Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

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Javee
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Javee »

One of the saner reports out of SL,
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat ... itle=48444

I don't agree about the secessionist problems in TN- I still dont understand why people go on this tangent, none of the major parties in TN are looking to secede and there is no popular movement or support for the fringe parties, but that OT.
Along with that, what also needs to be appreciated is the fact that India is not only capable of making life ‘difficult’ for the Sri Lankan Government, but also, making it ‘comfortable’; as it did in numerous ways during the last stages of the war, and especially diplomatically, especially in Geneva, 2009. That relationship which was strengthened during the last stages of the war, well harnessed and further developed in Geneva-2009 (we remember the support of the Indian Representative in Geneva even after the Special Session concluded) should not have been undermined.

And this latter kind of external relationship can only be maintained if internal policies within Sri Lanka are geared towards addressing the questions of power-sharing and the protection of the rights of Tamil people, especially in the North and the East, in a more sincere and serious manner. Sri Lanka either has to ensure that the political promises made to India are kept [especially regarding the implementation of the 13th Amendment – see, for instance, the ANI report, ‘India feels Lanka has done very little on devolution of power’, 24 March, 2012], or that it is able to move forward peacefully, with sincerity and determination, especially with the Tamil political parties and the TNA, in terms of devising a mechanism of power-sharing which is autochthonous. There are decisions here which Sri Lanka is unwilling to make.

India, then, is neither our best friend nor our worst enemy. Thinking of India in such extreme ways obfuscates the complexities surrounding inter-State relationships, and unnecessarily simplifies the challenge of foreign policy making too. Today, ‘nonalignment’ does not mean that India will always be with Sri Lanka (and against the West) on every conceivable diplomatic and political problem Sri Lanka confronts. That was the old way of thinking. Even the very term ‘nonalignment’, as the former Indian diplomat and politician Mani Shankar Aiyar (MSA) has stated, "was appropriate to a world characterized chiefly by the wooing of the rival superpowers to align with one or the other of their blocs" (MSA, A Time of Transition, p. 257). But after the Cold-War, relationships became much more fluid, much more complex; with such changes, ‘nonalignment’ ceases to become a simple question of voting for or against a State.
krisna
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by krisna »

sonia told PM to vote against SL
According to sources in the Congress party, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Sonia seemed considerably disturbed by the gory photos of Tamil civilians, including LTTE leader Prabhakaran's 12-year-old son, shown on Channel 4, a few days before the Sri Lanka vote. The photos were splashed all over the Tamil media and created quite a storm. Clearly, the two main Tamil parties, the AIADMK and the DMK, were forced to take notice of the people's anger -- and once that happened, the Congress party couldn't have been left far behind.
What is interesting here is that only a few days before the vote in Geneva, on March 22, none other than Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and National Security Adviser Shiv Shanker Menon had been telling Congress party members that India had never voted on a "country-specific" resolution -- in this case, against Sri Lanka. Meaning, it would be nigh impossible for India to change its position this time as well.
perils of power without accountability.

Read also this in J&K thread-- http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 3#p1262803
svenkat
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by svenkat »

LLRC on LTTE shields

Large parts of the 400-page report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission deals with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) – its cold-blooded strategies from the time it was asked to come to the negotiating table, the problems with the ceasefire agreement, and its actions during the final stages of the war. The LLRC relied on the depositions before it to arrive at most of the conclusions.

One detailed representation of the LTTE strategy (of using civilians as human shields during the end stages of the war) went like this: “A civilian who had been displaced with his family since August 2006 stated that the LTTE always mingled with the people even in the NFZs [no-fire zones]. Civilians therefore had tried to escape and move out of the NFZs into safe areas during the night. He further explained that when this happened, the LTTE fired and then the Army returned fire to the place where the LTTE firing came from. On being further questioned on this aspect he stated that when civilians tried to move into government-held areas from the first NFZ, the LTTE prevented them from doing so, and forced them to move to the next NFZ, with the view of using them as a human shield.”

The United States-sponsored resolution makes no reference to the LTTE, which, according to the Sri Lankan side, was a major flaw. The pro-LTTE diaspora took this as an endorsement of the LTTE's activities. The Sri Lankan government was particularly annoyed over this fact.

They feel that the Sri Lankan government was singled
out even though the war was forced on it by the LTTE.


chiragAS
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by chiragAS »

Talk about pakiness being creeping in.
Lanka Having problem with India's Kudankulam nuclear plant. they are taking this to IAEA
I could have understood that they are worried about safety but they are raising it now? what were they doing when we started the constructions years ago.
svinayak
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by svinayak »

viv wrote:Regional views vary across India. Gujratis, Rajasthanis or Kashmiris or Punjabis may have families or kin ship across the border. So do Biharis or UP to Nepal. So do some Bengalis or Assamese or Tripuris to Bangladesh. Would you be equally sanguine if some group there considers their regional well being in contradiction to national well-being? Certainly regional desires have to be considered by the center but the regional parties must weigh their real requirements against emotional kinship driving India's foreign policy. The LTTE generated lots of support and they thought nothing of killing Tamils in Sri Lanka and India. The government has multiple ways to let their concerns be known to SL rather than cast a vote under pressure from a regional partner looking for some brownie points.
India has been partitioned in more than on border. This has been done more than 100 years ago.
THis is a fact and Indians need to recognise it. That is why powers such as US and PRC are able to play against India by working with the smaller nations around India. This needs to be understood very clearly.

These group there considers their regional well being in based on the games being played by the major powers around India. This deadly game has been going on even during the British times and Indians better understand this.
chetak
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by chetak »

chiragAS wrote:Talk about pakiness being creeping in.
Lanka Having problem with India's Kudankulam nuclear plant. they are taking this to IAEA
I could have understood that they are worried about safety but they are raising it now? what were they doing when we started the constructions years ago.
Let them raise it.

Its just like pissing against the wind.

It will just blow back against them.

If the GOI also turns hostile or even indifferent they have no defence against the TN political parties. Even medical treatment for lankans will become difficult.
shyamd
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by shyamd »

Discussions on nuclear safety issues soon: Sri Lankan envoy
R. K. Radhakrishnan
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India and Sri Lanka were engaged bilaterally in nuclear technology-related issues High Commissioners of both countries stationed in New Delhi and Colombo have confirmed. There was no move to take nuclear safety of any other issue to any international forum, they added.

“Discussion on the technical level issues will commence soon,” Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, told The Hindu over phone from New Delhi, when asked about Sri Lanka’s stand on the issue. The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, based in Colombo, Ashok K.Kantha, told The Hindu that a bilateral process was already on, and all the issues, including that of nuclear safety, was being discussed. Appropriate steps will be taken, within the framework of the guidelines provided, he added.

Mr.Kariyawasam said that because of the protests in Kudankulam people in Sri Lanka too had become aware of the issue. These concerns were aired in the bilateral forum, he added. Nuclear safety will be one of the issues discussed in the forum, he added.

Minister takes up issue

The issue came to the fore after the Indian media picked up a comment made by a Sri Lankan Minister over the Indian nuclear power plant at Kudankulam. Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka said that his government will raise the issue at the IAEA meet in September, the Sri Lankan media reported on Sunday.

Mr. Ranawaka, looking for relevance in Sri Lanka’s polity has raised the issue which was initially raised by some of Sri Lanka’s academics a few years ago. Extreme anti-India voices in the ruling UPFA, including Wimal Weerawansa, another India-baiting Minister, have refrained from raising the issue.

Mr.Ranawaka, who is part of the UPFA alliance, and belongs to the Jathika Hela Urumaya party led by Buddhist monks, has been trying to occupy the far-right space in Sri Lankan polity. The party, formed in 2004, is Sinhala nationalist, and has been looking to expand its support base. Sri Lanka has more than 90 Ministers in the rank of Cabinet Ministers, Senior Ministers and Deputy Ministers. For all practical purposes, all major decisions rest with the executive presidency.
Philip
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Philip »

In a cross post from ShyamD in the Iran thread,according to a NYT report,NATO forces are worried about attacking Syria as they did in Libya because of shortcomings in that campaign.Here is a beauty.So much for the west's principled stand on human rights in Sri Lanka!
Pres.Rajapakse,min.Champika Ranawakka,pl. take note!
The report was silent on the controversies that have followed the campaign. These included questions surrounding at least scores of civilian deaths caused by NATO action, which have been documented by independent researchers and the United Nations alike, and accusations by survivors and human rights organizations that alliance naval vessels did not assist boats in distress carrying migrants who later perished at sea.

Fred Abrahams, a special adviser for Human Rights Watch, said the report was consistent with the alliance’s refusal to acknowledge clear mistakes, and revealed a “willful decision not to look at civilian casualties.”
Murugan
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Murugan »

Here somebody is fuming

Clowns Who Had Forgotten Their History

http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2012 ... r-history/
Aditya_V
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Aditya_V »

chiragAS wrote:Talk about pakiness being creeping in.
Lanka Having problem with India's Kudankulam nuclear plant. they are taking this to IAEA
I could have understood that they are worried about safety but they are raising it now? what were they doing when we started the constructions years ago.
I think it would be great idea with Udaykumar, Seeman, Vaiko and few others who campaigned against Kudakundalam pose next to Rajapakse on holding a rally on this issue. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

That would be one helll of a photo.
svenkat
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by svenkat »

They claim that the Bhagavad Gita, Tamil classics and even Sanskrit originated after Christ and under the influence of Christianity. A 2005 conference in New York had the theme, “International Conference on the History of Early Christianity in India.” Senator Hillary Clinton greeted it with the message:

“I am confident that the breadth of resources presented during the conference will shed light on the impact of Christianity on medieval and classical India and its effects on the cultural and political climate of India….”
:shock: :eek:
… For instance, Marvin Olasky, an advisor to President George W. Bush, declared; He goes on to explain to his American readers how Christianity brought many key notions into Hinduism.
From murugan saars link.This nut guy Olaski claims that worship of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva was influenced by 'Saint' Thomas.This crook was adviser to Bush.

I unearthed an incredible report which I am posting in the off-topic thread.
Philip
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Philip »

Sushma is heading the Indian MP's team to the island to examine the R&R activities that have been started and their progress.It is heartening to note the BJP's positive response and unfortunate to note that the two Dravidian TN parties are shying away from going to Lanka,why? Perhaps that the true situ on the ground will contradict their accusations against the GOSL? They are just bothered about their own petty war and care a fig about Tamils in Lanka.Now that the MP's delegation will see for their own eyes the actual situation,interact with local Tamils,plus their elected representatives,its report to Parliament will be keenly waited for.The MP's visit will also earn a lot of goodwill from the Lankans as it will be seen as a positive step and not an intrusive visit as those from western nations.
svenkat
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by svenkat »

The DMK/ADMK are moderate parties.But there is a significant tamizh nationalist element in letters,media,film industry in TN.

Also the sinhalese and tamizh people have different perceptions of history.It is impossible to say who is right or wrong.Both have legitimate claims.India interefered in lanka because of three reasons.1)Indian plantation labour in lanka 2)Anti-tamizh riots/pogrom 3)Fear that tamizh natinalism will be used by western powers to create trouble in TN.

Otherwise,Sinhala-tamizh relations are impossible to resolve within the framework of Indian nationalism.We have no dog in it as both these groups are inherently pro-India and ultimately originate from India.The only possible framework to 'resolve' the issue would be the formation of Pax-Indica wherein both sinhala and tamizh people are warmly ensconced in Mother Indias embrace.But that Pax Indica is still a 'vision' even for people in the Indian mainland.(given caste politics,linguistic water sharing disputes etc)

Let us not forget that in this round of battle,tamils have come out bruised and humiliated in North and Sinhala colonisation is proceeding unabated in East.Its a diferent story that tamils in East were treated as canon fodder by eezham tamils and hence karuna defected.
shyamd
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by shyamd »

Good News and glad some frank dialogue took place

Sushma Swaraj hands over railway line to Sri Lanka
R.K. Radhakrishnan
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When a railway project built with Indian assistance was handed over to Sri Lanka at a railway station here on Thursday, it marked a departure from tradition: it was not an Indian Minister who did the honour but the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, who is leading an Indian parliamentary delegation.

The upgraded coastal railway line, costing $167.4 million, was completed ahead of schedule by an Indian public sector company, IRCON. “I am honoured to be here today to hand over the completed section of the railway track between Galle and Kauthara…Today's ceremony marks the completion of work on the Galle to Kaluthara line in a timely and smooth manner by IRCON International,” said Ms. Swaraj at the ceremony.

Work on phase-1 of the project, from Galle to Matara (42 km), commenced in September 2009 and the upgraded track was opened to traffic on February 16, 2011. The phase-2 work (Kauthara to Galle, 71 km) began in November 2010. The section will be open to traffic from April 19. The upgraded track will have a speed potential of 100 kmph.

Ms. Swaraj emphasised that India was committed to working with the government of Sri Lanka toward the consolidation of peace, prosperity and development. “We will continue to remain closely engaged with government of Sri Lanka to advance the process of rehabilitation, reconstruction and national development. We are also committed to enabling a genuine political settlement,” she said.

Ms. Swaraj earlier visited the Kankasanthurai harbour, where India has completed a $22-million wreck removal project. As many as 10 shipwrecks were removed from the harbour.

It will be fit for operations once dredging operations and construction of a breakwater are completed.

Sushma asserts India is for united Sri Lanka
R.K. Radhakrishnan
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Rajapaksa wanted to discuss issues raised in an informal atmosphere

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa welcomes Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj at his official residence in Colombo on Friday.— PHOTO: AFP

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in an unscheduled breakfast meeting on Friday.

This comes soon after the one-on-one meeting she had with the Sri Lankan Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe. Ms. Swaraj has had meetings with all Sri Lankan Tamil leaders, and has informally met many Ministers and politicians in the past four days.

The invitation was extended to Ms. Swaraj, as Mr. Rajapaksa, who has been closely following the tour of the Indian joint parliamentary delegation, wanted to discuss the issues raised, in an informal atmosphere. Ms Swaraj has been clear that the delegation, being representatives of Parliament, stood for a united Sri Lanka.

At a meeting in Jaffna on April 18, after one member went off on a tangent on the Tamil question, Ms. Swaraj said the Indian Parliament was against terrorism, and for a united Sri Lanka. Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan had repeatedly stated that he wanted a solution within the framework of a united Sri Lanka, she pointed out. The next day, handing over a railway project at Aluthgama, she said a genuine political solution was necessary. She also reiterated India's commitment to remain closely engaged with the Sri Lankan government to advance the process of rehabilitation, reconstruction and national development.

‘India unanimous'

She said both the ruling party and the Opposition in India were on the same side on the issue of political settlement for the Tamils of the Northern Province.

The Indian side has said Ms. Swaraj will share her impressions of the visit on Saturday before leaving for New Delhi.

Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris and President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga were present at the meeting.

A meeting with the whole delegation, slated for later in the evening, was called owing to bad weather. The helicopters ferrying them had to land at Kurunagala, just over 90 km away. This meeting has been rescheduled for Saturday morning.

On Friday, Ms. Swaraj visited Hatton to meet Tamils of Indian origin and to Batticaloa to meet Tamils in the eastern region. In Batticaloa, she inaugurated a vocational training school, and visited SWEA, an NGO that works with young widows.

There are 45,000 widows in the Eastern Province in the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. About 13,000 are under the age of 23.
Colombo must persuade TNA to join talks: Sushma
R. K. Radhakrishnan
Leader of Opposition in the Loksabha Sushma Swaraj, who is leading a 12-member multi-party delegation to Sri Lanka, at SEWA in the Batticaloa, on Friday. Photo : R.K.Radhakrishnan
THE HINDU Leader of Opposition in the Loksabha Sushma Swaraj, who is leading a 12-member multi-party delegation to Sri Lanka, at SEWA in the Batticaloa, on Friday. Photo : R.K.Radhakrishnan

Noting that talks to find a negotiated political solution to the Tamil ethnic question are deadlocked, the Indian parliamentary delegation, which wound up its six-day tour of Sri Lanka, has emphasised to the government that the stalemate has to be ended.

“We told [Sri Lankan] President Mahinda Rajapaksa that this stalemate has to be broken,” said the leader of the delegation, Sushma Swaraj.

“He [Mr. Rajapaksa] said we can't bring them [the Tamil National Alliance, the credible representative of the Tamils living in the Northern Province] by force. I said yes, you can't bring them by force, but you can bring them by persuasion,” she added.

This was the theme running through the visit, she explained. “Persuade the TNA, persuade the UNP [United National Party, the main Opposition party], to join the talks. And unless and until the Parliament Select Committee (PSC) works, the deadlock will remain. So in every meeting, we have emphasised on this point,” she added.

In a joint statement, the delegation hoped that the government would “seize this window of opportunity and follow an enlightened approach to reach a genuine political reconciliation, based on a meaningful devolution of powers, which takes into account the legitimate needs of the Tamil people for equality, dignity, justice and self-respect. We have been assured in the past that this will be done within the framework of “Thirteenth Amendment – Plus.”

Asked if she or the delegation brought up with the President the fact that he had made promises of devolution and a political solution in May 2009 (to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon), in July 2010 (to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh), in January 2012 (to External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna), she said: “We emphasised this point in every meeting. Even today with Mahinda Rajapaksaji and, as you rightly said, we also reminded them that you have given assurance to the Prime Minister of India, the Hon. External Affairs Minister of India and even to me, as the Leader of Opposition [in the Lok Sabha] when I called on him,” she said.

“But they say that Parliamentary Select Committee will discuss this and they said that we are very, very serious. We said that you are not only talking about 13th Amendment but also 13th Amendment plus. That means something more than the devolution of power,” she added.

The delegation also pressed the TNA to rejoin the talks. It appealed to all parties to join the process in the PSC. “He [TNA leader R. Sampanthan] reiterated thrice that he wants a negotiated settlement and that too within the parameters of an undivided and united Sri Lanka. And he said that he is a proud Sri Lankan. We told the government side that if these are the parameters, then there should not be any problem. There is every scope of moving forward,” she said.

Army interference

One of the many points the delegation raised in the meeting with the President related to the Army's increasingly embedded role in society in the Northern Province. “We told them [the government] that Army is interfering in their [Tamils'] personal life, in their civil life. And the President was very candid. He said he would see to it that the Army would not interfere in their civil life,” Ms. Swaraj said.

On the resettlement programme, she noted that the pace of development “is good,” but “a lot remains to be done.” “There is the question of some missing persons also,” she added. On the question of refugees in India returning, she said that if the conditions in Sri Lanka were conducive, then the refugees would have returned. “It is for the Sri Lankan government to create the conditions that they return to their own homeland,” she said.

Asked to comment on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's comments, dismissing the delegation, she said that she would speak to the Chief Minister. “I will specially speak to madam Jayalalithaa that this visit is not a picnic trip; it is not a junket,” she said.
svenkat
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

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Tamils of Eelam need non-partisan political solution: D.Raja
the CPI leader said that there was no space for independent inquiry by the delegation led by the leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj.

The scope of the visit was regimented by Sri Lankan authorities, and displaced Tamils in refugee camps were tutored not to utter uncomfortable truths, the CPI leader alleged, speaking on the sidelines of a party event here.
Ever since the delegation's visit was announced, there was much scepticism about its usefulness, as a similar tour by a group of UPA MPs from Tamil Nadu in the immediate aftermath of the end of the war in 2009 drew only derision from sympathisers of the Tamil cause. Moreover, critics are saying the omission of CPI's D. Raja and Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan, who have been consistently raising their voice in support of the Sri Lankan Tamils both in Parliament and other public platforms, is glaring.

T.K. Rangarajan (CPI-M), a member of the delegation, felt that it could have been useful, had Mr. Raja and Mr. Thirumavalavan been included in the team. Former VCK MLA Ravikumar and Tamils Protection Movement coordinator P. Nedumaran also stress this point.

However, Congress MP E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, who is part of the present delegation, contended that the visit would provide an opportunity to instil confidence in the Sri Lankan Tamils and send a message that India would always stand by them in times of crisis.

Rejecting criticism that the delegation would not be allowed to have a free interaction with the local Tamil population, Mr Natchiappan said: “We will also look into the law-and-order situation, besides the process of demilitarisation in Tamil areas.”

“We are visiting areas where India-sponsored projects are processing. We will meet Tamil leaders and are likely to have a discussion on the 13th amendment and the devolution process. We will have a thorough idea of the situation on the ground before meeting President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” he said.
Col.Hariharans take on Indian Parliamentary delegation to Colombo
svenkat
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

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Indian MPs delegation presses forward on Tamil question
The Indian joint parliamentary delegation spent Tuesday listening to arguments from people on both sides of the Tamil question and exploring the way forward to achieving the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.


While an overseas visit by an Indian Parliamentary delegation normally involves a few courtesy calls, attempts at bonhomie, and a little bit of studying the country, this particular delegation has come to represent India. Two Ministers, the Leader of the Sri Lankan Parliament, 39 MPs, representatives of the main Tamil parties — all had meetings with the delegation, and had extensive discussions on the present situation in Sri Lanka.


Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris explained to the delegation that more than 50 per cent of the Tamils lived outside the Northern Province. He also told them that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission was appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and hence, Sri Lanka was serious about implementing the recommendations of the Commission.


Tough questions


The Indian delegation, headed by Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, asked some very tough questions of both sides. “It is very clear that she [Sushma Swaraj] knows every aspect of the issue from the questions she posed,” said Suresh Premachandran, of the Tamil National Alliance. Congress MP Sudarsana Nachiappan, who has been in touch with the Tamil politicians here, and the government, and Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s T.K. Rangarajan, constantly explored the possibility of recommencing the talks between the TNA and the Sri Lankan government, in their meetings.


“We are for re-commencing the talks,” explained TNA leader R. Sampanthan, after a meeting with the delegation here. “The issue is that both sides should have faith in the talks. The government should come forward,” he said. In a presentation at Parliament, Mr. Sampanthan explained how the Sri Lankan government had broken promise after promise.


Foreign involvement


Insisting that a solution to the Tamil question will only be possible with foreign involvement, Mr. Sampanthan said over a year of talks had not yielded anything on the ground. Asked what he expected the delegation to do — especially since it was not a fact-finding mission or an empowered committee — the TNA leader said he expected the delegation to “present some kind of a report to the government, to their own parties,” and generally make India aware of the events in Sri Lanka since the conclusion of the war.


Mr. Premachandran said the TNA had also brought to the Indian MPs' attention the fact that the high-security zones in the Northern Province still remain occupied by the Amy, that over 800 persons are in government custody without charges, and many thousands are missing.


The delegation also met representatives of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and Ceylon Workers Congress. The TULF handed over a memorandum which made it clear that a “meaningful devolution which can meet the aspirations of the Tamil people, based on the Indian model only can bring permanent peace and reconciliation among the various communities.”
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

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Congress MPs see improvement in condition of Sri Lankan Tamils
The four Congress MPs from Tamil Nadu, who were part of a Parliamentary delegation which concluded its five-day visit to Sri Lanka on Saturday, said here on Saturday that they could see some improvement in the life of Tamils there, but there was also lingering fear among them.

E.M. Sudharsana Natchiappan, M. Krishnassamy, N.S.V. Chitthan and Manicka Tagore were speaking to reporters immediately after their return from the island nation.

It was not a guided tour, as alleged by some parties, the MPs stressed at the press conference held at Sathyamurthi Bhavan, the Congress headquarters here.

“We were able to visit all the places we wanted to and interact with the Tamils in their own places without any army/ police escort,” Mr. Krishnassamy said. However, in some areas, the army could be seen questioning civilians about their movement, even if they visited a temple.

Only 6,000 people were now staying at the Manik Farm, a rehabilitation camp that once housed three lakh persons displaced by war. “These people said they wanted to go back to their native villages as they are languishing there for three years. However, Sri Lankan officials said their return was not possible until the United Nations could certify that the areas had been totally demined.”

The MPs said that they had an opportunity to study the ground situation in various areas where there was a substantial Tamil population.

They were definitely in need of infrastructure, including roads, irrigation facilities. School buildings had been demolished in certain areas.

The Indian government, apart from constructing 50,000 houses, had also helped to form women self-help groups.

“We wanted to tell our brethren there that the Indian government is very much with them. At the same time, our major focus was to impress upon Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa that implementation of the 13 Amendment, ensuring devolution of political powers and making Tamils equal citizens alone could bring about lasting peace. Besides, we wanted him to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC),” Mr. Natchiappan said.

According to the MPs, Mr. Rajapaksa responded that the issue of devolution would be considered by a Select Committee of Parliament.

He also wanted the representatives of the Tamil National Alliance to take part in the process.





RajeshA
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

shyamd wrote:Good News and glad some frank dialogue took place

Sushma Swaraj hands over railway line to Sri Lanka
R.K. Radhakrishnan
When a railway project built with Indian assistance was handed over to Sri Lanka at a railway station here on Thursday, it marked a departure from tradition: it was not an Indian Minister who did the honour but the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, who is leading an Indian parliamentary delegation.

The upgraded coastal railway line, costing $167.4 million, was completed ahead of schedule by an Indian public sector company, IRCON. “I am honoured to be here today to hand over the completed section of the railway track between Galle and Kauthara…Today's ceremony marks the completion of work on the Galle to Kaluthara line in a timely and smooth manner by IRCON International,” said Ms. Swaraj at the ceremony.
It seems INC does not wish to appear to be doing something for the Sri Lankans lest it raises the ire of Tamil Nadu Tamils.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Philip »

Amazing how the most vociferous Indian MPs who parrot an anti-Lankan agenda run shy of ever visiting that country to find out for themselves the truth on the ground!

I don't think that the Cong. was afeared of Sushma inaugurating the rail link,after all,she was the head of the delegation and the honour should've fallen to her by convention.

The "13th amendment" will never ever be implemented,believe you me.It has an unlucky number firstly,and the entire 85% of Lankans other than those residing in the Jaffna Peninsula might opt for it.Even they might noe be against it as earlier,the demand for joining the north and eastern provinces was when the LTTE and its fuhrer ruled the roost over all Tamil speaking indiviiduals in the two provinces.After the defection of the eastern Tamils and Col.Karuna joining the govt.,there is no way that the eastern Tamils will dilute their locla political hegemony to their northern cousins,neither will their northern cousins want their own hegeomony of the peninsula,where they have special land rights,diluted or subject to rule by the eastern Tamils who might cobble an electoral majority along with the Muslims,who were massacred by the LTTE! It is immensely irritating when Indian politicos parrot the "13th amendment" as if it is a "divine incantation" that will bring peace to the island!

The ground realities have changed over the last 25 years,the LTTE have been exterminated and there is no way that the GOSL will allow them back,or their impossible demands back,which will negate the military and political victory obtained at immense cost in human lives and money over a quarter of a century in the island's history.This will also prepare the ground for ushering in a separate state through the back door.What the Tamils of the north wanted during Chelvanayakam's time,"district autonomy",the famous "B-C (Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam) pact",sabotaged by JR Jayawardene decades ago and long before he became pres.,came back to haunt him and the island in more virulent form.District autonomy is eminently possible as a first step and once implemented in full,seen to succeed without fear of separatism,further autonomy can be ushered in the fullness of time.The sooner all Lankans and well-wishers abroad accept this reality,the better the island will be for it.

The GOSL must also be seen to make moves in this direction for both empowering the local Tamils in running the show in their boroughs,as well as showing the international community that they are sincere in the implementation of LLRC findings.Clear cases of human rights/war crimes abuses must be prosecuted and a special judicial team to undertake the same under the control of the Lankan SC would be the best method forward.
Sri Lanka is the world's only example of terrorism defeated to the last man,due in major part to the fact that it is an island nation,something that even the world's most powerful western powers cannot achieve with all their economic and military might in Iraq and Af-Pak!
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by shyamd »

Was 13th Amendment not discussed with Indian MPs?
The events seem to be a replay. It was External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna then. It is India’s Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj’s turn now. A leading newspaper in Sri Lanka has claimed that no discussion was held regarding the devolution of powers to States when the Indian MPs delegation met President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Soon after Mr. Krishna met the President in January 2012, the Indian side released to the press a statement, which said that the President had agreed to the implementation of the 13th Amendment (which grants some powers to the provinces) as a means to cater to the hopes and aspirations of Tamils in the Northern Province. Then too, there was no briefing from the government side. A day later, the government’s preferred newspaper, The Island, quoting the President, said that he did not discuss 13-plus with Mr. Krishna.

Now, it is Ms. Swaraj’s turn. She met the President for an unscheduled breakfast meeting on April 20, and then again, with the MPs delegation on April 21. The delegation was here to study the ground situation, and was the outcome of a heated debate during the last winter session, on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Again, it is The Island that reported that the issue of implementing the 13-plus was not even raised at the meeting between Ms. Swaraj and Mahinda Rajapaksa. “The Sri Lankan Government yesterday strongly denied a statement attributed to Indian Opposition Leader, Sushma Swaraj that her delegation had received an assurance from President Mahinda Rajapaksa of his commitment to the 13th Amendment and his readiness to go even beyond it,” the newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“GoSL sources said that President Rajapaksa had met the Indian Opposition Leader twice on Friday and Saturday, but such an assurance was never given or asked for.

“During Saturday’s breakfast meeting at Temple Trees, President Rajapaksa recalled how India had forced the 13th Amendment on the then Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene. Saturday’s meeting was attended by the entire Indian delegation, along with Indian High Commissioner, Ashok K. Kantha, now engaged in a stepped-up campaign for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, sources said.


“Responding to a query by The Island, sources alleged that an attempt was being made to pressure the government over the devolution process, in the wake of India voting for a resolution moved by the U.S. targeting Sri Lanka at the last sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. In the run-up to the Geneva vote on March 22, India sought an assurance from the GoSL regarding the 13th Amendment, sources said.

“In fact, President Rajapaksa, during Saturday’s meet, had declared that even CWC leader Minister Arumugam Thondaman, who represents the hill country, wouldn’t be comfortable with land and police powers being in the hands of a Chief Minister in line with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

“Sources emphasized that the GoSL’s commitment was for a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), which the President believed could propose a settlement which all parties will agree with,” the newspaper’s page-1 story said.


At a press conference at the end of the visit of the MPs delegation to Sri Lanka, Ms. Swaraj was asked: “You said that the President gave you assurances on a political solution. Even the last time – when Mr. Krishna was here – the Indian side said that the President had agreed to implement the 13th Amendment. But this was denied by the President later…”

This was her reply: “President himself spoke about 13th Amendment plus. So it’s not a question of a Minister saying or denying or confirming. The President himself said 13th Amendment plus.”

This reporter pointed out to her the following: “Sri Lanka has promised devolution of powers to meet the aspirations of Tamils in May 2009 to Ban Ki-moon; in June 2010 to Manmohan Singh; in January 2012 to S.M. Krishna. In your discussions with the Sri Lankan President did you feel that they were serious about devolution?

Ms. Swaraj’s reply: “We emphasised this point in every meeting. Even today with Mahinda Rajapaksa ji and as you rightly said, we also reminded them that you have given assurance to the Prime Minister of India, the Hon. External Affairs Minister of India and even to me, as Leader of Opposition when I called on him. But they say that Parliamentary Select Committee will discuss this and they said that we are very, vey serious. We said that you are not only talking about 13th Amendment but also 13th Amendment plus. That means something more than the devolution of power. And we have emphasised upon them that a stalemate has come. There is a deadlock in talks. We also appealed in that all party meeting that this stalemate has to be broken and we have to move forward. And today also we told the President Mahinda Rajapaksa that this stalemate has to be broken. He said we can’t bring them by force. I said ‘yes, you can’t bring them by force, but you can bring them by persuasion’. Persuade TNA, persuade UNP, to join the talks. And unless and until the Parliament Select Committee works, the deadlock will remain. So in every meeting, we have emphasised on this point.”

Mr. Rajapaksa is in South Korea on a four-day State visit.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by thusitha »

chiragAS wrote:
Talk about pakiness being creeping in.
Lanka Having problem with India's Kudankulam nuclear plant. they are taking this to IAEA
I could have understood that they are worried about safety but they are raising it now? what were they doing when we started the constructions years ago.


Let them raise it.

Its just like pissing against the wind.

It will just blow back against them.

If the GOI also turns hostile or even indifferent they have no defence against the TN political parties. Even medical treatment for lankans will become difficult.
The most likely reason for raising this now is due to what happened in Japan after the Tsunami. I think it is good for every one that people raise their concerns about projects like this. At least this way there would be good disaster recovery plans in place.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by svenkat »

Tamil Eelam must, but through peaceful means: Karunanidhi
Reiterating that a Tamil Eelam alone will offer a permanent solution for the Sri Lankan Tamils, who have been subjected to the “biggest ethnic cleansing of the century,” DMK leader and Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) president M. Karunanidhi on Monday said that the goal should be achieved only through non-violent methods.

Talking to reporters after the first meeting of the revived TESO, an organisation he founded in 1985, Mr. Karunanidhi said that even if the LTTE resurfaced to resume its struggle, the TESO would urge it to follow the path of non-violence. Asked if he had no faith in the armed struggle of the LTTE, Mr. Karunanidhi said, “Anyone committed to a cause and pursuing it with a pure heart and uncompromising fighting spirit will get our respect.”

Asked if LTTE leader Prabhakaran was still alive, the DMK leader said, “There is no death for warriors.”


en his attention was drawn to the claim by CPI (M) leader T.K. Rangarajan, who was part of the Parliamentary team that recently toured Sri Lanka, that none of the Tamil leaders was interested in a separate Eelam, Mr. Karunanidhi said it was possible that the delegation would have met only people with such a viewpoint. “But there are a lot of them who have suffered and there is a need to get their opinion too.”

Asked if the DMK would leave the Congress-led UPA if the Centre refused to support the TESO's demand, Mr. Karunanidhi said he was optimistic that the effort would succeed. “When many countries decided to support the resolution against Sri Lanka in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), India took a belated decision. You should not forget the fact that the DMK's efforts led to India supporting the resolution." Earlier, a resolution adopted at the meeting demanded the United Nations intervene and hold a referendum among Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Tamil diaspora for the formation of a separate Eelam.

“The United Nations will soon take a stand and leave it to the Tamils to decide the question of referendum. Already, a referendum is being conducted among the diaspora. This will create the conditions for recognition of the basic concept of Tamil Eelam adopted at the Vaddukottai conference in 1977.”

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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Roperia »

“India abetted terror in Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s”

‘India’s stance towards Eelam War IV changed in Oct. 2008’

Sri Lankans are pissed! Folks who keep an eye on Lanka may want to comment. Is it because of the vote? Rajapaksa's Secretary conveniently overlooks that IPKF lost thousands of soldiers fighting LTTE cadres and eventually India lost a PM.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by chetak »

Roperia wrote:“India abetted terror in Sri Lanka in the mid-1980s”

‘India’s stance towards Eelam War IV changed in Oct. 2008’

Sri Lankans are pissed! Folks who keep an eye on Lanka may want to comment. Is it because of the vote? Rajapaksa's Secretary conveniently overlooks that IPKF lost thousands of soldiers fighting LTTE cadres and eventually India lost a PM.

It is because of our foolish vote. We should have simply abstained, minded our own business and let sleeping dogs lie before they come looking for us with fangs bared.

The goras have a totally different agenda in mind and a EU gang of ministers have visited the North East without permission from the Min of Home. We have fallen into the trap set for us.

Some UN vulture came to India a few weeks ago and santimoniously held forth on AFSPA and how it should be abolished immediately.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by thusitha »

chetak wrote

It is because of our foolish vote. We should have simply abstained, minded our own business and let sleeping dogs lie before they come looking for us with fangs bared.
I recently travelled in India for the first time. Quite a few people I spoke made the same comment. It is good to know that quite few Indians are not happy how the vote went. Should have at least abstained. I think Sri Lankans forgave India for introducing Terrorism to SL. But now most of SL are again really unhappy the way India handled the situation.
India never directly supported SL in the war against tigers. Therefore I am not sure why India went and supported Tamils against Sri Lanka in UN?
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Karan Dixit »

I think it will be much better to hold a referendum on whether Sri Lanka wants to join The Union of India. This will solve so much problem for so many people. This way we can add Tamil populated area to Tamil Nadu and the Singhla populated area can become a new state of India. We can call it Singhla Pradesh.

Anyway, it is up to Sri Lankans (both Tamils and Singhalas) to decide what they want to do with their future. However, if I were a Sri Lankan, I would vote to join India.
chetak
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by chetak »

Karan Dixit wrote:I think it will be much better to hold a referendum on whether Sri Lanka wants to join The Union of India. This will solve so much problem for so many people. This way we can add Tamil populated area to Tamil Nadu and the Singhla populated area can become a new state of India. We can call it Singhla Pradesh.

Anyway, it is up to Sri Lankans (both Tamils and Singhalas) to decide what they want to do with their future. However, if I were a Sri Lankan, I would vote to join India.
Leave them be sirjee.

Let them stew in their own juice, we have enough problems of our own without trying to full fill a large part of the ltte agenda by merging the lankan tamils with our own. We will very foolishly create our very own east timor here in south India.

This is an aa bayl mujhe mar solution.
chetak
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by chetak »

thusitha wrote:
chetak wrote

It is because of our foolish vote. We should have simply abstained, minded our own business and let sleeping dogs lie before they come looking for us with fangs bared.
I recently travelled in India for the first time. Quite a few people I spoke made the same comment. It is good to know that quite few Indians are not happy how the vote went. Should have at least abstained. I think Sri Lankans forgave India for introducing Terrorism to SL. But now most of SL are again really unhappy the way India handled the situation.
India never directly supported SL in the war against tigers. Therefore I am not sure why India went and supported Tamils against Sri Lanka in UN?
The UN resolution was a bait set to trap India and our fearless leader walked into it. So much for his foolish advisers who cannot not find their own ass in broad daylight with both hands.
Last edited by chetak on 27 May 2012 22:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Karan Dixit »

thusitha wrote:
chetak wrote

It is because of our foolish vote. We should have simply abstained, minded our own business and let sleeping dogs lie before they come looking for us with fangs bared.
I recently travelled in India for the first time. Quite a few people I spoke made the same comment. It is good to know that quite few Indians are not happy how the vote went. Should have at least abstained. I think Sri Lankans forgave India for introducing Terrorism to SL. But now most of SL are again really unhappy the way India handled the situation.
India never directly supported SL in the war against tigers. Therefore I am not sure why India went and supported Tamils against Sri Lanka in UN?
India did not introduce terrorism to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans deserve the full credit especially the Singhala majority. You are pitting citizens of your own country against your own country when you use terms like 'Tamils against Sri Lanka'. I am beginning to see why Tamil minority could be unhappy with Singhala majority.

What you are failing to realize is that Westerners have just started to play their game in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will be in deep 'Inner Pakistaniyat' by the time West is done with Sri Lanka. I hope for the sake of Sri Lanka that average folks in Sri Lanka are bright enough to see this.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by chetak »

Karan Dixit wrote:
thusitha wrote:{quote}
chetak wrote

It is because of our foolish vote. We should have simply abstained, minded our own business and let sleeping dogs lie before they come looking for us with fangs bared.

{/quote}
I recently travelled in India for the first time. Quite a few people I spoke made the same comment. It is good to know that quite few Indians are not happy how the vote went. Should have at least abstained. I think Sri Lankans forgave India for introducing Terrorism to SL. But now most of SL are again really unhappy the way India handled the situation.
India never directly supported SL in the war against tigers. Therefore I am not sure why India went and supported Tamils against Sri Lanka in UN?
India did not introduce terrorism to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans deserve the full credit especially the Singhala majority. You are pitting citizens of your own country against your own country when you use terms like 'Tamils against Sri Lanka'. I am beginning to see why Tamil minority could be unhappy with Singhala majority.

What you are failing to realize is that Westerners have just started to play their game in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will be in deep 'Inner Pakistaniyat' by the time West is done with Sri Lanka. I hope for the sake of Sri Lanka that average folks in Sri Lanka are bright enough to see this.
It's the spillover to India that concerns us. It may have already started. My friends tell me that there is a huge hoarding / poster of papa prabhakaran on the way out of Chennai airport.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Kati »

Need help ....

There was some whispers about maoists trying to get hold of the remaining arms stockpile
left behind by the retreating LTTE cadres. It was alleged that some LTTE sympathizers are
eager to handover some of the stockpile to indian terror groups including maoists. Has this issue
been discussed in this thread? Are there published reports available?
..... Thanks in advance to expert BRFites on this issue.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by thusitha »

Karan Dixit wrote
India did not introduce terrorism to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans deserve the full credit especially the Singhala majority. You are pitting citizens of your own country against your own country when you use terms like 'Tamils against Sri Lanka'. I am beginning to see why Tamil minority could be unhappy with Singhala majority.
So, you accept if a Pakistani write something like this in response to the terrorism in India? The way it is going, LTTE sympathiserers would say the same thing in future. You guys are doing a disservice to your own nation by going soft on terrorism.

No nation deserves Terrorism. Sri Lanka nor India.
Last edited by thusitha on 30 May 2012 18:13, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

thusitha wrote:
Karan Dixit wrote
India did not introduce terrorism to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans deserve the full credit especially the Singhala majority. You are pitting citizens of your own country against your own country when you use terms like 'Tamils against Sri Lanka'. I am beginning to see why Tamil minority could be unhappy with Singhala majority.
So, you accept if a Pakistani write something like this in response to the terrorism in India? The way it is going, LTTE sympathiserers would say the same thing in future. You guys are doing a disservice to your own nation by going soft on terrorism.
thusitha ji,

there is nothing wrong with some introspection on the part of Sri Lankans too. Right now, you have got a wonderful chance to heal the wounds between Singhala and Tamils. You are wasting valuable time. If the conflict again breaks out, you will come again and curse India for inflaming 'terrorism' in Sri Lanka.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by thusitha »

RajeshA

thusitha ji,

there is nothing wrong with some introspection on the part of Sri Lankans too. Right now, you have got a wonderful chance to heal the wounds between Singhala and Tamils. You are wasting valuable time. If the conflict again breaks out, you will come again and curse India for inflaming 'terrorism' in Sri Lanka.
I don't believe India is inflaming 'terrorism' in Sri Lanka. Not after what happened to India. Everyone is aware how awful terrorism is. I recently visited Sri Lanka and the country is doing really well just after three years without war. So give SL a break and let every one in the country resolve their issues peacefully.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by RajeshA »

thusitha wrote:So give SL a break and let every one in the country resolve their issues peacefully.
:)

So you see, you have already started apportioning the blame if something goes wrong!
Last edited by RajeshA on 31 May 2012 13:19, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by thusitha »

pandyan
Post subject: Re: Sri Lanka - News and DiscussionPosted: 31 May 2012 02:45 pm

So, you accept if a Syrian wrote something like "SL killed their own citizens because they spoke a different language, why is the international community going easy on SL?".
Is that a good counter example? We fought against a terrorist organization. Not a rag tag army made up of lot of unorganized civilians. If you are equating SL to Syria, what about your own country? Which killing are you talking about? If it was the '83 killings, we paid a hefty punishment for that. If you are talking about what happened near the end of war, there would have been 4-5 thousand civilian casualties and that is not a large amount in the scheme of things.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Virupaksha »

Thusitha,

When are the provincial elections for the (demerged against 1987 india lanka accord) northern province going to be held?
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by Philip »

The West are howling for SL's head,and the Syrians right now (with a fake BBC pic too!) ,at the same time that the BBC casually announces the latest civilian casualties in Af-Pak from NATO air strikes!

A large percentage of the civilian casualties at the end of the Eelam War in Lanka was due to the use of them as human shields by the LTTE,especially during the latter stages when they were desperately trying to save their own skins,and create accidental civilian casualties by the Lankan army's counterfire.That this was to be exploited as war crimes ,invite foreign intervention in the war and thus save their own backsides,is common knowledge.That there also may have been incidents of what could be labelled as "war crimes" is also not in dispute from the reconciliation teams own findings.But these are likely to be the exception and not the rule.

Ths is the time for nations across the globe to assist the Lankans with positive measures of relief and support and not negative measures like threatening sanctions ,etc.This would ease the pressure opn the GOSL,make them more conducive to accelerating relief and political concessions and be a far better way in which relief and reconciliation could be achieved in the north.
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by AbhiJ »

China assures military assistance to Sri Lanka in any situation
China has assured Sri Lanka that it is prepared to provide military assistance in any emergency situation, catastrophe or otherwise, the military said today.
The Sri Lankan commander, who is visiting China at an invitation of PLA, and the Chinese Minister have pledged to boost military cooperation between their respective countries.
Liang, recalling the historic ties :arrow: :?: that exist between the two countries, has assured Sri Lanka and its Armed Forces of any assistance whatsoever in case of any emergency, catastrophe or otherwise.
Lieutenant General Jayasuriya, observing the unfailing support and excellent understanding that prevails between both countries and respective military establishments, has appreciated the PLA's timely contribution to Sri Lanka's efforts to eliminate terrorism in the country.
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12/J ... 4756CH.php
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Re: Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

Post by thusitha »

China assures military assistance to Sri Lanka in any situation
China's way of saying back off U.S.A. from Asian waters.
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