Before Attack Govt. Asked Muslim Ministers To Shut Mosque Till After CHOGM

August 11, 2013 

Details are now emerging of a top cop approaching two senior Muslim Ministers last afternoon (10 August) to request them to close the new makeshift mosque in Grandpass until after the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to take place in Colombo in November, Colombo Telegraph learns.

DIG Anura Senanayeke

Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayeke had made the request although the motive of the senior police official is not clear.

Muslim Lawyers discussing the issue fear that it might be aimed at setting the stage for communal violence against the Muslim community once the summit is concluded.

DIG Senanayake, a close confidant of the upper echelons of the ruling regime has also telephoned several private media organisations, requesting them to provide adequate publicity to the activities of the Bodu Bala Sena movement.

Following several attacks on mosques in the country, the Bodu Bala Sena has always later denied their involvement.

It is also reported that despite objections raised by the Secretary to the Ministry of Difence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Bodu Bala Sena, Sinhala Ravaya and Ravana Balaya group, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has in writing issued permission to Muslim leaders to continue to use the new mosque building and prayer centre at Swarna Chaithya Road in Grandpass that was attacked last evening.Read More

Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre Attacked, Armed Forces Deployed

August 10, 2013 

Armed forces have been deployed in Grandpass after a well known masjid or Muslim prayer centre in the area 

was attacked a short while ago. Upto five people injured including two policemen so far, according to reports onsite.

According to eyewitnesses about 10 Buddhist monks suspected to be from the Ravana Balaya group, allegedly attacked the mosque despite the police guard.

The area remains tense after a few houses were also attacked on the Swarna Chaitya road in Grandpass where the mosque is situated.

The attack took place soon after Maghrib or evening prayers, sources told Colombo Telegraph.

The Ravana Balaya group called for its relocation within one month.  Security forces personnel have now been stationed around the mosque to assist the police to keep calm.

Update: Buddhist Monks Led Mob Attacked Muslim Prayer Centre: Bells In The Nearby Buddhist Temple Rang Out Before The Attack

August 10, 2013 

Residents say the temple bells in the nearby Buddhist temple rang out before the Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre attack took place this evening. The residents said the crowd of about 10 monks and at least 50 people gathered at the temple. Ravana Balaya has denied involvement in the attack and residents claim many of the monks were from the area temple.Upto five people injured including two policemen so far.

File Photo

The Ravana Balaya group called for its relocation within one month.  Security forces personnel have now been stationed around the mosque to assist the police to keep calm.

Related stories;

Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre Attacked By Buddhist Monks Led Mob, Armed Forces Deployed

Update: Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre Attack: Police Curfew Imposed

August 10, 2013 |

Police curfew imposed in the Grandpass area until 7 am tomorrow after two groups clashed in the area following an attack on a Muslim prayer centre in the area.

Armed forces have been deployed in Grandpass after a well known masjid or Muslim prayer centre in the area was attacked this evening.

Related posts;

Grandpass Muslim Prayer Centre Attacked, Armed Forces Deployed

Update: Buddhist Monks Led Mob Attacked Muslim Prayer Centre: Bells In The Nearby Buddhist Temple Rang Out Before The Attack

VIDEO: EID MUBARAK!

August 9, 2013  
Muslims in Sri Lanka celebrate the Ramadan festival today (August 9) while the picture depicts Muslim devotees gathered at Galle Face this morning for special prayers. Muslims in Eastern areas such as Kinniya, Eravur, Kattankudy, Batticaloa and Trincomalee celebrated the festival yesterday as they had spotted the Ramalan moon. (Pics by Sanjeewa Lasantha)

Father & son found from jungle 40 yrs after fleeing Vietnam War

SATURDAY, 10 AUGUST 2013 

A father and son have been found living in the jungle in Vietnam more than 40 years after they fled US bombing during the Vietnam War.

In 1971 Ho Van Thanh, now 82, fled into the jungle with his 2-year-old son after his wife and two other children were killed when their house was bombed during the Vietnam War, Thanh Nien News reports.

Scott Neuman of NPR reports that on Wednesday Thanh and Ho Van Lang, now in his forties, were coaxed out of their 20-foot-high tree house — which was stocked with arrows and other makeshift hunting tools — after surviving for decades on corn they cultivated in addition to fruits, wild rice, and cassava roots from the forest.

They were discovered after villagers who ventured about 25 miles into the forest alerted authorities after seeing two men wearing tree bark loin clothes.

Thanh, who has forgotten the mainstream Kinh language, had to be carried out of the jungle on a hammock because he was too weak to walk. The younger Ho only knows a few words of the local dialect.

Harriet Alexander of The Telegraph reports that another son of Thanh told Vietnamese media tracked down that he had discovered his father and brother 20 years ago but had not been able to persuade them to return to civilization.

"We know he wants to escape my house to go back to the forest, so we have to keep an eye on him now," Ho Van Tri, who was 6-months-old when his father fled with his brother, told local media.

Thanh Nien News notes that nearby was a field, which is about one hectare (2.47 acres), where they planted sugarcane and tobacco. The pair reportedly kept a small fire in the house and smoked tobacco to keep warm on cold days.

Thanh, who was fighting for North Vietnam when he fled, reportedly kept his soldier’s trousers neatly folded in a corner along with a little red coat his son was thought to have been wearing when they fled.

The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era conflict that claimed millions of military and civilian lives and left surviving soldiers and victims traumatised.

The Indochina War, centered in Vietnam, was the most intense aerial bombing campaign in history as it saw the U.S. Air Force drop a total of 6,162,000 tons of bombs, other ordnance, and chemical weapons from 1964 to August 15, 1973.(Agencies)



The father



The tree house

Taiwan watchdog says nuclear leak continues

Saturday, 10 August, 2013,

Associated Press in Taipei

• 

Protesters shout slogans with banners that read: "Stop the 4th nuclear power plant" in front of Legislative Yuan. Photo: AP

Taiwan’s government watchdog said a small leak at one of the island’s three nuclear power plants has yet to be halted 3 1/2 years after it started.

The report comes as the island’s legislature is mired in a debate on whether to hold a referendum on operating a fourth nuclear plant, scheduled to open in 2016.

Officials at the Shihmen plant, north of Taipei, say the leak cited by the watchdog body is condensate from vapor generated by routine maintenance and posed no threat to the environment or to plant staff.

Nuclear power is a lightning rod issue in Taiwan, particularly after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in nearby Japan.

The government of President Ma Ying-jeou wants to hold a referendum to get a green light to operate the fourth plant, where work is 90 percent completed. The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party says the US$9 billion (HK$70 million ) facility should be abandoned because it is unsafe.

Once Again, the United States Opposes Democracy

 by Andy Piascik

( August 8, 2013, Washington DC, Sri Lanka Guardian) Virtually alone among nations of the world, the United States refuses to recognize the election of Nicolas Maduro as president of Venezuela. This, unfortunately, has become the norm in international affairs: the U.S. standing alone, or occasionally with Israel, Saudia Arabia or Great Britain. Like a bully in a schoolyard, the U.S. whines, demanding that it get its way or else.

Or else. In this case, Or else could turn ominous for the people of Venezuela. They remember all too well that the U.S. instigated a coup that temporarily deposed the late Hugo Chavez, Maduro’s predecessor, in 2002. In the eleven years since, Washington has continued to fund opponents of the revolution and foment strikes, demonstrations and general unrest.

Once Again, The United States Opposes Democracy by nelvely

Violent Incidents in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka

Press Statement

Jen Psaki
Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

August 9, 2013

The United States is concerned by recent violent incidents, including shootings of unarmed protesters, in Weliweriya, Sri Lanka. We offer our condolences to the families of the deceased and injured, continue to urge all sides to exercise restraint, and urge the authorities to respect the right of peaceful protest.

We are particularly concerned by reports that protestors seeking refuge within a Catholic church were attacked there. There is never any excuse for violence, particularly in a house of worship.

We call for a thorough and transparent inquiry into all aspects of the Weliweriya violence, for those conclusions to be made public, and for there to be a credible mechanism to prosecute any wrongdoing.

Newsfirst_US 'concerned' about Weliweriya shooting that left three d

SL military bans devotional song at ancient Saiva temple in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Friday, 09 August 2013, 23:44 GMT]
The occupying Sri Lanka Army in the East has banned Saiva devotional songs authored by popular poet Puthuvai Ratnathurai, whose whereabouts are still not known after the occupying Sri Lankan military had him into custody during the final hours of the Vanni war in May 2009. The SL military personnel have warned the temple administration of the historic Siva temple Thaan-thoan'ri-eesvarar at Kokkaddichchoalai not to play the popular devotional song "Piddukku ma'n chumantha perumaanaar” on the temple loud-speakers or on at any occasion. Together with the popular song on Kokkaddich-choalai, TamilNet also releases a few other songs for the wider Tamil audience throughout the world. 



The song has been regularly relayed in the loudspeaker till the SL military recently instructed the temple administration not to play it any more. 

The song, which is a poem of Ratnathurai that has been rendered into voice by prominent Eezham Tamil singer SG Shanthan, is purely a devotional. 

The temple authorities have been recently instructed by the SL military not to play the devotional songs of the “LTTE era”. 

Several devotional songs were written by Poet Puthuvai Ratnathurai under the title ‘Koapura vaasal’ praising the glory of Thaanthaamalai Murukan Koayil, Ukanthai Murukan Koayil, Ea'raavoor Kaa'li Koayil, Maamaangkap-pi'l'laiyaar Koayil, Kokkaddich-choalai, Chiththaa'ndi Murukan Koayil, Ma'ndoor Murukan Koayil and Thiruk-koa'neasvaram temple. 

The ban and restrictions being placed on Saiva temples by the occupying Colombo and its military remind the people of Batticaloa of the colonial Portuguese and Dutch periods, Saiva devotees in Batticaloa say. 

During the Portuguese and Dutch periods, Saiva Koyils were destroyed and the colonial masters banned routine poojas and rituals. Today, more than five hundred Saiva temples have been destroyed in the East giving way to the construction of new Buddhist Viharas. Some Buddhist monks have removed the Pi'l'laiyaar statue from the Pillaiyar Koyil located at Punaanai where Sri Lanka Army has a cantonment.

The occupying military, constructing Buddha temples, is also allegedly behind the robberies in the temples after the Saiva devotees protested against the hostile act by the SL military in grabbing the lands belonging to Saiva temples in the East.

The Saiva devotees protesting against the ‘robberies’ taking place at Saiva temples have been threatened by the SL military. 

If the Saiva devotees attend the protests organised by Tamil parliamentarians from Batticaloa, they would face the same fate of the Sinhala residents of Welweriya in the Gampaha district where a student was shot dead by the SL military when the protestors ignored the ‘instructions’ of the ‘security forces’, the Sinhala military has warned the villagers in Batticaloa. 

The genocidal realities in the island have to get into the conscience of the people in India misled by the BJP-RSS-Shiv Sena lot and by the Indian media empires operated from Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai, said representatives of Saiva associations in the East.

Sri Lanka’s Black July: The Question Of Numbers

By Rajan Hoole -August 10, 2013

Rajan Hoole

Sri Lanka’s Black July – Part 11 -

Before we leave this chapter, we look at the question how many Tamils were killed during the July 1983 violence? Almost

every figure aroused controversy. Sarath Muttetuwegama pointed out that according to the censor 36 persons had been killed in Colombo on the 25th – the first day of violence – including 35 prisoners at Welikade! T.D.S.A. Dissanayaka gives a total of 471 Tamils killed including 227 in the Colombo District. Dr. M.S.L. Salgado, JMO Colombo, recalls that during that week about 283 bodies came to him for post mortem examination. Under the prevailing anarchy, we may take it that nearly all of them were victims of communal attacks.

Amirthalingam in speaking to the Tamil diaspora in New York just after July violence placed the number of Tamils killed at about 2000. After he became leader of the Opposition, Amirthalingam was generally painstakingly detailed and accurate. But in the South itself the attention of many shifted from the atrocious nature of the violence itself to a defensive cry that the Tamils (including Amirthalingam) were exaggerating and that Sri Lanka was being unfairly vilified. Take for example Dissanayaka’s remark: “Political opinion in Tamil Nadu ranging from the sublime to the ludicrous and the mass media was orchestrated against Sri Lanka. A hartal (stoppage of work) was observed on August 2nd.” It was as though such concern, which alone kept the local Tamils in hope then, was attempt to make Buddhism the key element in the Sinhalese identity while playing down caste. Today the most strident of Sinhalese publicists and scholars who move towards demonising the Tamils while eloquently holding out against political accommodation with them, come mainly from the service castes.

Read More

Part one - Sri Lanka’s Black July: Borella, 24th Evening

Part two - Sri Lanka’s Black July: What Really Happened At Kanatte?

Part three - Black July: ‘Api Suddha Kara’ – JR’s Failure To Declare Curfew

Part four - Sri Lanka’s Black July: The Cover Up

Part five -  30th July 1983: The Second Naxalite Plot

Part six  - Black July: The Testimony Of Lionel Bopage, Then General Secretary Of The JVP

Part seven - Black July: Thondaman & Muttetuwegama

Part eight - What Was Behind Tiger Friday – 29th July? -The Significance Of The Pettah

Part nine - Tamil Merchants In The Pettah – Post July 1983

Part ten –  Sri Lanka’s Black July: A Family’s Tragedy In Colombo

Part eleven –  Black July: A Note On Buddhism, Caste & The New Sinhalese Nationalism

*From Chapter 9 of  Rajan Hoole‘s “Sri Lanka: Arrogance of Power  - Myth, Decadence and Murder”. Thanks to Rajan for giving us permission to republish. To be continued..

Abuse of the Public Property: Land Ministry admits vehicle involved Naula clash belongs to them

09 August 2013 The vehicle (KH 0262) confiscated by the Naula police during a clash between the supporters of provincial council candidates Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon and Thilak Bandara at Naula on July 28 belongs to the Ministry of Lands, as stated by Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE,) admitted the Secretary to the Ministry of Lands, T. Asoka Peiris. Writing to the Executive Director, CaFFE, Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, Mr. Peiris said the above-mentioned vehicle ‘is one of the official vehicles assigned to Hon Minister of Land and non of the vehicles belonging to this Ministry has been released for election campaigns.’ However it is clear that although the vehicle was assigned to Minister of Lands, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, it was involved in the election campaigning of his son when the vehicle was confiscated by the police. In addition Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) has concrete evidence that a large number of vehicles from your ministry is engaged in campaigning in Matale using fake or garage number plates. In his letter the Secretary to the Ministry added that the Ministry is ‘adhering to all the regulations and circulars’ issued by the Commissioner of Elections, however the manner in which the above mentioned vehicle has been used in Matale clearly violates several circulars issued by the commissioner  (http://www.slelections.gov.lk/pce2013_Circulars.html.) In addition the   Commissioner of Elections has issued a circular (August 6) stating that apart from two vehicles of the Presidential Security Division (PSD,) no minister or ministerial staff members can engage in campaigning or use unregistered or ministerial vehicles in the three provinces where elections are held. Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, Executive Director, CaFFE 0777791225

Tamils: Broker Politics Or Democratic Action?

By S Sathananthan -August 9, 2013 |

Dr. S Sathananthan

The more incisive comments on my previous posting, The Meanings of Wigneswaran, raise several, inter-related issues that have been central to the Tamil Question and still bedevil action. This writing responds to and builds on them and attempts to probe further.

It is necessary at the outset to clarify an unfortunate misreading in one comment, that my arguments envisage ‘a need to fight the regime’. It’s ludicrous on my part to suggest Tamils ought to ‘fight’ the regime. That vocabulary belongs to theLTTE era.

Instead I strongly underlined, ‘the utterly desperate need today is to campaign and mobilise’ Tamils. Campaigning and mobilising are universally recognised democratic activities; they are integral to the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of expression. It’s a pity these long established, legitimate avenues for peoples’ participation are interpreted in the LTTE idiom of ‘fight’ (5 times) and ‘force’ (twice) in that comment.

The time-tested power of the people is not our discovery. Tamil politicians paid lip service to peoples’ power during the Ilankai Tamil Arasuk Katchi’s (ITAK) 1961 Satyagraha. The new-and-improved Tamil United Liberation Front’s (TULF) 1976 Vaddukkoddai Resolution called ‘the Tamil Nation in general and the Tamil youth in particular to come forward to throw themselves fully into the sacred fight for freedom’. The LTTE andV.Pirapaharan took the urging to heart and, no doubt dismayed by the impotence of Tamil parliamentary politics, had launched mass armed resistance.Read More

When Will They Break Their Silence Again?

By S. V. Kirubaharan -August 10, 2013 

S. V. Kirubaharan

Often, the question is raised internationally about Sri Lanka giving the foremost place for Buddhism and making it the state’s duty to protect and foster Buddhah Sasann (Sri Lanka’s constitution – Chapter 2 – article 9).Buddhist diplomats reply that Articles 10 and 14 (1) (e) of the same constitution allow others the freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of their choice and permit them to worship in public or private. But is the freedom and inclusiveness conveyed in Articles 10 and 14 (1) (e) evident in the true situation in Sri Lanka?

On 9 March 2013, President Rajapaksa’s brother, the Defence SecretaryGotabhaya Rajapaksa was the chief guest at a ceremony of an extreme nationalist Buddhist organisation known as Bodu Bala Sena – BBS (Buddhist Strength Force). In this ceremony Gotabhaya said that the Buddhist Monks are those who protect Sri Lanka, Buddhists and the Sinhala race! BBS claims that Sri Lanka is a “Sinhala-Buddhist nation” where the Christians, Muslims and Tamils have no place. Presently Sri Lanka is experiencing saffron rule backed by the Rajapaksas.

In fact, authentic Buddhism abstains from killings, protects living creatures and promotes loving-kindness. Hatred has no place. If the Buddha’s preaching were practised in Sri Lanka, there would not have been two consecutive resolutions by the UN Human Rights Council – UN HRC. Also the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights – HCHR would not be visiting Sri Lanka in another 3 weeks.     Read More

Army welcomes Tamil children to new pre-school
09 August 2013

Children at the Kattudai Vinayagar pre-school in Maanipay were welcomed by the Sri Lankan military into their new building - build courtesy of the army too. The military's Civil Coordination in Jaffna said the Tamil children were "blessed" for this.

The Canadian Tamil Congress applauds the choice of C. V. Wigneswaran as TNA' s Chief Minister candidate

August 8, 2013

The Canadian Tamil Congress applauds the choice of C. V. Wigneswaran as TNA' s Chief Minister candidate

The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) is delighted at the choice of former justice C. V. Wigneswaran as the Chief Minister candidate of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) for the Northern Province in the upcoming Provincial Council election.

From his beginnings as a prominent Tamil lawyer, to his position as a Supreme Court judge, and now as a politician, Justice Wigneswaran brings a number of years of judicial experience. His expertise in the field of constitutional law and his ability to articulate local issues, as well as connect to Tamils everywhere, means his candidacy is unmatched by his opponents.

In addition to being an excellent judge, Justice Wigneswaran is an ardent advocate of many of the issues faced by Tamils and CTC is confident that his candidacy will help the TNA win a strong mandate in the upcoming Northern Provincial election. "As the Chief Minister candidate of the TNA, we could not have asked for a better person," said David Poopalapillai, National Spokesperson for the Canadian Tamil Congress. "Under the TNA and Justice Wigneswaran's leadership, we are very confident that both will emerge victorious in the September elections, so long as the elections remain a fair and democratic process."

CTC urges the Tamil population in the North to exercise their democratic right and take part in the September election, to send a decisive and unambiguous message to the Sri Lankan government and the international community. We also urge Tamils in every part of the world to show their support, in any form possible, for Justice Wigneswaran's candidacy and the victory of the TNA.

For more information contact: (416) 240-0078.