Friday, March 14, 2014

Sri Lanka: TNA welcomes draft resolution, misses a golden opportunity

Chief Minister for Sri Lanka's northern provincial Government Wigneswaran CV. Pic: AP

By Gibson Bateman and Rathika Innasimuttu- By Asian CORRESPONDENT Mar 14, 2014

Joint statement by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Mr. .. Northern Province minister and Chief Justice R. sampanthan CV Wigneswaran On the draft resolution at the UN's Human Rights Council has a FEW positive Components that has been floated, but - Reasons for laid out in this piece - May be (justifiably) derided by both domestic and international observers as a missed opportunity.

Sri Lanka welcomes TNA Draft Resolution, Misses a Golden Opportunity by nelvely

போர்க்குற்ற விசாரணை கோரினேன்! இலங்கை மீது விசாரணை உறுதி: ஜெனிவாவில் சுமந்திரன் எம்.பி

[ வியாழக்கிழமை, 13 மார்ச் 2014, 04:48.33 PM GMT ]

இலங்கை மீதான போர்க்குற்றத்தை கடந்த மார்ச் மாதத்தில் நான் ஜெனிவாவில் வலியுறுத்தினேன். விசாரணை வருவது உறுதியாகி விட்டது என கூட்டமைப்பின் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சுமந்திரன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இலங்கை அரசின் குற்றச்சாட்டுகளுக்கு விசாரணை வருவது உறுதியாகி விட்டது. அதனை சிலர் திசை திருப்பப் பார்க்கின்றனர்.

இதனை சகலரும் அவதானமாக பார்க்க வேண்டும் என தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் எம்.எ.சுமந்திரன். லங்காசிறி வானொலியின் ஜெனிவாக் கலையகத்தில் வழங்கிய செவ்வியில் தெரிவித்தார்.

Rights Of Tamil Nation Are To Be Restored: An Appeal To Members Of UNHRC

By GK Nathan -March 14, 2014

Dr. GK Nathan

An Appeal to United Nation Human Right Council ( UNHRC ) Members of Tamils in Sri Lanka to Act On Rights at the 25 ^TH session in March 2014

Historical Facts

Sri Lanka an Island is presently inhabited by multilingual (Sinhala, Tamil and English) multireligious (Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians) and multiethnic (Sinhala, Tamil, Arab and European descendents) peoples. Sinhala and Tamil Peoples have lived in the Island for a FEW Millennium [1] . THOMAS million Tamils, a Sea-faring Nation, spread the Subcontinent Live Culture in South East Asia and across the Palk straight, were the First Settlers in the Island, As seen in the archeological evidence [2] . Sinhala people claim that they are descendents of people of North Indian Origin, As per Codrington [3] these are mythological stories related to Buddhism and genetic facts contrary to [4] . The belief that Sri Lanka is a Sinhala Buddhist country is the source of Sinhala-Tamil conflict in the Island and it is the reason for continuing religious conflicts with Hindus, Moslems and Christians. Interest in spice trade, attracted European colonial powers to Sri Lanka; first of them the Portuguese landed on the West shores of the Island in 1505, at that time there were three well established "countries" or Kingdoms in the Island: two of them were Sinhala kingdoms one in the South and the other in the Central Hills (Kandyan); the third one a Tamil Kingdom in the North East; two of the three Kingdoms had Tamil Kings. The Kingdoms in the South and the North came under the control of colonial rulers: first the Portuguese, then the Dutch and finally to the British. The British, last of the colonial rulers conquered the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815 and unified the three Kingdoms as one country for administrative convenience in 1833. The Island became independent in 1948, but only safeguard for the rights of minority groups were instituted with unalterable, section 29 (2) of 1946 in the unitary constitution, the UK has some responsibility for the current predicament. After more than six decades of majority rule, the unitary constitution promulgated at the time of Independence is found to be wanting in a multi-ethnic, lingual and religious country like Sri Lanka. The transfer of power in the hands of the Sinhala Buddhist majority community, instead of sharing power as happened prior to colonial era, was the worst that happened to the Island. Last uprising of Tamils against oppression led to a three decades long military conflict which ended in May 2009. The World silently watched war crimes and crimes against humanity that occurred during the final stages of the military conflict; allegedly, by both combatants resulting in the death of large number of Tamils. Members of International Community have International Called for an independent inquiry, As to what Happened in Sri Lanka in breach of International Covenant On Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) [5] to which Sri Lanka became a signatory On 11 ^TH June 1980. After acceding to ICCPR, the Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) enacted the Sixth Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka in August 1983, the article 157A (2) stated that "No political party or other association or organization shall have as one of its aims or objectives the establishment of a separate state within the territories of Sri Lanka "thus denied the democratic rights guaranteed under Articles 26 of ICCPR to the Tamil Nation. The 6 ^TH Amendment is in contravention of the following articles of ICCPR: Read More

விவசாய நிலங்களை விட்டு இராணுவம் வெளியேறினால் மட்டுமே வடக்கில் விவசாயம் முழுமைபெறும்; கனடா குழுவிற்கு விவசாய அமைச்சர் சுட்டிக்காட்டு

வடக்கு மாகாணத்தில் உள்ள விவசாயிகளின் நிலங்கள் மற்றும் விவசாய திணைக்களங்களின் நிலங்களை ஆக்கிரமித்து இருக்கும் இராணுவம் வெளியேறினால் மட்டுமே வடக்கில் விவசாயம் முழுவடிவம் பெறும் என கனடா குழுவிற்கு வடமாகாண விவசாய அமைச்சர் பொ. ஐங்கரநேசன் சுட்டிக்காட்டியுள்ளார்.

இரண்டு நாள் யாழ்ப்பாணத்திற்கான விஜயத்தினை மேற்கொண்ட கனடா தூதரக குழுவினர் விவசாய அமைச்சின் அலுவலகத்தில் அமைச்சரை இன்று பிற்பகல் 3.30 மணியளவில் சந்தித்து விவசாயத்தின் தற்போதைய நிலை குறித்து அறிந்து கொண்டார். அதன்போதே அமைச்சர் மேற்கண்டவாறு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

சந்திப்பினையடுத்து ஊடகவியலாளர்களுக்கு கருத்துத் தெரிவிக்கும் போதே அவர் இதனைத் தெரிவித்தார். அவர் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கையில்,

வடக்கின் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் எமது விவசாய நிலங்களை இராணுவத்தினர் ஆக்கிரமித்துள்ளனர். இதனால் விவசாய நடவடிக்கைகளை முழுமையான முறையில் நடைபெறவில்லை.

அதன்படி வலி.வடக்கில் பல்லாயிரக்கணக்கான ஏக்கர் விவசாய நிலப்பரப்பு உயர்பாதுகாப்பு வலையம் என்ற போர்வையிலும் உல்லாச விடுதிகள், பாற்சாலைகள் அமைத்து வியாபாரம் செய்தல் மற்றும் மரக்கறி வியாபாரம் போன்றவற்றிலும் இராணுவம் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றது.

எனவே இராணுவம் விவசாய நிலப்பரப்புக்களில் இருந்து முற்றுமுழுதாக விலகிக் கொண்டால் மட்டுமே விவசாயத்தில் வடக்கு தன்னிறைவைக் கொண்டுவரும் என்றேன்.

மேலும் விவசாயத்தில் நவீனதொழில் நுட்ப முறைகளைப் பயன்படுத்தி விவசாயத்தினை வடக்கில் மேற்கொள்ள அதற்கான உபகரணம் மற்றும் பயிற்சிகளை வழங்குமாறும் கோரிக்கை விடுத்திருந்தேன் .

அத்துடன் தென்னிலங்கையில் இருந்து வரும் பால் கொள்வனவு செய்யும் நிறுவனங்கள் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் மிகவும் குறைந்த விலையில் பாலினைக் கொள்வனவு செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

அதில் இருந்து கிடைக்கும் வருமானமும் தென்னிலங்கைக்கு தான் செல்கிறது இதனால் வடக்கில் பால் விற்பனை செய்பவர்கள் மிகவும் நஷ்டத்தையே எதிர்கொள்கின்றனர்.

எனவே வடக்கில் பால் கொள்வனவு செய்யும் வசதிகள், தொழிற்சாலைகளையும் உருவாக்கி அதனூடாக பாலில் இருந்து பெறக்கூடிய ஏனைய பொருட்களையும் செய்வதற்கான உதவிகளை வழங்குமாறும் அவர்களிடம் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளேன். முடிந்தளவு முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்வதாக அவர்கள் என்னிடம் தெரிவித்தனர் என்றார்.

- Http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.phid=345612736914333077 # sthash.ewDfpu2K.dpuf

Sri Lanka: Arrest of female HRD Jayakumari and her 13 year old daughter

Jayakumari and her daughter (photo: uktamilnews)

Mar 14th, 2014

Yesterday (13 TH March 2014) One of the leading Killinochchi in the Frontline activist and her daughter who have been protesting and demanding for the whereabouts of the missing have been arrested by CIDBalendran Jayakumari (Resident of Tharmapurum) and her daughter Vithushaini (13 years) have been detained in their home (No. 5 Musalumpitty, Pullium Pokkanai, Tharmapurum, Killinochchi-Indian housing scheme) from around 4 pm till around 10 pm. Jayakumari called a politician around 4 pm and complaint that her house has been surrounded by the army.Around 4.30 one of Jayakumari's friend K (who is also an activist and looking for her missing child called), Jayakumari answered the phone said she is at home but there are problems then her phone was answered by a man who asked her friend (K) who she is, why she is calling her.

When K said her child is sick and she is at the Vavunia hospital and needs Jayakumari's help, the man cut the call and thereafter Jayakumari's phone was switched off. Since then there is no communication with her.

Jayakumari is a mother of three boys (two of them are killed and one is missing) and one girl. Both the mother and daughter have been in the frontline of many protested organized by Mannar citizens committee and families that are looking for missing and disappeared members. She and her daughter have been featured in many video documentaries on disappeared including the Channel 4 that was released in Nov. 2013. Beside Jayakumari has been the leader of the Mobilizing for Families in Killinochchi VARIOUS hearings, public protests and meetings .

She has met many visiting diplomats and media persons. Jayakumari's one son was killing in Trincomalee, the second one died of a shell attack in Mullivaikal. She handed over her third son (Balendran Mahinthan) to SL army in May 2009 and at that time he was 15 years old (was recruited by the LTTE last minute). One of the government LLRC publications (on the release of rehabilitated cadres) carried his photo and this has been Jayakumari's strong evidence that she gave her son to SL military.

Unformed reports say that Jayakumari and her daughter have been brought to Vavunia for further investigation.

Police spokes person to BBC Tamil Ajith Rohana stated that yesterday night in a shooting burning incident took Place Tharmapurum On 13 TH Morning and the suspect has escaped and they have a house where the suspect has been identified and Two Women have been perplexity investigate. He also stated one of their police officers have been injured in the shooting incident.

By Women's Action Network (WAN)

Tamil 'Disappearances' campaigner and 13y daughter held by Sri Lankan military

13 March 2014

A Tamil rights activist campaigning for the families of those 'disappeared' in Sri Lankan military custody is tonight herself being held, along with her 13 year old daughter, at an unknown location.

Earlier today Sri Lankan police and soldiers entered Balendran Jeyakumari's home in Tharmapuram, as hundreds of troops were deployed in the area.

Local residents told the Uthayan newspaper late this evening they had seen Ms. Jeyakumari and her daughter being arrested and taken away by police.

TNPF leader, Gajen Ponnambalam, who was able to speak briefly to Ms. Jeyakumari soon after the raid began, said she was being threatened for taking part in protests by families of the disappeared. Ms. Jeyakumari's son is one of the missing.

Ms. Jeyakumari, and her young daughter, Vipoosika, gained prominence during British Prime Minister Cameron's visit to Jaffna in November, with Vipoosika's desperate pleas for the return of her missing brother gaining widespread coverage.

Ms. Jeyakumari had said that when troops entered the house, they asked specifically for her daughter, Mr Ponnambalam told Tamil Guardian.

He said that the army then moved Ms. Jeyakumari and her family to another house in the neighbourhood, adding that when he had called Ms Jeyakumari's phone, a police officer had snatched her phone mid-conversation and, speaking in Sinhalese, told him not to call back and that "the matter was under investigation. "

Around 500-750 military personnel are reported to have been deployed in the neighbourhood, according to local residents.

According to local journalists, when asked why the military had surrounded Ms. Jeyakumari's home, a police official claimed that police officers in Kilinochchi had been shot at when searching for a wanted person and that the rights activist was suspected of sheltering the suspect.

See video for Ms Jeyakumari and her daughter during a protest last November:

'Give us our brother!' (13 Nov 2013)

If You Can Dear Sir!

MBy Rajasingham Narendran -March 14, 2014

Dr. Rajasingham Narendran

(With apologies to Rudyard Kipling)

If you CAN tell you about the Truth When All
Are Lying On in Your name and the IT people blame you,
you are If you expose dishonest and good Men,
Pause to explore whether you CAN be honest;
If you follow the Rules and not CAN be tired by what IT takes,
Or if lied about, do not deal in lies,
Or being hated, do not give Way to hating,
And Yet Look to ACT do not too good, nor talk to Rouse Hate: If you CAN Dream a Vision-and let the people know;
If you think CAN-Your thoughts and think through;
If you CAN meet with Triumph and Disaster,
And those Treat Two impostors just the same;
If you CAN hear the lies you to Bear ' ve spoken,

Exposed by the braves to make people know the Truth,
Or Watch Their votes for the promises people gave, Broken,
And Kommission and Remedy 'em up with Honesty: If you heap of All Your One CAN make mistakes,
admit to them in And One Turn of pitch-and-toss,
And gain, to start Again at Your beginnings,
And be honest about Correcting Your mistakes;
If you CAN Force Your Heart and nerve and sinew
To leave a country respected Long after you are gone,
And not Hold On When there is nothing good to give,
Except the Will to say to the people, "Good bye!": If you CAN talk with crowds and be honest,
Or Walk with Kings and not lose Your head,
If neither base fellow, nor kin Fair weather friends CAN hurt you,
And All citizens count with you, but None too much;
If you CAN fill the unforgiving Time given to you,
With KC and honest service,
Yours is the Earth and Everything that's in IT,
And-which is more-you'll be a Man, Dear Sir!

* The intro - (With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling) - of the earlier version of the poem was mistakenly edited out above. We apologize to our readers and to the author.

Sri Lanka to rely on NAM nations at UNHRC

PTI- Friday, March 14, 2014,

Colombo: Sri Lanka has sought the support of Non Aligned Movement (NAM) nations to ward Off the US rights-sponsored UN Human Rights Council resolution against IT at the Next meet in Geneva.

The UNHRC is a US-sponsored resolution to Vote On Sri Lanka which is widely EXPECTED to advocate an International probe into alleged War crimes in the country during the Final Phase of Military Battle with the LTTE which ended in 2009.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Human rights Envoy Mahinda Samarasinghe had urged the NAM nations in the 47-member UN Human Rights Council to stand in solidarity with the island, a government statement said today.

"What could happen is to incite any OTHER NAM Today in Sri Lanka country tomorrow," Samarasinghe told in Geneva while addressing the Asia-Pacific regional member and Observer Group of States and the Latin American Group.

At least 33 are in the 47 member UNHRC either NAM members or nations with observer states. India NAM member who was a leading US had voted in favor of the Resolutions in 2012 and 2013 against Sri Lanka.

In his brief to convince NAM nations, Samarasinghe said that Sri Lanka had had adequately cared for the welfare of some 300,000 people Displaced by the conflict, some 12,000 ex-Members of the rehabilitated LTTE in addition to the rest of resettlement.

"Despite such Rapid Progress Within 5 years since the conflict ended, Sri Lanka has been unfairly singled out for drastic action," he said. "The Island has WOODLAND Reconciliation and has shown continued to Progress Its own mechanisms."

From The Previous Resolutions urged expeditious action to Colombo WOODLAND Reconciliation All Insurances through with the implementation of the Tamil Sri Lanka's own Reconciliation Recommendations commission.

Commonwealth conference chief fights shy of the conference: Hides on conference day like a thiefCommonwealth conference chief fights shy of the conference: Hides on conference day like a thief

(Lanka-e-news-13.March.2014, 11.30PM) It with deep regret we are breaking the sad news that Medamulana MaRa who devil danced and performed thovils wasting public funds in order to appoint himself as a world leader had slinked away Without attending the Commonwealth conference in London eases and hidden himself being the Commonwealth conference chairman.

On the Day of the conference he had traits in keeping with his backwoods medamulana land Crocodile perplexity, had fought shy of the conference participants Facing When he ought to have occupied As the Hot seat the Commonwealth On the Day of the conference chairman.

was The Commonwealth Day On the 11th, and 53 participants arrived in the City of London, Britain As is customary. The country's commonwealth head medamulana MaRa who is also holding the post of chairman of the commonwealth conference plays a vital role in it and his presence is therefore imperative. But this time Medamulana MaRa avoided the conference and sent in his place the effeminate eccentrically theoretical Dr. GL Peiris. No reason was cited to excuse MaRa's absence. In the end, was given a Peiris Most disdainful and demeaning treatment.

When mara On Two Previous Occasions made private visits to London, he had to face Fierce protest demonstrations staged by the Tamil Diaspora living in London. On this Occasion When he had but an Opportunity to officially visit London he slinked away, and retreated like a Rabbit shot.

Political analysts are of the view in London, since the Geneva conference is in Progress, and a majority of the participating countries are mounting Medamulana vicious criticisms against the Rajapakse Regime, Medamulana mara is fighting shy of attending the conference, being OTHER Unable to face the State leaders.

A British National, a political analyst speaking to Lanka e News said, was mara Medamulana if not an opportunist or weak in character, but is strong and confident that he is right in his stance, he should have made the commonwealth conference an opportunity to prove his mettle and rectitude. Instead by shying away and slinking from it he had not only missed a golden opportunity but had overtly and covertly demonstrated that he is deserving of all the epithets fastened to him and criticisms leveled against him. Moreover he had missed a wonderful opportunity offered to him on a platter.

Sri Lanka Says Its Opposition To The Resolution Is A Fight On A Matter Of PrincipleSri Lanka Says Its Opposition To The Resolution Is A Fight On A Matter Of Principle

March 14, 2014
Minister of Plantation Industries and Special Envoy of the President On Human Rights, Mahinda Samarasinghe has said Sri Lanka's opposition to the Resolution being moved by the U.S., UK and a FEW OTHER countries against Sri Lanka was a Fight On a Matter of principle and that Sri Lanka would not compromise on it. Noting that what is happening to Sri Lanka today, could happen to any other NAM country tomorrow, Minister Samarasinghe called upon all Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states to continue to show solidarity with Sri Lanka.

Mahinda Samarasinghe

When Samarasinghe minister made these observations he addressed the Permanent Representatives and delegates of the Non-Aligned Group in Geneva Cross regional, On the sidelines of the 25 ^TH Session of the Human Rights Council yesterday (13 ^TH March 2014). Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Ravinatha Aryasinha Associated with the Minister was also at this briefing.

The Minister who had earlier this week addressed the Asia-Pacific Regional Group of Member and Observer States and the Latin American Group of Countries at the Palais de Nations in Geneva, said Sri Lanka over the years was a country that had continued to engage with the international community and needed no Resolutions encouraging it to do so. He said on this occasion too Sri Lanka was briefing that various groups and has been proactive and shared information in a transparent manner.

Recalling the challenges faced by the country in the aftermath of the conflict, Minister Samarasinghe pointed out that Sri Lanka looked after the internally displaced persons of around 300,000 taking care of their every need, leading to their resettlement after the completion of de-mining in their native habitats. The Minister also said that Sri Lanka has rehabilitated around 12,000 ex-combatants and former child soldiers have been reunited with their families while others have been provided with tertiary education, all within the space of under five years.

Briefing the cross regional Non-Aligned Group, Minister Samarasinghe also said that the Government of Sri Lanka had undertaken massive reconstruction of the former war ravaged areas and has invested heavily in its economic and infrastructure development. Having done all this, the Minister said, the Government was looking at also accounting to its own population. He said a Commission of Inquiry on Missing Persons had been appointed and census was in the process of being carried out to ascertain the number of people killed during the conflict.

He underlined the commitment of the Government of Sri Lanka to achieve comprehensive reconciliation. It was in order to achieve this objective, the Minister said, that Sri Lanka was requesting the cooperation of the international community, especially the western nations which have a large number of Sri Lankans domiciled in their countries, for their cooperation.

He also recalled the visit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to the Sri Lanka in August 2013 and the subsequent visit of the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of the Internally Displaced Persons in December 2013. The Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants is due to visit Sri Lanka in May 2014 while the Special Rapporteur on Education has also been invited.

The Minister said that while Sri Lanka has continued to demonstrate its cooperation with the UN and the international community through its bilateral and multilateral engagements, it was disappointing to note that the country had been singled out through this Resolution. The Minister added that the country has its own domestic mechanisms to reach reconciliation and has continued to show progress and constructive engagement.

Minister Samarasinghe, together with Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Leader of the House and Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management, is due to address the African Group as well as the Group of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) next week.

* Statement by Sri Lanka Mission Geneva

Sri Lanka: The Misbegotten Evil

| By NILANTHA ILANGAMUWA

(March 14, 2014, New Delhi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The country is dancing to the music of the Rajapaksa family and the Regime that they have effectively set up, very much like following a Puppy Its tail. I wrote in 2010 that President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the UN headquarters in New York to address the world body with over one hundred and thirty people selected from his clan. Most of those so called 'country representatives', were there just for shopping and enjoying themselves at the expense of the Sri Lankan taxpayer. This was at the time when he passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in which he dissolved the term limits of the president who, by an earlier constitution, is above the law. He could now dispense with the independent commissions for free & fair elections, corruption control, police and government services which was introduced by the 17thAmendment. The jumbo team, like the jumbo cabinet, which is also financed by the tax payer, happily made their contribution to the ruin of the country.

Sri Lanka the Misbegotten Evil by nelvely

TNA rejects Sri Lanka govt's accusation of stalling talks

PTI- Friday, March 14, 2014

Colombo: Sri Lanka's Main Tamil Party has dismissed the Government's will utilize blaming IT for the stalled Direct negotiations to Hammer out a political settlement to the Island's ethnic conflict.

Veteran Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader Rajavayoti sampanthan counter-accused the Government for the standoff.

The Tamil party had made several overtures but the government had repeatedly reneged on agreements reached at the direct talks with TNA, Sampanthan said.

He asserted that the Government failed As the 2011 talks with the Government ignored the action required to implement agreements between Peak Two parties.

This was by President Mahinda Rajapaksa following a Call for an All-Party Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC).

The TNA leader said IT was wrong for the Government to State that talks aimed at reaching a Final political solution remain stalled due to his Party.

External Affairs Minister GL Peiris had told the UN Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva that TNA's intransigence had led to the deadlock.

Sri Lanka As is Facing a Third UNHRC resolution in MANY years, censuring the country On Its Lack of Progress On Its Human rights Accountability and Reconciliation with the Civil War ended with the defeat of Tamil All Insurances after the LTTE in May 2009.

had backed the Previous Two Resolutions.

The U.S.-moved resolution is EXPECTED to prompt an International Investigation into alleged Human rights abuses and crimes against humanity during the Last Phase of the Government's Military campaign.

When the PSC started Its deliberations Last year, the TNA and the opposition parties had boycotted IT.

Giving Reasons, sampanthan SKIPPED the PSC As the Government had said that the Party was not a political solution and failed to indicate Keen On Its willingness by Government-TNA talks during Peak implementing agreements.

A propaganda jilmaat

Editorial-March 13, 2014

The UNP has said it will register its strong protest with Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya against a recent television discussion with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, flanked by some of his ministers, aired on several channels simultaneously. The President, in his capacity as the SLFP leader, is openly campaigning for the UPFA coalition which he represents, ahead of the Southern and Western Provincial Council elections, and, therefore, that telecast amounts to a breach of polls laws, the UNP has argued .

Several such discussions with President have been telecast during the last several years, and the government cannot dupe the public into believing that last week's one was not part of the UPFA's PC polls campaign. IT was a propaganda jilmaat ! The law may not prevent the President from using the media to discuss his government's development programme in the run-up to an election, but it is inevitable that he is seen to be unfairly using his office to advantage in an electoral race. It, in our book, is a question of morality rather than legality.

The Polls Chief may be helpless because the President enjoys legal immunity; he has no powers to call the executive to account. All the Progressive neutralised the 18th Amendment provisions in the 17th Amendment which has effectively rendered him powerless was calculated-VIS VIS- the President.

If the government is really confident of winning the upcoming polls fair and square as it claims to be, there is no reason why is should resort to controversial methods to take undue advantage over the Opposition which, it says, is in disarray. It ought to leave no room for its opponents to cry foul if it is really confident. The least it could do by way of making amends is to ensure that the Opposition gets adequate coverage from the state media.

IT said the UNP has the Polls Chief's intervention will seek to obtain air a program like Time for the President's Janahamuwa Last Week. Whether the latter will be able to do so we do not know, but in the most unlikely event of its wish being granted, the challenge before the former will be to nominate representatives for such a programme. The Opposition team will have to consist of at least representatives from the parties in the PC polls fray like the UNP, the JVP and the Democratic Party (DP).

Pulling in different directions these parties will find it difficult to make common cause to launch an effective propaganda onslaught against the government. The JVP has already ridiculed the UNP's strategy aimed at toppling the government. Its trade union heavyweight Lal Kantha, addressing a recent public rally, called the UNP's campaign ineffectual and incapable of posing a serious challenge to the government. The DP, emboldened by its performance at the last round of PC polls, is working overtime to eat into the vote bases of the UNP and the JVP. DP leader Gen. Sarath Fonseka says he is confident that his party has the potential to emerge as the second political force in time to come. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has asked the people to exercise their franchise wisely without voting for smaller parties. The other parties in the Opposition will not take kindly to his call. So, the question is whether the key Opposition parties contesting the forthcoming PC polls will be able to sink their differences to share a platform. Their disunity has been the government's strength.

However, the fact remains that the UPFA has been abusing its position as the party in power to gain undue propaganda mileage. That practice must be discontinued if a level playing field is to be ensured for all parties in the fray if elections are to be free and fair.

It will be interesting to see what the Polls Chief's response to the UNP's request will be.