Sri Lanka's Rajapaksa facing electoral rebellion

• Date 21.11.2014

The unprecedented presidential third term sought by Sri Lanka's leader Mahinda Rajapaska has been challenged. His health minister Mithripala Sirisena has quit, saying he will run as joint opposition candidate.

Sirisena, who had also been No. 2 figure in the ruling Sri Lankan Freedom Party (SLFP), quit Sri Lanka's cabinet on Friday, accusing President Rajapaska of moving the country "towards a dictatorship."

His defection -- along with the departures of three other ministers -- coincided with the setting of January 8 as the presidential election day by Sri Lanka's Election Commission.

Rajapaksa had on Thursday announced a snap election two years before his second term ends, hoping to ride popularity from past military gains.

Has Rajapaksa overplayed his hand?

The 69-year-old came to power in 2005 and won a second term in 2010 after the island nation's military defeated Tamil Tiger separatists, ending a 26-year-war.

Abolish presidency, says Sirisena

Sirisena on Friday vowed to abolish the powerful post of president and return to a government headed by a prime minister as existed before 1978. He also promised independent bodies to appoint judges and police chiefs.

"The 18th amendment is a serious mistake," said Sirisena, referring to Rajapaksa's recent use of parliament to change the constitution and scrap a previous two-term limit for the presidency.

Reports from Colombo said Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP), along with rival lawmakers, had thrown their weight behind Sirisena.

"One family has captured the country's economy, wealth, administration and the management of the political party," Sirisena said, referring to senior public posts held by three Rajapaksa brothers.

Kumaratunga was president from 1994 until 2005

Sirisena left the government with three other ministers and a lawmaker.

"After the war victory, the present government started veering in a direction that none of us expected," Sirisena told reporters while accompanied by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

ipj/tj (AP, Reuter, AFP)

International Community Is Hoping For A Regime Change After The Presidential Elections

By Veluppillai Thangavelu -November 22, 2014 

Veluppillai Thangavelu

After days and weeks of dilly dallying, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has at last signed the proclamation declaring the presidential election will be held next year.  “I am declaring a secret today. I have signed the proclamation calling for the election for re-election for the third time… That is democracy,” Rajapaksa said, addressing a gathering on state television.

Although President Rajapaksa signed the proclamation the exact date of the election is still to be determined. The date, as in the past, is normally fixed by astrologers and not by the Commissioner of Elections. The astrologers fix the auspices date after consulting the horoscope, the 12 planets (sun is included as a planet although it is a star) lunar phases, 27 constellations, 12 signs, 12 houses, transits, progression etc.  It is a reflection on third world country politicians who foolishly rely more on distant heavenly bodies than eligible voters.

Thanks to the 18th Amendment President Rajapaksa is seeking a third term in office, two years ahead of completing his second term. He resorted to the same tactic in 2010 when he went for the elections two years in advance of his first term. The current term commenced on November 19, 2010.

After the Uva and Western Provincial Council elections Rajapaksa must have realised the fact that popular support for the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was on the decline.  Although Uva is a traditional strong hold of the opposition United National Party (UNP), yet the election results must have jolted both the ruling party and President Rajapaksa. Compared to the Provincial Council election held in 2009, 2014 results was a definite set back for the ruling party.

In Uva Provincial Council, though the ruling UPFA remains the largest party with an overall majority of 19 seats, that is down from 25 seats in 2009. The percentages show a larger fall than the seat count. In Moneragala, one of two districts in the province the UPFA vote tumbled from 81.32% in 2009 to 58.34% in 2014. Overall the UPFA vote fell from 71.77% in 2009 to 48.79% a decline of a staggering 22.98%.  The following Table shows how the government vote bank gradually shrank in terms of number of votes polled and seats secured between 2014 and 2009.

                                    Read More

A Short Profile Of Honourable Maithirpala Sirisena

| by A Special Correspondent

( November 22, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today is a historical day in Sri Lankan politics. A battle begins between the forces of nepotism and democracy, between the family dictatorship and freedom and equality. Every Sri Lankan knows how MR controlled the entire government department and how MR destroyed the SLFP party. Today his ruling is trampling. one by one senior members of ruling parties are crossing over. This is good news for the democracy in Sri Lanka. Indeed, people have already begun to celebrate the dawn fall of MR domination. I think that JVP played a greater role in exposing the extent of corruption that prevails in MR and co family. Now it is the time to expose the all corruptive nature of MR family to the world so that people will know the true nature of nepotism.

It is out of true patriotism and good intention that the honourable minister came forward to save the country and its people from the clutches of MR family. We should salute him and congratulate him and it is duty of all Sri Lankan to make sure Maithripala Sirisena win the forthcoming presidential election. He took this decision with great bravery and courage. We all know how risky is this and yet, he is brave enough to sacrifice his life for the country.

I shall briefly record a short profile of our next president. This is not an extensive profile rather a brief one.

He was born on 03/09/191. He was educated at Laksha Dyana Vidyalaya & Thopa wewa Mhavidayala for his primary education and then he continued his secondary education at Royal College Polonnaruwa.

He dedicated his political life for SLFP. He is one of the most senior members of SLFP party today. He was appointed as SLFP polannaruwa district Secretary in 1979. It could be said that he started his political career early his life. In 1981 he was appointed as secretary of all Sri Lanka youth organisation. In 1983 he was appointed as Polannaruwa SLFP chief organiser. In 1983 he was appointed as chairman of SLFP central committee. He was elected as Member of Parliament from polananaruwa district in 1989. Once again he was elected as Member of Parliament for polannarauwa district in 1995. 1995 and 1997 he was appointed as deputy minister for irrigation and as cabinet minister for Mahawali development.

Again in 2001 he was elected as member of parliament for Polannaruwa district and selected as a General Secretary of SLFP. In 2004 he was elected again as Member of Parliament for the same district. Then he served as cabinet minister for mahawali and Rajarata development. In 2006 he was appointed as minister of agriculture, irrigation, Mahawali, and environment .in 2007 he served as minister of agricultural development and consequently he was appointed as leader of the House. In 2010 he was appointed as cabinet minister for health.

He was unable to function freely due to pressure inserted by MR and co on his ministerial works and duties. As heath minister he was unable take many important decisions in his department. Because, MR and family controlled almost all department. Not only him but all other senior members of Parliament are unable to work on their own and they are forced to work under immense pressure from the siblings of MR. such duress and pressure back fired and exploded today. we will see many more people defect from MR control and join with UNP to make a change in Sri Lanka.

We could see dramatic changes soon. Many more people will expose all dirty works of MR and co in politics. It is good for the country and it is good for the democracy in Sri Lanka. It is good for freedom of thought and freedom of speech. All segments of people will welcome such change. Academics, lawyers, judges, students of politics, religious groups and political parties all will welcome this move and I hope MR and co will be left out with some of their cohorts and supporters who robbed the public money and we lived on public fund.

We could see lots of murder and violence in coming days. MR and co will do whatever they could do to protect their power and family, yet, people would not approve them at all. People will protest against this family dictatorship. I’m sure Maithiripala Samisen will win the large majority because people are frustrated with MR and co family.

Maithripala Sirisena, an Excellent Choice to Defeat Rajapaksa

by Nilantha Ilangamuwa-22/11/2014 

“O, let my land be a land where Liberty
Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath,
But opportunity is real, and life is free,
Equality is in the air we breathe.”( Let America Be America Again – by Langston Hughes )

The 48-day-game has started. The ruling tyrant is in a dilemma because the common alliance has refreshed itself with new faces and new hopes.

The tragedy that is Rajapaksa is approaching its endgame. The coming election is his last attempt at survival, therefore he will not hesitate to use every dastardly and underhanded trick at his disposal to retain his power.

This is one of the most significant events in Sri Lankan politics in recent history. At the same time this will be the last opportunity for the natural law gifted to the country to re-engineer the nation and correct its woebegone history. It is an opportunity for every citizen in this nation to play his or her part to achieve the ultimate goal, the restoration of integrity, dignity and humanity.

Rajapaksa the tragedy, has proved its degree of internal illness by showing his emotional behaviour moments after the historical announcement made by the general secretary of the ruling party, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party ( SLFP). The general secretary Maithripala Sirisena, a civil servant turned politician, declared his acceptance of being the common candidate from the opposition alliance in the forthcoming presidential election which is scheduled to be held on January 8, 2015.

For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, the two major political parties, the United National Party ( UNP) and the SLFP have come together under one umbrella to fight against a deteriorated political culture, it’s present architect and his clan.

While responding the situation the incumbent has shown his illiterate loquaciousness. His drunken political vulgarism compared the general secretary of the SLFP with the wife of the opposition leader just because they both have similar names. This is the real tragic face of Rajapaksa, the man who claimed to be the liberator and the protector of the nation. But in reality he is nothing but a plunderer of public resources and eliminator of the basics rights of the citizen in this country.

However the time has arrived. The line has been drawn in the sand and a new dawn promises the nation great hope.

The tyrant and his clan will have to find a way out. He can be choose the way of Marcos of the Philippines or Ben Ali of Tunisia. Perhaps there is possibility that the Idi Amin Dada story will be repeated in the Sri Lankan context. It is all depends on how this golden opportunity is manage and articulated by the alliance and their capacity to convince the public.

However, the opposition has made the correct and comparatively genuine choice. Their choice has every quality necessary to vanguish the disrespectful and nepotistic political culture in Sri Lanka. This is an excellent choice. This is the time for every right thinking individual who wishes to maintain and protect their political dignity to come out and join hands with their long term colleague and the party’s general secretary. This is not a one man game but the work of a team. Each decision taken by the team will rewrite the history of Sri Lanka.

Why is Maithri an excellent choice? He is a politician with conscience and common sense. He is a politician who can take people out onto the streets. He is a politician who knows the real face of the tragedy that is Rajapaksa. He is a politician who can break the ruling alliance and re-establish the SLFP. He is a politician who can break the silence and unveil the deception of the public.

The game ahead; and the alliance will have to face all kind of challenges. But at last the bell will awake the public and lead to a new dawn of political culture in Sri Lanka.

Let Sri Lanka be Sri Lanka again.

MR to lose two thirds majority in parliament soon

 Saturday, 22 November 2014 

Given the crossovers taking place from the government in the past few days, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to lose his two thirds majority in parliament soon.

The governing United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had a total of 160 MPs in parliament last week.

However, the number has now been reduced to 151 MPs.

Interestingly, the defection of two more governing party MPs would result in the UPFA losing its comfortable two thirds majority held in parliament since 2010.

Following are the governing party members who have quit the government so far:

1.       Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero

2.       Patali Champika Ranawaka

3.       Wasantha Senanayake

4.       Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha

5.       Maithripala Sirisena

6.       Rajitha Senaratne

7.       Duminda Dissanayake

8.       M.K.D.S. Gunawardena

9.       Perumal Rajathurai

A Golden Opportunity Not To Fritter Away

By Emil van der Poorten -November 22, 2014

Emil van der Poorten

The decision of Maithripala Sirisena to throw his hat into the ring has resulted in what must be the biggest sigh of political relief experienced in Sri Lanka in a long time, not to mention the usual fire-cracker sounds of celebration!

While it is easy enough to see this as an unmitigated blessing to a land that is drowning in a cesspool of corruption, a word of caution is not simply needed, it is essential.

Particularly given the players in this melodrama, one needs to bring more than a bit of circumspection to bear here.

While there is likely to be a significant amount of speculation as to who exactly had the greatest responsibility for getting Sirisena to “turn,” there is little doubt, given her appearance on the platform from which the announcement was made, standing right by Mr. Sirisena, that Chandrika Kumaratunge played a significant role, probably calling in her markers from way, way back.

Given that lady’s track record one would be well advised to apply the old adage to an evaluation of Mr Sirisena: “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.”  And, let’s face it, that wouldn’t put the erstwhile Minister of Health at the upper level of any band of political angels!

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge doesn’t exactly have a sterling record in the matter of not being vindictive and vindictiveness is no recipe for a return to good governance if Mr. Sirisena is successful in his quest for the Holy Grail. Neither is she, by any stretch, an example of someone who displayed principle and competence at the time she claimed to steer this country.  However, let’s assume that she has seen the light during her particular journey to a Sri Lankan Damascus. After all, Saul did end up as Saint Paul, even if that particular religious fact is being quoted in this particular instance by an unbeliever!           Read More

THE SIRISENA SURGE: WHY MAHINDA IS STILL WAY AHEAD

by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka 

- on 11/22/2014 

Two cheers then for Maithripala Sirisena whose act of resistance and rebellion is truly heroic. Why cheer at all? And why two cheers instead of three? Hearty cheers are entirely warranted because Maithripala Sirisena has produced a Black Swan event; a real game changer.

The Sirisena Surge Why Mahinda is Still Way Ahead by Thavam

Sri Lanka: The Beginning Of The End Of A Distorted Era  

| by Nilantha Ilangamuwa

( November 22, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Are we, as a nation, capable of hauling ourselves out of this calamity? Do we have the hidden political morality to change ourselves? Can we come up with a strategy to do what really needs at be done at this crucial time?

Regardless of the degree of devastation, any country can arise from the ashes if there is genuine political morality among those who have the capacity to make the change. Indeed, every person, man, woman or child has the capacity to rise up against the people who plunder their land in order to expel them. Every genuine human being has the capacity to rise up against tyrants that occupy their land. The fine move in changing any society must be taken by the people. It is the people who should decide the system they need.

The historic moment has delivered something which we never expected. It is political unity among the main two major political parties, UNP and SLFP. They are joining forces to fight against the tyrant.

The tyrant has spoken and expressed his intention to assay as to whether he can fool the public again. The basic notion of the Lincoln politics seems to be at work here, “you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”

A new dawn about to open to emerge. The new dawn of correcting the history and removing the distorted political vulgarism which eliminated almost everything in the country is about to rise.

No doubt this is the golden opportunity to fulfil the liberty and freedom of all communities. Re-establishing the freedom and justice while healing the wounds of all kind is basic requirement to the nation of despair.

That can be only done if there is the political wisdom. The opportunity is here, and it needs human beings who are willing to use this opportunity wisely and genuinely.   

Somehow the nation must be thankful to the Rajapaksa clan for their greed. It is because of their voracious greed that the people have been able to rise up against them.

There has been no surprise. He has done what he was expected to do. For him neither the people, nor the country or its future are matters of concern. For him most important fact is his own future and his own belly to hold the power as long as his physical body is able to swindle the nation while selling phoney theories written in his so called “Chinthanaya”.

Does he have the capacity to win the election? He will have to make every necessary attempt including excessive usage of the military in every corner of the country, to win this battle. But the new alliance, if they win the hearts and minds not only of Sinhalese but also the Tamils and Muslims, the Rajapaksa era will end.

In any case if he wins the election, the nation will be see nothing but frustration, agony and anxiety.

This is not an election the people of this land require or are eager to have. This is his election which is wasting our taxes money and the money which can be allocated for the education, health, food and transportation. There are thousands of people displaced over poor environmental management just in the last couple of months due to the bad weather. The money can be used for those good purposes to help the people to re-start their life.

But for the tyrant his lust is more than anything.      

He has ripped off the very basic ideas of the state. Unlike other nations, in reality we have no place to call the nation but a piece of land occupied by his political ploy. We will not have the nation until and unless the land is liberated from his clutches.    

The tyrant has signed the proclamation for his desire to declare an early election, and the government gazette has gone out accordingly without mentioning the date. So, the new tamasha erupted on the every streets in the island to express the loyalty on their lawlessness leader and his clan.

The tyrant with the big moustache in traditional dress of “political opportunism” is getting ready to “win” the election by hook or by crook. As this writer has repeatedly said, elections in Sri Lanka, are nothing but a farce in which no one can exercise the very freedom to choose the leader whom they really want to govern.

In this circumstances those who are screaming for liberty and humanity to prevails in this land have to face the real challenges in a short period of time.  They are the people who can rescue the country

It is time for the nation to correct its path and regain liberty and humanity. 

Election Violence Against Opposition Unleashed; A Victim’s Condition Critical

[Chamila Ranasinghe lies  in a critical condition]-22/11/2014  

Pro government gangs have unleashed violence against opposition supporters in several areas of Sri Lanka in the wake of opposition common candidate was announced in Colombo yesterday (21 Nov).

Colombo Mirror reports that a  local council member of Sri Lanka’s main Opposition United National Party (UNP) has been shot on his head while a vehicle convoy has been attacked, hours after a top minister of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ruling coalition quit his government and was named as the common opposition candidate at the upcoming snap presidential poll, scheduled to be held on January 8.

According to reports, an unknown group of men arriving in a car shot Chamila Ranasinghe, former opposition leader of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha on his head while a group of UNP supporters were celebrating the crossover of government ministers to the opposition at Maggona in Payagala Friday evening.

He has been rushed to the Kalutara Hospital but later transferred to the intensive care unit at the Colombo National Hospital in a critical condition.

Asian mirror reports that  those who opened fire at the activists of the opposition are supporters of a Minister of the government, representing the Kalutara District. No arrest has so far been made in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile LankaeNews reports on two more  incidence of violence against opposition supporters.

In Mawathagama, Kurunagala district, a vehicle parade by opposition supporters led by UNP Provincial Council  member Alawathuwala had  came under attack form pro government gangs,  10-12 vehicles had been damaged while a UNP PC member had  received injuries. He has been admitted to Kurunagala hospital.

In Anuradapura a group of opposition supporters were attacked using iron bars by a another pro government gang. Anuradapura police has refused to record the complaint, says LankaeNews.

Two injured in clashes after SLFP defection

November 22, 2014 

A former UNP Pradeshiya Sabha member has been wounded and hospitalised following a shooting incident in the Maggona area in Beruwala last night while a group of UNP supporters were celebrating the defection of several SLFP Parliamentarians and Ministers.

Police spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the UNP supporter was shot in his head and that he has been admitted to the Nagoda Hospital.

Meanwhile in a separate incident one persons was injured in a clash between UNP and UPFA supporters which had taken place in Mawathagama, Kurunegala.

Several vehicles have also been damaged due to the incident, the police spokesman said.  

Former SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Mathripala Sirisena yesterday quit the government along with Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne, Education Services Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Buddha Sasana & Religious Affairs Deputy Minister M.K.D.S. Gunawardana and MP Rajiva Wijesingha.  

Sirisena announced that he would contest the Presidential Election as the Common Candidate.

If my boy doesn't get bail next time, I too, will crossover – Mervyn!

 Saturday, 22 November 2014 14:

“How was the transit of planets predicted by Mervyn. The best astrologer in Sri Lanka is none other than this Mervyn Silva. It is in Mervyn’s hands the government and the opposition are having their fates. A big planet and several smaller planets made transits yesterday. Soon, there will be transits of planets that will leave the government in a faint. The biggest planet in the government, our president, can stop all these planet transits. But, the foolish planets surrounding him do not allow him to do that. One day, these foolish planets will get together and destroy our big planet,” public relations minister Mervyn Silva told ‘Lanka News Web’ over the phone.

He went onto say, “My boy is behind bars without any fault. He got married just two weeks ago. My boy got beaten up. They are trying to win elections by keeping my boy behind bars. There is a limit to my patience. This Mervyn does not care. If this continues, I too, will have  to take a decision. But, I will not leave the SLFP. Remand prison is a familiar place for me. Next year, I will turn 72. Remember, JR became the king at 72.”

SB’s ‘Raja Yoga’ comes in his way!

 

Saturday, 22 November 2014 14:

A proposal by a majority to appoint higher education minister S.B. Dissanayake as the SLFP general secretary, the position that fell vacant following the suspension of Maithripala Sirisena’s party membership, was rejected at the last moment after royal astrologers warned the president that the minister was having a ‘Raja Yoga’ from end-2014 to 2018, which was more powerful than that of the president, say Temple Trees internal sources.

The ‘Chandra Erashtaka’ that befell S.B in 2007 could have left him behind bars even, but it would end towards the latter part of 2014, and the appointment of such a person to a top position would be a grave challenge to his leadership, the royal astrologers told the president.

Since what the horoscope says is more supreme than the country’s constitution in Sri Lankan politics, the president has considered all these and decided to keep S.B. at his present position. However, those who are wholeheartedly supporting the president have said that it would have been better had the president’s election campaign work been handed over to the old vote machine (S.B.) and the new vote machine (Basil Rajapaksa). However, his ‘Raja Yoga’ has come in the way of S.B there too.

Islamic State militants kill 25 Iraqi tribesmen during assault on Ramadi

Bodies were discovered after Iraqi army launched counter-offensive against Isis near capital of Anbar province

Sunni tribesmen taking part in military training on 16 November as they prepared to fight against Isis militants on the outskirts of Ramadi. Photograph: Reuters

Saturday 22 November 2014 

Islamic State (Isis) militants have killed 25 members of a Sunni Muslim tribe during their assault on a provincial capital west of Baghdad in apparent revenge for tribal opposition to the terrorist group.

The bodies of the men from the Albu Fahd clan, which is taking part in the fight against the militant Islamists, were discovered after the Iraqi army launched a counter-offensive on Saturday against Isis on the eastern edge of Ramadi, capital of Anbar province, according to local officials.

The killings followed the execution of hundreds of members of the Albu Nimr clan last month by Islamic State fighters trying to break local resistance to their advances in Anbar, a Sunni Muslim province they have largely controlled for nearly a year.

The counter-offensive by Iraqi army soldiers and Sunni fighters in Ramadi aims to retake the city’s eastern Sijariya neighbourhood, which Isis said it captured on Friday.

An official with the Anbar provincial council described intense fighting on Saturday morning that included both sides firing mortars.

Elsewhere on Saturday, police and hospital officials said two bombings around Baghdad killed eight people and wounded 21.

Obama signs order expanding U.S. Afghanistan role - NY Times

U.S. Marines march with flags during a handover ceremony, as the last U.S. Marines unit and British combat troops end their Afghan operations, in Helmand October 26, 2014.

WASHINGTON Sat Nov 22, 2014

(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing a broader military mission in Afghanistan in 2015 than originally planned, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

The decision ensures a direct role for American troops in fighting in Afghanistan for at least another year, it said, adding Obama’s decision was made during a White House meeting with national security advisers in recent weeks.

In May, Obama said the American military would have no combat role in Afghanistan next year. Missions for the remaining 9,800 troops would be limited to training Afghan forces and to hunting the "remnants of al Qaeda", he said.

Obama’s new order lets American forces execute missions against the Taliban and other militant groups threatening U.S. troops or the Afghan government.

The new authorization also allows U.S. air strikes to support Afghan forces on combat missions and U.S. troops occasionally to accompany Afghan troops on operations against the Taliban.

The Times did not mention if the change would affect the number of American troops deployed to Afghanistan.

The change emerged from debate over two imperatives: Obama's promise to end the war in Afghanistan, and the Pentagon demand to let American troops fulfill their remaining missions there, the Times reported.

Some civilian aides have argued against risking American lives next year in operations against the Taliban, saying there should only be a narrow mission against al Qaeda, it said.

But generals urged Obama to define the mission more broadly if intelligence showed extremists threatening American forces.

Two issues shifted the debate, the Times said.

Obama's Afghanistan strategy faces stiffer criticism after the advance of Islamic State forces in Iraq and Syria, it said, while Afghanistan's new president has been more accepting of a broader American military mission than his predecessor.

Asked about the report, a senior administration official said the U.S. combat mission in Afghanistan would be over by year-end, as Obama had announced in May.

"Safety of our personnel is the president’s first priority and our armed forces will continue to engage in operations in self-defense and in support of Afghan security forces," the official said.

"While we will no longer target belligerents solely because they are members of the Taliban, to the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to al Qaeda, we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe."

(Reporting by Ian Simpson and Steve Holland; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Jeremy Laurence)

Chinese courts crack down on journalist Gao Yu and Muslim professor Ilham Tohti

Police patrol near the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People's Court where the trial of journalist Gao Yu on charges of leaking state secrets takes place in Beijing on November 21, 2014. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

By William Wan November 21

BEIJING — In a double-barreled attack on freedom of expression, Chinese authorities put a prominent journalist on trial Friday and denied the appeal of Uighur professor Ilham Tohti, a leading moderate Muslim voice.
Chinese Courts Crack Down on Journalist Gao Yu and Muslim Professor Ilham Tohti by Thavam