To Prime Minister, With Love

By Rasika Jayakody -December 16, 2013

Rasika Jayakody

No sane person for a moment would think that Prime Minister D.M. Jayarathne is a drug dealer. The octogenarian has been in politics for more than six decades and has rendered great service to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and to various governments it formed under different names over the past few decades. He was jailed, tortured and victimized during the 17 year long UNP rule and he tolerated everything for his own party. His was a long walk to the Prime Minister’s position and when he was offered the office, it was a joyous moment for every SLFPer, regardless of their intra-party affiliations.

Today, this Prime Minister, the seniormost member of the ruling party, finds himself in hot waters as a result of a letter, sent out from his office on the 23rd of August. The letter has been issued by Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe, one of his Coordinating Secretaries at the request of a Local Government politician in Gampola who is also a close supporter of the Prime Minister and his son.

The letter which seeks a waiver of Demurrage for a shipment has been issued on behalf the Prime Minister on an official letterhead belonging to his office. Although the Coordinating Secretary who has issued the letter claims that the Prime Minister had no knowledge of the matter, the content of the letter and the official letterhead wed him, inextricably, to this controversy. Therefore, the Prime Minister is not in a position to wash his hands off, distancing himself from the issuance of the letter and saying he laughs off media reports on the heroine scandal – which is one of the biggest drug scams reported in the recent past.

No one – including the Coordinating Secretary or the Local Government politician – has been arrested over the matter and they got away with police by giving a mere statement. It is still not entirely clear whether the Police have started a full-scale investigation into the drug scandal, as requested by Omalpe Sobhitha Thera of the Jathika Hela Urumaya , who also represents the same political camp. This unusual situation is testimony to the fact that the investigation into the controversy has come under political pressure and it is not so difficult fathom where the pressure is actually coming from.

What is crystal clear is that the Prime Minister doesn’t know who and who is around him and does not possess the perceptual power to identify the true colours of the people who work for him. He has appointed secretaries and aides without a thorough examination and has placed a very loose administrative system in his office where any official can issue any sort of letter on behalf of the Prime Minister for any stranger who walks in. There is no way of monitoring the operations and no proper line of reporting which his secretaries and assistants should adhere to.

The Prime Minister’s age, failing health and his seniority in the party do not provide formidable answers to any of these questions. What this elucidates is the fact that the Prime Minister is no longer in a position to discharge the duties his position warrants. It needs no elaboration that this reflects badly on the government as well as the citizenry of the country who have elevated him to the Prime Minister’s office.

The country, at this juncture, expects a few things from this senior citizen and respectable politician.

That is, to accept his failure in discharging duties and step down from the position, as a gentleman ; to admit the fault of his Coordinating Secretary and facilitate the police inquiry into the scandal and to tender an apology to the public over his unintentional involvement in the Heroine controversy.

Once that is done, no one would ridicule him; no one would call for his arrest; no one would want to prosecute and convict him.
And this is not a difficult choice for a person who is in the twilight of his life.

So Mr. Prime Minister it is your time to take the honourable and graceful exit route you thoroughly deserve.

Obata Jaya! ( May Victory Be Yours )

Big fishing deals with Asian countries

By Damith Wickremasekara
Sunday, December 15, 2013

The Government is offering Sri Lanka’s fisheries harbours to foreign vessels from Asian countries, including China, in a fresh bid to prevent European countries from exploiting fishing resources in the Indian Ocean.Under the plan, fishing vessels from China, Dubai, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam will be invited to engage in fishing in the international waters in the Indian Ocean and export their products via the fisheries harbours in Sri Lanka, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Rajitha Senaratne said.

About 20 Chinese and eight Japanese fishing vessels have already been offered the facility while talks are underway with Dubai to offer these facilities. Discussions with other countries will follow. “They will be operating under the Sri Lankan flag and will process the fish for exports in local harbours. Sri Lanka will benefit by imposing port charges and export taxes,” he explained. The minister said that at present 48 per cent of the fishing resources in the Indian Ocean was exploited by non-Asian countries, mainly European Union member countries.

He said these fishing vessels were known to net about 900 tons of fish and were well equipped while the Sri Lanka fishing vessels had a capacity to net only about 50 tons. He said the new fishing deals would be on a joint venture basis.The minister said a proposal by the EU countries to impose a quota for countries in the Indian Ocean was shot down by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. He said the proposal was likely to be reintroduced.

Manimal Gota's multibarrel attack on Wanathamulla residents is reminiscent of Mulliwaikkal battle– 1500 devastated
(Lanka-e-News-15.Dec.2013, 11.30PM) Gotabaya Rajapakse the Sri Lanka’s criminal defense secretary who is also the urban development authority (UDA), had brutally, mentally and physically devastated the peaceful residents of Swarnapala himi mawatha , Wanathamulla in Colombo by launching a multi barrel attack at a time when there is no war or any signs of it at all. 

This attack was directed against about 1500 residents who had been residing there for over six decades at 34, 43, 45 and 63 gardens which belong to Colombo Municipal council (CMC) following a letter sent to them to leave their abodes. These residents have been asked to sign and return those letters given to them which contain terms and conditions aimed at deceiving the residents.

These residents who are living in lands and properties have acquired ownership over them now . Except those in private lands , others have been paying rates for their places of abodes for a long time which they have held on lease terms. They have very recently secured the ownership deeds after they had completed their lease . These abodes are each worth about Rs. 6 million. In the circumstances they have no need at all to leave these abodes and go to another of their own accord.

After obtaining letters signed by them as though they are requesting for an abode , they are sought to be sent out pointing at a housing project supposedly going to be launched by the UDA. 

It is worthy of note that these lands and properties which are so much valuable are going to be acquired by Gota even without paying compensation , merely on the promise that the residents will be given alternative homes are not before heaping more burdens on them : these residents will have to make a preliminary payment of Rs. 50,000 , and thereafter they have to pay monthly Rs. 3960 for 20 long years ! Mind you this is in addition to the payment they have made so far on lease terms until the lease was determined and ownership given to them subsequently. The residents are therefore flabbergasted at this gross and grave injustice committed on them who are low income earners , by requiring them to pay again for another 20 years by Manimal criminal defense secretary Gota.

The people are also cursing this move as they allege that what is going to be given under the new scheme is a small kennel like shelter . 

The residents are questioning ,if what they are in are unauthorized abodes , how come Banks gave them loans to construct homes? The residents also complain that no responsible trustworthy housing authority official came and met them in regard to the demolition or the new promised constructions . Only manimal Gota’s underworld criminals have come and threatened them they lamented. 

It is the consensus, to manimal Gotabaya the criminal defense secretary who allegedly committed war crimes on unarmed civilians , waging war against innocent peace loving helpless citizens is no big deal. 

A group of affected civilians have gone with lawyer Sunil Watawala and lodged a complaint with the human rights commission (HRC) yesterday . In any event , it is difficult to imagine that justice will prevail and be meted out to these helpless hapless people by the HRC headed by Dr. Prathiba Mahanama who is another Rajapakse reared manimal who would even stoop to sniffing MaRa’s loin cloth standing on all fours .

It is an acknowledged fact that in any country it is natural residents being asked to leave their abodes when new constructions are being put up. But that is done on a justifiable and reasonable methodology geared to the benefit of residents. On the contrary the program cannot be implemented in an inhuman way and via brutal pressures violating human rights. Indeed the new project must provide better facilities to the residents who are being evicted from their existing homes. Otherwise of what purpose are such urban development projects? 

Every citizen has an inalienable and absolute right to fight against such attempts made by criminal defense secretary and manimals of any reign and their underworld criminals , but to emerge victorious the victims have to unite .

WikiLeaks: As The Oldest Democracy In Asia, Sri Lanka Has Its Own Investigatory Processes – Jaliya To US

December 16, 2013

“Wickramasuriya had no immediate reaction to the report itself, but said the GSL believed that economic development and resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) would foster reconciliation. As the oldest democracy in Asia, he said Sri Lanka has its own investigatory processes, including administrative sanction against police and soldiers who commit abuses, such as occurred in the 1980s. He said the Army was much more disciplined this time and showed restraint in this final offensive against the LTTE, losing a lot of soldiers as a result.” US State Department wrote to US Embassy Colombo. 

Jaliya Wickramasuriya

A classified diplomatic cable which details a meeting the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian AffairsRobert O. Blake and Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Investigations Stephen Rapp  had with Sri Lankan AmbassadorJaliya Wickramasuriya on October 21, 2009. The Colombo Telegraph found the related US diplomatic cable from the Secretary of State section of the WikiLeaks database. The cable was classified as “Confidential” and signed by Hillary Clinton.

State department wrote; Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Blake and Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Investigations Rapp met with Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya and DCM Tissa Wijeratne October 21 at the State Department to provide them a copy of the Department of State ‘Report to Congress on Incidents during the Recent Conflict in Sri Lanka.’ The report was posted on the Department (S/WCI) website on October 22.Rapp first asserted Sri Lanka’s right to self defense against a terrorist group. He also stated at the outset that both sides to the conflict are required to respect international humanitarian law. He went on to outline the report, noting that it included reports of the use of human shields and child soldiers by the LTTE, and reports of unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian objects such a hospitals. Rapp next identified specific limitations, such as lack of access to the conflict zone and the inability to corroborate many incidents, which explained why the State Department was not in a position to draw factual or legal conclusions. Rather, the report should be seen as a compilation of credible incidents worthy of investigation by the GSL. He expressed great respect for and confidence in Sri Lanka’s legal institutions and traditions. He said the United States is not calling for international investigations, but is looking to the GSL to identify and implement a credible accountability process. Blake emphasized the importance of the Sri Lankan government engaging Tamil leaders in Sri Lanka on what they would consider to be a credible accountability mechanism.”

Read the cable below for further details;

President summons emergency Cabinet meeting

 Monday, 16 December 2013 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has summoned an emergency Cabinet meeting this evening. The meeting will be chaired by the President.

It is learnt that the new amended Local Government Bodies Act is to be discussed at the meeting. Several Rajapaksa loyalists have informed the President that the new piece of legislation has caused a problem to the governing party and that there is a need to amend it again.

President Rajapaksa has also agreed to discuss the matter following the string of defeats experienced by the governing party in 15 local government bodies when the 2014 budgets were taken up for voting.

SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena has said that the government will amend the legislation on local government bodies in order to address the current crisis faced by the governing party.

It is also learnt that the Cabinet of Ministers will discuss the holding of Western and Southern Provincial Council elections early next year.

800 ஆண்டு பழமையான கிரீடத்தை விற்க முன்ற முன்னாள் இராணுவ அதிகாரி கைது

[ திங்கட்கிழமை, 16 டிசெம்பர் 2013, 07:01.55 AM GMT ]

முப்பது கோடி ரூபா பெறுமதியான கீரிடம் ஒன்றை விற்பனை செய்ய முயற்சித்த ஒய்வுபெற்ற இராணுவ கேர்ணல் உட்பட இருவர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாக பொலிஸார் தெரிவித்தனர்.

சுமார் 800 ஆண்டுகள் பழமையான கிரீடம் ஒன்றை ஓய்வுபெற்ற இராணுவ அதிகாரி வர்த்தக ஒருவருடன் இணைந்து ஜப்பானியர் ஒருவருக்கு விற்பனை செய்ய முயற்சித்துள்ளார்.

தங்கத்தினால் செய்யப்பட்ட கிரீடத்தில் 35 மாணிக்க கற்கள் பதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக பொலிஸ் ஊடகப் பேச்சாளரின் அலுவலகம் தெரிவித்தது.

பொலிஸாருக்கு கிடைத்த தகவல் ஒன்றை அடுத்தே இவர்கள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டதுடன் தங்கக் கிரீடமும் கைப்பற்றப்பட்டுள்ளது.

 இந்த கிரீடம் துட்டகைமுனு மன்னனின் கிரீடமாக இருக்கலாம் என தொல் பொருள் ஆய்வாளர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். கிரீடத்தில் பெறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மாணிக்க கல் ஒன்றின் பெறுமதி சுமார் ஒரு கோடி ரூபா என தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கைது செய்யப்பட்ட நபர்கள் மேலதிக விசாரணைகளுக்காக தொல் பொருள் திணைக்களத்தின் விசாரணைப் பிரிவு பொலிஸாரிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

Two attempting to sell a Jar worth Rs 300 mln arrested 

By Kasun Ganewaththa-December 16, 2013 

A retired Army Lt. Colonel and a businessman have been arrested while attempting to sell to a Japanese national, an object similar to a golden jar worth Rs 300 million and more than 800 years old, the Police Media Unit told Ceylon Today Online.

Police said that more than 30 gem stones were embedded on the golden object.

The arrests were made by a special Police team based on a tip off. (Ceylon Today Online)

Some medicine overcharged- by upto 800-1000 pc Price control on drugs from next month 

by Don Asoka Wijewardena-- December 15, 2013

In a bid to curb drug importers exploiting patients, the government has decided to introduce a new price control mechanism from next month.

For want of a price control mechanism, drug importers have been over charging patients by as much as between 800 percent and 1,000 percent, Health Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayathilaka told The Island yesterday.

Asked whether the government was taking action to tackle the situation, he said that price controls on all drugs would come into operation next month.

Dr. Jayathilaka alleged that different drug importing firms were exploiting the people in an unprecedented way.

He pointed out that on the instructions of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, a committee comprising himself and the Trade Ministry Secretary had been appointed to prepare the price control formula. The new price formula would be presented to Minister Sirisena and Trade Minister Johnston Fernando in another two weeks.

"After the two Ministers approve the formula, Minister Sirisena will submit it to the Cabinet. Then, it will be gazetted and implemented," he said.

Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Director Dr. Kamala Jayasinghe said that price control formula for drugs was in force previously. But now, for want of price control mechanism, patients had to purchase drugs at exorbitant prices. It was a common scene that ten pharmacies were charging ten different prices for the same drugs. Approximately 1,000 kinds of drugs were being imported and around 400 were essential drugs.

The Island learns that the price controls had been removed during the previous regime for inexplicable reasons.

Price control not enough - GMOA 

December 15, 2013,

Clamping a price control on drugs would not be sufficient. The government should shoulder the responsibility of providing effective, safe and quality drugs to the people at affordable prices, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) president Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya said yesterday.

He pointed out that a majority of poor patients had to bear the brunt of price escalations in drugs created by multinational drug companies. The government was aware that the present Drug Quality Assurance Laboratory was not in a position to test all kinds of drugs.

Dr. Padeniya cautioned that price control alone would never resolve the issue. The government must immediately stop the import of sub-standard and cheap drugs to the country. Price control on drugs was important, but if people ended up purchasing low quality and cheap drugs as a result, it would be dangerous. Although the country had been importing more than 1000 kinds of drugs, the Sri Lanka Quality Assurance Lab was not capable of testing all kinds of  drugs. It was the responsibility of the government to encourage the private sector drug manufacturing companies too. There was no dispute over the fact that the price controlled drugs should be of high quality, safe, and effective with post-marketing surveillance, he said.

Chamal also seeks compensation

 Monday, 16 December 2013 

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa 

has said that he was also entitled to compensation paid to farmers who had lost crops due to floods.

Rajapaksa has told parliament that although he was also entitled to compensation for lost crops, he had only received seed paddy.

Speaking during a statement made by UNP MP P. Harrison on the delay in making compensation payments to farmers as assured by the government, Speaker Rajapaksa has said that all the farmers whose paddy crop had been destroyed were entitled to compensation in addition to seed paddy.

However, Minister S.M. Chandrasena has said that compensation had been paid to the farmers who lost their crops due to floods under a maximum limit of Rs. 30,000 per acre.

UPFA to appoint committee to probe defeats in local government bodies

 Monday, 16 December 2013 

The governing UPFA is to 

appoint a committee to probe the recent string of defeats in local government bodies headed by the governing party.

UPFA General Secretary, Minister Susil Premajayantha has issued a release stating that the governing party heads of the local government bodies should ensure that the 2014 budgets in their respective bodies are not defeated.

He has observed that while a committee will be appointed to probe the defeats experienced in many local government bodies, governing party heads and members of the local government bodies will be summoned to Colombo for a meeting.

He has added that another committee will be appointed to hold disciplinary inquiries against the governing party members who have voted against the 2014 budgets in their respective bodies.

The UPFA is to also appoint a committee to advice the local government bodies where the 2014 budgets have been defeated on winning the second vote on the budgets.

However, the governing party has lost the budgets in 15 local government bodies and eight governing party heads in local government bodies will lose their positions.

Phytoremediation of soil and water in CKD affected areas 

by Piyasiri Amilasith Yapa-December 15, 2013, 

It is becoming increasingly clear that cadmium toxicity plays a major role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) in NCP. Kelaniya University researchers have reported that arsenic toxicity is also associated with CKD. Despite so many studies and reports etc for so many years, strangely no action has been taken to rectify this situation.

If the soil and water are polluted with heavy metals as claimed they will remain polluted until some action is taken to clean up the soil and water. People will continue to ingest toxic metals through water and food crops grown in contaminated soil and continue to become fatally ill. Are we to allow this to go on for generations to come?

Phytoremediation is a method used in other countries to clean up soil and water polluted by toxic substances including heavy metals. Phytoremediation has been defined as the use of plants to remove or inactivate pollutants from soils and wastewaters. It all started in 1948 when Pichi Sermolli, an Italian scientist observed an unusual accumulation of nickel in some plants. Today scientists know of hundreds of plant species capable of selectively absorbing and accumulating specific elements and substances without showing toxicity symptoms – they are known as hyper accumulators. For instance our tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a well known aluminum accumulator.

Depending on the plant species , the actual mechanism of phytoaccumulation can be phytofiltration, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, or phytodegradation.

As far as cadmium is concerned scientists have already identified through research quite a number of plant species that can accumulate cadmium. Some examples are – Athyrium yokoscense, Avena strigosa, Bacopa monnieri (lunuwila), Brassica juncea, Valisnaria americana, Crotalaria juncea (andana hiriya), Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), Helianthus annus (sunflower), Hydrilla verticillata, Lemna minor (duck weed), Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce –diya gowa), Salix viminalis, Spirolelea polyrhiza (giant duck weed), Tagetes erecta, Thlaspi caerulescenes (alpine pennycress) and Valisnaria spiralis (Eel grass).

Of all these species, Thlaspi caerulescenes has been reported to be the best hyper accumulator of cadmium, unfortunately it is not available in Sri Lanka. It is a small weedy member of cabbage family and thrives on soils wth high levels of zinc and cadmium. It possess genes to accumulate excessive amounts of heavy metals in other parts of the plant such as leaves and shoots. A typical Thlaspi plant can accumulate about 30,000 ppm of zinc and 1500 ppm cadmium without showing any toxicity symptoms where as a normal plant can tolerate as little as 1000 ppm zinc and 20-50 ppm cadmium. Plant shoots can be harvested and the heavy metals can be extracted.

Thlaspi can be used even for cleaning up radioisotopes says Dr Kochian at the US Plant, Soil and Nutrtion Lab,New York, an expert on plant responses to stress and use of plants to clean up or remediate soils contaminated with heavy metals It can accumulate about 20,000 ppm uranium, 100 times higher than the control.

Rorippa globosa is another plant species that can accumulate high levels of cadmium, 107 mg /kg by stem and 150 mg/kg by leaves when the soil cadmium level is 25 mg/kg.

Several workers have studied cadmium accumulation potential of food crops. One interesting observation is the cadmium accumulation potential of red beet. Dr Poniedzia et al of Agricultural University of Krakow, Poland have reported a10.3% reduction in cadmium in soil by red beet. Li et al of China have reported that red beet has removed 14.46 mg/m2 cadmium in one growing season. This is something that we have to be careful since red beet is a popular vegetable and consumption of beet grown in contaminated soil can be harmful. Red beet looks a good candidate for phytoremediation work.

Chara australis is another cadmium hyper accumulator (Clabeaux, 2011). It can withstand over 100 mg /kg cadmium. Dr Subashini and Swamy of Nagarjuna University, India have reported that Physalis minima can remove 63.11 mg/kg cadmium in 60 days. This is a plant species found in Sri Lanka too where it is known as Heen mottu, lin mottu,or nalal batu.

Ji et al of Institute of Applied Ecology, China have described Solanum nigrum (Sinh: Kalu kan weriya) as a cadmium hyper accumulator. Amaranthus sp and sunflower have also been investigated. Zedeh et al (2008) of University of Teheran, Iran say Amaranthus sp is a better cadmium accumulator.

Nicotiana tabacum has been mentioned as a cadmium accumulator by several workers. Dr Scholar and his co-workers of Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu have confirmed this (2011).

Jatropa curcus or weta endaru or rata endaru is another plant reported to be a cadmium accumulator. This is a species commonly found in Sri Lanka too.

Mentioned above are some of the cadmium hyper accumulators scientifically investigated and reported in other countries for cleaning up of soil. We can make use of such information already available or screen our rich biodiversity and look for better plants than Thalspi caerulescens which is currently regarded as an outstanding cadmium hyper accumulator.

For phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated soil there is that amazing plant called Chinese brake (Pteris vittata). It is a fern with a high potential for arsenic accumulation. In one of his trials, Dr Tu and his co-workers of North Carolina State University, grew young ferns in soil containing 98 mg/ As kg-1 for 20 weeks. At the end of the 20 week trial period, fronds had accumulated a staggering 13,000 mg AS kg -1. About 26% of the initial soil arsenic was removed by the plant after 20 weeks of planting. Several rounds of growing P.vittata will see that arsenic is fully gone ! Pityrogramma callomelanos is another fern that can hyper accumulate arsenic.

For phytoremediation of water bodies water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is the obvious choice. Its ability to absorb and accumulate high levels of heavy metals including cadmium and arsenic is well known. Extensively studied world over for many decades by scientists, it can absorb other toxic elements such as mercury, lead, nickel, chromium and zinc too. In 1980s I myself have studied its use in treatment of rubber and textile factory effluents.

Whilst cleaning up the existing contaminated soil and water, steps also should be taken to protect them from any future pollution. It is clear that large scale use of low quality phosphate fertilizer containing cadmium as impurities , in the recent past would have contributed to present status of soil and water in the NCP. Distribution of low quality fertilizer under the subsidy scheme must come to an end. Farmers should be encouraged to use organic fertilizer. Chemical fertilizer if used must be of high quality though comparatively more expensive.

It is important to create an awareness of new technologies such as phytoremediation among public so that restoration activities can be implemented as participatory projects.

It is also proposed to introduce phytoremediation into the curriculum of Plant Science Departments of all universities, if they have not done so already. In 2005, I had the privilege of introducing phytoremediation as a course unit for the Plant Biotechnology stream at University of Sri Jayawardenepura. However, unfortunately it has not been continued since my premature retirement in 2007. I urge my former colleagues at USJP to restart this course unit immediately.

Research funding bodies such as National Science Foundation, National Research Council and CARP are requested to award research grants to studies on phytoremediation on a priority basis particularly to find out more efficient local plant species.

Phytoremediation is not something entirely new and it has been there for years in other countries and they have made use of it clean up different types of contaminated situations. It is our turn now though little overdue. Let us remember that phytoremediation is an attractive alternative to current clean up methods that are energy intensive and very expensive.

( The writer is a Life Member of International Society for Environmental Botanists, India and also a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka)

China urges diplomatic solution on Iran after U.S. blacklisting

 2013-12-16 

BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) — China on Monday urged all parties to be committed to a diplomatic solution on the Iranian nuclear issue after theUnited States blacklisted additional companies and individuals suspected of evading earlier sanctions against Iran.

The U.S. move on Thursday sparked anger from Iran, which halted talks with representatives of world powers in Vienna at an event designed to work out the details of a November deal.

The P5+1 group, which includes the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, struck a deal with Iran in Geneva on Nov. 24, in which Iran agreed to freeze part of its nuclear program in exchange for limited ease of sanctions, which have hurt its economy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing on Monday that Iran’s framework agreement with the P5+1 group marked “an important step” for a diplomatic solution on the issue and called for all parties to follow the principles of mutual respect during the implementation of the deal.

"All parties should be committed to a diplomatic solution on the issue and strike while the iron is hot so that we can take the first steps as soon as possible," Hua said.

China will continue to advocate peace and talks and play a constructive role in achieving a comprehensive and proper solution on the issue, she said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Iran will continue with negotiations in Geneva with seriousness despite the “inappropriate moves” from the United States.

Related:

UN inspectors plan to visit Iran’s Gachin uranium mine before February

VIENNA, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed Wednesday its inspectors plan to visit the Gachin uranium mine in Iran’s south before February 11.

The IAEA confirmed the news following a meeting with Iranian delegates in Vienna, which it deemed “productive.” Full story

IAEA visit to Arak nuclear facility proves Iran’s transparency: lawmakers

TEHRAN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) — The recent visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor is an indication of Iran’s transparency, Iranian lawmakers were quoted as saying by local media on Monday.

The secretary of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran’s Majlis (parliament), Mohammad-Hassan Asfari, told official IRNA news agency that “the IAEA inspectors’ visit to the Arak reactor is in line with Iran’s transparency and sincerity in its peaceful nuclear activities.”Full story

16 Die in Attack on Police Officers in West China

By Associated PressDec. 16, 2013

(BEIJING) — Assailants attacked police officers who were pursuing suspects in China’s restive western region of Xinjiang, and two officers and 14 attackers were killed, state media said Monday.

The region’s official news portal Tianshan Net reported that knife-wielding assailants hurled explosive devices at police officers in Shufu county of Kashgar prefecture.

The officers were in Sayibage township in pursuit of criminal suspects when they came under attack by “several thugs” who threw explosive devices and used knives in the attack, the report said.

Two police officers died in the attack while 14 attackers were shot and killed, Tianshan Net said. Another two suspected assailants were arrested, it reported.

Calls to local authorities rang unanswered or were answered by officials who said they did not know about the attack.

Xinjiang has long been home to a simmering rebellion against Chinese rule among parts of the Muslim Uighur population.

மண்டேலாவிற்கு கூட்டமைப்பின் ஏற்பாட்டில் அஞ்சலி
15 டிசெம்பர் 2013, ஞாயிறு

தென்னாபிரிக்காவின் மறைந்த முன்னாள் ஜனாதிபதி நெல்சன் மண்டேலாவிற்கு தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் எற்பாட்டில் இன்று அஞ்சலி செலுத்தப்பட்டது.

குறித்த நிகழ்வு இன்று காலை 10மணிக்கு மார்டின் வீதியில் உள்ள தமிழரசுக் கட்சியின் அலுவலகத்தில் இடம்பெற்றது. மண்டேலாவின் உருவப்படத்திற்கு மலர் மாலை அணிவித்து தீபமேற்றி அஞ்சலியை செலுத்தினர்.

நடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் மாவை சேனாதிராசா தலைமையில் இடம்பெற்ற இந்த நிகழ்வில் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சுரேஸ் பிரேமச்சந்திரன், வடமாகாண சபையின் அவைத்தலைவர் க.சிவஞானம், வடமாகாண உறுப்பினர்களான சிவாஜிலிங்கம், ஆனல்ட், கஜதீபன், சகிர்தன் ஆகியோரும் பிரதேச சபை தவிசாளர்கள் , உறுப்பினர்கள் மற்றும் ஆதரவாளர்கள் எனப்பலர் கலந்து கொண்டனர்.

இதேவேளை வடக்கு மாகாண முதலமைச்சர் சீ.வி.விக்கினேஸ்வரன்  இரங்கல் செய்தியினையும் அனுப்பியிருந்தார்.

ஒடுக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்காக நெல்சன் மண்டேலா போராடியவர்.அதன்படி இவர் பயங்கரவாதி எனப்பட்டம் சூட்டப்பட்டு 27 வருடங்களுக்கு மேலாக இவர் சிறையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தார்.

அத்துடன் விடுதலைக்காக போராடி நாட்டினை விடுதலையடையச் செய்து ஜனாதிபதியாக தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டு தனது பணியை செய்து முடித்தவர் மண்டேலா.

கடந்த 5ஆம் திகதி இவ்வுலகை விட்டு சென்ற மறைந்த மண்டேலாவிற்கு இன்று அவரது கிராமமான கிழக்கு கேப்பில் உள்ள கியூனுவில் நடைபெறவுள்ளமை குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

- See more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=232822511616759287#sthash.rg5TWMi3.dpuf

GTF representative pays last respects to Mandela

 Sunday, 15 December 2013 

Director and Spokesperson of Global Tamil Forum (GTF), Suren Surendiran has visited South Africa to pay his last respects to the late former President Nelson Mandela.

Surendiran accompanied by Sally Padayachie (late Minister Padayachie’s wife) has paid his last respects to the dead South African leader at the Union Building in Pretoria.

The GTF representative travelled to South Africa on the 12th to the African National Congress Head Quarters (Chief Albert Luthuli House) in the centre of Johannesburg, South Africa and had signed the Book of Condolences on behalf of the GTF.

While in South Africa, Surendiran has met with Comrade Obed Bopela Deputy Minister in The Presidency: Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation and Chairman of ANC’s International Relations Division.

Bopela had attended both meetings with the TNA and President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo as part of the senior delegation which accompanied President Jacob Zuma to Sri Lanka for CHOGM in November.

Surendiran says that Bopela has given him some additional insights of those meetings in Colombo and the current thinking of the South African government on the issues in Sri Lanka.

Bopela had also invited the GTF Director to officially represent the Tamil people at the ANC’s official funeral event on Saturday at the Waterkloof Air Force base in Pretoria.

The event will be attended by President Zuma, former President Thabo Mbeki and the entire members of the