Resettled survivors of Vanni onslaught languish in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 30 December 2013, 17:14 GMT]
95% of the 1080 families of Batticaloa Tamils who survived the 2009 genocidal onslaught in Vanni and resettled back in Batticaloa district have been completely neglected from any help and still languish without basic facilities. When the families displaced from Batticaloa to Vanni in 2004 from different places of the district, Karuna group paramilitary destroyed their houses and their possessions were robbed. When they returned to their district, surviving the genocidal onslaught, Europe-based NGOs and UN agencies provided temporary huts to these families. All support stopped there, and these huts became the ‘markers’ for these families to get isolated from further aid, the families complain. They have also been sidelined from the Indian housing assistance. 

These families are systematically discriminated in the provision of humanitarian aid in the district through the influence exerted on the civil administration by the SL military operated paramilitary elements. 

Of 4,000 houses to be constructed in the Eastern Province under the Indian housing plan, 2,000 units are allocated to the victims in Batticaloa district. The Vanni survivors are neglected also from the provision of housing scheme due to various interferences in the selection of beneficiaries, the affected families complain. 

The families of Vanni survivors, who were originally displaced from Koa'ra'laip-pattu North (Vaakarai), Koa'ra'laip-pattu South (Kiraan), Vavu'natheevu, Koa'ra'laip-pattu, Paddip-pazhai, Poara-theevup-pattu and Ma'n-munaip-pattu were resettled into 10 DS divisions when they came back to the district surviving the genocidal onslaught, barbed-wire internment and SL military detention.

Movement for Equal Rights meeting in London

 Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Movement for equal rights (MER) held a meeting to commemorate the International Human Rights day on the 15th of December 2013 at Savoy court, North Harrow.

A remarkable day indeed as Nelson Mandela was buried in South Africa on the same day. It was a good idea to commemorate human rights day as there are lot of human rights violations happening around the world and especially in Sri Lanka. Mr Nuwan Jayaweera made the first speech and we were reminded of that fact that many human rights violations were occurred in Sri Lanka past few decades.  Mr Nuwan jayaweera emphasized that, while those violations are happening country’s political leadership embarked on forcing new liberal economic policies on populace. The abstract form of the speech was later translated to Tamil by a member of the audience. Thereafter two speeches were done in Tamil by two gentleman. Unfortunately there were no translations of these speeches to English or Sinhalese. So I cannot comment on any of the ideas of the learned speakers. I found this is rather disappointing. It is partially my own fault as I should have learned Tamil, but as a speaker of three languages I think I never had a good chance to learn the language. I am sorry about that fact (about myself), but I think organizers should have provided the translation.

Then we had, as a general "habit" of many other Front Line Socialist party organised meetings I have attended "the call to Sri Lanka" via skype. As usual, with many delays we had the convener of the Movement for Equal Rights in Sri Lanka on the line with his translator. He spoke in Sinhalese and we had a Tamil translator there. Well done.  I wouldn't find anything different he said about what's happening in Sri Lanka, compare to the lecture given by Mr Kumar Gunarathnam in one of the first meetings last year or the speech by Nuwan Jayaweera earlier on. In the first meeting of MER Mr Gunarathnam eloquently spelled out problems facing Sri Lankan population regarding human rights and how nationalistic parties supporting this with their unabated nationalism. The current convener Mr Ravindra Mudalige repeated the same ideals except he added the TNA to the equation as well. According to him TNA is as nationalistic as UNP. There are no arguments about that. UNP MPs were trying to score nationalistic points regarding MP Sridharan's speech last few weeks.  I may not condone the separatism and Sridharan's nationalistic course or the UNP MPS replies, however I am clear about the rights of the Tamil people to live in dignity and respect in their own land. Whether we called it self-determination or limited autonomy or fully powered provincial council is mere a formality. While we should oppose the TNA's nationalist position, we must not forget that, they are the most vociferous advocates for the Tamil people's rights in Northern and Eastern provinces at this moment in time. They are getting the wrath of the government, armed forces and southern media for that matter. Do the MER wanted to jump into that band wagon?

We were allowed to ask few questions and few did. One of them was Comrade Nirmala Rajasinghem. She did not identify herself. I think presidium should have recognized work done by her in human rights front and her role as one of the founding members of the Sri Lankan Democracy forum and frequent writer to the Open Democracy website. She was the first women to be detained under the prevention of terrorism act according to Open Democracy website and I remember she was freed by the LTTE from Welikada prison. (reference:  

http://www.opendemocracy.net/authors/nirmala-rajasingam) She left the LTTE due to its serious human-rights abuses and also LTTE was accused of assassinating her sister, a well-known human rights activist Rajini Thiranagama. Rajini was one of the founding members of University Teachers of Human rights (Jaffna).  Her question was answered but not required level of authority or assurance by Nuwan Jayaweera or  the Convener of the forum Ravindra Mudalige. This is a serious lapse on their part, as obviously they haven't done their homework.

There was a Muslim gentlemen who asked what the objectives of the MER as it was not clear to him, and he has said he converted himself to Islamic religious person from a Marxist and he would like to know what MER thinks about Muslim issues radicalised by the young Muslims. He particularly wanted to know what the MER's stance about Niqab is. This is an important issue as, even though I assume myself to be a leftist I am against women wearing niqab. Niqab for me a garment of suppression of women by male dominated society and I would not like anyone to force women to wear a niqab. Most of the Muslim countries lack basic human rights and most countries do not allow women to drive, Marry on their will, there are also many honour killings as well. I am also against segregation of women and men in lecture halls at British Universities. But I would have liked to listen to this gentlemen and if his opinion is fair than I would have agreed with it. There were no time to accommodate his request and reply from presidium was "working Class Struggle". Apparently MER is there to facilitate working class struggle and unite the masses for it. There I was thinking Frontline Socialist party's main objective was to unite and lead the working class in Sri Lanka.

I would like to emphasize the fact that I would not undermine anyway the organizers hard work to get the people into these forums and organize such an event. They put themselves in the line of fire while organising these events. Convener of MER Ravindra Mudalige and his Tamil translator may even put themselves in danger (as shown in the recent past in Jaffna and Trincomalee) when they are courageously taking part in rallies, demonstrations and discussions.

However in this whole period of time apart from mentioning disappearances of Lalith Kumar Veeraraj and Kuhan Muruganandhan they have not mention any other specific human rights violations by the state. Very recently Sri Lankan police gunned down suspects of a crime without resorting to lawful path. This happens very often and torture of suspects in Police Stations across the country is ripe. They have mentioned the land grab of the North but failed to mention any concrete places they are happening. These are important. When we level an allegation then we should back them up with facts.  What we need is not an another forum, discussion with Skype connection and continually  repeat same points over and over as in apolitical ralley. What they need is to research the subject of the discussion more and allow the people to air their opinions and handle the discussion forum. Then formulate the response at the end of the forum with the approval of the majority. What is not clear is, what they have achieved here except just to show "headquarters" that they had organised a meeting.

Courtesy - http://kolambagamaya.blogspot.co.uk/

Three Churches Attacked On Christmas Eve

December 31, 2013

“As the world prepared to celebrate Christmas on the 24^th evening, three churches in the South of Sri Lanka were attacked by mobs”, says the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL).

File photo

1. The pastor of the Assemblies of God church in Angunukolapalassa was surrounded by a mob of over 300 villagers together with Buddhist monks, demanding he stops all worship services planned for Christmas day. The mob alleged that there was a police complaint made by a Buddhist monk against the pastor’s religious activities. However, the pastor cited his fundamental rights and refused to stop holding services. The pastor was provided police protection from the night of the incident.

2. The same night, the Assemblies of God Church in Hikkaduwa was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants throwing fire crackers into the church premises and into the pastors residence adjoining the church.

3. At approximately at 11.30p.m., another group of unidentified assailants began to hurl stones at the Light House ChurchHikkaduwa. Some minor damage was reported with glass windows being shattered by the stones.

All three pastors have lodged police complaints in the respective area police stations.

Suffi Muslim Shrine At Potuvil Attacked By Another Islamic Group

December 31, 2013 |

Meanwhile a Muslim shrine at Potuvil, belonging to the Suffi sect was attacked by another Islamic group last Friday (27) with the promise that a mosque would be built on that spot within three months, the Island reported.

File photo

According to the newspaper, the Chairman of the Islamic Solidarity Front (ISF) Reyyaz Salley told them that about 50 to 60 persons had attacked the 300-year-old shrine. He claimed about 10 to 15 shrines and 25 mosques had been attacked all over the country by the extremists in recent years. Potuvil police said they were investigating the incident. Salley also said that the Wakfu Board, had jurisdiction over religious issues but it had been dissolved two month back, and a new board had not been appointed.

Tamils for Obama Congratulates TGTE Prime Minister Rudrakumaran for Election to his Second Term

Tuesday, 31 December 2013 

The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) re-elected Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran as their Prime Minister for their second Parliamentary term on December 6, 2013.

During his first term, the TGTE gained diplomatic recognition from two countries, South Sudan and Northern Ireland.

Additionally, TGTE promulgated a Freedom Charter on May 18, 2013 (this was inspired by the African National Congress's Freedom Charter in South Africa).

Presently, in addition to the campaign for an international investigation, TGTE is also campaigning for an International Protection Mechanism for Sri Lankan Tamils and to secure the release of documents on Tamils prepared by the Office of the Special Advisor to UN Secretary-General on Prevention of Genocide.

"Rudrakumaran and Tamils for Obama share the same goal. Both believe that referendum among Tamils inside Sri Lanka and Tamil diaspora will contribute to the political solution to the conflict" said a spokesman for Tamils for Obama.

"Also, we see the purpose of TGTE as laying the foundation for an independent Tamil Eelam and democracy in the northeast of Sri Lanka" he continued.

"Under Rudrakumaran's leadership, we trust that process has begun.”

"It is noteworthy that TGTE's Constitution mandates that it should realize its political objective only through peaceful and democratic means" continued the spokesman.

Mr. Rudrakumaran practices law in Manhattan, New York.

Tamils for Obama is a politically active group of Tamil Americans. They believe that over 70,000 Tamil civilians were massacred during the last weeks of the Sri Lankan ethnic war. They have also watched the behavior of the Sri Lankan Singhalese victors after the war, and strongly conclude that Tamils in Sri Lanka will only be safe when this unfortunate island is divided into two states.

To contact the group, call at (516) 308-2645 and speak to, or leave a message for, the Communication Director, Tamils for Obama.
http://www.TamilsForObama.com

Courtesy - http://www.prweb.com/

Adieu 2013, the year of the ‘VVIP Citizen’

• A customary salutation to the year gone by…December 31, 2013

Well, at least for the sake of nostalgic continuity (if nothing else) I must pen-down my two cents worth on the eve of yet another year, particularly in deference to those dear friends who constantly bombard me with sentiments like “Chrishi, why aren’t you writing now?”; it’s not that I’d given up you see, but I just didn’t think anyone cared anymore, but leaving all that aside momentarily, here goes!2013 in a nutshell

Adieu 2013, the year of the ‘VVIP Citizen’ by nelvely

WikiLeaks: Ranil’s Proposal To Chandrika Has A Poison Pill – US

December 31, 2013 |

“As the meeting concluded, Milinda said that the PM was glad to hear our views, that he heard a lot of views, including Milinda’s own, as well as those of other Ministers. In the end, however, only the PM could make the decision. It was his government and his political future. The Ambassador replied that we understood completely that it was his country, his issue, and needed his solution. Moragoda asked that the Ambassador convey to Assistant Secretary Rocca that her comments to Ambassador Subasinghe had been heard.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

Ranil

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The classified diplomatic cable details a meeting the US ambassador had with then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The “Confidential” is cable signed by the US Ambassador to Colombo Jeffrey J. Lunstead on January 12, 2004.

Placing a comment the ambassador wrote; “Unless there is some sudden and unexpected breakthrough on the Defense side, it appears almost certain that we are set for a period of drift at least until the provincial elections are concluded. The PM’s proposal for power-sharing at the provincial level is quite vague. It also has a poison pill attached in the requirement that the SLFP give up its proposed alliance with the JVP. All that said, we remain convinced that the two sides could bridge the gap on defense and come to an earlier understanding — if they can summon the will to do so. Indian High Commissioner Sen, whom the Ambassador saw the evening previous, was quite pessimistic, although that may be because he is wedded to his theater concept.”

Related stories to this cable;

Let’s make 2014 an auspicious New Year!

 Tuesday, 31 December 2013

2014 New Year dawns when Sri Lanka, as a country, has not achieved any victory. At present the country is economically broken down; politically bankrupt and culturally forgone. This is the pathetic situation Mahinda Rajapaksa family rule has dragged the country towards and 2014 would never be an auspicious new year. As such, conventional wishes of ‘Happy New Year’ are  meaninglrss.

The spiralling cost of living is unbearably high for the masses in Sri Lanka. Also, Rajapaksa regime has not been able to arrest the speedily declining income of the masses. Instead of economic strategy that brings relief to masses, the regime has made economic vagrancy that allows local and international racketeers to suck the essence of our land its economic strategy. Under the circumstances, Sri Lanka has been converted to a ‘hub’ of gambling, drugs, liquor, prostitution, crime and money laundering.

The idiotic foreign policy followed by Mahinda Rajapakse regime that is establishing its family rule by destroying unity and brotherhood among communities and denying democratic rights to the people has given the opportunity to imperialists to enforce sanctions against Sri Lanka.

2014 that dawns under such circumstances would never be an auspicious new year. As such, the masses in the country, without restricting themselves for making wishes, have been forced to understand the challenges confronted by the country, organize themselves and struggle against the dictatorship of Rajapakse family.

The JVP emphasizes that the year 2014 should be made a year when masses organize themselves against the dictatorship of the Rajapakse family and the bankrupt capitalism that protects it, struggle against it and topples it. Let us make this a year of victories for masses.
Let’s make 2014 an auspicious year for the masses!   

Political Bureau
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS RACISM AND DECLARES THAT “ALL RELIGIONS ARE TRUE” AT HISTORIC THIRD VATICAN COUNCIL

DIVERSITY CHRONICLE

December 5, 2013 · by Diversity Chronicle · in Christians, Homophobia, Immigration, Intolerance, Islamophobia,The War On Women

For the last six months, Catholic cardinals, bishops and theologians have been deliberating in Vatican City, discussing the future of the church and redefining long-held Catholic doctrines and dogmas. The Third Vatican Council, is undoubtedly the largest and most important since the Second Vatican Council was concluded in 1962. Pope Francis convened the new council to “finally finish the work of the Second Vatican Council.” While some traditionalists and conservative reactionaries on the far right have decried these efforts, they have delighted progressives around the world.

The Third Vatican Council concluded today with Pope Francis announcing that Catholicism is now a “modern and reasonable religion, which has undergone evolutionary changes. The time has come to abandon all intolerance. We must recognize that religious truth evolves and changes. Truth is not absolute or set in stone. Even atheists acknowledge the divine. Through acts of love and charity the atheist acknowledges God as well, and redeems his own soul, becoming an active participant in the redemption of humanity.”

“Through humility, soul searching, and prayerful contemplation we have gained a new understanding of certain dogmas. The church no longer believes in a literal hell where people suffer. This doctrine is incompatible with the infinite love of God. God is not a judge but a friend and a lover of humanity. God seeks not to condemn but only to embrace. Like the fable of Adam and Eve, we see hell as a literary device. Hell is merely a metaphor for the isolated soul, which like all souls ultimately will be united in love with God” Pope Francis declared.

In a speech that shocked many, the Pope claimed “All religions are true, because they are true in the hearts of all those who believe in them. What other kind of truth is there? In the past, the church has been harsh on those it deemed morally wrong or sinful. Today, we no longer judge. Like a loving father, we never condemn our children. Our church is big enough for heterosexuals and homosexuals, for the pro-life and the pro-choice! For conservatives and liberals, even communists are welcome and have joined us. We all love and worship the same God.”

One statement in the Pope’s speech has sent traditionalists into a fit of confusion and hysteria. “God is changing and evolving as we are, For God lives in us and in our hearts. When we spread love and kindness in the world, we touch our own divinity and recognize it. The Bible is a beautiful holy book, but like all great and ancient works, some passages are outdated. Some even call for intolerance or judgement. The time has come to see these verses as later interpolations, contrary to the message of love and truth, which otherwise radiates through scripture. In accordance with our new understanding, we will begin to ordain women as cardinals, bishops and priests. In the future, it is my hope that we will have a woman pope one day. Let no door be closed to women that is open to men!”

In addition to the Pope’s sweeping calls for tolerance and a new progressive understanding of Catholicism, he condemned racism, raising his voice and pounding the podium in front of him. Pope Francis spent over an hour castigating anti-immigrant politicians, parties and individuals. Wagging his finger sternly with righteous indignation, the Pope shouted “Racism today is the ultimate evil in the world. When Italians, Spanish or French turn back the boats of African migrants seeking a better life, are they not like the inn keeper who told Mary and Joseph that there was no room for them and the infant Christ? These migrants are children of God and we are commanded to love them!”

His voice loudly echoing through St. Peter’s basilica, the Pope stated “those who would dare to turn immigrants away, be they legal or undocumented, turn their backs on Christ himself! A racist is not a true Christian. A racist casts aside his humanity to become a beast, a demon! He is the embodiment and personification of evil, a Satan!”

To a chorus of thunderous applause, Pope Francis stated “because Muslims, Hindus and African Animists are also made in the very likeness and image of God, to hate them is to hate God! To reject them to is to reject God and the Gospel of Christ. Whether we worship at a church, a synagogue, a mosque or a mandir, it does not matter. Whether we call God, Jesus, Adonai, Allah or Krishna, we all worship the same God of love. This truth is self-evident to all who have love and humility in their hearts!”

In a announcement that shocked many people, Pope Francis warned that “those who seek to deny a home to the migrant, to the African and the Muslim, risk their membership in the church. We will consider excommunication for those whose souls willingly dwell in the darkness and evil of intolerance and racism. Satan himself is a metaphor or a personification, for the collective evils of mankind. Today, these evils manifest foremost as racism, intolerance, religious persecution and bigotries of all kinds.”

A couple of prominent Catholic cardinals have responded to Pope Francis’ declarations by leaving the church. Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria asked, “what do we stand for if we declare that truth is relative? On the contrary, truth exists independently of our personal feelings. All of this talk of love and tolerance is hollow if we have no identity of our own, if we stand for nothing. I charge that Francis has become a heretic, and that he is not a valid Pope. Indeed, Francis is no longer even a Catholic. The seat of Saint Peter is vacant. I am now a Sedevacantist. I should have become one long ago. The Vatican has embraced ecumenism in the past, but worse than that, it has now embraced moral relativism on abortion and homosexuality. At the same time it is embracing moral absolutism in favour of illegal immigration and cultural genocide against Europe.”

In his most controversial statement, Cardinal Arinze said “Islam has overrun my own country, and now it threatens to overrun Europe. Some parts of Nigeria now live under Islamic Sharia law. Catholics there are no longer free to practice their faith publicly. Francis is a fool if he thinks that his liberal immigration policy will end well. He has betrayed western civilization. Vatican City will one day become a giant mosque if things continue in Europe along their present course. Those in the West who ignore this truth, do so at their own peril.”

In an angry and vitriolic rant revealing deep self-hating tendencies, the African Cardinal Arinze stated “There is nothing wrong with Europeans who want to protect their borders. The problem is that there is not enough border control and the immigration policies are far too lenient in Europe. Is it racist to desire to preserve one’s own home? Why is it racist to want to preserve your own culture and a future for your people and your children? Have white people gone stupid today?”

This much is clear, the Catholic Church has made a decision to rejoin humanity and to reject intolerance and extremism. The church has lost a few narrow-minded bigots, with reports of some small parishes and a few cardinals and bishops defecting, but Pope Francis has gained the friendship of the world. Pope Francis deserves praise for taking a humane stand in defence of human rights and against bigotry.

Copyright © 2013 Diversity Chronicle All Rights Reserved.

MP Mangala’s house robbed 

 MP Mangala’s house robbed-December 31, 2013 




ByAshan Paranahewa

The residence of Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera located in Panadura, has been robbed by an unknown person last afternoon, the Police Media spokesman told Ceylon Today Online.


The police further stated that MP was not at his residence when the robbery occurred and that only the cook had been present.

The Panadura Police are conucting further investigations.

Six suspects who stole 20 motorbikes arrested 

    December 31, 2013 

Six individuals have been arrested in the Tangalle area for allegedly stealing 20 motorbikes, the Police Media Unit told Ceylon Today Online.

The suspects have been identified as residents of Ranna, Angunakolapalassa.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had stolen 19 TVS bikes and a Loncin bike from Tangalle, Beliatta, Hambantota, Tissamaharama, Suriyawewa,Angunakolapalassa, Weeraketiya and Middeniya areas.

The goods have been taken under the police custody while the suspects are to be produced before the Tangalle Magistrate Court today.  Tangalle Police are carrying out further investigations. (Ceylon Today Online)

Doctor who fixed hidden cameras in restrooms arrested 

    December 31, 2013

By Ashan Paranahewa.

A medical doctor who fixed several hidden cameras in restrooms of the Anuradhapura Hospital has been arrested by the Anuradhapura Police this afternoon.

The doctor has been caught with the cameras a week ago, and been arrested by the Anuradhapura Police based on a protest commenced by the medical Staff of the hospital today. The suspect is to be produced before the Anuradhapura Court today. 

2014: A year of change for women in business?

 December 31, 2013 

On 10 December 2013, as the year was drawing to a close, something unprecedented happened at Henry Ford’s venerable General Motors (GM). Mary Barra took the wheel, as CEO, to become the most powerful woman in the US car industry.
Barra is one of a fast growing cadre of top female managers at GM; a quarter of its factory management are female. The cutting-edge technology electric vehicle program is driven by a woman. Barra has been described as ‘a coach, and that’s the sort of management style this company needs’ says David Cole of the Centre for Automotive Research.
She takes over from Dan Akerson, a former military man, who leaves on a high note. His new Chevrolet Impala has been cited as ‘the best saloon ever tested’ by the magazine Consumer Reports.
Will 2014 be different?

2014 a Year of Change for Women in Business by nelvely

War Criminals By Default

Alan Hart Salem-News.com-Dec-30-2013`

In my analysis the real tragedy is that something could have been done at a very early stage to stop the killing and destruction. What was needed was for President Obama to have a private conversation with President Putin along something like the following lines.

exohuman.com

(LONDON) - My last thought for 2013 is that for their failure to co-operate and coordinate to make the United Nations work to stop the slaughter and destruction in Syria, the leaders of the five permanent and controlling members of the Security Council - the U.S, Britain, France, Russia and China - are war criminals by default.

And I agree with an end of the year review comment by Basma Atassi for Al Jazeera. As more videos emerged of atrocities, “the international community’s inaction continued to give Syrians the message that their human worth is insignificant. The perpetrators (on all sides) have a free ride to kill and the victims have no place to go for justice.”

There are only two ways to run this world of ours.

One is in accordance with the rule of law and respect for the human and political rights of all people. In this way of managing Planet Earth, the governments of all nations, no exceptions (so including those of Israel and the U.S.), would be called and held to account by the Security Council and punished as necessary and appropriate when they demonstrated contempt for the rule of law and their various treaty obligations and other commitments.

The other way is in accordance with Jungle Law. For some years it has been my view that our leaders are taking us back to the jungle. What has been allowed to happen in Syria has only reinforced my fear on this account.

From the moment in April 2011 when the Syrian army was deployed to quell the uprising and fired on demonstrators across the country, it ought to have been obvious (I’m sure it was) to the governments of the major powers that the minority Alawite standard bearers, President Bashar al-Assad and his top military and other security people, would kill and kill and kill to stay in power and, if necessary, would die fighting rather than let go the levers of their power.

In my analysis the real tragedy is that something could have been done at a very early stage to stop the killing and destruction. What was needed was for President Obama to have a private conversation with President Putin along something like the following lines.

“It’s not in any of our interests that this conflict be allowed to escalate and spread.What’s your price for using your influence to require Assad to step down and make way for elections? I understand, of course, that you’ll only be able to use your influence to this effect if there is a firm and absolute guarantee that after elections the wellbeing and security of the minority Alawite population will be assured. There must be no recriminations and revenge for decades of police state rule by the Ba-ath Party of Assad father and son. I give you my word that the United States, through the Security Council, will play its necessary role in making good this guarantee... And one more thing, Vladimir. I also give you my word that the U.S. will not seek to make use of regime change in Syria as a means of trying to have Russia kicked out of Tartus, the only Mediterranean naval base for your Black Sea Fleet.”

If Obama had been wise enough to take such an initiative, I think it much more likely than not that he would have got a positive response from Putin.

It’s worth noting that after the G20 Summit in Mexico in October 2012, British Prime Minister David Cameron claimed that during the meeting President Putin had shifted his position and wanted Bashar al-Assad out of power. Cameron said: “There remain differences over sequencing and the shape of how the transition takes place, but it is welcome that President Putin has been explicit that he does not want Assad remaining in charge in Syria.

What we need next is agreement on a transitional leadership which can move Syria to a democratic future that protects the rights of all its communities.” Probably Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was partly right when he said that Cameron’s statement about Putin’s position was “not corresponding to reality.” But Putin did say,“It is important after regime change, if it happens, and it must happen only by constitutional means, that peace comes to the country and bloodshed stops.”The reality as it seemed to me at the time, and which Cameron put his own spin on, was that Putin had indicated that he could live with regime change in Syria if it happened by constitutional means. And that’s why I think it was much more likely than not that Obama would have got a positive response from Putin at a very early point in the conflict if he had had the wisdom to make his case along the lines I suggested above.

A question arising is why didn’t Obama take such an initiative to protect the best interests of all concerned? My guess is that it was more than a lack of wisdom and global leadership on his part. For far too long he was listening to those (Zionism’s verbal hit men in particular) who were telling him that regime change in Syria, assisted as required by American military force and therefore on American-and-Israeli terms, was a necessary step on the road to regime change in Iran.

Today I think it can be said without fear of contradiction that Putin is as alarmed as his Western counterparts by the prospect of Jihadists of various kinds establishing a safe haven and engine room in Syria. I also think Lavrov was correct when he recently indicated, by obvious implication, that behind closed doors American and Western European leaders are beginning to understand that they may now need Assad and his ruthless war machine if the forces of violent Islamic fundamentalism are to be prevented from having a permanent base in Syria from which to create regional and even global havoc.

The next test of what if anything is left of Obama’s credibility as a leader who can bring positive influence to bear on events in Syria is fast approaching. With a Geneva meeting to chart the way to ending the conflict scheduled for 22 January, he has to decide whether or not Iran should be a party to the talks. Russia and Lakhdar Brahimi, the very experienced UN Special Envoy to Syria and chief mediator, insist that Iran must be represented to improve the prospects of the Geneva talks being something less than a complete failure. I agree.

The Zionist lobby and its stooges in Congress, plus Israel’s Arab state allies of convenience in the Gulf led by Saudi Arabia, are opposed to Iran’s participation in the Geneva talks. Will Obama have the will and the courage to defy them?

On Foreign Investments And Exports: Is It the Therapy For Sri Lanka’s Underdevelopment? – III

By Dhanusha Pathirana –December 31, 2013 

Dhanusha Pathirana

Calibration of the Industrial Structure to enable the Absorption of Spatially Immobile Rural Labour Surplus

The structure of labour supply discussed in section II in the context of the Sri Lankan economy was also largely the inner dynamic of the organisation of labour, shared by the three model economies under review; namely Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The strategy adopted by these economies to absorb the spatially immobile rural labour surplus to manufacturing industry was to expand small scale industries in rural areas through a system of subcontracting with vertical inter-firm linkages making it possible for a smooth transfer of labour from agriculture to industry without a geographical shift in the labour force. This exceptional technique adopted by the East Asian states to transfer rural labour surplus from agriculture to industry solved the problem of sectoral and geographical immobility of rural labour and was achieved without a fall in the output of agriculture (see Ranis and Fei, Japanese Agricultural Development’, 1967). The process was mediated by establishing subcontracting linkages between large-scale firms situated in towns engaged in capital intensive assembly work and SMEs based in rural areas absorbing the labour surplus of agriculture to produce the component parts required by the large-scale enterprises. The production of the component parts in the lights of automotive parts and components, machinery, electrical equipment, computers, computer parts and accessories, metalworking was farmed out to a rural network of small and medium scale industries by the large scale assembly firms situated in the towns.

The central phenomenon to be noted in this regard is that the production of advanced, semi-advanced and simple component parts under the small scale production framework was made possible by the breaking up of the production process of a particular product into multitude of simpler production processes. This is quite the antithetical form of factor organisation in relation to the centralized industrial networks found in advanced Western economies. This means to say that the key organisational feature in East Asian industrial development is that the production of a particular good was divided into multitude of products and into mutually independent production process to simplify the production process. This on one hand allowed the production of advanced parts and components based on the small and medium scale organisation of the production network and on the other hand, enabled the transfer of rural labour surplus that is spatially immobile, from agriculture to industry. This further division of the production process of a particular component part into several production processes hence, enabled the penetration of industrial production into rural areas. It enabled the production to be carried out based on small scale production units, which in turn made it possible to absorb the rural labour surplus that was spatially immobile and geographically dispersed in an uneven manner within the rural limits. The spatial immobility of the rural labour surplus is stemming from the particular nature of labour deployment in East Asia’s predominantly paddy based agriculture, as discussed earlier in section II with respect to Sri Lanka.

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There Was Genocide In Biafra

                                A Review of Chinua Achebe’s Memoire

by Osita Ebiem

(December 31, 2013 – New York City – Sri Lanka Guardian) Biafran - Nigeria war ended forty three years ago. The war was fought between 1967 and 1970. The ethnic/religious cleansing or genocide against the Igbo that necessitated the war took place from 1966 to July 1967 when the actual war began. Chinua Achebe in his characteristic sincere and honest narration clearly stated in this long awaited book that it is because there was genocide against the Igbo people then there became a country Biafra. It must have been extremely difficult on Achebe to maintain a balanced position since he was personally involved on the Biafran side but because he is an expert, he succeeded in writing an objective account of what happened. Because Achebe’s There Was A Country is written so lucidly and honestly it should be taught in schools for the benefit of generations who did not witness the war.

Achebe in very plain language calls out those who were behind the crimes against humanity on his people, the Biafrans. It is particularly in this area that Achebe’s critics come heavily on him. The parts played by Obafemi Awolowo, Yakubu Gowon and Harold Wilson during the war in deliberately starving to death Biafran children and their parents are just plain enough for all to see. In this aspect of mentioning those who did or did not do anything in Biafra, Achebe is careful and, like he anticipated the criticisms of the Awoists (Awolowo fans), he only recounts by citing copiously statements and verifiable evidences that clearly indict these men. More than three million (20% of the population) of Biafrans, mostly civilians were killed in the space of two and half years. Achebe’s critics would have worth any consideration if they had come up with any credible counter arguments rather than simply trying to shout down their presumed opponent only because they do not like the sound of his voice since what he is saying makes them uncomfortable.

In the past many months since the book came out, it has succeeded in refocusing the world’s attention on the genocide that took place in Biafra. In all, Chinua Achebe’s There Was A Country is an important book by an important and credible witness. And for a better and a more just world, Achebe’s account in this book should be taken seriously.

8 people killed in violence in China’s Xinjiang region

By Jethro Mullen and Kevin Wang, CNN-Mon December 30, 2013
(CNN) — Police shot and killed eight people who attacked a police station in Xinjiang, a restive region in northwestern China, authorities said Monday.

Nine people armed with knives threw explosives at the building and set police cars on fire, the Xinjiang government said on its official news website. One of the people was taken into custody, the statement said, describing the attackers as “thugs.”

The violence took place around 6:30 a.m. in Yarkant County in western Xinjiang and is under investigation, authorities said.

It’s the latest outbreak of deadly unrest in Xinjiang, a large, resource-rich region that is home to the Uyghurs, a Turkic-speaking, predominantly Muslim ethnic group.

Earlier this month, a clash in the region left 14 Uyghurs and two police officers dead, authorities said. Chinese officials said the two police officers came under attack as they were trying to apprehend suspects.

The arrival in Xinjiang of waves of Han Chinese people over the decades has fueled tensions with the Uyghurs. Chinese authorities have cracked down heavily on violence involving Uyghurs, deepening resentment.

The government statement about Monday’s clash didn’t specify the ethnicity of the people who fought with police.

The details of violent encounters in Xinjiang often remain murky. Uyghur diaspora groups, like the World Uyghur Congress, have criticized the Chinese government for the lack of transparency over such events.

Chinese authorities have blamed Uyghurs for a vehicle attack in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in October that killed five people — including the three in the vehicle — and wounded 40 others.

Xinjiang’s worst violence in decades took place in July 2009, when rioting in the capital, Urumqi, between Uyghurs and Han Chinese killed some 200 people and injured 1,700. That unrest was followed by a crackdown by security forces.

PTSD: And the Other Ultimate Sacrifices

Dr. Phil Leveque, Professor of Pharmacology Salem-News.com-Dec-30-2013

Is there any limit to what Veterans must endure? Where is the "support for troops" now?

Dr. Phil Leveque, PTSD sufferer/survivor. Photo by Bonnie King

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - I have nothing but honor and utmost respect for the 300,000 of my fellow dogfaces in WWII who were killed so that I could write these stories honoring them.

I was committed to combat late in WWII, but many in my company and my battalion whom I knew well were killed, many just in front of me. It is an eerie feeling just to remember “there but by the grace of God, go I”. This happened too often when I was in a combat zone but for only about three months. I even get those feelings today, 68 years later. This is PTSD.

My title may be strange to some people, but there are things worse than death which my fellow Combat Infantrymen are suffering today.

The VA treatment of injured veterans, especially those who have PTSD, makes me wonder if the V-A stands for Veterans-Assassination, or Veterans-Abomination; both of which seem applicable at the present time.

The VA is killing more veterans than died in combat, by bad drug treatment, or no treatment at all.

The Army Infantry and the Marines brainwash their men to be psychopathic killers, then order them to “go kill your enemies”. This was a severe shock to most of the men but the concept was regularly beat into their heads. If we didn’t do as we were ordered, we might be sent to be a point man, leading an attack, a Scout going out to seek trouble or a Forward Observer, like a goat in a tiger trap. All these three were frequently suicide missions.

And for many, that was the result. I know --- I was there, many times.

What I’m really getting to is/are the deplorable medical services mostly denied to Veterans/PTSD victims who usually are subjected to the deny-deny-deny till the veterans do die.

Right now, there are at least 1 million PTSD Veterans in this category who have really been thrown into the ash can with no medical support whatsoever.

In addition to this mistreatment, or part of the group (million veterans) are at least 200,000 maybe more who are homeless, or living under bridges, or sleeping on the sidewalk someplace in ragged clothes.

As a result of this denial of medical care, we have the Veteran PTSD victims turning to alcohol which they were taught to do in basic training. And tobacco addiction, which they learned at the same time, or illegal drugs like cocaine or meth, which allows them to escape their miserable existence for even a few hours.

Another part of the ultimate sacrifices is being in jail or prison, usually for the use of illegal or lethal drugs mentioned above.

Many veterans die from taking the medications given them by the VA, prescription drugs kill about 106,000 patients per year, many are PTSD Veteran victims.

Along with this are about 80,000 deaths by alcohol. Most are veterans.
Tobacco kills about 435,000 a year. Most of these also are Veterans.

There are other ramifications about PTSD. Statistics indicate that PTSD causes an increase in divorce. But also, that divorce cause PTSD. This ends up with shattered families so that Veterans PTSD affects families and children.

The overall adverse effect of PTSD goes far beyond the combat soldiers or Marines who are the most effected by PTSD and its sequels.

Others also get PTSD, and I am not diminishing that fact. I am only writing about what I know best.

Psychotherapy by whoever has been a very expensive bust. But I will admit that it possibly works for the lower grades of PTSD. For the more extreme cases, pharmacotherapy especially with Cannabis/Marijuana type drugs has been found to be the best and many PTSD Veterans have discovered this.

Cannabis is a complete substitute for the body’s own endocannabinoid anandamide which is sucreeted by the body in stressful situations.

It is always there in small amounts. When the body is over-stressed with PTSD, the body cannot overcome this stress by itself.

In the Israeli and Canadian Armies, Cannabis is freely given to soldiers who have suffered combat terrors which gives the essence of battle, is also used freely for the sequels of battle --- PTSD.

Despite many publications supporting the concept of Cannabis/Marijuana as the best medicine to treat combat terrors and PTSD, the US Government and the VA assassination teams still refuse to allow combat veterans to use this medicine.

The results I have given above.

These are:

• Alcoholism
• Suicide
• Murders
• Divorce
• Drug addiction
• Tobacco death
• Spousal abuse
• Child abuse
• Jailing
• Penitentiaries
• Auto accidents
• Homelessness
• There are probably many more.