Home Archives for August 2007

Watch Aljazeera documentaries on Sri Lanka

Photo: Juliana Rufuz

Well known comparative news agency the Aljazeera has been broadcasts three documentaries on their satellite service about situation in Sri Lanka and Tamil Diaspora during last few days. The documentaries produced and reported by Juliana Ruhfus.

Tiger Tax

After the UK government classified - and banned - the Tamil separatist group LTTE as a 'terrorist' organisation in 2001, diaspora Tamils became more wary of publicly expressing their support for the armed group.

The ban has not been heavily enforced however and the LTTE has allegedly continued to fundraise actively in the UK.

While many Tamils voluntarily give money to the LTTE, others have been subject to intimidation,

Juliana Ruhfus of People & Power investigates the massive fundraising drive purportedly launched by the LTTE in London from November 2005 onwards, a time when violence was intensifying in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

Monks of War

To many of us, Buddhism, with the sacred principle of non-violence, is the most peaceful religion of all. But in Sri Lanka a group of radical monks who say they represent the Singhalese majority are urging the government to take a hard-line, pro-war stance against the Tamil Tiger rebels.

To make their voices heard in the political arena the monks have even set up their own political party - the JHU - which participated in the 2004 elections and secured nine seats in parliament.

They are monks, they are political and they are not shy of controversy. Their belief that only a full-out military offensive will end the conflict with the Tamil Tiger rebels has put them at loggerheads with peace activists, foreign mediators, and Buddhists who favour non-violence. Pro-war monks have attacked peace marches and accused international NGOs of secretly funding the Tamil Tigers to stop the global advance of political Buddhism.

But how representative are they of popular Singhalese feelings? Is it true that Buddhism in Sri Lanka is under threat? And can war really be the way to peace?

How the East Was Won

When the LTTE fighters were expelled from the Toppigalla region in July this year the government declared that its "war for peace" strategy had succeeded in the east of the country and that the region was 'liberated' from rebel forces.

After months of shelling and heavy fighting, soldiers began to embark on a hearts and minds campaign - distributing food and resettling civilians - in order to show local people that they are better off under government control.

But the impact of the fighting is not so easily brushed off. Many doubt whether the Tamil Tigers really have been defeated and the humanitarian and political challenges are huge. Refugees have yet to make it home from their camps, child soldiers remain missing, and many locals hold a deep-seated fear of Col Karuna, a break-away Tamil faction leader, whose men act with impunity.

Lanka Guardian special thanks for Juliana Ruhfus.

Here link for the videos

Tax of Tigers

PART 01

PART 02

Monks of War

PART 01

PART 02

How the East Was Won

PART 01

PART 02

“I think the most important lesson is that we should not let things develop in Sri Lanka which would require the intervention of even our best and closest neighbour. We should learn to resolve our own disputes within our country… Peace is not far away… I do not believe in or seek a military solution,” says President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, talking with senior journalist Bandula Jayasekara

The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord signed on July 28, 1987 completed its 20th anniversary recently. Does the accord still have relevance?

It is necessary to understand that subjective conditions have changed since this accord was signed 20 years ago. The situation in the east of Sri Lanka has changed significantly with the government being able to liberate it from the LTTE. There is also the decision of the Supreme Court which held that the temporary merger of the north and east carried out under the accord was not legally valid. It is necessary for us to respect the views of the highest judiciary of the country. Also, while we can see these changes, there is one unchanged factor still in place which the accord sought to change. I refer to the fact that the LTTE is still carrying arms and threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. They have not abandoned the demand for a separate state within the territory of Sri Lanka.

As to the relevance of the accord, there was a symposium held in Colombo to mark 20 years of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord where many interesting points were made by Indian and Sri Lankan analysts about the success and failure of this agreement. It is necessary to view the accord in the context of the many changes that have taken place since it was signed. What are the lessons to be learnt from the accord? I think the most important lesson is that we should not let things develop in Sri Lanka which would require the intervention of even our best and closest neighbour. We should learn to resolve our own disputes within our country. Another lesson is the need for a more inclusive democracy in our country where no section of the people is left out of power structures. We should be able to better manage inter-communal relations among our people and provide all sections of the people with the necessary constitutional guarantees. They should not feel excluded from power or discriminated against.

Do you seriously think peace in Sri Lanka is possible in the near future?

Yes, I think peace is possible in the near future. Of course, with this dispute dragging with more than two decades of violent conflict, there can be a question of what is meant by the near future. But I think peace is not far away. My government is consciously working towards peace. I think it can be achieved sooner than many think.

How do you achieve it?

There are many approaches possible for peace. We shall have to settle for the best. It must meet the aspirations of the Tamil people who are at present held in bondage by the LTTE. Whatever solution that we find must have the acceptance of all the people of Sri Lanka. This is where consensus, understanding and give and take are required.

Some feel your stress has been more to look for a resolution of the conflict at the military level and not so much at the political level. Is that correct?

This is totally incorrect. I do not believe in or seek a military solution. I firmly believe in a political solution. But one must not forget that the enemy, I face, is fully armed. It believes in violence and terror. It has shown no serious interest in a negotiated political solution. In that situation, I am duty bound to defend my country and its people. There are situations when a military response is needed for armed attacks on the government, its property and the people. That does not mean I seek a military solution.

How do you go about the devolution package where aspirations of people in the north and east are realised?

As I have repeatedly stated, it is my policy, and also in keeping with the mandate I have received, to bring about the widest possible measure of devolution which will meet the aspirations of the people in the north, east and rest of the country. We must be aware of the aspirations of all our people, and work towards a solution reflecting those aspirations. We must not be unfair towards any section of the people. When our policies are based on justice and fair-play for all, I think we can bring about the best devolution for the country and the people.

You have been insisting that India has to get involved in the peace process to make it workable at some time or the other. But given the political realities in New Delhi, do you think this is feasible in the next few months or years?

I believe in the important and useful role that India can play in helping resolve this crisis. I am also aware of the political realities in New Delhi. I cannot be blind to these realities. Nor can I set a time-table for India to get involved in the peace process here. But I fully appreciate how India has controlled the activities of the LTTE in Tamil Nadu which has been reported in recent months. Such co¬operation is most encouraging.

Is LTTE the cause or the effect of the decade long ethnic strife in Sri Lanka?

All I can say is that the LTTE is very much the cause of most of the violence and terror this country has witnessed in the past decade. As for ethnic strife, it is a larger issue. This goes much beyond a decade and requires a serious political solution.

(Courtesy: Hardnews)

Non Cabinet Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana said on yesterday attended with press conference that The Sunday Times Consultant Editor also defence correspondent, Iqbal Athas had refused to accept police protection he was provided with.

At a media briefing, the Minister said a journalist has the right to seek protection if he is under threat. He further said that certain sections with vested interests are trying to exploit the situation.

Totally rejecting the statement of the Media Minister, Iqbal Athas says that he did no such thing.

He added that not a single government official or defence officer has contacted him after the removal of his security.

Iqbal Athas have . More than 35 years in journalism as a Defence and Military analyst . He was formerly news editor and deputy editor of the Sun Group. He is Colombo based correspondent for CNN and Jane's Defence Weekly.

SLFP (M) the rival group of the ruling SLFP’s have been meets with the former President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga [CBK] at her residence in Independent Avenue on today around 10.30am (August 31st).

The rival group founder and deputy leader of the ‘Jathika Sabha’ also ousted foreign minster of the Rajapaksa administration , Mangala Samaraweera, chief coordinator of the rival group, Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi, Tiran Alles a chairperson of the standard news papers limited the company temporary close down by the government because criticized the policy of government, and Administrative Secretary of the group, Dr.Sisil Bandara Senarathna attended the discussion.
The discussion was not open to the media. Political sources reveal that issues such as future political proceedings of the group and the Jathika Sabhaas well as the current political situation of the country will be discussed.

Two TMVP members who are suspecting involved for the latest killing of their one of senior member on early in this week were captured by the TMVP Pillayan’s wing, reliable source told the Lanka Guardian.

“The two persons have been reveals more information about the killing of Nadarasa Kumanan alias Lt. Col. Murali on 29 August morning in Ambivelipuram , Trincomalee by same member in the TMVP. 24 years old Murali , who are regional leader of the Thambalagamuwa, Trincomalee area”, source said.

Murali was born in Chenakaladi, Batticaloa he also brother in law of the Marnkerny who is Trincomalee military leader of the TMVP.

According to suspected persons, Veera who is leader of the TMVP to Kalawanvhikudi , Batticaloa area has been ordered to this killing,also previous killing on lasts 23 August.

However the TMVP’s media unit indefinitely silences of resents killing of their own members, without any press releases or condolence massages.

Photos: Funeral of Nadarasa Kumanan alias Lt. Col. Murali on yesterday evening in Tricomalee

Meanwhile two EPDP members were shot dead by the LTTE at Iyankerny , Batticaloa yesterday morning around 11.30 am.

Kannan alias Sinnathamby Seenivasan, 31 years and Kutty alias Chitravel Vasanthan, 29 years both of them of Uma Mill Road Chenkalady are the victims. LTTE cadres made this attack while they were on the way to participate in a wedding.

The bodies were taken to Eravur hospital by the police and after autopsy the bodies were handed over to their relatives through the EPDP organizers.

So the next time you get that thought about purchasing something you have been grilled into believing as essential be mindful that you are being instrumental in putting yourself into the inconvenience that is to trouble you.

The question pops up so often as to what is wrong with our society these days, for the answer look deep into your-self, and see how you have contributed towards humanity.

We are not often mindful of what we can do to change things around, but contribute unknowingly in destroying the fabric of goodness a society holds so dear. This happens when we do not think of ourselves as part of society and become selfish, doing things that benefit you only. ‘Because it benefits me it’s got to be good’ we think.

Selfishness is a thing that can grow to be very harmful and bring about plenty of animosity amongst us in a society. One would question, as to why it is wrong to care for oneself, being conscious of one own welfare. And in this modern world, that is a frequently self critical situation people are often caught in. It is a pitiful condition that humans are inflicted engulfed in the present economic situations, States are demanded to follow. Due this situation prevailing world-wide humans are caught in a dire situation of either be in it and survive or be out of it and be damned. Being with it is to be self-concerned because it is an essential condition required of one; for survival of the fittest is the name of the game played around the world.

To propagate these ideas around the world they have even invented a television series called the ‘Survivor’, and it brings out all the unnatural states of the human mind. The way it is done on television is exactly what is expected of people in actual form too. In short you have to be a survivor with no feeling what so ever for the other or humanity, except winning the prize, which otherwise may cost you your life.

From the above you can just get a glimpse of what this world is being turned into by these new economies, where the main concern is the profit you can pocket. The world of commerce no longer worries about living conditions of the people, and that means it is not concerned with the past leaders who have made us think of goodness and the happiness it can provide people with as a whole. That is now being turned into something bizarre with the present trend of commercialism which is only bent on accumulating more consumers. It is therefore clear that consumerism is what makes commercial ventures grow, making its promoters rich.

Who or what becomes consumers, to enrich commercialism; it is you and me, the very beings who are put through the inconvenience to survive are made to purchase what is put in the market that enrich the controllers of economies as pointed out above.

So the next time you get that thought about purchasing something you have been grilled into believing as essential be mindful that you are being instrumental in putting yourself into the inconvenience that is to trouble you.

Through all your troubles try to think of the other person too, and try to live with the least possible, be it clothing or food, think of all those beings that are left out of the equation when commercialism thrives due to your contributions via consumer power. Make up your mind to use that power to give some else to indulge even slightly in their desires too. That will bring a smile to your face to light it up, and grow into something beautiful.

Champika Ranawaka and the Buddhist monks all spoke of the great Satan, the LTTE, and a monk harped back even to the Chola invasions of the past, 70 million or was it 50 million Tamils in South India etc., but none of them had a kind word for the minorities of Sri Lanka.

By: Dushy Ranetunge in London

On Wednesday, Al Jazeera TV aired its second in a series of short documentaries about the Sri Lankan conflict. The focus was on the JHU.

Champika Ranawaka, the JHU member of Parliament and several Buddhist monks were interviewed. Although the program itself was balanced with JHU and anti-war monks and campaigners being interviewed, those representing the JHU and those sympathetic to their point of view did not do any favours for Sri Lanka.

Instead they came across championing a point of view articulated by the likes of the racist National Front (NF), the British National Party (BNP) or even the Protestant militant terrorists of Northern Ireland.

The National Front and the British National Party represents the face of British fascism, who offers nothing to the Jews, blacks and other minorities other than hostility and racism. In the United States one finds a similar movement known as the KKK, or the Klu Klux Klan, a white supremacist group. The Protestant militants and their sympathisers do the same in Northern Ireland and they are mobilised against the minority in Northern Ireland, the Catholics, who are considered by them as terrorists sympathetic to the IRA. Foremost among these Protestant firebrands is the Rev. Ian Paisley, now tamed by the British government into power sharing with his one time terrorist opponents the IRA.

What is common among all these groups and the JHU is that they are fringe political formations of majority communities feeding on majority insecurities and warped perceptions about minorities to secure political power.

Within the last 2 years, the British National Party made significant gains in local authority elections capitalising on the insecurities of English voters in certain deprived constituencies in the United Kingdom where some minority communities are concentrated.

In the British and American political landscape, these fascist fringe political formations are abhorred and marginalised by the major political parties as they bring back memories of Nazism and contributes to political destabilisation. In Britain the major political parties work together to undermine and squeeze out these fascist political groups from the political arena.

In October 1999, Joerg Haider's Freedom Party's rise to power as a partner in the Austrian government made headlines and raised alarm in the West, because of Haiders fascist links. This led to calls for the political isolation of Austria.

The interviews on Al Jazeera of Champika Ranawaka and pro-JHU Buddhist monks retraced the classic lines of this brand of fascism. It plays on the perceived great threat to the majority from the minority and then tries to justify oppression of minorities on the basis of this perceived great Satan.

Champika Ranawaka and the Buddhist monks all spoke of the great Satan, the LTTE, and a monk harped back even to the Chola invasions of the past, 70 million or was it 50 million Tamils in South India etc., but none of them had a kind word for the minorities of Sri Lanka.

The Tamils of Sri Lanka today cannot be held responsible for the atrocities of the Cholas. Listening to the Monk, it was like listening to the Serbian nationalists trying to justify their claim to Kosovo based on past history. There is a global pattern to this brand of fascism.

We were informed of a great conspiracy for Tamils to link up from the North with those in the East, with the Indian Tamils on the estates and then with the Tamils in Colombo and trap the Sinhalese on the island. Add to this the 50 or is it the 70 million Tamils of South India all waiting to swim over.

All these characters seem consumed by the great Satan, the LTTE, the main thrust of their argument.

But like the KKK, the National Front, the British National Party, the sympathisers of the Protestant paramilitaries, there was never a kind word for the weakest and the most vulnerable in society, the minorities. There was nothing in it for them. It was all about the majority and their perceived insecurities and rights. The fact that the JHU wore the uniform of Buddhist monks made no difference. The ideology was the same. On Al Jazeera, they were too busy pointing at great maps of Sri Lanka or was it “Hela” and to the great Satan, to realise that the Satan had consumed them and left them devoid of humanity towards fellow man.

Perhaps it is too much to expect the Nazis to spare a kind word for the Jews.

Like these other radical political formations around the world, the JHU has every right to express its views and participate in democratic politics. As long as it champions these political views, the JHU will remain a fringe group and runs the risk of political oblivion in future elections.

Meanwhile, Joerg Haider this week called for a ban on the construction of Mosques in Austria. "Muslims have of course the right to practise their religion, but I oppose erecting mosques and minarets as centres to advertise the power of Islam," he said. We can be thankful that at least Joerg Haider is not wearing the uniform of a Buddhist monk.

This week the Daily News stated that Buddhism was rising in Europe. Joerg Haider may have something to say about that. One wonders if he will bring something similar to the 50 million or was it the 70 million Tamils from South India threat argument to convince the Europeans about Buddhism rising in Europe.

Photo: University students run as police fire tear gas during a protest in Colombo, Aug. 22, 2007. Thousands of students protested outside the President's residence against the Sri Lankan government's plans to introduce private universities.

The Inter-University Students' Union on Tuesday warned that turning a deaf ear to students' demands would be the end of the government. Convener of the Inter-University Students' Union, Dumnida Nagamuwa, told a press conference that they would launch a massive struggle against the government's move to do away with the free education system of the country. "We will organize all students, Buddhist monks, and labourers against the government and take to the streets," he said. He said an ultimatum of one week is being given to the government to come up with an acceptable solution to the prevailing crisis in the education sector.

Nagamuwa claimed that Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha, wept during a discussion and said he would resign from his post. "Isn't it shameful for a minister to weep openly?" he asked. He also criticized the Minister of Higher Education, Wishva Waranapala, for neglecting the burning issues in the higher education sector. The student leader claimed that a huge number of schools have been closed since 1997. He said an average of 65 schools have been closed down annually starting from 1997. He also charged that only 2.6% of the GDP has been allocated for education this year compared to 2.7% last year. This has been reducing from 1977 according to him.

Admitting foreign students to local universities also came under criticism of the students' union. The union claimed that foreign students were given the opportunity to earn the dancing diploma from the Faculty of Arts.

It charged that some private institutions were offering degrees at a fee of Rs 30,000 per month. The entire course fees for these degree program costs Rs 1.4 million according to the union. " Some claim that private institutions were set up for the middle class people but how can they afford such high fees?," he asked.

The union also claimed that government was making plans to register international schools with the Ministry. Currently they are registered under the Companies' Act. There are 95 international schools in the country in which over 110,000 schools children are taught.

Comment by: Dr. Mike Hernandez from Washington

Privatization of the university system is the best solution to raise the standards of education in Sri Lanka, the poor should be given an opportunity with merit based scholarships and government co-signed grants and loans at low interest rates, a government system of education based loans and grants should be available for all students, because a quality education is not free, so that higher wages could be paid to hire quality faculty and more funds for research and innovation.

Education should be universally accessible to all Sri Lankans of all ages , cast, creed and socioeconomic levels and all universities should be held accountable to higher standards with a rating system based on Research, funding and scholarly reputations.

The Marxist mentality of the students are simply ancient and not in tune with today’s high tech world, Adapt or be extinct is the motto around the world, especially in the US where universities compete vigorously with each other to increase their rankings for better students and faculty.

The head of LTTE in London Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias Shantrhan was produced before the Central Criminal Court to face charges against him under the Terrorism Act. He appeared in the Court on 24 August 2007.

The police also produced Golden Lambert (the head of Tamil Youth Organisation) currently under house arrest to face charges.

Five charges were read against Shanthan. Golden Lambert is facing one charge of organising the demonstration propagating the LTTE at the Hyde Park in the Central London.

The Court has listed the hearing for 5 November 2007 and Shanthan was ordered to be held in detention until further direction at the next hearing.

With Kittu’s deportation, A C Shanthan filled the vacuum in London and has remained for almost 20 years as the hands-on leader of the LTTE who was responsible for organising LTTE events, fund raising and all other LTTE activity in the UK.

The LTTE web site eelam.com was registered in A. C. Shanthan’s name, with the LTTE HQ, Eelam House, 202 Long Lane, London SE1 as the registered address.

Shanthan was very close to Balasingham and the duo more or less ran the LTTE in London. He also accompanied Balasingham and wife Adel during their last visit to Geneva for peace talks in February 2006.

Shanthan operated via the British Tamil Association (BTA) which had uniformed goons in the LTTE Vanni police style, to police Tamil fund raising and propaganda events.

The opening ceremony of the newly formed LTTE front temple was held on 26 August 2007 in Colindale, Northwest London. Three LTTE activists have jointly purchased a shed and have undertaken extensive refurbishment work to the property to make it a temple.

The temple is said to be a Hanuman temple named as Aanchaneyar Kovil.

The three investors are said to be well known fraudsters in London. Leader of the three is a Harrow based former solicitor now operating a estate agency business, who lost his practising licence recently for defrauding the Legal Aid funds. He was also ordered by the Court to repay some of the funds fraudulently taken. The other one is a Colindale based businessman who had made wealth by winding up businesses and currently operating a supermarket in Colindale. The third one is a notorious credit card fraudster. He and his father and brother were convicted for defrauding the HSBC Bank for engaging in fraudulent transactions when they were running a fried chicken fast food takeaway shop in Colindale.

The solicitor has appeared as spokesperson for LTTE events and was the legal representaive for Rupert Soosaipillai alias Thanam, the LTTE finance head in the UK.

LTTE sources state that LTTE fundraising operative Bala Vaathi had meetings with the founders to come to arrangement to transfer part of the collection to the LTTE in Vanni.

House of No 2 of LTTE in the UK raided

Sources close to LTTE in London state the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Metropolitan Police had raided the home of LTTE second in command in the UK Rupert Soosaipillai alias Thanam about ten days ago. At the time of the raid Thanam was said to have gone to Liverpool.

Thanam is the Head of Finance of the LTTE in the UK and was functioning as its head since early 1990’s on a full time basis. He is responsible for co-ordinating the fund raising foot soldiers of the LTTE and also himself visiting premises for fund raising purposes. Thanam plays an important part in the running of the LTTE fund raising programmes, meetings and demonstrations.

According to LTTE sources Thanam was at loggerhead with the imprisoned LTTE chief in the UK Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar alias Shanthan until 1997 but soon realised he will be the looser if he challenged Shanthan’s authority. He soon became the confidant and the right hand man of Shanthan. Thanam was a close ally of another LTTE full time operative Bala Vathi.
LTTE sources state that Counter Intelligence Unit has taken away the computer and printed materials from Thanam’s house. The raid has taken place at Thanam’s house

Senior Journalist Chris Kamalendran (Christopher Kamalendran) who is one of the editorial members of the well known Colombo based weekly news paper ‘the Sunday Time’ doing acting part of the associated editor of the pro LTTE Tamilnet source from Colombo said.

The Editor post of the LTTE cyber mouth piece has vacuum after Prominent writer and former PLOTE member Darmalingam Siwaram alias Tharaki was killed by some one in Colombo while his carrier as a chief editor of the Tamilnet.

After that Tamilnet.com have going to hell also LTTE tried to buying foreign journalists for running the Web site. Meanwhile web hosting of the Tamilnet has been transferred to the Oslo, Norway from USA. Even some journalists in the Country who are involving the INGO, NGO and International News Agencies have given their full energy for the site as a part time job. Chris Kamalendran is one of the main characters of this cycle.

He wrote false propaganda news story on last week ‘The Sunday Times’ as a lead story for create new conflict within democratic Tamil political parties without true facts. Lanka Guardian also quoted that the false story on last Sunday; also the Lanka Guardian has been published real story of the well known Eastern tour of the three Tamil Political parties' leaders [TULF, PLOTE and EPRLF [Padmanaba Wing].

Meanwhile V. Annadasanagaree has been totally refused ‘The Sunday Times’ false story while interviews with BBC Sinhala service in London on last Sunday night.

However the Tamilnet has been still blocked by the government within Sri Lanka.

Photo: Prabakaran’s child stock exposed by the Pottu Amman’s one of cyber mouth pieces on last June 2007. But the Video has been removed after exposed this photograph on independent Medias around the World.

People in the northern Sri Lankan city of Kilinochchi say the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, insurgents are forcing families to turn over at least one family member to serve as combatants. Among those forcibly recruited are children.

In testimony before the European Parliament, Charu Hogg, representing Human Rights Watch, an independent human rights monitor, says the Tamil Tigers have “forcibly recruited for combat boys, girls, men and women.” The insurgent group, said Ms. Hogg, “continues to murder its political opponents, largely in the Tamil community, and runs a near totalitarian state in the areas of the country’s north and east under its control.”

Since the insurgency in Sri Lanka began in 1983, more than sixty thousand people have died and about one-million others have been displaced. Sri Lankan children have suffered death, wounds, hunger, disease, and the trauma of being forced to take part in combat.

More than four-hundred fifty children were reportedly forced to join the Tamil Tigers during 2006, bringing the total number of child soldiers in their ranks to more than one-thousand. During the same period, a breakaway faction of the Tamil Tigers lead by Karuna Amman is believed to have forcibly recruited more than two-hundred children.

U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Steven Mann said “the deterioration of human rights conditions” in Sri Lanka is a “key U.S. policy concern.” Mr. Mann said “human rights conditions are worst in [Tamil] Tiger-controlled areas, where there is no rule of law to protect Sri Lankans’ civil liberties.” He called Tamil Tiger recruitment of child soldiers “singularly deplorable.” Mr. Mann also expressed concern over “continuing reports of disappearances, abductions, torture, and the rise of extrajudicial killings” across Sri Lanka.

“Our top policy priorities for Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Steven Mann, “remain restoration of good governance and respect for human rights leading to an eventual negotiated settlement” of the Sri Lankan conflict. The U.S., he said, believes “that finalizing a credible devolution of power proposal, together with ending human rights violations, and improving government accountability, are essential steps towards a lasting peace.”

(Editorial of the Voce of America)

Photo: Patalee Champika Ranawaka listing voice of chief Buddhist monk at the temple while watching a photograph of Ancient Buddhist heritage site Deegavapiya during his vist at Deegawapiya on last 20 August.

Non- elected minister of the Environment and Natural Resources he also policy maker of the Jathika Hela Urumaya , Patalee Champika Ranawake has decided to evict hundred of Muslims illegally residing in Deegavapiya, where the symbolic Buddhist shrine is situated in Ampara.

“We are going to take firm action against these Muslims who have forcefully acquired land and have begun to cultivate in these areas,” the Minister told the media.
He announced that the eviction would begin from October and already some seven families have been removed from this area, which he claimed came under the Wildlife Conservation Department.

The Minister claimed that these Muslim families had acquired nearly 576 hectares from the area, out of a total of 1200 hectares. “Legal action will be filed against them and we will not be giving them alternative land or a place to live because they already have a place of their own and are merely encroaching into the land owned by the Department,” he pointed out.

“A section of the Muslim political leadership is directing this aggression aimed at erasing all remnants of a national heritage. These encroachers do not care a hoot for the sentiments of the Sinhala Buddhist residents of the area.”

The Minster was activated as a behind character of the Tamils eviction from Colombo few months ago with Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

File Photo:Former Minister as a colleague of President during the past

Ousted foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera hold secret discussion with his personal associates in some where in near the Colombo in today early hour’s reliable source told the Lanka Guardian.

According to our source ,the former minister was came to ground floor of the blue colour building at the palce around 10.00 am he also discussed on future plan of the SLFP [M], rival group of the ruling government party and real situation of his mind . Even the meeting extended for more than four hours.

Samaraweera is the son of late Mahanama Samaraweera, who was a Cabinet Minister in Sirimavo Bandaranaike's government, and Khema Samaraweera, a member of the Matara Urban Council. A graduate in Clothing Design and Technology from St. Martin's School of Art in London, he served as a design consultant to the National Design Center of Sri Lanka prior to his political career. He has remained a lifelong bachelor.

He is close with the Former President Chandika he also created a stir in Sri Lankan politics when he was sacked as a minister by President Mahinda Rajapakse in 2007, after which he formed a new political party called the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (Mahajana) Wing

Minister Douglas Devananda reveals that he has reliable information to believe that in the next Martyrs’ Day policy announcement, Prabakaran might declare the ‘Two from each family’ campaign.

Minister Devananda has alleged that the forcible recruitment of children and youths in Vanni has reached 60,000. Only 7-8% of the applicants have sat for the Advanced Level examination held recently, in that territory controlled by the LTTE. The recruitment drive called, ‘One from each family’ has resulted in the conscription of nearly 60,000 youths including children.

'Welcome to my Heart' is an inspiration from my travels, some great experiences of learning, interactions and understanding of diverse cultures and appreciating their blossoms. Even more, I have always felt quite at home wherever I went and had the feeling that we are all one family and each of us can be a rich source of human enhancement. This free verse is my grateful tribute to all the wonderful folks who have nourished my life, some as role models, some as friends and relatives and some even becoming-like my own kith and kin. There are no borders and boundaries for me because these magnificent people accepted me as one of them. Humanity is a garden of blossoms; fragrance, colours and honey are in abundance there and we must bring them into our heart.

Welcome to my Heart
And its honey-laid core
To share God’s blessings
Of love and compassion

Sweetly stored in nectar
Collected far and wide
From blossoms of culture
Of nations and people.

Inlaid in each chamber
Are artifacts of joy
Gathered in the spirit
Of human enhancement

Essenced in interactions
With communities of folks
From nations and lands
Around the world our home

Though rooted in habitats
We amble and meander
In gradual evolution
Thru great civilizations.

Truly we are blessed
By rivers and streams
Ganga and the Indus
Euphrates and Tigris
Yangtsekiang and Nile
And many Golden Ages
Throughout the world
That enriched our kind.

When we act together
And relate to each other
We bring to our hearts
And its many chambers
Civilizations’ spirit
Its soul and psyche
And rich understanding
With perceptions of peace.

Welcome to my heart
And its honey-laid core
Garnered and chambered
From many, many lands
With joy and happiness
Precious and prized
From one human family
Shared lovingly by all.

All arrangements to have the local government elections for the Batticaloa Municipal Council and eight other Pradeshya Sabas have been completed, it is learnt. The elections office in Batticaloa is now engaged in preparing the voters list and the details of displaced voters.

Elections are to be held according to year 2006 voters list. Out of the 12 Pradesya Sabas, elections to Kaathaankudi, Koralaipathu West, and Eravur town have already been conducted. Elections to Batticaloa Municipal Council, Manmunai South, Koralaipattu, and Pradesya Saba’s are to be held. The Government Agent of Batticaloa Sundaram Arumainayagam will take over as the officer in charge of elections, according to reliable sources.

Elections to North will be held following elections in the East, the government sources said.

Meanwhile, a family person was shot dead by an armed gang in the Batticaloa Vellavely area yesterday at 8.00 a.m.

The victim was Shanmugam Sasikaran, father of two. Gun shot injuries were found on his head and chest. The body is being kept in the Kaluwanchikudy hospital and inquiry is being held by the police in this regard.

Furthermore another incident three persons were killed when the boat in which they traveled drowned accidentally due to the rough seas in the sea off Kaluwanchikudi.

The victims Seenithamby Vadivel (55), Vadivel Priya (20) daughter, Gunatilake Luxicca (5) were returning from Mandur Murugan Temple to Kaliwanchikudi, when the boat with seven people on board capsized. The boat is meant to carry only four people it is alleged.

STF captures 8 LTTE child soldiers: Ampara

Video;They were saw light of their life after liberated from brutal leader of the Tamil Community (Courtesy from Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka)

Special Task Force personnel engaged in a defensive operation inside Kanchikudichciaru jungle were able to capture eight young combatants who had been forcibly conscripted by the LTTE. STF personnel ambushed an LTTE movement near Akkaraipattu- Pothuvil main road. Children were rescued once the senior LTTE cadres fled into the dense jungle nearby. All of the eight rescued children except one are below the age of 18. They were armed with explosives and light weapons at the time of capture.

Names of the captured child Soldiers follow,

Jeewarasa Sudan,15 ,Male
Chamuth Nadan ,20, Male
Perumal Sinnathambi,15,Male
Dharmaratnam Ramesh,16,Male
Selvarasa Suwarajini ,15 ,Female
Thuraisingham Sumana,14,Female
Vigneswaran Vinoyani ,16 ,Female
Thavarasa Rashika ,14 ,Female

Kanchikudichciaru jungle was once a major hub of LTTE operations but situation changed drastically with the success of operation "Niyathai Jaya (Definite Victory)". However small groups of LTTE cadres are still operating from within the jungles and they are still carrying out guerilla styled attacks against troops.

Meanwhile, a special committee was appointed to inquire into the abductions and conscriptions of children for war activities, by the Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister, Mahinda Samarasinghe.

This committee was appointed in accordance with the assurance given by Sri Lanka in the UN security council committee meeting held on the children and armed conflict responding to an allegation made against Sri Lanka that several members of Sri Lanka security forces were involved in the abduction and conscription of children in the eastern province of Sri Lanka.

Photo: St.Anthony's Church in Kudaththanai-Jaffna District. Kudaththanai was destroyed by the Tsunami.

"The Rev Mr Solomon who is under a disciplinary order by the JDCSI, led the hijack on behalf of the Church of the American Ceylon Mission and is now said to be bent on seizing the Colombo Church of the JDCSI as his seat of office.The service proceeded with a great deal of noise especially whistles emanating from a section of the congregation supportive of a certain Mr Namasivayam who forced himself to the rostrum to conduct the service with the resident priest helplessly seated on the alter chair."

By : Vasi Visveswaran reporting from Colombo

The usual Sunday 7 30 AM morning service at the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India’s Francis Road church was hijacked by a hostile group of dissidents calling themselves the Church of the American Ceylon Mission last Sunday, August 26, 2007. Supported by some mission-based bureaucrats of the Wider Churches Ministries of the United Church of Christ (WCM-UCC) Cleveland, Ohio, they made a forced attempt to put aside the resident pastor, the Rev Daisy Asirwatham, and take over the service.

Some members in the congregation, calling themselves as the Elders of the new church that was not founded on canonical or doctrinal differences with the Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India (JDCSI), screamed and catcalled at the Rev Miss Asirwatham and whoever was supportive of conducting the worship service in the manner deserving of a dawn devotional.

The demonstration was led by the Rev Milton Solomon who in 1983 sought refuge in Kilinochchi fleeing the racial violence from the hill districts and was helped by the JDCSI to take to the ministry. He had his training at the JDCSI’s Theological Seminary in Maruthanamadam NP. The Rev Mr Solomon who is under a disciplinary order by the JDCSI, led the hijack on behalf of the Church of the American Ceylon Mission and is now said to be bent on seizing the Colombo Church of the JDCSI as his seat of office.

The service proceeded with a great deal of noise especially whistles emanating from a section of the congregation supportive of a certain Mr Namasivayam who forced himself to the rostrum to conduct the service with the resident priest helplessly seated on the alter chair.

While some members faithfully stayed behind providing solidarity to the resident pastor, others left in utter disgust and two lady members reported the matter to the Wellawatte Police When the police arrived, the rebel group had left the church and was assembled outside and one of them was making a speech. When the police alighted from the jeep, they were nowhere to be seen.

We understand the police have filed action against the dissidents at the Mount Lavinia courts. One member of the Colombo congregation called the dissidents “Damn plaguing Moonies of Sri Lanka” in utter irritation and annoyance. When the Rev Mr Solomon was questioned about this retort, he appeared ignorant of the Moonies but admitted they are funded by a church body in the US.

The man behind this movement is the Rev Selvadorai Jeyanesan who failed to win the bishopric of the JDCSI and has now broken away with his supporters merely for that reason and set up this Church of the American Ceylon Mission hoping that whatever properties the American Ceylon Mission had in Sri Lanka would automatically come under his control.

The problem the Rev Mr Jeyanesan is faced with is his unwillingness to account for the massive funding he has received from many overseas sources during the last ten years as a JDCSI pastor in the Eastern Province. High flying and constantly traveling Rev Mr Jeyanesan keeps himself mostly in the background and has his paid volunteers to carry on with the activities that often borders on threats and disorderly behavior.

A fortnight ago, he was believed to have chartered an aircraft to take a plane load of demonstrators to Jaffna to support his stand. Questions are being asked as to where he got the funds for such an expensive display of his stand.

Asked how he came to lose the race in the Bishop’s Stakes, a member of the Colombo Church said without a moment’s hesitation that he had behaved foolishly and incurred the wrath of a fellow clergyman whose court action damned his chances. It appears this clergyman had expressed his strong view and decision officially on the floor of the 2005 Diocesan Council Sessions of the JDCSI that he would fight tooth and nail to ensure he was never appointed bishop of the diocese because of a serious misdemeanor unbecoming of a priest.

On our efforts to contact the Cleveland Office of the United Church of Christ in Ohio, USA we were told that the Executive Minister Dr Cally Rogers-Witte was on holiday and her personal assistant Dr James Vijeyakumar was not available for comment. It is this organization that helps the Rev Mr Jeyanesan to go on his many fund campaigns in the US.

From Veera Pandyan covering Sussex, Essex, Wessex and Middlesex

Once upon a time a Sri Lankan and for some four decades or so a transplant on British soil did not have his omelet on the Sri Lankan Airline when he flew on it a decade and half ago when it was not Sri Lankan but Air Lanka. Chicken, Omelet or Airline what’s in a name? Charlie Somu, Lamp Post Charlie or Kitchen Charlie for Charlie Boy will always want to bootlick the Tiger Boys right or not or even frivolous.

Charles Somasun-Daram flies his rage in many names but once a charlie always a charlie!

Some chap has a tirade against the Sri Lankan Airline and Charlie Boy wants to jump the wagon because it is an opportunity for him to say something which he thinks the LTTE will applaud him and give him the Mamanithar Award when the obvious happens to him one day or other.

Sometimes, it is understood when the LTTE feels that conferring such a title on someone was overdue and no one was prepared to die, then they make such a possibility a reality themselves. Charlie Boy may become a Lamp Post Martyr if he is not careful. In his Harrow locality there are guys who can make that come about; that may be why he is confined to the kitchen!

Contrary to the tirade against the Sri Lankan Airlines, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and not the congealed sausage Charlie Somu came across sixteen years ago flying from London to Colombo. Or was it the other way? Anyway that matters not.

He claims he was shabbily treated by the cabin staff but this writer on numerous occasions has found the service, style and attitude exceptionally courteous and good. The chances are Charlie Boy must have behaved obnoxiously. So much so he would have been denied “over the limit” alcohol consumption.

There is a suspicion he loves any American Whiskey on Vodka for the mere satisfaction of saying the American rides the Russian! But there are far too many jokes about Charlie Somu and this may be one of them. But being a genuine Panangkoddai, he loved his Jaffna Toddy but that was some decades ago!

But if he is not alcohol bent, he may have made a pass at one of the cabin staff; not necessarily a female, judging from the ways things are going on in this world, it could be a male steward.

This writer is not aware of Charlie Boy’s inclinations but he knows that he is a chronic inveterate liar. His writings betray him and so is his reaction to one guy’s vitriolic vituperations on the Sri Lankan Airline.

If ever I am on a queue waiting to check in on a Sri Lankan Airline flight and by any chance see Charlie Somu anywhere near, I will call the security. Such people are foolish and vulnerable and can be used as stool pigeons. His face, it is believed is uniquely “Revelationary” – many who have known him confirmed it.

Now Charlie Boy has a problem. He has plans to go to Thailand, the country of certain types of delights among other attractions. It is said he is having a time with his Harrow-based travel agent who gets a good deal from the Sri Lankan Airline.

Charlie Boy knows the airline is good and it is his inveterate lying nature that presents this airline negatively.

It is understood that he has been advised to change his name by deed poll. If by any chance you come across a Mr Marad Nusamos do call the security whether at London Heathrow, London Gatwick or even London Stansted.

There is every possibility Lamp Post Charlie is on his way to the Waikiki version of Thailand. It could be via Bandaranaike International on Sri Lankan Airline. He knows that there is no other airline in the world as good as Sri Lanka’s national carrier.

Referring to specific reports from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Gareth Evans of the International Crisis Group and also the Human Rights Watch, Wijesingha asked: 'My point is what is the reason for all this?'He said some Western rights groups - as opposed to Sri Lanka's University Teachers for Human Rights 'for which I have the highest regard' - were acting in concert with the UNP and the LTTE.

Britain is looking for a 'regime change' in Sri Lanka because it favours the opposition United National Party (UNP) over the present ruling party, the head of the island's peace secretariat has said.

'They would be delighted if there was a regime change,' Rajiva Wijesinha, secretary general of the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP), said while hitting out at sections of Western human rights groups and other interest groups.

Speaking to Indian based news agency the IANS in India during a three-day visit, Wijesinha was particularly critical of the Europeans and singled out Britain. He praised the US approach towards Sri Lanka and at the same time urged India to do more to end his country's nearly 25-year-long ethnic conflict.

'At one stage they (Britain) would have liked to replace the Norwegians,' the peace facilitators, said Wijesinha, 52, a politician-cum-academic who took charge of SCOPP in June, succeeding Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona.

Wijesinha said Britain had taken the lead in undermining Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapakse, a brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. The younger Rajapakse heads the country's war machine against the LTTE.

'One of the main problems they have is they still hanker after the UNP,' he added, referring to Britain, which in recent times has displayed active interest in trying to defuse ethnic tensions in the Country.

'They would be delighted if there was a regime change... People think it is on the cards now.'

Asked if he really meant that Britain was working towards toppling President Rajapakse, he answered: 'They would prefer it... They don't like the status quo now.'

Wijesinha has in recent times taken an aggressive stand against Western human rights groups that have flayed Sri Lankan authorities for a variety of rights violations including killings, disappearances, arrests and mass displacement of civilians.

'What I see is a concerted campaign to attack the government on the human rights issue, with a particular thrust to impose an external authoritative mechanism,' he said.

Referring to specific reports from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Gareth Evans of the International Crisis Group and also the Human Rights Watch, Wijesinha asked: 'My point is what is the reason for all this?'

He said some Western rights groups - as opposed to Sri Lanka's University Teachers for Human Rights 'for which I have the highest regard' - were acting in concert with the UNP and the LTTE.

Wijesingha added that the LTTE, which has suffered military reverses in the eastern province, would like to undermine the government on the issue of rights abuses. 'This is where there is a congruence in (their) positions.'

The peace official said that most Srilankans wanted India to be more closely associated with the co-chairs group of countries overseeing the island's now battered peace process - the US, Japan, Norway and the European Union.

'India should do more,' he said while pointing out 'fatal flaws' in the 1987 India-Sri Lanka pact that sought to end the ethnic conflict.

'Successive Sri Lankan governments have rightly understood that any solution should be in consultation with India.'

Wonderful images of two violent species

They are the representative logos of the violent

Sri Lankan government

and the violent Tamil Tiger outfit

In Sri Lanka!

Both these animalistic mindsets
engage in violent fights

Innocent civilian population is easy prey to their violent campaign.

At times……….

They cuddle and warmth themselves

When it is beneficial they know how to respect each other. They also engage in foul play like they did to evict the
Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) brought to Sri Lanka
under the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement in 1987.

When is it beneficial for them?

Hi Pirabakaran!
I won the Presidential election with the
Rs 1.5 billion I gave you. You are humane. I will never
forget your favour.

Thank you Comrade Rajapakse!!
for keeping up your promise to
pay the Rs 1.5 billion.
I now fully trust you for your honesty and if you have any more deals
please let me know!!!

The cry of this child is the nations cry.
Rs 1.5 billion deal between the
two representatives of the cats
have brought misery to all the people in Sri Lanka

Former President Chandrika Kumarathunga and Formemr Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe meets at her official resident at Independence Avenue on Toady evening.

The two leaders have been discussed on current political situation in the Country also the meeting extended for one hour.

However more information about the meeting not reveals because the meeting didn’t open to Medias.

Photo: TMVP Military and Political leaders Marnkerny and Eelamaran attending with the Funeral on their cadre who was killed in last week by the LTTE in Nillavei, Trincomalee. Murali also attended with the his freind's funeral. Pix by: Lanka Guardian.

Nadarasa Kumanan alias Murali, aged 24 years he was killed by another TMVP member reliable source in Karuna Faction told the Lanka Guardian. The victim was a brother in law of Marnkerny who is a military leader of the TMVP to Trincomalee area. The TMVP believe the killer is an agent of the LTTE .

Previous Story

The diversity of views in the scholarly works referred to above could, of course, be illustrated by quoting other eminent social scientists who would disagree with Ajuha and Varshney, and would not, in their own assessments of the India’s achievements, confine themselves to the criteria of durability of India’s territorial integrity and the recent trends towards distribution of political power.

An appraisal of the federal system of India as a ‘model’ for emulation must, first of all, be placed in the context of the extraordinary territorial and demographic dimensions of India which entail, among other things, a degree of “remoteness” of its people from the institutions of the central government which one does not find in small countries with representative forms of government. The size of a national entity is, of course, not the only determinant of the “distance” between the government and the governed. Nevertheless, the significance of the size factor from present perspectives which has tended to be overlooked could be illustrated with reference to the fact that Sri Lanka (with a population equivalent to about 2% of that of India), if it was a component of the Indian union, would have been represented in the 545-member ‘Lok Sabha’ by only about nine members with, say, the entire Colombo District or the Central Province constituting single-member constituencies. It could thus be argued that, given the enormity of the Indian “scale”, sub-national institutions of government are far more vital in that country to provide even a semblance of popular participation in the direction and control of the daily lives of the people in that country than they are in tiny and spatially compact nation states like Sri Lanka.

Another relevant but frequently overlooked consideration is that the evolution of the present geographical mosaic and the power-sharing arrangements of the Indian federation represents a long drawn-out and tortuous process, the initial impulses of which could be traced back to the ‘Swaraj’ Movement. Even more importantly, since independence, this evolutionary process has been regulated by a powerful government at the Centre, which, though never entirely unresponsive to the more important sub-national electoral pressures, has always had both the capacity to retrace its steps when costly blunders were made as well as the strength to overwhelm (through recourse to military power when necessary) any serious resistance to its fiat, with hardly any external challenge barring the past Chinese links of the Naga rebels and the allegedly continuing Pakistani links of the Kashmiri rebels. Unlike in many other federations India’s federal arrangement has been, in that sense, the product not only of trial and error but also of compulsion from the Centre and, at least occasionally, involuntary obedience from the States.

There is much controversy among researchers on the relative success of devolution (and, more generally, of the overall complex of consociational power-sharing arrangements) in India from the viewpoint of their expected objectives of democratisation and national consolidation. The best illustrations of this are provided by the mutually irreconcilable assertions on the related issues found in abundance even in some of the most authoritative commentaries on India such as those by Arend Lijphart (1977& 1996), Myron Weiner (1978, 1979, 1996), Donald Horowitz (1985), Rajni Kothari (1989), Paul Brass (1990, 1991, 1994, 2002), Atul Kohli (1990), Christophe Jaffrelot (1993), Dipanker Gupta (1997), Dreze & Sen (2002) and Ashutosh Varshney (2004). Most scholars evaluating India’s record tend to take a stance of qualified commendation rather than outright condemnation. Moreover, the hazy consensus one could discern on the positive contribution of territorial power-sharing towards preserving the nation’s territorial integrity and towards diffusion of the destabilising effects of language-based rivalries is not entirely free of discordant nuances.

The following passage is an extract from an article by two reputed Indian scholars (Ajuha & Varshney, 2005: 242) which could be considered typical of the “favourable” end of the spectrum of conclusions on the performance of the Indian system.

“More than anything else, two enduring continuities – geographical and constitutional – sum up the overall success of Indian federalism. Since independence, India has not experienced secession, though it has witnessed a few secessionist movements here and there; there has been no replay of the terrible partition of 1947. India’s constitutional continuity also calls for attention. The federal features of India’s constitution debated over several years in the constituent assembly and promulgated in 1950, remain intact. The constitution has gone through several amendments, but no amendment has altered the basic outlines of centre-state relations permanently in favour of the centre. Indeed, the current situation is the obverse of a centralizer’s dream. If anything, the polity is becoming more and more decentralised”. (emphasis added)

The diversity of views in the scholarly works referred to above could, of course, be illustrated by quoting other eminent social scientists who would disagree with Ajuha and Varshney, and would not, in their own assessments of the India’s achievements, confine themselves to the criteria of durability of India’s territorial integrity and the recent trends towards distribution of political power. For instance, through a more broad-based evaluation, Paul Brass (2002: 3026) has arrived at the conclusion encapsulated in the following quotation:

“So implicated were political scientists in the developmentalist goals of elites that they failed to provide an independent basis for critique that has become increasingly necessary as it has become more and more obvious that those goals have failed to transform India into the modern, industrial state of its elite’s imaginings, have failed at the same time to provide for the basic minimum needs of its people, have failed to eliminate the causes for unrest and have instead drawn the country into the ugly morass of state terrorism in the north-east, Punjab and Kashmir, and have failed to provide a basis for accommodation between the Hindu and Muslim populations of the country”. (emphasis added)

That certain Indian critics of scholarly repute have also been in agreement with Paul Brass’ verdict is illustrated by the passage cited below (extracted from Dua, 1994: 20):

“India seems to be at war with itself. This is driven home with brutal evidence in Punjab, Kashmir, Assam, and in the north-eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. Marked by a variety of militant movements, these states have become virtually ungovernable. In most other parts of the country, caste and communal violence, aided and abetted by mafia leaders, seems to have become the normal way of life. The politics of Mandal and Mandir, of Yadavs and Thakurs, of Jats and Rajputs, of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs, of Senas (or military fronts) and Saffrons, of polarising marches (Bharat Yatras, Ekta Yatras) have drawn the country into the edge of collapse”.

Nevertheless, there could obviously be no charge of serious distortion against the sketch by Ajuha and Varshney. One could, for example, accept the claim that the post-independence secessionist movements witnessed “here and there” have not been as convulsive as the partition of 1947 (which was not exactly a secessionist movement - no matter), in the same way that one could accept the assertion regarding the absence of changes in the basic outlines of Centre-State relations as designed in the Indian constitution of 1950. The claimed trend of increasing decentralisation could also be considered valid especially in the light of the weakening of the nation-wide grip of the Indian Congress that existed in the Jawaharlal-Indira era, and the increasing propensity in the recent decades for coalitions that include State-based parties to hold the reins of office at the Centre. We can certainly share in the satisfaction expressed by the authors of the above passage regarding the fact that the Indian federation “has worked reasonably well”.

Such a verdict, however, does not help in resolving the question of whether it is devolution that explains the success. What about the sporadic secessionist movements which the authors have referred to but trivialised. And, was it devolution that prevented their culmination in secession? How effective and how genuine has territorial power-sharing really been, especially from the viewpoint of both the numerically largest as well as some of the smallest minority communities of India? Has devolution or other forms of power-sharing brought about greater ethnic harmony? These, surely, are the issues that must be pursued from the perspective of our present concerns.

To be continued…........

Link for the previous parts

PART 01

PART 02

The writer is Professor Emeritus, University of Peradeniya .If you have any comments on this serious of article please send editorazad@gmail.com. We are ready publishing your comments on this site too.

Ethiopia on Tuesday justified its decision to expel all but three Norwegian diplomats from the country, arguing that Oslo was interfering in its internal affairs and destablising the Horn of Africa.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry said it had requested a reduction of staff members "to three people, the ambassador and no more than two other members of the diplomatic staff."

"This decision has been made because the government of Norway has been attempting to build up an image as a regional peace-maker at the expense of the stability and security in the Horn of Africa," said a statement published on the ministry`s official website.

The ministry said Norway has been pushing to acquire leverage with forces of instability in the region, which has been beset by both inter- and intra-state conflicts for decades.

"This, in turn, has seriously aggravated problems of stability and threatened to undermine the national security interests of countries of the region including that of Ethiopia," the statement said.

Without identifying what prompted the diplomats` expulsion, Addis Ababa urged Oslo to refrain from actions that violate the rules governing diplomatic relations.

"Ethiopia urges the government of Norway to refrain from clandestine and underground activities contravening international laws governing inter-state relations. It calls upon ... Norway to behave as a credible and accountable state actor in the region," the statement added.

Earlier, Bereket Simon, a top aide to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, told source that Norway had ignored earlier warnings.

"This decision is not sudden, we have repeatedly raised the issue with Norwegian officials. We had warned them to refrain from interfering in our internal affairs," he said.

Full Text of the Statement

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

Press Statement

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has requested the Government of Norway to reduce the number of its diplomatic staff in Addis Ababa to three people, the Ambassador and no more than two other members of the diplomatic staff. This decision has been made because the Government of Norway has been attempting to build up an image as a regional peace-maker at the expense of the stability and security in the Horn of Africa. Indeed, the Government of Norway has been working consistently to acquire leverage with forces of instability in the region. This, in turn, has seriously aggravated problems of stability and threatened to undermine the national security interests of countries of the region including that of Ethiopia.

We have been continuously raising these issues with the Norwegian Government at various levels to try and ensure that relations between our two countries are based on equality and mutual respect. We have tried to impress up on the Government of Norway that using "spoilers" in its image building exercises is unhelpful. We have repeatedly highlighted the destabilizing consequences of its actions in our sub-region. We have informed the Government of Norway on many occasions, that its efforts to acquire leverage with those elements is, in fact, undermining the national security interests of Ethiopia, and of other countries in our sub-region.

The Government of Norway attempted to justify its actions on several occasions, claiming it had not fully appreciated the complications that might arise from such engagement and behaviour. However, it became clear that no change in policy could be expected despite all our representations. Ethiopia, as a first step, felt it had no option but to request the Government of Norway to reduce the number of its diplomatic staff in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopia urges the Government of Norway to refrain from clandestine and underground activities contravening international laws governing inter-state relations. It calls upon the Government of Norway to behave as a credible and accountable state actor in the region.

The Government of Ethiopia is not interested in escalating this issue. This is why it has not previously publicized this action. Our interest has been and remains to engage the Government of Norway in a serious and transparent dialogue over issues of common concern including the consequences of its actions in the sub-region. We expect an equally responsible reply from the Government of Norway.

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