WFP food programme in Sri Lanka
Saturday, 05 December 2009
The Ministry of Finance and Planning has taken steps to sign the Letter of Understanding with the World Food Programme for the provision of grant assistance of US$ 134,907,780 to implement WFP food aid programme in Sri Lanka.
The objective of this programme is to support the Government in its effort of relief and rehabilitation activities for the internally displace and economically affected people by the conflict. The project activities are follows,
• Food distribution for people displaced or recently affected by the conflict.
• Mother-child health and nutrition
• Food for education for all primary students in selected schools
• Food for work and food for training
• Strengthening the capacity of the Government counterpart to manage food assistance programme
This programme will be implemented in selected areas in Ampara, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee districts in the Eastern Province and Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullative, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts in the Northern Province.
In addition selected programme activities will also be implemented in districts such as Hambantota, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and Puttalam. The estimated numbers of benifiaries are 1,175,000 in 2009 reducing to 860,776 in 2010.
WWW.NEWS.LK
Saturday, December 5, 2009
DR.VICKY/NSSP.INFO/NEXT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF SRILANKA: Thanks, Please to Hear Your Words!!! PLEASE GIVE MORAL & FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO DR.VICKY.!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply Reply to all Forward Invite Dr Vickramabahu to chat
Reply |shanmugappirabu nalliah to Dr
show details 11:29 AM (3 minutes ago)
Thank You Sir! I voice for you through TV/RADIO/PERSONAL/ORGNS AND MOST ARE CONVINCED! GO AND TALK TO ACHC,COLOMBO TAMIL SANGAM, ALL TAMIL MEDIAS: NPs, RADIOS,TVs/DANTV etc! We can ACHIEVE Fair and Harmonic Srilanka!
Talk even to UPFA PARTNERS SUCH AS SLNC/MILINDA,SCHOOLS,COLLEGES,UNIV.SOC. ETC. CONVINCE TNA FIRST!THANKS FOR FRIENDSHIP!
Shan Nalliah/WTRF,Norway
--------------------------------------------------------------
- Show quoted text -
On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM, Dr Vickramabahu
Thanks, Please to Hear Your Words
Bahu
On Fri, Dec 4, 2009 at 11:38 AM, Nava Sama Samaja Party
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shan Nalliah, gandhiyist ,norway
Date: Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Subject: World Tamil Refugees Forum : TNA should campaign for Candidate Wickramabahu K...
To: nssp.lk@gmail.com
Shan Nalliah, gandhiyist ,norway har sendt deg en kobling til en blogg:
PLEASE GO AND TALK TO TNA,SLMC,DPF,EPDP,PLOTE,TELP,EPRLF,TMVP ACMC ETC! YOU WILL WIN! WRITE ME A MESSAGE!I PUBLISH!
Blogg: World Tamil Refugees Forum
Innlegg: TNA should campaign for Candidate Wickramabahu Karunaratne identified as a person who has espoused Tamil aspirations throughout history..!!!
Kobling: http://worldtamilrefugeesforum.blogspot.com/2009/12/tna-should-campaign-for-candidate.html
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tp 0777237241
contributions:
NAVA SAMA SAMAJA PARTY, 17 BARRACKS LANE, COLOMBO 2
A/C NO: 8004893301,
COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON LIMITED swift code CCEYLKLX
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Thursday, December 3, 2009
India’s role was “distressing and disturbing”! Two international human rights groups said that India had failed to do enough to protect civilian lives
India accused of complicity in deaths of Sri Lankan Tamils
India was accused yesterday of complicity in the killing of an estimated 20,000 civilians in the last stages of Sri Lanka’s 26-year war against the Tamil Tigers.
Major-General Ashok Mehta, a former commander of Indian peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka, said that India’s role was “distressing and disturbing”. Two international human rights groups said that India had failed to do enough to protect civilian lives.
“We were complicit in this last phase of the offensive when a great number of civilians were killed,” General Mehta, who is now retired, told The Times. “Having taken a decision to go along with the campaign, we went along with it all the way and ignored what was happening on the ground.”
Despite being home to 60 million Tamils, India has provided Sri Lanka with military equipment, training and intelligence over the past three years, diplomatic sources told The Times. More controversially, it provided unwavering diplomatic support and failed to use its influence to negotiate a ceasefire for civilians to escape the front line, they said.
India joined a bloc led by China and Russia at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council last week to thwart a proposal for a war crimes inquiry, and instead supported a resolution praising Sri Lanka. In January India voted in favour of a war crimes inquiry into Israel’s operation in the Gaza Strip, which killed an estimated 926
General Mehta said that the Indian Government, led by the Congress Party, wanted to counterbalance China and Pakistan, its main regional rivals, which had each increased arms sales to Sri Lanka in the past few years. It also wanted to avenge the Tigers’ assassination in 1991 of Rajiv Gandhi, the Prime Minister and late husband of Sonia Gandhi, the current Congress leader, he said.
Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said that neither reason justified failing to act when the Red Cross warned of an “unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe”. India “could have saved many lives if it had taken a proactive position — and it would not have affected the outcome of the war,” he said.
Sam Zarifi, Asia Pacific director of Amnesty International, said: “India . . . simply chose to support the [Sri Lankan] Government’s notion that it could kill as many civilians as it would take to defeat the Tigers.”
India says that it provided Sri Lanka with non-lethal military equipment and sent officials repeatedly to persuade the Government to protect civilians. “We’ve consistently taken the line that the Sri Lankan Government should prevent civilian casualties,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
However, President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka told NDTV: “I don’t think I got any pressure from them. They knew that I’m fighting their war.”
Mr Rajapaksa told The Week magazine that he planned to visit Delhi next month to thank Indian leaders. “India’s moral support during the war was most important,” he said.
Diplomats, human rights activists and analysts say that Delhi either did not use its full diplomatic force or, more likely, gave Colombo carte blanche to finish the war. India’s only real concerns, they said, were that the conflict should not create a flood of refugees to India. Some raised questions about Vijay Nambiar, a former Indian diplomat, who is chief of staff to Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General. The Times revealed last week that Mr Nambiar knew about but chose not to make public the UN’s estimate that 20,000 civilians had been killed, mostly by army shelling.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6401557.ece
--
அன்பும் ,பகுத்தறிவுடனும்.
மகிழ்நன்.
+919769137032
தாராவி, மும்பை
http://periyaryouth.blogspot.com
http://makizhnan.wordpress.com
http://kayalmakizhnan.blogspot.com
http://scientifictamil.blogspot.com
http://vizhithezhuiyakkam.blogspot.com
India was accused yesterday of complicity in the killing of an estimated 20,000 civilians in the last stages of Sri Lanka’s 26-year war against the Tamil Tigers.
Major-General Ashok Mehta, a former commander of Indian peacekeeping forces in Sri Lanka, said that India’s role was “distressing and disturbing”. Two international human rights groups said that India had failed to do enough to protect civilian lives.
“We were complicit in this last phase of the offensive when a great number of civilians were killed,” General Mehta, who is now retired, told The Times. “Having taken a decision to go along with the campaign, we went along with it all the way and ignored what was happening on the ground.”
Despite being home to 60 million Tamils, India has provided Sri Lanka with military equipment, training and intelligence over the past three years, diplomatic sources told The Times. More controversially, it provided unwavering diplomatic support and failed to use its influence to negotiate a ceasefire for civilians to escape the front line, they said.
India joined a bloc led by China and Russia at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council last week to thwart a proposal for a war crimes inquiry, and instead supported a resolution praising Sri Lanka. In January India voted in favour of a war crimes inquiry into Israel’s operation in the Gaza Strip, which killed an estimated 926
General Mehta said that the Indian Government, led by the Congress Party, wanted to counterbalance China and Pakistan, its main regional rivals, which had each increased arms sales to Sri Lanka in the past few years. It also wanted to avenge the Tigers’ assassination in 1991 of Rajiv Gandhi, the Prime Minister and late husband of Sonia Gandhi, the current Congress leader, he said.
Brad Adams, Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said that neither reason justified failing to act when the Red Cross warned of an “unimaginable humanitarian catastrophe”. India “could have saved many lives if it had taken a proactive position — and it would not have affected the outcome of the war,” he said.
Sam Zarifi, Asia Pacific director of Amnesty International, said: “India . . . simply chose to support the [Sri Lankan] Government’s notion that it could kill as many civilians as it would take to defeat the Tigers.”
India says that it provided Sri Lanka with non-lethal military equipment and sent officials repeatedly to persuade the Government to protect civilians. “We’ve consistently taken the line that the Sri Lankan Government should prevent civilian casualties,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
However, President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka told NDTV: “I don’t think I got any pressure from them. They knew that I’m fighting their war.”
Mr Rajapaksa told The Week magazine that he planned to visit Delhi next month to thank Indian leaders. “India’s moral support during the war was most important,” he said.
Diplomats, human rights activists and analysts say that Delhi either did not use its full diplomatic force or, more likely, gave Colombo carte blanche to finish the war. India’s only real concerns, they said, were that the conflict should not create a flood of refugees to India. Some raised questions about Vijay Nambiar, a former Indian diplomat, who is chief of staff to Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General. The Times revealed last week that Mr Nambiar knew about but chose not to make public the UN’s estimate that 20,000 civilians had been killed, mostly by army shelling.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6401557.ece
--
அன்பும் ,பகுத்தறிவுடனும்.
மகிழ்நன்.
+919769137032
தாராவி, மும்பை
http://periyaryouth.blogspot.com
http://makizhnan.wordpress.com
http://kayalmakizhnan.blogspot.com
http://scientifictamil.blogspot.com
http://vizhithezhuiyakkam.blogspot.com
Sinhala Govt has sought AG’s advice to take action to take ownership of the Tamil Tiger properties! 600 accounts were frozen!14 ships too will be.!!!
State takes over LTTE property
Rafik JALALDEEN
The Government will take over all LTTE property and assets in the possession of individuals and groups here and abroad . The LTTE has 14 ships, five of them belonging to self-appointed LTTE diaspora leader Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP.
Addressing the media at the Media Centre for National Security yesterday, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government Intelligence has identified properties of the LTTE in various parts of the world.
Action has been taken to confiscate these LTTE properties held by individuals and groups.
“The Government has sought the Attorney General’s advice to take action to take ownership of the LTTE properties,” he added. It is known that the LTTE possesses 14 ships and five of them belonged to KP. The Government had taken steps to bring three ships belonging to KP.
“More than 600 accounts of KP were frozen by the Government and it is in the process of probing LTTE financing channels,” the Minister said.
KP was on Interpol’s most wanted list for various crimes including arms smuggling and criminal conspiracy. Pathmanathan was one of the top LTTE operatives and the chief procurer of arms for the organization. He ran a global network of LTTE offices which were engaged in weapons procurement, logistics and money laundering operations.
Initially based in Malaysia, where he set up a shipping company in 1987, he was forced to move out after the Malaysian Special Branch cracked down on LTTE activities in the country in 1990, culminating in the seizure of an LTTE ship the same year. KP then moved to Thailand, which became a safe haven for the LTTE.
There he established himself as the head of banking, procurement and shipping for the LTTE.
He is believed to have obtained citizenship of Thailand.
In Thailand, KP set up and led the “KP Department”, the procurement arm of the LTTE, the oldest international wing of the organisation. He was responsible for equipping the LTTE cadres with a modern day arsenal which enabled them to challenge the Security Forces.
KP was arrested by the Intelligence on August 6, 2009.
dailynews.lk
Rafik JALALDEEN
The Government will take over all LTTE property and assets in the possession of individuals and groups here and abroad . The LTTE has 14 ships, five of them belonging to self-appointed LTTE diaspora leader Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP.
Addressing the media at the Media Centre for National Security yesterday, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the Government Intelligence has identified properties of the LTTE in various parts of the world.
Action has been taken to confiscate these LTTE properties held by individuals and groups.
“The Government has sought the Attorney General’s advice to take action to take ownership of the LTTE properties,” he added. It is known that the LTTE possesses 14 ships and five of them belonged to KP. The Government had taken steps to bring three ships belonging to KP.
“More than 600 accounts of KP were frozen by the Government and it is in the process of probing LTTE financing channels,” the Minister said.
KP was on Interpol’s most wanted list for various crimes including arms smuggling and criminal conspiracy. Pathmanathan was one of the top LTTE operatives and the chief procurer of arms for the organization. He ran a global network of LTTE offices which were engaged in weapons procurement, logistics and money laundering operations.
Initially based in Malaysia, where he set up a shipping company in 1987, he was forced to move out after the Malaysian Special Branch cracked down on LTTE activities in the country in 1990, culminating in the seizure of an LTTE ship the same year. KP then moved to Thailand, which became a safe haven for the LTTE.
There he established himself as the head of banking, procurement and shipping for the LTTE.
He is believed to have obtained citizenship of Thailand.
In Thailand, KP set up and led the “KP Department”, the procurement arm of the LTTE, the oldest international wing of the organisation. He was responsible for equipping the LTTE cadres with a modern day arsenal which enabled them to challenge the Security Forces.
KP was arrested by the Intelligence on August 6, 2009.
dailynews.lk
Prolonged insurrection & the civil war have debilitated the Tamils in terms of numbers & economic & social circumstances. Tamil tragedy is a lesson..!
THE PEOPLE AND SRI LANKAN ELECTIONS
By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
The presidential election will be held on 26th January 2010 two years ahead of schedule, and the general election on due time, soon thereafter in Sri Lanka. The circumstances under which these elections take place will be different from those prevailing over the past three decades. Two JVP insurgencies and the long running Tamil militancy had negatively affected elections held in the past few decades. Emergency regulations and anti- terrorism laws of a draconian nature were in force and continue to be so. The JVP and the LTTE were in a position at the height of their respective and on one occasion combined powers to subvert the free expression of popular will in areas under their influence and distort the state-people relationship considerably.
The response of the government and the national political parties were reactive in nature and directed at eliminating the symptoms-violence was met with counter violence - while not simultaneously attempting to address the root causes. Civil liberties and rule of law were enfeebled and impunity entrenched. The state and its agencies have progressively become insensitive to issues relating to civil liberties and the rule of law. The state and its agencies have also as a result ceased to reflect the values of the island's people and the national ethos. The causative factors leading to the JVP insurgencies and the Tamil militancy yet remain unresolved.
The defeat of the LTTE has ensured the possibility the elections next year can be held in conditions that are freer and conducive to discussion of issues that are critical at this juncture of our history. However, free expression and a wide -ranging public debate can take place only if the emergency regulations are withdrawn and the anti-terrorism regulations suspended. The public services, police and armed forces should play their assigned constitutional role in these elections and prevented from interfering in this process and distorting results.
The Sinhala people- the majority- have to view these elections as an opportunity to demand critical issues such as pervasive corruption, nepotism, favouritism, lack of accountability, disrespect for the rule of law and politicization of all national institutions are brought to an end to ensure good governance. The cost of living and other bread and butter related issues should be relegated to the background for the moment. These issues can be addressed in a transparent manner once good governance is assured. The government and politicians will become responsive to the issues of concern to the people if good governance is entrenched.
The war is over. It is in the past. Instead of debating who deserves credit for winning the war, public attention should turn to substantive issues that matter to the future of our country. The stupidity of the LTTE contributed to ending this war, as much as the efforts of all the forces arraigned against it. The government elected democratically by the people led this war effort and succeeded. The people won this war, having backed the war effort at tremendous cost to themselves. The people paid the price in blood, tears and cost. This fact should not be forgotten by the servants of the people, at all levels in the government structure.
The Sinhala people also should demand issues of concern to minorities, particularly the Tamils and Muslims, which have caused national grief, be dealt expeditiously in a visionary manner. The fact that minorities exist and their grievances and demands which are reasonable should be addressed immediately, should receive due recognition. While in the long term the minorities should not feel they are minorities, as envisioned by the president, the fact the minorities feel alienated at present should not be ignored. The need to reform our political system to ensure the minorities are treated as equal citizens and recognize their right to manage their affairs at the periphery and have a say in national affairs, should be an issue at these elections. We should not pussy foot around these issues any more. We have done this for too long and paid a heavy price as a nation.
The Sinhala political parties should articulate their proposals to ensure good governance and solutions to minority-related issues in unambiguous terms before the electorate. The Sinhala political parties should adopt a national, rather than a sectarian outlook in their policies to attract the minorities to their ranks. The Sri Lankan electorate should not be treated as village idiots once again. One community should not be played against the other for cheap political gain. Emotive reactions and distortions should not be brought into play to cloud national issues such as good governance and the rights of minorities. Issues such as devolution, units of devolution, provincial councils and subjects for devolution, should be discussed openly and widely in an honest and objective manner.
Issues and personalities seeking election should be the subject of a wide- ranging discussion in the print, radio, television and internet media, subject to the normal laws of the country. Candidates fielded should be educated, cultured, of proven ability and untainted by criminality and corruption. Any party fielding candidates of dubious reputation and unacceptable conduct should be shunned by the people.
The country has been cleared of a virulent and long running armed insurrection seeking to set up an independent state of 'Eelam' within its borders, the resulting terrorism and the psychosis of fear. The armed forces and the police had a free hand and plenty of support to end the insurrection. They have accomplished their task amidst allegations of human rights violations. The overt aspect of our national tragedy has ended, hopefully for good. However, the insidious factors that are far more debilitating and are a cancer in our body politic remain to be dealt as a matter of urgency, if we are to take our due place in the 21st century. We have to become a value-based society and these elections are an opportunity to set the process in motion.
The minorities, particularly the Tamils have to do a lot of soul searching relating to their current circumstances and, their short, medium and long- term goals. These elections are a golden opportunity to do so. The prolonged insurrection and the civil war have debilitated the Tamils in terms of numbers and economic and social circumstances. The tale of the Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka is a tragedy that should be a lesson to not only Sri Lanka but also the world. It should primarily be a lesson for these unfortunate people, who were forced to react in a short –sighted manner to the various actions and inactions-perceived as vicious- by the Sri Lankan state and were very badly led.
To be cont......
-------------------------------------------------------------
THE PEOPLE AND SRI LANKAN ELECTIONS
By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Cont. from yesterday
Emotions rather than pragmatic thinking came to the fore and in the process made what was presumed to be bad, horrible for the Tamils. The Tamils jumped from a warming frying pan into a raging fire, mesmerized by the utopia promised by shortsighted politicians and equally shortsighted, arrogant and 'Trigger-Happy' militants. Tamils should reconsider whether they want to continue on the path of emotive politics or embrace a practical and pragmatic path, which will lead to their recovery as a people and win the place they deserve within Sri Lanka.
While the Tamil vote will not significantly influence who or which party would be voted into power by the majority Sinhala electorate, they could definitely influence who is elected to serve them. This is an opportunity to elect a new set of Tamil leaders untainted by an unsavoury past, but with fresh thoughts, new strategies and proven credentials. There are many such men and women who are providing leadership silently and unsung in their villages and towns, amidst adversity. They should be given the opportunity to emerge and lead.
Let those who have misled the Tamils, have blood in their hands, have enriched themselves on the misery of others and have plans to enjoy power and perks at the expense of the Tamils be shown the place they deserve- hell! The forthcoming elections should be used by the Tamils to give those yet peddling the line of the LTTE and other militant groups the message that they have had enough and ask them to get lost. This is an opportunity to clean the Tamil political stables.
This is an opportunity to tell the Sinhala leadership not to foist leaders of their choice on the Tamils. This is an opportunity for aspiring Tamil leaders to define in concrete terms what they seek for the Tamils in the future. This is an opportunity for the Tamils to define their future relationship to the Sri Lankan state and the Sinhala and Muslim people. This is an opportunity to bring real democracy into play among the Tamils. This is also an opportunity for the Tamils not to repeat their past foolishness.
How the Tamils should start building bridges to the other people in Sri Lanka and take an interest in both their affairs and national affairs, should occupy the thoughts of aspiring Tamil leaders. The Tamils cannot continue to be parochial and isolated from the national mainstream any longer. Tamils should involve themselves in issues of national concern and vote for those who would be good for the whole country, including the minorities. Tamils should not function as a voting bloc for any party or individual. Tamils should vote as individuals as per their predilections, perceptions, experiences and expectations. All parties and individuals seeking election should canvass the Tamil & other minority votes.
The minorities should not become a football, in the competition between major Sinhala political parties, any longer. Tamils should never give room for a repeat of 'Dudligey Badey Masala Vadey' or similar partisan sloganeering among the Sinhala people. The minorities have to work with whichever government is in power, to ensure good governance and progressive national policies. The past must be forgiven, if not forgotten, by the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. The Tamils have to look forward to the future, without morbidly dwelling on a very tragic past.
The internally displaced persons, the resettled persons in the north, east and other parts of the country, and the war-affected should be the immediate concern of the Tamils. The need to give these unfortunate victims of the just ended national upheaval a meaningful and productive future should be at the core of Tamil concerns. While every Tamil has been adversely affected in one way or another by the prolonged conflict, the people who came out of the war zone last, have borne the brunt. They were the final victims of a brutal war and the inhumanity of the conflict. They have not only suffered the most, but also seen the most of human insensitivity and wickedness. They are our cross to carry. These elections give the opportunity to demand from aspiring Tamil leaders, what plans they have for these unfortunates. These elections are about the urgency to recoup their losses as a people and recover from unimaginable trauma for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Tamils have to be told by their aspiring leaders the truth- the depth of the hole they are in at present. Tamils have to climb out of this hole first, before they start demanding anything. Tamils cannot talk of rights from the depths of a deep hole- a grave that can potentially bury them forever. Tamils need sympathy and help more than anything else now, from everyone in Sri Lanka and the world. This brutal fact must be told by aspiring Tamil politicians to their people. Let these politicians not try to mislead the Tamils once again with their slogans and big talk about a utopia about to dawn once they are elected. Let the Tamils not be fooled once again. It is a hard slog ahead and the Tamils should be aware of this.Sri Lanka has an opportunity through the forthcoming elections to assert its true self as a nation. It is hoped all Sri Lankans and their leaders grasp this opportunity to do what needs to be done. We have shed enough blood. We have seen enough violence. We have brought about enough tragedy in our midst. Enough is enough. Let us learn our lessons from the past and chart a new course into the future.
dailymirror.lk
By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
The presidential election will be held on 26th January 2010 two years ahead of schedule, and the general election on due time, soon thereafter in Sri Lanka. The circumstances under which these elections take place will be different from those prevailing over the past three decades. Two JVP insurgencies and the long running Tamil militancy had negatively affected elections held in the past few decades. Emergency regulations and anti- terrorism laws of a draconian nature were in force and continue to be so. The JVP and the LTTE were in a position at the height of their respective and on one occasion combined powers to subvert the free expression of popular will in areas under their influence and distort the state-people relationship considerably.
The response of the government and the national political parties were reactive in nature and directed at eliminating the symptoms-violence was met with counter violence - while not simultaneously attempting to address the root causes. Civil liberties and rule of law were enfeebled and impunity entrenched. The state and its agencies have progressively become insensitive to issues relating to civil liberties and the rule of law. The state and its agencies have also as a result ceased to reflect the values of the island's people and the national ethos. The causative factors leading to the JVP insurgencies and the Tamil militancy yet remain unresolved.
The defeat of the LTTE has ensured the possibility the elections next year can be held in conditions that are freer and conducive to discussion of issues that are critical at this juncture of our history. However, free expression and a wide -ranging public debate can take place only if the emergency regulations are withdrawn and the anti-terrorism regulations suspended. The public services, police and armed forces should play their assigned constitutional role in these elections and prevented from interfering in this process and distorting results.
The Sinhala people- the majority- have to view these elections as an opportunity to demand critical issues such as pervasive corruption, nepotism, favouritism, lack of accountability, disrespect for the rule of law and politicization of all national institutions are brought to an end to ensure good governance. The cost of living and other bread and butter related issues should be relegated to the background for the moment. These issues can be addressed in a transparent manner once good governance is assured. The government and politicians will become responsive to the issues of concern to the people if good governance is entrenched.
The war is over. It is in the past. Instead of debating who deserves credit for winning the war, public attention should turn to substantive issues that matter to the future of our country. The stupidity of the LTTE contributed to ending this war, as much as the efforts of all the forces arraigned against it. The government elected democratically by the people led this war effort and succeeded. The people won this war, having backed the war effort at tremendous cost to themselves. The people paid the price in blood, tears and cost. This fact should not be forgotten by the servants of the people, at all levels in the government structure.
The Sinhala people also should demand issues of concern to minorities, particularly the Tamils and Muslims, which have caused national grief, be dealt expeditiously in a visionary manner. The fact that minorities exist and their grievances and demands which are reasonable should be addressed immediately, should receive due recognition. While in the long term the minorities should not feel they are minorities, as envisioned by the president, the fact the minorities feel alienated at present should not be ignored. The need to reform our political system to ensure the minorities are treated as equal citizens and recognize their right to manage their affairs at the periphery and have a say in national affairs, should be an issue at these elections. We should not pussy foot around these issues any more. We have done this for too long and paid a heavy price as a nation.
The Sinhala political parties should articulate their proposals to ensure good governance and solutions to minority-related issues in unambiguous terms before the electorate. The Sinhala political parties should adopt a national, rather than a sectarian outlook in their policies to attract the minorities to their ranks. The Sri Lankan electorate should not be treated as village idiots once again. One community should not be played against the other for cheap political gain. Emotive reactions and distortions should not be brought into play to cloud national issues such as good governance and the rights of minorities. Issues such as devolution, units of devolution, provincial councils and subjects for devolution, should be discussed openly and widely in an honest and objective manner.
Issues and personalities seeking election should be the subject of a wide- ranging discussion in the print, radio, television and internet media, subject to the normal laws of the country. Candidates fielded should be educated, cultured, of proven ability and untainted by criminality and corruption. Any party fielding candidates of dubious reputation and unacceptable conduct should be shunned by the people.
The country has been cleared of a virulent and long running armed insurrection seeking to set up an independent state of 'Eelam' within its borders, the resulting terrorism and the psychosis of fear. The armed forces and the police had a free hand and plenty of support to end the insurrection. They have accomplished their task amidst allegations of human rights violations. The overt aspect of our national tragedy has ended, hopefully for good. However, the insidious factors that are far more debilitating and are a cancer in our body politic remain to be dealt as a matter of urgency, if we are to take our due place in the 21st century. We have to become a value-based society and these elections are an opportunity to set the process in motion.
The minorities, particularly the Tamils have to do a lot of soul searching relating to their current circumstances and, their short, medium and long- term goals. These elections are a golden opportunity to do so. The prolonged insurrection and the civil war have debilitated the Tamils in terms of numbers and economic and social circumstances. The tale of the Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka is a tragedy that should be a lesson to not only Sri Lanka but also the world. It should primarily be a lesson for these unfortunate people, who were forced to react in a short –sighted manner to the various actions and inactions-perceived as vicious- by the Sri Lankan state and were very badly led.
To be cont......
-------------------------------------------------------------
THE PEOPLE AND SRI LANKAN ELECTIONS
By: Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Cont. from yesterday
Emotions rather than pragmatic thinking came to the fore and in the process made what was presumed to be bad, horrible for the Tamils. The Tamils jumped from a warming frying pan into a raging fire, mesmerized by the utopia promised by shortsighted politicians and equally shortsighted, arrogant and 'Trigger-Happy' militants. Tamils should reconsider whether they want to continue on the path of emotive politics or embrace a practical and pragmatic path, which will lead to their recovery as a people and win the place they deserve within Sri Lanka.
While the Tamil vote will not significantly influence who or which party would be voted into power by the majority Sinhala electorate, they could definitely influence who is elected to serve them. This is an opportunity to elect a new set of Tamil leaders untainted by an unsavoury past, but with fresh thoughts, new strategies and proven credentials. There are many such men and women who are providing leadership silently and unsung in their villages and towns, amidst adversity. They should be given the opportunity to emerge and lead.
Let those who have misled the Tamils, have blood in their hands, have enriched themselves on the misery of others and have plans to enjoy power and perks at the expense of the Tamils be shown the place they deserve- hell! The forthcoming elections should be used by the Tamils to give those yet peddling the line of the LTTE and other militant groups the message that they have had enough and ask them to get lost. This is an opportunity to clean the Tamil political stables.
This is an opportunity to tell the Sinhala leadership not to foist leaders of their choice on the Tamils. This is an opportunity for aspiring Tamil leaders to define in concrete terms what they seek for the Tamils in the future. This is an opportunity for the Tamils to define their future relationship to the Sri Lankan state and the Sinhala and Muslim people. This is an opportunity to bring real democracy into play among the Tamils. This is also an opportunity for the Tamils not to repeat their past foolishness.
How the Tamils should start building bridges to the other people in Sri Lanka and take an interest in both their affairs and national affairs, should occupy the thoughts of aspiring Tamil leaders. The Tamils cannot continue to be parochial and isolated from the national mainstream any longer. Tamils should involve themselves in issues of national concern and vote for those who would be good for the whole country, including the minorities. Tamils should not function as a voting bloc for any party or individual. Tamils should vote as individuals as per their predilections, perceptions, experiences and expectations. All parties and individuals seeking election should canvass the Tamil & other minority votes.
The minorities should not become a football, in the competition between major Sinhala political parties, any longer. Tamils should never give room for a repeat of 'Dudligey Badey Masala Vadey' or similar partisan sloganeering among the Sinhala people. The minorities have to work with whichever government is in power, to ensure good governance and progressive national policies. The past must be forgiven, if not forgotten, by the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. The Tamils have to look forward to the future, without morbidly dwelling on a very tragic past.
The internally displaced persons, the resettled persons in the north, east and other parts of the country, and the war-affected should be the immediate concern of the Tamils. The need to give these unfortunate victims of the just ended national upheaval a meaningful and productive future should be at the core of Tamil concerns. While every Tamil has been adversely affected in one way or another by the prolonged conflict, the people who came out of the war zone last, have borne the brunt. They were the final victims of a brutal war and the inhumanity of the conflict. They have not only suffered the most, but also seen the most of human insensitivity and wickedness. They are our cross to carry. These elections give the opportunity to demand from aspiring Tamil leaders, what plans they have for these unfortunates. These elections are about the urgency to recoup their losses as a people and recover from unimaginable trauma for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Tamils have to be told by their aspiring leaders the truth- the depth of the hole they are in at present. Tamils have to climb out of this hole first, before they start demanding anything. Tamils cannot talk of rights from the depths of a deep hole- a grave that can potentially bury them forever. Tamils need sympathy and help more than anything else now, from everyone in Sri Lanka and the world. This brutal fact must be told by aspiring Tamil politicians to their people. Let these politicians not try to mislead the Tamils once again with their slogans and big talk about a utopia about to dawn once they are elected. Let the Tamils not be fooled once again. It is a hard slog ahead and the Tamils should be aware of this.Sri Lanka has an opportunity through the forthcoming elections to assert its true self as a nation. It is hoped all Sri Lankans and their leaders grasp this opportunity to do what needs to be done. We have shed enough blood. We have seen enough violence. We have brought about enough tragedy in our midst. Enough is enough. Let us learn our lessons from the past and chart a new course into the future.
dailymirror.lk
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Genocidal Sinhala State & powers of greed have chosen the cruel way to achieve ambitions by crushing the Tamil nation – killing, maiming, chasing..!!!
Grabbing land for wrecking contiguity of Tamil homeland
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 2009, 10:22 GMT]
‘Investors’ may see the eastern coastal tract of the island of Sri Lanka, from Kokku’laay to Kuchchave’li, potential for minerals, tourism and fisheries. But the tract is of utmost importance to Eezham Tamils in linking the north and east of their historic homeland. Tamils wouldn’t have been averse to the idea of anyone coming and investing in this tract had there been a guarantee to the territorial integrity of their nation. It would have even been welcomed. But the genocidal Sinhala State and powers of greed have chosen the cruel way to achieve ambitions by crushing the Tamil nation – killing, maiming, chasing, incarcerating and weakening the historical inhabitants. If India that has a particular eye on this tract wants its gratification peaceful and long lasting it should take the responsibility of not altering the demography, writes a university academic of the Eastern Province.
Further comments from the academic:
Shown within the box is the target area of Colombo discussed in the feature
The Eastern coast from Kokku'laay to Trincomalee [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]
Location of Pulmoaddai, Thiriyaay, Pudavaik-kaddu and Kuchchave'li [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]
Landscape of Pudavaik-kaddu [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]
Landscape of Kuchchave'li. A Sanskrit inscription of 4th century CE is found in the rocks seen at the coast. [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]Wedging the homeland of Tamil nation at this bottleneck was always on the card of Colombo ever since independence. The Padaviya settlement scheme and expansion of Sinhala colonies towards Kokku’laay lagoon was a landward move since 1950s.
In the 1970s systematic efforts were carried out in making seasonal fishing camps of the Sinhalese to become permanent settlements in this particular coast. The Sinhala Catholic Church of the Western Province collaborated with Colombo in this demographic conspiracy.
The result was that a sprawling Sinhala colony along with churches came up at a place called Pudavaikk-kaddu, which became renamed as Saagarapura.
This place of natural beauty, a few kilometres north of Kuchchave’li, is a highly potential fishing location with its bay suitable for a fishing harbour. Its very Tamil name Pudavaik-kaddu, comes from a traditional fishing technique of laying nets.
The scene in the early 1980s was while the Sinhala fishermen colonised this place were transporting their rich catch of deep-sea fishes such as Marlin caught in this area to Colombo by lorries, the local Muslims and Tamils subsisting on cockles collected in the backwaters were looking upon to the Sinhalese for the charity of discarded small fry.
Meanwhile, mineral sand mining at Pulmoaddai, another few kilometres north of Pudavaikk-kaddu, provided further inroads for Colombo’s colonisations. The schemes were carefully executed by not developing a long-due coastal communication but by linking the locations with interior Sinhala districts.
An added feature was the ‘archaeology’ of Colombo at Kuchchave’li and at Thiriyaay. Both are well-known sites of Mahayana Buddhism, a heritage largely shared by Eezham Tamils in the past. A rock at Kuchchave’li coast still bears a Sanskrit inscription of Mahayana faith. The Theravada Buddhist Sanghas of Sri Lanka are now claiming that these were exclusive to the Sinhalese.
At every ethnic pogrom of the island, traditional Tamil settlements of the tract in places such as Thennamaravadi and Kuchchave’li were selectively targeted to evacuate Tamils from these strategic villages.
Tamil political parties protesting for decades in democratic ways to such combined conspiracies of Colombo did not bring in any results. The balance came only when Tamil militancy that developed in mid 80s started facing the situation by attacking and evacuating the armed forces establishment at Kuchchave’li police station- rest house complex.
As India and other powers have now tilted this balance but without any solution, one of the first acts of unchecked Colombo has become grabbing Tamil land in this tract.
In the guise of ‘tourism development’ Colombo recently backed illegal acquisition of prime lands at Kuchchaveli by Sinhala entrepreneurs, especially coming from Mahinda Rajapaksa’s constituency in down south. There were not even a single Tamil or Muslim in the whole list of 40 odd investors, news reports say.
The excuse of the government that is keeping locals incarcerated in camps or in open prisons is that Tamils or Muslims have not applied for land.
Even though the transaction is now stalled by Rajapaksa to save an embarrassed Chandrakanthan, the Eastern CM who is ‘staunchly’ supporting his presidential candidature, the danger always looms large and the Sinhala State is never going to refrain from its demographic programme particularly in this tract.
The aim is to carve out an all-Sinhalese economic zone of industry, fisheries and tourism in this tract, dividing forever the Tamil provinces of north and the east. The ultimate aim is dismembering Tamil nation from the island. In executing the agenda, a West Asian country is said to be actively sharing its 'experience' with Colombo.
The interest of India and USA in the island, particularly in the eastern coast of it, is well known. The actual strategic partners in the game, USA and China, were clever enough in isolating India from its natural social leverage in the island, thanks to an idiotic policy followed by India, spoiling both its balance as well as the balance of Tamils.
Neither USA nor China has been affected as much as India is affected.
US, China and Pakistan can afford to take any risk in propping up a Fonseka of ultra genocidal agenda. But more than protecting Mahinda Rajapakasa regime and exhibiting the audacity of asking Tamil speaking people to support the very regime that committed crimes to them, India’s responsibility lies in protecting the homeland of Tamil nation, if at all it is interested in seeing at least part of the island friendly to it. Otherwise it is not going to have even that.
TamilNet URL: http://www.tamilnet.com email: tamilnet@tamilnet.com
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 December 2009, 10:22 GMT]
‘Investors’ may see the eastern coastal tract of the island of Sri Lanka, from Kokku’laay to Kuchchave’li, potential for minerals, tourism and fisheries. But the tract is of utmost importance to Eezham Tamils in linking the north and east of their historic homeland. Tamils wouldn’t have been averse to the idea of anyone coming and investing in this tract had there been a guarantee to the territorial integrity of their nation. It would have even been welcomed. But the genocidal Sinhala State and powers of greed have chosen the cruel way to achieve ambitions by crushing the Tamil nation – killing, maiming, chasing, incarcerating and weakening the historical inhabitants. If India that has a particular eye on this tract wants its gratification peaceful and long lasting it should take the responsibility of not altering the demography, writes a university academic of the Eastern Province.
Further comments from the academic:
Shown within the box is the target area of Colombo discussed in the feature
The Eastern coast from Kokku'laay to Trincomalee [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]
Location of Pulmoaddai, Thiriyaay, Pudavaik-kaddu and Kuchchave'li [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]
Landscape of Pudavaik-kaddu [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]
Landscape of Kuchchave'li. A Sanskrit inscription of 4th century CE is found in the rocks seen at the coast. [Satellite Image courtesy: Google Earth. Legend by TamilNet]Wedging the homeland of Tamil nation at this bottleneck was always on the card of Colombo ever since independence. The Padaviya settlement scheme and expansion of Sinhala colonies towards Kokku’laay lagoon was a landward move since 1950s.
In the 1970s systematic efforts were carried out in making seasonal fishing camps of the Sinhalese to become permanent settlements in this particular coast. The Sinhala Catholic Church of the Western Province collaborated with Colombo in this demographic conspiracy.
The result was that a sprawling Sinhala colony along with churches came up at a place called Pudavaikk-kaddu, which became renamed as Saagarapura.
This place of natural beauty, a few kilometres north of Kuchchave’li, is a highly potential fishing location with its bay suitable for a fishing harbour. Its very Tamil name Pudavaik-kaddu, comes from a traditional fishing technique of laying nets.
The scene in the early 1980s was while the Sinhala fishermen colonised this place were transporting their rich catch of deep-sea fishes such as Marlin caught in this area to Colombo by lorries, the local Muslims and Tamils subsisting on cockles collected in the backwaters were looking upon to the Sinhalese for the charity of discarded small fry.
Meanwhile, mineral sand mining at Pulmoaddai, another few kilometres north of Pudavaikk-kaddu, provided further inroads for Colombo’s colonisations. The schemes were carefully executed by not developing a long-due coastal communication but by linking the locations with interior Sinhala districts.
An added feature was the ‘archaeology’ of Colombo at Kuchchave’li and at Thiriyaay. Both are well-known sites of Mahayana Buddhism, a heritage largely shared by Eezham Tamils in the past. A rock at Kuchchave’li coast still bears a Sanskrit inscription of Mahayana faith. The Theravada Buddhist Sanghas of Sri Lanka are now claiming that these were exclusive to the Sinhalese.
At every ethnic pogrom of the island, traditional Tamil settlements of the tract in places such as Thennamaravadi and Kuchchave’li were selectively targeted to evacuate Tamils from these strategic villages.
Tamil political parties protesting for decades in democratic ways to such combined conspiracies of Colombo did not bring in any results. The balance came only when Tamil militancy that developed in mid 80s started facing the situation by attacking and evacuating the armed forces establishment at Kuchchave’li police station- rest house complex.
As India and other powers have now tilted this balance but without any solution, one of the first acts of unchecked Colombo has become grabbing Tamil land in this tract.
In the guise of ‘tourism development’ Colombo recently backed illegal acquisition of prime lands at Kuchchaveli by Sinhala entrepreneurs, especially coming from Mahinda Rajapaksa’s constituency in down south. There were not even a single Tamil or Muslim in the whole list of 40 odd investors, news reports say.
The excuse of the government that is keeping locals incarcerated in camps or in open prisons is that Tamils or Muslims have not applied for land.
Even though the transaction is now stalled by Rajapaksa to save an embarrassed Chandrakanthan, the Eastern CM who is ‘staunchly’ supporting his presidential candidature, the danger always looms large and the Sinhala State is never going to refrain from its demographic programme particularly in this tract.
The aim is to carve out an all-Sinhalese economic zone of industry, fisheries and tourism in this tract, dividing forever the Tamil provinces of north and the east. The ultimate aim is dismembering Tamil nation from the island. In executing the agenda, a West Asian country is said to be actively sharing its 'experience' with Colombo.
The interest of India and USA in the island, particularly in the eastern coast of it, is well known. The actual strategic partners in the game, USA and China, were clever enough in isolating India from its natural social leverage in the island, thanks to an idiotic policy followed by India, spoiling both its balance as well as the balance of Tamils.
Neither USA nor China has been affected as much as India is affected.
US, China and Pakistan can afford to take any risk in propping up a Fonseka of ultra genocidal agenda. But more than protecting Mahinda Rajapakasa regime and exhibiting the audacity of asking Tamil speaking people to support the very regime that committed crimes to them, India’s responsibility lies in protecting the homeland of Tamil nation, if at all it is interested in seeing at least part of the island friendly to it. Otherwise it is not going to have even that.
TamilNet URL: http://www.tamilnet.com email: tamilnet@tamilnet.com
Sinhala Death/ Prison Villages had 120,000 Tamil Children and 3000 Tamil Teachers...!!!
How the IDPs were resettled
Lakshmi de Silva
[Resettlement effort]
* De-mining operations cost US$ 79 million.
* It cleaned 529,943,909 square metres.
* The Presidential Task Force launched a 180 day development program
* Relief villages were built in two weeks.
* They sheltered 287,000
*Textile and clothing for IDPs cost Rs. 12 million.
* Welfare villages had 120,000 children and 3000 teachers
The massive infrastructure development in the Northern areas where the Internally Displaced Persons were resettled was in place before those people went back to their villages. The de-mining operations alone had cost 79 million US Dollars to clear 529,943,909 square metres. The whole exercise was a gigantic humanitarian operation especially looking after the IDPs for the first time Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri said at a press briefing in Colombo yesterday.
The Presidential Task Force implementing the 180 day rapid infrastructure and economic development program Vadikkin Vasantham was led by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP first built the relief villages for IDPs in two weeks.
It sheltered 287,000 providing them meals as soon as they came fleeing from the terrorist clutches, he said. The massive effort and coordination, planning, resources and personnel for this humanitarian operation was not known to the public at large but the President had directed that every official and member of the government should give their cooperation towards helping the IDPs.
Textiles and clothing provided for the IDPs cost Rs. 12 million, the Governor noted. Until the measures to resettle them were completed, the IDP children were given education from pre-school to GCE Advanced Level without losing a single day of their school education providing them with school books, school uniforms and educational aid and sufficient teachers.
There were 120,000 children and 3,000 teachers among the IDPs who were employed to teach the children, the Governor said.
The medical services were provided by 130 doctors who worked in rotation and five ambulances were made available to the IDP villages by the Presidential Task Force and the bed strength of the hospitals in the surrounding areas was also increased. At the Cheddikulam base hospital alone 228,252 were treated as most IDPs trekked for days to arrive at the government administered areas.
While the IDPs were waiting to be resettled, the able bodied people were given vocational training, like masonry,carpentry, aluminum and also advice in home gardening so that when they went back to their villages they would have skills to restart their livelihoods, he said.
The Governor Chandrasiri said the garbage cleared per day at the IDP villages was 83 tons and 283,586 litres of gully water had to be removed daily. And 186,000 litres of water had to be supplied daily.
dailynews.lk
Lakshmi de Silva
[Resettlement effort]
* De-mining operations cost US$ 79 million.
* It cleaned 529,943,909 square metres.
* The Presidential Task Force launched a 180 day development program
* Relief villages were built in two weeks.
* They sheltered 287,000
*Textile and clothing for IDPs cost Rs. 12 million.
* Welfare villages had 120,000 children and 3000 teachers
The massive infrastructure development in the Northern areas where the Internally Displaced Persons were resettled was in place before those people went back to their villages. The de-mining operations alone had cost 79 million US Dollars to clear 529,943,909 square metres. The whole exercise was a gigantic humanitarian operation especially looking after the IDPs for the first time Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri said at a press briefing in Colombo yesterday.
The Presidential Task Force implementing the 180 day rapid infrastructure and economic development program Vadikkin Vasantham was led by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP first built the relief villages for IDPs in two weeks.
It sheltered 287,000 providing them meals as soon as they came fleeing from the terrorist clutches, he said. The massive effort and coordination, planning, resources and personnel for this humanitarian operation was not known to the public at large but the President had directed that every official and member of the government should give their cooperation towards helping the IDPs.
Textiles and clothing provided for the IDPs cost Rs. 12 million, the Governor noted. Until the measures to resettle them were completed, the IDP children were given education from pre-school to GCE Advanced Level without losing a single day of their school education providing them with school books, school uniforms and educational aid and sufficient teachers.
There were 120,000 children and 3,000 teachers among the IDPs who were employed to teach the children, the Governor said.
The medical services were provided by 130 doctors who worked in rotation and five ambulances were made available to the IDP villages by the Presidential Task Force and the bed strength of the hospitals in the surrounding areas was also increased. At the Cheddikulam base hospital alone 228,252 were treated as most IDPs trekked for days to arrive at the government administered areas.
While the IDPs were waiting to be resettled, the able bodied people were given vocational training, like masonry,carpentry, aluminum and also advice in home gardening so that when they went back to their villages they would have skills to restart their livelihoods, he said.
The Governor Chandrasiri said the garbage cleared per day at the IDP villages was 83 tons and 283,586 litres of gully water had to be removed daily. And 186,000 litres of water had to be supplied daily.
dailynews.lk
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