Michael Clarke urged not to promote Sri Lankan casino

Updated Tue 22 Oct 2013, 11:04pm AEDT

PHOTO: Tamil Refugee Council calls on Michael Clarke not to promote Sri Lankan casino (Joe Castro: AAP)

MAP: Sri Lanka

An Australian group advocating on behalf of Tamil refugees is calling on Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke to re-consider a deal to promote a casino in Sri Lanka.

Australian billionaire James Packer's Crown group signed up Clarke as part of its campaign to build a $400 million casino on Beira Lake in the heart of the Colombo resort district.

Crown says Clarke will be a mentor and role model to job seekers and trainees at the casino.

He will reportedly be paid a six figure sum for the role.

A spokesman for the Tamil Refugee Council, Trevor Grant, told NewsRadio that Clarke shouldn't be involved.

"We just have to look what he's aligning himself to, and that is really a brutal and oppressive dictatorship that is accused by the UN of murdering at least 40,000 innocent civilians."

"It's got 146,000 people who remain missing, 39 journalists have been murdered in the past eight years under [President Mahinda] Rajapaksa", Mr Grant said.

Mr Grant says the government led by Mr Rajapaksa is corrupt and Clarke shouldn't be engaging with a regime that has run a campaign of what he called genocide against its own people.

"We would say very strongly that all Michael Clarke is doing is laundering the image and it's a blood-stained image, believe me."

"To us it's quite shocking to see the biggest name in Australian sport linking himself with a corrupt, brutal dictator", Mr Grant said.

In a promotional video for Crown, Clarke said he looks forward to helping support and mentor young Sri Lankans and help them develop a career in hospitality.

Mr Packer believes a Crown casino would help boost Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, especially with tourists from India and China.

However, today Sri Lanka suspended final approval for two casinos including the Crown proposal.

Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena says he has withdrawn the bill due to concerns raised within the ruling government coalition.

A party made up of Buddhist monks, which is a member of the coalition, has opposed the casinos.

ABC/AFP

This Is Not The Time For Religions To Be Self-Centric

By Rev. S.J. Emmanuel -October 23, 2013 

Rev. Dr S.J. Emmanuel

In Memory Of Late Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe 

Thirty years ago on the 23^rd of October 1983, Sri Lanka lost one of the ablest Sinhala Christian Leader – Bishop Lakshman Wickremesinghe,- a loss not only for his church but also for the whole country. I am informed that after  the massacre of 1983 Black July, the bishop was very heart-broken at the tragedy that overtook the people of this country and the unwillingness of the rulers to be ashamed and guilty on behalf of the majority people and their rulers. Now after a prolonged war and destruction, when some attempts are being made for reconciliation among the various ethnic and religious communities of the island, it is right and fitting that we recall to mind the exemplary leadership given by the late Bishop to his people. Though he was bishop only of a diocese and that too only for about two decades, he reached out to all ethnic communities and religions and their leaders with a sincere love for a peaceful country.

1.     Government’s Efforts counterproductive  for Reconciliation?

Read More

Ensure justice for Lanka Tamils: TNA

TNA leader R. Sambanthan interacts with BJP leaders L. Ganesan and state president Pon Radhakrishnan during his visit to Chennai on Tuesday to seek support for empowerment of Lankan Tamils. — DC

Tue 23 Oct 2013

Chennai: Accusing the Sri Lankan government of doing precious little in rehabilitating the internally displaced Tamils in the island nation, TNA leader and parliamentarian R. Samba­nthan said India has the onus to ensure justice for the Lankan Tamils.

The senior leader who called on BJP leaders at Kamalalayam – BJP headquarters – here on Tuesday and sought their support on the issue said more than the international community, India had a greater role to play in ensuring justice for the Lankan Tamils.

“We are asking only for justice. We are aski­ng only for our rights. India should prevail upon Sri Lanka to empower Lankan Tamils as per the 13th amen­dment,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the BJP leaders, he said the Tamils in the island nation were demanding an autonomous system within a united Lanka. “India’s support should be total because all of us had migrated from India. India has more rig­hts in resolving our problems as we are living permanently there and have rights to live there,” he said.

He claimed the Tamils felt disappointed for three reasons. First, the Lankan government had failed to empower them politically as envisaged in the 13th amendment. “Instead, it attempted to amend the amendment,” he charged.

Also, the people have not been resettled in their own places and several thousands were unable to resettle and thirdly, the rights violations should be probed by an international agency including India and “truth should be exposed.”

“As India’s role in the peace process and political empowerment is crucial, I have come here (Chennai) to meet the political parties and seek their support. Today I met the BJP leaders. I will meet the leaders of other political parties soon,” he added.

Asked if India should boycott CHOGM in Colo­mbo, he shot back, “it is for India to decide. But since all political parties in TN are opposed to the visit, India should see the rationale.” When persisted if he wanted India to stay away from the meet, he replied, “I will not say anything contrary to the views expressed by political parties (in TN). This should be decided by the Centre.”

Besides Pon Radhak­rish­nan, state president, nati­onal executive member L. Ganesan, national secretary Dr Tamilisa­isou­nda­rajan, state secretary Van­athi Srinivasan interacted with Mr Sambanthan earlier at party headquarters.

Sweet Taste Of Federalism Through Good Governance

By Ayathuray Rajasingam -October 24, 2013 

Ayathuray Rajasingam

The communal riots which began from 1958 in Sri Lanka demonstrated that the Unitary form of government has proved to be a futile exercise in not complying with the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils. Ethnic conflicts had plagued Sri Lanka because successive governments have been in the practice of encouraging intolerance for minority Tamils, commencing from the passing of the Sinhala Only Act, Standardization, forcible colonization commencing from Kantalai-Minneriya, etc. Laws were enacted in Parliament by the ruling politicians who abused them to harass the opponents including the Tamils and posed as a threat by way of poor governance. Good governance was never expected especially after 1956. The Land Acquisition Act was a case in point. Though the affected person could seek remedies in the courts, it proved to be procedural constraints for development. Meanwhile the growth of Wahabbism in Sri Lanka especially after 1989 diverted the attention of the Muslim community from the concept of Federalism, which could have been suitable remedy.

The requisite of neutrality cannot be expected where the conduct of the Executive possess full powers in a country with uni-cameral system. Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority (national government) and constituent political units (provincial government). No sooner the politicians assume power, they are keen to take revenge on the opponents and not on the development of the economy of the country. If any economic development takes place, Ministers are heavily benefited by it, in addition to their pensions and other privileges. A comparison of economic development with other developing countries, would show how Sri Lanka’s politicians were instrumental for the deterioration of the economy.

Further, after the introduction of the 1972 Constitution, the protection of the civil liberties of the ethnic Tamils has been a recurrent problem in Sri Lanka which even affected the economy of the country. The British failed to realize the consequences of the confrontation that would take place between the Sinhalese and Tamil leaders before granting independence. The British had in mind about the need for a relatively centralized economic and political government units to facilitate rapid economic development and national control but ignored the desire for self-determination of the minority Tamils. The Soulbury Constitution that afforded constitutional protection for the minorities was done away with the replacement of the 1972 and thereafter by the 1978 Constitution both of which were framed by the political leaders in power and aimed at oppressing the minority Tamils. The process of oppressing the minority Tamils paved way for poor governance. Now, the question of economic freedom under the 13^th Amendment appears to be a question mark. The forward thinking in strengthening the protection of the minorities was lacking among the politicians.                                                             Read More

Boycott Colombo meeting, say rights activists

• By Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent-October 22, 2013

Mumbai: India must boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, next month, say human rights activists who are opposing Sri Lankan president Mahendra Rajapakse being depicted as the hero in the ‘War on Terror.’

Spearheading a campaign to mobilise public opinion across the country is the charismatic German-born Indian, Dr Gabriele Dietrich, Professor Emeritus from the Centre of Social Analysis, Madurai, and a member of the National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM). Admitting that it is difficult to create interest in the Sri Lankan situation in India even though Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha has raised this issue time and again, she said, the extent of violence, bloodshed and displacement is often not fully understood in other Indian states.

It has to be realised that if the meeting is allowed to take place, “it would be a disaster for Sri Lanka, especially for the Tamils living there, and equally for India and South Asia,” said Dietrich at a press conference today. It would legitimise all that happened in Sri Lanka and give a picture a normalcy in that country. Already, Canada has said it would not be attending the meet whilst Australia is considering it.

“The war was formally over in 2009 after an enormous sacrifice. Some think it was a genocide whilst others call it war crimes and human rights violations,” she said. “However, we are all under one opinion –that Rajapakse must be put on trial by the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Sri Lankan Tamils must be granted referendum for a political solution of their plight and the Sinhala Army must be withdrawn from Tamil territories.”

In the name of demining the north and east, the army, she says, has occupied every Tamil territory even as the Tamils themselves languish in refugee camps. The NAPM and other human rights organisations, she said, were worried about the 90,000 war widows in Sri Lanka, mainly Tamils, “who are sexually abused left and right. Women are raped consistently and made pregnant. It is similar to what the Conquistadors did in Mexico to native American population.”

To understand and decipher the tragedy unfolding in India’s backyard, “which is extremely damaging to democracy and legitimises totalitarianism and murder of local population, public opinion has to mobilised.”

The NAPM’s tour therefore is happening at a crucial juncture through Pondicherry, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bhopal, Lucknow and Patna to highlight the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Sri Lanka: A Haunted Nation – The Social Underpinnings Of Communal Violence

By Rajan Hoole -October 23, 2013

Rajan Hoole

“The film has revealed a lot to me about people seated in power, people who are supposed to be above biases. These people are so frightened. I think one of the basest of all things is fear. Fear erodes the individual. Fear erodes the Nation, the spine of the Nation. People are frightened. The bureaucrat who’s frightened to take action – I can get angry with this kind of person for some days, but then I can also see there is some sort of shadow looming over his or her head that is preventing him or her from acting. I see dread in the eyes of people there in Delhi…

“But what tore me apart was not so much the violence in the street, but you know, ordinary, normal, sensitive people who for the first time revealed to me their naked faces. I saw glimpses up front here, in people I would have never even imagined and then I discovered where the power for that genocide came from. It came from the silent approval of the majority of the people.

“Hindus have for centuries put up with all kinds of diverse thoughts. This country has produced sages who have had deep introspection. But today’s version, Hindutva, is a gross violation. In Germany today, under law, it’s a crime to deny the existence of the holocaust. They’ve passed a law. And, here, you’re spending up to six years, saying that it never happened! Bombay December 1992-93 never happened? Such a denial is dangerous. It’s going to erupt in dangerous eruptions in so many ways…

“I saw a woman in burga, a baby in her arms, walking down the street carrying an Indian flag, a small paper flag as a kind of shield. It was so painful. I thought, why does a Muslim woman have to carry a flag to give evidence of being a nationalist? Why doesn’t a woman in sari or a bindi, why doesn’t she feel the need? Why does a burga clad woman need extra protection?

“I feel disgusted, I feel ashamed. For the first time people are openly talking about who is superior, a minority-less India. You know, youngsters, young Muslims clad in jeans, they have felt a sense of catharsis after seeing the film. Do you know what they have told me? ‘We enter a room and hear someone abusing a Muslim and pretend we have not heard it. That’s how alienated we feel… I am going to fight it out. Zakhm must reach the people. You know right out there where hatred is fermented. I want to reach it there. Zakhm is a cry for peace.”

- Mahesh Bhatt [Mahesh Bhatt is the director of the Hindi film Zakhm, an autobiographical tale featuring communal issues in India, a need for which he felt after the destruction by Hindu extremists of the Babri Masjid Mosque in Ayodhya on 6th December 1992. This led to hysteria and countrywide violence against Muslims, which was particularly devastating in Bombay. The authorities were trying to obstruct the release of the film, which was timed for the 6th anniversary of the event. The extract is taken from an interview with Mahesh Bhatt in Communalism Combat, December 1998.]

Adrift                                                                                       Read More

UK reiterates need to engage

October 23, 2013

Britain has reiterated the need to engage Sri Lanka on human rights issues by attending the Commonwealth summit next month instead of boycotting the event.

Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Warsi said that Britain’s priorities for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) include discussions on the post-2015 global development framework and enhancing Commonwealth values.

“CHOGM also provides an opportunity to raise further international awareness of the need to end sexual violence in conflict. UK Ministers will also engage with their Commonwealth counterparts and pursue relevant bilateral issues with Sri Lanka, including reconciliation, human rights and consular concerns,” she added.

She says the British Government believe that CHOGM will, among other things, provide an opportunity to shine a light on Sri Lanka and to question it in relation to the many commitments that were given as part of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

“Some recommendations from the commission have been implemented, but many more remain on the table. We will deliver an incredibly tough message to the Sri Lankan Government that they need to make concrete progress on human rights, reconciliation and political settlement, and that when we attend at CHOGM we expect to have unrestricted access to NGOs and to the media. The Government believe that the best way forward is to go there, engage, have tough conversations and shed light on the challenges still presented in Sri Lanka,” she added.

Baroness Warsi said she is confident that the summit will be an opportunity for Britain to deal with these issues incredibly robustly, to travel, see, engage and shine a spotlight. She also said that the Sri Lankan Government should be aware that it will not be just UK but the world’s media will also be in Colombo and will ask questions.

“The Government believes that constructive engagement is the right way forward,” she added. (Colombo Gazette)

Random Thoughts On The Politics In Sri Lanka After 2004

By Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri -October 23, 2013 

Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Dewasiri

Political unification of the Sinhala-Buddhist South and the decline of the two-party system: Some Random Thoughts on the Politics in Sri Lanka after 2004

Introduction

Politics of Sir Lanka is undergoing serious changes in the last decade. These changes have shaken the very foundations of the major pillars of the post-colonial hegemonic edifice of Sri Lanka. Two of such pillars are the two-party equilibrium system and the North-South equilibrium system. The objective of this presentation is to map the post-colonial political landscape in Sri Lanka in relation to these two equilibrium systems and shed some light on the changes that are taking place in these two systems.

Emergence and development of the two-party equilibrium system

There was no well-developed party system at the time of the transfer of state power from the British colonial rulers to the indigenous elite in 1948. While the influence of the two organized left wing parties, i.e. the Lanka Samasamaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party (CP) restricted only to certain areas, the United National party (UNP) was only a makeshift arrangement that was made to face the 1947 general election. The number of independent candidates that were contested and won the 1947 election bear witness for the reality where the political allegiance of the voting public still remained outside political parties.

This situation began to change since 1956 with two structural changes. Firstly, two major Sinhala-Buddhist parties, namely Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the UNP consolidated in the Sinhala-Buddhist south as two main electoral rivals. I call these two parties ‘Sinhala-Buddhist’ as they rely mainly on the support of the Sinhala-Buddhist constituency for their electoral success. From 1956 to 1977 these two parties mostly with other minor parties whom they formed electoral alliance with managed to defeat each other in successive elections.

Secondly, two left parties which had evolved since 1930s as decisive force in Sri Lankan politics began to lose its grip on electoral process. As individual political parties, their impact was entirely disappeared after 1977. They could remain in electoral politics after 1977, even with the introduction of the proportional representation, a system that is much favorable for political parties with lesser voter-attraction, only through alliances first with the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP), the party that managed to keep some voter-attraction immediately after the death of its charismatic leader, Vijaya Kumaratunga,and then with the SLFP.

After 1994 sees the metamorphosis of the Peoples’ Liberation Front (JVP), which had devised its strategy to capture state power through organized armed insurgencies, into an electoral party. In this period the sudden growth of its voter attraction in the Sinhala-Buddhist South made one believe that it is emerging as a threatening force for the two-party equilibrium system.Read More

Should we invite Canada to be the Opposition?

by Upul Joseph Fernando

( October 23, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to boycott the Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Sri Lanka next month, has caused some tremors affecting the Commonwealth's very foundation. The ouster of the 43rd Chief Justice, Dr. Shirani Bandaranayaka, in the blaze of a controversial impeachment motion passed hurriedly in Parliament, has been touted as the main reason behind Canada's drastic action. Canada's boycott and the reasons adduced to it, pose a disturbing question aimed at the collective conscience of the entire Commonwealth of Nations.

Should We Invite Canada to Be the Opposition by nelvely

Chennai High Court Hears A Writ To Block India’s Participation In CHOGM

October 23, 2013 |

Acting Chief Justice Agarwal and Justice M.Sathyanarayana of Chennai High Court today heard a case against India’s External Affairs Ministry for delaying a response to a petition urging India not to participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference in Sri Lanka due to genocide and war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Government against Tamils.

Indian PM

The petition was sent to the Indian External Affairs Ministry by Professor Sarawathy Rajendran, the Coordinator of the Solidarity Center of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE).

The case number w.p28656/2o13 writ petition was filed in Chennai High Court was represented by Advocate Saravanan and Advocate Ajitha.

One of the questions raised by the Chief Justice was whether the petitioner expects that India should be against China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries due to private reasons. Advocate Saravanan responded by saying that the petitioner has stated her position clearly in the memorandum submitted to the External Ministry. The Chief Justice asked the petitioner as well as the advocate himself to ponder this question.

Case was adjourned to October 24, 2013.

Details:

From:

Mrs. Saraswathi

Prof. of Sociology (Retd),

No.29, Journalists Colony,

Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai – 600041.

To:

The Secretary,

Ministry of External Affairs,

Government of India,

New Delhi- 110001.

Sir,

Sub: Demanding for explanation of propriety of Republic of India attending the CHOGM Conference to be held in Srilanka in the 2nd week of November 2013 – Request for India to abstain from participation – Reg.                                                                                     Read More

Case Against India Attending 

Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka: TGTE

Wednesday, 23 October 2013 

Due to genocide and war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Government against Tamils in that island

Acting Chief Justice Agarwal and Justice M.Sathyanarayana of Chennai High Court heard a case today against India’s External Affairs Ministry for delaying a response to a petition urging India not to participate in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference in Sri Lanka due to genocide and war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Government against Tamils in that island.

The above mentioned petition was sent to the Indian External Affairs Ministry by Professor Sarawathy Rajendran, the Coordinator of the Solidarity Center of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE).

The writ petition was filed in Chennai High Court by Professor Saraswathy. The case number is: w.p28656/2o13. The petitioner was represented by Advocate Saravanan and Advocate Ajitha.

One of the questions raised by the Chief Justice was whether the petitioner expects that India should be against China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and other countries due to private reasons. Advocate Saravanan responded by saying that the petitioner has stated her position clearly in the memorandum submitted to the External Ministry. The Chief Justice asked the petitioner as well as the advocate himself to ponder this question.

Case was adjourned to October 24, 2013.

http://world.einnews.com/pr_news/173165887/case-against-india-attending-commonwealth-summit-in-sri-lanka

Bring the News to Life: A global creative challenge-BBC World Service

Submission Deadline-Monday December 2, 2013

YCN and BBC World Service are inviting international creatives based outside the UK, aged between 18-34, to develop an advert or advertising campaign that encourages young audiences to engage with the BBC World Service. The winner will receive £3,000, two runners-up will each receive £1,000 and shortlisted entries will be showcased through our combined editorial channels.

• The Creative Challenge

  We are inviting anyone based outside the UK, aged between 18-34, to develop an advert or advertising campaign that encourages young audiences to engage with the BBC World Service.

  Your piece of advertising, or advertising campaign, can be in any format, including posters/billboards, magazine adverts, animation, film, radio, online, mobile web. You may also want to demonstrate how your idea could work in a variety of formats, but this is not essential.

  Who are the target audience?

  Your idea for the advert, or advertising campaign, should capture the attention of young people (aged 18-34), who live in your country.

  Ideas Should:

  • Feel relevant to young people in your country

  • Be creative and original

  • Incorporate the strapline “Live The Story”

  • It must also incorporate the BBC World Service logo (please refer to project pack).

  • Keep in mind the “Live The Story” brand proposition - Live the Story is the BBC World Service proposition and end-line. Journalists at the BBC don’t just report the facts, they bring stories to life in the most vivid, engaging way that they can without ever losing their commitment to impartiality and accuracy.

  What Can You Make?

  You may consider using any (or all) of the following mediums for your advert

  • Graphic Design for print

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  • Piece of interactive content (e.g mobile app / website)

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