Bharat Rakshak

ankitash wrote:http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011 ... 2%80%A6-2/

Some thugs can’t even name themselves…
Posted on May 24th, 2011
by Malinda Seneviratne

Not sure if this reflects the average Sri Lankan , but, just check out the comments on this page. Quite pacqui !

New Delhi had been sensitive to the plight of the internally displaced. An important step to ameliorate their suffering was the starting of a hospital to provide medical relief. New Delhi also has done commendable work in demining operations, so that the IDPs could return to their original homes. India also has sent 500 tractors so that agricultural operations could commence, but allegations have been made in the Sri Lankan parliament that most of these tractors are being used in the Sinhalese areas. The announcement that New Delhi proposes to construct 50,000 houses for the IDPs was heartily welcomed by the Sri Lankan Tamil community, but the sad fact must be underlined that even after the expiry of several months, the work in this direction is yet to commence. Is the Government of Sri Lanka putting obstacles on the way is a moot question. It may be relevant to mention in this connection that Colombo had been cultivating Beijing and Islamabad to checkmate the growing influence of India in Sri Lanka. Pakistan and China have, for their own reasons, found convergence of interests with Sri Lanka. The two governments have been backing the Sri Lankan Government in international forums. According to media reports two Chinese business houses, China Electrical and Technologies Corporation and Chinese Poly Technologies substantially financed the international seminar Defeating Terrorism: Sri Lankan Experience held in Colombo at the end of May 2011, to synchronise with the second anniversary of the defeat of the Tigers.

Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday adopted a unanimous resolution seeking imposition of economic sanctions on Sri Lanka by India to "rein in" Colombo on the Tamils issue and pressing for speedy rehabilitation of displaced Tamils.

ankitash wrote:http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2011 ... 2%80%A6-2/

Some thugs can’t even name themselves…
Posted on May 24th, 2011
by Malinda Seneviratne

Not sure if this reflects the average Sri Lankan , but, just check out the comments on this page. Quite pacqui !

It was quite well known that the Lankan Tamil question was of marginal interest in the TN election, so Colombo was startled when Jayalalitha gave it such prominence in her first TV appearance as Chief Minister. Her declarations were combative and political analysts in Lanka, trying to understand the reason for her aggressive stance, have attributed it to fallout from the Darusman Report. This is important, since in this case it comes across as moral outrage (like the reaction of the rest of the international community) rather than some brand of opportunist politicking.

If this reading is correct, the significance is that TN is likely to keep up pressure on the Centre (Delhi) on both the need for an international investigation and a political settlement of the Tamil question in Lanka, {the reading has proved to be correct so far} and not barter all away as politicians are wont to do. The cold shoulder that Foreign Minister GL Peries and the president’s brother Basil received in recent weeks in Delhi is explained in Colombo circles in this light. To but it simply, it is being said that Delhi does not want to infuriate the TN state government – quite apart from the fact that it may, on its own, be hugely embarrassed by war crimes and human rights abuse allegations against its erstwhile protégé .

In summary then, the fallout from the Indian state elections of April-May 2011 on Sri Lanka has been unexceptionally beneficial, though adding to the discomfiture of the government in Colombo.

Role of the Think Tanks

The Authors believe that though foreign policy comes under the exclusive domain of the Central Government, Tamil Nadu should and could make constructive inputs into the making of India’s policy towards Sri Lanka and countries in Southeast Asia. But if Tamil Nadu has to play such a role, it pre-supposes that we have dynamic think tanks which undertake in-depth studies and assist in policy formulations. Two Think Tanks – Center for Asia Studies (CAS) and Chennai Centre for China Studies (C3S) – are doing pioneering work in this direction. Started by a group of enlightened former bureaucrats, academicians and former service officers, the CAS and C3S have already made a distinct mark in the intellectual life of the country. Their faculty includes former bureaucrats like Dr. S. Narayan, B Raman and DS Rajan; academicians like Prof. V. Suryanarayan and retired service officers like Commodore RS Vasan and Col R Hariharan.

The website of the C3S is one of the most popular websites in the developing world. And the CAS, during the last two and a half years of its existence, has brought out nine books and monographs and published 180 articles, both in English and in Tamil, and organized number of seminars and lecture discussions. The two think tanks are also interacting with institutions of higher learning in southern states to sensitise the student community about India’s changing strategic environment and foreign policy goals. But the two institutions are unable to expand their activities due to lack of financial support. {the authors plug for their cause} It will be a good idea if the Government of Tamil Nadu, under the new dynamic Chief Minister, comes forth to support these two fledgling institutions, while, at the same time, ensuring their academic and administrative autonomy.

Prasad wrote:Haven't seen it yet. Its pretty late here. But Channel 4 documentary on the Srilankan conflict and killing of civilians -
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sri- ... ing-fields

edit : M'chod! This video is Graphic as hell !! Discretion advised.

India and Sri Lanka on Tuesday resumed sea ferry services for the first time in 30 years, aiming to boost tourism and economic cooperation after the end of Sri Lanka's civil war.

An Indian ferry with a capacity for 1,044 passengers docked at Colombo's port this morning after leaving Tuticorin port.

The ferry will initially operate twice a week, with the journey taking about 10 hours each way, said W. Chandradasa, a director of Sri Lanka's Shipping Corp. Another vessel will be added soon, he said.

Officials said a Sri Lankan ferry would also make the journey within two weeks, and the service could be boosted to three round trips a week, depending on passenger traffic.

India-Sri Lanka naval ties to get stronger
By: Bipin Kumar Singh Date: 2011-06-11 Place: Mumbai

The strained relationship between Indian and Sri Lankan naval forces is all set to ease soon. Aware of imminent threats from terrorists and Somali pirates, both the warring parties have joined hands to curb any untoward incident in the high seas falling in their respective territories. Forty-two officers from the special wing of Sri Lankan navy on Tuesday arrived at the Mumbai international airport with "the sole purpose of making the bond stronger with naval forces here".

Bonhomie: Sri Lankan Navy officials arrive at the international airport
in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pic/Atul Kamble

A Sri Lankan navy personnel said the main purpose of this visit was to make the ties between both the navy stronger. "We are not going to carry out any joint-operation, though," said a senior officer of the Lankan Navy on the condition of anonymity He also revealed that they would visit different sensitive points along with the India officers. "After spending some time with the naval officers in Mumbai, we will move towards Goa and then to Chennai. We will also review what best could be done in the future to curb any untoward incident on these sensitive points," added the officer.

Tension between the Indian Navy and Sri Lanka Navy aggravated after reports appeared in the media that the neighbouring country was allegedly providing shelter to Somali pirates. Sri Lankan Navy has been accused of allowing Somali pirates to refuel their vessels and regroup along the Sri Lankan coastline. Earlier, Defense Minister AK Anthony said, "Our waters are not safe like before as there are some other forces helping them (the pirates). We cannot remain mere spectators."

Colombo, June 10 (TruthDive): With Jayalalitha led AIADMK passing resolutions in the State Assembly asking for economic sanctions against Sri Lanka and to implead in getting back Katchatheevu island, the meeting of National security Advisor Shiva Shanker Menon with her on the eve of the talks with the island nation has deep political significance. Analysts believe that this signals a new beginning and marks the start of changes to India’s policy towards Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka did creditability in winning the war, but will lose its peace unless it changes its mindset. Otherwise it will be brutalising the society. It has to be accountable for its actions to its own people. Then it can care a fig about international opinion because the people will be supporting it wholeheartedly.

while UK remained consistent and continues to be a strong market, India has surged to becoming the number one source market. The 39% growth in May arrivals to Sri Lanka mainly came from India that contributed 55.8% in growth with 16,649 arrivals compared to the 2010 figure of 10,686. He noted that arrivals increased due to promotions and cultural similarities between the two countries

President Rajapakse handed them a flat ‘Nyet’ and for once in a lifetime, I must admit, he spoke the truth. “If I make any devolutionary concessions to the Tamils, 13A Plus, Minus, Divided or Subtracted, it will be curtains for me.” That much is absolutely true; it has been so starkly obvious to anyone who had brains enough to see (so that excludes Delhi), so why on earth it came as a surprise beats me. The government’s parliamentary group met the evening before the esteemed visitors arrived and decided; ‘Let’s tell them the truth straight from the shoulder and upfront; let’s tell them, if we do it we are dead meat.’

The growing Chinese influence has further weakened the Indian approach which, many here contend, was anyway weak on multilateralism in Sri Lanka. Says Dr Hoole, “When India places the onus on bilateral relations, the human and political rights of the Tamils tend to become hostage to Sino-Indian rivalry, as appears the case now.” Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran feels that India’s foreign policy in Sri Lanka has failed, pointing out how New Delhi has been unable to get a devolution package for the north and east. He adds, “India had satellite images of the war...its government knew how many people were killed. India must decide whether it wants to isolate itself from the Sri Lankan Tamils.” With the government change in Tamil Nadu and AIADMK leader Jayalalitha’s negligible influence over the UPA, it scarcely matters that the state assembly recently passed a resolution asking New Delhi to impose economic sanctions on Colombo.

Even pro-government Tamil politician Dharmalingam Siddarthan says human rights issues, if left unattended, would further widen the gap between the Sinhalese and the Tamils. Despite the civil war ending in 2009, the island remains a nation at war with itself.

India should broaden its political agenda from focusing solely on devolution and ensuring the rights of Tamils. Without a reversal of the Sri Lankan government’s growing authoritarianism, centralisation of power and continued repression of dissent, any devolution will be meaningless and the risks of renewed conflict will increase. India’s longstanding interest in a peaceful and politically stable Sri Lanka is best served by strong messages to Colombo to end impunity and reverse the democratic decay that undermines the rights of all Sri Lankans. By raising political concerns that affect all of Sri Lanka’s communities, India can also counter suspicions among Sinhalese and eventually strengthen its hand with the government. This will take some time, but the work should start now.

The resolution, moved by the Chief Minister, cited the Supreme Court's ruling in 1960 in the Berubari case that any agreement on the cession of Indian territory to another country should be ratified by Parliament through an amendment of the Constitution.

U.S. threatens action against Colombo for failure to redress Tamils

The United States on Tuesday hardened its stand against Sri Lanka government cautioning it to take necessary steps to book the perpetrators of alleged war-crimes in the country and to bring together the war-torn north and east with the rest of the country after 26 years of war.

'We hope the Sri Lankans will themselves do this, but if they do not, there will be growing pressure from the international community to examine other options,' it said.

The three-day talks, led by Sri Lankan military secretary Major-General HCP Goonetilleke and Indian Army's additional director general (international cooperation) Major-General I P Singh, will chalk out the programmes to be undertaken by the two armies over the next one year.

We're being told ex-Tamil rebels who were were previously in custody and then released, are eventually ending up raped or murdered by "unknown" men.

Sri Lankan intelligence has two goals to achieve ...

1) Tell the world that military presence is needed to avoid such massacres.

2) To threaten the local Tamils who know the truth

Hundreds of people protested Thursday demanding to know the whereabouts of their family members abducted by "white van squads" allegedly operated by the Sri Lankan government during the height of the country's civil war.

We therefore call on our governments to set a deadline, soon, for satisfactory response from the Sri Lankan government, and if it is not forthcoming to initiate the international arrangements recommended by the report.

Reports like the one compiled for the secretary general must not stand on the shelf. They must be the basis of action. Or the law becomes an ass.

David Miliband and Bernard Kouchner were foreign ministers, respectively, of Britain and France from 2007 to 2010.

Making a case for the 13th amendment

Sri Lankan society needs national reconciliation after the LTTE’s defeat and the war’s conclusion. The claim that the Tamil polity is divided is hollow. True, it is diverse in a party sense, but dominantly represented by the TNA. Only two Tamil parties are represented in parliament. The TNA and the EPDP. Douglas too wants the 13th implemented now, wants an NPC election soon held and for him to be the UPFA chief ministerial candidate. The EPDP party program, calls for the re-merger of the North and East. The 13th amendment is already a part of our basic law and implemented everywhere else in the country. It is overdue for the North in a free and fair election.

The self-assigned label of “protector of Tamils” worn by M. Karunanidhi, former chief minister and DMK supremo, is no longer finding endorsement among those fighting for the Tamil cause. In fact, he is drawing criticism ranging from the mild—“he loves Tamil only in word, not in deed”—to the harsh—“he’s a betrayer of the Tamil cause”. His farcical fast against the genocide of Tamils during his term as chief minister—he’d said, “Let me become one of Sri Lanka President Rajapakse’s victims, it will be my sacrifice on behalf of all Tamils”—and such other actions have led to the perception that he’s an opportunist who clung to power while selling out the Tamil cause.

joshvajohn wrote:http://www.warwithoutwitness.com/index. ... d=40:photo

The Tamil diaspora, which is disillusioned with Karunanidhi, is gushing in its praise of Jayalalitha. “Madam Jayalalitha’s initiative in this tough resolution in the assembly has lifted our morale. We will meet and thank her,” says Charles Antonidas of the London-based Global Tamil Forum. The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations has written to Jayalalitha “bowing our heads in gratitude”. Even fringe Tamil groups have gone overboard praising Jayalalitha. “We will hold a massive rally in Rameswaram to thank her,” says Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath. The Periyar DK and the Manithaneya Makkal Katchi are among the Tamil organisations keen on anointing Jayalalitha with the “savior of Tamils” title.

Dr A.R. Venkatachalapathy, a Tamil writer and professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies, feels that disillusionment with Karunanidhi worsened with his flippant remarks. When the Sri Lankan army marched into an area where the LTTE had holed up using about one lakh non-combatants as a human shield, he had said, “After it rains, it continues to drizzle”, implying that in war, collateral damage is normal. He blotted his copybook further by rushing to Delhi to fight for cabinet berths for his kin in UPA-II, but never once went there to seek intervention for a cause he claimed was dear to him.