Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Avant Garde Chairman Senadhipathi, Palitha Fernando indicted

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

The Colombo High Court yesterday served indictments on Avant-Garde Maritime Services Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and retired Maj.Gen. Palitha Fernando who headed the state-owned Rakna Lanka company.

This is for allegedly offering and accepting a bribe of Rs.35.5 million regarding the Avant-Garde floating armoury transaction.

When the case came up before High Court Judge R. Gurusinghe, the two accused were ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.100,000 with two sureties of one million rupees each. The case was fixed for trial on March 19, 20, 21 and 22. The Bribery Commission Director General had filed indictments against Senadhipathi and Fernando on 47 counts under section 17, 19, 21 and 25 of Bribery Commission Act.

The two accused were arrested by Bribery Commission on September 6, 2016 for offering a bribe of Rs.35.5 million to Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando by Avant-Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi consequent to the Avant-Garde floating armoury transaction between 2012 and 2014.

Senior State Counsel Janaka Bandara appeared for the Bribery Commission. President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana appeared for the accused.

Who Killed Rajeev Rajendran of Manus Island?

A 31-year-old asylum seeker held at the Manus Island detention centre has been charged with the alleged rape of a local woman. Rajeev Rajendran, originally from Sri Lanka, was charged in Lorengau court over the alleged assault which took place at a hotel on 17 January.

by Gajalakshmi Paramasivam-Oct 3, 2017

( October 3, 2017, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) The sad news of the death of a Tamil on Manus Island came last night. I was happy most of yesterday due to helping a needy person in Jaffna interpret the law and bring an issue within the folds of law. The news that Rajeev Rajendran had allegedly killed himself on Manus Island brought some sadness. Then this morning I received further news that the Australian Government was requiring $9,000 to fly the body to Sri Lanka. The news report by pro-Eelam online outfit said further:

Rajeev Rajendran, a 32-year-old from the Jaffna region in Tamil Eelam, had been held on Manus Island since 2013, when he fled the country after being threatened by the Sri Lankan military. Two months ago, he found out that his father had cancer. That news, combined with the uncertainty of his situation – being denied asylum in Australia despite his well-founded fear of persecution back home and the constant fear of deportation by the Australian government – finally took its toll this week. Rajeev appears to have taken his own life. Now, the Australian government is trying to extract money from his family, who can’t afford such a sum. “We have lost a son, a brother, a cousin and a wonderful friend”, Rajeev’s cousin Mathy said. “After all the trauma he was put through, the Australian government now wants to put his grieving family through more.

According to the above report, Rajeev fled Tamil Eelam – a separate entity in the minds of many Tamils of Northern Sri Lankan origin. Jaffna Capital of official Northern Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is the capital of Tamil Eelam – a De facto structure in many Tamils.

Around the same time as I received the news about Rajeev, I received also the information about the memorial services in honor of Dr. Rajasingham Narendran who passed away on 02 September. Having interacted directly with Dr. Rajasingham Narendran, my contribution towards his soul merging with Lord Shiva is to appreciate our commonness raised to the highest level possible. Likewise, we need to raise the contribution by Rajeev including through his death – to the highest level possible – so that he would carry the higher values into his next life.

We do not know whether Rajeev was part of the community to whom Tamil Eelam was already a Nation and therefore the Sri Lankan Army would have seemed like invaders. What we do know is that Rajeev was accused and found guilty of raping a school girl earlier this year. The Guardian reported as follows:

A 31-year-old asylum seeker held at the Manus Island detention centre has been charged with the alleged rape of a local woman. Rajeev Rajendran, originally from Sri Lanka, was charged in Lorengau court over the alleged assault which took place at a hotel on 17 January.

The acting provincial police commander, Senior Inspector David Yapu, said the man had met the woman at Lorengau market before taking her to a local hotel, where she was allegedly assaulted.

It is alleged she was raped three times there before she was able to reach a relative’s house. She was treated for injuries at Lorengau hospital.

“When she managed to escape she fainted on the riverside which is where she was rescued and taken to the hospital,” Yapu told Guardian Australia. The woman, described by Yapu as an 18-year-old who is still in school, and her parents reported the alleged attack to police.

Miss Vidya Sivaloganathan who was raped and murdered in Northern Sri Lanka, by a group led by a member of the Tamil Diaspora living in Switzerland, was also 18 years old when she was killed. The Jaffna Tamil community hailed the death sentence awarded to the alleged perpetrators as just. If majority Australian Tamils also identified with this punishment – then such punishment would reach all such perpetrators who are not protected by their own investment in the laws of the country that they consider to be ‘home’. As per the demonstrated values of Tamil Tiger LTTE leadership such conduct would be punishable by physical torture and death. Relative to that Australian laws, leave alone UN laws would have no place in the mind of most refugees from Sri Lanka – especially Eelam Tamils who have embraced De Facto status under militant leadership.

If Rajeev’s difficulties were so severe that they led him to flee Tamil Eelam due to Sri Lankan military and this is also reality in Sri Lanka – then Rajeev most likely would be carrying that militant leadership which would have led to him ignoring the laws of Papua New Guinea which was home to me for three years. Despite living alone with three young kids, I never felt threatened of being raped by Papua New Guineans. Theft yes. No more. That is the power of Truth. Once the place is Home to us – that place would mother us and even ask us to leave to protect our ‘home-values’.

It was on this basis that I left Thunaivi in Vaddukoddai district in Northern Sri Lanka, when I felt that respect for woman as a mother was weakened severely in that toddy-tapper village, once they behaved as if they were self-governing. There I did feel the heightened risk of rape. My departure was preceded by lessons shared by me with the community – showing me as the victim, in a language they would understand. If Rajeev’s soul is to merge with his true ‘home’ – we must stop using his death to promote our own selfish agendas which Rajeev was yet to be bound by.

It is the duty of Truth to support and protect those who have genuinely invested in a particular system. By performing the funeral service in Papua New Guinea – we would be contributing to cleansing that Nation of any dirt that we as a community added to that part of the world. If the Tamil Diaspora feel otherwise – then it is understandable that they would want Rajeev to be taken back home to Tamil Eelam. They then have the opportunity to contribute to the establishment of Tamil Eelam in more minds. If the Australian Government pays for those expenses to honor someone who believed in Tamil Eelam as his home – then the Australian Government loses the investment made by other Tamils to whom lawful community of Jaffna is home. Those are the ways of Truth.

‘If this is how I am treated , it is imaginable how indifferently people are treated ‘ Sagala rebukes the police !

(Lanka-e-News - 03.Oct.2017, 8.25PM) ‘When inquiries are made in connection with so many unlawful incidents from the IGP , the latter seemed to have come to know of those for the first time only after I informed him . If this is how the IGP is conducting himself even in his relations with me , it can be imagined what amount of issues are being created for the people, minister of law and order Sagala Ratnayake ,openly bemoaned. The minister was so distraught and disappointed that he had to use strong words such as ‘I am very suspicious’ and ‘I have no faith now’ when castigating the police top brass on the 2 nd at Temple Trees.

The minister made these shocking comments when addressing a meeting on the 2 nd at Temple Trees attended by SSPs of the divisions, and SPs, in the wake of the disillusionment and disappointment of the people with the law and order situation in the country, which has reached the point of forcing Sagala to quit his portfolio .

Though 95% officers of the police officers are performing their duties duly , but the reprehensible conduct of the other officers is not due to his fault or of the government he pointed out , while adding ,that is because they are not impartial and are supporting politicians and other groups . Consequently ,they are taking a lethargic attitude towards their duties which is the cause of all these problems, the minister lamented.

The minister while highlighting a number of examples of this indifference and lethargy of the police said , the conduct of the police in relation to the conflicts that broke out pertaining to the refugees at Mt.Lavinia recently , was most reprehensible and unpardonable.

Similarly , while there is a gazette notification with cabinet approval that vehicles weighing over 5 tons and over three meter high cannot enter the Galle Fort , the headquarters OIC not follow this is most deplorable. The OIC is working according to whose agenda ? the minister questioned.

The minister’s vehicle recently met with an accident on the Southern expressway , when a vehicle overtook from the left side . His official vehicle was damaged thereby .Yet no one accepted the blame in that connection. I had to stand at different places. Though there is a method to be followed by the police in such instances , nothing was done ,the minister regretted.

The police did not even take measures to take him home. Instead of chasing after the individual who collided with the vehicle , the police made the minister to alight from the vehicle, and took his damaged vehicle to the police , the minister revealed. If that is the treatment meted out to him , how can the police be depended upon in its dealings with the people? he questioned.

Under the circumstances , he is now highly suspicious, the minister declared. Earlier on, even a security convoy vehicle of P.M.’s met with problems at Nuwara eliya when he was travelling , the minister pinpointed.

When an incident occurs specially a grave one , the SSP or SP of the division should visit the scene . Previously when there was a shooting incident in Jaffna , the officer in charge of the relevant division arrived at the scene after about 7 hours. Owing to this the police had to confront many issues. The first report of the police was proved false and the police became a laughing stock before the public. Therefore in such incidents , the officer in charge of that division should directly inform the IGP from the place of the incident, the minister insisted.

Even in the incident at Mt.Lavinia , it was he who first informed the acting IGP . In many instances when he inquired from the IGP about various incidents , the IGP was in the dark , the minister further lamented.

There is also information that sometimes paint , food , drinks and other items have been collected for police stations and offices of the police officers in charge of the division , from businessmen and various individuals. If there is a function or any other event at the police station , the necessary cash shall be collected from the Police department without insulting the police department by trailing behind outsiders , the minister said.

If the police officers are saying they haven’t freedom , that is an absolute lie. They have been given enough freedom to discharge their duties. Not only the police station , but even the barrack must be maintained duly. The inspections conducted by the officers in charge of the police divisions and ASPs should be duly carried out. ‘A copy of the report of every inspection shall be sent to me too. I have no faith in the inspections that are currently carried out on police stations and barracks by the officers in charge of the divisions , and the ASP’s . I am informed some officers instead of doing the inspection ,sit in the chair of the OIC , and prepare the reports , ‘ the minister pinpointed.

The discussion was attended by Jagath Premalal Wijeweera , secretary to the minister of law and order , and Southern development , the IGP and senior police officers.

---------------------------
by (2017-10-03 17:38:49)

President consolidates position as SLFP leader ahead of local polls

One-on-one meetings with SLFP stalwarts; dissidents to be replaced with youth leaders
Central Bank’s latest report of the economy calls for corrective measures

Sunday, October 01, 2017

With local government polls now ahead, President Maithripala Sirisena has embarked on an ambitious project to consolidate his position as leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

Last Thursday evening, he took the unusual step of conducting one-on-one meetings with SLFP ministers, parliamentarians and chief ministers. The venue for the special event was the Cinnamon Hilltop at Kaluwella in Galle. There were no ‘note takers,’ secretaries or other officials. Seated in a ground floor room of what was once the abode of Col. Henry Steel Olcott, a former US military officer, journalist and lawyer well known for the Buddhist revivalist movement in Sri Lanka, the President made notes of the discussions personally.

President consolidates position as SLFP leader ahead of local polls.docx by Thavam on Scribd

Basil seeks order transferring almanac case away from High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga

Lakmal Sooriyagoda-Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Filing a Transfer Application in the Court of Appeal, Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa sought an order staying any further proceedings into controversial almanac case before Colombo High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga, currently presiding over Court No.6 of Colombo High Court.

He further sought an order transferring case from Colombo High Court presided over by High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga to any other court of High Court of Colombo.

High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga is the Colombo High Court Judge who delivered the judgment regarding Controversial Sil Redi (fabrics used by devotees to observe sill) distribution case. Former Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunge and former Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) Director General Anusha Palpita were sentenced to three-year-rigorous imprisonment by Colombo High Court for misappropriating Rs. 600 million of funds belonging to TRC.

In his petition, Basil Rajapaksa stated that High Court Judge Gihan Kulatunga was a member of Presidential Commission (PRECIFAC) which initiated an inquiry against him. He further stated that one of the primary grounds on which the proceedings before PRECIFAC are sought to be challenged by him before the Court of Appeal complaining that he was denied a fair hearing at the purported inquiry by the PRECIFAC.

On June 15, the High Court case against two accused including former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa for allegedly misappropriating Rs.29.4 million of funds belonging to Divi Neguma Department was fixed for trial on November 13 by Colombo High Court judge Gihan Kulatunga.

When the Transfer Application was taken up before Court of Appeal (President) Justice L.T.B. Dehideniya and Justice Shiran Gunaratne, the Attorney General was noticed to appear in Court on October 26.

The Attorney General had filed indictments against former Minister and former director General of Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka in the Colombo High Court for allegedly printing 5 million almanacs with the image of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, costing Rs.29.4 million, to be used as election propaganda material during January-2015 presidential election.

President’s Counsel Gamini Marapana with counsel Navin Marapana, Kaushalya Molligoda instructed by Sanath Wijewardena appeared for Basil Rajapaksa.

Review Sri Lanka’s Position And Sign The Treaty On Prohibition Of Nuclear Weapons: Friday Forum Tells Government

OCTOBER 3, 2017

The Friday Forum is extremely concerned that Sri Lanka did not sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in New York in September 2017.

Sri Lanka has a proud record of unequivocal opposition to nuclear weapons, and has long championed multilateralism in the fields of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation. It has been among the first States to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996, the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1993 and the Biological Weapons Convention in 1972. Over the last few decades Sri Lanka has worked to prevent future weapons threats, notably an arms race in outer space, and has been a steadfast supporter of the work of the United Nations in disarmament. It has also joined, and often led, efforts in the Non-Aligned Movement to advance disarmament. In addition, Sri Lankans have served as UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, as Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, on the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters, and as an eloquent voice for nuclear disarmament in the International Court of Justice.

Has there now been a change of policy after a new minister assumed office?

Sri Lanka’s principled stance in voting for the resolution adopting this very same Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on July 7th this year was a logical continuation of its stand against all weapons of mass destruction, and was a source of pride for all of us. The failure to sign the Treaty at this point of time is a serious setback for our country’s international image and its contribution to disarmament and world peace. The Treaty is fully consistent with Sri Lanka’s existing obligations under both the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. This new treaty goes farther in de-legitimizing the very possession of such weapons, which will be essential if we are to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and ensure peace and security for present and future generations. This Treaty emphasizes in particular the applicability of international humanitarian law and the laws of war in governing both the use and existence of nuclear weapons – it seeks to establish a universal norm that is non-discriminatory, it is a light illuminating the way to achieve global nuclear disarmament.

There have been no multilateral disarmament negotiations for over two decades, and there have never been any nuclear disarmament negotiations since the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed in 1968, despite the commitment of its parties to negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament. While the current Treaty is not itself a disarmament treaty since it does not require the elimination of weapons, it nevertheless helps to set the stage for one to come. Sri Lanka should join with other committed nations in leading the way toward a more comprehensive nuclear weapons convention, as well as new progress in achieving the agreed goals of general and complete disarmament.

Investments in nuclear weapons jeopardize human civilization—not only through their use, but also through the outrageous expenses incurred in manufacturing and modernizing them. These investments drain resources away from meeting sustainable development goals and reducing poverty and deprivation throughout the world, including in our own country. Nuclear weapons are inherently immoral, both in their manufacture and their potential use. It is inconceivable that Sri Lanka should take a position that indicates otherwise.

The Friday Forum strongly believes that Sri Lanka should continue to show solidarity with its friends in the Non-Aligned Movement who support the Treaty, including countries in the South Asian region, and support the future negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear weapons convention. There is no possibility that any use of any nuclear weapon, anywhere, would serve either the ideals or self- interests of Sri Lanka or any other nation. Sri Lanka voted for the resolution adopting this very same Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on July 7th, when we had a different Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary. Has there now been a change of policy after a new minister assumed office?

The Friday Forum urges the Sri Lankan government to review its position and sign the Treaty without further delay. This is an issue of concern for all the people, on which there can be no compromise.

Professor Arjuna Aluwihare and Prof. Camena Guneratne

For and on behalf of

Rajapakse relative’s massive fraud !Neither I nor Sooriyabandara collected even a cent from ‘President’s special initiative’ – Major Gen. Ravipriya

(Lanka-e-News - 03.Oct.2017, 9.25PM) “During the period when I was attached to the Sri Lanka embassy in Washington , my predecessor major general Samantha Sooriyabandara who died , never collected even a cent from the ‘president’s special initiative’,” said Major General G.V. Ravipriya when speaking to Lanka e news . He also confirmed that he is more than 100 % sure about this .

Following the expose` by Lanka e news on 2017-09-30 by its report captioned , ‘Billions of rupees misappropriated by Rajapakse’s relative Washington Ambassador Jaliya -proved with evidence !Names of Maj. Gen. Sooriyabandara and Brigadier Ravipriya implicated !!‘ which mentioned also the names of Major General Sooriyabandara and Brigadier Ravipriya , the latter who is currently director , army training division , speaking to Lanka e news revealed the afore-noted stark truth .

In our report it was stated , at that time when JaliyaWickremesuriya , a relative of MahindaRajapaksethe deposed president whose name is by now synonymous with monumental corruption, was the military attaché, he collected over Rs. 12, 611,186.00 using the name of War hero Sooriyabandara and a further sum of over Rs. 15 ,079,125.00 using the name of War hero Ravipriya under the dubious ‘President’s special initiative’ fund. We also revealed that no payment vouchersbearing dates and the signaturesof the relevant officerswere submitted to support those misappropriations by Jaliya.

We also indicated in the damning expose` if the relevant officers do give an answer , we shall publish those. In response to our request ,major general Ravipriya contacted us this morning . He explained, it is only after he read the LeN report he came to know such a fraud has been perpetrated using his name .

He vowed that he has never ever signed such a payment voucher and collected payment. Besides , when he was assuming duties , his predecessor was , Major General Sooriyabandara , and before the latter left Washington he spent about a month with him .Therefore Ravipriyasaid he knows for sure such a payment was not collected by Sooryabandara. Ravipriya confirmed this beyond any trace of doubt .

Ravipriya went on to disclose theabysmal sufferings that were faced by Sooriyabandaraas a victim of political witch hunt, and his untimely death.

When LeN questioned whether Ravipriya was interrogated by the police earlier on when the latter conducted an investigation into the fraudulent activities of Jaliya , and the payments that were made , Ravipriya replied nobody has questioned him so far .

It is very evident without any trace of doubt , Jaliya the relative of most notorious corrupt MahindaRajapakse ( buddies of the same feather who robbed together) has misappropriated colossal sums ‘selling’ the names of war heroes.

The pro good governance masses are earnestly hoping that in the best interests of the nation , action will be taken against not only Jaliya , but even the accountant of the Embassy who passed the fake payment vouchers , the accountant of the foreign ministry of Sri Lanka who made the payments, as well as all those who connived at and colluded in this scam. The masses are hoping all the crooks and the corrupt without any exception shall be brought before the law and duly punished.

It is presumed as the present foreign minister being a lawyer himself , there shouldn’t be any barriers to his taking prompt legal action.

Connected report
Billions of rupees misappropriated by Rajapakse’s relative Washington Ambassador Jaliya -proved with evidence !
-Names of Maj. Gen. Sooriyabandara and Brigadier Ravipriyaimplicated !!

---------------------------
by (2017-10-03 17:50:56)

A line from the big story of Chulananda Perera

Oct 03, 2017

Finance and media minister Mangala Samaraweera should be commended by citizens who support good governance for having transferred director general of customs Chulananda Perera to the pool, on the basis of the findings by the Attorney General’s Department and the CID that are investigating him.

Investigations point to his having had close links with human traffickers during the period he was the controller of emigration and immigration. ‘Katta Ravi’ was behind ‘Sun Sea’ that arrived in Canada along with more than 400 Tamil refugees following the conclusion of the 30 year war. Already repressed by the Sri Lankan military, they were manipulated and relieved of what they had, by charging each Rs. 2.5 million to lease the ship to take them to the Canadian waters, where he left them helpless. He has earned more than one billion rupees through that. He lives in Bangkok, Thailand, a haven for human traffickers.

‘Katta Ravi’ provides food and accommodation, vehicles etc. to Chulananda when he visits Thailand. Chulananda is a corrupt official with a very disreputable history. He described before courts as a legal passport one prepared by Dhammika Amarasinghe, an underworld leader of Kaduwela, by pasting a picture of his on a passport belonging to someone else. It is not known how much he had received from the main suspect, Thilanga Sumathipala, the then, and now, cricket chief, for doing that.

Senior advocate at the time Yasantha Kodagoda named Chulananda an adverse witness, but he escaped without being indicted due to the support he received from the then attorney general. Also, in 2004 when he was the deputy controller of immigration and emigration, Asirivadan Satyabavan, Thevaraja Sasikaran and Sujith Gunapala were imprisoned and their passports impounded in Thailand on a charge of having supplied weapons and communication equipment to the LTTE. It was Chulananda who had supplied them with passports after the LTTE got a royal parole for them, according to the CID.

It is surprising such a corrupt official still remains a free man. The AG’s Dept. now has a chance to file charges against him under clause 45C of the immigration and emigration act, as Samaraweera has transferred him to the pool. We have further information, but refrain from revealing them, as it will disrupt AG’s Dept. and CID investigations. We ask the AG if such corrupt state officials would continue to get immunity from the law.

Await details of how Chulananda extended visa for the sex workers at the nightclubs owned by his brother-in-law Karaoke Wasantha, and also obtained a Rs. 200 million bribe to cover up a racket of more than Rs. 20 million at BMW company.

Alleged misappropriation of Rs. 21 mn of Brian Shaddick

Lakmal Sooriyagoda-Wednesday, October 4, 2017

The indictments filed against Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader MP Udaya Gammanpila and another accused for allegedly misappropriating Rs. 21 million following their alleged fraudulent share transaction that took place in 2000 were read out at the Colombo High Court yesterday.

The charges on the indictments were read out to the accused in open court and defence counsel appearing for Udaya Gammanpila and Sydney Jayasinghe informed High Court that their clients were not pleading guilty to the charges.

When the case came up before High Court Judge A.A.R. Heiyanthuduwa, complainant, Australian businessman Brian Shadick gave evidence regarding the case. The witness is to continue giving evidence and the case was fixed for further trial on October 13.

The High Court issued an order directing the Immigration and Emigration Controller that travel details pertaining to Australian businessman Brian Shaddick be given to defence in order to ensure a fair trial. Two accused Udaya Gammanpila and Sydney Jayasinghe are currently on bail.

The Attorney General (AG) alleged that MP Udaya Gammanpila has cheated Rs. 20 million and misappropriated another Rs. 21 million along with Sydney Jayasinghe, the second accused when selling shares of Digital Nominees to a businessman called Dhammika Perera.The AG further charged that the alleged business transaction had taken place using a fraudulent power of attorney to sell shares belonging to Australian businessman Brian Shadick.

The AG has listed 20 persons as the witnesses in the case and named 16 documents as production items of the case. MP Gammanpila was arrested in this regard on June 18, 2016.

Deputy Solicitor General Dileepa Peiris appeared for the Attorney General.

President’s Counsel Jayantha Weerasinghe with Shavindra Fernando and senior counsel Nalinda Indatissa appeared for the accused.

Palestinian cabinet convenes in Gaza in move to reconcile with Hamas

Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would reject any reconciliation deal between the two leading Palestinian factions unless Hamas disarmed

Hamas's overall leader Ismail Haniya (L) and Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah are seen together at Haniya's office in Gaza City on Tuesday (AFP)

Tuesday 3 October 2017

Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah on Tuesday chaired the first meeting of the Palestinian cabinet in Gaza for three years in a move towards reconciliation between the mainstream Fatah party and Islamist group Hamas.

Hamas seized the Gaza Strip in 2007 in fighting with Fatah forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas and has ruled the impoverished desert enclave of two million people since then.

The cabinet session was the first in Gaza since 2014, Hamdallah told his ministers, and a major step in a reconciliation process promoted by neighbouring Egypt and other US-allied Arab countries.

"Today, we stand before an important, historical moment as we begin to get over our wounds, put our differences aside and place the higher national interest above all else," he said.

'We are not prepared to accept bogus reconciliations in which the Palestinian side apparently reconciles at the expense of our existence'

- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would reject any reconciliation deal between the two leading Palestinian factions unless the Iran-backed Islamist movement Hamas disarmed.

"We are not prepared to accept bogus reconciliations in which the Palestinian side apparently reconciles at the expense of our existence," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"Whoever wants to make such a reconciliation, our understanding is very clear: recognise the State of Israel, disband the Hamas military arm, sever the connection with Iran - which calls for our destruction," Netanyahu added.

The PA has signed a peace deal with Israel, but Hamas has not.

In video message, Sisi celebrates 'opportunity'

But Cairo, which has been a key backer of attempts at reconciliation, welcomed the development.

In a pre-recorded speech addressing the two main Palestinian movements on Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that Palestinian reconciliation could be an "opportunity" for wider regional peace, and called for global support for the initiative.

"The whole world is waiting for your efforts to achieve reconciliation among the Palestinian people and appreciates your determination to address all obstacles," he said.

"There is a chance to realise peace in the region, providing all the parties are united."

The video was played as Egyptian intelligence head Khaled Fawzy met with Hamas and Palestinian Authority leaders in the Gaza Strip.

"I am confident the major world powers, when they see the Palestinian parties are fully aware of the nature of this phase and the importance of dialogue to achieve the goal of peace, will help to realise this peace," he added.

Hamdallah crossed into Gaza on Monday and was welcomed by a Hamas honour guard and hundreds of Palestinians.

Young people in Gaza greet the arrival of Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (MEE/Mohammed Asad)

Sabri Siadam, minister of education and a member of Fatah's central committee, told MEE that the mood was joyous.

"Today a new history is written in Gaza Strip, today was an achievement for all the Palestinians, happiness filled the streets, people are satisfied and optimistic," he said.

Today, we stand before an important, historical moment as we begin to get over our wounds, put our differences aside and place the higher national interest above all else

- Rami al-Hamdallah, Palestinian PM

Hamas, considered a terrorist group by Israel and the West, last month disbanded its Gaza shadow government after Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates imposed an economic boycott on its main donor, Qatar.

But while Hamas has handed over administrative responsibilities to a unity government originally formed three years ago, its armed wing remains the dominant force in Gaza.

"We understand that returning official institutions to their legitimate and legal framework and ending all the impacts of division will require exhausting efforts and a lot of patience, of time and of wisdom," he said.

'One state, one regime, one law and one weapon'

Abbas told Egyptian TV station CBC on Monday there could be only "one state, one regime, one law and one weapon" in the Gaza Strip, reiterating a long-held position that security should only be in the hands of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Abbas is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and heads the PA government that administers limited self-rule in the territory.

(L to R) Hamas's leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, Director of Palestinian General Intelligence in the West Bank, Majid Faraj; Hamas's overall leader Ismail Haniya; Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and an Egyptian mediator hold hands during

A PA spokesman said Abbas would not lift sanctions on Gaza at this stage but rather await the outcome of talks planned between Fatah and Hamas in the next two weeks.

Pressuring Hamas to loosen its grip on Gaza, he halted payments for Israeli-supplied electricity to the enclave in June, a step that has led to lengthy, daily blackouts. He also withheld salaries for Gaza civil servants.

Everything must be in the hands of the Palestinian Authority, it must be the one to control the crossing points

– Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

"Everything must be in the hands of the Palestinian Authority, it must be the one to control the crossing points [in and out of Gaza]," he said. Both Israel and Egypt maintain a partial blockade of Gaza, citing security concerns.

Under previous understandings, some 3,000 Fatah security men would be integrated gradually into a Gaza police force overseen by an interior ministry headed by Hamdallah. Hamas's armed wing, analysts say, has at least 25,000 well-equipped fighters.

Hamdallah tweeted pictures from what he termed the "national reconciliation government" meeting in Gaza

The United States, which is trying to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks that collapsed in 2014, is watching developments closely with the aim of improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Jason Greenblatt, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, said on Twitter.

But Greenblatt said: "The United States stresses that any Palestinian government must unambiguously and explicitly commit to non-violence, recognition of the State of Israel, acceptance of previous agreements and obligations between the parties, and peaceful negotiations."

Hamas has long rejected those conditions.