Friday, March 30, 2018

Why Should The Technicalities Of The Plastic Bag Ban Continue To Concern The Masses?

By Piyumani Ranasinghe –MARCH 30, 2018

Piyumani Ranasinghe

Improving the common man’s knowledge on the ban on polythene in Sri Lanka is a critical juncture that requires most of the investment in ensuring that the momentum of the ban does not dissipate. Even if ignorance is considered bliss, the quintessential element of successful enforcement of any environment regulation requires regular awareness. Hence, the prevailing command and control mechanisms in addition to all market based approaches require the enlightenment of the consumer with regard to the current ban, which in the books of environmental policy making is considered, making a partial ban on destructive plastic actually work. In this regard, it is vital to reiterate the origins of the ban in Sri Lanka at the wake of the Meetotamullagarbage dump tragedy. Even as you read this, garbage is being piled up, either legally or illegally in a landfill somewhere close to your neighborhood. Thus, the partial ban that is enforced currently ought to be considered a plausible way forward towards a complete ban on the destructive polythene bag, which is not only an action point in achieving the sustainable developmental goals as a nation, but also vital in resolving the persisting solid waste management crisis in the island.

What exactly is prohibited?

In terms of polythene products, the ban on polythene currently covers, the manufacture, sale, offer for sale or free of charge, exhibition and the use of polythene or any product of polythene that is 20 microns or below in thickness (GN 2034/33). In addition to that, it also bans the manufacture, sale, exhibition and the use of polythene food wrappers commonly known as lunch sheets (GN 2034/34). In fact, the Gazette notification 2034/34 is inclusive of both high and low density polyethylene alongside polypropylene which was used as raw material in the production of the said food wrappers in the past. Instead, compostable lunch sheets are an alternative available in the Sri Lankan market today. Biodegradability of these plastics are due to the fact that the products are manufactured amalgamating raw materials such as Corn Starch, Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and Poly Butylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate (PBAT) that have been specifically engineered to facilitate the process of biodegradation and compostability, based on scientific tests run as per the EN13432 standard, which is a standard recognized in the European Union that defines the criteria compostable packaging has to meet.

Grocery bags manufactured from high density polyethylene is also prohibited under the current ban alongside (GN 2034/35), the use of all forms of polythene, polypropylene and polyethylene as decorations in political, social, religious, national or cultural occasions are also banned (GN 2034/37). Importantly, the manufacture, sale and the use of lunch boxes, plates, cups, spoons from expanded polystyrene (commonly known as rigifoam) is also prohibited (GN 2034/38).

Importantly, activities varying from regular use, manufacture, sale, giving for free, exhibition, use in decorations to open burning of refuse and other combustible material inclusive of plastic (GN 2034/36) is prohibited under the current ban; rendering all aforementioned activities punishable offences in the Republic of Sri Lanka, which will result in a Rs. 10,000 fine alongside 2 years of imprisonment.

Factors affecting Compliance to the Ban

The factors affecting the compliance of the polythene ban is distinct according to the consumer and retailer. In terms of the consumer, the primary factor at the face of compliance is the level of enforcement of the ban, according to Lane and Potter (2007). For example, in Gupta (2011) notes that, irrespective of the production, distribution and use of plastic bags ban in Bangladesh, violations of the regulation are common. Cost is also a factor that determines compliance with the regulations on the part of the consumer. Consumers often prefer cost-free bags that can be used conveniently. Convenience can depend on various cultural factors as well as the individual choice on the consumer. However, as stressed by Winter and May (2001), awareness of the ban and its consequences is a predominant factor in terms of compliance. Additionally, factors such as education, age as well as something as general as attitudes of the consumer can affect compliance. It should be understood that motivation primarily defines compliance (Becker, 1968). In Sri Lanka, awareness is a key issue in ensuring ban compliance. According to Environmental Foundation Limited (EFL), consumer identification of banned items is a crucial problem, even for a person who’s willing to adapt. Hence, the public outreach in terms of awareness in identifying biodegradable or compostable plastics is an indispensable step that can be taken up by the Central Environmental Agency (CEA), considering it a priority.

The retailer on the other hand is interlinked to the policy making process itself and has the ability to strike a balance between the public interest of the environmental regulation as well as other market oriented interests. For example, the retailers can benefit by reducing the cost of procuring polythene bags and profit by selling reusable or compostable bags. This is currently a practice being adopted by Supermarkets of Sri Lanka, where in certain cases compostable bags are sold at Rs.1.50 each. However, it is also vital to ensure that small scale retailers have sufficient means of adhering to the regulations. Moreover, purchasing compostable bags can be an inconvenient and unnecessary cost in the consumer’s eye. Thus, the CEA should enable certain mechanisms that balance both the interests of the consumer and the retailer in ensuring the smooth transition to eco-friendly alternatives, which is in return fundamental to ban compliance. Awareness is positively correlated to compliance in terms of the retailer as well. Compliance in terms of retailers largely bounces between the costs incurred and the risk of being caught (Bishal, 2016).

Good men and women of society: Poor and marginalised need your voice of advocacy

This appeal is addressed to all good men and women of Sri Lanka, especially those younger generation leaders in the cities and rural villages, please raise voices of advocacy and publicly apply pressure to change for good and address the interests of the poor and marginalised rural householders

– Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Thitha aththa – the bitter truth! From published statistics and those networked with the rural villagers, the marginalised and poor rural folk

Saturday, 31 March 2018

Seventy years after independence, governed by democratically-elected governments of various colours, parliamentary and presidential systems of governance, following economic policies based on capitalism, market, socialism, mixed, middle path and now social market, devolved governance and administration, appealing visions and policy pronouncements of political leaders with charisma and purported commitment, a capable executives in administration, with proven rule of law and justice systems in place, having Sri Lanka strategically located by time zones and shipping lanes, endowed with resources both physical and human, experiencing major natural calamities only rarely, and with no real external threats of aggression/pressure, a nonaligned foreign policy, boasting of a proud heritage with historical achievements, touched by the blessings of the Buddhist philosophy and all other major religions, giving residence to Sinhalese/Tamils/Muslims/Malays and Burgers and receiving global visitors as tourist hot spot and called the ‘Lung of Asia,’ whereas sadly, a majority of our citizens/the country:

Have not reached the living standards of citizens our Eastern Asian neighbours, who some time ago lagged behind us in socio-economic shared standards
Are subject to severe socio- economic inequality
Are poor and fail to see a future of hope of being in a similar status to citizens of Singapore
Yet a developing country with per capita GDP of $ 4,000
Severe disparities in
Regional shares of GDP with Western having 44% and Southern 11%, Central and North Western 10% and other five all around 6%, 5% or 4%
Median monthly per capita household monthly incomes in the Western Province is Rs. 10-12000, and in Northern and Eastern Provinces Rs. 4-6,000 and all others 6-8,000
Several districts classified with high unemployment and underemployment
Availability of State services and infrastructure support
80% of the tax revenue from value based taxes impacting on all citizens and only 20% from income based taxes, thus placing severe burdens on the poor and marginalised households
Low tax revenue to GDP
Low savings ratio
Low levels of Foreign Direct Investments
As of 2012, the World Bank reported that public spending on social safety net programs in Sri Lanka decreased as a percentage of GDP from 2.2% in 2004 to 0.3% in 2009. As a result, Sri Lanka moved from being a country with relatively high safety net spending to one with limited resource allocation for safety nets.
Sri Lanka’s main safety net program, Samurdhi suffers from poor targeting and benefit adequacy
Growing numbers affected by or in danger of suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease
Significant deficit budgeting annually
Fiscal gap if computed likely to be in the red indicating bankruptcy
Net external debt exceeds $ 50 trillion
Have turned to the IMF for bailout support packages on several occasions
A low growth economy
Peace and harmony regularly challenged by ethno religious conflicts
A 30-year-long terrorist menace has reversed growth options
High prevalence of bribery, corruption and money laundering and the country tagged as a high risk jurisdiction
Political stability challenged on many an occasion and has severely impacted on growth and prosperity

Visions and commitments

Mahinda Chinthana – A Brighter Future
Sri Lanka: The emerging ‘Wonder of Asia’
A prosperous country; a land of plenty
Disciplined and law-abiding society
Comforts, convenience and satisfactory lifestyles
Developed road network and transport system
A unitary state, not to be divided
Shared values, rapid development and lasting peace
Respect for fauna and flora
Priority for youth
Focus on modern education and knowledge systems
A Healthy society
Entrepreneurs with strength to conquer the world
Reawakening the performing arts
People return, rather than migrate
Vision 2025 of the Current Regime – Our vision is to make Sri Lanka a rich country by 2025. We will do so by transforming Sri Lanka into the hub of the Indian Ocean, with a knowledge-based, highly competitive, social-market economy. We will create an environment where all citizens have the opportunity to achieve higher incomes and better standards of living. To achieve this we must create the conditions which will generate economic growth with equity. The structural transformation necessary to achieve this vision is currently underway. The ‘Empowered Sri Lanka’ document laid the foundation for this transformation by identifying the priorities of raising incomes, ensuring employment and housing for all, and improving the quality of life for all citizens. We will position Sri Lanka as an export-oriented economic hub at the centre of the Indian Ocean. We recognise the fundamental reality that Sri Lanka has a domestic market of only 20 million consumers with a modest per capita income, and must rely on external demand for sustained, high, and long-term growth. We will strategically position Sri Lanka as the hub of the Indian Ocean, securing opportunities for local businesses in global production networks (GPNs). This outward-looking approach will increase the efficiency of the domestic economy, contributing to a better life for all Sri Lankans. We will stamp out corruption by encouraging competition and enabling transparency to give all Sri Lankans an equal chance at prosperity.”

Reality of the majority of our citizens, especially those in rural village households

News 1st Gammedda Reports 2016 and 2017 concluded that “even though many rural development projects were implemented by various governments throughout the history, none of these programmes have been successful in identifying the real needs of the rural community. An attitudinal change among people should be fostered to address the gaps in development. It is only then, Sri Lanka would be able to achieve balanced as well as sustainable development.”
The three main issues identified related to;
Below acceptable level infrastructure, with the lack of connectivity and access via bridges and village roads to towns where education, health, other services and market opportunities are available
Water problems dominated the next major hidden issue, with the lack of clean drinking water and water for irrigation and household consumption being major demands in all provinces
Lack of opportunities for generation livelihoods supportive incomes sufficient for basic sustenance was the next major issue. The lack of markets for produce, lack of financial capacity for even home garden cultivation activities and in some cases the total lack of opportunities for young and old and especially female householders, to engage in economic activities were key constraints
Thereafter a host of other key issues emerged in areas linked to lack of acceptable housing, human –animal conflict, education and schools, transportation, health land ownership challenges, consequential impact of war and natural disasters, environmental pollution and irrigation.
The common thread that appears to run through these segments of society, equally across the island, appears to be that their needs and aspirations have not been recognised and prioritised by the State, due to the villagers being powerless and voiceless; and being unfocussed by all levels of persons in governance (village, Pradeshiya, Local Government and district level). The only focused attention appears to emerge closer to elections, where promises and commitments are freely given; but never honoured post elections
The bottom of the pyramid citizens in rural Sri Lanka seek budgetary allocations, focused governance attention and effectively implement projects in meeting their basic needs, including;
Adequate allocations for education to correct the present inequities ( there is significant variation in learning outcomes among provinces) including the need to improve educational outcomes in rural and estate sectors and among students from the types of schools attended by low income households;
In war-torn areas households without homes and female headed households without livelihood supportive employment or home garden cultivation options;
Villages, households and schools without safe drinking water, adequate competent teachers and teaching aides;
Villages without irrigation for cultivation and water for household consumption;
Fisher families with their livelihood options negatively impacted by development and external threats (e.g. Colombo Port City construction linked sand mining, wind turbines constructed in Puttalam, Indian bottom trawling incursions to Sri Lankan territorial waters and due to restrictions in high security zones in the north/east
Villages impacted by the human elephant conflict
Villages affected by Chronic Kidney Diseases
Villages without easy access to schools, hospitals, administrative centres, markets
Villages regularly impacted by floods and risks of landslides and other natural calamities

Villages whose sources of water supply are uncertain due to droughts and supply systems, tanks and associated canals and rivers are not in an effective system of functioning

Thitha Aththa –

The bitter truth!

Those networked with the rural villagers, the marginalised and poor rural folk assert that:

There are in many villages those severely impacted by poverty and those due to drought, lack of water resources for farming and household elders suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease, where households manage with one meal a day and where mothers forego meals in order to feed the children
Poverty, village low productivity and inadequate household incomes are leading to severe malnutrition
Government focused major development projects with heavy resource allocations have very limited trickle down impact on village households and inclusivity and equity does not appear to be a priority of the those in charge of governance
High levels of alcohol consumption and dangerous substance abuse have also led to lower household spendable incomes and productivity
Consumption oriented and higher aspiration marketing and misrepresented credit/loan marketing promotions have led to heavy indebtedness in most village households
The potential total population in danger of being impacted by Chronic Kidney Disease is three to four times those now identified
The irrigation authorities and many other departments of the State have failed to address collapse of and low functionality of the total infrastructure and systems associated with the supply irrigation water for farming; and thus odd unplanned interventions in cleaning tanks and canals does not effectively strengthen the viability of the system
Adequate research and out of the box solutions with required leadership to manage effectively the human-elephant conflict has led to both affected segments being severely impacted
Adequate research and out of the box solutions with required leadership to eradicate chronic kidney disease and dengue is beginning to have severe impact on village households
The migration of young and youth out of villages moving out to cities and overseas employment results in the villages comprising of elders and young and this severely impacts household income generation
The lack of acceptable housing with sanitation is a common feature of many villages
Acceptable schooling options that will assure educational outcomes empowering the young to become market sought human capital
Research and advisory services with assistance in addressing post-harvest losses, enhancing value addition and linkages to distribution and marketing options not made available
Lives and livelihoods support of village households to realise 2025 Vision have not been focused by the Government
Limited transportation and road and bridge networks for remote villages

The elected representatives and those in political and executive governance, irrespective of party colour appear to have ignored their social contract led commitments.

This appeal is therefore addressed to all good men and women of Sri Lanka, especially those younger generation leaders in the cities and rural villages, please raise voices of advocacy and publicly apply pressure to change for good and address the interests of the poor and marginalised rural householders.

‘We’re Humans’ goes to Digana seeking ‘National Unity’

March 30, 2018

Another stage of the forum begun by the ‘Inception of Change’ organization to apprise the masses regarding crises that could spread throughout the country due to the communal tendency that began in Digana area in Kandy District was held at Digana yesterday (29th).

The forum was also attended by National Bhikkhu Front, Sri Lanka Muslim Council, JVP, Manavadhi Kalakruwo, Aluth Parapura, State employees for People’s Service, University Teachers for Social Equality and several other organizations.

Prof. Ven. Aththangane Rathanapala Thero, JVP Leader Anura Dissanayaka, Prof. Liyanage Amarakeerthi, Mr. M.N. Ameen from Sri Lanka Muslim Council, Former Ministry Secretary Ashoka Peiris, Dr. Swamynathan Wimal and Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri addressed the gathering.

A ‘peace’ musical show’ was also held with the participation of artistes Sunil Perera, Mithra Kapuge, Samanali Fonseka, Sulakshan Ashokan, Madhawa Sudantha and several other artists.

‘Inception of Change’ organization will hold ‘We’re Humans’, the National Forum for Unity at Matara on 3rd April and at Ampara on 8th April.

Article on tobacco farming: misleading

2018-03-31

Response to Daily Mirror Article “Manipulative tobacco cultivation no more a profitable livelihood. Tobacco Free Nation: Sri Lanka’s Dream” dated March 26.

The All Island Cigarette Tobacco Barn Owner’s Association (AICTBOA), would like to respond to the alleged misleading information and allegations contained in the article Manipulative tobacco cultivation no more a profitable livelihood. Tobacco Free Nation: Sri Lanka’s Dream published on March 26.

In fact, Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in the world to eliminate the use of wood for tobacco curing

We would like to start by saying that this article and the attempt made by Dr. Mahesh Rajasuriya to tarnish the image of tobacco farmers and tobacco farming in Sri Lanka is a good example of people with little or no understanding of the subject voicing opinions, which are not based on facts.

Firstly, we would like to point out that tobacco is a cash crop, which was introduced to farmers by the Sri Lankan Government in the 1950s and fully supported by successive Governments until very recently.

Under the patronage of previous Governments, tobacco cultivation has been an important part of the agrarian communities spanning 70 years and three farmer generations.

Currently, there are more than 20,000 farmers growing cigarette tobacco using less than 0.01% of the country’s arable land.

These farmers depend on tobacco cultivation to earn a living while more than 300,000 livelihoods are dependent on this crop and its value chain.

Tobacco cultivation infuses over Rs. 1.5 billion to the rural economy annually.

“In addition to that, it (Tobacco cultivation) compels farmers to use child labour...”

As the All Island Cigarette Tobacco Barn Owner’s Association representing over 20,000 cigarette tobacco farmers in Sri Lanka, we vehemently deny this as false.

We ensure our farmers are educated and aware of Ceylon Tobacco Company’s (CTC’s) strict policy of not using child labour in tobacco growing.

The attempt made by Dr Mahesh Rajasuriya to tarnish the image of tobacco farmers and tobacco farming in Sri Lanka is a good example of people with little or no understanding of the subject voicing opinions, which are not based on facts.

In fact, this is a clause included in the contract that is signed between the farmers and the company. We can confidently say that there have been no reported cases of child labour in cigarette tobacco farming in Sri Lanka.

It is sad that Dr. Rajasuriya has made a general statement accusing tobacco farmers in Sri Lanka of using child labour without looking at the reality or speaking to farmers to understand the situation.
“Furthermore, tobacco is not a magical crop as it is portrayed in media and promotional campaigns. It is labour-intensive, weather dependent and can be harmed by wild animals, it involves a high initial investment and is not profitable as it is portrayed to be.”

As Dr Rajasuriya, points out, tobacco is a labour-intensive crop. Growing tobacco requires between 320 to 340 man-days per hectare. This means tobacco provides direct employment to many people living in rural areas who would otherwise have no way to earn a living. We must also point out that tobacco cultivation generates indirect employment for many people. All in all, we look at the “labour intensity” that Dr Rajasuriya speaks of as a positive thing.

Moreover, as in the case with all other agricultural crops tobacco is also weather dependent and like paddy, sugar cane and coconut, tobacco is also attacked by wild animals. However, through experience we know that it is a more resilient crop and can survive even in harsh conditions.

Tobacco cultivation generates indirect employment for many people. All in all, we look at the “labour intensity” that Dr Rajasuriya speaks of as a positive thing.

Tobacco requires only 1/7th of the water required to grow paddy making it an ideal crop for the dry zones in Sri Lanka. This and the fact that tobacco is a guaranteed source of income are reasons why many farmers have continued to grow it despite being harassed by certain government authorities and anti-tobacco NGOs.

“In many developing countries wood is used as a fuel to cure tobacco leaves and to construct curing barns”

Here is an example of the anti-tobacco lobby using false information to mislead the public about tobacco cultivation. We say with complete confidence that in Sri Lanka cigarette tobacco curing is carried out using paddy husk only. Paddy husk is a waste material that is available in many agricultural areas and our farmers shifted to the use of paddy husk during the 90s.

In fact, Sri Lanka was one of the first countries in the world to eliminate the use of wood for tobacco curing. Furthermore, 100% of the tobacco barns are automated and even the paddy husk is used in a more efficient manner. This technology was developed locally by one of our own farmers. Instead of recognizing these facts and achievements, we find it sad that, anti-tobacco groups keep levelling baseless accusations at us.

“It has also been found that tobacco cultivation involves a lot of pesticides, which need to be used in all stages of tobacco growth. Tobacco depletes soil nutrients at a higher rate and requires regular input of chemical fertilizers.”

This is yet another statement that is not applicable in the Sri Lankan context. Tobacco farmers adopt integrated pest management systems to control pests. Furthermore, CTC helps farmers by testing the soil and recommending of site-specific fertilizers based on soil mapping.

Recently the University of Peradeniya also conducted a study to test the soil quality in tobacco lands. This study found that tobacco had no adverse impact on soil fertility. This can be further proven by the fact that we use the same lands to cultivate paddy during the Maha season.

“Cultivating tobacco affects the quality of life of farmers and their families. It affects their health and well-being. It causes exhaustion and stress, induces wheezing and other respiratory diseases such as the green tobacco sickness.”

The green tobacco disease has been identified by CTC as a potential risk to tobacco farmers if it is not managed properly. It is not a secret, and in fact, the company talks about this risk openly and works very closely with our association to educate farmers in Sri Lanka on precautionary measures to follow. We have introduced simple yet effective methods to ensure the farmers are not impacted. We invite anyone interested to visit the tobacco growing areas and speak to tobacco farmers before making claims without any backing.

Furthermore, exhaustion and stress are part and parcel of any farmer’s life and anyone who understands anything about farming and agriculture will know this. Farmers in Sri Lanka exert a lot of effort not just to grow their crops but also to sell the harvest at the end of the season.

“Material on credit and forward buying approaches of the CTC engage the farmers in a viscous cycle of tobacco cultivation, which leads to many negative effects as explained earlier. The main pitfall is farmers being blind-folded to measure economic gain based on the amount of money received at one time rather than the calculation of actual profit when accounted for all the costs including the cost of labour of the farmer and his family members.”

Cigarette tobacco farmers are the only farmers in the country who receive support and security through the forward contract system that is followed by CTC. This means that unlike farmers of other crops, we are guaranteed the purchase of the full crop grown at a pre-agreed, competitive price. We find it disturbing that Dr Rajasuriya feels this is pitfall and a vicious cycle. We would like to inquire from him if a sustainable income and a guaranteed sale of crop are signs of being stuck in a vicious cycle.

-Jayantha Egodawela
President,
All Island Cigarette Tobacco Barn Owner’s Association

Institutional Reforms: A Must To Sustain Female Participation In Politics

By Harini Fernando –MARCH 30, 2018

Harini Fernando

The last Local Government(LG) election was a significant milestone for the female population in Sri Lanka. Even though Sri Lanka has produced the world’s first ever female Prime Minister and subsequently had a female president who served for two terms, women’s engagement in politics has always been notably low. Regardless of the fact that Sri Lanka has the highest literacy rate in South Asia after Maldives, female representation in politics has been the lowest in the region. Specifically, at the Local Government level it has been as low as 1.9% which is alarming for a country with a female population of 52%. However, with the newly introduced 25% women’s quota, this has increased up to 10%.

Although there was a 25% quota for women, only 10% of the candidates were females. Therefore, in the practical application of the quota, the elections commission had to face difficulties. As the elections commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said, ‘the elections commission [was] in quandary between abiding by tenets of natural justice and applying the letter of the law.’ Therefore, in the upcoming elections, it is essential for Sri Lanka to have a clearly defined law with non-conflicting clauses, in order to gain the maximum benefits of this quota. Moreover, if in the aftermath of a democratic election, the circumstances force the government to make amendments on the female quota, that is distinctly unfair and undemocratic. On the other hand, it should be appreciated that in the ‘Additional List,’ 50% had to be females.

For decades now Sri Lanka has mostly witnessed women who already have some political background/affiliation coming into the limelight in politics. This has been the case since the time of Sirimavo Bandaranaike. At the recent LG elections too we saw a similar wave where the wives, widows, daughters and sisters of existing local government or parliamentary politicians competing at the election. At the end of their posters and banners they never forgot to mention how the candidate was affiliated to the politician (e.g.: the wife of…/the daughter of…). This brings into our attention how the socio-cultural barriers restrict women from venturing into ‘non-traditional’ spheres such as politics. The traditional expectation of women being housewives, mothers and/or teachers, makes people doubt the leadership qualities of women which eventually result in the reduced participation of women in politics. Moreover, even women have internalized these patriarchal norms and do not believe themselves capable of leading the society. Their capabilities are undervalued and under-utilized due to the societal restrictions. This was largely seen during the election campaign where certain male candidates attempted to mock their opposing female candidates.

The real issue of the lack of women’s participation mostly lies with existing institutions and structures. Most of the unions starting from student unions and labour unions, the female representation is alarmingly low. No executive positions are being held by females. Even though the majority of university students are females, the student unions are run by males and the same applies to organizations such as teachers’ unions where the majority of teachers are females, but the unions are led by males. It is such political movements that will act as platforms and help individuals to develop themselves as leaders and eventually enter into national politics. Giving females the opportunity to actively engage in these movements will encourage them to venture into national level politics. When women are devoid of such opportunities, often men are seen making decisions for women. For instance, abortion laws are being passed with minimum consultation with females. Therefore, it is extremely important to introduce a women’s quota even in student unions and labour unions in order for the voice and opinions of women to be heard. Such measures will gradually empower women as more capable and more confident politicians.

Israeli forces kill 12 Palestinians in Gaza border protests: Gaza medics

Nidal al-Mughrabi-MARCH 30, 2018

GAZA-ISRAEL BORDER (Reuters) - At least 12 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured by Israeli security forces confronting one of the largest Palestinian demonstrations along the Israel-Gaza border in recent years, Gaza medical officials said.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians, pressing for a right of return for refugees to what is now Israel, gathered at five locations along the fenced 65-km (40-mile) frontier where tents were erected for a planned six-week protest, local officials said. The Israeli military estimate was 30,000.

Families brought their children to the encampments just a few hundred metres (yards) from the Israeli security barrier with the Hamas Islamist-run enclave, and football fields were marked in the sand and scout bands played.

But as the day wore on, hundreds of Palestinian youths ignored calls from the organisers and the Israeli military to stay away from the frontier, where Israeli soldiers across the border kept watch from dirt mound embankments.

The military said its troops had used “riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators.” Some of the demonstrators were “rolling burning tires and hurling stones” at the border fence and at soldiers.

Two Palestinians were killed by tank fire, the Gaza Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said the two were militants who had opened fire at troops across the border.

Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces used mostly gunfire against the protesters, in addition to tear gas and rubber bullets. Witnesses said the military had deployed a drone over at least one location to drop tear gas.

Live fire was used only against people trying to sabotage the border security fence and at least two of the dead were Hamas operatives, an Israeli military official said.

Gaza health officials said one of the 12 dead was aged 16 and at least 400 people were wounded by live gunfire, while others were struck by rubber bullets or treated for tear gas inhalation.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared Saturday would be a national day of mourning.

The Palestinian protest was launched on “Land Day,” an annual commemoration of the deaths of six Arab citizens of Israel killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations over government land confiscations in northern Israel in 1976.

RIGHT OF RETURN

But its main focus was a demand that Palestinian refugees be allowed the right of return to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

In a statement, the Israeli military accused Hamas of “cynically exploiting women and children, sending them to the security fence and endangering their lives”.

The military said that more than 100 army sharpshooters had been deployed in the area and earth-moving vehicles piled up the dirt mounds to stop any attempt to breach the barrier.

Major General Eyal Zamir, head of Israel’s Southern Command, said his forces had identified “attempts to carry out terror attacks under the camouflage of riots”.

A Palestinian demonstrator hurls stones at Israeli troops during clashes at a protest marking Land Day, near Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank March 30, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Hamas, which seeks Israel’s destruction, had earlier urged protesters to adhere to the “peaceful nature” of the protest.

Israel has long ruled out any right of return, fearing an influx of Arabs that would wipe out its Jewish majority. It argues that refugees should resettle in a future state the Palestinians seek in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. Peace talks to that end have been frozen since 2014.

The protest, which also coincided with Good Friday and the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover, is scheduled to culminate on May 15, the day Palestinians commemorate what they call the “Nakba,” or “Catastrophe” when the Israeli state was created.

The protest organisers include Hamas and representatives of other Palestinian factions.
There were also small protests in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, and about 65 Palestinians were injured.

In Gaza, the protest was dubbed “The March of Return” and some of the tents bore names of the refugees’ original villages in what is now Israel, written in Arabic and Hebrew alike.

Slideshow (5 Images)

Citing security concerns, Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005, blockades the coastal territory, maintaining tight restrictions on the movement of Palestinians and goods across the frontier. Egypt, battling an Islamist insurgency in neighbouring Sinai, keeps its border with Gaza largely closed.

Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell; Writing by Ori Lewis and Stephen Farrell; Editing by Richard Balmforth

Anatomy of a righteous slap

Ahed Tamimi in an Israeli military court, 1 January 2018.-Oren ZivActiveStills

Jay Saper-27 March 2018

Fifty years ago, just months after Israel began its occupation of Ahed Tamimi’s West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, Beate Klarsfeld walked up to the podium where German Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger was going to speak and slapped him in the face.

Klarsfeld, a German Lutheran whose father fought for Hitler’s army, saw her act as a symbolic refusal by a younger generation to condone the crimes committed by their parents. She demanded that Kiesinger, a former Nazi, resign from his post.

While slapping the chancellor garnered Klarsfeld international attention, her activism preceded the spotlight.

Klarsfeld had already been fired from her job at the Franco-German Youth Office for writing newspaper articles critical of Kiesinger.

Klarsfeld wrote that if major architect of the Holocaust Adolf Eichmann represented the banality of evil, “Kiesinger represents the respectability of evil.”

Klarsfeld’s firing did not bring public attention to Kiesinger’s Nazi past, but it did solidify her commitment to pursuing a path that would. She felt further compelled to act to honor the memory of Sophie and Hans Scholl, who organized the White Rose resistance group and were guillotined by the Nazis in 1943.

On 7 November 1968, by posing as a reporter, Klarsfeld gained access to the Christian Democrat Union party congress in Berlin. With her notebook in her hand, she walked up to the chancellor.
Having tried other methods to no avail, Klarsfeld later explained that slapping the former Nazi felt like “the only way to make this unbearable truth be heard.”

That same evening, a judge sentenced Klarsfeld to a year in prison and berated her for what he described as an act of violence.

Klarsfeld offered a different perspective: “Forcing us to live under a Nazi chancellor is an act of violence, but a woman slapping a man in the face is not.”

Arresting Ahed

On 19 December 2017, Israeli soldiers broke into 16-year-old Ahed Tamimi’s home in Nabi Saleh.
They ripped her from her bed after a video surfaced online of Tamimi slapping an Israeli soldier who walked onto her family’s land with a rifle slung around his neck.

Israeli soldiers had shot her 15-year-old cousin Muhammad Fadel Tamimi shortly before, causing grievous injuries to his head.

Ahed Tamimi, like Klarsfeld, was a committed activist long before her slap provoked international attention.

When Israeli settlers seized land and a spring from Nabi Saleh in 2009, the people of the village rose up. The protests grew into weekly demonstrations, in which women and girls, including Tamimi, have played particularly active roles.

Israeli soldiers have fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at protesters in Nabi Saleh. They have doused villagers with skunk water and pierced their ears with sound cannons that became commonly used by police forces in the United States during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Israeli soldiers have repeatedly raided Nabi Saleh in the middle of the night to take children and adults to jail for participating in the protests.

At the weekly demonstration on 9 December 2011, Israeli soldiers killed Ahed’s cousin Mustafa Tamimi by shooting him with a tear gas canister at close range. The soldier who killed Mustafa faced no charges.

Almost a year later, Israeli soldiers fatally shot another member of the family, Rushdi Tamimi, with live ammunition.

A greater violence

If Klarsfeld’s slap invited the public to grapple with the violence of having a former Nazi lead Germany in the wake of the Holocaust, Tamimi’s slap also points towards a greater violence: the experience of everyday life of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.

At a time when the Israeli government has sharply criticized Poland’s new law that criminalizes any mention of Polish collaboration with the Nazis, Israel has moved forward in denying its own complicity in the conditions of violence that incited Tamimi to act.

Whereas the Israeli government conferred honorary citizenship upon Klarsfeld for her activism, that same government forced Tamimi to spend her 17th birthday behind bars.

Jay Saper is a member of Jewish Voice for Peace and an early childhood educator and community organizer who lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Anti-Semitism row 'stirred up' to attack Corbyn, says suspended Labour official

Labour MPs are calling on Jeremy Corbyn to suspend the party's former disputes chief amid the ongoing row over anti-Semitism

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in the Commons, where anti-Semitism will be debated on 17 April (AFP)

Jamie Merrill, Diplomatic Editor-Friday 30 March 2018

LONDON - A senior Labour official who was forced to resign as chair of Labour’s disputes panel after she opposed the suspension from the party of a Holocaust denier, has claimed the anti-Semitism row threatening to divide the party is “being stirred up to attack" Jeremy Corbyn.

On Thursday night almost 40 Labour MPs and peers, including several members of the frontbench team, called on Corbyn to suspend Christine Shawcroft amid the ongoing row over anti-Semitism within the party.

This came after Shawcroft, a key Corbyn ally, was asked to resign from her role on Wednesday by Corbyn after it emerged she opposed the suspension from the party of a Holocaust denier.

Now, the Labour MPs, led by Siobhain McDonagh MP, have called for Corbyn to demand that Shawcroft should also be removed from the party’s powerful National Executive Committee (NEC).

However, Shawcroft responded on Friday with a Facebook post claiming that she would "not support a Holocaust denier" and claiming the "whole row" over anti-Semitism is being used to attack Corbyn.

She wrote: "This whole row is being stirred up to attack Jeremy, as we all know. That someone who has spent his whole life fighting racism in all its forms should find himself being accused of not doing enough to counter it, absolutely beggars belief."

Her comments, which look likely to reignite the row, threatened to overshadow a Passover message issued by Corbyn on Friday in which he said he hoped to move towards closer relations with the Jewish community.

In the message, released on Friday afternoon, he admitted Labour needs to "do better" in the fight against anti-Semitism and insisted he was an "ally" in the fight against abuse.

However, he risked angering Jewish groups by saying it is “sometimes harder to see [anti-Semitism] closer to home”, than abroad.

His Passover message, which comes after he issued five separate media releases on anti-Semitism this week, came after Jewish Labour peer Lord Winston told the BBC's This Weekprogramme that Corbyn had “encouraged and endorsed” anti-Semites.

'Deeply offensive to Jews'

In a leaked letter to the party leader, the group of around Labour 40 MPs and peers, which includes several Corbyn allies, said it was “deeply concerned” that Shawcroft is still serving as a member of the NEC.

The letter added that her continued role on the body is “deeply offensive” to the Jewish community, as well as Labour members who are battling widespread allegations of anti-Semitism.

Frontbenchers Mike Kane, a shadow schools minister, Jonathan Reynolds, a shadow Treasury minister, and Lord Hunt, a shadow health minister, also signed the letter.

It was also signed by Luciana Berger, Margaret Hodge and Ruth Smeeth, in addition to a number of backbenchers who have been consistently critical of Corbyn’s leadership.

But senior party sources told the website PoliticsHome that Shawcroft will not step down as she is not standing for re-election to the NEC, so will automatically be removed in September.

Corbyn allies have also reportedly insisted that as Shawcroft was elected to the NEC, the party leader does not have the power to remove her. Critics say he could however call for her to stand aside.

Corbyn supporters have also said that the anti-Semitism complaints are a "smear" against the party leader, in comments which have sparked furious debate on social media and counter-claims of anti-Semitism. Corbyn himself has said this is not the case.

Unbridled power in the Labour Party

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Lord Blunkett, a former Labour home secretary, said that “in an ideal world” Shawcroft would be suspended from the party, but that it was unlikely because figures around Corbyn had “acquired unbridled power in every element of the Labour Party structure”.

Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: "Christine Shawcroft should be suspended from the Labour Party and kicked off the NEC. Those who defend Holocaust deniers should have no place in the Labour Party. If Jeremy Corbyn is serious about his new zero tolerance approach to anti-Semitism he will deal with this as a matter of urgency."

Corbyn personally told Shawcroft to step down as chair of Labour’s disputes panel after it emerged that she sent an email defending Alan Bull, a former party candidate suspended over anti-Semitism allegations.

As Jews across our country start to prepare for #Passover, I would like to wish everyone in the Jewish community a Chag Sameach. pic.twitter.com/vUmxnJHWGw
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) 30 March 2018

Bull was accused of sharing an article on Facebook with the headline “International Red Cross report confirms the Holocaust of 6m Jews is a hoax”. He initially said the post had been edited, before saying he posted the article without comment to spark debate.

In her email to party colleagues, Shawcroft, who is also a director of the Corbyn-backing grassroots Momentum campaign group, said the local party had made a complaint as it wanted to attack Bull for “political reasons” and that his post had been “taken completely out of context and alleged to show anti-Semitism".

Her email was subsequently leaked to the Times newspaper, prompting Corbyn to call for Shawcroft to stand down from her role overseeing Labour’s disciplinary process.

She said: "I sent this email before being aware of the full information about this case and I had not been shown the image of his abhorrent Facebook post.”

An ongoing scandal

The letter comes as Corbyn is battling to confront the ongoing anti-Semitism scandal surrounding the party, which saw leading Jewish groups protest outside Parliament on Monday. The row shows no sign of going away, and Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has announced that MPs will debate anti-Semitism in the Commons on 17 April.

The letter also comes as the Daily Telegraph reported fresh allegations that Labour had quietly reinstated at least six councillors who had posted anti-Semitic messages online. The newspaper reported that it had seen evidence that senior party members were investigated over posts made on social media, including messages about blood libel, Zionism, linking Israel to the Islamic State group and the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic tropes.

Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, who works with British Jewish groups and Palestinian justice campaigners, told MEE in a statement: “The number of people spreading or casting a blind eye to ignorant, prejudiced ahistorical conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial, and the like is just appalling, no ifs no buts. It is in all parties but this does not mean the left does not have an issue.”

He added: "My issue with Jeremy Corbyn is the lack of leadership on the issue and the way that he has handled it, which has created a climate where many Jews do genuinely feel very uncomfortable being part of the party he leads. Like many, I do not believe he himself is anti-Semitic but I do argue that he simply has not acted hard and fast enough to make it as unacceptable as it should be."

Sue Lukes, a member of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL), told MEE it was "perfectly possible" to accept there was an issue with anti-Semitism within a "small percentage" of Labour supporters and to claim that the issue was being used politically against Corbyn.

She said: "To a certain extent, it is difficult to stir things up unless there is some basis for it, and there may be an issue but people are [jumping] on the back of it to pursue other aims in the party."

JVL was founded last year to campaign for Palestinian rights, but has been accused by some in the Labour Party of not doing enough to call out anti-Semitism. It also organised the counter-protest against Monday's "Enough is Enough" anti-Semitism rally. Corbyn has described its members as "good people".

Zero tolerance for anti-Semitism?

Corbyn has emailed party members to pledge a “zero tolerance” approach to anti-Semitism. He said: “Abuse and personal attacks of any kind, on social media or in person, are never acceptable.

“I am committed to ensuring our party is a welcoming and secure place for everyone. I offer all Jewish members my assurance that this applies equally to them. I want all of us to hear Jewish voices and listen.

“If you are not Jewish, I want you to better understand the importance of this issue and what we can do together to ensure our party remains true to our values.

“Zero tolerance for anti-Semitism means what it says. We will not accept it. We have to get this right, all of us. Because divided societies cannot achieve justice.”

In further fallout from the row, MPs issued a formal protest after pro-Brexit group Leave.EU was accused of posting an Islamophobic tweet which suggested Labour was not addressing anti-Semitism to gain electoral support from British Muslims.

The tweet read: "Is it any wonder that Labour can't be bothered to deal with the disgusting antisemitism in their party when they are so reliant on the votes of Britain's exploding Muslim population? It's a question of maths for these people, not justice!"

Protesters stage a demonstration at a rally against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party on Monday (MEE/Jamie Merrill)

The message was condemned by MPs on all sides of the House of Commons, including by Conservative MP Anna Soubry and Labour MP Wes Streeting, who serve as co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, which lodged a complaint.

Streeting said: "Muslim and Jewish communities will be disgusted by this cynical attempt to stir up hatred and division. Muslims and Jews know what it is like to experience prejudice based on their race and religion and will stand together against this type of rhetoric."