Philippines: Muslim rebel group condemns Paris attacks

by Edwin Espejo -17th November 2015

THE largest Moro rebel group in the Philippines has condemned the weekend attacks in Paris, describing the carnage as unacceptable.

“We are deeply saddened by today’s tragic events in Paris, France. These blind, indiscriminate acts of violence deserve nothing but condemnation,” the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said over the weekend.

Philippines Muslim Rebel Group Condemns Paris Attacks by Thavam Ratna

Israeli ban on Islamic party marks a ‘dangerous turning point’ 

Palestinian leaders in Israel warn that Netanyahu is exploiting Paris attacks to ‘shut door’ to minority’s political activity 
Leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, gestures outside a Jerusalem court (AFP)

Jonathan Cook-Tuesday 17 November 2015

Nazareth, Israel - The decision by the Israeli government on Tuesday to outlaw the country’s main Islamic Movement marks a dangerous turning point in Israel’s relations with its large Palestinian minority, Palestinian leaders in Israel have warned.

Israeli Ban on Islamic Party Marks a ‘Dangerous Turning Point’ by Thavam Ratna

Closing Guantánamo

By Ralph E. Stone

November 9, 2015

On the campaign trail in 2008, President Obama made a pledge to close the Guantánamo Bay Detention facility.  Obama is nearing the end of his presidency and the remaining prisoners at the detention facility have not been transferred to U.S. prisons and the facility has not been closed.  Supposedly, the Obama administration will soon set forth yet another plan to close Guantánamo.

Again, there is strong resistance to closing Guantánamo.  The recent House defense bill would bar Obama from moving prisoners from Guantánamo to U.S. prisons.  In response, Obama has threatened to use his executive authority if Congress won’t act to close the prison.  Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) has placed a hold on Eric Fanning, Obama’s nomination for Secretary of the Army, in an attempt to prevent the president from bypassing Congress to close the prison.

As of November 4, 2015, there were 112 prisoners still held at Guantánamo.  Of these 112, 49 are on indefinite detention without charge or trial probably because they are deemed too risky to release but not feasible to prosecute because torture was used.  Holding prisoners indefinitely without charges is a clear violation of international law.

The Senate Torture report confirms that Guantánamo was a place of torture and indefinite detention, and continues to be an international embarrassment.

Opponents of closing the Guantánamo Bay Detention facility do not want “terrorists” on U.S. soil.  Yet, during World War II, the U.S. housed, fed, and worked over 425,000 German POWs in 700 camps in 46 states with little or no risk to the populace.  Most of the camps were low to medium security camps, not prisons, although some of the camps had to be designated “segregation camps,” used to separate the Nazi “true believers” from the rest of the prisoners. Of the 425,000 POWs held in U.S. prison camps, only 2,222 – less than 1 percent – attempted escape with most quickly rounded up.

Guantánamo prisoners, on the other hand, would be sent to medium, high, or even so-called supermax security prisons, where the chance of escape would be minimal.

It is time for President Obama and Congress to agree on a plan to quickly release the remaining prisoners or bring them to a speedy trial, close Guantánamo, and then return Guantánamo Bay to Cuba.  However, given Congressional resistance, Obama will have to use his executive authority to close Guantánamo

Keep Europe’s Doors Open

The fact that a terrorist may have hid among refugees is a case for better intelligence, not turning away innocent victims.

BY PHILIPPE LEGRAIN-NOVEMBER 17

“France must regain control over its borders, for good.” So tweetedMarine Le Pen, the leader of the country’s far-right National Front party, which was leading in the polls even before the barbarous Paris attacks of Nov. 13. “The days of uncontrolled immigration and illegal entry can’t continue just like that. Paris changes everything,” intoned Markus Söder, the conservative finance minister of Bavaria, the state where most asylum-seekers have arrived in Germany this year. “Poland must retain full control over its borders, asylum and immigration policy,” wrote Konrad Szymanski, the incoming European affairs minister in Poland’s new nationalist government, declaring that his country could no longer accept refugees due to be resettled under a recently agreed-upon European Union scheme.

Once it emerged that a Syrian passport used to enter Greece in October had been found next to one of the dead terrorists, Le Pen demanded an immediate halt to admitting immigrants into France. (Similarly, in the United States on Monday, senior Republican politicians insisted that President Barack Obama’s administration scrap plans to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees next year, because of the perceived security risk.)

After a tragedy like last Friday’s, the urge to hunker down is understandable. The horrific attacks by terrorists from the Islamic State targeted ordinary people enjoying themselves on a Friday evening, highlighting the vulnerability of living among strangers. So it is normal to want to try to regain control and protect oneself. And when people’s security is threatened, governments sometimes need to curtail our freedom. But the measures taken ought to be targeted, proportionate, and effective. Closing borders and turning away refugees are none of those things.

The freedom to move across the 26 countries of the Schengen Area without showing your passport is one of the most visible and valued achievements of European integration. It should not be surrendered lightly. Yet even before the Paris attacks, many countries had regrettably followed Germany’s lead in reimposing border controls to limit refugee arrivals, ostensibly temporarily. Now, the danger is a broader move to more permanent controls. That would be a big mistake.

For sure, border controls — and, indeed, checkpoints within countries — may be necessary in specific circumstances, such as the manhunt following the Paris attacks. If a killer is on the loose, the authorities are right to take exceptional measures to try to apprehend him. Yet the top suspect, Salah Abdeslam, still escaped to Belgium on Saturday morning, when the security alert was at its highest. How? Because the police performing the checks wereunaware that he had been flagged as a suspect. So even though his ID was checked, he was allowed through. Clearly, border controls are not a substitute for good intelligence.

Let’s be clear: Border controls would not have prevented the Paris attacks. Several of the terrorists were based in France. The Belgium-based ones could have crossed into France unimpeded unless police had known of their intentions. And if police had known about the planned attacks, they could have taken other precautionary measures, such as tracking the would-be terrorists, arresting them, and enhancing security in Paris. Sacrificing freedom by scrapping Schengen without gaining any security would be stupid.

Britain’s recent experience with terrorism provides a useful lesson. While the United Kingdom is not a member of Schengen, it has long been part of a common travel area with Ireland. And for decades, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) planted bombs and killed people in Britain, in pursuit of a united Ireland. The IRA even came close to killing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984. Stopping the IRA was clearly a top priority for the British state. Yet throughout the period of IRA terrorism, Irish people were able to come to Britain without showing their passports. British security forces relied instead on targeted and effective counterterrorism measures, such as surveillance and informants.

It is also wrongheaded to deny desperate people refuge in Europe (and the United States) because a lone Islamic State terrorist may have infiltrated himself among them. More than 700,000 people have entered the EU without permission this year. Yes, a terrorist may have been among them — but the Islamic State may also want European authorities to jump to that conclusion. In any case, that is hardly a reason to stop welcoming refugees, many of whom are, of course, fleeing the violence of the Islamic State. The fact that Nazis hid among refugees after World War II was a case for trying to identify and apprehend those monsters, not turning away their innocent victims.

To be sure, the EU could do with a more orderly method of processing refugee claims. As I have argued previously, it would make sense to allow people to claim asylum at consulates outside the EU. Their applications could then be processed — and screened — without them needing to risk death to reach Europe.

But shutting the door to refugees would hand a huge victory to the Islamic State. That people are fleeing its supposedly wonderful caliphate in Syria and Iraq is hardly an advertisement for its success. Germany’s lead in welcoming Syrian refugees and the generous attitude of many people across Europe are proof that Europeans are not engaged in a clash of civilizations with Islam. Their instinct is to offer refuge to people in need, whatever their beliefs or background.

The Paris massacre was not just an attack on the French capital. It was an attack on the liberal values and open societies that the Islamic State loathes. The correct response is to defend those liberal values and open societies, not ditch them.

The Islamic State’s aim is not just to kill, maim, and strike terror; it is to rally Muslims to its cause and set Europeans against each other. People like Marine Le Pen, who thrive on hatred and division, must not be allowed to profit from its butchery.

ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

Is Isis planning murderous cyber attacks?

Is Isis really preparing to kill people by cyber attacking our infrastructure? That’s what the Chancellor seemed to say this morning as he unveiled a series of cyber security measures at GCHQ, the government’s surveillance centre.

Tuesday 17 Nov 2015

I can’t remember any of my contacts flagging up the threat of a lethal Isis cyber attack (and if there’s one thing the tech security community likes to do, it’s hype up a threat).

As far as I know, there are two Isis behaviours online that are a cause for concern: firstly the use of encrypted technology by jihadis to communicate with each other that potentially puts them beyond the reach of GCHQ’s officers.

Secondly, the use of open and more secretive channels for promotion of and recruitment to Isis causes (as ably demonstrated by my colleague Mike Deri Smith)

Yet George Osborne said of Isis: “They have not been able to use (the internet) to kill people yet by attacking our infrastructure through cyber attack. They do not yet have that capability. But we know they want it, and are doing their best to build it.”

Let’s be clear: even the most advanced cyber attack yet exposed, the Stuxnet virus that infected an Iranian nuclear reactor, did not kill anyone as far as we know. Cyber tactics are used in war, but as a “force multiplier” for the weapons that actually do the damage.

I’ve been covering cyber security for several years and I think it’s a hugely important topic, but I’ve very, very rarely come across incidents that directly resulted in physical harm, let alone death.

GCHQ’s experts know lots of things that I don’t, so perhaps they’ve seen something to support the Chancellor’s statement.

But  the people who run our power stations, transport networks and other vital industries have long been alive to the threat of cyber attack, and working with the Committee for the Protection of National Infrastructure they’ve been cagey about putting their back-office systems online for that very reason.

I applaud any advances in our national tech security, and George Osborne’s announcement of a National Cyber Centre might help eliminate the chaotic mix of agencies battling online wrongdoing. But flagging up a mortal threat seems outlandish.

Follow @geoffwhite247 on Twitter

- See more at: http://blogs.channel4.com/geoff-white-on-technology/isis-planning-murderous-cyber-attacks/1886#sthash.4gaNRUUK.dpuf

Groundbreaking face transplant: After a firefighter was injured on duty, a deceased 26-year-old cyclist gave him his life back

Patrick Hardison before the fire. (Photos courtesy NYU Langone)

By Ariana Eunjung Cha-November 17

Patrick Hardison was working as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Senatobia, 40 miles south of Memphis, when he got a desperate call. A house was in flames, with a woman trapped inside. Hardison arrived on the scene and raced inside, moments before the roof suddenly collapsed. His helmet was knocked off, and he felt his mask melting. He closed his eyes and jumped out the window.

Watch volunteer firefighter Patrick Hardison before and after his 26-hour-long face transplant surgery in August. (Ashleigh Joplin/NYU Langone Medical Center)

Groundbreaking Face Transplant After a Firefighter Was Injured on Duty, A Deceased 26-Year-old Cyclist Gave... by Thavam Ratna

Editorial: Siripala’s Mea Culpa

EDITORIAL 

( November 17, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The widely published mea culpaby the Minister of Transport, Mr. Nimal Siripala De Silva, rang a political toll of the future of the ‘hybrid’ government for good governance. The government in which Nimal Siripala also a part, earlier appear to be a formation based on the concept of national governance but now seems to be reproducing the bitter taste of the internal conspiracies by scamps.

Let’s thank Nimal Siripala for being somewhat “honest” and exposing his real intention to fulfil his personal desires.  Like other politicians in this country, he too has many dreams, dreams that are not to make this country equally comfortable for all but to consolidate his own power and resources to become a “leader” and make his own history.

History has taught us a primary lesson. The politics in this country is the most useful tool of scoundrels. They used this tool in order to disorientate the people, to either remain in power or to grab a position in any government.  Once disorientated the ordinary citizen can be easily controlled with beautiful hopes and promises. This traditional way of engaging in politics, out of dilution was changed in last two elections, therefore we have elected the new government followed by the elections.

People in this country elected the governments by spending their time and money to have a better life than in the past. Their hopes is nothing more than to make a comfortable and respectful nation for all.

What would be the first step taken by the good hearted man who has a respectful spine, if he has no faith in the government of which he is a part? Well…! He will be immediately step down and convince the people about the wrongdoings of the government.  If the so called good governance government has already failed, as the minister yapped  on about, why is the Minister still enjoying ministerial privileges? Why is the minister spending public money?

However, Minister of Transport, Mr. Siripala, who is vocal by all means but being meek in actions shows nothing but hypocrisy. Transportation is the most important subject in any country. However, what we are seeing in this country, like other important areas such as education and health is that this too has been hampered by corrupted politicians and their bedfellows as it could earn them a great deal unlike engaging on another ministerial subjects. Therefore the subject equity contributes towards a deteriorated nation. Unfortunately not a single politician has stepped-up to solve the lamentable situation of the public transport.

Despite the responsibilities he has accepted, the minister starts talking on the failure of the government in an effort to conceal his own failures.  He should take note that the people of the country are not as naive as he would like to think.

However, the core problem in this country is not to have yet another new government, but to solve the basic systematic problems the country faces.   It is the people who elected the new government, and it is people who have fundamental rights to be aware of the responsibilities of those who are engaging in the subject. It is people who must hold politicians accountable. If the people failed, then it is people who have to pay the price for the receipt of those politicians.

Let us recall Thomas Jefferson, “When the government fears the people there is liberty; when the people fear the government there is tyranny.”

So the mea culpa of the Minister is nothing but an attempt to deceive the public. The county is flooded, hundred thousands of people were displaced. There is no adequate public transport to help the victims. What have you done Mr. Minister Siripala, for make them comfortable?

APC on Geneva an eyewash – GL

‘Has TNA been tasked to secure foreign judges for war crimes court?’

By Shamindra Ferdinando-November 15, 2015

Former External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris yesterday alleged that the recently established All Party Conference (APC) to discuss the unanimously adopted Geneva resolution wouldn’t serve any useful purpose.

Prof. Peiris claimed that it was nothing but an attempt to deceive the people. "It is very difficult to understand what purpose is to be served by seeking the views of political parties at this point."

Sri Lanka co-sponsored the resolution against the country adopted on Sept. 30.

The APC first met on Oct. 22 with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena. A second meeting is scheduled to take place shortly.

The APC process would have been a useful and productive exercise had the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government sought the views of other political parties and groups before crucial decisions were made. Having made vital decisions unilaterally, the government was now in the process of implementing them, Prof. Peiris said.

The former minister strongly criticised the decision to co-sponsor the resolution. The government co-sponsored the resolution making it Sri Lanka’s own and requesting other countries to throw their weight behind the US move, Prof. Peiris said.

"This has hugely detrimental consequences for our country. Were any political party consulted before this crucial decision was made? Did President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe at least consult their parliamentary groups before the decision was made?"

Prof. Peiris said that the government had gone to the extent of agreeing to a judicial mechanism including Common-wealth and other foreign judges to try Sri Lankan military for war crimes allegedly committed during the eelam war IV.

"This again was done without seeking the views of any political party."

Commenting on Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M. A. Sumanthiran making representations to Australia regarding proposed war crimes probe, Prof. Peiris said that the TNA member had discussed with Australian Foreign Minister the Australian participation in the judicial process here. He urged the government to clarify the TNA’s role in the process. Recollecting the TNA’s relationship with the LTTE during the war, when the grouping recognised the terrorist group as the sole representatives of Tamil speaking people, Prof. Peiris asked whether the TNA had been entrusted with the task of securing the participation of foreign judges.

Sumanthiran and Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) representatives including Reginald Jeganathan, Chairman of the ATC met Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in Canberra last week. The Member of Parliament for Reid Craig Laundy MP also participated.

They also had detailed discussions with senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials including the First Secretary for South and West Asia Kathy Klugman (former Australian High Commissioner).

The most influential Diaspora grouping Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is also involved in the process.

Prof. Peiris said that having taken a dangerous path, the government was now trying to get other political parties to place their seal of approval on decisions which the new administration had made on its own.

The coalition should take the full responsibility for horrendously harmful decision to co-sponsor Geneva resolution without involving other political parties, Prof. Peiris said. One-time chief negotiator for Sri Lanka, Prof Peiris alleged that the government was giving false impression that it was a collective decision.

"It is a great pity that the APC process was not embarked upon in a spirit of sincerity at a time when it could have served a constructive purpose," the ex-Minster said

Prof. Peiris pointed out that the report on the Second Mandate of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry Into Complaints of Abductions and Disappearances, too, had been submitted for the government perusal.

Sri Lanka: Continued Political Leadership will be Needed – Council of of Europe

Council of conclusions on Sri Lanka.-16/11/2015

1. The Council welcomes the significant advances made by the Government of Sri Lanka since the presidential elections held in January 2015 to restore democratic governance, initiate a process of national reconciliation and re-engage with the international community and the United Nations (UN) system.

2. Following the invitation by the Government of Sri Lanka, the European Union deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to observe the parliamentary elections in August, which were assessed positively by the EU EOM. The elections saw a strong endorsement of the change in policies initiated since January. In line with the Government’s commitment for electoral reform, it will be key to implement the recommendations provided by the EU EOM.

3. There are now new opportunities for the EU to engage with the Government of Sri Lanka in making further progress on reconciliation, strengthening good governance and tackling corruption, promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law, and fostering inclusive economic growth and sustainable development, while continuing work to reduce poverty and addressing global issues such as climate change and sustainable development. The EU and its Member States actively support the new reform-oriented dynamism in Sri Lanka in order to overcome underlying causes of the past conflict. In this spirit, they will review their respective assistance programmes to support these objectives, including ensuring coordination with other donors.

4. The Council welcomes the resolution “Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka” adopted at the 30th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva as a crucial step towards a credible transitional justice process in the country. The Council commends the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil National Alliance for respectively sponsoring and supporting the resolution. Continued political leadership will be needed from all sides to ensure the implementation of a comprehensive approach to deal with the past and at the same time establish a lasting foundation for a peaceful future. In this regard, the Council takes positive note of Sri Lanka’s proposal to establish a Commission for Truth, Justice, Reconciliation and Non-Recurrence, and to set up with the expertise from the International Committee of the Red Cross, an Office on Missing Persons.

5. Accountability is essential to uphold the rule of law and build confidence in the people of all communities of Sri Lanka in the justice system. The EU welcomes Government of Sri Lanka’s proposal for the establishment of a judicial mechanism to investigate allegations of violations and abuses of human rights, including allegations of sexual violence. The participation of foreign judges, defence lawyers, prosecutors and investigators will be important in ensuring that the process is both credible and perceived as such by all sides. The Council underlines the importance of continued cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

6. Addressing the underlying causes of the conflict will be key to uniting the people of Sri Lanka. The EU welcomes the steps that have been taken to strengthen civilian administration in the North and East and calls on the Government to move swiftly to find durable solutions for all Internally Displaced Persons. The devolution of political power to the provinces, as originally envisaged in the Thirteenth Constitutional Amendment, will be a vital step in allowing communities to have their say in how they are governed and a positive contribution to the reconciliation process. The EU takes note of the Government’s plans for a new Constitution. Initiation of a broad domestic dialogue and consultation on wider constitutional change will be vital to ensure the sustainability and popular support for any changes that are ultimately proposed.

7. The Council encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to take early steps to build the confidence of communities, including releasing the identity of the detainees and accelerating their prosecution or release, repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, calibrating the military presence according to identified security needs and returning land sequestered by the military to its rightful owners. Further action is also needed on a number of human rights concerns, including sexual and gender based violence, torture and the protection of persons belonging to religious, ethnic and other minorities, Human Rights Defenders and journalists.

8. The Government of Sri Lanka has indicated its intention to apply at the appropriate time to be granted the tariff preferences provided under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+). The Council reiterates that the purpose of GSP+ is to encourage beneficiary countries to effectively implement the core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance. It takes positive note of the progress recently achieved and encourages Sri Lanka to undertake all remaining necessary preparatory work. The Council calls on the High Representative and the European Commission to continue to engage with Sri Lanka to support its efforts to lay the groundwork for a renewed application for GSP+.

9. The Council commends the steps Sri Lanka has taken to comply with the regulations of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and encourages the Sri Lankan authorities to take the further measures necessary to address the shortcomings established in the context of the EU legislation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, so that the ban on fishery exports to the EU can be lifted as soon as possible.

10. The Council looks forward to regular updates on future progress and welcomes continued dialogue between the EU and the Government of Sri Lanka, including through meetings of the joint bodies established under the Cooperation Agreement on Partnership and Development.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2015/11/16-council-conclusions-on-sri-lanka/

Sustaining Sri Lanka’s peace and stability in a threatening global environment 

By Jehan Perera-November 16, 2015, 6:37 pm

The ISIS attacks in Paris and the French government’s declaration of a state of emergency are a grim reminder of the politically motivated violence that once held sway in Sri Lanka. In contrast to many other countries in the world today Sri Lanka is an oasis of peace and political stability. The military suppression of the LTTE made this peace possible. It was the excesses that took place in the final stages of the war, and in its immediate aftermath that put Sri Lanka in the international limelight, though for negative reasons. Thereafter the country was subjected to three resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council against the wishes of its government, until the new government decided to cooperate with UN.

The French government has said that it will be ruthless in its response to the terrorism that has struck it. International humanitarian law prohibits war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. But it does not prevent ruthless responses against those who are aggressors. Sri Lanka is an example where the military response was successful. It may have to be armies on the ground that have to root out the ISIS as was done to the LTTE in Sri Lanka. When a militant organization is unwilling to negotiate and seek an end to violence, the military response will dominate. The more protracted the war against the ISIS is, the more turmoil and terrorism is likely to be the outcome. However, a military solution cannot be the final answer. The roots of conflict need to be addressed through dialogue and political solutions that include the other.

Sri Lanka’s failure came with the end of the war and the inability and unwillingness of the victorious government to close the chapter on the war by seeking the truth regarding the past, accountability for war crimes, compensating the victims and engaging in political reform that would heal the wounds of the war, and win the hearts and minds of the people in the war zones. The previous government’s refusal to take that course of action meant that Sri Lanka risked becoming an international outcaste and the subject of economic and political sanctions that would have generated new divisions and hatreds within the country, and with the international community. Fortunately the new Sri Lankan government has shown that it is possible to win hearts and minds even after a bloody and costly war. Both in terms of war and peace, what to do and what not to do, Sri Lanka could provide lessons to the international community that is struggling to come to terms with terrorism and its spread.

SLOW PROGRESS

As part of its hearts and minds strategy the government has been returning land to the Tamil people from whom it was taken during the war to be high security zones that served as a buffer between the military bases and LTTE long range artillery. Such buffers are no longer needed. Large tracts of land have been given back to the people, as at Sampur. The process has been slow, but it is happening. The government has also decided to provide finance for the rebuilding of 65,000 houses in addition to the 50,000 donated by India. In addition, the vexed issue of Tamil prisoners held for years under the Prevention of Terrorism Act is also in the process of being resolved. An initial group of 31 were given bail by the courts, but this has not been satisfactory to the Tamil polity that wishes all the prisoners held to be released, as most of them have been in custody for over ten years.

The main cause for dissatisfaction at the present time is that the reform process is going too slow. Civic activists on the ground in the north and east complain of continued surveillance of their activities by the security forces. Key members of a group who were planning a public protest against the continued incarceration of Tamil detainees were visited by military intelligence officials who wanted them to call off their protest. They were summoned to the office of the governor by these intelligence officials where they were told the same thing. On the positive side, when the group of activists decided to go ahead with their protest they were not obstructed. In the past they might have feared that any disregard of government objections might lead to punitive actions taken against them, including disappearance.

After the change of government in January there is more space in society for dissent by those who are critical of the government. Likewise even the affected people and victims of past abuses appear prepared to give more time to the government to address their concerns, even though they can ill afford such delays. There is a willingness on the part of people on all sides of the ethnic divide to give the government a chance to prove itself. Especially those who are ethnic and religious minorities would not wish to jeopardize the stability of the present government and pave the way for the return to power of the former government leadership, which is now in the opposition and biding their time. Whether in Sri Lanka, or in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon or Nigeria, it is the masses of people who pay the greatest price when militants take up the battle on their behalf. The grief and shock at the carnage in Paris, needs to be accompanied by an awareness that entire societies in the Muslim world have been destabilized and are even being destroyed due to violence that has been imposed on them both from within and without.

POSITIVE GESTURES

The biggest flaw of the previous Sri Lankan government was its willingness to create inter-ethnic and inter-religious strife to keep itself in power. This could have led to catastrophic consequences in Sri Lanka. The rise of small ethno-nationalist groups such as the BBS, which attacked the Muslim community with impunity pointed to the previous government’s complicity. The BBS is today without any government patronage and is therefore reduced to a cipher and is hardly to be seen or heard. During the previous regime not even Muslim members of the government could get justice done by their community. When Muslim ministers of the former government came out with video recordings of the attacks that had taken place on Muslim owned businesses and mosques, no action was taken to arrest those responsible. If such injustices had continued, it would have created the ground for extremist Muslim organizations, even the ISIS, to have entered the country.

The manner in which representatives of the Muslim community participated in the funeral ceremonies of the late Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha, and their contribution of refreshments to the large crowds who attended the funeral, showed their desire to be part and parcel of the larger Sri Lankan polity. The Ven Sobitha was one of the few leaders of Sri Lankan society who spoke on behalf of the hapless Muslims when they were being persecuted. He pointed out that the attackers did not enjoy mass support and were a fringe group who got their power from their association with sections of the former government. He boldly accused the former government of engaging in cover ups to permit the attackers to do their dastardly deeds. The active participation of many Muslims at the funeral of the great Buddhist monk demonstrated their desire for peaceful coexistence in the country.

The other noteworthy aspect of Ven Sobitha’s funeral was the speech by President Maithripala Sirisena, where he recommitted himself to achieving the goals and political ideals that the great monk has set for the country. At the present time there is a sense of disillusionment at the slow pace of change, not only in terms of resolving the problems of the war affected people of the north and east, but also in terms of the basics of good governance, such as stopping corruption and prosecuting those who have been corrupt in the past. The fact that the President promised to implement the reforms that Ven Sobitha had stood for at his funeral is a sure sign that the government is on a course from which it will not waver. Sri Lanka continues to remain on course to be an oasis of peace and stability in a world where political violence is growing. The lesson of peacebuilding that Sri Lanka must offer to the world is the practice of universal values, inclusion and non-discrimination, in a society that strives for the wellbeing of all and the marginalization of none.

If inmates are not released we would take a stern action

Nov 16, 2015

The Tamil National Alliance warns the government if there is no clear response from the President by Monday about releasing the Tamil political prisoners that it would take stern actions with the people by Monday.

TNA parliament and the local government MP’s came to this decision following a meeting held in Vavuniya on Sunday with the leadership of MP. Mavei Senathirajah.

Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V. Wigneshwaran writing a letter to the president has stated that there is a possibility that the Tamil people would disrepute the government if any of the inmates die due to their hunger strike.

The northern chief minister urges the government to take immediate action to release the political prisoners who are currently critical due to their hunger strike.

Eight Days
The letter stated that although the president has informed that the decision of releasing the Tamil political prisoners would delay till the 19th there are possibilities that few of them would die if they continue their hunger strike.

The Northern Province chief minister reiterates that the government should give a kind of an assurance for the inmates to end their hunger strike before their release.

Lawyer T.S. Niranjan who went to see the prisoners in the Magazine prison Colombo told the BBC Sandeshaya, conditions of 16 inmates are critical and they need to be hospitalized immediately.

Prisons commissioner general Rohana Pushpakumara told BBC Sandeshaya that there are no critical level inmates within the prison as alleged by the lawyer. The commissioner general further said few days before eight prisoner’s health condition became worse but they were admitted to the prison hospitals and given saline.

'Politics and Development in Sri Lanka' -Lecture by Mangala Samaraweera at Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

(Lanka-e-News -16.Nov.2015, 11.30PM) It is a pleasure for me to join you here today, to speak on ‘Politics and Development in Sri Lanka’, soon after the official visit just last month to Singapore, by Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe.

 As I stand here before you, I am reminded of the famous words of Singapore’s first Prime Minister and much admired leader the world over, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew,

'Politics and Development in Sri Lanka' -Lecture by Mangala Samaraweera at Institute of South Asian Studies... by Thavam Ratna

Autonomy of Central Bank

By Usvatte-aratchi-November 15, 2015

The Central Bank functions under the Monetary Law Act, which permits a high degree of autonomy from government in its day to day functioning. The Bank is financially independent of government and that contributes to its autonomy.The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance is a member of the Monetary Board which governs the Bank. That link provides a means of regular communication between monetary policy makers and government. The law provides for the relevant Minister to give written directions to the Governor on matters of policy. These provisions and the sensible behavior of politicians and governors had until 2005 assured the autonomy of the Central Bank. A touching instance of the appreciation of that autonomy is the news item in your newspaper of 10 November, where D.E.W. Gunasekera is reported to have said, ‘… the safest place for both funds (EPF and ETF) is the Central Bank.’. When the EPF act was being considered by the Cabinet in 1958 Trade Unions insisted that the management of EPF money be entrusted to the Monetary Board that governs the Central Bank and the EPF Act contains a clause to that effect. In 2002 or 2003, the senior management of the Bank considered that in order to avoid conflicts in objectives of the Bank, EPF, then mature with experience, be made independent of the Bank. When the proposal went to the Cabinet it was shot down because Trade Unions would hear none of it.

There are good reasons why the largest investment fund in the country should not be managed by the monetary authority of the country, the central bank. The central bank is responsible to society for maintaining price stability and the stability of the banking system. This will require the bank to vary interest rates to prevent rising or falling prices of any high magnitude. The effect of local interest rates on capital movements making the exchange rate move accordingly complicates the question. The central bank also may have to take other measuresto ease or squeeze credit. All these activities of the bank may have large or small effects on the small stock market in the country. To make matters complex the Central Bank is responsible for managing the public debt.

Under the last responsibility, the Bank is expected to keep interest cost to government low. That requirement puts a drag on raising interest rates, no matter what maintaining rice stability may require. Contributors to EPF expect the Central Bank to maximize returns on their savings. That requires the Central Bank to keep interest rates high, no matter the demands of price stability. In addition, EPF has the largest investible fund in the country, with power to move the small bond and stock markets whichever way it wishes. Now, a fall in bond prices is the inverse of a rise in interest rates. If bond prices fall, investors will move to buy bonds selling stocks, which makes capital expensive to entrepreneurs.

Since everything is connected with everything else in money, capital and foreign exchange markets, it is practicable and wise that different entities take decisions regarding monetary policy, investment of the largest pool of savings in the country and the management of the public debt for the government.Things were manageable when public debt was mostly owed to governments and intergovernmental financial institutions, and when total debt was small and absorbing only a small part of total government expenditure. That age when the Central Bank could juggle many balls in low air is over and it is time that the Central Bank was relieved of the burden of performing this magic. At some point, a ball is going to drop.

The enormous size of EPF funds in relation to bond and capital markets makes it a probable maker or breaker of markets. There were accusations that during Governor Cabral’s tenure the market for particular stocks were manipulated. These have neither been investigated nor withdrawn by the accusers. Besides these irregularities, the Bank can be under temptation to manipulate bond markets to make interest rates move with its desired direction to achieve objectives of monetary stability. However, this may conflict with the objective that the Monetary Board earns the high returns for EPF. It is best that a different set of people make judgements about the investment of EPF money and leave the Central Bank free to run monetary policy, as it considers most prudent.

There is the point raised by D. E.W.Gunasekera and emphasised by Trade Unions right from the inception of EPF. How much of that fear is imagined? Surely, it can’t be beyond the ingenuity of our lawyers to formulate a bill that can put up dykes that fingering politicians cannot breach. And surely, there cannot be a complete absence of men and women of integrity who can withstand pilfering fingers of politicians. With trade unions as a main stake there will be a formidable watch dog guarding poaching politicians from trespassing into forbidden territory. Serious thinking by trade unions leaders will give rise to an institutional arrangement that will keep EPF money safe and earning a reasonable return to savers. That kind of arrangement will relieve the Monetary Board of the kind of confusion that arises in policy making when it has been legislatively required to follow conflicting objectives.

I have argued earlier that requirements of public debt management puts the same kind of conflicts before the Monetary Board. There were a series of papers produced in the Bank, 2003-2004 on the subject and they can be very useful to reconsider the question.

Exchange control management is no longer as important as it was and the department will wither away as foreign exchange begins to move freely.

A smaller Central Bank with EPF, Public Debt and Exchange Control out of its portfolio will be free to pursue objectives of price stability and banking system stability. With that arrangement I wonder what ‘Regional Offices’ of the Central Bank espoused by Governor Mahendran will do.

Autonomy of the Central Bank seems now to be irretrievably broken. However one has hope. To the common man Prime Minster Wickremesinghe comes out as a man of immense good sense and he can preach to anyone of us convincingly the virtues of central bank autonomy. It is futile and indeed and not all together wise to imagine that in our market conditions the Central Bank can function independently of government policy. The provision in the Constitution that Parliament has control over financial matters cannot be invoked to deny the Central Bank autonomy in its normal functioning because the Monetary Law Act functions under the Constitution and that Law provides for the autonomy of the Bank. If Parliament wishes so do away with autonomy they had better change the Monetary Law Act.

We are witness to this deadly erosion of autonomy of universities to the extent that a senior academic was recently driven to write in this newspaper (October 07, 2015) ‘university autonomy: an empty word’. Please, please, let us not do that with the Central Bank. It is not simply the place where I first worked and who paid for the education of many overseas but also the place which provided a pool of expertise which governments over a long period of time tapped when they wanted such. One recalls Gamani Corea, W. M. Tillekeratne, M. R. P. Salgado, W. Rasaputram, J. B. Kelgama, P. B.Karandawala, A. S.Jayawardena and P. B. Jayasundera among those who worked with distinction at the call of the government of the day. This pool of ability was available because the Bank was autonomous to take decisions on training staff and nurturing them with much care in the Bank. I was associated for a short time as a consultant to a committee that decided on these matters. I recall the care with which each staff member’s career was discussed when opportunities opened up for training overseas and placement within the Bank. A rule applied mechanically that each staff member must be transferred out every five years would have denied us some of the most brilliant people to come out of the Central Bank. Let the Monetary Board and the Governor and Heads of Department at lower levels decide on these matters and let politicians keep their fingers in their own pie. As we have seen there are many juicy plums out there. The Governor may be a henchman of the President or a long standing friend of the Prime Minister who if however does not have the personality to keep those relationships in the background can only bring disaster to the Bank and the economy. If the Governor and the Board are incompetent find substitutes as provided in the law and not gangster fashion as when Chief Justices were removed and appointed in the recent past.

The supremacy of Parliament does not carry with it that there are no areas of autonomy within the law and that such autonomous institutions are not essential for the healthy functioning of a body politic, the same as you need small amounts of some minerals for animal bodies to function.The grand story about autonomy is the separation of powers in government. The demand for autonomy for some institutions including universities, central banks, media institutions and NGOs come from the fundamental fear of totalitarianism. So long as the force of gravity of government can keep these satellites in orbit let them have their own revolutions on their axis!