What chance of a change for Sri Lanka?

One year ago today, my uncle Lasantha Wickrematunge – one of Sri Lanka’s best-known journalists – was assassinated. For 15 years his paper, the Sunday Leader, was the strongest liberal democratic voice in the country. Despite frequent attacks on its staff and offices, it produced impartial reporting on the brutal civil war and high-level corruption, and thwarted censorship to expose human rights violations.

But just how much difference can there be between the president and one of the chief architects of his war? In the run-up to the election, both face questions in relation to the alleged shooting of surrendering LTTE rebels, unarmed and bearing flags. At this important juncture, the Sri Lankan electorate would do well to revisit Lasantha’s writings………  http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/07/sri-lanka-tamil-election-war

The battle for evidence of ‘war without witnesses’

Accusations of fakery and political bias have been Sri Lanka’s stock in trade in the face of allegations of serious war crimes.

When The Times reported the estimated civilian death toll of 20,000, based on unofficial United Nations figures, the Government responded by claiming that not one non-combatant had perished. When The Times published aerial photographs that had been analysed by defence experts depicting how civilians were caught in government shelling, Colombo dismissed those images too as fakes. The photographs were taken by a Times reporter and other journalists on Sri Lankan military helicopters flying the UN Secretary-General across the battle zone………. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6980115.ece

UN may help Sri Lanka address allegations of human rights abuse

Colombo has also said that by the end of January 2010, it would resettle Tamils uprooted from their homes in the north and initiate a reconciliation process between the Tamil minority and the Sinhalese majority.     Some 300,000 Tamils fled their homes in the country’s north during the government’s final offensive last year, in which more than 7,000 civilians were killed, according to UN reports.     However, hundreds of thousands of Tamils still reportedly languish outside the UN-run detention camps, waiting for the reconstruction process.     On Wednesday, Ban told reporters that he hoped the government would keep its promise………….. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/08/content_12774397.htm

Lasantha: The Courageous Editor who Fearlessly spoke Truth to Power

Remembering “Lassieboy” on the first anniversary of his death  by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

It was on January 8th last year that Lasantha Wickrematunga the Editor of “The Sunday Leader” in Colombo was killed by “unknown” assassins. He was my colleague, editor, friend and above all a kindred soul. How I miss him. There is big vacuum in the media scene after his departure. One whole year has passed but there has been no progress whatsoever in the investigations into the brutal murder. This was to be expected as those responsible are ensconced in the seat of power…………  http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/1291

“We Support without any conditions” – TNA

TNA leader R. Sambanthan stated at a press conference yesterday that the Tamil National Alliance decided to support the opposition common candidate Gen. Sarath Fonseka unconditionally. This press conference was attended by 13 out of 22 MPs of the TNA. He also said that the TNA made this decision without pressure from India or anyone else.

The following are some of the questions raised by journalists and answers given by the TNA. : http://srilankawatch.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=607&Itemid=1

Sampanthan Faction on a journey of revenge against President – Minister

Media and Information Minister, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa today claimed that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had cracked into factions and the “Sampanthan Faction” was now trying a course of revenge on President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Addressing the media at the weekly cabinet briefing at the Department of Government Information, Minister Yapa stated that it was the President who restored law and order, peace, stability, democracy and the right of Tamils to live in the North and East………… http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13113&Itemid=44

Will the hammer of the Tamils nail the President?

• Mr Rajapaksa’s defeat of the Tigers shows he has no qualms about fighting Dirty
• General Fonseka is a Dangerous man – he holds the key to any future War Crimes Charges.

A few weeks ago Sri Lanka’s upcoming general election looked like a walk in the park for the incumbent, President Rajapaksa, who was riding high on the kudos of ending the country’s long-running civil war. While Western human rights groups and governments railed at his abuses of power, at home the folksy President spoke confidently of his re-election in the first fully nationwide poll to be held in Sri Lanka for more than three decades.

That was before his own general, Sarath Fonseka, who led the offensive that crushed the Tamil Tigers, turned on the President and put himself forward as the candidate for the opposition. That motley coalition of parties has only one goal: to beat Mr Rajapaksa………..  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/world_agenda/article6977881.ece

General offers amnesty for LTTE

A Journalist has named the brigade and command officers involved in the execution of surrendering LTTE combatants in Sri Lanka, in the early hours of May 18th 2009.  Names of those Command Officers involved in alleaged War Crimes are, 

• Special Forces Regiment were deployed alongside the 59 division : Commanded then by Col. Athula Kodipilli.
• Special Force battalions 1-SF led by Maj. Mahinda Ranasinghe
• 2-SF led by Maj. Vipulathilake Ihalage.
• Golf squad under Capt. Chaminda Gunasekera ,
• Romeo squad under Capt.Kavinda Abeywardene,
• Echo squad led by Maj. Kosala Wijekone
• Delta squad led by Capt. Lasantha Ratnasekera.
• 59 division led by Prasanna Silva
• 58 div led by Shavendra Silva
• 53 div led by Kamal Gunaratne
• Task Force 8 led by Col Ravipriya

The Golf and Romeo squads were from 1SF while theEcho and Delta squads were from 2SF.

“.. From the Government side those in the loop were President Mahinda Rajapakse, Presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, Parliamentarian and Special adviser to the President Basil Rajapakse and then Foreign secretary Palitha Kohona ..” (continue reading…)

Rajiv Gandhi was NOT Assassinated by LTTE – a shocking report by Trichy Velusamy (Congress Politician and important witness of Jain Commission)

http://www.kuraltv.com/old/video-truth-1.html

http://www.kuraltv.com/old/video-truth-2.html

http://www.kuraltv.com/old/video-truth-3.html

http://www.kuraltv.com/old/video-truth-4.html

http://www.kuraltv.com/old/video-truth.html

A secret mission to Sri Lanka  : http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040425/spectrum/main1.htm

Who Really killed Rajiv Gandhi? : http://www.tamilnation.org/intframe/india/rajiv/92baker.htm

Press conference in jaffna Bastian hotel

Comrade Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarathne

After 20 years he visits Jaffna and he directly seen the condition of Jaffna. Both candidates responsible for this situation Tamil peoples supports Left Front and national liberation Forces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXgzuH9scmU&feature=email

Sivajilingam in Left front Press conference in jaffna 2010-01-01

In Morning and Evening Left Front organized public meeting at Modara, near the Nal uoor kandasami temple, Nawalar road in Jaffna. After both meetings Tamil peoples and Muslim peoples explain their present problem to Dr. Vickaramabahu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZeT7Lh83rU&feature=email

Ajith Rupasingha in Left front jaffna Press conference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLQfUF_6OZw&feature=email (continue reading…)

Former mayor of Kingston made MBE in New Year’s Honours…

 by eelamranjan.

The former mayor of Kingston Councillor Yogan Yoganathan has been made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours.

The Lib Dem councillor, who represents St Mark’s ward in Surbiton, has been recognised for services to local government and community relations in north Surrey.

Coun Yoganathan, originally from Sri Lanka, was mayor between 2005 and 2006 and set out an agenda of helping the elderly and the young by choosing to support the Magic Roundabout counselling service for children, the environmental youth charity Save the World Club and the Milaap Centre for elderly people.

(continue reading…)

I’ll show who killed the journalists: Fonseka

General Sarath Fonseka said yesterday that he would hold inquiries and arrest those who had been behind the killings and assaults of journalists, within 24 hours of assuming office if elected president. “Some say I killed journalists and harassed them but I will show who is behind those acts and put them behind bars within 24 hours of coming to power,” he said.

Media hindered move to take over LTTE aircraft – FM

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that Sri Lanka’s efforts to seize LTTE assets overseas, including some aircraft could be jeopardised by reports revealing the ongoing negotiations with the international community. He told The Island that recent press reports concerning several aircraft owned by the LTTE kept in a particular country had hindered Sri Lanka’s efforts to take them over………… http://www.island.lk/2010/01/01/news1.html

Mano challenges govt. to reveal swimming pool ‘shots’ with P’karan

Democratic People’s Front leader Mano Ganeshan yesterday said that he would quit politics if anyone produced evidence that he had been with Velupillai Prabhakaran in the LTTE leader’s swimming pool in the Vanni. Responding to heavy propaganda attacks, particularly by National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, he challenged the government to play the ‘VCD which allegedly contained a film of him and Prabhakaran taken a few years ago’…………. http://www.island.lk/2010/01/01/news5.html

Q+A – Key factors in Sri Lanka’s presidential poll

Three Sri Lankans have been arrested during a police chase in Northamptonshire.

The Sri Lankan nationals – aged 26, 33 and 36 – were arrested in a white van at junction 15a on the M1 on Monday afternoon.

The police helicopter was tracking the vehicle following an armed robbery at a cash and carry on the Lodge Farm industrial estate in Duston. The manager was threatened by two men, one of whom had a handgun, but they only took his mobile phone. The men, one of whom has an address in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, are being questioned at Weston Favell police station in Northampton.

by eelamranjan

 The online shopping pulikalinkuralstore…

 by eelamranjan 

 

Heavy snow is forecast across much of the UK during Tuesday, with several severe weather warnings in place.

The Met Office says northern Scotland, north east and central England and east Wales are all at risk, with up to 25cm (10in) possible on high ground.

Widespread icy roads are also likely across much of the northern UK and eastern Northern Ireland.

Transport services and power supplies are likely to face disruption, the Met Office added.

Blizzard conditions’

Overnight temperatures on Monday could fall as low as -8C in parts of Scotland and warnings of up to 10cm (4in) of snow are in place for Grampian, Orkney and Shetland, Highlands and Eilean Siar.

(continue reading…)

http://www.irishtamilforum.com/

http://www.irishtamilforum.com/

New Tamil National Website……

http://www.ilankai.com/

http://www.ilankai.com/

by eelamranjan

பாலனே…!!
இன்றோடு பல்லாயிரம் தடவை…
ஜனித்திட்டாய்.. நீ…!!

உன் பிறப்போடு பிறந்திடுமா…
தமிழீழம் என்று பார்த்திருந்து,,
கடந்து போன நத்தார்கள் பலவாகி….
கண்ணீரோடு…
இன்றும் பிறக்க போகும்
புதிய சிசு பாலனுக்காய்
காத்திருக்கின்றோம்…பல
கனவுகளோடு…. (continue reading…)

 by eelamranjan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6mJdw6cVOM&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6mJdw6cVOM&feature=player_embedded

Tamil leaders are not realists ?

Yes Mr G.G Ponnambalam put forward the balance representation or fifty fifty demand during the 1940s.But when his demand was rejected he became a Minister in the Government of DS Senanaike and became an enthusiastic supporter of the unitary Soulbury constitution and claimed paternity for the section 29 of that constitution.

Was he not a realist? (continue reading…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cpkDbLWhKk&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cpkDbLWhKk&feature=player_embedded

by eelamranjan

Whether the armed group functioning in the Eastern province, belongs to Karuna’s?

Reports states, a movement called the Peoples Liberation army which has originated in the Eastern province, belongs to Karuna alias Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan. Reports states, this movement was originated to give pressure to the government but later it is functioning to support the government, and weapons are supplied by the government is according to information. (continue reading…)

National Leader Prabakaran’s Daughter Dwaraka’s photos released – Most Shocking.

There is freedom even to kill a man -Defense Secretary Gotabaya

(Lanka-e-News, Dec.12, 2009, 7.00PM) ‘Yes, you have freedom. You have freedom even to kill’ !
A comment like this was not even made by the most brutal Dictator Hitler. But, sadly it is being told by The Defense Secretary who is also the brother of Mahinda Rajapakse, the President of the Democratic socialist republic of Sri Lanka. (continue reading…)

Only 600 families of the 16,000 resettled IDP families receive food items

TNA parliamentarian Sivashakthi Anandan says that Vavuniya GA P.S.M. Charles had informed him that the essential food items sent by the government to be handed over to 16,000 resettled families was sufficient only for 600 families.

The parliamentarian also said that although there were about 2,000 IDPs who arrived in the Vavuniya Hospital for treatment on a daily basis, the government had not taken any steps to address the issue.

President considering Douglas Devananda a big liability

The non-Cabinet minister and the paramilitary leader Douglas Devananda (Doug or Doughy) publicly claimed that his ten point proposal to resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka was accepted by the President. According to news published elsewhere and verified with Doug’s party sources, in fact the President had grinned at him when Doug explained and handed over his proposal. At the end of the meeting with the President, Doug has asked for Sally (Money) for his work in the north. For this too the President had given a big grin.

Minister Douglas Devananda who is well known as Doug and Doughy amongst his close friends has publicly misled the people by claiming that his proposal has been accepted by the President………………. http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/12/president-considering-doug-big.html 

Rajapaksha trying to con India again

“It must be remembered, Indian policy will not change whether under Fonseka or Rajapaksha is elected. But it is clear General Fonseka will never fiddle with India as like Rajapaksha doing during his term as President.”
Three Presidential representatives rushed to New Delhi for meetings with the Indian Ministers and Officials on 9th and 10th. Normalcy in Sri Lanka is helping Prime Minister Manmohan Singh government and issues involved in the bilateral relations at present are just irritants compared to various serious issues facing India.

 Executive presidency not the culprit

• It is the chauvinist policy of the JVP to raise the issue of the executive presidency in order to push the devolution issue under the carpet.
• Mahinda regime backed by the Brahmins of Delhi and the western powers would have done this devastation to Sri Lanka.
• So, in the end we have to stomach that the genocidal attacks on the Tamil people, attacks and discrimination against the Muslims, attacks on Christian churches etc. are all due to the executive presidency.

 The point is, that it is wrong to say that the executive presidency was the reason for Mahinda’s incapacity to work for a political solution to the Tamil national problem. Mahinda should be defeated for his repressive and reactionary attitude to the Tamil national problem, for breeding majority chauvinism and for following the agenda of foreign plunderers. But, in place of that if we implant a reactionary general in the name of tranfering executive power, we may end up in a total wilderness…. http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/12/executive-presidency-not-culprit.html

Prudent 2 point program for pragmatic Tamil Politics

by Dayan Jayatilleka

1. Military defeat of Prabhakaran and the Tigers, who were thought invincible by the Tamil community.
2. The ability of the Sri Lankan state/the Sinhalese/the South, to impose a defeat on the Tigers without a political package as prerequisite, parallel or postscript.
3. The inability or unwillingness of the international community/world opinion – Western and regional—to either halt the military offensive and drive the Sri Lankan state either to the negotiating table or a devolution package.
4. The disappearance of the pacifist neoliberal candidate (Wickremesinghe) and the emergence instead of a bipartisan consensus of sorts, with two Sinhala nationalist candidates, the one populist and the other militarist, neither of whom will compromise on secession, terrorism, and the unitary state.

“For their part, Tamil leaders have not yet made anticipated conciliatory gestures that might ease government concerns and foster a genuine dialogue”- Sri Lanka: Re-charting US Strategy after the War, US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Dec 7, 2009

“The Tamils have to decide whether they wish to be like the Palestinians and keep insisting on first principles, or be like the Catholic minority of Northern Ireland. Irish Republicanism has arrived at a settlement, without the achievement of any of its historic aims and demands: independence from the UK, the unification of the 26 Counties, the removal of British troops and liberation from the British monarchy. Even those responsible for the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1972 have yet to be punished. If after 450 (taking the long view) or 30 years of struggle, and the failure of the British army to eliminate the IRA militarily – in contrast to the decisive Sri Lankan military achievement—the Sinn Fein and the Northern Ireland’s Catholics have settled for devolution and economic prosperity within a unitary state, why shouldn’t Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority? What’s good enough for Gerry Adams and Martin MacGuinness should surely be good enough for the leaders of the Tamil National Alliance— and as they say in Parliament, if so when and if not, why?”

Sri Lanka is a work in progress, a jigsaw puzzle that we have never been able to complete because the pieces haven’t been fitted together correctly.

The Sinhalese and Tamil ‘pieces’ of the jigsaw want places bigger than the spaces available that would permit the whole to fit together. Both the Sinhalese and Tamils overestimate themselves and underestimate the other. The Sinhalese overestimate their local preponderance while underestimating their external vulnerability as well as the vulnerability of the jigsaw puzzle as a whole. The Tamils overestimate their external spread while underestimating their domestic weakness……………… http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/12/prudent_2_point_program_for_pr.html

TMVP sways, keeps options open again

The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), the largest political party in the East, now wants voters to support “a candidate who has the backing of a political party” that would resolve Tamil grievances. This official position of the party was declared in a statement (issued in Tamil) by the TMVP after a politburo meeting on Friday.

After the meeting with Basil Rajapaksa, Mr. Chandrakanthan said, he had announced at a news conference in Colombo that the TMVP would not demand powers under this Constitutional amendment for Eastern Provincial Councils. “Members were not happy that I made this statement. They are in fact seeking more powers,” he said. Friday’s statement urged a package beyond the 13th amendment to the Constitution…………….. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/091213/News/nws_01.html

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of withholding information about attacks against journalists.

SLFP M Wing Leader Mangala Samaraweera on Thursday accused Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of withholding information about attacks against journalists. Holding up an issue of the Lankadeepa newspaper, in which Rajapaksa claims to have knowledge about the attacks, Samaraweera said that the Defence Secretary had admitted wrongdoing.

“If he had knowledge of attacks on journalists, why did he keep silent until now?” Samaraweera queried at a press conference on Thursday. “This is a very serious matter – it almost makes him an accomplice to the crime. Withholding information about an investigation is clearly a violation of the laws of the land.” Sarath Fonseka was originally scheduled to speak at the press conference, which was held in the basement of Fonseka’s campaign headquarters, but had to cancel because of a busy schedule. Instead, Samaraweera was joined by JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake…. (continue reading…)

Robert Blake states in Colombo that no action would be taken by US Govt against US lawyer Visvanathan Rudrakumaran. Blake said that  “From what we know Rudrakumaran has not committed crimes in the US. Therefore we will not be taking any action.” Blake refused to comment about issue of US officials asking Sarath Fonseka to provide war – crimes evidence against Gotabhaya Rajapakse………….. http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/12/no_action_against_us_lawyer_vi.html

Press release:

Subject to the press release made by a Mr Rajanathan Prabaharan, member of the Batticaloa Municipal Council and General-Secretary of the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) party in the Sri Lankan news media published on 6th December 2009, we wish to set the record straight and inform the media, including all political parties functioning in Sri Lanka, and the Tamil Diaspora and news readers that there is no longer any relationship or connection with the Eelavar Democratic Front (EDF) and the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation of Students otherwise known as the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation (EROS). (continue reading…)

On Friday evening the Police said that  ”The Four Abducted youths who were taken in White Van on wednesday night” were ”arrested” by the STF and NOT abducted. Such abductions and Killings are known to be done by the government forces mainly in Colombo and a Leading  government politition is suspected to being the ring leader.

The four men who had gone missing on Wednesday night and were believed to have been abducted were “arrested” from Kitulwatta road, behind the Borella cemetery on Thursday evening by the Special Task Force (STF), police media spokesman SSP I.M Karunaratne said. Following the arrest the suspects had been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Division for further investigations says the STF.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem yesterday said that his party would back the common opposition candidate General Sarath Fonseka, and stressed for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution so that the provincial councils could enjoy all the powers devolved to them. Mr. Hakeem made this point addressing a seminar organised by the party for its members on Tuesday.

He said the provincial councils were given only 40 percent of the powers under the constitution, while the central government holds the remaining powers. “This is why we called for a change in the devolution of power, together with the abolition of the executive presidency,” he said highlighting the fact that presidency is a hindrance to a proper devolution of power……….. (continue reading…)

By Patrick Ratnaraja

From Mr David Gold who  is the Conservative Party candidate for the Eltham constituency, chosen by the public to contest the seat at the next election.

I had the honour of speaking at the National Day of Remembrance for the British Tamil community at Excel Centre in Docklands.  The dignity and scale of the event was very sobering, and it was humbling to be received with such gratitude.  Along with David Cameron, William Hague and Liam Fox, I wish a peaceful resolution can be found in Sri Lanka, and the Tamil people given their rightful stake in their homeland once again.

The size of the audience was staggering – thousands and thousands of people quietly queuing to lay a rose on the temporary memorial to the tens of thousands killed in the conflict in Sri Lanka, while politicians of all political parties were invited to speak from the main stage.  (continue reading…)

Sri Lanka as the host for Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 was endorsed on a proposal made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the CHOGM held in Trinidad & Tobago from 27 – 29 November 2009.

Since Australia and Mauritius had also offered to be host, Prime Minister Brown had pointed out that all three countries are equally qualified and it was decided by the Commonwealth Heads of Government that they host the 2011 and 2015 CHOGMs respectively. (continue reading…)

Minorities cannot support Rtd General – ‘General’s statement on minorities forgotten’

“How can members of the minority communities with any dignity support General Sarath Fonseka, the common Presidential candidate of the Opposition who once said that the country belonged to the majority community and the minorities were visitors here and had no claim to any rights?” This was posed by former Colombo Deputy Mayor Azath Sally, one among the latest UNP dissidents.

General Fonseka’s statement in this regard made to the National Post, Canada was reproduced in the Daily Mirror of September 26 and twelve political parties including the UNP, SLMC, DWC and CWC held a meeting to express their protests but today all of them seemed to have conveniently forgotten it for their own political ends, he said. He along with some others opposed the party decision at its Working Commitee meeting, the highest decision making body of the party, and consequently he was expelled from the Committee, he said. Sally said General Fonseka was not only a common candidate of the opposition but also a ‘common candidate of a foreign power’ who was now looking for a house at a monthly rent of Rs. 500,000 and an office at one million rupees. (continue reading…)

by eelamranjan….

Kopay Maveerar Cemetary Jaffna.

link… http://www.eelamweb.com/grave/.

Oppressed minorities expect justice from intergovernmental bodies - Tamil Women for Justice and Peace

It’s the intergovernmentl bodies that oppressed ethnic minorities can look up to, for justice that is denied by their own national governments. But they turn out to be platforms for oppressors to propogate injustice.  Is there an international law for intergovernmental bodies?

It has to be investigated how the United Nations could play a more preventive role, e.g. by giving ethnic minorities more recognized formal standing in United Nations organs and proceedings, by creating better opportunities for minorities to call on the United Nations, or by giving the United Nations an arbitration role in emerging conflicts. …..’’ (continue reading…)

Rather than focusing on the stories about Ram and Nagulan and the information provided by them, it is more important to focus on the motives of the Sri Lankan government in orchestrating a complete decimation of the Tamil struggle using them as their vehicle, says LTTE Intelligence wing

A media release by the LTTE’s Department of Intelligence brings out the truth behind the incidents related to Ram and Nagulan.

Media Release: (continue reading…)

Today is the day we remember with gratitude and pray our martyrs, who dedicated their lives to uphold Tamil nationalism and to save guard the Tamil homeland.

Today is the day we strongly express to the world our desire for freedom and our determination to achieve it. Maveerar Naal – 2009 becomes more significant in this regard as the Sinhala rulers boast about decimating the Tamil Nationality and destroying the People force that stood up to save guard it, says a statement released by the Committee for the formation of Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam……….. (continue reading…)

Flying LTTE Flag is NOT considered a Criminal Offence.

With the largest numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils outside the island, dreams of a separate Tamil homeland are still nurtured in Canada.

 In Toronto’s east end, Scarborough, what some call the ‘real capital of Eelam’, a few expatriate Sri Lankan Tamils continue to attach LTTE flags to their cars as others would a local ice-hockey team’s pennant. The LTTE was listed as a terrorist organisation in Canada in 2006, but flying its flag is NOT considered a criminal offence. “There is a fundamental difference between expressing freedom of speech under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and participating in, facilitating or providing material support to a terrorist group,” says Canada’s Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism  Minister, Jason Kenny. (continue reading…)

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

November 25 has been marked as the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women by women activists worldwide. This day is marked with the brutal assassination, in 1961, of the three Mirabal sisters who were political activists in the Dominican Republic. The Mirabal sisters are a symbol of resistance against the dictatorship in the Dominican Republic then. Since 1981 women’s activists have celebrated this day as the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women to gain momentum and solidarity in their struggle against violence against women……………. (continue reading…)

Wickramabahu to contest the Presidential elections

New Left Front leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratna, speaking to reporters in Colombo a short while ago, said that he will contest the upcoming Presidential elections. He will contest against President Mahinda Rajapaksa and possibly General Sarath Fonseka who is scheduled to confirm this week if he will run for the post.

http://www.pulikalinkural.com/

by eelamranjan

Tamil Parties Recognize Need for Unity and Consensus for Durable Solution

Press Release

After a three-day conference in Switzerland, the political parties of the Tamil speaking peoples of Sri Lanka, recognizing the need for unity and consensus, committed themselves to the engagement by all segments of society towards a just and durable political solution in the island through a dignified, respectful and peaceful process. The parties also agreed to continue the discussions. (continue reading…)

The U.N. humanitarian chief on Monday called Sri Lanka’s decision to release Tamil refugees confined to government camps since the end of the country’s 25-year civil war “good news” but said the United Nations is concerned about how they are being returned home.

John Holmes, who just returned from Sri Lanka, said the U.N. would have liked _ and still wants _ more consultation with the detainees and opportunities for them to see their home areas before going back, as called for in U.N. guidelines. The U.N. has also expressed concern to the government about the lack of advance notice to U.N. agencies to prepare to assist the Tamils returning home, he said………………… (continue reading…)

Jewels confiscated by the forces, will it reach the people?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/11/20/2749455.htm

Perth’s Tamil community has been affected by the plight of Sri Lankan asylum seekers heading to Australia for refuge.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/11/20/2749455.htm

BY EELAMRANJAN 

THREE Liverpool convenience stores caught selling smuggled alcohol have escaped losing their licences. The Freshway shops in London Road, Hatton Garden in the city centre and Walton’s Cherry Avenue all had their licences to sell alcohol suspended last month after trading standards officers found they were selling smuggled vodka, whisky and wine.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2009/11/20/three-city-centre-stores-escape-losing-their-licences-after-being-caught-selling-smuggled-alcohol-100252-25211250/

At a meeting of Liverpool’s licensing and gambling sub-committee yesterday councillors ruled that all three stores could retain their alcohol licences, but with a number of strict conditions attached. The licences will remain suspended for the next 21 days to allow for objections to be made, including any from Merseyside police, or for any appeal by Freshway.

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Tamils, Muslims ‘to go beyond 13 amendment’

Tamil and Muslim political leaders in Sri Lanka say they have agreed for wider devolution of power for Sri Lanka’s minorities. Mano Ganesan, leader of Democratic Peoples Alliance (DPA) told BBC Sandeshaya that the leaders who met in Switzerland during the week end agreed for devolution that goes beyond 13 amendment to the constitution.

The Tamils and equal rights or self-determination

“Tamil political leader SJV Chelvanayagam began to organize a massive “Satyagraha” (non-violent resistance). In order to avoid even more bloodshed, Prime Minister Solomon Bandaranayaka signed an agreement with Chelvanayagam promising to restore Tamil as the (or one of two) official language in its minority areas. This infuriated many Sinhalese, especially monks, and they assaulted and sometimes killed Tamils in many areas.”

 At independence, in 1948, the new political elite, in its rush for power, cultivated ethnic support in a society whose real imperative should have been the eradication of poverty. Language became the spark,” journalist-documentary filmmaker John Pilger recently wrote. (12) http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/11/tamils-and-equal-rights-or-self.html

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TNA Parliamentarians N. Srikantha and Sivanathan Kisshor vehemently denied reports that they were about to cross over to the government, but vowed to work constructively with the authorities on issues affecting Tamils, especially those in IDP camps.  Srikantha conceded that a few local government politicians from the TNA, including the Chairman of the Trincomalee Urban Council had crossed over to the government ranks in recent days, but he had no such intention, having been fighting for Tamil cause since a teenager……………. (continue reading…)

Senior Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa, who visited the Menik Farm welfare village in Vavuniya this morning, said that the Internally Displaced People  (IDP) in the camps will have greater freedom of movement with effect from the 1^st of December. 

The chief of the President’s Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement made the official announcement as part of government moves to improve the rights and privileges of Internally Displaced People housed at welfare centers and villages in the North. Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapakse had also said that all the displaced would be resettled by the 31st of January