Two Monks Rock The Presidential Boat

| by Gamini Weerakoon
( November 2, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Monks in politics is an issue which Buddhists down the years have lost their equanimity and shaken fists at each other. But monks have been in the thick of contemporary Sri Lankan politics since Independence never mind history of 2500 years et al and making their appearance in the political theatre when the occasion demanded. Perhaps Mahatma Gandhi’s saying: ‘Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is,’ is relevant in this instance.

Enter the monks

In the past few months two well -known monks have moved to centre stage of Sri Lankan politics: Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha of Kotte and Ven. Athureliye Ratsnasara (leader of his own organisation Pivithuru Hetak and member of the JHU). He has been an MP since 2004.

A surprising phenomenon is that while they have been welcomed by a large section of Buddhists, even non Buddhists and more surprising some NGOs too. The political stands they have taken go against with the policies of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government and therefore a substantial section of Buddhists backing the government as well as all Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters do not like their intervention.

Despite the fracas going on at the UNHCR at Geneva where the government stands in the dock, in domestic politics the Rajapaksa regime seemed to be cruising along undisturbed. The entry of the two monks into the political firmament is rocking the government boat, somewhat. Some months ago it appeared to be a one- man- presidential race for Rajapaksa with the squabbling UNP in utter disarray and no effective opposition challenging him. He seemed to be having an iron grip on the Sinhala- Buddhist bloc vote of an estimated 70 per cent which he garnered after the military victory over the LTTE.

The question now being asked is whether the monks have stormed into the impregnable Sinhala- Buddhist stockade of Mahinda Rajapaksa. The opposition appeared to be toothless before the entry of the two monks. But now the opposition appears to be sniping at the Rajapaksa regime.

Sangha power

Ven. Sobitha and Ven. Rathanasara are proving a point whether they achieve their objectives or not. Buddhist monks have been a very potent force when political parties were rendered impotent by strong governments. It has happened many times in post- Independence politics and seems to be repeating itself.
The intriguing feature is that they are not declaring their opposition to Mahinda Rajapaksa. They are demanding immediate constitutional changes before the presidential elections. Ven. Sobitha wants the powers of the executive presidency abolished by President Rajapaksa using his presidential powers and the parliamentary power he has with his 2/3rd majority. If necessary he (Ven. Sobitha) is ready to be the common opposition presidential, candidate on the ticket of abolishing the executive presidency.

Ven . Athureliye is still a Member of the UPFA coalition of President Rajapaksa’s party. He states that his objective is not to topple the government and destabilise the country. His organisation the Pivithuru Hetak wants Rajapaksa to enact constitutional amendments abolishing the system of executive presidency and its objectionable features before the presidential elections. The short time factor is no excuse because President Rajapaksa has two more years to go as president although he had decided to hold the election in January next year.

Leading Buddhist prelates such as Mahanayakes, most opposition political parties, some coalition parties allies of the government and even party members of the SLFP are not happy with the executive presidential system but Mahinda Rajapaksa who was elected president twice on the pledge that the executive presidential system would be abolished is giving no indication of doing so. It may not be hubris that prevents President Rajapaksa in not budging from his stand but because he is an astute politician who may be considering that all these objections to the executive presidency is ballyhoo which the ordinary voter will not be concerned about. He may be still having tricks up his sleeve like the give-away budget he produced last week.

But it is undeniable that the monks are rocking the boat that was cruising smoothly in placid waters a few months ago.

Politicians’ Sons Shoes Worth Rs. 150,000 A Pair & Drive Lamborghinis That Cost Rs. 50 million

[Lamborghini generation is Rajapaksas]-02/11/2014
JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said in Parliament yesterday that the children of some political leaders were wearing shoes that cost Rs 150,000 a pair and belts worth Rs 64,000 each, while the majority of people were undergoing many hardships.

Participating in the second reading stage debate of the budget 2015, he said that nepotism was growing in the government. “Some children of leading politicians drive around in Lamborghini cars that cost over Rs 50 million,” he said.

Vast amounts of money were being spent to cater to the expensive needs of a few, while the majority of the people in the country suffer as they had to work hard to pay taxes, he said.  

“The 20 per cent new rich generation this government is breeding is enjoying over 55 per cent of the wealth of the country, while those in the lower strata get less than ten per cent of the share”, the JVP leader noted.

“Today Ministers are too scared to speak out. There are 28 files pertaining to allegations against Ministers at the Bribery Commission. If anyone makes a noise, they will start opening the files”, MP Dissanayake said.

He said that Minister Champika Ranawaka had started to make some noise over alleged corruption in the government but since then he too has become quiet.

“The Government promised to make this country aviation, naval, education and power hubs, but has failed in all these areas,” he said.
By Saman Indrajith/The ISland

Now that Representative Democracy has become a mockery, the solution may lie in Liquid Democracy

November 3, 2014 

Discipline among Parliamentarians in good old days    
This writer had an opportunity to observe a Budget debate in the old parliamentary building at Galle Face in 1974 when N.M. Perera, popularly known as NM, was the Minister of Finance. In that Parliament, the Government party had been swollen to such an extent, as it has been today, that some of the Government party backbenchers had to be accommodated in the backbenches of the Opposition side of the House facilitating them to effectively sandwich the Opposition.

Now That Representative Democracy Has Become a Mockery, The Solution May Lie in Liquid Democracy by Thavam

The Role of Women in Countering Extremism

• by Dr. Radhika Coomaraswamy 
• - on 11/02/2014 

Speech delivered at Economic and Social Council Chamber, United Nations on October 27th, 2014

I want to thank the government of the United Arab Emirates for taking this important initiative to have debate and discussion on one of the most pressing issues of our times.
The Role of Women in Countering Extremism by Thavam

Aluthgama Tense Again

November 2, 2014 

A tense situation has arisen in and around Aluthgama after a private altercation between a Sinhalese and Muslim last evening.

Aluthgama – Last june | File photo

Following the altercation, a rumour had been spread to the effect that the Sinhalese person was assaulted on his way back from the temple resulting in Sinhalese crowds gathering to the Aluthgama town.

The incident had allegedly taken place in Dharga town which was subject to racial violence in June this year.

There has been no reported violence yet, with Special Task Force troops deployed in and around the area.

CPA’s ‘Two Weeks’ Is Made Of 23 Days (And Counting): Troubled NGO Says ‘Verification Of Documents Underway’

November 2, 2014 

In what appears to be a move to buy further time even after several weeks have passed since Colombo Telegraph published allegations of serious fraud, the Centre for Policy Alternatives claims that the authenticity of the relevant documents is being verified.

“An independent verification of all vouchers and documents in CPA’s possession relating to the allegations made against the organization is underway.” says the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

CPA Executive Director, Dr Saravanamuttu

“CPA will release a statement once this has been completed.” under the headline “Allegations on Colombo Telegraph website: Update” the CPA website further said today.

On October 10th Colombo Telegraph exposed various financial malpractices in the CPA. The CPA, in its official website, referring to this exposé, on the some day announced that its Executive Director, Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu was away and that a response would be given ‘in two weeks’. Dr Saravanamuttu returned to Sri Lanka on the 17th. The self-imposed deadline expired on 24th October.

On October 10th, based on CPA documents in our possession, Colombo Telegraph accused the CPA of billing for un-held workshops, engaging in double billing,’ i.e getting grants from two donors to do the same task and duplicating receipts, hotel bills and other bills to submit to donors (perhaps even submitting same bills to multiple donors), and hoodwinking donors by filing expenses under safe cost columns.

Colombo Telegraph first asked the CPA to respond to certain questions based on our investigations on 8th of June, 2014.  The CPA, after exchanging a few emails finally said: “We consider further communication with you futile and reiterate our position that these allegations are clearly mala fide’.”

We responded as follows:

“It is of course your prerogative to communicate or refuse to do so, but there are troubling questions that remain.

“Can you tell us which of our allegations are mala fide?

“Can you tell us whether the CPA and the International Federation of Journalists together have submitted proposals to UNESCO and EU to do a “Public Service Broadcasting” campaign/training or not?

“If “yes” can you tell us what workshops were, for whom and where they were held?

How many workshops were held using UNESCO funding and how many workshops under EU funding?

“Since both EU and UNESCO funded workshops and certain activities, can tell us how much monies were given by both funders?

“Contrary to your claim that the “CPA paid the Galle Face Hotel liquor bill”, Sasha Ekanayake (the Unit coordinator at that time) said CPA submitted a bill to EU as drinks and food “Since (we) can’t charge liquor, the CPA submitted a different bill to CPA”. This means the CPA got a different bill from Galle Face Hotel instead of submitting the original bill (a copy of which I sent to you).  Would you agree?

“As we said before it’s not our duty to provide you documents. As you have implied in your last email, you have access to organization’s document so please check them.

“But don’t assume that we don’t have documents, we have all narrative reports which CPA submitted to the donors or a file of original bills, which the CPA did not submit to the donors.

“Just so you know, all documents are authentic and we can prove this if necessary.”

These are questions and comments that are based on damning documentary evidence in the possession of the Colombo Telegraph. The Colombo Telegraph finds it appalling that a strong advocate of checks and balances, accountability and transparency such as the CPA remains silent on the allegations.

TISL informs Police Chief of intimidation, death threats, event obstruction to no avail

Sunday, November 02, 2014

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has written to the Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police (IGP), citing death threats and intimidation directed towards the TISL staff and associates, and also the obstruction of events organised by TISL between May and October this year.

The letter cited a series of events that had occurred, disrupting the activities carried out by TISL from May tilll November 2014.
It has been alleged that intimidation, surveillance and death threats were directed at the TISL staff and their families, further, several hotels and other venues booked by TISL were threatened, which ultimately led to the cancellation of TISL programmes and events, several of these venues were also forced to vacate TISL participants in the middle of the night.

TISL Executive Director, S. Ranugge alleged that all these acts were carried out by those believed to be attached to Defence establishments. He added that these unidentified individuals suspected to be from these Defence establishments, had forced many venues to vacate TISL participants from their rooms in the middle of the night.

“The primary target of these attacks appears to be events organised for Tamil medium journalists from the North and East,” the TISL report to the IGP said. The report further stated that it was falsely alleged that these workshops were organised in support of the LTTE, and was used to gather evidence to be submitted to the inquiry conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The TISL alleged that, in spite of the numerous complaints made to the police by the TISL, only one has come under some form of investigation. In addition to that, it also alleged that Police had forced TISL and the venues to halt their programmes, due to protests by organised but unidentified persons, rather than disperse the protestors. One such incident cited by the TISL report was dated June 7, 2014, when Police and the Hotel management had forced the cancellation of a rescheduled workshop for Tamil Medium journalists. The workshop was halted after a group of protestors had gathered outside the hotel premises displaying slogans about TISL staff members and threatening to assault them.
The report by the TISL also made note of an incident where one of the speakers for a meeting which was organised for journalists at Janaki Hotel on October 15, got a threatening message telling him “The meeting organised for journalists at Janaki Hotel on 15.10.2014 at 10.00 am is cancelled. Do not attend this meeting. You will be attacked. RATA BERAGATH DESHAPREMI BALAKAYA.” On the day after the event, some participants had allegedly been questioned by a TID unit police officer about the event. The officer had also stated that Shan Wijethunga (Senior Manager at TISL) ‘would be taken care of later’.

The letter urged the IGP to order an effective investigation into the aforementioned allegations and to identify the culprits and take necessary legal action against them. The TISL is yet to receive a formal reply to the letter dated October 27, 2014.

Solheim discusses potential need for sanctions and international election observers in Sri Lanka

 02 November 2014
Erik Solheim, a former peace negotiation envoy to Sri Lanka, discussed the potential need for the EU to ensure that the upcoming presidential elections in Sri Lanka were free and fair, as well as potential sanctions on Sri Lanka should it continue to refuse to cooperate with the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL). 

The former Norwegian peace envoy spoke about the use of international observers to ensure fair elections in Sri Lanka during a meeting with the British Tamil Conservatives last month, whilst discussing matters pertaining to the upcoming presidential elections in Sri Lanka, and a post-inquiry follow up strategy to ensure accountability and justice whilst meeting the aspirations of all people on the island. 

The chair of the BTC told Tamil Guardian that during their discussions with Solheim, they considered the need to mobilise the EU to ensure that the upcoming elections in January were free and fair using mechanisms such as independent international election observers and discussed the possible necessity of targeted sanctions on individuals in Sri Lanka should they continue to reject the work and findings of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Investigation into Sri Lanka (OISL).

Erik Solheim was heavily involved in facilitiating negotiations between the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government during the cease-fire period of 2002-2006. 

EC proceeding with Presidential polls Awaiting Proclamation – Dy. Commissioner 


By Ravi Ladduwahetty- November 3, 2014

The Elections Commissioner's Department will proceed with the preparatory work for the 2015 Presidential Polls and is awaiting the Presidential proclamation to be issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa after 19 November.
19 November marks four years of completion of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's second term in office, as he took oaths on 19 November 2010 and he is constitutionally empowered to issue the Presidential proclamation only after completing four years, in office.
 

" We are ready to commence the preparatory work for the Presidential Elections and we are waiting for the Presidential proclamation," Deputy Commissioner of Elections M. M. Mohamed told Ceylon Today.
The Deputy Commissioner's comments to this newspaper came close on the heels of Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya refusing to comment on the holding or not of the Presidential polls following the UNP and the JVP imploring the Department not to hold the Presidential Poll, claiming that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was not empowered to contest the Presidency a third time.
" I have no comment to make to any media at this stage and please leave me alone, Deshapriya told Ceylon Today in a terse reply when contacted for comment.

Sajith’s blabbering destroys UNP’s chances of victory and govt. MPs/Ministers joining opposition

(Lanka-e-News- 01.Nov.2014, 11.55PM) Ranil Wickremesinghe has been driven into serious trauma because of the stupid utterances and monkey pranks of Sajith Premadasa in much the same way as the monkey in the tale of the ‘monkey and King,’ where the latter was led to death due to the idiocy of his monkey friend . Owing to what Sajith Premadasa blabbered at the Hyde park rally on the 28 th , the golden opportunity the opposition had to pave the way for its success with the support of the group of Ministers and MPs of the government who are disillusioned with the government , and whose support is very vital to win the elections , was totally jeopardized , like in the fable where the foolishness of the monkey led the King to death, according to reports reaching the inside information division of Lanka e news.

Sajith’s Blabbering Destroys UNP’s Chances of Victory and Govt. MPs Ministers Joining Opposition by Thavam

Another operation to ‘blackmail’ Sajith!

 Sunday, 02 November 2014 

The CID has suddenly resumed an investigation into Rs. two million fake currency notes which Dulanjali Premadasa, sister of UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa, was going to deposit in a bank.

The defence secretary has made Sajith his servant by levelling various allegations against him.

He was angered by Sajith’s recent disregard of his orders, and ordered the resumption of the probe against Dulanjali.

Acting upon this order, two CID officers are gathering information, reports say.

The money was found to be fakes when Dulanjali was going to deposit it in a bank, and a businessman was arrested on the charge of giving her the counterfeit notes.

Despite initial promises to enforce the law against the businessman, the investigation was suspended on an order from a highest government position, Dulanjali was absolved and the news about the incident covered up.

Ministers leave UNP in the lurch as Saturn makes transit!

 Sunday, 02 November 2014 

Several government ministers, MPs and regional leaders have abandoned their idea, at the last moment, of joining the UNP to coincide with the transit of the Saturn which is due to take place tonight (02), according to reports reaching ‘Lanka News Web’ through very reliable sources.

Accordingly, two MPs who were to cross over at the vote on the second reading of the budget in parliament yesterday (01) afternoon, had informed the UNP leadership that they could not take such a decision on that day.

Twelve regional leaders of the SLFP too, had abandoned their decision to inform the president by fax that they were resigning from their positions as well as the party membership.

Their change of stance has been prompted by the foolish remark made by UNP deputy leader Sajith Premadasa at Hyde Park in Colombo, in which he referred to those joining the UNP from the government as rats. Those who were going to join the opposition have been discouraged by the UNP leader’s silence over his deputy’s remarks.

What shall we do about ISIL?

Civilisations have clashed: Who will rebuild?

by Kumar David-November 1, 2014, 3:55 pm 

The blame-game is secondary; important but less important; the living take precedence over the dead. The real issue is what to do next; the blame-game is disputation about who did wrong in the last century or in previous decades. I can drive home the point with a Lankan analogy. Whether war crimes were committed and who is to blame should be followed up; but it is secondary to current Tamil demands for genuine devolution, anticipated possibility of regime change, etc.

What Shall We Do About ISIL Civilisations Have Clashed Who Will Rebuild by Thavam

Chinese submarine docks in Sri Lanka despite Indian concerns

BY SHIHAR ANEEZ AND RANGA SIRILAL-COLOMBO Sun Nov 2, 2014

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka has allowed a Chinese submarine and a warship to dock at its port in the capital Colombo, officials said on Sunday, despite concerns raised by India about China's warming relations with the Indian Ocean island nation.

Submarine Changzheng-2 and warship Chang Xing Dao arrived at the port on Friday, seven weeks after another Chinese submarine, a long-range deployment patrol, had called at the same port ahead of a visit to South Asia by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"A submarine and a warship have docked at Colombo harbour. They called on Oct. 31 and will be here for five days for refuelling and crew refreshment," Sri Lankan navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said.

"This is nothing unusual. Since 2010, 230 warships have called at Colombo port from various countries on goodwill visits and for refuelling and crew refreshment."

However, the frequency of Chinese visits has become a concern for New Delhi, Indian officials have told Reuters.

"India has raised concerns over this but not aggressively," an Indian official familiar with diplomatic discussions between the neighbours told Reuters.

China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka in recent years, funding airports, roads, railways and ports, a development that has unsettled India, traditionally the closest economic partner of the island nation of 21 million people.

India has already raised concerns over an aircraft maintenance facility following speculation it could be built in the eastern port city of Trincomalee, which India considers a strategic location in national security terms.

R. Hariharan, a retired colonel from the Indian army and an associate at the Chennai Centre for China Studies, said India was concerned about the latest docking of a Chinese submarine at a Sri Lankan port for many reasons.

"For the first time, Chinese submarines are being made part of the PLA (the People's Liberation Army) in the Indian Ocean Region fleet operation in the Gulf of Aden on anti-piracy, which is not a common practice," he told Reuters.

A 1987 accord between India and Sri Lanka provides that respective territories - including Trincomalee - will not be used for activities prejudicial to each other's unity, integrity and security.

(Writing by Shihar Aneez; Editing by Gareth Jones)

Dozens killed in suicide attack at Pakistan-India border post

Bomb blast occurs at at Wagah border post during daily flag-lowering ceremony

Pakistani paramilitary soldiers guard the road leading to the scene of the suicide bomb attack at Wagah. Photograph: Rahat Dar/EPA

Jon Boone in Islamabad-Sunday 2 November 2014

A suicide bomber targeted crowds attending an iconic military parade on the Pakistan-India border on Sunday, killing at least 45 people and injuring more than 70.

The attack occurred as spectators were streaming away from a flag-lowering ceremony that takes places at dusk each day at the Wagah border post, an immensely symbolic and sensitive area 15 miles from Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province.

Among the dead were three members of the Rangers, a paramilitary force with responsibility for securing the area.

Punjab Rangers chief Tahir Javed Khan confirmed the attack was the work of a suicide bomber who detonated his device after apparently realising he would be unable to get through a security cordon without being frisked.

“The suicide bomber failed to cross the security barrier and blew himself up outside when people were coming out,” he said.

Had he succeeded in reaching the parade ground itself, where tiered seating accommodates hundreds of spectators, the death toll from a bomb thought to have been laced with ball bearings could have been even higher.

The daily spectacle sees soldiers on both sides stomping around in an elaborate display that culminates with the slamming shut of the double gates of the only land crossing between India and Pakistan.

The flamboyant display of nationalism attracts large crowds of onlookers on both sides of the border, including many families with young children.

Spokesmen from two nominally separate militant groups contacted news outlets to claim responsibility for the attack.

First, Jundullah, which has been linked to savage attacks in the past, said it had carried out the attack. Last year they claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing of a church in the north-western city of Peshawar.

But later the BBC said it had been called by the spokesman of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a group that recently split off from the Pakistani Taliban, costing the movement many of its top commanders.

In recent months the country has enjoyed a lull in terrorist violence, with far fewer mass-casualty attacks on soft, civilian targets than was the case in the previous year.

Analysts attributed the downturn in violence to the military operation launched in June against the militant safe haven in the north-west tribal agency of North Waziristan, and disagreements within the Pakistani Taliban that saw the once formidable militant alliance split into multiple groups.

Security forces are nonetheless on high alert as the country’s Shia minority prepare to gather in large numbers to mark the festival of Ashura which has been attacked by sectarian terrorists in the past.

Wagah is a particularly sensitive area for a country that has fought four wars since independence in 1947 with its larger neighbour.

With travel and trade between the two countries heavily restricted the daily flag ceremony is the only opportunity most Pakistanis and Indians have to see each other in the flesh.

Some pro-peace activists in Pakistan have criticised the noisy show of daily patriotism and have called for it to be scrapped.

Despite the hopes of prime minister Nawaz Sharif for an improvement in trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries, relations are currently at a low ebb after Delhi reprimanded Pakistani diplomats for meeting Kashmiri separatist leaders in August.

There has also been a dramatic escalation in cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani troops on either side of the border in recent months.

Militants kill 6 Filipino soldiers

About 20 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf fighters opened fire on the soldiers

02 NOVEMBER 2014

Abu Sayyaf guerrillas have killed at least six Filipino soldiers who were guarding a road project that has been delayed by militant attacks in the country's impoverished southern region.

Army Colonel Rolando Bautista said the soldiers were patrolling the outskirts of a farming village on Basilan island's Sumisip town Sunday when about 20 heavily armed Abu Sayyaf fighters opened fire, sparking a 45-minute battle.

He said he deployed additional troops to pursue the attackers.

The attack came as hundreds of troops hunted down Abu Sayyaf gunmen after they freed two German tourists last month on nearby Jolo Island, reportedly after a huge ransom payment.

Iraq says 322 tribe members killed, many bodies dumped in well

Tribal fighters look on as they take part in an intensive security deployment against Islamic State militants in the town of Amriyat al-Falluja,in Anbar province, October 31, 2014. Picture taken October 31, 2014.

BY MICHAEL GEORGY-Sun Nov 2, 2014 

(Reuters) - Islamic State militants have killed 322 members of an Iraqi tribe in western Anbar province, including dozens of women and children whose bodies were dumped in a well, the government said in the first official confirmation of the scale of the massacre.

The systematic killings, which one tribal leader said were continuing on Sunday, marked some of the worst bloodshed in Iraq since the Sunni militants swept through the north in June with the aim of establishing medieval caliphate there and in Syria.

The Albu Nimr, also Sunni, had put up fierce resistance against Islamic State for weeks but finally ran low on ammunition, food and fuel last week as Islamic State fighters closed in on their village Zauiyat Albu Nimr.

"The number of people killed by Islamic State from Albu Nimr tribe is 322. The bodies of 50 women and children have also been discovered dumped in a well," the country's Human Rights Ministry said on Sunday.

One of the leaders of the tribe, Sheikh Naeem al-Ga'oud, told Reuters that he had repeatedly asked the central government and army to provide his men with arms but no action was taken.

State television said on Sunday that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered airstrikes on Islamic State targets around the town of Hit in response to the killings.

Officials at a government security operations command centre in Anbar and civilians reached by Reuters said they had not heard of or witnessed airstrikes.

STRATEGIC REGION

The fall of the village dampened the Shi'ite-led national government's hopes the Sunni tribesmen of Anbar -- who once helped U.S. Marines defeat al Qaeda -- would become a formidable force again and help the army take on Iraq's new, far more effective enemy.

U.S. airstrikes have helped Kurdish peshmerga fighters retake territory in the north that Islamic State had captured in its drive for an Islamic empire that redraws the map of the Middle East.

But the picture in Anbar is more precarious.

Islamic State already controls most of the vast desert province which includes towns in the Euphrates River valley dominated by Sunni tribes, running from the Syrian border to the western outskirts of Baghdad.

If the province falls, it could give Islamic State a better chance to make good on its threat to march on the capital.

Ga'aud said 75 more members of his tribe were killed on Sunday under the same scenario -- they were hunted down while trying to escape from Islamic State, shot dead execution-style and dumped near the town of Haditha.

The Albu Nimr leader also said Islamic State killed 15 high school and college students in Zauiyat Albu Nimr and that, apart from an air drop, there had been no help from the U.S.-led air campaign.

Security and government officials could not be immediately reached to confirm the latest killings.

In Anbar, the militants are now encircling a large air base and the vital Haditha dam on the Euphrates. Fighters control towns from the Syrian border to parts of provincial capital Ramadi and into the lush irrigated areas near Baghdad.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)