rule of law and tourists can be brutally killed for any apparent reason."

Bowatte Indhare's IRC activities exposed (Island’s Robed Criminal)

(LANKA-E-NEWS-27.MAY.2013, 9.30PM) ALTHOUGH THE RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISTS AND EXTREMISTS WERE TRYING TO GLORIFY BOWATTE INDRARATNE , THE MONK WHO DIED FOLLOWING SELF IMMOLATION AS A HERO , BASED ON INFORMATION REACHING LANKA E NEWS INSIDE INFORMATION SERVICE , THIS DECEASED MONK IS A ROBED FRAUD WHO HAD SWINDLED PUBLIC FUNDS IN MILLIONS ; ACTED COUNTER TO THE BUDDHIST TENETS DESTROYING THE TEMPLE ; AND A CRIMINAL WANTED BY THE COURT FOR ABSCONDING IT. IN OTHER WORDS HE IS A SCOUNDREL OUT AND OUT.

HEREUNDER IS THE FULL REPORT :

THE MONK INDRARATHNE HAD BEEN RESIDING AT SUGATHA VIHARA , MEENAWATTE , PABBANA NORTH , KAHAWATTE , RATNAPURA . HE WAS ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE PELAMADULLA LOCAL BODY AS A JHU MEMBER. THEREAFTER , HE HAD COLLECTED RS. 20 LAKHS FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA MAKING FALSE PROMISES TO GET JOBS FOR THEM AS SAMURDHI OFFICERS IN THE CEB. 

A FURTHER SUM OF RS. TEN LAKHS HAD BEEN COLLECTED BY HIM FRAUDULENTLY GIVING FALSE PROMISES AGAIN TO SECURE TEACHER APPOINTMENTS TO THOSE WHO ADVANCED THE MONIES. HE HAD COLLECTED THIS SUM BY ‘SELLING’ THE NAME OF MINISTER JOHN SENEVIRATNE. THE PERSONS WHO GAVE THE MONIES HAD COMPLAINED TO THE POLICE AND THE MINISTER JOHN SENEVIRATNE . THE LATTER WHO COULD NOT ANY LONGER TOLERATE THIS MONK’S ACTIVITIES HAD TOLD THE POLICE TO ENFORCE THE LAW. BUT THE POLICE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO AHEAD WITH ANY ACTION BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE TIES THIS SCOUNDREL OF A MONK HAD WITH THE MONGOL OF A DEFENSE SECRETARY GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSE. THOUGH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIM AND GOTA ARE NOT REVEALED , EVERY TIME THE POLICE SOUGHT TO TAKE ACTION , GOTA HAD OBSTRUCTED THE POLICE, SOURCES SAY.

THIS MONK WHO COULD NOT BE LEGALLY TRAPPED BECAUSE OF GOTA WHO IS HIMSELF LAWLESSNESS PERSONIFIED , WAS SOUGHT TO BE CAPTURED BY THE VICTIMS OF HIS MONUMENTAL FRAUDS WHEN HE WAS ATTENDING THE LOCAL BODY MEETINGS. LEARNING OF THIS, THE VILLAIN MONK WHO TRIED TO BECOME A HERO BY COMMITTING SUICIDE BEGAN KEEPING HIMSELF AWAY FROM THE LOCAL BODY MEETINGS. SUBSEQUENTLY HE HAD SECRETLY FLED TO WEERAKETIYA.

AT WEERAKETIYA HE HAD BEEN FUNCTIONING AS A JHU POLITICAL ACTIVIST. INDRARATNE MONK WHO BECAME A PART OF THE SIHALA RAVAYA AND BODHU BALA SENA , THE TWO ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE JHU OFF SPRINGS HAD SPEARHEADED A VIOLENT MARAUDING CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN CLERGY.

ON 20TH APRIL 2012 , THIS MONK LED THE ATTACK ON THE DAMBULLA MOSQUE .HEREIN IS THE PHOTOGRAPH WHICH DEPICTS HIM WHILE REMOVING HIS ROBES AND CHALLENGING THE FORCES ON THAT OCCASION, AND SCREAMING AT THE FORCES TO SHOOT HIM BY EXPOSING HIS CHEST.

AFTER FLEEING WEERAKETIYA , HE PARTICIPATED IN THE ATTACK LAUNCHED AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON 9TH DECEMBER 2012 . IN THAT ATTACK MANY LAKHS OF RUPEES DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE CHURCH , AND A VALUABLE STATUE TOO WAS DESTROYED . IN THIS ATTACK BOTH THE SIHALA RAVAYA AND THE BODHU BALA SENA PARTICIPATED . WHEN THE WEERAKETIYA POLICE SOUGHT TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST MONK INDRARATNE AND 5 OTHERS , GOTABAYA HAD INTERFERED TO STOP IT, AND SAVE THE CRIMINALS.

EMBOLDENED AND ENCOURAGED BY THE PROTECTION EXTENDED BY GOTABAYA THE NOTORIOUS DEFENSE SECRETARY OF SL , THE BBS AND THE SIHALA URUMAYA HAD CONTINUED THEIR VIOLENCE AND ATTACKED THE WEERAKETIYA MUSLIM MOSQUE ON 18TH MARCH 2013 AND DESTROYED IT. WHEN THE POLICE TOOK ACTION IN THIS INSTANCE , INDRARATNE AND AKMEEMANA DAYARATNE ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS HAD ATTACKED THE POLICE ON THE 19TH.

FOLLOWING THAT ATTACK , THE POLICE HAD SUFFERED DAMAGE WORTH OVER A LAKH OF RUPEES .

THIS SAME GROUP HAD BEEN PLANNING TO ATTACK ANOTHER MUSLIM MOSQUE IN TANGALLE ON 22ND MARCH , BUT THAT WAS PREVENTED BECAUSE THE POLICE WHO RECEIVED INFORMATION AHEAD HAD THWARTED IT.

WHEN THE POLICE TRIED TO ENFORCE THE LAW AGAINST INDRARATNE MONK AND THE GROUP THAT LAUNCHED ATTACKS ON 18, 19 AND 22 , THE POLITICOS OF THE AREA AND GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSE HAD GOT TOGETHER AND EXERTED PRESSURE ON THE POLICE WHEREBY THE POLICE HAD TO ABANDON THE ACTION. IN ANY EVENT , THE WEERAKETIYA POLICE HAD FILED ACTION AGAINST INDRARATNE MONK AND HIS GROUP UNDER SEVERAL CHARGES FOR ATTACKING THE POLICE STATION , IN THE WALASMULLA MAGISTRATE COURT BASED ON A B REPORT NO. 193/2013 

THIS VILLAINOUS MONK WHO TRIED TO ACQUIRE THE GLORY BELONGING TO A HERO BY SELF IMMOLATION , HAD APPEARED IN COURT ONLY ONCE , AND THEREAFTER IGNORED THE COURT SUMMONS TOO. INTERESTINGLY , ON 21ST MAY , JUST THREE DAYS PRIOR TO INDRARATNE’S TRAGI- COMEDY ACT (24) , THE COURT HAD ISSUED AN ORDER TO IMMEDIATELY ARREST HIM AND PRODUCE BEFORE THE COURT .

ALL THESE EVENTS HAD BEEN ORCHESTRATED BY JHU , AND EVEN THE DECEASED’S STATEMENT HAD BEEN A JHU CREATION . THAT IS, THE STORY THAT THE DECEASED WAS SACKED FROM JHU A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE VICTIM’S SELF IMMOLATION IS PART OF THAT DRAMA.

ACCORDING TO THE POLICE , INDRARATNE MONK IS A CRIMINAL WHO BASED ON HIS ATROCIOUS CRIMINAL RECORD , SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENT TO SEVERAL YEARS IN JAIL MUCH EARLIER , BUT BECAUSE OF GOTABAYA AND MINISTER CHAMPIKA HE WAS PROTECTED , BY HIDING THE LEGAL PROCESS UNDER THE ROBE LIKE HOW GOTA AND CHAMPIKA ARE COVERING THEIR OWN ILLEGALITIES USING THEIR POLITICAL CLOAKS AND MASKS .

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THERE ISN’T MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NARAHENPITA INDHARE AND BOWATTE INDHARE – BOTH ARE IRCS – ISLAND RECONVICTED CRIMINALS . AS REGARDS THE OTHER TWO – THEY ARE ALSO IRCS OF ANOTHER CATEGORY – ISLAND REJECTED CUTTHROATS 

Tibet Freedom Movement Intensifies Through Incessant Self-Immolations

by Dr Subhash Kapila-Saturday, June 29, 2013

( June 29, 2013, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Freedom Movement in China Occupied Tibet may soon be heading towards a “Tipping Point” if Chinese forcible suppression of the peaceful freedom movement is not restrained. The incessant self-immolations with dying slogans of “Freedom for Tibetan People” and “Dalai Lama Must Return, refuse to die down despite Chinese suppression.

Recorded figures since 2009 till this month indicate that 120 Tibetan self-immolations have taken place. These self-immolations comprised 101 Tibetan males and 19 Tibetan females. All of these self-immolations have taken place within China Occupied Tibet except for one which took place in China. These Tibetans were freedom fighters as the self-immolations were not for any personal reasons as Chinese officials allege.

However these figures are a tip of the 

Tibet Freedom Movement Intensifies Through Incessant Self-Immolations by nelvely

U.S. suspends trade benefits for Bangladesh over safety

By Doug Palme-WASHINGTON | Fri Jun 28, 2013

People rescue garment workers trapped under rubble at the Rana Plaza building after it collapsed, in Savar, 30 km (19 miles) outside Dhaka in this April 24, 2013 file photo.-Credit: Reuters/Andrew Biraj/Files

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama 
cut off long-time U.S. trade benefits for Bangladesh on Thursday in a mostly symbolic response to conditions in the country's garment industry that have cost more than 1,200 lives in the past year.

U.S. Suspends Trade Benefits for Bangladesh Over Safety by nelvely

SOUTH KOREA: The National Intelligence Service is a root cause of the crackdown on democracy and human rights

June 27, 2013

The country has entered into political turmoil. It is because of a series of allegations of illegal interference by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in the Presidential election, held in December last year. As more information is released, those who worry about democracy in the country - including students – are starting to decry the current political situation. There is involvement from civil society groups, such as religious groups, as well as scholars, journalists, and Koreans living overseas.

SOUTH KOREA the National Intelligence Service is a Root Cause of the Crackdown on Democracy and Human Right... by nelvely

The Face Of Buddhist Terror: Sri Lanka To Ban Time Magazine

June 28, 2013 

The Sri Lankan Government is likely to ban the latest edition of the Time Magazine after political Buddhist groups have taken offence at an article appearing on the news magazine’s cover, Colombo Telegraph learns.

The Bodu Bala Sena Group has lobbied the Media Ministry and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to ensure the offending issue never reaches the news stands in Sri Lanka, Media Ministry sources said.

The cover story on the July 1 issue of Time Magazine is entitled ‘The Face of Buddhist Terror and features Myanmar’s extremist monk Wirathu, who has been accused of stoking anti-Muslim sentiments with his 969 movement, launched in February, which calls on Buddhists to boycott Muslim shops and businesses. There have been at least three anti-Muslim riots this year in central and northern Myanmar, leaving thousands homeless. In June 2012, Buddhist communities in the Rakhine State attacked Rohingya Muslims, leaving 167 people dead and 125,000 people homeless.

Media Ministry Secretary Charitha Herath is reportedly consulting with Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella about how to approach the issue.

According to Ministry sources, the BBS is demanding that Herath consult with the Defence Secretary to tear off the cover story in the magazine before it is allowed on the newsstands in Sri Lanka. If the ban goes ahead, this will be the first time an international magazine is banned in Sri Lanka for a story that has nothing to do with Sri Lanka directly. Sources said the Government is planning to ban the online version of the story as well.

The Colombo Telegraph has been unable to reach Charitha Herath for comment. The Myanmar government has already banned the issue. ”The article entitled ‘The Face of Buddhist Terror’ in Time magazine July 1 issue is prohibited from being produced, sold or and distributed in original copy or photocopy in order to prevent further racial and religious conflicts,” Myanmar government spokesman Ye Htut posted on his Facebook page.

TNA members not permitted to visit schools in the northern province: Governor

[ Friday, 28 June 2013, 11:57.35 AM GMT +05:30 ]

The governor of the Northern Province ordered the secretary to the ministry of education, cultural affairs and sports C. Sathiyaseelan to issue circular towards zonal education directors, divisional secretaries and school principals not to grant permission for members of Tamil National Alliance to visit schools and government offices in the province.

TNA members are not permitted to hold discussions or political meetings at schools in the district. Strict disciplinary action would be taken against principals violates the order. Persons in the uniforms continuously cause disturbances to female students arrive to the Killinochchie Central Collage and also due to various exhibitions organized at the school premises students face hardships to continue their academic activities. According to the area residents day today military interventions increased on academic activities of students at Killinochchie Central Collage.

ASIA: Narrative of Justice in Sri Lanka

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALRC-PUB-001-2013
June 28, 2013

A Publication by the Asian Legal Resource Centre

Print Version ISBN: 978-962-8161-11-9
Online Version ISBN: 978-962-8161-12-6

The Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC), the sister organisation of the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) announces the publication of Narrative of Justice in Sri Lanka as told through the stories of torture victims. The book contains 736 pages.

This book records the stories of 400 cases of torture out of over 2,000 cases which were researched and published by the AHRC and the ALRC over the last ten years. The victims of torture were interviewed in great detail and assisted to pursue their complaints to the Sri Lankan authorities. The ALRC researchers have studied each of these cases through long years while the victims were pursuing their grievances before local authorities and courts.

"This book tells a grim story of the actual situation and of the way the criminal justice system works, or in fact, does not work in Sri Lanka. Through the stories of torture the victims reveal the extremely cruel and brutal methods used by the police and other law enforcement agencies and what it more striking is the narrative of the utter neglect that seems to pervade the police, who are supposed to be investigators into crime, the Attorney General's Department, which is supposed to prosecute competently and impartially and the judiciary which is supposed to protect the citizens of the country. The weight of evidence that is presented by this book on the complete failure of the system demands a response from the Sri Lankan government as well as its basic institutions such as the police, the Attorney General's Department and the judiciary", said Mr. Basil Fernando, the Director, Policy & Programme Development of the ALRC who is also the editor of this book.

Fernando further said, "No study of human rights in Sri Lanka would be complete without reference to this publication. This is the most comprehensive book, not only on the practice of torture but also the widespread impunity that prevails in Sri Lanka".

He went on to say that the study of law in Sri Lanka requires a change. The legal texts that are supposed to say what the law is should be contrasted with the actual situation that prevails in the country. This book graphically exposes how far Sri Lanka has drifted away from the rule of law and how far the people of Sri Lanka are denied of their basic protection.

Copies of the book may be obtained from the Asian Legal Resource Centre.

# # #

About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.

Sri Lanka: 13A, CHOGM, China And India

By R Hariharan -June 28, 2013 

Col. (retd) R.Hariharan

[This is an extract of answers to questions raised by a webmedia in E-mail interview.]

Q1. India has blown hot and cold over the Sri Lankan national question over the past several decades.  Now there is 13A and the elections for a Northern Provincial government looming. Do you see the Manmohan government acting positive and decisively in this context?

Sri Lanka 13A, CHOGM, China and India by nelvely

AI compromising with UK’s CHOGM participation condemned

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 June 2013, 16:25 GMT]
The Amnesty International opts out outright denouncement of the UK for its decision to participate the CHOGM meet hosted by genocidal Sri Lanka, by suggesting that the UK should make use of the meet to put pressure on Sri Lanka on international investigation of war crimes and on rectifying general ‘human rights’ situation in the island, commented a Tamil activist for alternative politics in Jaffna. The Amnesty International that doesn’t recognize the genocide and the on-going structural genocide committed on the nation of Eezham Tamils, and that doesn’t demand action or investigation on the crux of the matter, but tucks everything into a general human rights situation to imply endorsement to the integrity of the genocidal State, is just a partner in the game, the activist said. 

Further comments from the activist for alternative politics in Jaffna follow:

The most serious crime against the norms of entire humanity that takes place in the island is the genocidal annihilation of a nation, planned and facilitated essentially by the International Community of Establishments.

The nature and magnitude of the genocidal crime, and the adamant cum sophisticated ways in which the crime is committed as a model for future world domination, are treacherously shielded by the lip-service calls for ‘international investigation of war crimes’ and improvement of general ‘human rights’ situation, treating the island as one unit and treating the nation that commits the genocide and that faces the genocide on a par. 

The Head of the AI’s policy and government affairs in the UK, projecting the crisis in the island from the vantage of tourism, general human rights, general freedom of expression and general failure of judiciary is just a part of the sophisticated game detracting what has to be actually done on the island –partition to prevent genocide and to prevent genocide becoming a world paradigm of the greedy Establishments.

What the AI says now doesn’t significantly differ from what the UK Establishment was saying in defence of its decision to participate the CHOGM.

The UK-PM choosing not to attend the CHOGM is action, but his going, patting on the back of Colombo and advising something is appeasement.

For the general nature of human rights break down cited by the AI, there won’t be a single country in the Commonwealth, including the UK fit enough to conduct the CHOGM. The real hero of humanity in this century, Snowden has exposed enough of the partnership of the UK in infiltrating the communication privacy right of humanity. 

What is actually different in the island is the paradigm-setting genocide. But it is never cited in reasoning out the call for boycotting the CHOGM. 

The so-called watchdogs of humanity like the Amnesty International subtly appeasing with the CHOGM decision of the Establishment in the UK, and thus indirectly appeasing with the genocidal State of Sri Lanka, only shows the crumpling of the international organisations from the UN downwards.

Britain’s appeasement with Japan and Italy, when there were aggressions against the nations of Manchuria and Abyssinia, was primarily responsible for the collapse of The League on Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations.

The USA and the UK appeasing with, or perhaps steering and facilitating, the genocide committed by Sri Lanka on the nation of Eezham Tamils (which never did anything against the two powers, but was always looking upon them as saviours), is a first of its kind treachery that will uniquely mark the collapse of trustworthiness in the current international system. Peoples in the West should scrutinize where their Establishments and the second fiddles like the Amnesty International are heading for.

C’wealth wants to make practical difference in SL

FRIDAY, 28 JUNE 2013 

The Commonwealth said it preferred to make a practical difference in Sri Lanka as opposed to criticising lack of progress in the implementation of the Lessons Learnt Reconciliation (LLRC) report from ‘afar

In a letter titled, ‘wait before you judge Sri Lanka, the Commonwealth Secretary GeneralKamalesh Sharma said the LLRC report is a homegrown roadmap for achieving peace in a multi- ethnic nation.

Following is the full text of the letter published in the Media.

Sir, Sri Lanka still has much to do to implement its post-conflict Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission report (“A Sri Lanka summit discredits the Commonwealth“, Gideon Rachman, June 25). This is a homegrown roadmap for achieving a multi-ethnic nation at peace with itself. The question for the international community is whether to criticise lack of progress from afar in implementing that report or to offer and to make a practical difference. The Commonwealth has opted for the latter, and the Sri Lankan government even now is identifying the areas where we will help. We are active in Sri Lanka in advancing Commonwealth values, including human rights, the media, judiciary, and building mutual respect and understanding in communities.

Our Commonwealth soft power and behind the scenes contributions can often be at risk of negative judgment in the short term, but our success is invariably measured positively in the longer term in the form of real progress. To walk away and not to stay the course would be to the Commonwealth’s lasting discredit.