Unforgettable! Yes, She Is !! - Kusal Perera
- Wednesday, 11 September 2013
Kusal Perera
Peace for the World
First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Kusal Perera
Commonwealth to observe Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council Elections
The Commonwealth
The Commonwealth is to observe Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council Elections, Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma announced today. A Commonwealth Observation Mission will be deployed for the 21 September elections. Former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka of Kenya will lead the mission.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General constituted the mission at the invitation of Sri Lanka’s Commissioner of Elections.
"These are landmark elections in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province," the Secretary-General said. "It is my hope that they will proceed peacefully and be held on a level playing field, in an environment where the electors can freely exercise their franchise," he added.
The Commonwealth Observer Mission’s mandate is to observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process and assess compliance with the standards for democratic elections to which Sri Lanka has committed itself. Where appropriate, the mission may also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework.
Commonwealth observer missions act impartially and independently and conduct themselves according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, to which the Commonwealth is a signatory.
The mission will submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Office of the Commissioner of Elections, relevant Sri Lankan political parties and eventually to all Commonwealth governments.
The four-member mission will be in Sri Lanka from the 14 to 28 September and be based mainly in Jaffna. A three-person team deployed from the Commonwealth Secretariat will support the mission. Mr Martin Kasirye, Head of the Democracy Section of the Secretariat’s Political Affairs Division, will lead this support team.
Mission Composition
Mr Kalonzo Musyoka (Chair)
Former Vice President
Republic of Kenya
Former Vice President
Republic of Kenya
Ms Jenni McMullan
Former Electoral Officer for Victoria
Australia
Former Electoral Officer for Victoria
Australia
Dr Shamsul Huda
Former Chief Election Commissioner
Bangladesh
Former Chief Election Commissioner
Bangladesh
Ms Examin Philbert
Secretary, Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities Saint Lucia
Secretary, Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities Saint Lucia
Back To Barracks Necessary For Free And Fair NPC Elections
Dr. Laksiri Fernando
After an end of a war or a comprehensive peace agreement (CPA), ‘decommissioning and demobilization’ are considered crucially important for sustainable peace. These are universally accepted principles although the Sri Lankan ‘rulers,’ though elected formally, have some contempt about them, for reasons best known to them.
Instead of asking as far as ‘decommissioning or demobilization,’ the TNA Parliamentary Group Leader and the President of ITAK, R Sampanthan, has requested the President “to take steps to confine the military to the barracks and remove the biggest obstacle to the conduct of a free and fair poll on the 21st of September” for the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).
The government may be commended for holding the elections to the NPC, at last, although it should have been done ‘soon’ after the end of the war in May 2009. This is what was done in the Eastern Province, after the area was cleared from the LTTE menace. Even ‘how soon’ could have been flexible, but holding it long after almost four and half years is not good for reconciliation or sustainable peace. If it was held within a year, the situation could have been entirely different.
It is possible that the extreme chauvinist forces such as the JHU within the government was holding back the President, perhaps connivance with the Defense Secretary, not to hold the elections as clear from their stance on the now aborted 19th Amendment to abolish the 13th Amendment altogether. Now they have withdrawn from the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) in finding a ‘constitutional solution’ to the controversy. The decisive factor in holding the NPC elections undoubtedly is the international pressure whether one likes it or not.
Same goes for the military control of the North, not to speak of ‘decommissioning and demobilization’ for a moment. The ‘defense establishment’ takes considerable pains to explain to the international community and/or the UN about the military withdrawals from the North. However, the two terms – decommissioning and demobilization – have never entered into their vocabulary. ‘Decommissioning’ means the withdrawal of the military from active engagement in public affairs (i.e. law and order) and ‘demobilization’ means the gradual reduction of armed forces from a war situation to a peace situation.Read More
The northern election and historical stumbling blocks
September 12, 2013
- nThe weight of political memory is proving a crushing force in the island’s north and south, as the country prepares for one of its most significant elections since the end of the war. Will Sri Lanka’s political baggage result in the loss of a major opportunity to move forward?
Earlier this week, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa made what was possibly the most remarkable ruling party promise yet during its electioneering in the Northern Province.Thus far, UPFA election speeches have been confined to pleas of gratitude for liberation from the LTTE and post-war reconstruction, coupled with dire warnings about the ulterior motives of the Tamil National Alliance, which is likely to claim victory in the 21 September poll. Minister Rajapaksa struck a different note.
The Northern Election and Historical Stumbling Blocks by nelvely
The TNA’s ‘Hardline’ Manifesto
Malinda Seneviratne
There is a time-tested formula to obtain the optimum in any engagement. It was proposed first by the All-Knowing and All-Seeing, the Buddha Siddhartha Gauthama. The doctrine is contained in two ideas: compassion and wisdom. Applicable to all, this formula offers the best instruments to dissect and respond to the manifesto recently put out by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Promising sun, moon, stars and everything underneath is part and parcel of manifestos. If, as Lee Kwan Yew once said, democracy in Sri Lanka is but the periodic auctioning of non-existent resources, the TNA cannot be faulted for promising the undeliverable.
The TNA manifesto pledges a commitment to a separate state in no uncertain terms. The deliverability aside, there are several reasons why such a manifesto makes sense, politically that is, for the TNA. There is no Tamil country in this world. As such, the promise has appeal, albeit to the less-critical and baser instincts of the Tamil community. It need not be a place, even if obtained, that someone in Colombo or Toronto, for example, would ever inhabit, but it is certainly an idea that is warm enough to warrant support.
Then there is also the issue of belonging. The distance between the powerful and the powerless is such that few can actually relate with heart and soul to rulers. A Sinhalese being President does not make all Sinhalese feel safer. A woman president doesn’t automatically emancipate women from patriarchal fetters. Given decades of deliberate mis-education by communalist leaders, a war where primarily Sinhala soldiers fought an outfit made of Tamils and failure to address real, felt grievances (never mind the inflations of the same), that sense of un-belonging can be expected to be more acute in a Tamil. The TNA manifesto, therefore, is something that the Tamil voter could salute, never mind the fact that it echoes the Vadukoddai Resolution and the anger, violence, misery, death, destruction and dismemberment it precipitated. Manifesto-scribblers are tasked to script documents that rake in the votes. They don’t have to deal with the fall out. Responsibility is not their referent framework. Read More
TNA not concerned
By Ananth Palakidnar-Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
By Ananth Palakidnar-Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran, reiterating that the TNA's Northern Provincial Council election manifesto was prepared in a manner to uphold the right of self-determination of the Tamils and to preserve the integrity of the country, said the Alliance is not concerned about the withdrawal of the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) from the special Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) citing the TNA's manifesto as the reason.
Sumanthiran told Ceylon Today, the TNA's manifesto highlighted its political aspirations within the framework of the Constitution of the country.
"First of all, I would like to mention the TNA was aware about the attitudes of the political parties in the calibre of the JHU. That's why the Alliance did not even take part in the PSC. The JHU is vehemently opposed to the 13th Amendment. Therefore, they were looking for an opportunity to keep away from the special PSC on the amendment. However, they had cited the TNA's manifesto as the reason for the withdrawal from the special PSC. Hence, the TNA has nothing to comment about the JHU's present move. The TNA has the freedom to prepare its own manifesto.
The manifesto emphasizes the political aspirations of the Tamils, while upholding the integrity of the country. The manifesto does not contain anything new and they are the outcome of the past political struggle of the Tamils in the country. Therefore, if the JHU cannot understand the TNA's manifesto the Alliance cannot help it. Nothing has been mentioned about the division of the country or anything against the Constitution of the country. So, the JHU's announcement on taking action against the manifesto is ridiculous," Sumanthiran said.
TNA candidate Ananthi narrowly escapes from attack in Jaffna
[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 September 2013, 10:21 GMT]The only woman candidate of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in Jaffna district in the forthcoming provincial council elections, Ms Ananthi Sasitharan, narrowly escaped from an attack by alleged Sri Lankan military operatives, who followed her van in a motorbike and a military-like vehicle on KKS Road from Chunnaakam to Ainthu-chanthi, a five-road junction in the suburb of Jaffna on Tuesday. The alleged military operatives got off at the junction and threw a large stone targeting Ms Ananthi, but she ducked as her driver took a turn away from the attackers. The attack comes on the same day as Navi Pillay at Geneva expressed concern for the protection of human rights defenders, journalists and communities she met during her visit from any reprisal, intimidation or attack. Meanwhile, the TNA has demanded confinement of the occupying SL military before the elections.
In the meantime, TNA politicians engaged in election campaign said vehicle owners were reluctant to hire vehicles to TNA politicians as their vehicles are being targeted by SL military operatives.
Ms Ananthi was on her way back from election campaign and passed through Chunnaakam where SL presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa was engaged in election campaign. The alleged SL military operatives who spotted Ananthi’s vehicle followed her from Chunnaakam.
Ananthi Sasistharan, a mother of three, represents war widows and the families of missing persons. She personally witnessed Sri Lankan military taking away her husband, Mr Elilan, a political leader of the LTTE, at the end the Vanni War in May 2009.
In the meantime, SL presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa who has been in Jaffna for the past 4 days was telling the public not to raise the issues of missing persons and the continuous occupation of High Security Zone (HSZ) during the elections.
Also, the former SL military commander, Sarath Fonseka, competing against the UPFA said no hardcore LTTE members had been handed over or surrendered to the SL military during the final hours. There were no key commanders or important members of the LTTE among those who were detained by the SL military under his command and that all those who were in detention were accounted for, he said, indirectly hinting the journalists not to expect any important LTTE members alive in SL custody.
TN students threaten to 'unmask' Wigneswaran
By Sulochana Ramiah Mohan-Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
The Student Movement of Tamil Nadu yesterday threatened to unmask former Supreme Court Justice, C.V. Wigneswaran, soon.
"He is joining the Sri Lankan Government to set up a united Sri Lanka, whereas the Tamils want an Eelam," one of the students told Ceylon Today. The Students Movement also alleged, the man who says he will get justice to the Tamils, has now joined the government to work for them as a kooli.
"We will unmask him and let the world know who he is. In the similar way we have politically destroyed DMK Chief M.K. Karunanidhi, we will destroy whoever becomes the Chief Minister of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka," one protester said in anger.
"If you want a separate State, you should not go for a PC election and if they do it, it's an injustice to the Tamils," he added.
Another student queried, "Is it for a man like Wigneswaran the Tamils sacrificed their lives?" The students also alleged the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) will try to 'unite Sri Lanka,' if they win the forthcoming NPC elections.
The students are also expected to hold a 325-kilometre long cycle protest, in a bid to protest against holding the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2013) in Sri Lanka and to collect funds to support the Sri Lankan refugee students in Tamil Nadu, with students parading in nearly 1,000 cycles starting from Trichy and ending in Chennai from 13 to 23 September.
The Indian student movement recently held a protest against the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka and calling on the Commonwealth Secretariat to change the venue and hold the CHOGM elsewhere.
Editorial-September 10, 2013
The Jathika Hela Urumaya has pulled out of the Parliamentary Select Committee to Recommend and Report on Political and Constitutional Measures to Empower the People of Sri Lanka to Live as One Nation, claiming that no conclusions have been reached prior to the forthcoming provincial council elections. Minister Wimal Weerawansa’s National Freedom Front has also threatened to follow suit as it thinks the PSC has not yet got down to brass tacks. With the Opposition parties refusing to participate and the government allies voting with their feet, the PSC will have work cut out in accomplishing its mission.
There is a misconception that Sri Lanka is beset with only a single national issue—ethnic disharmony. It is, no doubt, a vexed problem of gargantuan proportions and a solution must be found if bloody conflicts are to be prevented for the sake of future generations. But, we should not lose sight of other problems.
We reported quoting a senior doctor yesterday that suicide had accounted for more deaths than the war. About 106,000 Sri Lankans had committed suicide from 1985 to 2000, our report said. But, mental health is generally neglected as could be seen from the severe dearth of psychiatrists in the public health sector. There are only 50 of them for a population of 22 million. Most of them are said to be in Colombo and Kandy. There is also a shortage of psychologists and counsellors.
Only a few schools offer counselling to students though they are in the most suicide-prone age group (15-35). There have been instances where schoolchildren committed suicide out of desperation as they were without anyone to turn to. The education authorities should give serious thought to training as many teachers as possible in counselling so that help will be readily available to children at school.
The government has embarked on an ambitious project to rid the country of dangerous drugs and apparently made some progress in its battle. But, there are many other things children should be protected against. Among them are harmful fast foods and chronic stress which has reduced children to nervous wrecks. Diabetes is prevalent among schoolchildren who are also stressed out due to tough examinations where they are tested not for what they know but for what they don’t. No wonder they are suicidal! It is time the education and health authorities who render a commendable service by conducting school health programmes started testing students’ stress levels as well because they are associated with serious illnesses.
Road accidents, too, have caused the country to bleed just like the war which is thankfully a thing of the past. During the last three decades over 40,000 people have been killed and 68,440 others seriously injured in 1,120,848 traffic accidents. In 2011, 225 schoolchildren were killed in road mishaps and 4,100 others critically injured. In 2010, about 223 children were killed and 3,400 others sustained serious injuries. Regrettably, precious little is being done to reverse this dangerous trend. Dengue now destroys a fewer number of lives, but its prevention receives more attention than the efforts to eliminate causes of road deaths.
Many such problems exist but, strangely, successive governments have chosen to ignore them while pretending to grapple with the so-called national question. It is high time lawmakers addressed them, especially suicide and road accidents, without wasting any more time.
Northern Governor campaigning for UPFA
Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
The participation of the Governor of the Northern Province, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, in election propaganda work and the use of more than 500 government officials used for campaigning by the ruling UPFA, have been reported to the Commissioner of Elections by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) as some of the instances of gross violation of rules by public officials in the run up to the Provincial Election in the North.
The TISL submitted a documentary proof, including photographs in the possession of the Programme to Protect Public Resources (PPPR).
The TISL said: The Governor of the Northern Province had addressed an election meeting in support of the UPFA candidate held at a community hall in Puttur in the Kopay Electoral District on 7 September 2013.
On 6 September, a meeting of government trade union representatives had been held at the cultural centre belonging to the Vavuniya Urban Council, where five UPFA candidates had addressed Samurdhi officers, and staff members of Road Development Authority, Irrigation Department, SLTB and Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation. They had been granted official leave to participate in the meeting where nearly 500 had participated.
The Samurdhi Officer of North Mamadu Grama Niladhari Division in Vavuniya had held an election meeting on 8 September at the 'Senathilavu' Pre-School. He had held a meeting at the same venue on 3 September, as well. The Elections Commissioner has been informed that clause 5 (ii) of his circular PCE/2013-06 issued on 13th July has been violated by providing 409 public officials with distress loans amounting to a sum of Rs 47 million. The NP Governor had participated at this event along with other public officials.
Twenty officials belonging to the Economic Development Ministry office in the Kilinochchi District Secretariat had come in two official vehicles for election work supporting the UPFA candidate Vijaya Krishna. The vehicle numbers are PB 9571 and GO 4760.
The CWE building at Kilinochchi is being used to display posters and election advertisements.
The UPFA candidates contesting the Kilinochchi District is featured in a huge pandal erected across the main highway at Kilinochchi town.
A UPFA candidate is displaying his banners at the Mutuvinayagar community library on the Nallur Road.
Govt Ran Ads To Influence Postal Voting: Polls Monitors
September 12, 2013
Independent election monitors have written to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya slamming the Public Administration Ministry for running a full page advertisement entitled Abhiman Mehewara or ‘Proud Service’ aimed at public servants on September 9 saying it aimed to influence public servants during two days of postal voting.
P.B. Abeykoon, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs
In a letter to the Commissioner, the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said the advertisement had featured themes, colours and symbols of the ruling party and was a clear attempt to promote the UPFA.
The advertisement was estimated to cost about Rs. 200,000 and was published in the Lankadeepa newspaper, CaFFE said. Published by the Public Administration Ministry with a picture of the Ministry Secretary, the advertisement was paid for by the Ministry using the peoples’ tax money, CaFFE told the Elections Commissioner in a letter.
“The advertisement published on the day postal voting commenced targets public servants and was an attempt to influence public servants,” the polls monitors charged in a media release.
The polls monitors have called on the Elections Commissioner to consider charging the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration personally for this advertisement.
By Shamindra Ferdinando-September 10, 2013, 9:39 pm
The TNA’s controversial manifesto calling for self-governance in a re-merged North-Eastern Province was just propaganda meant to draw voters as all those contesting the first Northern PC polls, on the TNA ticket, had furnished a letter each to the Elections Secretariat reiterating their commitment to the unitary status of the country in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule’ of the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, Election Department sources said.
The then President J. R. Jayewardene introduced the Sixth Amendment on August 8, 1983 in the wake of the outbreak of Eelam War I.
Elections Department officials said that the ‘Seventh Schedule’ was applicable to all elections, including the presidential.
Each contestant had to reaffirm that he/she will uphold and defend the Constitution and won’t directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, support, espouse, promote, finance, encourage or advocate the establishment of a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka.
Responding to a query by The Island, sources pointed out that the TNA had, like any other political party in the fray, furnished letters guaranteeing their allegiance to the Constitution. Against that background, the much publicised TNA’s manifesto became irrelevant. Those who had voiced grave concern over the TNA manifesto had conveniently forgotten that whatever MP R. Sampanthan’s party propagated, it too, was committed to unitary status.
The TNA’s commitment to the Sixth Amendment had made the manifesto irrelevant, sources said.
The Elections Secretariat recently rejected nominations of seven candidates of an Independent group, contesting from the Kilinochchi District, on the basis that the document bearing the ‘Seventh Schedule of the Constitution had not been properly signed by one candidate who had lost his index finger due to the war.
Three disabled war victims and four others who had their nominations to contest the Northern Provincial Council polls rejected, have complained to the Court of Appeal that the aforesaid rejection by the Returning Officer for Kilinochchi was mala fide and arbitrary.
The petitioners are K. Dharmalingam and six others from Kilinochchi District.
Additional Elections Commissioner U. Amaradasa told The Island that whatever the circumstances, all candidates would have to fulfil the obligations in accordance with the ‘Seventh Schedule.’
Calling for the re-merger of the Eastern Province with the Northern Province, the TNA declared that the devolution of power should be on the basis of shared sovereignty, necessarily over land, law and order, socio-economic development including health and education, resources and fiscal powers
The TNA said: "To achieve the above including self-reliance it is imperative that we need self-government. We have set out a two-stage constitutional process to secure this. Whilst we do our utmost to play a positive role in promoting self-government for the Tamil-speaking people in the North-East, we will carry on with our political negotiations for meaningful sharing of powers of governance. We cannot emphasise more the immediate necessity for a democratically elected body with legislative, executive and fiscal powers — to take over those functions of governance rightly belonging to us."
Responding to a query by The Island, Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya said that all political parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had to accept the ‘Seventh Schedule.’ Although the Northerners would be voting at provincial council polls for the first time on September 21, the ‘Seventh Schedule’ had applied to all elections for over two decades, Deshapriya said.
TNA manifesto irks Ravana Balaya’
WEDNESDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2013
The ‘Ravana Balaya’ organisation today handed over a petition to the Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya at the Elections Secretariat in protest over theTamil National Alliance (TNA). ‘Ravana Balaya’ said the TNA manifesto was a threat to the ethnic harmony in the country. Pix by Nisal Baduge
Call for suspension of polls in North
By Stanley Samarasinghe-Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
General Secretary of the Sinhala Jathika Peramuna, Jayantha Liyanage, of Kurunegala yesterday filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal, seeking an Interim Order to suspend the Provincial Council election in the North. The petitioner cited the Commissioner of Elections and the returning officers in the North as respondents. The petitioner argued, the demining process is yet to be completed in the North and the Sinhala and Muslim communities, who were residing in the province before the war broke out, have not been resettled in the province.
Without resolving these two issues, it is not reasonable to hold a provincial election, the petitioner stated. The petitioner also pointed out that the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the region were driven out from the Northern Province during the war.
Therefore, the petitioner stated, the election should not be held without resolving the two aforementioned issues and requested the Court to issue an interim order suspending the election in the Northern Province.
The petitioner also sought a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to suspend the election.
Liyanage filed the application for the second time, after the Court pointed out that his previous application consisted of technical errors and gave time to amend the petition.
By Stanley Samarasinghe-Wednesday, 11 Sep 2013
General Secretary of the Sinhala Jathika Peramuna, Jayantha Liyanage, of Kurunegala yesterday filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal, seeking an Interim Order to suspend the Provincial Council election in the North. The petitioner cited the Commissioner of Elections and the returning officers in the North as respondents. The petitioner argued, the demining process is yet to be completed in the North and the Sinhala and Muslim communities, who were residing in the province before the war broke out, have not been resettled in the province.
Without resolving these two issues, it is not reasonable to hold a provincial election, the petitioner stated. The petitioner also pointed out that the Sinhala and Muslim communities in the region were driven out from the Northern Province during the war.
Therefore, the petitioner stated, the election should not be held without resolving the two aforementioned issues and requested the Court to issue an interim order suspending the election in the Northern Province.
The petitioner also sought a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to suspend the election.
Liyanage filed the application for the second time, after the Court pointed out that his previous application consisted of technical errors and gave time to amend the petition.
[ புதன்கிழமை, 11 செப்ரெம்பர் 2013, 04:25.29 AM GMT ]
லோகநாதன் மருதையாவினால் சேகரிக்கப்பட்ட புகைப்படங்களின் காட்சி எதிர்வரும் 15ம் திகதி வரையும், அதன் பின்னர் 23ம் திகதியிலிருந்து 27ம் திகதி வரையிலும் இடம்பெறும் என ஏற்பாட்டாளர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.
இலங்கையில் படுகொலை செய்யப்பட்ட தமிழ் அரசியல் தலைவர்கள், ஊடகவியலாளர்கள், பொதுமக்கள் ஆகியோரின் புகைப்படங்களும் விமான குண்டுவீச்சினால் கொல்லப்பட்ட சடலங்களின் காட்சிகளும் இதில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளன.
இனப்படுகொலையை விபரிக்கும் இப்புகைப்படங்களை ஐ.நா.மனித உரிமை பேரவை கூட்டத்தொடரில் கலந்து கொள்ள வந்திருக்கும் உலக நாடுகளின் பிரதிநிதிகளும் ஜெனிவாவில் உள்ள பொதுமக்களும் பார்வையிட்டு வருகின்றனர்.
இதேவேளை, இப்புகைப்பட கண்காட்சியை தடை செய்யுமாறு ஜெனிவாவில் உள்ள இலங்கைத் தூதரகம் ஜெனிவா பொலிஸாரை கோரியுள்ளனர்.
இது பொய்யான புகைப்படங்கள் என ஜெனிவாவில் உள்ள இலங்கைப் பிரதிநிதிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.
ஏற்கனவே பொலிஸாரின் அனுமதி வழங்கியிருந்த போதிலும் நேற்றுக் காலையில் அங்கு வந்த பொலிஸார், கூடாரம் ஒன்றிற்குள் இந்தப் புகைப்படங்களை வைக்குமாறும், கோரமான காட்சிகளைக் கொண்ட புகைப்படங்களை அதிலிருந்து அகற்றுமாறும் தெரிவித்ததாக இதன் ஏற்பாட்டாளரான மருதையா தெரிவித்தார்.
இப்புகைப்படக் காட்சி காலை 7.30மணி தொடக்கம் மாலை 6.00 மணி வரை இடம்பெற்று வருகிறது.
ஜெனிவாவில் இனப்படுகொலையை விளக்கும் புகைப்படக் கண்காட்சி
ஜெனிவாவில் ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமை பேரவையின் 24ஆவது கூட்டத்தொடர் ஆரம் பமாகியுள்ள நிலையில் ஐ.நா. முன்றலில் ஈழத்தமிழர்கள் மீது இலங்கை அரசு நடத்திய இனப் படுகொலையை விளக்கும் புகைப்பட கண்காட்சி நடத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது.
- See more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=463522288311649698#sthash.4S5ZtrOZ.dpuf
ஜெனிவாவில் ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமை பேரவையின் 24ஆவது கூட்டத்தொடர் ஆரம் பமாகியுள்ள நிலையில் ஐ.நா. முன்றலில் ஈழத்தமிழர்கள் மீது இலங்கை அரசு நடத்திய இனப் படுகொலையை விளக்கும் புகைப்பட கண்காட்சி நடத்தப்பட்டு வருகிறது.
லோகநாதன் மருதையாவினால் சேகரிக்கப்பட்ட புகைப்படங்களின் காட்சி எதிர்வரும் 15ஆம் திகதி வரையும் அதன் பின்னர் 23ஆம் திகதியிலிருந்து 27 ஆம் திகதிவரையிலும் இடம்பெறும் என ஏற்பாட்டாளர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.
இலங்கையில் படுகொலை செய் யப்பட்ட தமிழ் அரசியல் தலை வர்கள், ஊடகவியலாளர்கள், பொதுமக்கள் ஆகியோரின் புகைப்படங்களும் விமான குண்டுவீச்சினால் கொல்லப்பட்ட சடலங்களின் காட்சிகளும் இதில் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளன.
இனப்படுகொலையை விபரிக்கும் இப்புகைப்படங்களை ஐ.நா.மனித உரிமை பேரவை கூட்டத்தொடரில் கலந்து கொள்ள வந்திருக்கும் உலக நாடுகளின் பிரதிநிதிகளும் ஜெனிவாவில் உள்ள பொதுமக்களும் பார்வையிட்டு வருகின்றனர்.
இதேவேளை, இப்புகைப்பட கண்காட்சியை தடை செய்யு மாறு ஜெனிவாவில் உள்ள இலங்கை தூதரகம் ஜெனிவா பொலிஸாரை கோரியுள்ளனர்.
இது பொய்யான புகைப்படங்கள் என ஜெனிவாவில் உள்ள இலங்கைப் பிரதிநிதிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். ஏற்கனவே பொலிஸாரின் அனுமதி வழங்கியிருந்த போதிலும் நேற்றுக் காலையில் அங்கு வந்த பொலிஸார் கூடாரம் ஒன்றிற்குள் இந்தப் புகைப்படங்களை வைக்குமாறும், கோரமான காட்சிகளைக் கொண்ட புகைப்படங்களை அதிலிருந்து அகற்றுமாறும் தெரிவித்ததாக இதன் ஏற்பாட்டாளரான மருதையா தெரிவித்தார்.
இப்புகைப்படக் காட்சி காலை 7.30மணி தொடக்கம் மாலை 6மணி வரை இடம்பெற்று வருகிறது.
How will India facilitate a credible and independent investigation in Sri Lanka
- - on 09/11/2013
While domestic politics took centre stage in Delhi this past March with the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) pulling out of the ruling coalition, far away from the mêlée, at the UN Human Rights Council’s (HRC) 22nd session in Geneva the Indian representative made some very interesting remarks which gave us an insight into what the Government of India thought of the human rights and reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. Not known for radically scrutinising statements on the international stage, India quietly registered its dismay at the lack of progress made by Sri Lanka since its commitments at the Council in 2009. While urging Sri Lanka to implement recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), India also made a strong call for an “independent and credible investigation into allegations of human rights violations and loss of civilian lives”. The Indian representative added that such measures should be “to the satisfaction of the international community”.
Land grabs constitute ethnic cleansing - Pasumai Thaayagam
Tamil Guardian 10 September 2013
Tamil Guardian 10 September 2013
In a report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council, Chennai-based NGO Pasumai Thaayagam warned of “a complete ethnic cleansing of the Tamils from their traditional homeland”.
The report on land grabs in the Northeast urged the UNHRC to appoint a special rapporteur to investigate the “systematic land grabs” in the traditionally Tamil Northeast.
The report on land grabs in the Northeast urged the UNHRC to appoint a special rapporteur to investigate the “systematic land grabs” in the traditionally Tamil Northeast.
Pasumai Thaayagam said in the report:
“Land grabs constitute serious structural violence, which, if left unaddressed, could threaten the chances of achieving a sustainable peace. Structural violence, with its associated consequences—such as violence mass atrocities, demographic changes, militarisation of Tamil territories, forcible evictions, internal displacements, extinction of cultural values of Tamils, denial of food, livelihood disasters, and irreversible damages to the environment—will lead to a complete ethnic cleansing of the Tamils from their traditional homeland.”
See here for full report.
SRI LANKA: Lanka becomes freedom from torture's top country of origin for referrals
September 11, 2013
As revealed by our recently published 2012/13 Annual Review, Sri Lanka surged ahead to become the top country of origin for those referred to Freedom from Torture for clinical services in 2012.
Of 1,301 people referred to us for torture rehabilitation and forensic documentation services in 2012, 228 were of Sri Lankan nationality. The vast majority of these were ethnic Tamils and most were referred to us by concerned GPs or solicitors representing them in their asylum claims.
Our Medico Legal Report Service, which documents physical and psychological evidence of torture, produced more expert reports for Sri Lankans than for any other nationality during 2012 and the first quarter of 2013. We produced 79 Medico-Legal Reports for Sri Lankan survivors of torture in this period, compared with a total of 110 reports prepared for Sri Lankans in 2010-2011.
These alarming statistics mean that for the first time in years, Sri Lanka has replaced Iran at the top of the shameful table that tallies the country of origin for the thousands referred to us each year for clinical services here in the UK.
These figures bear testimony to Sri Lanka's disturbing record of torture, a record that remains dire despite the end of the civil war in May 2009. Only this week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, issued a hard-hitting statement, chastising the Sri Lankan government following a fact-finding mission to the country.
Ms Pillay noted that "although the fighting is over, the suffering is not" and said she was "deeply concerned that Sri Lanka, despite the opportunity provided by the end of the war to construct a new vibrant all-embracing state, is showing signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction."
Ms Pillay also lamented the "profound trauma" among survivors of the conflict and the relatives of the missing and the dead. She noted the "desperate need for counselling and psychosocial support" in northern Sri Lanka and condemned restrictions on NGOs working in this sector.
Keith Best, Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture, said:
"We welcome the High Commissioner's recognition that peace in Sri Lanka has been undermined by an increasingly authoritarian government and that grieving communities continue to suffer on the island.
Large numbers of Sri Lankan torture victims, most of them Tamil, are still coming to Freedom from Torture for rehabilitation and other clinical services and our doctors attest that many were tortured long after the government declared victory in the civil war. In 2012 alone, 228 Sri Lankans were referred to us, more than any other nationality. Sri Lanka was also the top country of origin for torture survivors whose injuries were documented by our world-renowned medico-legal report service. The UN Human Rights Council must stand ready to take tougher action when it meets to discuss the situation next March."
Deconstructing The Pillay Visit And Report
Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha MP
I noted earlier that the visit of Navanethem Pillay should be seen as an opportunity by the Sri Lankan government, and the way the visit went, as well as the statement she made, confirms this view. Of course we had to contend with the fact that not all the advice she received was constructive, but the manner in which she reversed her earlier intention to lay flowers at Mullivaikkal indicates that she herself wanted to be positive. Though she argued that she had placed flowers elsewhere, she is too intelligent a woman not to have realized that her gesture would have been seen as a tribute to theLTTE, not to the victims of the long drawn out conflict.
I suspect too that, having come here, and seen our basic commitment to pluralism, she would have for the first time realized what an aberration the LTTE was. Though I do not think she would ever have stuck up for terrorists, she might have thought previously of the LTTE as at least in part freedom fighters, given her own upbringing in South Africa, where the Africans were without dignity or rights in the dark days of apartheid. Coming here would have helped her to understand the difference, and that I believe prompted the first foursquare condemnation of the LTTE from the UN system that we have now finally heard.
Sadly this was accompanied by the one blot on an otherwise very balanced and potentially helpful statement. She claimed that the LLRC report ‘side-stepped the much-needed full, transparent, impartial investigation into the conduct of a conflict that saw numerous war crimes and other violations committed by both sides’. This parroting of the American stance was a pity, because it could allow her detractors to side-step the other important points she raises.
I say American stance, because it was the Americans who, alone of what they term the international community, attacked the LLRC report on these grounds, in a perverse statement by Victoria Nuland that was in sharp contrast to the very positive approach of other countries – including the British, who had first started the call to hounds in this connection, but whose current High Commissioner, John Rankin, is a very different person from the David Miliband groupies we had previously.
The American condemnation of the LLRC report was taken up also by the TNA, just as it had taken up the American support for Sarath Fonseka in 2009, and by the CPA. This in turn led to the extremists in government attacking the LLRC from the other side. Though I think they were wrong to do this, instead of supporting government commitment to its recommendations, I can understand their fears that the Americans and their allies, having waited till these recommendations were implemented, would then have also demanded their pound of flesh. Unfortunately the negative approach of Wimal Weerawansa and his ilk have meant that the LLRC recommendations were not implemented swiftly.Read More
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