Russia reacts to EU sanctions with further western trade embargos

Moscow imposes import ban on used cars, clothes and consumer products amid Ukraine crisis

Russians buy Putin T-shirts in Moscow. The latest western import bans are expected to affect some types of clothes. Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Thursday 11 September 2014 

Russia is preparing to hit back at fresh EU sanctions with a new list placing embargos on imports of consumer goods and secondhand cars from western countries, deepening a tit-for-tat trade war sparked by the crisis in Ukraine.

Andrei Belousov, an aide to Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, said the measures would be directed at a number of products where Europeans "depend on Russia more than Russia does on them".

Belousov was quoted, by the state-run RIA news agency, as saying: "This concerns the import of cars, first and foremost secondhand ones, this concerns several types of consumer goods which we can already produce ourselves. Not all, but some types of clothing. But I hope common sense will prevail and we will not have to introduce those measures."

Russia has already imposed an embargo on imports of a broad range of European farm produce. It has also suggested it could ban western airlines from using Russian airspace if it were affected by further sanctions, a move that could close an important overland flight route to Asia for European airlines, leading to higher fuel costs and delays.

The Russian measures come as a new round of EU sanctions against Moscow were poised to come into force on Friday. The sanctions are likely to further restrict access to European capital markets for Russian banks and energy companies.

But the European council president, Herman van Rompuy, said the measures could be reversed if a fragile peace plan agreed a week ago for Ukraine were properly implemented.

He said: "If the situation on the ground so warrants, the commission and the EEAS [EU diplomatic service] are invited to put forward proposals to amend, suspend or repeal, the set of sanctions in force, in all or in part."

Western powers were also watching closely to see if Moscow was prepared to use its gas exports to Europe as a weapon in the trade war this winter. Poland complained that Russia's state-owned Gazprom energy company cut deliveries by about half this week.

Amnesty reports human rights abuses, repression in Thailand

A protester is detained by Thai soldiers during an anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand in May. Pic: AP.

By Lisa Gardner Sep 11, 2014

Human rights group Amnesty International has marked 100 days of martial law in Thailand with the release of a report evidencing cases of of alleged torture and ill-treatment, enforced disappearances as well as a host of extensive human rights violations.

In its ‘Attitude Adjustment’ report, the UK-based organisation outlined its concerns that “instead of lifting restrictions, authorities are maintaining and entrenching disproportionate restrictions on the peaceful and legitimate exercise of human rights in Thailand”.

Since martial law began, over 600 people have been ordered to report to the junta, arrested and/or arbitrarily detained – among them, 141 academics, writers, journalists and political activists, the report noted.

Yet due to the high number of informal reports, Amnesty noted, the actual number of those ordered to report is thought to be significantly higher.

(MORE: Red shirt activist accuses Thai military of ‘torture’ during detainment)

In its report, Amnesty included evidence of alleged torture which took place during interrogation. These reports included beatings, death threats, mock executions and attempted asphyxiation. Others reported being blindfolded, with hands and feet tied – in the case of one detainee, for almost a week.

Arbitrary detention“(The NCPO) has implemented existing laws, Martial Law and new vaguely-worded orders to stop ‘political activities’ and ‘adjust attitudes’ of would-be dissenters,” the report stated. “Many of these laws and orders… violate human rights.”

Since May, the NCPO had extended “wide-ranging”measures to restrict freedom of expression, censoring hundreds of websites, closing radio stations, banning gatherings of more than five people and threatening those with arrest who post information deemed critical of the junta.

Amnesty issued over 30 recommendations to Thai authorities, calling upon the junta to conduct independent investigations into alleged cases of torture and ill-treatment, while safeguarding human rights in line with its international obligations.

In a written response, the junta stated that “the root causes of the imposition of martial law were omitted,” fearing the report had “failed to reflect the sentiment of the majority of the Thai people who now feel much safer.”

“There has been steady progress,” the junta stated. “Thailand needs this time and space for consolidation as we push forward in our effort to build a genuine and sustainable democracy.”

Yet Amnesty concluded that “the cumulative effect of these broad restrictions and the threat of detention and persecution for peaceful expression are engendering a climate of fear and a culture of enforced silence.”

Hong Kong democracy activists shave heads in protest

The three founders of Occupy Central - Chan Kin-man, Benny Tai and Chu Yiu-ming - had their heads shaved

Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have shaved their heads in a protest over what they see as China's growing political control over the city.

9 September 2014

Forty people, including the founders of the Occupy Central movement, had their hair cut off in a church hall.

A minor scuffle reportedly broke out when China supporters showed up.

The activists were protesting against Beijing's recent announcement that open nomination will be ruled out for Hong Kong's next leadership election.

On Tuesday, dozens of campaigners packed the church hall to witness the head-shaving.

Among them were the three founders of civil disobedience movement Occupy Central - Benny Tai, Chu Yiu-ming and Chan Kin-man.

Mr Tai told reporters the act was meant to symbolise that the movement would make no concessions to Beijing's ruling.

"It is our determination to show we can give something up in order to fight for something more important," he said.

'Radical elements'

News agencies reported that a small scuffle broke out when several pro-Beijing supporters arrived and heckled the activists.

Reuters said about five people wearing caps, medical masks and sunglasses charged into the hall, chanting slogans denouncing Occupy Central.

One person was sent to the hospital following the scuffle. The police arrested at least one person.

Occupy Central is one of several pro-democracy groups pushing for electoral reform in Hong Kong

Student groups like the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism are taking part in the boycott

Tuesday's protest follow an announcement over the weekend by student groups that they planned to boycott classes for a week from 22 September.

Pro-Beijing activists have since set up a hotline to expose the names of schools where class boycotts are being organised, prompting accusations that they were creating "white terror" political repression, reports the South China Morning Post.

China's state-run Global Times newspaper said the "radical elements of the democrats" were "manipulating the radical students behind the scene" and that they had a clear intent "to mess up Hong Kong".

The issue of how Hong Kong should choose its next leader has gripped the territory in recent months, triggering several protests and large-scale rallies from both pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camps.

China said last week that while Hong Kong would be free to vote in their chief executive in 2017, all candidates would have to be vetted by a pro-Beijing nominating committee.

The announcement sparked anger among pro-democracy activists who staged fresh demonstrations.

Occupy Central has since vowed to proceed with a massive sit-in in the main financial district, though it has not yet said when that would take place.

The terrifying mathematics of Ebola

Thursday 11 Sep 2014
Ebola treatment facilities in Monrovia, the Liberian capital, are now so overwhelmed they are turning away up to 30 infected people every day according the medical charity Medecins sans Frontieres.

Given the rate at which the virus is spreading, it says the virus will soon be having an “apocalyptic” impact on the country and its neighbours unless there is a dramatic increase in international assistance.

“It could get very bad indeed,” said Prof John Edmunds, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. ”And I mean you can’t rule out some sort of nightmare doomsday scenario.”

“But the quicker we react and put interventions in place, the better chance we’ve got of avoiding something really, really serious.”

The leading epidemiologist is studying the spread of the virus in Monrovia, where the outbreak is now most intense. He has told Channel 4 News that based on the current rate of spread and lack of power to control it, it has the potential to infect the majority of the population of the country.

Getting a real handle on how fast the virus us spreading is becoming impossible. Official statistics are largely based on admissions and deaths in Ebola treatment facilities, from which people are now being turned away.

But based on data from recent weeks, researchers estimate each case in the community could be giving rise to about 1.5 more cases. “That means each case that is turned away generates more than one new case,” said Edmunds. And then you’re looking at an ongoing epidemic that could permeate right through society unless we do something to stop it right now.”

“The doubling time of this epidemic is about two weeks, so if we are overwhelmed with our resources right now, it’s going to be twice as bad in two weeks’ time.”

Last night the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $50m to support the emergency response to Ebola. In recent days the US government has committed an additional $185m towards equipment and 100 medical personnel.

The British government also announced this week that it would build a 62-bed field hospital to help with the outbreak in Sierra Leone. The US says its commitment has added an additional 1,000 beds. However the World Health Organisation has estimated an additional 1,000 Ebola treatment beds are needed in Monrovia alone.

Follow @TomClarkeC4 on Twitter

Spoken like a diplomat

Last updated: Tuesday, September 09, 2014 4:23 PM

 

TARIQ A. AL-MAEENA

Diplomats invariably have to lie through their teeth to protect the stance taken by their respective governments.  In instances where governments are renowned for human rights abuses or crimes against humanity, foreign diplomats often find themselves forced to respond to severe global criticism.

A recent opinion piece in a US newspaper was critical of Sri Lanka’s suspected human rights abuses, including possible war crimes, committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war.  The report was  very critical of Sri Lanka’s president, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s refusal to cooperate with UN investigations into the alleged abuses and compared his actions to those of Syria and North Korea, two countries notorious for refusing access to investigations by UN human rights teams.

The report doubted the Sri Lankan president’s claims that his country would conduct the inquiry itself. It said: "This is doubtful. It was the Sri Lankan government’s failure over several years to prosecute and punish perpetrators of abuses during the civil war that prompted the United Nations Human Rights Council in March to request a comprehensive investigation."

The report further elaborated that "the United Nations estimates that 40,000 Tamils died during the final weeks of the conflict. Hundreds of thousands of people were interned in camps under military guard after the war ended in 2009. People suspected of being linked to the LTTE were tortured. Thousands simply disappeared.

"The safety of witnesses is a major concern. People demanding accountability for those who disappeared have faced threats and arrest. Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism Act is being used to detain people without trial. After the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, visited Sri Lanka last year, she reported that she had never seen such a ’level of uncontrollable grief’ as that of families of the disappeared in Sri Lanka, and that people with whom she met were promptly visited by security forces."

In conclusion, the report stated that the Sri Lankan president should "cooperate with the investigation. Failing to do so will only feed international suspicions that his government has much to hide."

Mr. Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan ambassador to the US, in responding to the publication carrying the opinion piece was critical of what he termed "insensitive assertions about my country."

He then added that "Sri Lanka has enjoyed uninterrupted democracy since 1931. Last September we held the first election to the Northern Provincial Council, delayed by more than two decades because of the refusal of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to politically empower people in the North. Now, the Tamil National Alliance is in control of provincial administration. To compare Sri Lanka to human rights and humanitarian emergencies elsewhere in the world is unjust.

"We reject the United Nations investigation because its intrusive nature exceeds its mandate. It challenges the sovereignty of our country; violates basic principles of international law; vitiates the atmosphere needed for reconciliation; and ignores substantial and progressive socioeconomic and political progress already achieved, including the resettlement of 300,000 displaced people and the reintegration of 11,000 armed cadres.

"The three-decade-long conflict with many failed attempts at peace because of LTTE intransigence affected the whole country. Local accountability mechanisms, now strengthened with international experts, are respectful of inherent social, cultural and ethnic susceptibilities, unlike the United Nations-driven process, which serves externally motivated interests and will destabilize the intricate balance of the national reconciliation process." Prasad Kariyawasam, Washington

Perhaps what the good ambassador has failed to defend, in spite of his objections, is that the current government is fueling ongoing ethnic and racial animosity within the country, and not only against the Tamil population.  The emergence of the Buddhist terrorist group, BBS, that has unchecked spread its brand of sectarian violence against minorities in the island can only be attributed to dirty politics being played by the Sri Lankan government.

No rebuttals from Sri Lankan diplomats the world over can defend such actions.

– The author can be reached at talmaeena@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @talmaeena

நியாயமான தீர்வொன்றினை எட்டக் கூடிய சர்வதேச விசாரணையொன்றினை மேற்கொள்ள அரசாங்கம் இடமளிக்க வேண்டும்

Wed, 09/10/2014

ஐ.நா. வின் புதிய ஆணையாளரை தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் சந்திப்பதனால் இலங்கை விடயத்தில் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்த முடியாது. எனவே, நியாயமான தீர்வொன்றினை எட்டக் கூடிய சர்வதேச விசாரணையொன்றினை மேற்கொள்ள இலங்கை

அரசாங்கம் இடமளிக்க வேண்டும் என தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பு தெரிவித்தது.

 

நவநீதம் பிள்ளையின் கோட்பாட்டை பின்பற்றி இலங்கை விடயத்தினை கையாள்வதாக ஐ.நா.வின் புதிய ஆணையாளர் தெரிவித்துள்ளமை வரவேற்கத்தக்கதாகும். எனவே, தமிழ் மக்கள் மீதான உரிமை மிறல்கள் தொடர்பிலான சர்வதேச விசாரணை சரியான எல்லையினை அடையும் என்ற நம்பிக்கை உள்ளது என்று கூட்டமைப்பின் ஊடகப் பேச்சாளர் சுரேஸ் பிரேம சந்திரன் தெரிவித்தார்.

 

ஜெனிவாவில் ஆரம்பமாகியுள்ள ஐ.நா. மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவையின் 27 ஆவது கூட்டத்தின் போது முன்னாள் ஆணையாளர் நவநீதம் பிள்ளையின் செயற்பாடுகளை பின்பற்றி இலங்கை விடயங்களை கையாள்வதாக ஐ.நா.வின் புதிய ஆணையாளர் செய்யித் அல் - ஹூஸைன் தெரிவித்திருந்த நிலையில் இது தொடர்பில் தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் கருத்தினை வினவிய போதே தமிழ் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் ஊடகப் பேச்சாளர் சுரேஷ் பிரேமசந்திரன் மேற்கண்டவாறு தெரிவித்தார்.

 

அவர் மேலும் குறிப்பிடுகையில்;

 

இலங்கையில் இடம்பெற்ற போர் குற்றங்கள் மற்றும் மனித உரிமை மீறல்கள் தொடர்பில் பேரவை கவனத்திற்குக் கொண்டு வந்தமையும் மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவைகள் முன்னாள் ஆணையாளர் நவநீதம் பிள்ளையின் செயற்பாடுகள் தான்தோன்றித் தனமாக நடைபெறவில்லை. அதேபோல் பக்கசார்பான எவ்வித நடவடிக்கைகளையும் நவநீதம் பிள்ளை கையாளவுமில்லை.

 

அவர் தனது கடமையினை சர்வதேச சட்டத்திட்டங்களுக்கு அமைய செய்துள்ளார். இப்போது புதிய ஆணையாளர் செய்யத் அல் - ஹுசைன் தனது செயற்பாடுகளை நவநீதம்பிள்ளையின் பாதையினை பின்பற்றி செல்வதாக தெரிவித்துள்ளமையானது ஐக்கிய நாடுகளின் மனித உரிமைப் பேரவையின் விதிமுறைகளுக்கு உட்பட்டதும் அதன் மரபு வழியாக இருப்பதோடு இலங்கை விடயத்தில் அதே அக்கறையினை எடுக்க முன்வந்துள்ளமை வரவேற்கத்தக்க விடயமாகும். இலங்கையில் இடம்பெற்ற யுத்த குற்றச்சாட்டுக்கள் மனித உரிமை மீறல்கள் தொடர்பில் சர்வதேச தரப்பில் பேசுப்பட்ட போதும் ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் மனித உரிமைகள் பேரவையில் விவாதத்திற்கு எடுத்துக் கொள்ளப்பட்ட போது இலங்கை அரசாங்கத்திடம் அதன் உள்ளக செயற்பாடுகள் பற்றி வலியுறுத்தப்பட்டதுடன் உள்ளக விசாரணைக்கான வேண்டுகோளும் பல தடவைகள் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது. எனினும் இவ்விடயத்தில் இலங்கை அரசாங்கம் எவ்வித அக்கறையும் செலுத்தாது தான்தோன்றித்தனமாக செயற்பட்டதன் பின்னரே சர்வதேச விசாரணையொன்றை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டுமென தீர்மானம் எடுக்கப்பட்டது.

 

இவ்விசாரணைகளுக்கு இலங்கை அரசாங்க தரப்பு ஆரம்பத்தில் இருந்தே தமது எதிர்ப்பினை தெரிவித்து வருகின்றனர். எனினும் ஐ.நா. மனித உரிமைகள் ஆணைக்குழுவின் புதிய ஆணையாளரை தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் சந்திக்க அழைப்பு விடுத்துள்ளனர். ஆணையாளரை தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் சந்திப்பதனால் இலங்கை விடயத்தில் சர்வதேசம் கொண்டுள்ள நிலைப்பாட்டினை மாற்றிவிட முடியுமா என அரசாங்கம் தெளிவாக விளங்கிக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். இலங்கையில் சுயாதீனமான விசாரணை நடவடிக்கைகள் மேற்கொள்ள முடியாத நிலையில் நியாயமான தீர்வினை சர்வதேச விசாரணையொன்று இலங்கையில் இடம் பெறுவதை இலங்கை அரசாங்கம் இடமளிக்க வேண்டும். இலங்கையிலும் தீர்வொன்றினை நோக்கிய செயற்பாடுகளுக்கு இடமளிக்காது சர்வதேசத்தின் விசாரணையையும் தடுக்கும் இலங்கையின் நடவடிக்கைகள் கண்டிக்கத் தக்க விடயமாகும்.

 

மேலும், தற்போது புதிய ஆணையாளரின் செயற்பாடுகளும் சர்வதேசத்தின் வழிமுறைகளும் இலங்கையில் இடம்பெற்ற உரிமை மீறல்கள் தொடர்பிலான சர்வதேச விசாரணை சரியான எல்லையினை அடையும் என்ற நம்பிக்கை எமக்கு உள்ளதெனவும் அவர் தெரிவித்தார்.

களுத்துறையில் சங்கிலி திருடியவர் இன்று ஆளும் கட்சி அமைச்சர்: மங்கள சமரவீர

[ புதன்கிழமை, 10 செப்ரெம்பர் 2014, 01:14.16 PM GMT ]

களுத்துறையில் சங்கிலி திருடியவர் இன்று அரசாங்கத்தில் அமைச்சராக இருப்பதாக ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சியின் பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் மங்கள சமரவீர குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

கொழும்பில் இன்று இடம்பெற்ற ஊடக சந்திப்பின்போதே மங்கள இவ்வாறு தெரிவித்தார். அவர் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கையில்,

ராஜபக்ஷ தலைமையின் கீழ் ஒரு நாட்டுக்குள் இரண்டு உலகம் உருவாகியுள்ளது.

எனவே தற்போதைய காலத்திற்கு “ஒரே நாடு இரண்டு உலகம் என்ற கோஷமே பொருத்தமானதாகும்.

ராஜபக்ஷவின் தலைமை உறவுகள், நண்பர்கள், அடியாட்கள் போன்றோர் முதலாம் உலகத்தை பிரதிநிதித்துவப் படுத்துகின்றனர். இவர்கள் கொழும்பில் இரவு வேளைகளில் வீதிகளை மூடி லெம்போகினி வர்க்க கார்களில் ஓட்ட பந்தயம் செல்கின்றனர் என அவர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இரண்டாம் உலகத்தில் வாழ்வோர் தமது பாரம்பரிய இடங்களில் இருந்து விரட்டியடிக்கப்படுகின்றனர்.

இவர்கள் அன்றாட வாழ்க்கையை கொண்டு நடத்த முடியாது கஸ்டப்படுவதாகவும் பெற்றோர் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு உணவு கொடுக்க முடியாமல் குடும்பத்துடன் ஆறு அல்லது கடலில் சென்று விழுந்து தற்கொலை செய்து கொள்ளும் நிலை காணப்படகின்றனர் எனவும் சுட்டிக்காட்டியுள்ளார்.

மேலும், 1997ஆம் ஆண்டு பிரதேச சபைக்குத் தெரிவான நபர் இன்று கோடீஸ்வரனாக உள்ளதாகவும் மங்கள தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இதேவேளை, ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ மற்றும் சஜித் பிரேமதாஸ ஆகியோர் மீது தனக்கு தனிப்பட்ட கோபம் கிடையாது என்றும் ஆனால் அவர்களது கொள்கையில் முரண்பாடு காணப்படுவதாகவும் இதன்போது மங்கள சமரவீர குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார்.

Sri Lanka – One Country But Two Worlds: Mangala

September 10, 2014 UNP MP Mangala Samaraweera speaking today said although Sri Lanka stands as one country following the end of the  war, the governance system of the Rajapaksa regime has created two worlds within this single state.

Mangala and the President | File photo

Speaking at a media breifing today, MP Samaraweera lashed out at the government and held them responsible for the creation of two worlds within the country – one to which less than 1% of the population belongs and is comprised of the close relatives and friends of the Rajapaksas and the other in which 99% of the population comprising of the common people stand.

“One is the world of the super luxurious – where its people pay Rs. 200 per hopper, where they are able to take the law of the country into their hands and where they oust innocent people from their homes and acquire the premises to build casinos and hotels. In the other world meanwhile, the burden of the cost of living has crushed the masses and dragged them to the point where entire families are now committing suicide,” he said.

Speaking further on the economic lows that Sri Lanka has fallen to, MP Samaraweera said that despite the rapid development projects carried out by the government, close to 42% in the country live on a daily wage that is less than Rs. 275.

He went on to highlight the plight of state institutions, pointing out nearly 46 state institutions are presently in debt to which includes Rs. 419 million by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Rs. 44.3 million by Ceylon Electricity Board.

“These figures reflect the poor financial mangement and discipline of the Rajapaksa regime,” he asserted.

He also heavily criticised the nepotism and favouritism prevalent in awarding appointments in the state sector services, particularly the foreign service.

“It is time for the people of this country to rise against this injustice. People in Uva should use their vote on September 20 against the injustice, corruption and thuggery of the Rajapaksa regime,” he said while adding that apart from working towards strengthening the UNP, the time has come to build a common platform that goes beyond party politics and bring together all forces that oppose the Rajapaksa regime.

He said the government is preparing to distribute Rs. 2500 per family in Uva province within the next few days to win over votes.

“This money after all is not the private funds of Rajapaksas – they are tax payers’ money. But the people of Uva should follow the example set by the Northern province voters – they defeated the government using their vote,” MP Samaraweera added.

When inquired of the media reports that have been circulating regarding his opposition to the decision made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to award the UNP Deputy Leadership to UNP MP Sajith Premadasa, MP Samaraweera said, “I have always fought for princples, not against individuals. In 2007 when I was asked to rejoin the government I rejected the invitation based on principles. So even with Sajith I dont have any issues with him as a person,” he said.

Comparison of post war development in Nepal and Sri Lanka

By Muttukrishna Sarvananthan (Principal Researcher, Point Pedro Institute of Development, Point Pedro, Northern Province; sarvi@pointpedro.org)

Sunday, September 07, 2014

In both Nepal and Sri Lanka the transition from war to durable peace has been painful and is ongoing and not devoid of pitfalls as has been the case elsewhere in the World as well. In the case of Nepal underdevelopment of the vast hinterland has been widely acknowledged as the primary cause of the armed conflict. In Sri Lanka land, language, and political rights of the minority Tamil community have been at the forefront of the separatist armed struggle.

Comparison of Post War Development in Nepal and Sri Lanka by Thavam

Next Move on Lanka Policy

By V Suryanarayan

Published: 10th September 2014

The recent visit of a six-member Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegation to New Delhi marks an important milestone in India’s Sri Lanka policy. The delegation had a free and frank exchange of views with the prime minister, the minister for external affairs and the national security adviser. In a conversation with this author, Sampanthan pointed out that the talks were highly rewarding and instructive. New Delhi reiterated its commitment that it stood solidly behind TNA in its objective to get substantial autonomy to Tamil areas within a united Sri Lanka. Narendra Modi urged all stakeholders to engage constructively in a spirit of partnership and mutual accommodation to find a political solution on the basis of the 13th Amendment. In a rare gesture of goodwill the delegation called on former prime minister Manmohan Singh and requested him to inform the present government as to how Mahinda Rajapaksa had gone back on the solemn commitments he had made to the Government of India.

The visit is significant for another reason. Colombo had played up certain statements made by Indian friends of Mahinda Rajapaksa that the BJP-led government has revised its Sri Lanka policy. Subramaniam Swamy is reported to have stated that the prime minister will not meet the TNA without prior approval of the Sri Lankan government. He had also remarked that there was no ethnic problem in Sri Lanka, but only a linguistic problem. He also stated that in India there were certain states which did not have police powers, which was music to Sinhalese ears. Avadash Kaushal, recently appointed Indian adviser to the presidential commission on disappearances and war crimes, expressed his disapproval of the TNA visit to New Delhi and asked, “How will we in India feel if Sri Lanka calls and talks to Indian separatists?”

The above statements do not reflect the reality of the situation. Since July 1983, India is actively involved in the ethnic imbroglio. It was due to New Delhi’s good offices that the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) was persuaded to come back to the negotiating table, though the party had decided in the Mannar convention not to have any more talks with the government. From their goal of an independent state of Tamil Eelam, TULF scaled down its demand to a union of states within a united Sri Lanka. However the hope that Annexure C, drafted in consultation with New Delhi, would form the basis of negotiations was soon shattered. The all -party conference ceased to be a conference of recognised political parties, with a number of them walking in and out as and when it suited the government.

What was highlighted was the fact that the present dialogue with TNA was an integral part of India’s continuing engagement with all stakeholders. It was not intended to promote separation; on the contrary, its objective was to foster unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

A careful analysis of peace initiatives since 1987 clearly shows that Sri Lanka has gone far beyond the 13th Amendment. Therefore, New Delhi should insist that all home grown solutions put forward at regular intervals — the Mangala Moonasinghe report, the draft 2000 constitution, report of the expert committee appointed by Tissa Vitharana — all of them, in addition to 13th Amendment, should form the basis of negotiations. Also, the dialogue between the TNA and the government should immediately resume. The parliamentary select committee, where the TNA will be a miniscule minority, is intended to impose the will of the brute Sinhala majority.  Simultaneously, New Delhi should mobilise the support of the United States and European Union and make a joint demand for resumption of direct talks between Colombo and TNA.  

Subramaniam Swamy’s statement that Sri Lanka does not have an ethnic problem, but only a linguistic problem, is far off the mark. Significant sections of Sri Lankan population feel that the Tamils had to face innumerable problems since the dawn of independence, relating to language, land colonisation, education, employment opportunities, militarisation and security of life. In fact, in its 1977 election manifesto the United National Party (UNP) spelt out these grievances and assured that if voted to power it would hold an all-party conference to find an amicable solution. Such an assurance enabled Jayewardene to get the solid support of minorities outside the north and the east. But after his landslide victory, there was a lot of foot dragging which disillusioned the Tamils; militancy gradually crept into Tamil politics, culminating in the ethnic riots in July 1983.

 It will be a step forward if the government of India deputes a team of experts, well-versed in Tamil, to study the manifold problems faced by the Tamils — the efficacy of rehabilitation measures, the on-going Indian projects and bottlenecks in their implementation, the tragic plight of Tamil widows, travails of Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen in the Palk Bay, on-going militarisation and impact of high security zones, fears of land colonisation, tragedy of the hill country Tamils who migrated to the north after 1977 ethnic riots, why the refugees in Tamil Nadu are reluctant to go back to Sri Lanka, fears of LTTE resurgence, radicalisation of the Muslim community and, above all, obstacles confronted by the TNA government in administering the Northern Province. Their report could form the basis of fresh initiatives in India’s policy.

 The TNA should join hands with Tamil-speaking Muslims and hill country Tamils in their joint endeavour to find amicable solutions to their manifold problems. As far as Muslims and hill country Tamils are concerned, being non-territorial minorities, devolution to the provinces will not be a panacea to their problems; what is required is devolution from provinces to Pradeshiya Sabhas and entrenched constitutional provisions to protect their linguistic and cultural rights. The Sinhala fear that devolution to provinces will be the first step towards separation can be assuaged by incorporating iron clad guarantees in the Constitution to prevent such a possibility.

 A redeeming feature is that Tamil Diaspora, which fuelled the Tiger war machine, is today involved in considerable soul searching. Many influential leaders in the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), which was established in 2009 after the end of the war, have realised the futility of armed struggle. It will be in New Delhi’s interest to open a dialogue with them and explain the emerging trends in India’s Sri Lanka policy.

The author is former Director and Senior Professor, Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras.

E-mail: suryageeth@gmail.com

Remembering Rajani

Rajani Thiranagama Commemoration, 20-21 September 2014 in Jaffna-September 10, 2014 

Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, a prominent human rights activist and author, a medical doctor, and head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Jaffna, was assassinated near her home in 1989 at the age of thirty-five. Her death was an immense tragedy for the community and was symbolic of a climate of terror and human disregard that ultimately left hundreds of thousands dead throughout the country.  Rajani’s death represented a moral crisis within the community, and a crisis of governance and education that continues to mar our future.

A Tamil from northern Sri Lanka, she married a Sinhala political activist from the south, and despite being aware of the dangerous consequences of speaking out, chose to remain in the north with her people. She was one of the founding members of the renowned human rights group UTHR-J (University Teachers for Human Rights Jaffna) and the co-author of their book The Broken Palmyrah, which exposed the atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict, including the Sri Lankan armed forces, the Indian Peace keeping Force and armed groups such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other militant movements. Rajani was also at the forefront of establishing Poorani, a home for women in Jaffna, who were rendered destitute by the threatening and constraining conditions of war in the north of Sri Lanka. As a feminist and social activist, Rajani strove hard to create spaces for women’s collective action. After Rajani’s assassination, two of her co-authors, Rajan Hoole and Kopalasingam Sritharan, and fellow members of the UTHR-J, have continued to report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, inspired by Rajani’s memory and determination. Forced to remain underground since Rajani’s death, UTHR-J are one of the few non-partisan voices in Sri Lanka. In 2007 they were awarded the prestigious Martin Ennals Human Rights Award.

Democratic societies, democratic practices, an equal and just world!

Rajani remains an inspiration and symbol of hope to many in Sri Lanka who desire a just peace with democracy and dignity for all. We hope to explore spaces for a democratic practice in which people are able to participate. The post- war period offers us space to focus on the needs, aspirations and self-expression of people who have been dispossessed during the long period of war and in the current context of development and post-war reconstruction. We wish to honour Rajani’s memory with a series of events on the 20^th and 21^st of September. We earnestly request your presence at these events as both a show of solidarity with the people of Jaffna and all those gathered in the name of democracy at this crucial juncture of our shared history.

Solidarity for peace, democracy and the marginalized!

Support political and social practices for a new society!

Proposed events

• 20^th September, 9:30am – Rajani Thiranagama Commemoration Meeting at the Medical Faculty, University of Jaffna.
• 20^th September, 2pm – A procession for peace, democracy and social justice. (Starting at the Medical Faculty, University of Jaffna and ending at Veerasingham Hall with a short meeting.)
• 21^st September, 9am – A seminar on “A more just and democratic society”, at Kailasapathy Hall, University of Jaffna.

வைகோ தலைமையில் இன்று போராட்டம் 

இலங்கைக்கு எதிரான ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் சபையின் விசாரணைக்குழுவை இந்தியாவுக்குள் அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும் என்பது உள்ளிட்ட பல கோரிக்கைகளை முன்வைத்து மறுமலர்ச்சி திராவிட முன்னேற்றக்கழகம் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் ஒன்றை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளது.

கட்சியின் பொதுச் செயலாளர் வை.கோபாலசுவாமியின் தலைமையில் சென்னையில் இந்த ஆர்ப்பாட்டம் இன்று இடம்பெற்றது.

சர்வதேச விசாரணைக்குழு, இந்தியாவில் தங்கியிருந்து விசாரணைகளை மேற்கொள்ள இந்தியா அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும். அத்துடன், இடம்பெயர்ந்த தமிழ் மக்கள் சொந்த இடங்களில் குடியமர்த்தப்பட வேண்டும் உள்ளிட்ட கோரிக்கைகளை முன்வைத்து பலநூற்றுக் கணக்கானவர்கள் இப்போராட்டத்தினை முன்னெடுத்துள்ளனர்.

Six Govt. allies undecided 

President's third term: J
BY Ruwan Laknath Jayakody

 September 10, 2014
 
With the constitutional legality of a third term, for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, subject to debate, government constituent parties, with the exception of the National Freedom Front (NFF) remained undecided on whether...

...they should back the President if an amendment is moved in Parliament to enable him to contest. When questioned by Ceylon Today, as to whether they would back the President going for a third term, if the Supreme Court ruled in favour after necessary amendments to the 18th Amendment, the Democratic Left Party (DLP), Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist Party of Sri Lanka (CPSL) from the left and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), all remained undecided, with the NFF standing in support of the President.


The NFF, which supported the 18th Amendment stated that although the Constitution was sound on the matter, it was ultimately the people, the masses that retained the sole right regardless of the Constitution to decide how many times an individual could be voted into power as a ruler.


Leader of the LSSP, Senior Minister for Scientific Affairs, Prof. Tissa Vitharana noted the LSSP had not discussed the matter. General Secretary of the CPSL, Senior Minister for Human Resources, D.E.W. Gunasekera said the CPSL does not take decisions on tactical matters regarding the Constitution and Minister of National Languages and Social Integration and Leader of the DLF, Vasudeva Nanayakkara emphasized that all implications would have to be considered with time.
"It is still too early to comment," National Organizer of the JHU, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said.


The SLMC is presently engaged in drafting a party document with amendments to the Constitution and General Secretary of the SLMC, Hasan Ali remarked that until that process was over an official stand could not be taken with regard to the matter.
"There are many factors to examine. The repeal of Article 31 (2) can have a retrospective effect. The only base of those opposing is Clause Six of the Interpretation Ordinance. They say that the existing law cannot be removed by the new law registration.

Did the President suffer a disability before the repeal, before the 18th Amendment and does he continue to suffer – this is the question? The Supreme Court and legal authorities have to decide whether Article 31 (2) overrides the Interpretation Ordinance," General Secretary of the ACMC, Y.L.S. Hameed observed.
"If there are issues pertaining to the legality, it is up to the Supreme Court to interpret and present the case, which we believe they will do," Media Spokesman of the NFF, Mohammed Muzammil added.

JHU Is Not The Solution…It Is Part Of The Problem

Champika

By Vishwamithra1984 -September 10, 2014

“Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue.” ~Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Jathika Hela Urumaya seems to have awakened from their deep slumber. All of a sudden they seem to perceive only the negatives of the incumbent regime of which they are still an integral part. For eleven long years, they have been inside a regime that has been wasting the country’ treasures like drunkard sailors. At election after election they, the JHU, paraded on the United People’s Freedom Front platform; they asked the people to cast their votes for the continuation of the same old policies and principles, hiding behind a facade of patriotism and Sinhalese-Buddhist supremacy. In March this year, the leader of the JHU, the self-acclaimed custodian of the Sinhala-Buddhist values, wrote a piece on the national Tamil question. When one examines his arguments, one invariably comes to some unavoidable observations. With the one-sided arguments brought forward for the supremacy of Sinhalese-Buddhists based on the ‘Mahawansa’, the product of Maha Vihara Bikkhus who wrote about the Sinhalese Kings whom they considered as their favorites and a chronicle that G C Mendis, the reputed Sri Lankan historian, dismissed as an inauthentic history of Sri Lanka in the context of classical history writings, the JHU leader cements his case for Sinhala-dominated national identity, fanning racial and ethnic flames further, making any reconciliation between the two communities impossible.

Now they have issued a ‘manifesto’. It is nothing but a collection of failed agendas of the past and a severely cynical and hypocritical declaration of ideas and if dissected scrupulously as it should be, might still hoodwink the masses who are usually susceptible to election sloganeering. There are no fresh ideas; there is no apology for the last eleven years’ silence although they might argue that lodging a protest here and an objection there are somewhat an expression of dissatisfaction with the powers that be. That won’t do. The serious political paper which they tabled as part of a ‘sweeping transformation with a constitutional amendment’, reads more like a chapter from a boring book put away in library racks, gathering dust for want of a reader

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