Friday, July 19, 2013

India objects to Sri Lanka’s false propaganda

Details: Created On Friday, 19 July 2013 07:11; Category: General

India is disgruntled with the false propaganda being carried out by elements that are pro-Rajapaksa government and parties affiliated to the government that India’s RAW was behind the attack on Buddhagaya, diplomatic sources said.

A diplomat from New Delhi has told several senior officials from Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry that the Rajapaksa government was acting like a thug before India with the support of Russia and China. The diplomat had likened Russia and China to “two big balloons.” “The day these balloons lose air, the Rajapaksa government will understand its folly,” the diplomat has added.
The Bodhu Bala Sena and the Sihala Ravaya on several occasions have said they would surround the Indian High Commission in Colombo and the diplomat has said that India was well aware that the Rajapaksa government was behind the extremist groups operating in the country. The diplomat has said with a smile that India behaved like a mature elder brother where the spoilt younger brother Sri Lanka is concerned.
According to the diplomat, the central government of India is facing a great difficulty in the face of the demand by Tamil Nadu politicians to take over the Katchchatheevu Island since the Sirima-Shasthri agreement was not approved by the Lok Sabha.

‘Alles in Wonderland’ and Indo-Lanka relations

Image courtesy First Lanka

Rohana Jayaratne-19 Jul, 2013

The Parody

The hilarious political satire titled ‘Alles in Wonderland’ was presented by the Ananda College Drama Circle at a public performance recently. It won first place at the 2013 – Inter school Royal Drama Competition held in Colombo. Based on a unique adaption of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the play on Indo Lanka relations was cleverly dramatised through a parody. The production was not only entertaining but also thought provoking.

The opening scene of three gangsters could very well have represented two competing superpowers and Sri Lanka as a pawn, caught in between, playing the game of Mutually Assured Destruction. To everyone’s relief, no one was shot but it clearly portrayed the stupidity, intimidation and brinkmanship involved in war games which could easily end up in tragedy for all players.

The Reality Continue reading »

Government By Patronage Is Not Democracy

By R.M.B Senanayake -July 19, 2013

R.M.B. Senanayake

Mr. S.L Gunasekera writing to the Daily Mirror has pointed out that devolution of power does not help to give power to the people and that what happens is that the power is exercised by local instead of national level politicians. So devolution only means devolution of power to local politicians and it does not enable the participation of the people. Yes indeed it is so. But why is it so? It is because we no longer have the institutions required for a liberal democracy. Democracy means nothing if it doesn’t ensure freedom for the people and equal participation of all the people in governance and not merely the majority of the people. This type of democracy which is the only democracy worth having requires a set of modern institutions. Liberal democracy is a modern evolution. Athenian democracy excluded women and slaves. American democracy excluded blacks until recent years.

The modern institutions required are not only an independent Judiciary but also a civil and military bureaucracy. These institutions must function according to pre-established laws and procedures and not arbitrarily according to the whims and fancies of those in these institutions who exercise these functions at the dictates of the politicians. The liberal democracy arose when government according to law implemented by a bureaucracy evolved. But this also requires the evolution of a rational cum legal bureaucracy not a patronage based bureaucracy.

A Legal cum Rational Bureaucracy Read More

Cannot risk a parallel army in North: Basil

MEERA SRINIVASAN-July 19, 2013

Points to Section 2.10 of 1987 accord to justify his ‘one police’ stance

FIRM STAND: Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa. Photo : Meera Srinivasan

Despite India’s efforts to persuade Sri Lanka to fully implement the 13th Amendment in the island’s northern province, the Rajapaksa government appears firm about not handing over some powers, including those related to police and law enforcement, to the Tamil minority.

Revealing the extent to which absence of trust remains an obstacle to ethnic reconciliation in Sri Lanka, Basil Rajapaksa — brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Minister for Economic Development — who visited New Delhi last week, told The Hindu that Sri Lanka would never risk a provincial government forming its own “army” through devolved police powers.

Referring to the Tamil National Army — a militant outfit raised by the beleaguered 1988 EPRLF government in the North-Eastern Province in a futile attempt to protect itself against the LTTE that had rejected the Amendment and boycotted the election — he said there was no ruling out that a future Northern provincial government would not do the same: “If [the NPC] form another army, can we afford another war now?”

He dismissed arguments that armed struggle by the Tamils was now a thing of the past, and that the 13th Amendment in any case gave the President overriding powers over the province.

As Sri Lanka moves to hold elections for the first time in the Tamil-majority Northern province, there is a raging debate in the country over the pros and cons of the 13th Amendment, including the proposed changes by the Rajapaksa government to strip it of clauses that it perceives to be inimical to national and territorial integrity; and the reported insistence by India on its full implementation.

Both Mr. Rajapakasa’s trip to New Delhi, and quickly after, India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon’s visit to Colombo, seem to have focussed on this issue; for weeks, the Sri Lankan media has been debating it threadbare.

Sri Lanka’s other provinces, which have functioning governments, do not have their own police forces despite the constitutional provision for this. But the Tamil National Alliance believes the North should have control over law enforcement in the province.

The TNA is widely expected to win the Northern election, to be held in September, two months before the country is due to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet. The alliance has nominated a respected Colombo-based former judge of the Supreme Court, C. V. Wigneswaran, as its chief ministerial candidate.

Mr. Rajapaksa, however, questioned TNA’s choice, describing Mr.Wigneswaran as a candidate of “external forces” who did not represent the people of the North.

Well ahead of the elections, the minister, an important political figure in the Sri Lankan government, who is regarded as the most restrained and diplomatic member of the Rajapaksa clan, was already certain that a TNA government in the North would be on collision course with the Centre.

The Rajapaksa government, he said, had given the Tamil people, “everything” — roads, railways, water, electricity, schools and hospitals. With nothing left to promise, the minister said, a TNA provincial government would whip up other “emotional issues” that neither it nor the government would be able to deliver.

Giving a new twist to the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987 which gave birth to the 13th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s Constitution, Mr. Rajapaksa said devolving police powers would actually amount to going against Accord.

He pointed to section 2.10 of the Accord which calls for the government to use the “same organisations and mechanisms” for law enforcement and security in the Northern and Eastern provinces as in the rest of the country, saying this meant that there could not be more than one police force for the whole country.

“It is very clear in the Accord. It says police powers have to be with one police, there is no separate mechanism. So you can’t have a separate police force in the provinces,” Mr. Rajapaksa said.

The government recently set up a parliamentary select committee to revisit the 13th amendment. Mr. Rajapaksa defended the move, saying no constitutional provision was permanent, and all over the world, it was the practice to make changes in the statute.

He declined to say if the changes would come before or after the election, calling it an ongoing process. Sometimes, he said, such processes took years.

The committee has been boycotted by the TNA and the main opposition United National Party (UNP). Moreover, dissenters on the issue within the ruling coalition, such as the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, are not included in the Committee.

Mr. Rajapaksa sought to explain questions about the credibility of the incomplete panel by saying it would solicit wider opinion by inviting public testimonies.

Asked if India-Sri Lanka relations had been affected as a result, Mr. Rajapaksa said both countries “understand each other’s point of view. It is Sri Lanka’s problem, and Sri Lanka must find a solution from Sri Lanka itself”.

India’s vote against Colombo two years in a row at the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, he said, had “very badly hurt our relationship” but Sri Lanka had “managed it very well”, understanding that it was due to “internal pressure”.

Nor had Sri Lanka reacted adversely when Sri Lankan pilgrims and Buddhist priests were attacked in Tamil Nadu.

“So as two sovereign countries and countries who have been friends for a long time we have to understand each other. Our people have been very understanding of India. India must understand that.”

India’s Sri Lanka-playing-the China card theory was hardly reasonable, he said, pointing to a recently formed Indian CEO’s forum in Colombo, and the absence of a similar platform for Chinese businessmen in Sri Lanka.

Rather, said the Minister, it was India that was “playing for America”. As evidence, he pulled out a 2011 visit to Chennai by then U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as linked to the Tamil question in Sri Lanka.

A peaceful environment in Sri Lanka was good for India and the people of India, not just for the governments but also for the business community, including those from Tamil Nadu, Mr. Rajapaksa said.

Remember 30 Years Since Black July: British Tamils To Rally Opposite The Number 10

Black July 83 - A Tamil boy stripped naked and later beaten to death by Sinhala youth in Boralla bustation | Photo - Chandraguptha Amarasingha

July 19, 2013

British Tamils are particularly hurt by the UK government’s decision to participate in this meeting, which will help Sri Lanka further cleanse its image abroad, while the persecution of Tamils on the island continues unabated and justice for the victims of past atrocities is nowhere in sight, says the British Tamil Forum.

Issuing a statement the BTF says; “In spite of this escalating persecution, the Sri Lankan state continues to be held in esteem by its international peers; indeed, it has even been awarded the opportunity to host the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November, despite facing severe censure by human rights organisations and in the UN for the atrocities it has committed in recent times.”

We publish below the statement in full;

British Tamils Forum will hold a mass rally opposite Downing Street from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday 23 July 2013 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Black July anti-Tamil pogrom of 1983.

Details: Created On Friday, 19 July 2013 10:18; Category: General

The AHRC's Folk School for human rights defenders in Asia was initiated 14 years ago.

Since then regular sessions have been held that have provided opportunities for human rights defenders from various countries throughout Asia to come together and discuss the problems they face in their respective countries and to develop better methodologies for providing their services to their communities.

The AHRC's Folk School was developed around the ideas of the folk school movement in Denmark. The folk school is a unique Danish idea that was initiated by one of the foremost Danish thinkers and community organisers, N.F.S Grundvig. The basic principles are as follows:

The starting point of education is the situation of the learner: concrete current problems with which those undergoing education are faced, either directly, or as advocates working with others who are directly affected. In the shared analysis of the causes and consequences of these concrete problems, the transfer of information about or references to the relevant universal and regional Human Rights documents, mechanisms and bodies will be understood and seen to be relevant and practically applicable

The process of Human Rights education, as of all human rights work in general, must be a participatory and dialogical process. This is commensurate with the goal of "achieving human rights" : which is, ultimately, to achieve a human society where each person, child, woman, man will have all possible access to the channels of communication and participation in the society/ community in which he/she lives, and will enjoy the material and spiritual sustenance needed to participate in the matters which directly or indirectly affect his/her life in the society, without fear of discrimination or violence.

An essential component of Human Rights education is the perspective of action. The learning which is desired through human rights education must result in the perception of the relevance of human rights concepts and principles in the struggle for a humane and just society and in the inspiration to undertake some form of action to promote and enhance these rights. This involves the process of thinking through to find solutions to the problems which formed the starting point of the learning process, and the development of strategies and tactics to bring about change. It also entails acquiring information about other groups or individuals who may be already engaged in action regarding the issue under discussion, leading to exchange and collaboration on specific issues.

In addition, training to acquire specific skills for different kinds of action e.g. documentation of human rights abuses, advocacy campaigns on specific issues, lobby work, writing and spreading urgent appeals, direct intervention, peace and reconciliation work, etc., should be separately organised and/or facilitated.

In this short video documentary the AHRC presents the development of its Folk School and its achievements.
-AHRC-

Habitual detraction of due justice to Eezham Tamils continues in Indian media

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 July 2013, 04:51 GMT]

“In order to allay Sinhalese apprehensions, iron-clad guarantees should be provided that devolution to provinces should not lead to demand for separation,” writes V. Suryanarayan, in an opinion feature “Ethnic riddle in Sri Lanka,” appeared in The New Indian Express on Wednesday. “The Achenese model should be of relevance because like the Sinhalese, the Javanese are also opposed to federalism. The special autonomy status to Acheh, it must be underlined, is within the constitutional framework of a unitary Indonesia,” he further writes. Whatever that has happened or continue to happen, Eezham Tamils should never get independence and the Sinhalese should be appeased at any cost, even in their opposition to federalism, is the thrust of the opinion, on which the impunity of genocidal Sri Lanka is firmly anchored, responds TamilNet political commentator in Colombo.

Habitual Detraction of Due Justice to Eezham Tamils Continues in Indian Media by nelvely

75% duty waiver for CHOGM limos

by Ravi Ladduwahetty-2013-07-19

The government is planning to grant a 70-75% duty waiver to vendors and vehicle importing companies to bring down luxury limousines for the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), billed to be held in November. "We are looking at the possibility of using vendors to import the limousines and we will decide on this from among a number of options we have on these aspects of the conference, as this is the first time a CHOGM conference will be hosted in an Asian country in 24 years," Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, told the Cabinet news conference at the Media Ministry Auditorium yesterday.

He also explained the cost of the vehicles would be outside the budget for the conference as that expenditure would be met by the Treasury, and added, that despite there being a huge hue and cry about the government spending large funds for the luxury limousines for the visiting Heads of State, their modes of transport had to be arranged befitting their stature. "We cannot have Prince Charles and other Heads of State travelling in Toyota Corollas and Morris Minors!" he said.

He said the cost of the conference would be between Rs 3 and 4 billion, where Rs 1.3 billion would be for the media accreditation, while another
Rs 1.9 billion or so would be for the venues and the other arrangements, and added that the benefits, which will accrue to the country such as the exposure, will be tremendous and immeasurable.

The minister pointed out the highest item of expenditure will be the accreditation of the journalists and added the government will have the discretion of deciding who to give the accreditation or who not to. "They will have to get the Defence Ministry clearance for that," he said.

Rambukwella was responding to a question as to whether there will be restrictions on journalists arriving to report the international parley, despite assurances 'all were welcome.'

He said it was a matter for regret that Sri Lankan politicians were castigating the government on the hosting of the conference, without thinking of the accolades that Sri Lanka as a nation would get and their remarks were made with venom, rancour and acrimony.

Minister Rambukwella was responding to Matara District MP Mangala Samaraweera's comments that Commonwealth nations should boycott CHOGM in Colombo.

"It is also sad that Samaraweera is making such remarks, echoing the sentiments of the Tamil Diaspora at a time when Channel 4 Editors are saying they will be sleeping only after President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa are placed on the electric chair," Rambukwella remarked.

Afterlife:True Or False?

By S. Mahalingam -July 19, 2013

S. Mahalingam

All religions assure us we’re special: our consciousness survives bodily death. However, based on science, humanism declares that if certain parts of the brain die, consciousness also dies.

When there’s a lot of verified evidence (albeit anecdotal) of afterlife, we’ve to take serious note. If such evidence is of three, quite separate types – as follows – we cannot justifiably dismiss them outright and declare the entire bulk of evidence as “inconclusive”:

(i) Verified details of near-death experience by patients, including self-review of past actions;

(ii) Verified details of previous life, by children under hypnosis, including untaught language;

(iii) Over 500 tape-records recorded by sitters, now stored at the University of Manitoba, which serve as evidence of direct communication between spirits of dead people and their loved ones during séances conducted by the most tested, silent, direct voice medium Leslie Flint (1911-1994). The séances were held at various locations, including places not open to prior adjustment to commit fraud – but always held in the dark (infrared cameras permitted). Everything was thoroughly scrutinised by professionals who were sceptical about Flint’s renowned ability to attract the spirits of dead people. Despite the abysmal record of fraud by most mediums, no such thing by Flint was ever found during his career lasting 40 years; yet doubts by diehards continued: “he was using ventriloquism”, and, with his lips were sealed, “he must’ve been talking through his stomach.” It is clear that the spirits have no voice box, and their conversation with the sitters was through an ethereal ‘voice box’ formed ad-hoc by Flint, few feet above his or his sitters’ heads for conveying the spirits’ thoughts in his language – with difficulty and with varying clarity and modulation, but with passable similarity to the dead persons’ manner of speaking when living. Read More

Vaali, Tamil cinema's prolific lyricist passes away

Chennai: July 19, 2013

One of Tamil cinema's celebrated lyricist, an evergreen poet, Vaali, who ruled the film industry for over five decades, passed away in Chennai on Friday. He was 82.

He died due to respiratory illness in a private hospital.

Vaali, who acted in Tamil films such as "Sathya", "Hey Ram" and "Parthale Paravasam", had also penned the biographies of Rama, Krishna and Ramanuja. He even wrote an autobiography titled "Naanum Indha Nootrandum".

Born as T.S Rangarajan, he rechristened himself as Vaali, since he was a devoted fan of artist Mali.

Before picking up the pen to write, he worked with All India Radio (AIR) for a brief period of time. He was also actively involved in Tamil theatre and even directed a few plays.

He came to Chennai in 1950 and struggled for many years. He wrote his first song in 1958 for the film "Azhagarmalai Kalla", but his much needed recognition came in 1963 with the song "Idaythil Nee" from the film "Karpagam".

In 1964, Vaali penned the lyrics for the song "Thottal Poo Malurum" from the film "Padagotti" featuring late Tamil Nadu chief minister M.G Ramachandran (MGR). The song went on to be a chartbuster, and subsequently he wrote for almost all films of MGR.

Besides MGR, Vaali also wrote several songs for Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. In the last decade, he wrote songs for young actors such Dhanush, Siddharth and Suriya.

In Dhanush-starrer Tamil romantic-drama "Maryan", which is releasing on Friday, Vaali wrote two songs "Naetru Aval" and "Sonapareeya".

Known to be the nemesis of lyricist Kannadasan, Vaali only went on to be called his heir-apparent. Even though both were professional rivals, but in real life they were considered best friends.

Vaali has more than 10,000 songs to his credit. In his illustrious career, he has penned several chartbusters such as "Naan Aanai Ittal", "Moondrezhuthil Yen Moochirukkum" and "Puthiya Vaanam, Puthiya Boomi".

Now, MoD asks UNP to name bribe takers, giver Krrish Towers deal

... promises high level probe if a complaint is made to police

By Shamindra Ferdinandohttp-July 18, 2013

The Defence and Urban Development Ministry yesterday challenged the UNP to reveal the identity of the official whose life was allegedly under threat for ‘accepting USD 4 million, on behalf of two powerful persons in the government, as an inducement to grant a further extension of time to Krrish Towers to complete the payment on the Fort land lease agreement’.

In response to our lead news item, Man who took USD 4 m for two government bigwigs threatned - UNP, based on an allegation UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake made at a press conference, the MoD said that the UNP must name the alleged bribe taker as well as those described as government bigwigs. It said it would certainly conduct a high level probe as demanded by the UNP if MP Karunayake or any other senior party member made a formal complaint with the police with names named.

The Defence Ministry said that the Opposition could expose those involved in the alleged mega deal before lodging a complaint with police headquarters as well as the Commission to Investigate Allegations of bribery or Corruptions.

Those involved in any clandestine transactions relating to the Krrish project, if any, would be dealt with severely, the official said, urging the UNP to act responsibly by naming the person who took the bribe and the so-called government bigwigs behind him.

The Defence Ministry said that the UNP could also identify those gunning for the person who had allegedly accepted USD 4 million on behalf of two powerful government personalities.

Karunanayake, on Wednesday, said that ‘the official concerned was trembling in fear and had complained to the authorities and the President that his life was under threat, after revealing the circumstances which had led to the money being accepted’.

Krrish Towers had been given a fourth extension on Monday to fully pay up on the Fort land lease agreement, MP Karunanayake said, adding that such concessions were not given to local investors.

Responding to Karunanayake’s allegations, the Gurgaon-based Krrish Group yesterday said that its transactions with the Sri Lankan government had been above board.

Krrish Group owner Amit Katyal said that the project had been finalised on the basis that there would be a staggered payment plan for land as the company had other commitments regarding several ongoing property development projects amounting to billions of US dollars.

Alleging that the ongoing attempt to undermine the project would discourage not only Krrish Group but those interested in investing in Sri Lanka, Katyal said that the company had so far paid Rs. 4, 250 million to the government in accordance with the payment plan. The total amount paid so far amounted to 85 per cent, Katyal said, reiterating his commitment to the ongoing project.

The Defence and Urban Development Ministry also said that the UNP could expose those who had paid USD 4 million to a third party hence the Bribery Commission could initiate an investigation. The matter could be also raised in Parliament and reported to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) to pave the way for the parliamentary watchdog to investigate.

VIDEO: NOT ONLY DAYASIRI, I TOO WILL REPRESENT GOVT – HARSHA

July 19, 2013

While continuously increasing taxes imposed on the public, the government has completely removed the income taxes on casino owners for a period of 10 years, the United National Party (UNP) charged today.

UNP parliamentarian Dr Harsha de Silva stated that the government had issued the gazette notification at 12 midnight yesterday, providing sweeping tax concessions for Australian billionaire and gaming tycoon James Packer’s casino.

With this gazette notification Sri Lanka has set a Guinness world record as the first country to waive taxes imposed on casinos and to provide them with tax concessions, he said, during a press conference today.

Dr Silva further stated that James Packer recently received permission from the Australian government to build a casino in Sidney after agreeing to pay 29% in taxes.

He inquired as to why the government is providing such tax concession to only James Packer. While pointing out that the UNP is completely against this move, Harsha state that they will not allow this regulation to be passed in the parliament.

He urged all politicians, who are of the opinion that the taxes on the public should be reduced, to also object to this.

When asked by a reporter regarding the rumors of UNP MP Dayasiri Jayasekara crossing over to the government, Harsha said: “not only him, even I will represent the government. Our (UNP) government. We both will represent our (UNP) government in the future.”

He stated that they will not represent the opposition forever and that the reason they entered politics was to represent the government someday.

“We don’t know about their (the government’s) frogs that jump from here to there. We don’t have frogs like that,” he said.

Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute Invitation: The Role Of Religion In Reconciliation

July 19, 2013 |

The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute will be hosting the 8th of its National Conference series under the theme “the Role of Religion in Reconciliation” on July 23, 2013 from 2.00 pm onwards. Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, the founder – president of the Sarvodaya Movement will be delivering the keynote address.

FRIDAY, 19 JULY 2013

Doctors at all government Hospitals in the Central Province have launched a twenty-four-hour token strike from this morning, GMOA spokesman Dr. Naveen de Soysa said.

Dr. de Soysa told Daily Mirror Online that the Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa had insulted the doctors at a review on maternity and child care held in Nuwara Eliya and disrupted the review which is held once every three months.

He said GMOA would decide further action by this evening depending on the progress and said the emergency services would not be affect due to the strike.

Video: Vaas case: Confusion in Court

FRIDAY, 19 JULY 2013

Confusion prevailed at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today when four suspects informed the Magistrate that the lawyer making submissions on their behalf was not retained by them nor did he represent them.

The four policemen who are in custody on charges of having killed a businessman said they were not represented by Counsel Anura Ranasinghe after State Counsel Wasantha Perera who made submissions on behalf of the CID informed the Magistrate that Mr. Ranasinghe did not represent the suspects though he was making submissions on their behalf.

When Additional Magistrate A.M. Shahabdeen asked the suspects whether Mr. Ranasinghe represented themthey said they were not.

Counsel Ranasinghe told court the suspects had been threatened by the CID and were given an undertaking they would be made state witnesses and that this resulted in their refusing his services.

Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, who is appearing for the suspect former DIG Vaas Gunawardena,was given permission to submit written submissions on behalf of Mr. Gunawardene on August 1.

The suspects were further remanded till August 1. (FT)

Email exchange between Edward Snowden and former GOP Senator Gordon Humphrey

Glenn Greenwald- Tuesday 16 July 2013

'I believe you have done the right thing in exposing what I regard as massive violation of the United States constitution'

Former NH Senator Gordon J Humphrey. Photograph: AP

Former two-term GOP Senator Gordon Humphrey of New Hampshire emailed Edward Snowden yesterday [emphasis added]:

Mr. Snowden,

Provided you have not leaked information that would put in harms way any intelligence agent, I believe you havedone the right thing in exposing what I regard as massive violation of the United States Constitution.

Having served in the United States Senate for twelve years as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee, I think I have a good grounding to reach my conclusion.

I wish you well in your efforts to secure asylum and encourage you to persevere.

Kindly acknowledge this message, so that I will know it reached you.

Regards,
Gordon J. Humphrey
Former United States Senator
New Hampshire

After I contacted Sen. Humphrey to confirm its authenticity, he wrote to me [emphasis added]:

Mr. Greenwald,

Yes. It was I who sent the email message to Edward Snowden, thanking him for exposing astonishing violations of the US Constitution and encouraging him to persevere in the search for asylum.

To my knowledge, Mr. Snowden has disclosed only the existence of a program and not details that would place any person in harm's way. I regard him as a courageous whistle-blower.

I object to the monumentally disproportionate campaign being waged by the U.S. Government against Edward Snowden, while no effort is being made to identify, remove from office and bring to justice those officials who have abused power, seriously and repeatedly violating the Constitution of the United States and the rights of millions of unsuspecting citizens.

Americans concerned about the growing arrogance of our government and its increasingly menacing nature should be working to help Mr. Snowden find asylum. Former Members of Congress, especially, should step forward and speak out.

Regards,
Gordon Humphrey

Snowden's reply to Sen. Humphrey:

Mr. Humphrey,

Thank you for your words of support. I only wish more of our lawmakers shared your principles - the actions I've taken would not have been necessary.

The media has distorted my actions and intentions to distract from the substance of Constitutional violations and instead focus on personalities. It seems they believe every modern narrative requires a bad guy. Perhaps it does. Perhaps, in such times, loving one's country means being hated by its government.

If history proves that be so, I will not shy from that hatred. I will not hesitate to wear those charges of villainy for the rest of my life as a civic duty, allowing those governing few who dared not do so themselves to use me as an excuse to right these wrongs.

My intention, which I outlined when this began, is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them. I remain committed to that. Though reporters and officials may never believe it, I have not provided any information that would harm our people - agent or not - and I have no intention to do so.

Further, no intelligence service - not even our own - has the capacity to compromise the secrets I continue to protect. While it has not been reported in the media, one of my specializations was to teach our people at DIA how to keep such information from being compromised even in the highest threat counter-intelligence environments (i.e. China).

You may rest easy knowing I cannot be coerced into revealing that information, even under torture.

With my thanks for your service to the nation we both love,

Edward Snowden