Govt. MP Arundhika Fernando’s wife (official) assaults , spits ,berates teacher within a leading school

(Lanka-e-News- 06.Dec.2014, 10.35PM) The wife (official) of Arundhika Fernando M.P., a lickspittle cum lackey of the Rajapakse regime had on the 3 rd , broken into the teachers’ rest room of Sirimavo Bandaranaike girls school ,Colombo , berated a teacher who was there in most offensive filthy language, mercilessly assaulted her and spat on her face viciously several times , and gone away scot free.

The name of this teacher who suffered this humiliation and assault is Sithum Vipulika . This incident is based on a grudge borne by Arundhika ‘s wife against the teacher , the sole and whole cause of which is Arundhika’s clandestine involvement . Taking advantage of the power and influence wielded by the MP’s wife under the lawless Rajapakse regime , she had acted most violently , viciously and disgracefully .

The MP’s wife had not only hurled a volley of the filthiest abuse , but even assaulted the teacher while spitting on the victim’s face for a long while.

As always with this lawless reign , the incident has been suppressed by Arundhika who had taken action to transfer the victim to Devi Balika Vidyalaya , Colombo the very next day (4), according to reports.

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by     (2014-12-06 17:12:17)

June 1985 – May 1986: The Final Assault On Trincomalee And The Trappings Of A Colonial War

By Rajan Hoole -December 6, 2014 

Dr. Rajan Hoole

Border Aggression and Civilian Massacres – Part 11

During the period June 1985-May 1986 the document Massacres of Civilians lists after the attack on Dehiwatte in June, 3 massacres in August 1985 in which a total of 16 Sinhalese civilians were killed. There was a massacre in Namalwatte, Morawewa colonisation scheme in Trincomalee District during November 1985, where 11 were killed (6 were killed in August in the same place). In December a group abducted and killed 6 pilgrims to the Madhu shrine in the Mannar District. We will deal with another incident in February 1986 not mentioned in the document. These have the character of localised retaliation and do not represent a concerted policy at the leadership level of militant groups.

In the Morawewa area (Pankulam) for ex- ample, the Air Force killed 9 Tamil civilians in May 1985. This was a continuing pattern. In June (1985) itself the violence by the State briefly shifted north of Trincomalee town. On 4th June at Kumburupiddy, Kattukulampattu East, 25 houses of Tamils were attacked and the people were fired at from helicopters as they fled into the thickets and jungles. One civilian was killed and two, including a 12 year old boy, were injured. This was the basis for Athulathmudali’s story about 5 terrorists being killed after they supposedly fired and at a helicopter. The next day Thiriyai was attacked.

On 13th June, violence and arson against Tamils in Cottiar Division resumed. Mr. Athulathmudali was present in the area on this day. 900 houses of Tamils were burnt at Kattaiparichchan, Sambur, Chenaiyoor and Muthur. The arson continued in the coming days and Tamil civilians continued to be shot and killed along the roads and in paddy fields. In one incident in Lingapuram, Mr and Mrs Pathakuddy and their 3 children were shot and killed by the armed forces.Read More

US rejects Minister’s allegations

By admin-December 6, 2014

The United States has denied allegations raised by a Government Minister who had said that former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele J. Sison had offered him a bribe.

The US Embassy in Colombo in response to a question raised by the Colombo Gazette, said that the allegations on Sison, who left Sri Lanka yesterday to take up a post at the UN, were “baseless”.

According to media reports today, Resettlement Minister Guneratne Weerakoon had told a political meeting in Aranwela on Thursday that he had recordings of the discussion where the bribe was offered to him, to which he says the Secretary to his Ministry was also privy.

The Minister had said that his experience had shown that this was how foreign ambassadors were buying Government ministers.

“They reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of our engagement with senior government officials and our policy towards Sri Lanka as well as the U.S. political and economic system,” the Embassy said in response to the allegations.

Ambassador Sison had this week met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris and other senior government officials before leaving the country, and the US Embassy said they congratulated her on strengthening the bilateral relationship between both countries.

Sison has been appointed Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and Deputy Representative of the United States in the Security Council of the United Nations. (Colombo Gazette)

‘US Ambassador offered me a bribe’: Minister

 December 6, 2014 

• Resettlement Minister Guneratne Weerakoon claims US Envoy offered him green card and a house in America
• Says Envoy wanted military camps removed in the north

A Government Minister has claimed that he was offered a ‘bribe’ by outgoing US Ambassador Michele Sison.
Resettlement Minister Guneratne Weerakoon told a political meeting in Aranwela on Thursday that he had recordings of the discussion, to which the Secretary to his Ministry was also privy.

“She came to meet me and said I was a skilled Minister. She said I had done a good job with resettlement,” the Minister said.
Minister Weerakoon said the Envoy had asked him to remove military camps in the north.
“I answered that it is not my job to do that. President Rajapaksa is the Commander-in-Chief. He will not allow the LTTE to raise its head again,” the Minister revealed.
Referring to the US Envoy as “Michele Nona,” Minister Weerakoon alleged that she was involved in pumping money to topple President Rajapaksa’s Government.
“She told me she would give me and my family a green card and ‘we will give you a house in the US, your children will get scholarships’. I replied that I was a man from the south and I didn’t want what she was offering,” he added.
The Minister said that his experience had shown that this was how foreign ambassadors were buying Government ministers.
There was no immediate reaction from the US Embassy to the Minister’s remarks and allegations.
US Ambassador Sison leaves Colombo this weekend for her new posting in New York.
She will be posted as Deputy Ambassador to the UN in New York, where President Barack Obama’s former National Security Advisor Samantha Power serves as Ambassador. (DB)

ASIA: AHRC grieves the death of the "people's judge"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAHRC-STM-203-2014
December 05, 2014

A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

ASIA: AHRC grieves the death of the "people's judge"

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) joins millions of Asians and others across the globe to mourn the sad demise of Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer. Aged 100, Justice Krishna Iyer passed away today at a hospital in Kerala, India. He was a member of AHRC's advisory group and was an active participant in AHRC's work in Asia, particularly concerning Sri Lanka, India, and China.

Popularly known as the Chief Justice of the people's court of India, Justice Krishna Iyer was one of the finest jurists of our times. He retired from the Supreme Court of India after having served the country during some of its most difficult times. Justice Krishna Iyer served at the Supreme Court from 1973 to 1980; this coincided with some of India’s darkest days, i.e. the emergency under the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.

While India and jurists across the globe have benefited from Justice Krishna Iyer's legal acumen, perhaps it is the people of the Indian state of Kerala that have most benefited from his legal luminance. Justice Krishna Iyer played a leading role in the Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963, a law that permanently redefined Kerala's social and political landscape, ending feudalism in the state.

As a jurist, Justice Krishna Iyer played an important role in developing India's constitutional jurisprudence, particularly in terms of defining the power of the President's office. This prevented India from adopting executive presidency at a time when most countries in Asia shifted from a parliamentary form of governance to presidential rule, and the executive powers of presidents led to dictatorships.

As a judge, Justice Krishna Iyer was a people's judge. He had the wisdom and foresight to ensure that even prisoners were allowed to exercise their fundamental rights, given that it is the state's responsibility to protect these rights. Justice Krishna Iyer liberally interpreted the Constitution, expanding the horizon of the fundamental rights, particularly the right to life and freedom of movement, thereby redefining the Indian state's responsibility to protect the rights of all citizens.

As a judge, Justice Krishna Iyer played a vital role in saving the Indian Judiciary from political and executive interference; this interference had been so firmly established that many judges who served at the Supreme Court, despite their said integrity, could not diminish. This has made the Indian Judiciary exceptional in Asia, along with a three other jurisdictions: Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan.

Justice Krishna Iyer will be missed in the perilous times that lie ahead for India and the region.

Forgotten disabled war veterans go to Temple Trees

Saturday, 06 December 2014 

Over 300 disabled war veterans are outside Temple Trees at the moment demanding their dues that have not been paid for many years.

Speaking to Lanka Herald, spokesperson of the disabled war heroes association, W.M.S.D. Wickremasinghe said they have not received their entitlements under the 1982 circular on disabled soldiers.

“The armed forces drafted regulations according to this circular and all disabled soldiers have to be sent on retirement with the entitlements outlined in the circular,” Wickremasinghe explained.

However, after serving for 20 years in the armed forces, these disabled soldiers have been paid only the pension and not the salary they are due to be paid until the age of 55 years.

Explaining further, Wickremasinghe observed that the association had even filed a case before the Supreme Court demanding their dues.

“The Defence Ministry then issued directives for the payment of salaries of disabled soldiers along with their pension effective from March 1, 2014. This is not fair. The proper procedure is to pay the salaries from the date of retirement. That is what we ask,” the spokesperson said.

However, Wickremasinghe notes that the government has said they do not have funds to pay salaries to the disabled soldiers from the date of retirement.

The soldiers outside Temple Trees have been injured in the battle field and the government that speaks endlessly of the war victory have failed to address the needs of the disabled soldiers compelling them to demand the President for their entitlements.

High security for Mahinda from Mahinda

SATURDAY, 06 DECEMBER 2014

The Secretary of the Ministry of Law and Order Mahinda Balasooriya has been given a security similar to the Defense Secretary say reports.

When Mr. Balasooriya was about to retire as the IGP he resigned from the post accepting the responsibility of shooting at a peaceful agitation carried out by employees of Katunayaka Free Trade Zone. An employee was killed in this incident. However, immediately after his retirement Mr. Balasooriya was appointed the ambassador for UAE.

While he was serving there he was brought back and appointed the secretary to the Ministry of Law and Order, a ministry that comes under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Suppressing all attempts by IGP N.K. Illangakone to maintain an independent police service, Mr. Balasooriya is fulfilling all expectations of Rajapaksas at present.

Kolonnawa strongman joins Maithri

SATURDAY, 06 DECEMBER 2014

Mr. Prasanna Solangarachchi, who became the Chairman of Kotikawatta – Mulleriya Pradeshiya Sabha polling the highest voter percentage in the history of local government institutions in this country, has decided to support common candidate Maithripala Sirisena at the forthcoming presidential election say reports. Mr. Solangarachchi’s associates say he has taken a firm decision due to the threats he has received.

Kotikawatta – Mulleriya Pradeshiya Sabha was among several local government institutions, for which elections were held in October, 2011. At the final propaganda meeting held for the election Mr. Bharatha Laxman Premachandra, who was President’s adviser on trade union affairs, vehemently criticized Rajapaksa regime.  He extended his support to Mr. Solangarachchi.

On 11th October, the day the election was held Mr. Bharatha Laxman Premachandra and several others were murdered. Despite these killings Mr. Solangarachchi created a record by getting a large number of preference votes. He has stated that he would support Mr. Maithripala Sirisena.

Swiss photographer held hostage by Islamist extremists for two years escapes by grabbing machete and cutting captor's throat in dramatic break for freedom

• Lorenzo Vinciguerra seized while sailing in southern Philippines in 2012
• He'd been kept by rebels of Aby Sayyaf along with Dutch man Ewold Horn
• Swiss wrestled for the weapon during clashes between rebels and troops
• 49-year-old then fled captivity amid gunfire - Horn was too sick to escape

By STEPH COCKROFT FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 11:51 GMT, 6 December 2014 | UPDATED: 13:06 GMT, 6 December 2014

A Swiss wildlife photographer who was held hostage by Islamic extremists for more than two years has dramatically escaped to his freedom by cutting his captor's throat with a machete.

Hostage Lorenzo Vinciguerra bravely fled from his kidnappers during a clash between insurgents and governments troops in the southern Philippines.

The 49-year-old and Dutch photographer Ewold Horn had been captured in February 2012 by rebels of the Aby Sayyaf group while on a bird-watching trip in Tawi-Tawi province.

Scroll down for video 

Swiss Photographer Held Hostage by Islamist Extremists for Two Years Escapes by Grabbing Machete and Cuttin... by Thavam Ratna

Hagel: U.S. hostage ‘murdered’ in Yemen

Luke Somers, shown in 2013, was abducted in September of that year from the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. (Hani Mohammed/AP)

By Missy Ryan,, Karen DeYoung and Adam Goldman December 6 at 10:49 AM

An American journalist was killed by al-Qaeda militants in Yemen during an attempt by U.S. forces to rescue him from captivity, the Pentagon said Saturday. Another hostage, a South African, also perished.

Al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the Arabian Peninsula threatened to kill Luke Somers, an American photojournalist, after U.S. commandos attempted to free him. (Reuters)

Hagel U.S. Hostage ‘Murdered’ in Yemen by Thavam Ratna

U.S. to keep more troops in Afghanistan as violence spikes

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is greeted after arriving in Kabul on December 6, 2014.

BY PHIL STEWART-Sat Dec 6, 2014 

(Reuters) - The United States will keep up to 1,000 more soldiers than previously planned in Afghanistan into next year, outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Saturday, in a recognition of the still formidable challenge from Taliban insurgents.

Hagel, confirming a change in the U.S. drawdown schedule first reported by Reuters in November, said the additional forces were needed because delays in signing security pacts had impacted plans to raise troops from other countries.

However, he also said that a particularly violent surge of Taliban attacks in Kabul in the last two weeks was a reminder of the continued need for a foreign presence.

"The recent wave of Taliban attacks has made it clear that the international community must not waver in its support for a stable, secure and prosperous Afghanistan," said Hagel, who arrived in Kabul unannounced on Saturday morning.

The NATO-led combat mission in Afghanistan officially ends in two weeks with a sharp reduction in western forces, but troops that stay behind will still provide "combat enabler" support to Afghan soldiers, Hagel said.

The United States will also maintain a mission to fight al Qaeda in the country, he added.

"We have not forgotten what brought America to Afghanistan over a decade ago," Hagel said at a joint press conference with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

"And we will take appropriate measures against Taliban members who directly threaten U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to al Qaeda."

Gen. John Campbell, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, said last week the ongoing U.S. role would include limited air support to Afghan soldiers.

Hagel, who resigned last week under pressure, said U.S. forces could fall only to 10,800 troops, rather than 9,800 as originally planned. The additional troops could stay until the first few months of 2015.

"But the president's authorization will not change our troops' missions, or the long-term timeline for our drawdown," Hagel said on his last trip to the country as Pentagon chief.

He appeared confident that the United States would secure support from NATO allies in the next few weeks that would allow U.S. force levels to drop back to 9,800.

BLOODIEST YEAR

Hagel's visit followed the bloodiest year in Afghanistan since the war against Taliban militants began in 2001.

As of early November, about 4,600 members of the Afghan security forces had been killed in 2014, more than 6 percent higher than the same period of 2013.

Even as U.S. officials including Hagel praised the accomplishments of Afghan forces, the high rate of Afghan casualties is seen as unsustainable and has raised questions about their vulnerability as foreign troops dwindle.

Earlier, Hagel expressed confidence in the ability of Afghan forces to defend Kabul following the spike in attacks.

U.S. President Barack Obama's drawdown strategy has attracted criticism, including from Republicans in Congress, who say gains against the Taliban could be lost in much the same way that violence returned to Iraq after the U.S. withdrawal.

Hagel warned against drawing comparisons between Iraq and Afghanistan, saying Afghans want U.S. forces to stay.

"Are there (security) gaps? Are there continued challenges? And threats? Absolutely," Hagel acknowledged, noting Afghanistan would still struggle with "pockets" of Taliban resistance.

The Taliban have become increasingly bold in their attacks and control several districts across a country where access to many areas is still limited by rugged terrain and poor security.

(Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Clelia Oziel)

Happy Friday, Zhou Yongkang

• BY ALEXA OLESEN-DECEMBER 5, 2014

Eight minutes after midnight on Friday, the axe fell on Zhou Yongkang: a terse news release from state-run Xinhua news agency said that China’s former security czar Zhou had been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party, his case handed over to China’s top prosecutor’s office. One minute later, an English version appeared, likewise detailing that once-formidable Zhou had allegedly accepted huge bribes, abused his power, and leaked state and party secrets. Xinhua said the decision to expel Zhou had been finalized at a Friday meeting of the Political Bureau of the party’s Central Committee. 

The decision probably could have been announced sooner, during business hours, but it wasn’t.

For any journalist who has covered Chinese politics, the timing was déjà vu, all over again. Chinese authorities frequently release news that they believe has destabilizing potential late in the day on Fridays. 

Although Zhou was by no means a beloved figure — he had a reputation as a hard-liner, and bears much responsibility for helping build China’s massive apparatus of state surveillance, couched in the euphemism of “stability maintenance” — his fall probably isn’t something China wants to headline on a Monday. It betrays severe corruption at the highest levels of the party, including the Politburo Standing Committee, where Zhou served, and hints at factional rivalries behind the scenes. In other words, while Zhou’s ouster might be a positive move for the long-term health of the party, it also has the potential to anger the public by lifting the curtain on the perks of party life and the extent of government power.

In sitting on the Zhou news until late Friday, the party is playing true to form. Xinhua announced that the popular princeling and former party secretary of the mega-city of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, had been kicked out of the party just after 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, 2012. The political dissident Liu Xiaobo was sentenced to 11 years in prison on a Friday morning in 2009, which also happened to be Christmas Day.

This year brims with further evidence. On Friday, Nov. 21, China denied the appeal of the (seemingly unjust) life sentence for the Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti and held a closed-door, one-day trial of Gao Yu, a former Xinhua reporter turned party critic and human rights activist. The Washington Postcalled it “a double-barreled attack on freedom of expression.” On Friday, July 14, well-known state television news anchor Rui Chenggang, famous for his nationalist views, was escorted away by police as part of a corruption probe. His Friday night show, “Economic News,” eerily went ahead without him, airing with Rui’s chair empty and his microphone still in place.

To be sure, not everybody is cashiered on a Friday. When the former party secretary of the poor and mountainous southern Guangxi region, Cheng Kejie, got booted from the party in April 2000 for taking nearly $5 million in bribes, the decision was handed down on a Thursday. Former General Xu Caihou was the most senior Chinese military officer to be felled by corruption charges in decades. He was expelled from the party on June 30, a Monday. But those cases are still relatively small compared to the removals of Bo and Zhou. Bo was a charismatic leader and the son of Bo Yibo, one of the eight elders of the party who once held substantial power. Zhou came from more humble origins and rose in the party ranks via the oil industry. His flinty toughness helped him elbow his way to the top, where he oversaw China’s police and courts. His takedown is historic; it marks the first time someone has faced criminal investigation for corruption after serving on the Politburo Standing Committee, a group of seven (previously nine during Zhou’s time) that essentially runs China. As both men fell, Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his influence and consolidated power with help from the sweeping anti-corruption campaign he launched shortly after ascending to the party’s top spot in Nov. 2012.

Chinese authorities are clearly aware of the old wisdom among spin doctors that issuing announcements right before a weekend tends to dull their impact. Dropping the news on China’s foreign correspondents, whose muckraking is often seen as external meddling, just as they attempt to relax into their weekend is an added bonus. William Wan, the Washington Post’sBeijing bureau chief wasn’t pleased. He wrote in a Tweet: “Leave it up to party officials to wait til Friday midnight to drop Zhou Yongkang news.” George Chen, financial editor for the English-language South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, also grumbled on Twitter: “Question: Why did China (Xi Jinping) decide to announce official arrest of ex-security chief Zhou Yongkang at … Midnight? Surprise anyone?” ‪

This strategy is not a Chinese invention. The “Friday news dump” is a familiar concept in the United States as well; there’s even a Twitter feeddedicated to surfacing it. But Beijing still exercises direct control over many of the nation’s major print, web, and television news outlets, giving it a much tighter rein on its news media than Washington has. Opacity has its benefits (in the eye of the beholder, at least): when then-Communist Chairman Mao Zedong died in 1976, he passed in the early hours of a Thursday, but the government didn’t announce it until 16 hours later. And the strongman Mao would surely have been proud at the discipline state media showed in eviscerating Beijing mayor Chen Xitong, whose corruption case percolated through the party system in the late 1990s. Chen was expelled from the party on a Friday (Aug. 29, 1997), arrested on a Friday (Feb. 27, 1998), and sentencedto 13 years in jail on a Friday (July 31, 1998). Chen died at the age of 82 on June 2, 2013 — a Sunday.

China pans Transparency International for lower corruption ranking

Pic: AP.

By AP News Dec 05, 2014

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese Communist Party-run newspaper is criticizing the Berlin-based Transparency International for failing to recognize the achievements of the country’s anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping. The criticism comes after the organization’s latest corruption index shows China is faring worse.

In the Corruption Perception Index 2014 released earlier this week, China dropped to the 100th place out of 175 countries, sharply down from last year’s 80th place.

The party-run Global Times said in a Friday editorial that Transparency International has lost credibility, and turned a blind eye to the crackdown that has snared hundreds of officials since late 2012.

In an explanatory note, Transparency International said the rankings are based on surveys of country experts and businesspeople. It said China’s public sector lacks transparency and accountability despite the crackdown.

Eating less meat essential to curb climate change, says report

Global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than transport but fear of a consumer backlash is preventing action, says Chatham House report

Dietary change is essential if global warming is not to exceed 2C, says report. Photograph: Brent Lewin/Getty Images

Damian Carrington

Wednesday 3 December 2014 

Curbing the world’s huge and increasing appetite for meat is essential to avoid devastating climate change, according to a new report. But governments and green campaigners are doing nothing to tackle the issue due to fears of a consumer backlash, warns the analysis from the thinktank Chatham House.

Eating Less Meat Essential to Curb Climate Change, Says Report by Thavam Ratna

Sierra Leone's Ebola battle is being led by local talent that deserves our support

Musu Brima from Kpondu, 17, was the first child orphaned by Ebola in Sierra Leone. She gave birth to twins in July. Photograph: Street Child

L

ast week I travelled across Sierra Leone from the Atlantic coast to its easternmost villages, where Ebola first entered the country in May. It is not a trip many have made recently.

We hear about western aid and medical “heroes”, but the heroism of so many Sierra Leoneans at a community level is inspiring – and largely unreported. We should invest more in these people.

Sierra Leone's Ebola Battle is Being Led by Local Talent That Deserves Our Support by Thavam Ratna