Dream for a Tamil Nation

Over the last weekend, British-based Tamils voted overwhelming in favour of the restoration of an independent Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. Nearly 65,000 members of the Tamil Diaspora turned out to vote in a poll organized by the Tamil National Council.

Unequivocally, in the poem below, author Jasan remembers this historic voting and the long-cherished dreams for a Tamil Nation. That will and unshakeable aspiration of Eezham Tamils, he writes, “shall ever burn bright in all our motion”.

Fonseka does not know what is in the 13th Amendment!

After being a victorious General, he has now reduced himself to becoming a puppet.

Many of the hundred odd ministers, have nothing that they can do outside politics. So they indulge in this game.

• JVP is opposed to any kind of devolution, but they are supporting Fonseka.
• Suppose some people had hooted the President, they would have been arrested and locked up, and may be hammered, but when Fonseka is hooted nothing happens.
• No party agreed to the terms of the 13th Amendment. We have been having the 13th Amendment for the last 22 years. They have not properly devolved land or police powers.
• Those who did not support Rajapaksa at all, at the previous presidential election, and who were running behind Chandrika, suddenly forgot about Chandrika and teamed up with Rajapaksa. This is the kind of dirt that you get in politics today.
• Government with hundred odd ministers, are there because they want employment. Many of them have nothing that they can do outside politics. So they indulge in this game………… http://www.nation.lk/2009/12/06/inter1.htm

Minorities a major concern

For long, the grouse of the so-called ‘minority’ communities in this country has been that they have a minute, if negligible, say in determining the state of affairs of the nation. While this may be a valid argument in certain aspects of our society, it certainly doesn’t hold true now, in so far as political events are concerned- and the upcoming presidential election is no different.  Ever since the presidential system of government was introduced three decades ago, these communities have had an increasingly significant impact on the state of the nation- and more specifically, who rules it.    

The President has expedited the release of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). General Fonseka says that he will go ‘beyond’ the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that created provincial councils to devolve autonomy to the minorities. Clearly, it is game on. Therefore, what the Tamil and Muslim communities feel and believe in, may well be a critical deciding factor on January 26, 2010. For the moment though, this remains one of the most intangible aspects of Sri Lanka’s sixth presidential poll………… http://www.nation.lk/2009/12/06/mynation.htm

………………

Tamils to Vote for whom?

• TNA announced that they will arrive at their decision on December 8 when all their members come to Colombo for the emergency debate.
• The ‘One man Party  TULF’  Leader V. Anandasangaree said his party would announce who to support after the nominations are handed in on December 17.
• UPF Central Committee member and Deputy Minister of Vocational and Technical Training P. Radhakrishnan told The Nation that when their General Committee met in Talawakelle with Leader P. Chandrasekeran in the chair from 11:00 a.m. they decided to seek the views of the party at regional and estate level before coming to a final decision.

Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Eelam People’s Democratic Party, TMVP, PLOTE and EPRLF (Padmanabha Wing) will support President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Democratic People’s Front led by Mano Ganesan said they will support Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka.

 None of the Tamil Party has come forward yet as they feel its a two horse race, He is the only one who had always stood by the Minorities and spoke out against the governments on Human Rights abuse (Not being killed by the ‘White Van’ forces yet!) .

Govt. concerned about remarks on LTTE

The government yesterday expressed concern over remarks made by presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka that in his quest to win the upcoming presidential election he would even welcome the votes of those who might have previously supported the LTTE.

General Fonseka at his first news briefing at the JAIC Hilton formally announced he would contest the presidential election as the common candidate and that he would gladly accept the support from whatever quarter whether former LTTE cadres, sympathizers or supporters including Velupillai Prabhakaran’s parents if they were prepared to accept his work plan and policies.

Cabinet spokesman and Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said neither President Rajapaksa nor the country expected someone like General Fonseka who claims to have saved the country from LTTE terrorism to make such a statement……… http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=69392

Tamils should not demand for undue powers, NO to 13th Amenment! – Sarath Fonseka

• When cleaning up the dirt one must be prepared to dirty his hands.
• Abolish the Executive Presidency within six months.
• Implement the 17th Amendment.

General Fonseka said that “The circumstances at the time the 13th amendment was introduced and those prevailing now are different. We can most certainly learn from the steps taken in the past; but that no community should demand for undue powers,” General Fonseka also said that no sooner he assumes office he would take steps to implement the 17th Amendment and do a thorough study of the 13th Amendment………… .http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=69393

“UNP was trying to make Fonseka a Hitler in Sri Lanka” – Past haunts Fonseka

Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has made some damning allegations against his former army chief, accusing Gen Fonseka squarely on the involvement with killing and maiming of dissenting media activists.

• Fonseka is growing into a military despot,
• Fonseka was behind acts of terror unleashed on media personnel in the past?
• “I would see to that pistol gangs would not roam around the country,” the President quipped. That is an inference to the hit squads which terrorised, abducted, killed and maimed and torched dissenting voices and media institutions in the recent past.

Government inspired leak accused a companies Hicorp/British Bourne owned by the son-in-law of Gen Fonseka, Danuka Thilakaratne of receiving commissions running into millions from the transactions of military items.
The company is alleged to have received 2 US$ cents from every ammunition and 20 US$ from every shell sold to the Sri Lankan Forces. These charges are unsubstantiated, though the Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation. Gen Fonseka replied the military procurements were handled by the Lanka Logistics Limited, the state owned procurer of defence supplies and the headed by Secretary of Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The President went on to say that the reports of the assassination of the Sunday Leader Editor, Lasantha Wickrematunga and the grievous assault of the Secretary of the Working Journalist Association Poddala Jayantha would be made public in the immediate future.
.
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/archvi/lakbimanews_09_11_29/defence.htm

Buy and Return – A tactic

We know that Sri Lanka’s economic survival depends on exports of garments to the West, which accounts for a quarter of foreign currency earnings. We know that by linking employment of Sinhalese to the human rights of Tamils we can help secure a just future for our people. Given the snail pace of Diaspora organisations in Europe and Canada, how can we as individuals help cultivate this leverage?

Example

1. Buy goods marked as “made in Sri Lanka”.
2. IMPORTANT – Use credit card to make the purchase and check returns policy for the goods.
3. Within hours or days, return the goods with a short note:

“I am returning these goods because they are made in Sri Lanka. Rights groups, US and EU say Sri Lanka is violating the fundamental human rights of 300, 000 civilians detained in internment camps. I refuse to contribute to this crime against humanity.”

Note can be as short as one likes: what is important is that the store is aware of your reason as opposition to “made in Sri Lanka”.

Easy

There is no start or end time or a fixed date. Wife buys during her lunch break and returns on her way home; I buy one afternoon and return the other. How about putting aside 30 minutes during the weekly family shopping?

No need to stand in the cold or prepare placards. Half a dozen notes can be printed on an A4 paper or they can be hand written by the kids. For this tactic, photos and police permissions are unnecessary.

Effective

Why is this better than simply walking into a store and handing over a colourful leaflet quoting HRW, Amnesty and the lot?

Many of the retailers, at the purchasing decision making level, are already aware of Sri Lanka’s disregard for human rights. When the GSP+ debate was hot topic, for example, Britain’s Marks and Spencer went on record urging the scheme to be extended simply because its operating profits could be hurt.

What we need to do is get the message across to the retailers in a language they understand: by taking actions that affect their revenues and share prices.

One tactic is store front protests, as the anti-fur and Burma campaigns did. This requires effective and thought-led organisations. Unfortunately, we in the Tamil Diaspora are not blessed.

Buy and Return also hits the bottom-line for retailers, though many may be ill aware of this.

Most important to note is the merchant fee a retailer has to pay when a credit card is used for purchase. Currently, this is about 1.5% in UK, 1.75% in US and 2% in Canada and Europe. So, buy 200 dollars worth of goods at a Gap in Toronto, and you have already cost them four dollars. This fee is, of course, built into the price of the item. When it is returned, however, that fee is a loss for the retailer. And there is an additional reversal fee (charge back).

There are other operating costs involved in the sale of an item; all of which are built into the sale price. When items are returned, these are losses. Take for example the labour cost of staff processing the sale. Furthermore, when an item is returned there are additional costs associated with processing of the return and then re-introducing it into the supply chain.

So, when 200 dollars of goods are bought and returned, loss for Gap may well be more than 20 dollars. When done in sufficient numbers, that will hurt. Imagine 10, 000 people making a single 200 dollar return each per week: 200, 000 dollars loss in a single week.

The Gap has stores in US, Canada, UK and France. If well organised, we can have 50, 000 people returning 500 dollars worth of goods each week. Loss could be in excess of 2.5 million dollars. The Gap’s weekly global earnings are less than 20 million dollars. That means an effective Buy and Return campaign can shave profits by more than 15%; in other words, we can have the entire executive management fired.

Most retailers have strong quality control mechanisms to monitor returns; simply because of their financial impact. The best way to communicate with senior management is not via email or post: both will find a corner in the recycle bin. The notes with which goods are returned will reach store manager. If numbers are sufficient, they will reach area manager and even purchasing manager.

Global organisations have to source from same manufacturer for all countries. They can not afford to produce the same shirt in Sri Lanka for US market and in another country for Canada and UK markets. Though Tamil Diaspora may be concentrated in Canada and UK, we can have major impact on multinational retailers.

“Every Little Helps”

The slogan of a British retailer, Tesco, which is known to source garments of Sri Lanka, says a lot about what we need to do.

Rather than waiting for one of our organisations to advertise on radio and TV, we as individuals must think through this tactic and help implement it.

Each and every one of us has to be true to our conscience, set ourselves targets of amounts we want to buy and return every week.

We must also do our bit to communicate this tactic in all languages to all Tamils and friends of Tamils in all countries, so that the number of people participating can be maximum possible.

Success will come when Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sinhala vote base marches down Colombo demanding the release of 300, 000 Tamils, including 50, 000 children, who are interned since May. If their livelihoods depend on it, they will. Our kins’ lives depend on it. But, will we?

London Kanaga Thurkai Amman Computer Training Centre

128 PHOTOS : http://community.webshots.com/user/uktamilnews

Mr And Mrs.Kanesharajah, His Holiness Chief Priest Parameswara Kurukkal Took Part On The Above Occasion Along With The English Instructor Mr.S.Maheswaren. The Trainees Who Passed Out Were Also Awarded Certificates On The Above Ceremony.  The Manager Of The Computer Training Centre Mr.G.Gajabathy, Thanking For The Continued Aid, Expressed The Five Computed The Five Machines , Which Are In Use Now, Are Not Sufficient For Teaching Computer Programmes. He Humbly Added That The Aid Ought To Be Granted For Restarting The English Classes . …………….

  London Kanaga Thurkai Amman Computer Training Centre

140,Navalar Road, Jaffna.

Award Presentation of Certificate 2009

We Have Great Pleasure In Informing That Both The Representative Of The Executive Committee And The Representative Of The Board Of Trust Of The London Kanagathurkai Amman Temple Visited Our Computer Training Centre Together On The 8^th Of Nov,2009 at 10 am.

Mr And Mrs.Kanesharajah, His Holiness Chief Priest Parameswara Kurukkal Took Part On The Above Occasion Along With The English Instructor Mr.S.Maheswaren. The Trainees Who Passed Out Were Also Awarded Certificates On The Above Ceremony.

The Manager Of The Computer Training Centre Mr.G.Gajabathy, Thanking For The Continued Aid, Expressed The Five Computed The Five Machines , Which Are In Use Now, Are Not Sufficient For Teaching Computer Programmes. He Humbly Added That The Aid Ought To Be Granted For Restarting The English Classes .

Addressing The Andience ,Mr.Kaneshrajah Expressed That The Aid Is Being Granted Not Only To The Computer Training Centre But Also To The Orphanages Under Their Direct Supervision. He Added That More Aids Would Be Granted Continuously.

Addressing In The Presence Of The Representatives, Our English Instructor Mr.S.Maheswaran Expressed Briefly That His Cooperation In Conducting Classed For The IELTS Examination, Including The Classes For The Workers. Moreover, He Said That The Class For The Children Who Are Below Poverty Line And For Those Who Were Evacuated From The Vanni Area Should Be Conducted Gratis.

His Holiness Chief Pries Parameswarakurukkal Also Said In His Address That The London Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple Board Of Trust Has Been Engaging In Rendering Several In Addition To Education Services And That The Money We Receive From The Board Of Trust Of The London Kanaka Thurkai Amman Temple Is Also Granted By Taking Great Effort Afterwards He Wanted All Of Us To Make The Best Use Of The Money For Learning Computer Programmes. He Finally Requested The Students To Directly Contact The Board Of Trust Themselves For The Purpose Of Demanding Various Need.

In Conclusion, A Few Students Offered To Speak On Behalf Of The Computer Training Centre. They Humbly Made Their Request To Commence The Classes For English Language And Computer Programmes Shortly.

London Kanaga Thurkai Amman Computer Training Centre

114,Duch Road, Chavakachcherey

The Name-Plate Of The Chavakachchery London Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple Institution Was Unveiled By Mr. And Mrs.Kanesharajah On Their Arrival At The Institution By 12.45 P.M After Their Destitution , With The Acting Manager Of The Institution , Members Of The Staff And Students , They Promised That They Would Certainly Be Able To Fulfil The Students Immediate Needs. 

At This Function , A Special Request Was Made In Their Presence That The Classes For English Language And Computer Programmes Should Be Conducted Gratis For Those Who Have Come From The Vanni Area After The Violent War.

 www.ammanealing.com

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a press statement issued on Monday welcomed all the current democratic moves in the diaspora, such as referendum on Vaddukkoaddai Resolution, Country Councils and Transnational Government and said that even if one of the efforts is at shortfall, it will affect all the others.

http://www.lankasrinews.com/view.php?203mOJJda3dB5Am44d0IOog3a03O4Bda4dc5TmY420eAQMAcae2c4YdZ4cce1lYy3e

The road to recovery for Sri Lanka begins with lifting the country’s emergency laws and opening IDP camps, France’s Human Rights Ambassador François Zimeray, who concluded a three day visit to the island today, said adding that Sri Lanka has a good opportunity to show the world it is a place of peace and prosperity.

Speaking to Daily Mirror Online, Ambassador Zimeray said that lifting the country’s emergency laws is the perfect way of showing the world Sri Lanka is democratic, free and respects the rule of law.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=67195

COLOMBO, Nov 8 (IPS) – Sri Lanka has reacted strongly to a European Commission (EC) probe on its human rights record, saying it is politically motivated. But beyond the public sparring and rhetoric, informal diplomatic contacts between the two sides are underway to save a crucial trade pact and hundreds of jobs in the garment industry.

Sri Lanka stands to lose its trade concessions from the European Union under the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+), which has allowed tax- free Sri Lankan exports to Europe since 2005. This, following the release last month of EC’s probe of the island state’s compliance with international treaties on human rights.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama presented a 48-page government response to the EC mission in Colombo and EU diplomats on the damning report by the EC over Sri Lanka’s alleged breach of international conventions on core human rights, labour rights and conventions on environment and good governance principles.

Highly placed garment industry trade unionists privy to the informal engagement between the government and the EC are eagerly awaiting the outcome of such talks.

“We reliably understand (from our contacts in Brussels) that an EC diplomat arrived last week for consultations on the GSP+ with the government and that the government is seeking technical assistance to help it fulfill these conventions,” said one trade union official, who declined to be named.

“We were informed by an international NGO [non-governmental organisation] to be ready for a meeting with the official, but that didn’t happen as he was authorised only to meet government officials.”

The EC office in Colombo confirmed an EC deputy director was visiting Colombo but that it had nothing to do with the GSP+ trade benefits scheme. Sri Lanka has applied for a second round of concessions for the new scheme, which began in 2009, but must await the outcome of an EC probe on whether Colombo has implemented 27 international conventions, a pre-requisite to approval.

Bernard Savage, EC Head of the delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, declined to comment on the government response. “I cannot comment. All I can say is that we received the government’s observations,” he told IPS from the Maldives where he is on official visit.

Thousands of jobs in the garment industry, the country’s biggest export and the main sector that would be affected if the concessions were called off, are at stake if the concessions are not granted. Savage told IPS in an interview last week that the EC decision on Sri Lanka’s application would be announced by December and effective six months later. Until then, Sri Lankan exporters would continue to enjoy the trade benefits.

The government response, submitted to the probe committee report on the deadline set by the EC, said the probe was “politically motivated and accompanied by a high degree of prejudice.”

Substantiating this claim, the report quotes an incident last year where EC officials had threatened to withdraw GSP+ if the war was not called off.

At a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Export Development and International Trade on March 13 last year in Brussels, an EC Commissioner said, “this war is never, never, never going to be solved militarily. The only possible solution is a political one. We have been telling you this for a long time. You have ignored us. We now have a powerful weapon in the GSP+, which we will not hesitate to use”.

The EC report was critical of alleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka, particularly during heavy fighting in the last stages of the war between government forces and Tamil rebels. The near 30-year-long revolt was crushed by government troops in May.

Garment manufacturers said the concessions are vital to the industry, which is Sri Lanka’s biggest foreign exchange earner along with remittances from migrant workers.

However, one industrialist who was part of a team of officials from the garment industry, other sections of government and lawyers that prepared the government brief, said the EC probe smacked of a strong bias.

“For example, 15 member associations of the Joint Association of Apparel Exporters, which goes by the acronym JAAF and represents the industry, sent submissions to the EC probe team but none of our submissions was cited in the report,” he said.

“The investigations relied a lot on the anti-government submissions,” lamented the businessman, who declined to be named. Submissions from the industry largely supported the government contention that there has been progress in the implementation of the conventions on labour and human rights.

“We now have to contact our friends in Brussels and keep the dialogue going to ensure the concessions continue,” he said.

Separately, Anton Marcus, general secretary of a trade union representing workers in the country’s free trade zones where many garment factories are located, said the union-styled Apparel Industry Labour Rights Movement or ALaRM was going to meet on Nov. 8 to discuss a course of action on the government response.

“We are meeting to discuss a course of action which we will explain to the media on Thursday at a press conference,” he told IPS.

Marcus said trade unions had pleaded with the government to start a dialogue with the EC, which the former had refused, saying it would not take part in any investigation, as it was an insult to a sovereign nation. “Now they want to start a dialogue, which they should have done in the first place,” he said, referring to the report.

The government, while rejecting the EC report, said the government and the EC should continue to have a constructive engagement on the “issues at hand.”

The garment industry has suffered over the years, initially following the end of textile quotas some years back before it was hit by the rising costs of production, which has seen a sharp rise in job losses.

Currently, there are 270,000 workers in the industry, according to government estimates although the industry says it is much less because a number of smaller units have collapsed. From around 400 factories and 500,000 workers in the 1980s, the industry has slumped to less than 250 factories while many are struggling to survive.

“There are many orders, but the problem is costs. Interest rates are high at 22 percent and our return is only 3 percent. We just can’t survive. Many small industrialists have wound up or sold their factories to the bigger players,” noted Cassian Fernando, a garment industry veteran who sold his factories two years ago. He believes the industry will consolidate to just 15 big companies in the years to come.

Some garment industry workers hit by closures are seeking jobs as domestic aides overseas. “There are quite a few who are undergoing training before going abroad,” said W.P. Aponsu, president of the Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agents.

SYDNEY, Nov 8 (Reuters) – Australia on Sunday urged Sri Lanka, having defeated the Tamil Tigers in May, to now embrace political reform and reconciliation to stem the flow of asylum seekers leaving the country.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith will meet his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama in Colombo on Monday amid a standoff in Indonesia involving 78 Tamil asylum seekers, who are refusing to leave an Australian vessel that rescued them last month. [ID:nJAK390979]
http://www.reuters.com/article/homepageCrisis/idUSB232272._CH_.2400?rpc=401

RATHGAMA, Sri Lanka (AFP) – Raj Rajaratnam, a billionaire financier facing insider trading charges in the United States, is recalled in stone in one of the villages he helped recover from the Asian tsunami in 2004.

A black granite monument honours the “Galleon Housing Scheme”, named after his Galleon Group hedge fund, in the palm-fringed and rustic village of Rathgama, 112 kilometres (70 miles) south of the capital Colombo.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091108/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankausjusticemarketsfraudpeople

Exclusive Interview with Brad Adams

The solution to the problem of the camps, which we have called for from the very beginning, is for the government to develop clear procedures for screening and registration and clear criteria for detention or release……….

http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/11/rajapaksha-lied-to-ban-ki-moon-hrw.html

On 26 October 2009, B. Jaseekaran and V. Valarmathi were released as the state council withdrew the charges filed against them. Both of them were partners of journalist J. Tissainayagam who was sentenced to 20 years of hard labour on 31 August 2009. Both cases were heard at the Colombo High Court and were interlinked: Tissainayagam was charged for writing and publishing two articles in the North Eastern Herald, a magazine he edited. Jaseekaran and Valarmathi were charged for printing the magazine. In both cases another charge was made for collecting money from the LTTE.

WASHINGTON  – The US House of Representatives urged Sri Lanka’s government Wednesday to guarantee the safety and quick release of some 300,000 Tamils and other war-displaced people currently held in camps.

By an overwhelming 421-1 vote, lawmakers approved a non-binding resolution that calls on the authorities in Colombo to help the populations of widely condemned, tightly guarded camps return to their homes……….

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091105/wl_sthasia_afp/srilankaunrestustamilcongress

Tamil refugees seek basic amenities

DINDIGUL: Basic amenities like drinking water, drainage and toilet facilities, power supply and proper housing instead of temporary thatched dwelling units were some of the major demands conveyed by the Sri Lankan refugees to the Minister for Revenue I. Periasamy who visited the refugee camps in the district on Wednesday.

While interacting with the Minister, refugees showed their huts in a dilapidated condition. Situation was the worst during rainy days. “We had to shell out at least Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000 to replace coconut leaf roof. Permanent roofing structure will solve our problems.”……….

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/05/stories/2009110556170300.htm

Infrastructure at Sri Lankan refugee camps will be improved within a week?

KRISHNAGIRI: Infrastructure facilities at the eight Sri Lankan refugee camps in Dharmapuri district would be improved within a week, Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan has said.

The Minister visited the camps on Wednesday to study the living condition of the Sri Lankan Tamil families following the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s directive to Ministers to visit the camps. About 2,484 persons from 668 families, including 640 children, are residing at the refugee camps in Harur, Vaniyar Dam, Thoppaiyar, Nagavathy Dam, Thumbalahalli, Chinnar Dam, Kesarguni Dam and Madhikonpalayam in Dharmapuri district……………

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/05/stories/2009110556490300.htm

Resettling IDPs: Govt. briefs diplomatic corps

The government yesterday briefed the diplomatic community on the IDPs situation in the country in response to criticism levelled against government with regard to the resettlement of IDPs.

Addressing the diplomatic Corps based in Colombo Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that only about 158,990 are awaiting resettlement in the coming weeks in the north. Under the latest phase of resettlement, which commenced on the October 15, 108,757 internally displaced persons in the North have been resettled as of the November 3. The remaining IDPs, numbering about 158,990 will be resettled in the coming weeks,” the Foreign Minister said…………..

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=67048

“We must deploy enough troops to provide security for these [resettled] areas. We must in these areas, this virus, there are still 1000’s of terrorists in IDP camps. We must identify these terrorist and destroy them. We must take them into custody and then resettle them. We must provide security in strength to these areas. I will only be happy that we finished the war we ended when I see this,” said General Sarath Fonseka during a talk in a Budhist Temple in Washington D.C., according a website’s English translation, before the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asked for a “voluntary meeting” with the General to discuss the war-crimes alleged to be committed by Sri Lanka’s military officials……………..

show Sri Lankan forces executing Tamils earlier this VIDEO : yearhttp://espanol.video.yahoo.com/watch/5820157/15231188

Sri Lanka court acquits Tamil MPs

A court in Sri Lanka has acquitted four Tamil MPs charged under anti-terror laws with making statements against the government and security forces.

They were accused of making statements in Australia and Europe at Tamil cultural events, during a ceasefire between the rebels and the government. It was alleged that the events were organised by Tamil Tiger rebels – a charge they denied. Police said that there was no evidence to prove the accusations.

Subsequently a Colombo magistrate on Tuesday acquitted Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs S Gajendran, P Ariyanethiran, K Sivajilingam and S Jeyananthamurthy. Their lawyer, KV Thavarasa, told BBC Sinhala that the MPs were not the only ones to have addressed Pongu Thamil events in the past – some ministers in the current administration had also done so. “However, I pointed out that the charges were only filed against these four MPs,” he said.

War crimes: As India is also guilty can it save Sri Lanka?

It is reported that Sri Lanka Govt.’s Troica , constituted by President’s brothers , Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa as well as President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge have decided to leave for New Delhi urgently. Previously, after the war, they tried to tour New Delhi on several occasions but failed. One of the objectives of this tour, according to some sources is the war crime report which is being presented to the American Congress against SL. These war crime charges are grave and not to be taken lightly is testified by the problems currently faced by Gen, Sarath Fonseka. It is learnt that the American Homeland Security has wished to question him on the Sri Lankan  war crimes…….

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=66714

Tamil Eelam not a lost cause: Fr. Jegath Gaspar

“I don’t think Tamil Eelam is a lost cause. If there was any point of time in history that Eelam was a possibility, I think it is now. Tamils all over the world are more determined than ever,” says Fr. Jegath Gaspar Raj, Chennai based Catholic priest and international broadcast journalist in an interview to TamilNet Sunday. “I believe that geopolitics or foreign policy or security policies are never static; they are ever dynamic, they will keep changing. I am confident that at some point of time India will come to realize that the only strategic leverage it has against the Chinese-Sri Lankan combine in the Indian Ocean is the Indo-Tamil combination,” he said, pinning the responsibility for the failure of Indian foreign policy to M K Narayanan Doctrine………………

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=30549

United States leads initiative to investigate alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka – Press Statement

All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T) joins international calls for a full independent investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka and welcomes the initiatives taken by the United States.
�
APPG-T welcomes United States authorities questioning of Sri Lankan Army General Sarath Fonseka. This is an important first step in bringing the perpetrators of alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka to justice and also begin the process of a true reconciliation between ethnic communities in the island………… (continue reading…)

At Last Vanni Mission goods Released!

Officials from the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society will be meeting with the Vavuniya Government Agent today to discuss the distribution of the 884 tonnes of aid, finally released by the ports authorities on Saturday.
The 27 containers of aid which was formerly transported to Sri Lanka aboard the controversial Captain Ali vessel was diverted to India and sent back to the country aboard Cap Colorado on July 31. However, due to lack of documentation and red tape, the aid remained in the custody of the Sri Lankan Port Authority while officials from SLRC attempted to clear it.…………..

http://www.thebottomline.lk/2009/10/28/news18.html

EU presses Sri Lanka over human rights

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 27 (Reuters) – The European Union urged Sri Lanka’s government on Tuesday to end impunity over human rights violations and to do more to help people displaced by the 25-year war with the Tamil Tigers. But the 27-country bloc said it also wanted to work with Sri Lanka to improve the situation and did not say whether it would remove trade concessions after an investigation found the Indian Ocean island in breach of international human rights laws.

“It is essential to put an end to impunity and all human rights violations,” EU foreign ministers said in a statement after meeting in Luxembourg. “The EU remains seriously concerned with continuing reports of abductions, disappearances and extra-judicial killings.” ………………..

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLR433703

Sri Lanka behind closed doors

Monday, October 26, 2009 by Pierre Salignon, former Project director of the Health and Nutrition Tracking Service (2008-2009) and former Director of MSF France (2003-2007) 

Thol Thirumaalavan  &  Thamilaruvi Manian as guest at PWA’s  -

“ Kaartu vaali Kiramam ’ 09 ”  in Harrow 

on the Saturday 26th September  -  12 Noon to 4 pm

http://www.pungudutivu.org/

We must stand together and raise our voice to release our TAMIL  people from the Vanni camps.

Venue          :        Zoroastrian Centre
Address      :        440 Alexandra Avenue, Rayners Lane, HA2 9TL 

Date             :        26/09/2009 Saturday

http://www.pungudutivu.org/

Time                 :        12 NOON to 4.00 PM (Start at 12 Noon and WILL finish at 4PM prompt, ( please be there on time )We must stand together and raise our voice to release our TAMIL people from the Vanni camps. This is one of the way to help our people in Vanni.For further information – Pungudutivu Welfare Association UK

North American Tamils expanded their boycott campaign over Sri Lanka goods to over a dozen cities across the US and Canada, targeting GAP and Victoria’s Secret stores on Saturday, youth organizers of the event said.

Leveraging the “No to Sri Lanka” website run by Canadian youth activists to spread the campaign message, the organizers held protests in San Francisco, Chicago, North Carolina, Boston, Atlanta, and in several Canadian cities.

The protesters stood inside malls, outside shopping centers, and some in the median of busy streets, urging ethical shoppers to resist buying garments made in Sri Lanka.

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=30222

Will UK Tamils protest outside local M&S and GAP stores?

Sri Lanka makes a billion pounds a year by selling clothes to UK based retailers. What have British Tamils done to stop it? Nothing!

(August 26, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) With the conclusion of the dreaded 30 years war, the focus on internal displaced persons (IDP) is now top priority, causing immense anxiety to the Government in particular and to the public in general. It seems it will be a long time before the problems goes away and there are continuing banner headlines in the media pointing to the short – comings in the IDP camps. A multitude of vexed questions are being directed at the authorities running these camps. (continue reading…)

By Rajasingham Jayadevan  

  “LTTE’s Balakumar, Pulavar Puthuvai Ratnathurai, Lawrence Christy Thilakar, Karikalan, Yogi and fates of many others are still not known as the government is maintaining a tight lip silence about their fate. According to news filtering through Colombo sources, these men have been Assassinated by the Sri Lankan Government death squads.”

Even the hundreds of Sri Lankan solicitors living overseas, who have the right of representation in the Sri Lankan courts are NOT coming forward to represent the LTTE men due to fear of the Defence Ministry pressures.

These men’s safety is NOT under the scrutiny of the international community too and it is said law of the jungle under the Terrorism Act of Sri Lanka is used against them and those surviving will be expected to be meted with Kangaroo Court justice in the lack of independent judicial system in Sri Lanka. (continue reading…)

• Tamils returning home will be accompanied by the Sinhale Military for an uncertain period of time. 
• Normality in northern Sri Lanka is still a very long way away.
• After decades of war, demilitarisation and a relaxation of security measures are not going to happen soon

It is just over a month since Asia’s longest civil war in modern times came to an end, with the Sri Lankan government’s declaration that it had finally defeated the Tamil Tiger rebels (LTTE) on the battlefield and killed nearly all their leaders. Yet the army chief says he wants the army, already 200,000, to increase to 300,000. (continue reading…)

A doctor working with injured and displaced Tamils in northern Sri Lanka tells Channel 4 News that there may be as many as 20,000 amputees among those who fled last month’s routing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Tamils who have been demonstrating for almost seven weeks under the shadow of Big Ben in Parliament Square welcomed today’s Times report into the “hidden massacre” of Tamil civilians, which they said backed up their own claims.

(continue reading…)

The decision by the United Nations’ Human Rights Council to resist setting up an inquiry into the conduct of both the Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan military in the recent hostilities is shocking and indefensible. Its rejection too of the advice of the UN’s own High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, that such an inquiry was needed, is even more aberrant.

(continue reading…)