இரண்டு தேசங்களின் அபிவிருத்திகள் - ஓர் ஒப்பீடு (படங்கள்)

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15 March 2014
போருக்கு பின்னரான தமிழா் தாயக அபிவிருத்தியும் இராணுவப் பிரசன்னமும் என்பது ஓா் பாரிய அச்சுறுத்தலையும் அதனூடான செய்திகளையும் எங்களுக்கு வெளிக்காட்டி நிற்கின்றது. போர் முடிவுக்கு கொண்டுவரப்பட்டதாக சிறீலங்கா அரசால் பிரகடனப்படுத்தப்பட்டு 5 வருடங்களை கடந்துள்ள நிலையில் தமிழா் தாயக பிரதேசங்களில் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட வாழ்வாதார முன்னேற்றம் என்பது பாரிய கேள்வியையும் அச்சுறுத்தலையும் வழங்குவதாக உள்ளது.

கீழ்காணும் ஆதாரத்தில் குறிப்பிடப்படும் ஒவ்வொரு புகைப்படங்களும் தமிழா்கள் எதிர்காலம் தொடா்பாகவும் இன நல்லிணக்கம், அபிவிருத்தி, அதிகாரபகிர்வு சம்பந்தமாக கருத்துரைக்கும் ஒவ்வொருவரும் கவனிக்கவேண்டிய செய்தியாகும். இங்கு அபிவிருத்தி என்ற போர்வையில் சிறீலங்கா அரசால் தென்பகுதியில் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் அபிவிருத்தி செயற்பாடுகளும் அதனோடிணைந்த அரசின் அபிவிருத்தி நடைமுறைப்படுத்தப்படுவதாக தெரிவிக்கும் பகுதிகளான வடக்கு கிழக்கில் அரசால் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் அபிவிருத்தி வேலைகளையும் இங்கு காணலாம்.

தலைமைத்துவ வகுப்புகள் என்ற போர்வையில் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தின் பிரபலமான கல்லூரி ஒன்றின் மாணவர்கள் இராணுவமுகாமில் வைத்து ஆயுதங்களுடன் நடமாடவிடப்படுகின்றனர். இதன் மூலம் நாட்டின் ஒருமைப்பாட்டை பேணி அனைவரையும் தமது நாட்டின் பற்றாளர்களாக மாற்றிவிடுவதாக நம்புகிறார்கள்

இங்கு முக்கியமாக அரசால் பிரதானமாக பிரச்சாரப்படுத்தப்பட்ட ஏ9 வீதி, மற்றும் புகையிரதப்பாதை புனரமைப்பு என்ற பிரதான கட்டமைப்பை தவிர அரசால் சொல்லப்பட்ட மீள்குடியேற்றம் பூா்த்தி செய்யப்பட்டதாக பிரச்சாரப்படுத்தப்பட்டபோதும் இதுவரை அரசால் அவா்களுக்கான ஒரு வீட்டுத்திட்டத்தையேனும் அமுல்படுத்த முடியவில்லை. ஆனால் இந்திய அரசால் அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட வீட்டுத்திட்டத்தை காட்டி பிரச்சாரம் செய்து அது அரசின் அபிவிருத்தியாக காட்டிக்கொள்கின்றது. ஆனால் இந்தியன் வீட்டுத்திட்டம்கூட ஒருபகுதி மக்களின் தேவைகளையே பூா்த்திசெய்ய போதுமானது.

இந்தியா 50ஆயிரம் வீடுகள் என்று சொல்லப்பட்டபோதும் இதுவரை அதில் மூன்றில் ஒரு பகுதியைக்கூட அவா்களால் பூா்த்திசெய்ய முடியவில்லை என்பதோடுஅந்த வீடுகள்கூட அமைச்சா்களின்,பாதுகாப்பு செயலகத்தின் தலையீட்டினால் வடக்கு கிழக்கு எல்லையோர சிங்கள ,முஸ்லீம் கிராமங்களுக்கும் பகிர்ந்தளிக்கப்படுகின்றன. வடக்கு கிழக்கில் இடம்பெயா்ந்து மீள்குடியேறிய வடக்கு கிழக்கு மக்களுக்கு என்று சொல்லி உலக நாடுகளிலிருந்து பெறும் கடன்கள் பாதுகாப்பு மற்றும் நகர அபிவிருத்தி அமைச்சுக்கு என்ற போர்வைவையில் கோத்தபாய ராஜபக்சேயின் கீழ் கொண்டுவரப்பட்டு அது தென்பகுதியிலுள்ள சிங்களவா்களுக்கும்,படையினருக்குமாக செலவிடப்படுகின்றன.

2009ஆம் ஆண்டிற்கு பின்னா் தெற்கில் இதுவரை 80000வீடுகள் வரை திட்டமிடப்பட்டு பெருமளவான வீடுகள் சகல வசதிகளுடனும் அமைக்கப்பட்டு படையினருக்கும் சிங்கள மக்களுக்கும் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அபிவிருத்தி என்ற போர்வைவையில் கொழும்பிலும் அம்பாந்தோட்டையிலும் பல அதிவேக நெடுஞ்சாலைகளும் சிங்கள மாதிரி குடியேற்ற திட்டங்களும், விமான நிலையங்களும்,துறைமுகங்களுமாக அரசு தனது மக்களின் தேவைகளை மாத்திரம் பூா்த்தி செய்து வருகின்ற நிலையில் வடக்கு கிழக்கு தமிழ் பேசும் மக்களின் நிலையில் எந்த முன்னேற்றமும் காணப்படவில்லை.

அவா்களுக்கு அரசால் மீள்குடியமரும்போது சில பகுதிகளில் வழங்கப்பட்ட 12 தகரங்கள் மற்றும் உலகவங்கியால் வழங்கப்பட்ட இருபத்தைந்தாயிரம் ரூபா பணத்தினை தவிர எந்த உதவிகளும் செய்துகொடுக்கப்படவில்லை. இராணுவத்தினா் வீடமைத்து கொடுப்பதாக கூறி சில இடங்களில் தரமற்ற வகையில் 3இலட்சம் பெறுமதியான வீடுகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டு இராணுவஅதிகாரிகளின் பெயா்கள் அவ்வீதிகளுக்கு சூட்டப்படுகின்றது. விதவைகளுக்கு வாழ்வாதார உதவிகள் வழங்குவதாக கூறி அவா்களின் வீடுகளுக்கு படையினா் அடிக்கடி செல்லும் நிகழ்வுகள் அரங்கேறுகின்றன.

உண்மையிலேயே வடக்கில் முப்பத்தைந்தாயிரம் விதவைகள் இருப்பதாக சொல்லப்படுகின்றது. அவா்களுக்கான வாழ்வாதார உதவிதிட்டங்கள் எதுவும் இதுவரை அரசாலோ அல்லது வடமாகாணசபையை பொறுப்பேற்றுள்ள த.தே.கூட்டமைப்போ இதுவரை முன்மொழிவையோ திட்டத்தையோ நடைமுறைப்படுத்தவில்லை. 

இவா்களில் சிலரை இராணுவத்திற்கு இணைக்கும் திட்டம் மட்டும் திட்டமிட்டு அரசால் மேற்கொள்ளப்படுகின்றது. 

பாரசாலைகள்கூட சில அரச சார்பற்றநிறுவனங்கள் உதவுகின்றபோதும் அதில் அரசின் பங்களிப்பு என்பது பாரிய வேற்றுமை காட்டப்படுகின்றது. பாடசாலை சிறுவா்களுக்கு அப்பியாச கொப்பிகள் வழங்கும் போர்வையில் மகிந்த ராஜபக்சேயின் மகன் நாமல் ராஜபக்சேயின் புகைப்படம் இருபக்கமும் பொறிக்கப்பட்டவாறு லமினேற் செய்யப்பட்டு வழங்கப்படுகின்றது. தலைமைத்துவ பயிற்சி என்ற வகையில் மாணவா்களுக்கு ஆயுதப்பயிற்சி வழங்கப்படுகின்றது. பாடசாலையில் மருத்துவ முகாம் என்ற வகையில் பாடசாலையில் இராணுவத்தினா் அத்துமீறி விபரங்களை பெற்றுவருவதால் மாணவா்கள் அச்சமடைகின்றனா். சகல விழாக்களுக்கும் அவா்கள் பிரதம அதிதிகளாக கலந்துகொள்ளும் சம்பவங்கள் நடந்தேறுகின்றன.

இவ்வாறு ஒரு தேசத்தின் மீதான அழிவுகளையும் அடக்குமுறைகளையும் கூர்மைப்படுத்திக்கொண்டு இரண்டு தேசங்களாக பிளவுபட்டுப்போயுள்ள நாட்டை செயற்கைத்தனமாக அடாவடித்தனமாக ஒட்டவைக்கும் முயற்சிகள் எந்தளவிற்கு பயனளிக்கும்? இத்துடன் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கோவையை பார்வையிடுவதன் மூலம் எவ்வாறு தமிழர் தேசம் சிதைக்கப்பட்டுவருகின்றது என்பதை காணலாம்.

கோவை இணைப்பு- ஆங்கிலத்தில்

கோவை இணைப்பு- தமிழில்

South V North by nelvely

Tamil doctor 'was pressured to recant war reports by Sri Lanka'

By Saroj Pathirana 20 March 2014

BBC Sinhala Service

At a news conference in 2009 the doctors said the rebels had forced them to lie about casualty figures

A doctor who worked in Sri Lanka's combat zone in the final days of the civil war has told the BBC he was forced by the government to recant his claims about casualty figures.

Sri Lanka's army defeated the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels in May 2009.

Dr T Varatharaja was one of five doctors who spoke regularly to the media during the war, giving far higher casualty figures than the government.

The doctors were arrested and later said the rebels had forced them to lie.

At a July 2009 news conference in the government's Media Centre for National Security, the doctors recanted their claims that a hospital had been hit by shells apparently from army-controlled positions, and said Tamil Tigers had forced them to exaggerate the daily death tolls.

Rights groups have long suspected that the government put pressure on the doctors to reverse their statements.

'We did not exaggerate'

Speaking to the BBC's Sinhala service from Geneva - where he was taking part in a discussion organised by Human Rights Watch - Dr Varatharaja said he and his colleagues had been threatened with three to four years in jail if they did not recant their statements.

Sri Lanka initially maintained that no civilians had been killed by the military, but later admitted that up to 9,000 civilians may have died as a result of the war.

"Everyday we received hundreds of casualties. I only told what actually happened on the ground. Tamil Tigers neither forced us nor did we exaggerate casualty figures," said Dr Varatharaja.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UN workers had confirmed the shelling of makeshift hospitals and of large numbers of casualties, he said.

"Only during the last three months of the war, the ICRC transported 9,000 patients with very serious wounds."

He also recalled how the Sri Lanka government insisted that there were only 80,000 civilians left in the war zone as the conflict came to a head, while over 300,000 were actually trapped in the area.

The 26-year war left at least 100,000 people dead (This report was first broadcast in May 2009)

"So they only sent food and medicine for 80,000 people. There was no blood and no anaesthetic. Many wounded died as a result."

The Sri Lankan government barred journalists from entering the war zone so there has been no way of verifying the various claims.

But the UN has said up to 40,000 people may have been killed in the final five months of the war alone. Others suggest the number of deaths could be even higher.

Allegations of atrocities during the closing stages of that war have dogged the government ever since it ended. The rebels were also accused of abuses.

At least 100,000 people died during the 26-year conflict.

Dr Varatharaja told the BBC he had now left Sri Lanka, but that his family remained there and he feared for their safety.

He said a letter had been sent to his house asking him to appear at police station: "If I can't attend, they have asked my sister to come to the police," he said.

"STOP - The Unfinished War Against Tamils"

By  Ted Orlin  and Paul Newman  -  March 21, 2014 

Prof. Ted Orlin

Recent reports of the maltreatment of the Girls As Young Tamil Sinhala exclusively recruited into the army make Headlines, Attention to the Long and Systematic use of Violence and sexual abuse REGISTER Attention at the 25 ^TH session of the UNHuman Rights Council (HRC). Amnesty International Organized a well-attended Side Event entitled, ' An unfinished War: Torture and sexual Violence in Sri Lanka From 2009-2014 '. Women's rights activist the prominent was the Principal Presenter Ms. Yasmin Sooka , who Leads the International Truth and Justice Project, the report's Publisher. Ms. Sooka brings to the project long experience and an impeccable reputation having been a member and contributor to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa as well as the Ivory Coast.

This presentation by Ms. Sooka was based on a research project of 40 Tamils, 20 men and 20 women, who were subject to rape and torture, by the Sri Lankan armed forces. It confirmed a long existing pattern with these abuses having their origin in the horrific times of the JVP insurrection, later the perpetrators enjoyed high posts in the uniformed services. The culture of impunity in the governmental forces was apparent then, and is, as highlighted by this report, a recurring problem that persists. In all these 40 cases the victims managed to leave Sri Lanka and an overwhelming majority of them are now in the UK allowing this research to be done and to be made public.

Ms. Sooka spoke to those attending the HRC meeting, who are concerned about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka. The results gave ample evidence that these practices are not ancient, but reflect the present tragedy of human rights violations in Sri Lanka. The report is confined to Post War Sri Lanka, noting that these violations continue beyond the formal cessation of the war. Of the 40 cases examined an overwhelming 21 cases of violations were reported between 2013 and 2014, one as late as February 2014; 15 cases in 2011-2012, 4 cases in 2009-2010. It is not known how many were victims of this brutal savagery in the Manik farm camps in the years from 2009 to 2012. All the victims are 20 to 35 in age and come from the North and East of Sri Lanka.

Part of the intent of examining these 40 victims was to establish whether the many allegations of sexual abuse and torture were credible or not. 9 investigators, some from Asia questioned these victims and obtained 38 sworn statements supported by medico-legal reports. All these findings confirmed that the victims were subject to rape and torture by the security forces. It must be noted Sri Lanka is a signatory to the Convention against Torture (CAT) and 'torture' is prohibited by International Law. By this Convention there is 'no justification, under any circumstance' to use torture, but it continues unabated in Sri Lanka, even after the war is formally ended. Torture, as was repeatedly noted at the session, is an international crime subject to universal jurisdiction. In the recent past torturers have been tried, convicted and punished by both international and domestic courts. International law does not respect the impunity of any person, either government officials or members of the military for any act of torture.                                                        Read More

சுற்றிவளைப்புக்குள் சுதந்திரபுரம்; பலர் கைது வன்னியில் தொடரும் பதற்றம்

20 மார்ச் 2014, வியாழன்

புதுக்குடியிருப்பு சுதந்திரபுரத்தினை இராணுவத்தினர் சுற்றிவளைத்து பெரும்தேடுதல் வேட்டையை நடத்தியுள்ளதாக பிரதேச பொதுமக்கள் உதயன் ஒன்லைனிடம் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

நேற்று இரவு முதல் சுதந்திரபுரத்தினை சுற்றி வளைத்து தேடுதல் நடத்திய இராணுவத்தினர் இன்று காலை பிரதேசத்திலுள்ள அனைத்து இளைஞர்களையும் பொது இடம் ஒன்றிற்கு அழைத்துச் சென்று துருவித் துருவி விசாரணை நடத்தினர்.

அதன் பின்னர்அதிலிருந்து 8 பேரை மேலதிக விசாரணைக்கு அழைத்து சென்றுள்ளதாகத் தெரிவிக்கப்படுகிறது.

இதேவேளை இன்று மாலை 300க்கும் அதிகமான இராணுவத்தினர் குறித்த பிரதேசத்தில் குவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இதனால் இன்று இரவும் சோதனை நடவடிக்கைகளும் ,கைதுகளும் தொடருமோ  என பிரதேச மக்கள் அச்சம் வெளியிட்டுள்ளனர்.

யாழ்ப்பாணத்துக்கும் பரவியது படைத்தரப்பின் கெடுபிடி

22 மார்ச் 2014, சனி

கடந்த சில நாள்களாக வன்னியில் நிலவிய இராணுவச்சோதனைகள் நேற்று முதல் யாழ்ப்பாணத்துக்கும் பரவின.
நேற்றிரவு குடாநாட்டின் பல பகுதிகளிலும் வழக்கத்துக்கு மாறாக படையினரின் வீதி ரோந்து நடவடிக்கைகள் அதிகரித்திருந்தன.சைக்கிள்களிலும், கால்நடையாகவும் மாத்திரமன்றி சில இடங்களில் இராணுவ ஜீப்களிலும் படையினர் தீவிர ரோந்தில் ஈடுபட்டதாக பொதுமக்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.
ரோந்து நடவடிக்கையில் ஈடுபட்ட படையினர் இரவு நேரத்தில்  வீதிகளில் பயணிப்போரை மறித்து அடையாள அட்டைகளையும் பரிசீலித்தனர். வாகனங்கள் தொடர்பான விபரங்களும் படையினரால் பதியப்பட்டன. இதனால் வன்னியில் நிலவிய பதற்றமான -போர்க்காலம் போன்ற  சூழல்- நிலைமை யாழ்ப்பாணத்திலும் பரவி, தொடரப்போகின்றதோ எனப் பொதுமக்கள் அச்சம் வெளியிட்டுள்ளனர்.
இதேவேளை வன்னியில் நேற்றும் பதற்றமான சூழ்நிலையே நிலவியது.பல பகுதிகளில்  படையினர் வீடு வீடாகச் சென்று அங்கிருந்தவர்களின் அடையாள அட்டைகளைச் சோதனை செய்தனர்.

- See more at: http://onlineuthayan.com/News_More.php?id=277242768622457964#sthash.geBFMfej.dpuf

Security tightened in North -Manhunt launched to catch terror suspect Gopi All vehicles entering and exiting North are checked 

By Niranjala Ariyawansha-March 21, 2014 
 

The Army has decided to strengthen security in the Jaffna Peninsula and the Northern Province as part of the manhunt launched to arrest, J.G. Selvanayagam alias Gopi, and his colleagues who according to intelligence reports, is trying to revive the now defunct LTTE.
 

According to Army Media Spokesman, Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya, the Army had taken a decision to once again commence checking all vehicles, vehicle owners and their identity cards that are entering and exiting the North, with effect from Wednesday, 19 March. "Gopi and his colleagues are trying to revive the LTTE, according to information provided by intelligence. The raids will continue until we apprehend the suspect, whom we believe is still staying in the Northern Province," he added.
 

"Terrorist Intelligence Division received information that Gopi was hiding in a house belonging to Jeyakumari Balendran at Dharmapuram, Kilinochchi on 13 March. When the TID went there, they fled after firing at the officers. One officer was injured in the incident.We believe that Gopi is hiding somewhere in the North. That is why we have started 'spot-checking' after cordoning off the area," Brigadier Wanigasooriya said.
 

He also said the search operations will be carried out in a manner that would cause least inconvenience to the public.
He also said the security forces personnel were able to detect a stock of handbills from Palay, Jaffna, which called for the LTTE to regroup, about three weeks ago, along with several suspects. On information provided by them some more handbills, T-56 weapons, RPG and mortar bombs too were taken into custody.
 

"The handbills call for the revival of the LTTE to form a separate State. It shows that some elements are preparing to revive the LTTE. According to information we have at present, there is evidence that Gopi is the leader of that gang. But, we cannot say exactly. We want to emphasize one thing. We will not allow any terrorists activities to emerge," Army spokesman stressed.

Winds Of Change In Jaffna

By Noel Nadesan -March 21, 2014 

Dr Noel Nadesan

The war radicalized Jaffna and it was inevitable that we could never again return to the good old Jaffna we knew.  There were signs of a new Jaffna emerging imperceptibly even during the war years. I have visited Jaffna 13 times in the last five years.  But nothing signified the change better than  the international symbol I saw in Jaffna when I visited the place last in January 2014. For the first time ever I saw one of the best international symbols in the heart of Jaffna. It was the face of the bearded Colonel of Kentucky Fried Chicken. It was a giant leap for Jaffna to abandon the traditional  “porichci koli”  and go for KFC. To me it was like our people abandoning betel and opting for chewing gum. This to me is the ultimate symbol of Jaffna breaking away from the feudal past and arriving at last in the 21st century.

Talking of climate change one cannot feel it better than in Sri Lanka. We travelled from north to south and east to west. There is a palpable change that you can feel and see. Just not the roads but the attitude and the new spirit that is visible in the faces.

One bright evening, as I was walking with my wife on a narrow street in Wellawatta, Colombo, — a predominantly Tamil suburb –  I received a mobile call from a young widow in Kilinochchi. I have sponsored her for last three years. I was to meet her on the way to Jaffna. She rang to regret that she would not able to meet us at Kilinochchi as she had begun teaching voluntarily at a local school. She thanked me profusely for the financial help given to raise her family.  She informed me that her children were doing well at school. I was happy to learn of her progress which I took as a general indicator of the progress made by the twelve other widows who had lost their husbands during the war.  I have been helping them for the last three years.

The widow who spoke to me was Lakshmi.  She has two children below the age of ten.  Just a year after the war I saw her in a rebuilt house, which was built with government assistance, but did not have any door. She did not have any money to install a door. Nor was any financial support forthcoming.  With the backing  of a local friend I was able to organize some help to  her family and I was happy to learn that the domestic situation had improved.

                                                                Read More

Video: Geneva Press Club event - ‘Is the Sri Lanka resolution at the UNHRC part of the problem?’

21 March 2014

Below is the video of today’s panel discussion at the Geneva Press Club. The speakers were, in order:

Prof. R. Sri Ranjan, co-chair, International Council of Eelam Tamils (ICET)
Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, president, Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF)
Mr. Kumaravadivel Guruparan, Tamil Civil Society Forum (TCSF),
Mr. MK Shivajlingam, parliamentarian, Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
Mr. Krishna Saravanamuttu, National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT)
Dr. Andrew Higginbottom, Kingston University, UK.
Mr. Bashana Abeywardane, journalist in exile, former editor, Hiru
Ms. Luxcy Alex Lambert, ICET, Germany

The event was organised by the ICET, and chaired by Mr. Viraj Mendis, International Human Rights Association Bremen.

Tamil extremists in de facto alliance with Lanka regime

Guest column by Kumar David- 20-Mar-2014

Some things are difficult to believe; occasionally they are out of this world, but some are this-worldly perfidious realities. Increasingly vocal UFO-nuts insisting that MH 370 was abducted by aliens to a far away star-cluster fit the first group.

Tamil Alliance With Extremists in de Facto Regime Lanka by nelvely

Sri Lankans protest UN resolution, shut down Eastern port city 


Mar 20, Trincomalee: Sri Lankans today staged several protests to against a UN resolution sponsored by the United States calling for an international inquiry into the alleged human right violations committed during the armed conflict.

In the multi-ethnic Eastern port city of Trincomalee a collective organization of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims led by the religious leaders of all faiths staged a protest bringing the city to a standstill.

All shops, schools, banks and government offices in Trincomalee city were closed and black flags were seen hoisted on establishments in support of the protest.

Thousands marched in the city protesting the US move and protesters distributed leaflets calling for support against the UN intervention.

The protesters burned the effigies of US President Barak Obama and UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay.
The police beefed up the security in the area as an unidentified group had stoned and damaged several passenger buses during the protest.

Meanwhile in the capital Colombo, people staged protests outside the UN office and the U.S. and UK diplomatic missions against the resolution co-sponsored by the U.S. and UK along with three other countries.

Protesters shouting slogans and carrying placards that said to keep "Hands off Sri Lanka" and "Let us live in Peace" walked over to the U.S. Embassy and handed over a petition to the Embassy against the US resolution.

The protest caused a heavy traffic jam along the Colombo - Galle main road near the US Embassy.
Expatriate Sri Lankans in the US, UK and Europe have also staged demonstrations against the resolution, the third in many years, presented at the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Draft Resolution HRC25/1 "Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka" has been submitted by the United States, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Montenegro, FYR of Macedonia, and Mauritius.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has compared the Washington's move of tabling a resolution against the country to a fight between a professional boxer and a school boy.


The UN Human Rights Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution on 26th March.

Sri Lanka: Government rounds up activists as UN fudges on inquiry

Activist Ruki Fernando was detained in Sri Lanka on Sunday. Pic: AP.

By  JS Tissainayagam  Mar 21, 2014 

As the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva was discussing the clauses of its resolution on Sri Lanka, the Colombo government used troops and special laws to arrest human rights defenders (HRDs) in the northern part of the country last week. It is ironic that while the Sri Lanka Government decided to beef-up militarisation in the former warzones and arrest activists, the UNHRC agreed to delete the word "demilitarisation" from its draft resolution.

As activists Sri Lanka Government Rounds Up On Fudges UN Inquiry by nelvely

A court order imposing unheard limitations to Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen sets a world recorded
(Lanka-e-News-20.March.2014, 11.45PM -edited latest news-) Lanka e News is has been informed by our legal sources on a unbelievable a court order imposed on Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen Mahesan , who were arrested by TID and released without any charges after two days of questioning. According to this court order both of them are not even allowed to speak to anyone including their loved ones. 

They were arrested on last Sunday night (SL time 10.30 pm ) in Kilinochchi and released in Colombo. For the first time in Sri Lankan judicial history they were released at 1.30 am on 18th March 2014. An another record. 

This order has been given by magistrate no 2 of Colombo upon a request made by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Sri Lanka police. She has given 3 separate orders against both of them.

The first order is to impound their passport to travel outside the country.

The second is all laptops and I-Pads in their profession to be taken by the CID.

The third is the ridicules world recorded order banning Ruki Fernando and Fr, Praveen Mahesan speaking to any one, locally or internationally any thing related to the case. In fact this wonderful order prohibits them speaking to their loved ones, and even to the legal advisers, 

This orders has been issued not on the same case numbers (IMI) but new IMI. This order has been given at 8.00 pm Sri Lanka time yesterday (19th) by the same judge who released those 17 hours ago. According to reports the judge is Nirisha Fernando. 

The case of Ruki Fernando and Fr. Praveen Mahesam has set not only one but number of records already, and we may be able to witness more in the coming days! 

Help Jeyakumari and others detained without evidence

20/03/2014

Dear friends,

Ruki Fernando and Fr Praveen Mahesan have been released but Jeyakumari Balendran and a number of others remain in detention. The situation in Sri Lanka continues to be incredibly troubling with the Government of Sri Lanka continuing a general crackdown on all forms of dissent. The latest news is:

• Over 300 members Sri Lankan civil society yesterday released a statement detailing and condemning what happened to Ruki and Fr Praveen, what is happening to Jeyakumari, and giving information about two other people detained under terrorism legislation. In a joint statement with CIVICUS and CHRI, we supported that condemnation.
• The Red Cross met Jeyakumari in Boosa detention centre, but have released no details about her condition. She remains without access to lawyers or family.
• Uthayan newspaper reports that a 34 year old man was subjected to a "white van" abduction on Tuesday. White vans have traditionally been used to disappear opponents of the regime.
• A student demonstration in Colombo regarding fees was broken up with tear gas and water cannon.
• The State owned news service carried a statement by a Government Minister accusing the Bishop of Mannar of treasonfor suggesting "that Tamils are subjected to abuse by the Sinhala majority in the country." The Government also issued a statement claiming a Northern Provincial Councillor and activist for the disappeared "continues to demonstrate affinity with the cause of the LTTE" (Tamil Tigers).
• The Sri Lankan Ministry of External Affairs attempted to further besmirch Ruki and Fr Praveen's reputation by claiming they were released on bail and that investigations continue. Their lawyers have confirmed to us that this is not the case and their release was unconditional.
• Former President Bandranaike has reported that she has been under surveillance and intimidation.
• We have received unconfirmed reports of other arrests, attacks on demonstrators by the extreme nationalist group BBS, and the temporary detention of  a large group of people.

We must continue our campaign  for those still in detention. The Government of Sri Lanka has taken the view that, while they could not stand up to the amount of pressure the international community brought to bear for Ruki and Fr Praveen, they can pick on those less protected with impunity. We must prove them wrong, and show we care just as much about all those unlawfully detained.

Here are three things you can do:

1. Sign this petition, from the Asian Human Rights Commission, calling for Jeyakumari's release.
2. Write to your Government, asking them to take up the case. You can contact the British here, and the Americans here. A sample email is included below.
3. Spread the word, about these cases. On social media people are using the hashtags #FreeJeyakumari and#Freethe1000s.

Jeyakumari is a prominent activist in the movement for the relatives of the disappeared. She led the demonstrations when David Cameron went to Jaffna, and her daughter (on the right) garlanded UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay when she visited Sri Lanka. As a Hindu, a Tamil, and a woman, she belongs to a much less well protected minority than Ruki and Fr Praveen, but she needs our support just as badly.

Please take a few moments to help. 

Sample letter:

Dear xxxx,

An outpouring of international pressure managed to secure the release of two Sri Lankan human rights defenders, arrested without evidence early in the week. But a third remains in detention, along with many others held under the unjust Prevention of Terrorism Act, which allows the Sri Lankan Government to hold people without evidence for up to 18 months.

Jeyakumari Balendran led the demonstrations when David Cameron went to Jaffna, and her daughter garlanded UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay when she visited Sri Lanka. The Government of Sri Lanka are gambling on the international community not paying as much attention to her arrest because she doesn't speak English, and is a Hindu Tamil woman, a minority who have very little voice in international affairs.

Please prove them wrong by pushing for her release, and that of others held under the PTA.

Rajapaksas: Shame & Defame

Keeping The Northern People Doped Is Another Paradigm Of The Scorched Earth Policy Of The Rajapaksas

(March 21, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)  That Sri Lanka is a HAVEN of the trafficking of narcotics with impunity is of no Surprise. It is prevalent and rampant from the Hon. Prime Minister's office down to other sections of the portals of power both military and civil throughout the country. 

Rajapaksas shame & slander by nelvely

Dhanapala May Be Influenced By Large Payment He Receives From Dialog – Professor Kumar David

March 21, 2014 

“I have thought about Dhanapala’s position quite a bit. Dialog clearly considers him a valuable person and seems to pay him well for his services on the Board. I have no problem with that. However, irrespective of whether I was a member of the Friday Forum, Bolshevik Party or anything else, I would have a problem if a company on whose board I served, engaged in unethical practices.” says Professor Kumar David.

Prof. Kumar David

Commenting under the article ” ‘Dhanapala’s Position Ethically Untenable’ Says Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan“, Professor David said; “The question then is this. Is Dialog engaging in unethical and indefensible practices by illegally blocking Colombo Telegraph and presumably other websites because they open their columns to writers who are anti-government (and others who are pro-government as well)?   The very posing of the question so explicitly makes obvious the answer. Dialog, and the other Internet service providers who engage in such activities are in violation of the Telecommunication Regulations and it would not be unfair to call them servile political stooges.  In Dhanapala’s case this is compounded by the thought in many people’s minds, and I admit in my mind too, that he may be influenced by the apparently large payment he receives for his services on the Board.”

Jayantha Dhanapala, a prominent member of the Sri Lankan civil society group, the Friday Forum, is a member of the board of directors of Dialog Axiata PLC. Dialog one of Sri Lanka’s key telecommunications providers, has been surreptitious blocking access to Colombo Telegraph, over a period of time.

Dhanapala, in his communications with Colombo Telegraph uses the word ‘alleged’, implying that he is not certain if indeed Dialog had blocked Colombo Telegraph.  However, our investigations reveal that he had told his friends that he could not access Colombo Telegraph. This was 7-10 days prior to our first communication ( February 17, 2014) with him.  The use of the word is inexplicable since Colombo Telegraph provided him with the technical report which clearly shows that Dialog was indeed blocking Colombo Telegraph.  Dhanapala has claimed that he is a regular reader of Colombo Telegraph.  As such it would be strange indeed if he, a Director of Dialog, was using another internet service provider to access the site. “Its also quite surprising that he would use the term, ‘alleged’ to describe the blocking, when neither he, Friday Forum nor Dialog has contested the US State Department’s HR report for 2013, which reports the blocking of CT from Sri Lanka.” Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan, told Colombo Telegraph.                                     Read More