Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 11 Sep 2012 09:11

Fraying brotherhood over troubled waters - Nirupama Subramanian in The Hindu

But Sri Lankan fishermen in the North find they have a new enemy. It’s the hundreds of boats that put out to sea from the Indian side daily, sailing into Sri Lankan waters as if they belong there.

As Antony Pillai, head of the Jaffna fishermen’s union, told The Hindu ’s Sri Lanka correspondent R.K. Radhakrishnan last month: “They come in large numbers; it’s as if a huge island is moving”.

Bad fishing practices have depleted the catch on the Indian side; all the Indian fishermen want is to get to where the catch now is. Tamil Nadu fishermen organisers, such as U. Arulanandan in Rameswaram, flatly say it is “not possible” to restrict themselves to Indian territorial waters as the marine wealth, and the area on the Indian side, are limited.

Decades of war ensured that at least the marine resources in Sri Lanka’s northern seas were protected, if not lives on land. The International Maritime Boundary Line, for the Indian fishermen, is drawn on water. In Tamil Nadu, all the stress is on the fishermen’s “traditional areas/waters”. The State is still sore that there was no consultation with it before the “imposition of an artificial boundary” in the Palk Straits, and before India ceded Kachchatheevu to Sri Lanka.

But Tamil Nadu fails to see that Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen too have the right to a livelihood.

An agreement between India and Sri Lanka in October 2008 — when Sri Lanka was still in the midst of its war against the LTTE — virtually gave carte blanche to Indian fishermen to cross the IMBL, and venture into Sri Lankan waters except for “sensitive areas” along the Sri Lankan coast, designated by that country’s navy.

Sri Lanka also gave the commitment that there would be “no firing” on Indian vessels; the Tamil Nadu fishermen had to carry valid identity cards issued by the State government.

Only after the war ended did the full impact of this agreement sink in for the Sri Lankan side. Equipped with powerful mechanised boats rigged for sea-bed trawling, Tamil Nadu fishermen have had no qualms about aggrandising the resources on Sri Lanka’s side of the sea. The Sri Lankan fishermen can only watch helplessly as the Indian boats rip their nets, and speed away with the catch, leaving behind a muddied sea in their wake.

The authorities on both sides monitor how many boats cross the IMBL every night. Records for January to June 2012, obtained from Indian government sources, are revealing. In January, 5,166 trawlers were seen crossing the boundary; in February, the number was 6,376; in March, it was 4,740; in April, it came down to 1,050; in May, it dipped to 304; in June, it rose again to 3,026. Checking the identity of each boat is impossible. Every month, 10 per cent or less are recorded as “positively identified”.

The waters where these boats were found fishing? Forget Kachchatheevu, where Indian fishermen claim fishing rights — they were seen even as far away as Pulmoddai and Mullaithivu in eastern Sri Lanka; Chundikulum, Point Pedro and Kankesanthurai; in the islets around Delft Island off the peninsula; and, all the way down to Mannar.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 14 Sep 2012 12:22

Daily pioneer reports that ISI has set up a SIGINT facility in Jaffna. NSCS has moved to ask GoI to take this up with SL authorities

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 14 Sep 2012 18:51

^^Probably dual use telecommunication infra.

nakul · Post by **nakul** » 14 Sep 2012 18:52

Does any bonhomie exist between Sri Lanka & Pakistan? We know that they buy arms from Pakistan & helped them refuel their planes.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 15 Sep 2012 17:56

TN to move SC seeking to expedite Katchatheevu case

Tamil Nadu government on Saturday said it has decided to move the Supreme Court for expediting a pending case seeking that the 1974 and 1976 accords under which Katchatheevu islet was ceded to Sri Lanka by India be declared illegal to pave way for its retrieval.

She had filed a case in the Supreme Court in 2008 in this regard, and after her party was elected to power last year, had moved a resolution in the Assembly seeking to implead the Revenue Department in the case.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 15 Sep 2012 18:29

While I am against the General Eelam rhetoric and attack on Sri Lankans, on the retrival on Katchateevu, Indian leaders have no right to sign away Indian territory be it Katchateevu or Siachen

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 16 Sep 2012 13:23

RoyG wrote:^^Probably dual use telecommunication infra.

They do have significant sigint capabilities.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 28 Sep 2012 08:38

Plain Speaking to Colombo - Edit in The Hindu
Excerpts

It is no secret that New Delhi feels let down by the Rajapaksa government, which allowed Sinhala triumphalism to dictate political discourse on the Tamil question after its victory on the battlefield instead of moving to settle the issue. Reducing the reality of New Delhi’s interest in this to “Tamil Nadu politics” is to miss the point that India is committed to a peaceful and united Sri Lanka, for which a just resolution of the Tamil question is vital. Nor does the ‘China card’ or ‘Pakistan card’ alter the importance of this for India.

Aside from reiterating shared security interests, India’s message to President Rajapaksa on the urgency of finalising a roadmap towards a political resolution of Tamil aspirations comes not a moment too soon. Talks between the government and the Tamil National Alliance, the political grouping that is an electorally proven representative of the Tamils, have so far gone nowhere. The TNA is sceptical of joining a parliamentary select committee; the labours of previous committees to find a solution to the Tamil question have been unceremoniously shelved. With such a track record, the Sri Lankan government has the greater responsibility in taking steps that will convince Tamils of its sincerity. The holding of elections in the Northern Province is the essential first step. An early announcement of a date for the election would make the path to reconciliation in Sri Lanka that much easier.

Very rarely one agrees with The Hindu these days and this is one such rare occasion.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 29 Sep 2012 13:44

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/M-Karunanidhi-calls-another-Teso-meet/articleshow/16597667.cms

A former minister said the Teso meet would discuss party's efforts to approach the United Nations on the Sri Lankan Tamils' plight. DMK treasurer M K Stalin and parliamentary party leader T R Baalu are planning to submit the resolutions of the August Teso conference to the UN and its human rights arm, UNHCR, in Geneva. He said the Centre had been opposing the move to approach the UN, saying that it would embarrass the Union government. Analysts also see the meeting as a move by the DMK to bypass the Centre, which had objected to the Teso meeting held in August passing a resolution seeking a separate Eelam. Karunanidhi had given in to the Congress' request then, but is in no mood to budge now.

Its a TOI report.Do not know how far it is credible.The Chindu is keeping silent.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 03 Oct 2012 09:16

http://www.thehindu.com/news/sri-lankan-army-still-has-vast-presence-in-north-east/article3915391.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/sri-lanka-shuts-manik-farm-idp-camp/article3935374.ece

Sri Lanka on Tuesday shut down Menik Farm, one of the largest refugee camps in world which once housed 300,000 Tamils displaced during the country’s decade-long ethnic war which ended in 2009.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/steps-under-way-for-polls-in-northern-province-rajapaksa/article3919297.ece

Visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Thursday that administrative and other steps were underway to hold elections in the Tamil majority Northern Province.

Both leaders agreed that it would be best for fishermen’s associations to meet and discuss these issues further.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/second-phase-of-indias-largest-aid-project-launched/article3958901.ece

This is part of India’s commitment to build 50,000 houses in Sri Lanka

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 03 Oct 2012 22:24

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/teso-wants-new-delhi-to-do-more-for-sri-lankan-tamils/article3961151.ece

Hinting that India’s rehabilitation efforts for Tamils in post civil war Sri Lanka were “not satisfactory,” the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation on Wednesday asked the government to take the lead ahead of Colombo to ensure their welfare.

India should also move a resolution in the U.N., demanding its intervention to allow the Tamils to decide their rights, a meeting of the recently revived TESO, chaired by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, said.

Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assurance to Mr. Karunanidhi that India placed the “highest and most important” priority on resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils, a TESO resolution said this would give “some solace” to the people of Tamil Nadu.

“At the same time, we believe that India, by proposing a resolution seeking U.N.’s intervention, will put an end to the present situation (of Tamils’ alleged hardships) and enable them choose their rights,” it said, adding India should take all efforts in this regard.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr. Karunanidhi called for more cooperation from the Centre to address the grievances of the ethnic Tamils, alleging they had perennially been at the receiving end of the Sinhalese.

“There is information that it is not satisfactory,” he said when asked if he was satisfied with India’s rehabilitation measures for the Tamils.

India has taken up among others, housing projects for the internally displaced Tamils in the island nation with some of them being handed over to the beneficiaries on Tuesday.

Asking the government to play a proactive role on Tamils’ welfare, the DMK chief said: “The Centre should take the lead ahead of Sri Lanka in ensuring welfare of Tamils. It should respond and cooperate (to this demand),” Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Mr. Karunanidhi, who had led a TESO conference in Chennai on August 12, 2012, said the resolutions adopted at that meeting will be handed over to the U.N. by his party Treasurer M.K. Stalin and MP T.R. Baalu.

An appointment had been sought from the U.N. Secretary General and dates for the visit would be finalised after that, he added.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 04 Oct 2012 16:24

Stalin, Baalu to hand over TESO resolutions to UN

The Centre has granted permission to DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin and the its parliamentary party leader T.R. Baalu to visit New York and Geneva to hand over resolutions passed at a recent conference of the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation (TESO) to the UN Secretary-General and the UN Human Rights Council, DMK president M. Karunanidhi said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters here after a meeting of TESO at the party headquarters, he said that while it was easy for an ordinary citizen to get permission to visit the UN, the Centre’s clearance was mandatory in the case of MPs and MLAs.

The two DMK leaders would leave India after their appointment was confirmed.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 04 Oct 2012 16:30

svenkat wrote:http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/teso-wants-new-delhi-to-do-more-for-sri-lankan-tamils/article3961151.ece

Hinting that India’s rehabilitation efforts for Tamils in post civil war Sri Lanka were “not satisfactory,” the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation on Wednesday asked the government to take the lead ahead of Colombo to ensure their welfare.

India should also move a resolution in the U.N., demanding its intervention to allow the Tamils to decide their rights, a meeting of the recently revived TESO, chaired by DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, said.

Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s assurance to Mr. Karunanidhi that India placed the “highest and most important” priority on resettlement and rehabilitation of displaced Tamils, a TESO resolution said this would give “some solace” to the people of Tamil Nadu.

“At the same time, we believe that India, by proposing a resolution seeking U.N.’s intervention, will put an end to the present situation (of Tamils’ alleged hardships) and enable them choose their rights,” it said, adding India should take all efforts in this regard.

Later, speaking to reporters, Mr. Karunanidhi called for more cooperation from the Centre to address the grievances of the ethnic Tamils, alleging they had perennially been at the receiving end of the Sinhalese.

“There is information that it is not satisfactory,” he said when asked if he was satisfied with India’s rehabilitation measures for the Tamils.

India has taken up among others, housing projects for the internally displaced Tamils in the island nation with some of them being handed over to the beneficiaries on Tuesday.

Asking the government to play a proactive role on Tamils’ welfare, the DMK chief said: “The Centre should take the lead ahead of Sri Lanka in ensuring welfare of Tamils. It should respond and cooperate (to this demand),” Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Mr. Karunanidhi, who had led a TESO conference in Chennai on August 12, 2012, said the resolutions adopted at that meeting will be handed over to the U.N. by his party Treasurer M.K. Stalin and MP T.R. Baalu.

An appointment had been sought from the U.N. Secretary General and dates for the visit would be finalised after that, he added.

Don't trust these buggers.

The resolutions must be made public BEFORE giving it to the UN.

We may land up in a very embarassing position if some thing funny is handed over claiming approval of the Government of India.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 10 Oct 2012 17:02

Hope we reach a solution soon.
TNA delegation to visit India; to meet PM Singh

Press Trust of India / Colombo October 10, 2012, 16:25

With their talks with Sri Lankan government deadlocked, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leaders today left for New Delhi to apprise India of the current situation and seek its intervention in finding a political solution to the three-decade old Tamil question.

The delegation led by TNA Parliamentary Party chief R Sampanthan will be in the Indian capital for a week at the invitation of the Indian government during which they are expected to meet the top political leadership including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"We will discuss with the Indian government issues concerning the Tamil people," TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah said.

The high-level visit has raised hopes in Sri Lanka that India would nudge TNA to join the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee to thrash out a political solution to the conflict that ended in 2009.
The TNA has been opposed to joining the PSC, saying there was no clarity on the agenda. However, the government holds that bilateral talks with TNA falls short of inclusivity of all stake holders in the attempts to achieve a lasting solution.

TNA has given clear hints in the past week that it would seek India's intervention in the process to find a political solution. Party MP Suresh Premachandran had last week said here that the TNA would consider joining the PSC if India sets the agenda for such a forum.

The delegation would also meet with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Minister of State in PMO V Narayanaswamy and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

India has been pushing Sri Lanka to quickly follow-up the military victory, achieved after three decades, with a political solution that fulfills "genuine aspirations" of minority Tamils.

During the meetings, the Indian side is expected to brief the TNA delegation on the recent talks between Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in New Delhi.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 21 Oct 2012 07:55

http://www.caravanmagazine.in/reportage/defeated

The Defeated

nice read on the ending of the sri lankan war and how people are dealing with

nakul · Post by **nakul** » 26 Oct 2012 18:21

India, Lanka hold parleys on furthering defence cooperation

India and Sri Lanka today held discussions on furthering their defence cooperation.

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who is in India on the invitation of National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, called on Defence Minister A K Antony, Defence Ministry officials said here.

He also held a meeting with Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma in which the two are understood to have discussed the entire gamut of military relations between the two sides, they said.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 04 Nov 2012 13:41

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 062602.ece

India should prevail upon the United Nations to have a referendum under its supervision to enable Tamils residing in Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka to determine their future, DMK president M. Karunanidhi said on Saturday.

Elaborating on the memorandum submitted by the DMK to the United Nations, based on the resolution adopted recently in the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation (TESO) conference, he said that the Centre would have understood the importance of the resolution.

DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin and Parliamentary party leader T.R. Baalu met the Deputy General Secretary of the UN Jan Eliasson who promised to look into the issues concerning Sri Lankan Tamils.

In his letter to the UN Deputy General Secretary, Mr. Karunanidhi stated that steps were needed for protecting the lives and rights of Sri Lankan Tamils as “there was no movement towards a mutually acceptable political solution and there were government-sponsored demographic manipulations aimed at eliminating Tamils from their homeland.”

Mr. Karunanidhi reiterated that India should not provide training to Sri Lankan Army.

When told that India continued to offer training despite his objections, he said the Centre would not provide training to the Sri Lankan Army in Tamil Nadu, but in other parts of the country. “Let me just say Tamil Nadu is also part of India.”

The DMK leader said as part of its campaign for a referendum, his party would mobilise international opinion.

Its leaders, including M.K. Stalin, T.R. Baalu, T.K.S. Elangovan and K.S. Radhakrishnan, would participate in a conference to be held in London.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 04 Nov 2012 14:15

Something is afoot.

Bodh Gaya: A Hindu Response

by Romesh Jayaratnam

( October 13, 2012, Kandy, Sri Lanka Guardian) Buddhist petitioners have successfully filed a case at the Indian Supreme Court seeking to overturn the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949. That legislation had enabled a shared Hindu and Buddhist management of Bodh Gaya. Nehru sponsored this consensus arrangement in order to roll back the Saivite Mahant's, until then, exclusive control over temple administration. The Buddhists are now keen to secure monopoly control over what they consider to be their sacred space. It is likely that the panel of two Supreme Court judges looking into the case will rule in their favor, unless checked.

Any change in the shared administrative arrangements of Bodh Gaya should be linked to a resolution of the long-standing dispute over who controls the entirety of the sacred space in Varanasi (Benares) and Mathura, not to mention how Hindu temples are administered in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Hindu activists should make the case for there to be a uniform policy framework that governs all religious institutions in India, be they Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist or Hindu. One can not have separate principles, differentiated by religion, to govern the administration of places of worship where Hindus alone lack say in the running of their own sacred sites.

A Supreme Court ruling that removes a centuries-old Hindu presence in the management of Bodh Gaya will reinvigorate neo-Buddhist radicalism in India. The Ambedkarites will proceed to launch similar litigation to retrieve other alleged Buddhist sites. The long-term goal is to secure international status for Bodh Gaya akin to what the Vatican enjoys and what is claimed for Jerusalem by the Roman Catholic church. The objective is to ensure that the Bodh Gaya enclave is an international entity insulated from Indian law.

The Buddhist petitioners at the Supreme Court include the Japanese-born Bhante Arya Nagarjun Shurai Sasai and ethnic Tibetan Wangdi Tshering of Darjeeling. Bhante Arya Nagarjun is linked to President Mahinda Rajapakse of Sri Lanka. He is a Buddhist radical who routinely attacks Hinduism. He should be extradited to his native Japan where he can preach to his own people whose adherance to Buddhism has been in terminal decline.

The Mauryas and the Guptas helped build and refurbish the temple at Bodh Gaya. The Guptas, while sponsors of the Hindu high tradition, protected Buddhism in the spirit of Hindu tolerance. The Delhi Sultanate sacked Bodh Gaya in the 13th century which was then abandoned and neglected for three hundred years until Ghamandi Giri, a Saivite Hindu Mahant moved into the premises in 1590 thereby preserving the structure. Had he not moved in, the temple would have collapsed due to neglect. The Hindu Mahants had maintained the temple for 300 years. Hinduism, after all, embraces all humanity and promotes religious pluralism.

Varanasi and Mathura

This brings us to the subject of Hindu control of their sacred space in Varanasi and Mathura. The Gyanvapi or Alamgiri Mosque dominates the Varanasi skyline and overshadows the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Hinduism's most sacred place on earth. Hindus consider Varanasi to be the holiest city in the world. The 17th century mosque is situated on the original site of the Kashi Vishwanath temple that was demolished by Aurangzeb. The 71 meter high Islamic minarets are the most conspicuous feature in this epicenter of Hinduism. The mosque was recently expanded and towers above the Hindu sanctum sanctorum.

The Krishna janma bhoomi in Mathura is likewise a very sacred Hindu site. The Shah-i-Idgah mosque stands on the original site of the Krishna Temple demolished by Aurangzeb. The modern Kesava Deo Temple was only rebuilt in 1965 adjacent to the original site.

If the Supreme Court were to rule that Bodh Gaya be under the exclusive management of Buddhists, then the same should apply to the control of Hindu sacred space in Varanasi and Mathura. The immediate linking of the two separate issues will immediately give reason to the Supreme Court and to India's Attorney General to pause before making any hasty judgement on the Bodh Gaya issue.

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments

The Buddhist petitioners demand exclusive Buddhist control over the management of Bodh Gaya. Yet the administration of centuries-old Hindu temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act of Tamil Nadu and the Hindu Religious Institutions Act of Kerala is often subject to ideological and political interference by ruling state governments where atheists with an ideological animus against Hinduism are placed in charge of Temple Management Boards or Devaswoms when ever the DMK and the CPI (M) are in power. Such individuals divert Hindu resources for non-Hindu activity. Hindus need to regain control over the administration and finances of their own temples in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Should the Supreme Court over rule the Bodh Gaya Temple Act, it should in similar fashion over turn the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act and the Hindu Religious Institutions Act.

Buddhist Belligerence

Many a Hindu activist would claim that Hinduism and Buddhism are one and the same. Buddhists do not make that claim or emphasize that affinity. They view themselves as a separate and distinct dispensation.

Buddhist exclusivism has impacted adversely on Hindu interests in Myanmar where one million Tamil, Bengali and Marwari Indians, many of whom were Hindu, were expelled in 1962. It impacted on Bhutan which evicted 107,000 Hindus of Nepalese antecedents between 1985 and 1991. These people had lived in Bhutan since the 1890s.

A Buddhist-sponsored intolerance impacted on Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka disenfranchised one million Tamil Hindu plantation workers of Indian antecedents in 1948 and proceeded to repatriate many of them to India in the 1960s and 1970s. I will omit reference to the subsequent civil war in Sri Lanka that pitted the Sinhalese and indigenous Tamils, 85% of whom are Hindu, with several tens of thousands killed in a 25 year period.

Buddhists have been intruding into Hindu space in Sri Lanka with Buddhist images placed this year within the precincts of the ancient Saivite Hindu temples of Tirukoneswaram (Trincomalee) and Tirukethiswaram (Mannar). Literary evidence indicates that Tirukoneswaram existed as a Hindu place of worship in the 4th century while Tirukethiswaram was already an established and revered Hindu temple in the 7th century.

Kathirkaamam, an old Hindu place of worship dedicated to Skanda or Kartikeya, that may likewise date back 700 years or more, is now exclusively managed by Buddhists. The medieval-era Vishnu Temple at Dondra has a similar Buddhist management. The objective is to erase the distinct Hindu character of these places and to Buddhicize them with a view to deny the Hindu presence in Sri Lankan history.

Nepalese Buddhists led the movement to dis-establish Hinduism as the official religion of Nepal in 2008. They successfully demanded that the 10 day national holiday of Dussehra or Dasain be pruned down to accommodate Buddhist holidays. In all four cases i.e. Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka, Hindu interests were impacted.

Buddhist monks have likewise intruded into the sacred space of the largest Hindu temple in the world - Angkor Wat dedicated to Vishnu in Cambodia.

The Ambedkarite Neo-Buddhist movement in India, inspired by rabid Sinhalese monks such as Saddhatissa Thera, is viciously anti-Hindu. Its denunciations of the Hindu religion are severe, harsh and continuous. They erroneously claim that India's scheduled castes were originally Buddhists and that the Devadasis were descendents of Buddhist nuns! The Ambedkarite neo-Buddhists reject the cardinal Hindu-Buddhist doctrine of rebirth and Samsara. They reject the veneration of the Hindu Gods, revered in traditional Theravada Buddhist societies. The latest litigation at Bodh Gaya is once again an example of the politics of hate. The neo-Buddhist edifice in India is a house of false cards and twisted logic.

Conclusion

It is important therefore to prevent any immediate change in the Bodh Gaya arrangement unless it is linked to a quid pro quo i.e. change in the current arrangements in Varanasi and Mathura, and a revamp in the administration of Hindu religious endowments and Devaswoms.

Further, a change in Bodh Gaya would mean that the Congress party-introduced Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991 that froze the religious affiliation of all places of worship as at 1947 would stand annulled. This would allow Hindu activists to reopen the issue of Varanasi and Mathura, not to mention ensure the institutional autonomy of the cash-rich Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The BJP, in particular, has an obligation to keep a close watch on developments in Bodh Gaya as it impacts on its core constituency in what is a caste-fractured swing state with disproportionate impact on a closely fought national election in the next year.

The Bodh Gaya temple controversy

kish · Post by **kish** » 07 Nov 2012 01:18

Shirani Bandaranayake: Charges set out as impeachment begins

Opposition politicians say the government has moved against Dr Bandaranayake because it was indignant when she hampered the passage of the so-called Divineguma Bill, which centralises previously devolved development funds.

Critics of that bill say it signals the government's intention to prevent regional devolution from being implemented.

Devolution is wanted by the largest Tamil party and by influential powers including India and the US but nationalistic factions in the government have recently been calling for devolution provisions already in the constitution to be scrapped.

One Tamil opposition politician, Mano Ganesan, said the impeachment motion against the judge showed that President Rajapaksa "will not share power".

Rajapakse govt and his policies are certainly turning Srilanka into a southern pakistan for us.

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 10 Dec 2012 21:30

Lanka does a Maldives, raises duties on Indian vehicles by 73%

http://www.firstpost.com/business/lanka ... 51813.html

sooraj · Post by **sooraj** » 10 Dec 2012 21:31

Auto industry cries foul on Sri Lanka's 'anti-India' stand

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-t ... 93227.html

On April 1, the Sri Lankan government decided to increase duties on practically all range of vehicles that are sold in the Sri Lankan market, which impacted the Indian exports to Sri Lanka severely. This is barely seven days after India had voted against the Sri Lankan government for alleged Human Rights violation in the United Nations.

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 12 Dec 2012 09:23

Was reading up a Srilankan Army guy's blog with some interesting info..

http://sf-3.blogspot.in/2008/02/story-o ... -sams.html

...........
Since the 1980s the LTTE SAM threat rose to its height commencing Eelam war III, when within the span of two days it downed two HS748 Avro transports in April 1995. During Eelam war III the Tamil Tigers managed to down 9 SLAF aircraft, 5 of which were MI24 gunships. To bring down these aircrafts the Tigers used a mixture of SA-7, SA-14 and FIM 92A Stinger variants. In addition to these successful hits, the Tamil Tigers have also fired at least 5 more stingers and a SA-14 at Kfir (2x), AN-32 (1x) and MIG27 floggers (3x) without success between 1998-2001. To date according to available information the LTTE have used SA-7, HN-5, SA-14 and FIM92A for its operations against the SLAF.

The SA-7 MANPADs were acquired through the Pakistani Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) in 1994. The Tamil Tigers using its network of vessels aided the ISI run Pakistani terror organisation Harkat-ul-Mujahideen to ship at least two shiploads of arms to the Philipino terror group Moro Islamic Liberation Front. In return the ISI provided the LTTE the much needed SA-7 in addition to AA guns and ammunition as the shipping fee. In 1998 the LTTE acquired a second batch of SA-7 and its Chinese equivalents HN-5 from blackmarket sales in Cambodia. The source of the SA-14s was a Belgian blackmarket arms dealer operating from Bulgaria who diverted a transfer from North Korea to Vietnam and records indicate the transfer taking place in 1998. The FIM92A Stingers were obtained from a Kurdish Guerilla (Kurdistan Workers' party PKK) source in Germany in 1997. These were originally meant for Iraqi forces led by the then President Saddam Hussein courtesy of CIA.
.........

An example from the Sri lankan conflict being the shooting down of CR834 HS748 Avro on the 29th of April 1995. On board was the younger brother of current Air chief Air Marshall Roshan Goonathilaka - Air commodore Shirantha Goonathilaka. The last minute frantic calls by the crew "missile, missile" shed the first light that the Tamil Tigers had indeed laid their hands on MANPADs. This also solved the mystery on the loss of a similar HS 748 the previous day. (combined loss in two incidents was 45+52 =97 souls)

So it seems the Pakis and Chinese (backed by the ubiquitous CIA) have given LTTE the SAM capability which effectively negated the low level flying ops of SLAF over Jaffna upto the late 90s.

Now i hear the Srilankans are putting their money on 6 Thandar Bandars from the Paki+ChiCom combine ....

kish · Post by **kish** » 12 Dec 2012 23:36

^^^ Great catch Lilo Ji. Sri Lankans too got their share of paki perfidy.

Virupaksha · Post by **Virupaksha** » 13 Dec 2012 03:31

sooraj wrote:Auto industry cries foul on Sri Lanka's 'anti-India' stand

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/cnbc-t ... 93227.html

On April 1, the Sri Lankan government decided to increase duties on practically all range of vehicles that are sold in the Sri Lankan market, which impacted the Indian exports to Sri Lanka severely. This is barely seven days after India had voted against the Sri Lankan government for alleged Human Rights violation in the United Nations.

The business interests close to the power are getting hit in neighboring countries... interesting.

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 17 Dec 2012 17:08

She was referring to the huge death toll (estimated to be 40,000 and 70,000 according to two UN reports) that happened within 120 to 130 days inside the ‘No Fire Zones’ because of the use of artillery, mortars, rocket launchers and supersonic jets by the Sri Lankan armed forces

Eelam struggle and the horrific crimes committed by the Sri Lankan State.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 207174.ece

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Dec 2012 12:26

Move to Prevent Unfair Fishing Practices in Sea

Collector K.Nanthakumar said that the government was planning to give more teeth to the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983, to dissuade fishermen from seine fishing and pair trawling even as fishermen admitted that use of the banned fishing practices had led to clashes with Sri Lankan navy and the island fishermen.

Addressing the fishermen grievance day here on Friday, the Collector said the existing punitive provisions of the Act would be strengthened to prevent fishermen from using the banned pair trawling and purse seine fishing.

The Collector was responding when a fisherman admitted that use of pair trawling and seine fishing by Indian fishermen had led to clashes with their Sri Lankan counterparts. He said the Lankan authorities would not even mind Indian fishermen crossing the International Maritime Border Line while fishing but strongly objected to use of pair trawling and purse seine.

Mr U.Arulanandam, president, Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), however, told reporters after the meeting that strict enforcement of Acts and stringent punishment to fishermen, who violated the provisions of the Acts, would not help to solve the issue.

Underlining the need for mutually agreeable agreements between the fishermen of the two countries, he said the understanding reached between fishermen of Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram and Lankan fishermen with regard to the use of mechanised boats had helped to defuse the tense situation on high seas to a greater extent.

As per the existing agreement, fishermen from the three districts would resort to only three days of mechanised boat fishing and they would use country boats for the remaining four days, he said. To resolve the issue permanently, these fishermen should resort to deep sea fishing like their Nagapattinam counterparts, he suggested.

In the meeting, the Collector too advised the fishermen to take up deep sea fishing and make use of the 50 per cent subsidy offered by the government for converting their bottom trawlers for deep sea fishing. Cold storage, long lining, modification in fuel tank and winch drum were required for deep sea fishing, fishermen said.

On pleas by fishermen in Muthupettai and nearby hamlets in the Gulf of Mannar region that they be allowed to fish using Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats when the authorities allowed the Kanniyakumari fishermen to use the boats in the region during their annual fishing, the Collector assured to positively consider their genuine demand.

He said the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Customs have agreed to allow the fishermen to use FRP boats with some restrictions and he was sure of convincing them to allow the fishermen to register the FRP boats for fishing. “I am totally convinced that fishermen in the Gulf of Mannar region could be allowed to fish using FRP boats. The Navy, Coast Guard and Customs should also be convinced,” he said.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 29 Dec 2012 12:33

SSridhar wrote:Move to Prevent Unfair Fishing Practices in Sea
Collector K.Nanthakumar said that the government was planning to give more teeth to the Tamil Nadu Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1983, to dissuade fishermen from seine fishing and pair trawling even as fishermen admitted that use of the banned fishing practices had led to clashes with Sri Lankan navy and the island fishermen.

Addressing the fishermen grievance day here on Friday, the Collector said the existing punitive provisions of the Act would be strengthened to prevent fishermen from using the banned pair trawling and purse seine fishing.

The Collector was responding when a fisherman admitted that use of pair trawling and seine fishing by Indian fishermen had led to clashes with their Sri Lankan counterparts. He said the Lankan authorities would not even mind Indian fishermen crossing the International Maritime Border Line while fishing but strongly objected to use of pair trawling and purse seine.

Mr U.Arulanandam, president, Alliance for the Release of Innocent Fishermen (ARIF), however, told reporters after the meeting that strict enforcement of Acts and stringent punishment to fishermen, who violated the provisions of the Acts, would not help to solve the issue.

Underlining the need for mutually agreeable agreements between the fishermen of the two countries, he said the understanding reached between fishermen of Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram and Lankan fishermen with regard to the use of mechanised boats had helped to defuse the tense situation on high seas to a greater extent.

As per the existing agreement, fishermen from the three districts would resort to only three days of mechanised boat fishing and they would use country boats for the remaining four days, he said. To resolve the issue permanently, these fishermen should resort to deep sea fishing like their Nagapattinam counterparts, he suggested.

In the meeting, the Collector too advised the fishermen to take up deep sea fishing and make use of the 50 per cent subsidy offered by the government for converting their bottom trawlers for deep sea fishing. Cold storage, long lining, modification in fuel tank and winch drum were required for deep sea fishing, fishermen said.

On pleas by fishermen in Muthupettai and nearby hamlets in the Gulf of Mannar region that they be allowed to fish using Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) boats when the authorities allowed the Kanniyakumari fishermen to use the boats in the region during their annual fishing, the Collector assured to positively consider their genuine demand.

He said the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Customs have agreed to allow the fishermen to use FRP boats with some restrictions and he was sure of convincing them to allow the fishermen to register the FRP boats for fishing. “I am totally convinced that fishermen in the Gulf of Mannar region could be allowed to fish using FRP boats. The Navy, Coast Guard and Customs should also be convinced,” he said.

FRP boats don't paint so easily on radar screens.

The basis and true origin of this demand should be investigated as it has grave security implications.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Dec 2012 18:31

The huge duty on Indian autos in the island are allegedly because of the ruling tribes' alleged acquisition of a local car co. which supposedly assembles Chinese/Koprean cars and vehicles.

Tuan · Post by **Tuan** » 16 Jan 2013 10:16

Dear Members,
My name is Kagusthan Ariaratnam aka Murali. I am originally from Sri Lanka and came to Canada in 1997 as a political refugee. While I was attending high school in Jaffna during 1990s, I was forcibly recruited by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), under the demand that at least one member from each family must contribute to the war. I was the first born son, with an older sister and three younger brothers. Since I was the eldest boy I had no choice but to join, otherwise my younger brothers would have faced hardships.
Subsequently, I underwent six months of basic military training and was deployed as a child soldier. In 1993, after completing a one-year intelligence training program, I was appointed as the naval intelligence officer of the LTTE and worked closely with the LTTE leadership. At the age of 20, having broken the LTTE’s arbitrary “code of conduct” by falling in love with a female LTTE soldier, (It is prohibited to have any kind of romantic relationship within the LTTE organization and the punishment for this transgression was death.) I was blackmailed by a superior officer to work for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the Indian government's foreign intelligence agency.
Fear and despair drove me to confess my betrayal to the LTTE. As punishment, the LTTE assigned me to infiltrate the Sri Lankan government. Once safely in Sri Lankan government controlled territory I began working in earnest with the intelligence services of the Sri Lankan military. As a consequence, I became implicated in the fall of the LTTE-held Jaffna peninsula into the Sri Lankan government’s hands. It was during my time with the Sri Lankan military that I studied political violence and international conflicts in detail and became familiar with and passionate about diminishing it. My personal background, history, and experiences in both Sri Lanka and Canada have inspired and motivated me to tell my story to you all.
I am a strong believer in peaceful means to peaceful ends. I helped the Sri Lankan authorities in a great deal to obliterate LTTE only to have a peaceful solution to the 30 year long conflict. But the Sri Lankan government miserably failed in all of its post war initiatives starting from the Manik farm “welfare centers” to the dismissal of the country’s Chief Justice.
It is against this back drop I read about Dr Tahirul Qadri, a Canada-based Islamic scholar of Pakistani origin, goading the public into joining his "long march" to the capital Islamabad. He thunders in his typical furious style by calling upon his people "If you fail to come out, if you fail to strengthen my arms, then [future] generations will rue this day,"
I am no scholar or have the capacity to do what Dr.Qadri is doing, but I would like to call upon my fellow countrymen to wake up and smell the roses. It is time for us, all the Sri Lankans: regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion to rise up against the Sri Lankan government’s wrong doings and make a real change towards a better Sri Lanka.
Inspired by the following:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20998010

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 16 Jan 2013 10:19

^ You should do what Qadri is doing. Go to Pakistan.

Tuan · Post by **Tuan** » 16 Jan 2013 10:28

You're right! But I should do the same in Sri Lanka, but the Rajapaksa & Co. will label me a terrorist and lock me up in "rehab-centers"...

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 16 Jan 2013 10:29

RamaY wrote:^ You should do what Qadri is doing. Go to Pakistan.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 16 Jan 2013 10:50

Tuan wrote:You're right! But I should do the same in Sri Lanka, but the Rajapaksa & Co. will label me a terrorist and lock me up in "rehab-centers"...

Unlike Sri Lanka, Pakistan is a democratic secular nation. By going there and joining Qadri saab, you will gain experience in managing non-state political parties. Then you can apply your experience in Sri Lanka.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 16 Jan 2013 14:19

Tuan wrote:You're right! But I should do the same in Sri Lanka, but the Rajapaksa & Co. will label me a terrorist and lock me up in "rehab-centers"...

Tuan ji,

Yours is indeed a moving story. My sympathies for the life you're forced to live - as a child soldier, and also the hardships you had to face for your affection of a woman.

Your conundrum is that you've in a way double-crossed all the parties concerned, except for your family. Neither the Sri Lankan Tamils nor the Sri Lankan authorities have any reason to sympathize with you and you're not really needed by any.

I don't know what you think you can give any side, other than your story. You'll hardly be able to rally the Tamils behind you nor do the Sri Lankans have any need for you especially now that they have used you "like a condom".

If you have studied politics from up close, you know, you'll not get much of a welcome. LTTE may not have been liked by many Tamils either, but you have had the distinction of betraying them, and with the background that the Tamils have not got anything from the Sri Lankans in return, no peace dividend, the positive worth of that betrayal is much much less.

You like to compare yourself to Qadri. The man has got some Islamist credentials and he wears a topi which all Pakis love, as it is Turkish! He is a Western implant with Pakistani Army collusion. With his Islamist credentials he can probably swing a vote or two in Pakistan.

You on the other hand have neither religious credentials nor nationalist credentials of any kind. All you have is a moving story.

If you've understood some politics, then you know that you probably can build up something but you'll have to start at minus scratch. As of now, you have nothing to build on.

The Tamils of Sri Lanka need some spiritual support after what they have gone through. They need to get back to their spiritual and cultural roots. They need to relearn who they are as a people. LTTE was a fully Christianist institution which played on Tamil nationalism, but perverted all morality that is part of Dharma. The Sri Lankan regime is also a bunch of China-supported goons. So basically Sri Lanka has become a playground for Western and Chinese interests. India is no player there.

You can try to build to the cultural and spiritual backbone of Sri Lankan Tamils if you want. Forget politics for the time! You're tainted material.

JMHO

Sri · Post by **Sri** » 16 Jan 2013 14:38

^^^ Aaiyyo!

I knew there was a torpedo skimming the surface somewhere....

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 16 Jan 2013 20:36

Turan avarkale,
you should post your views on reconciliation,justice,political and cultural rights of tamizh people in SL.I think it will be a very necessary,timely and welcome addition to BRF.

Eezham is a major foreign policy challenge for India,for Pax Indica.We would like both tamizh and sinhala people to flourish in a dharmic environment and be at peace with each other and with India,the mother civilisation of both tamizh and sinhala people.

Your journey so far has been heart rending.You have gone through so much pain,so much violence and hatred.yet it has given you rare perspectives thats given to very few to see the darkest recesses of human mind-the fears,prejudices,aspirations for which men take up arms and fight.In all these ordeals,you must have had the opportunity to see the most fundamental truths,the both basic human urges and impulses and this can help in evaluating the conflicting pulls and pressures,the ephemeral and incidental issues and maybe Ishwara has willed that you play a constructive role in the issues facing SL.

You can may be try to link up with like minded people who want to return to lanka to lead lives of dignity and fulfillment in your homeland.You can post constructive things here keeping in mind that is an Indian forum which is very much interested in a peaceful and just lanka.

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 20 Jan 2013 20:44

Karunanidhi asks PM, Sonia to intervene and prevent Sri Lanka from destroying Tamil culture, Hindu religion

Mahendra · Post by **Mahendra** » 20 Jan 2013 22:19

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 20 Jan 2013 22:37

Tuan

what's your views on the LTTE leadership towards the end???

guess you were lucky not to meet Mathaya's and other fate.

Mahendra · Post by **Mahendra** » 20 Jan 2013 23:55

I was a child soldier too, I was part of Kulyadikar Madhav Shenoy's lashkar that ransacked parts of rural dakshina kannada. Like Qadri, I too returned home to a rousing welcome 12 years later, the rest, as most of BRF would know, is history