SLA dumps dead soldiers in the stretches of Arippu

Sri Lanka Army in Mannaar, while under-reporting their casualties in the fighting, has been dumping tractor-loads of dead soldiers in the delta of Aruvi Aa'ru (Malwattu Oya), the area emptied of people after capturing it from the LTTE last year. Two Sri Lanka Army soldiers, escaping from the battlefield with the help of local residents have said that their fellow troopers killed in the battle were being dumped near a coconut palm grove at Ooral, a locality 1 km south of Aruvi Aa'ru and few kilometers east of the coastline between Arippu and Chilaavatturai. Hundreds of wounded SLA soldiers were sent to various hospitals in the adjacent district headquarters and in the South while their fellow soldiers who died in the battlefield did not receive military honors or proper funeral, reportedly according to instructions from the top. The dead are included in the list of deserted soldiers.Medical sources in Mannaar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniyaa, while confirming that many wounded soldiers have been brought in for treatment, indicated that dead bodies of soldiers were brought in only rarely.The dead bodies were transported in tractors through Uyilangku'lam junction from the battlefield to the banks of Aruvi Aa'ru.

LTTE Political Head writes to UN Secretary General

Liberation Tigers Political Head B. Nadesan, in a letter to United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, bringing attention to the Claymore attack by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit in Madu, urged the UN Secretary to "recognize Tamil sovereignty as a constructive approach to end the unending five decades long, large scale, and serious rights violations against the Tamil people." Stating that the Tigers have ensured that there was no underage members in the movement and that the LTTE has respected the efforts made by the international community to rectify the rights situation, Mr. Nadesan said the LTTE has "demonstrated its readiness to cooperate with the international community." Full text of the letter released to media by the LTTE Peace Secretariat follows:

"On 28 January 2008 at 2.30pm, a Sri Lankan military Deep Penetration Unit attacked a civilian bus on the Madhu-Palampiddy road in the Mannar district killing eighteen civilians including twelve children. The attackers would have known that buses at that time carry school children returning home from school. This attack on a bus with scores of children, therefore, deliberately targeted the children. Among the eighteen civilians killed were twelve children aged from 8 to 16."Just three weeks ago on 4 January, in an aerial bombing of Uppupukulam village in the Mullaithivu district, seven children ranging in age from 3 to 16 were among those injured. Just two months ago, on 27 November, in another claymore attack on a van arrying school children trained in first aid, six children were among those killed. On that same day in an aerial bombing of the Voice of Tigers radio building three children traveling on the road were among those killed. Just two days prior to this, in an aerial bombing on the village of Tharmapuram in the Mullaithivu district three children were among those killed. On the 8th of that same month one child was killed and another lost his leg in an aerial bombing of the village of Alampil in the Mullaithivu district."The deliberate targeting of Tamil civilians by the Sri Lankan State has continued even through the nearly six year period of the ceasefire agreement signed in February 2002. Since the present President of Sri Lanka took office in November 2005, 2056 Tamil civilians including 132 Tamil children have been massacred by the Sri Lankan State forces."The pace of civilian killing by the Sri Lankan State, after unilaterally abrogating the ceasefire agreement of February 2002, after evicting the ceasefire monitoring mission, the SLMM, and after adamantly refusing to allow UN human rights monitoring body continues to increase. The response of the Sri Lankan State to the concerns raised by senior UN officials about the rights violations has been uncivilized to say the least. It has responded to the concerns raised by many senior UN officials by calling these UN officials "terrorists" and "colonizers". In effect the Sri Lankan State is repulsing all efforts by the international community to rectify the appalling rights situation in this island."The Sri Lankan State unilaterally abrogated many of the agreements that were made even within the six year ceasefire period. These include, agreement reached during the early peace talks to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the war affected Tamils, agreement reached on de-escalation according to the ceasefire, and the agreement signed for rebuilding the tsunami affected areas."We wish to emphasize to you that all along we have respected the efforts made by the international community to rectify the rights situation and to bring peace in this island. Respecting the international norms we have entirely eliminated those under the age of 18 becoming members of our organization."We have consistently called for the 100 percent implementation of the internationally supported ceasefire agreement of February 2002 for regaining the rights of the Tamils. We also cooperated fully with the Norwegian facilitators, respecting the wishes of the international community, in drafting and implementing the above mentioned agreements, that on immediate humanitarian relief, that on de-escalation and that on post tsunami reconstruction, that were later abrogated by the Sri Lankan State."It should be obvious to the international community by now that our organization has demonstrated its readiness to cooperate with the international community. It should also be obvious to the international community that there is only one path open to regain the rights of the Tamil people and that is for the international community to recognize the sovereignty of the Tamil nation."We, therefore, urge you to consider recognizing Tamil sovereignty as a constructive approach to end the unending five decades long, large scale, and serious rights violations against the Tamil people."

Contain threats against media, RSF appeals to Rajapakse

Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), a Paris-based media watchdog, expressing concern over escalating threats and violence against media personnel in Sri Lanka, in a press release issued Tuesday appealing to Mr Rajapakse, said: "Mr. President, it is not yet too late to restrain those of your close associates and political allies who sow trouble and fear among journalists," and added, "The violent behaviour of the men employed by some of your ministers is bringing the government into disrepute, a situation that will be hard to redress if nothing is done." Full text of the press release follows:
Irresponsible comments and actions by ministers endanger journalists

Reporters Without Borders appealed today to President Mahinda Rajapakse to rein in various government ministers whose inflammatory comments and incitements to violence have serious threatened the safety of dozens of Sri Lankan journalists."Mr. President, it is not yet too late to restrain those of your close associates and political allies who sow trouble and fear among journalists," the press freedom organisation said. "The violent behaviour of the men employed by some of your ministers is bringing the government into disrepute, a situation that will be hard to redress if nothing is done."The defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse, the president’s brother, said in an interview in the Sunday Lankadeepa on 27 January: "Journalists should not be allowed to write about military matters. Strong action ought to be taken against those who do. We should return to the laws that criminalize defamation in order to punish those who try to murder us." He also criticised the Wijeya and Maharajah private press groups.Thugs working for labour minister Mervyn Silva, who is well known for his racist comments about Tamils and his diatribes against journalists, were probably responsible for the stabbing of Lal Hemantha Mawalage, a journalist employed by state broadcaster Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), on 25 January.Two men on a motorcycle, who were armed with knives, ambushed and attacked Mawalage as he was returning home on the outskirts of Colombo. He and his son managed to hide in a forest until the police came. He was hospitalised with stab wounds to the hands and body.Mawalage told several journalists he had received death threats in the weeks that followed the violence at SLRC headquarters on 27 December, when Silva ordered his men to beat up the channel’s news director T. M. G. Chandrasekara. Terrified at the possibility of further reprisals, Chandrasekara recently asked to be relieved of his post.After that incident, Reporters Without Borders contacted presidential aides to express concern about the threats to SLRC journalists.On 7 January, social welfare minister Douglas Devananda, who is also the head of the pro-governmental EPDP militia, accused journalists working for Minnal, a Tamil programme on Shakthi TV, of orchestrating an interview with a Tamil opposition parliamentarian at the behest of the Tamil Tigers rebels. In the interview, conducted a few days before he was murdered in Colombo, the parliamentarian told the station he was being threatened by the EPDP.Devananda called on the police to investigate the programme’s journalists, especially Sri Ranga Jeyaratnam. Following his comments, demonstrations were held in various parts of the country to defend Minnal, which is one of the few remaining Tamil programmes to cover politics in an independent manner.Devananda’s thugs are also suspected of being responsible for the threatening phone call made on 6 January to the Jaffna-based daily Uthayan. The call came from Kayts, an island controlled by the EPDP. Uthayan editors told Reporters Without Borders they feared for the safety of their employees.Another journalist, Suhaib Kasim, a former senior member of the staff of the Tamil-language daily Thinakaran, was stabbed by unidentified assailants at his Colombo home yesterday. The motive of the attack is not known.

SLA attacks bus carrying school children in Madu, 17 killed, 17 wounded

At least 11 school children, principal of the displaced Chinna Pandivirichchaan school and two teachers were killed and 17 wounded when a Deep Penetration Unit of Sri Lanka Army triggered a Claymore mine targeting the bus carrying school children in Madu division of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam controlled territory Tuesday at 2:25 p.m. Pa'l'lamadu hospital authorities told TamilNet that 11 of 17 killed in the attack were school children. The bus was 1 km away from Madu church, after having picked up the children at Thadcha'naamaruthamadu and was on its way to Pa'l'lamadu from Madu. The principal was among the dead. 7 children were critically wounded. 12 of the 17 wounded were in critical state. Officials at the Mannaar Operations Command of the LTTE said they had spoiled a number of attempts by the SLA DPU teams to infiltrate and place Claymore mines along the roads within the past 3 months

Cancelled Canadian radar program is Sri Lanka's gain

A high-tech radar capable of monitoring small boats operated by drug dealers and terrorists and developed with Canadian tax dollars is being installed in Sri Lanka after the federal government decided it couldn't use the system.
The high-frequency surface wave radar, developed at a cost of $39 million by Ottawa defence scientists and Raytheon Canada Limited, had been hailed several years ago by federal officials as the only one of its kind in the world and a major boost for domestic security.
The federal government set aside $43 million to build and operate eight radar sites on the East and West Coasts as part of its push to improve security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the U.S.
But the government has shut down the existing experimental radar sites in Newfoundland and the program has been cancelled. The project was derailed after one complaint was received that the radar interfered with civilian communications. The experimental radars had been operating for 10 years without a complaint.
But Raytheon Canada, which builds the high-frequency surface wave radar, is pushing ahead with marketing the system to other nations. It has sold the radar to Sri Lanka with the help of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown agency that helps firms market their products overseas. Other international customers are being lined up, said Raytheon Canada vice president Denny Roberts.
"The technology works," said Roberts. "Other countries don't seem to have a problem with it."
Roberts said the U.S. State Department informed the company on Jan. 15 that the high-frequency radar is not subject to U.S. government regulations since it is designed to track vessels within a nation's own waters and because of that is not considered military equipment.
In the past the State Department has prevented sales of Canadian defence products to other countries by citing regulations which can limit where equipment with U.S.-made parts might be sold.
Raytheon Canada, which is owned by a U.S. parent corporation, will now boost its marketing efforts on the high-frequency radar. "Now that means that all my people in Raytheon will be clued in to sell it worldwide," Roberts said.
Other nations besides Sri Lanka have expressed an interest in purchasing the radar.
The radar is unique in that it can track ships at much greater distances than regular surveillance systems. It can detect objects as far away as 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) from Canada's coasts.
The information gathered by the radar network was to have been fed into the navy's surveillance centres in Halifax and Esquimalt, B.C. and shared with various federal agencies.
Canada has been leading development in the area of surface wave radar technology. The British government built a surface wave radar system during the Second World War, but it had limited range.
The technology had not been fully exploited in the aftermath of the war, but with recent advances in computer processing, scientists from Defence Research and Development Canada's Ottawa laboratories decided to revisit the idea.
DRDC Ottawa, one of the Defence Department's research branches, played a key role in developing the new radar system.
The system transmits high-frequency waves that follow the curvature of the Earth to detect and track objects hundreds of kilometres over the horizon. Regular radars are restricted to objects in their line of sight on the horizon. To gain its advantage, the high-frequency surface wave radar uses the ocean as a conducting surface to increase its range.
The main problem according to defence officials, is that Industry Canada is concerned the frequency the radar operates on could interfere with civilian communications. Under international communications agreements, the Canadian government has little choice but to deal with the matter and cannot simply ignore the problem, according to military officials.
But some defence analysts and industry representatives have said the easy way around that is to set aside higher frequencies, not used that often for civilian communications, exclusively for security use.
Industry officials said that the government may fund a research program in the coming months to try to work on getting the radars operating for Canadian use.
The Canadian navy had been hoping the radars would cut down on surveillance costs, in particular the flying time of Aurora maritime patrol planes. The radar could be used to pinpoint suspicious ships, after which Aurora aircraft could be directed to those vessels to conduct further surveillance

-David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen

Radar fell off screen at home, but sells well in Sri Lanka

A high-tech radar capable of monitoring small boats operated by drug dealers and terrorists and developed with Canadian tax dollars is being installed in Sri Lanka after the federal government decided it couldn't use the system.
The high-frequency surface wave radar, developed at a cost of $39 million by Ottawa defence scientists and Raytheon Canada, had been hailed several years ago by federal officials as the only one of its kind in the world and a major boost for domestic security.
The federal government set aside $43 million to build and operate eight radar sites on the East and West coasts as part of its push to improve security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the U.S.
But the government has shut down the existing experimental radar sites in Newfoundland and the program has been cancelled.

The project was derailed after one complaint was received that the radar interfered with civilian communications. The experimental radars had been operating for 10 years without a complaint.
But Raytheon Canada, which builds the high-frequency surface wave radar, is pushing ahead with marketing the system to other nations. It has sold the radar to Sri Lanka with the help of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Crown agency that helps firms market their products overseas. Other international customers are being lined up, said Raytheon Canada vice-president Denny Roberts.
"The technology works," said Mr. Roberts. "Other countries don't seem to have a problem with it."
Mr. Roberts said the U.S. State Department informed the company Jan. 15 that the high-frequency radar is not subject to U.S. government regulations since it is designed to track vessels within a nation's own waters and because of that is not considered military equipment. In the past, the State Department has prevented sales of Canadian defence products to other countries by citing regulations that can limit where equipment with U.S.-made parts might be sold.
Raytheon Canada, which is owned by a U.S. parent corporation, will now boost its marketing efforts on the high-frequency radar. "Now that means that all my people in Raytheon will be clued in to sell it worldwide," Mr. Roberts said.
Other nations besides Sri Lanka have expressed an interest in purchasing the radar.
The radar is unique in that it can track ships at much greater distances than regular surveillance systems. It can detect objects as far away as 200 nautical miles (370 kilometres) offshore.
The information gathered by the radar network was to have been fed into the navy's surveillance centres in Halifax and Esquimalt, B.C., and shared with various federal agencies.
Canada has been leading development in the area of surface wave radar technology. The British government built a surface wave radar system during the Second World War, but it had limited range. The technology had not been fully exploited in the aftermath of the war, but with recent advances in computer processing, scientists from Defence Research and Development Canada's Ottawa laboratories decided to revisit the idea.

Man on Mars???

The image, taken by Nasa's Mars Explorer Spirit, seems to show a figure on the surface of the red planet.
However the more sceptical have decided that it is just a rock.
At first astronomers were disappointed with pictures sent back from the surface of the Red Planet by the six-wheel robot four years ago.
But a space fan spotted the figure, which was just a pinprick in the original photograph. It was blown up and posted on a website.
One stargazer writes on the site: "My first thought - it's Big Foot! If you show me another rock in another photo from Mars or Earth that naturally looks like that, I will reconsider."
Another said: "I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked and saw what appears to be a naked alien running around on Mars."
Experts say that if the planet once had surface water, there was the potential to support life.
Analysis of soil showed it contained 90% silica - a concentration only likely to have formed when water is present.
But as to whether there are likely to be aliens moving around, opinion is clearly divided.

Sri Lanka: Criminal Investigations Need Monitoring

Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission
ASIA/SRI LANKA: UN human rights monitoring urgently needed to resuscitate criminal investigations
The Asian Human Rights Commission strongly supports the call for a human rights monitoring mission by the United Nations as a measure to resuscitate the severely damaged criminal investigation capacity of the Sri Lankan policing system.
The state, as the sovereign, owes an obligation to investigate into all crimes irrespective as to whether these are done by organised criminal gangs, terrorists or state agencies themselves. This obligation implies that there needs to be a competent and impartial criminal investigation branch within the policing system which has not been corrupted or impaired by political interference. There is consensus within Sri Lanka that the capacity of the police investigation system has been gravely diminished due to political interference over several years and that its internal capacity for investigations has become extremely limited. When it comes to organised crimes, acts of terrorists and also extrajudicial acts of the military and the police, the police investigation system has not demonstrated any capacity for effective investigations in recent years.

The inability to ensure effective criminal investigations is a fundamental failure of the state in ensuring security to its people. This situation needs to be cured immediately. A United Nations human rights monitoring body can assist the revival of this system and without such assistance there is no predictable way of how such a revival might happen.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reiterated her call for human rights monitoring in her statement to the Human Rights Council on December 10th 2007.
“I was very pleased to visit Sri Lanka from 9-12 October at the invitation of President Rajapakse and am grateful for the broad access I was given to Government representatives, political parties and members of civil society, including the troubled northern region of Jaffna. I regret not having the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as I would have liked to convey to them directly my deep concern with their serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including recruitment of children, forced recruitment and abduction of adults, and political killings.
During my visit, I paid special attention to the issue of abductions and disappearances, which have been reported in alarming numbers over the past two years. While the Government pointed to several initiatives it had taken to address these issues, there has yet to be an adequate investigation or credible public accounting for the vast majority of these cases. I am also concerned about safeguards for those detained under the emergency regulations, including during recent mass arrests in Colombo.
Regrettably, the various national institutions and mechanisms that could be expected to safeguard human rights have failed to deliver adequate protection. In particular, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, which had previously enjoyed a proud reputation internationally, has had its independence compromised by the irregular appointment of its Commissioners and the credibility of its work has suffered. Further, despite high expectations, the special Commission of inquiry appointed by the President more than one year ago to investigate high profile killings and disappearances has yet to complete any of its cases. The Eminent Persons invited to observe the Commission have expressed concerns about its compliance with international standards.
In a highly polarized context, where human rights information is easily manipulated for propaganda gains, there is a critical need for an independent actor to gather information and publicly report on the human rights situation. For this reason, I have suggested that the Government would benefit from the support of a presence of OHCHR in the country, with a full mandate incorporating technical assistance and public reporting. Since my visit, my Office has engaged in discussions with the Sri Lankan authorities on possible models involving an OHCHR presence working alongside national structures. We have reached no agreement on a formula by which independent, public reporting by OHCHR could be ensured. OHCHR will continue to assist the authorities in strengthening the national human rights system, but this will fall short of meeting the critical protection gap.”
The phantom limb in human rights protection
A phantom limb is the sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still attached to the body and is moving appropriately with other body parts. The pronouncement of the Sri Lankan government that it has adequate local mechanisms to deal with investigations into human rights violations reflects a similar mentality. The recent statement of Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Minister for Disaster Management and Human Rights is the latest expression of this same mentality. Where are these investigation mechanisms, one may ask and the answer would not be different to one that might come from an amputee who feels as if his missing limb still exists, like the missing limb a credible investigation mechanism simply does not exist.
The amputation of the investigation mechanism for human rights abuses has taken place over a long period of time with the operation of emergency regulations, anti terrorism laws and the deliberate dismantling of the basic institutions of public administration including the institutions of the administration of justice. The large scale killings that took place in 1971 and 1986 to the 1990 period in the south and the continuous repression in the north and east from 1978 to the present day required that no credible investigations could be allowed into allegations of human rights abuses as it would cause unrest in the military and this would affect the stability of the ruling political regimes. The limitations imposed on investigations naturally infected the prosecution system under the Attorney General's Department, which was often required to cooperate in the cover up of the perpetrators and guarantee them impunity. The independence of the judiciary was crushed by the pressures from the presidential system as well as through legal limitations imposed by various constitutional amendments and emergency laws.
The former Supreme Court Judge K.M.M.B. Kulatunga recalls a time when Sri Lanka did have a competent criminal investigations capacity within its police, even to deal with very serious crimes as evidenced in many cases reported in the new law reports. These included political cases such as the assassination of Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and the attempted coup of 1962. However, this system was seriously interfered with in order to facilitate the causing of extrajudicial killings, disappearances and torture on a large scale through the police, military and paramilitary groups. Today the system does not have the capacity to even investigate ordinary crimes let alone those crimes done with the connivance of political authorities for military purposes. The ugly situation that prevails is manifested through the constant killing of arrested persons in police custody, allegedly whey they try to throw grenades at police officers while they are taken to find concealed objects. The falsification of information in order to justify crimes committed by state agencies, which would appear to any reasonable person as pathetically ridiculous, is offered in the name of the sovereign state of Sri Lanka by the state agents and its propaganda units.
The phantom limb on criminal investigations in Sri Lanka is manifest daily in many of the statements that come out under various propaganda units such as the Peace Secretariat, the Geneva Consulate, the office of the Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, the Secretariat of Defense and even in the name of the President himself. The claim of the existence of a competent and credible criminal investigation capacity is offered both as a cover up for the incapacity and unwillingness to investigate human rights abuses, as well as to counteract any calls for assistance to the Sri Lankan government by the international community by way of human rights monitoring through the United Nations. The phantom limb mentality prevents the finding of real solutions to the real problems that make Sri Lanka one of the most lawless places in the world.
The Asian Human Rights Commission in the past ten years has consistently pointed out the way the Sri Lankan criminal justice system has become dysfunctional (kindly see http://www.ahrchk.net/pub/ - Sri Lanka's Dysfunctional Criminal Justice System). As long as this situation remains, life will remain a nightmare to all civilians in the country. To this civilian nightmare is now added the targeting of civilians by the LTTE, the government as well as other paramilitary groups which operate freely in the country. This climate is also unscrupulously used naturally by the criminal elements who try to profit from this situation by way of all sorts of crimes including kidnapping for ransom.
It is not possible to protect the people with a phantom limb. The sooner this illusion is demolished the better it will be for all the people of Sri Lanka.
Human rights monitoring and the independence of the judiciary
In the reply of the Sri Lankan government to the High Commissioner’s speech there was an insinuation that such monitoring would infringe upon the sovereignty of Sri Lanka and particularly the independence of the judiciary. There is no basis at all to see a conflict between support for investigations into human rights abuses by the United Nations and the independence of the judiciary. The judicial branch will have all the powers it presently has for pre-trial, trial and appeal functions, as well as other functions under writ jurisdiction and fundamental rights. Human rights monitoring is about how the investigations are done and not about how courts conduct their affairs under the laws of Sri Lanka. The only problem that the human rights monitors would address is the very absence of such investigations, which prevails at present due to problems within the policing system. By engagement in such investigations the present impasse can be addressed and the police themselves will benefit when the likelihood of political interference into investigations is removed. Once United Nations human rights monitors can address the limitations imposed on the Sri Lankan police for political and other reasons, competent Sri Lankan criminal investigators themselves will be able to play their role and regain their lost professional prestige and dignity.
Therefore we call upon the citizens of Sri Lanka to avail themselves of this invitation made by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in order to address one of the problems that all citizens are well aware of in terms of the defective policing system of Sri Lanka. Here the country has an opportunity to deal with the problem that has troubled the nation for several decades now. If the country’s criminal investigation section is resuscitated it will be possible for the people to deal with such massive problems as corruption. To defeat corruption is not to defeat sovereignty but to assert it. It is quite clear that what the spokesmen against human rights monitoring are concerned about is not defending the sovereignty of Sri Lanka but defending a bad policing system, abuse of power and the massive corruption that prevails within the country.

Sri Lanka Navy plants explosives in Historic Waters

Satellite image showing the location of Kachchatheevu [Image courtesy: NASA, Visible Earth]

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) has planted underwater mines between Kachchatheevu and Neduntheevu (Delft Island) endangering the lives of Tamil Nadu fishermen according to reports in the Indian media Wednesday. Consequently, 12 fishermen from Rameswaram (Raameasvaram) in Tamil Nadu were taken into custody by the SLN Monday when they attempted to exercise their traditional fishing rights in Kachchatheevu. "In a shameless show of solidarity with the SLN which has violated the international convention, the Indian Navy has also arrested 60 fishermen from Rameswaram in the last two days," said a fishermen society representative in Rameswaram.

According to Indian media reports, the SLN had sent a fax message to the Indian Navy office at Rameswaram informing them that sea mines had been laid along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). SLN had wanted the Indian Navy "to warn Tamil Nadu fishermen" against entering the sea between Kachchatheevu and Neduntheevu.Commodore Phillip Van Haltren, Naval Officer In-Charge, Tamil Nadu had told The Hindu Tuesday that he had received the communication from the SLN on the installation of the underwater "defence system." "The message implied there will be serious consequences if fishing boats from Tamil Nadu or elsewhere come in contact with the explosives planted in the water. Hence, the seriousness of the warning message has been immediately sent to the authorities concerned. The fishermen will have to keep away from the danger zone," Mr. Haltren added.According to Tamil Nadu state fisheries department officials, SLN on Tuesday had arrested 12 Indian fishermen for allegedly nearing Kachchatheevu and seized three boats used by them. The fishermen were later remanded to police custody by the Judicial Magistrate at Oorkaval near Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka, the officials said.Meanwhile, the Indian Navy also took into custody 48 fishermen from Rameswaram who had attempted to cross to the Sri Lankan waters on Tuesday and handed them over to the Tamil Nadu Fisheries department officials. On Monday, 12 fishermen from Rameswaram had been arrested by the Indian Navy when they had tried to access Kachchatheevu island.Officials in Tamil Nadu have reportedly said that planting underwater mines was against international maritime rules and could only prove to be fatal to the fishermen. They also admitted that it was not possible for lay fishermen to identify the IMBL or distinguish between Indian and Sri Lankan waters.Fishermen groups from Tamil Nadu have expressed concern that the LTTE had all the latest gadgets to detect and escape the mines whereas only they would be hurt. They felt that the move was to prevent Indian fishermen from entering Sri Lankan waters and asked the Indian Coast Guard and Navy officials to take appropriate steps to get the mines removed.Cutting across the political divide, Tamil Nadu leaders have stressed the need for India to take back Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka in order to safeguard Tamil fishermen.Kachchatheevu, which was long an island of contention between India and Sri Lanka, became a part of Sri Lanka through an agreement concluded in 1974, on the boundary of Historic Waters between the two countries.It was agreed by both the countries that fishermen from Tamil Nadu would be allowed access to Kachatheevu Island for rest, for drying of nets and to offer prayers in the local St.Anthony's Church. Indian fishermen have repeatedly asserted that their traditional fishing rights should be respected.During her tenure as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa – known for her staunch anti-LTTE posturing – had demanded taking of Kachchatheevu island perpetual lease to put an end to the problem of SLN attacking Indian fishermen. She wrote to the Indian prime minister in January 2006 seeking a long term and permanent solution to the 'burning issue of violence against the poor fishermen of Tamil Nadu in the Gulf of Mannar'.'Such indiscriminate and murderous attacks on the fishermen, who venture into the sea in search of their livelihood is against all canons of natural justice and violates their human rights. The Centre must find a final and lasting solution to the problem since it involves the question of traditional rights of fishermen', her letter said.

"International HR intervention, only over our dead bodies" - Weerawansa

As long as there is JVP in Sri Lanka, no one can intervene and subject the Sri Lankan leaders to international investigations on Human Rights," declared Wimal Weerawansa, the Propaganda Secretary of the Sinhala extreme nationalist party, in a protest against UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, held in front of the UN office in Colombo Wednesday 10:00 a.m., sources in Colombo said.

"That could only happen over our dead bodies," Mr. Wimal Weerawanse said. “UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louis Arbour, is actively working to create separatism in Sri Lanka and to safeguard Liberation Tigers,” Weerawansa charged in the protest demonstration.JVP parliamentarians Vijitha Herath (Gampaha district), Sunil Handunneththi (Colombo district), Bimal Ratnayake (Kurunegala district) and Piyasiri Wijenayake (Kalutara district) participated in the demonstration along with hundreds of supporters.“Louis Arbour is wrong in saying that key leaders of Sri Lanka may have to be produced before the International justice system if human rights violations on the people of Sri Lanka continue,” Wimal Weerawansa said.The UN is treating Sri Lanka like Kosovo, Sudan and East Timor, he charged. The demonstrators held placards and shouted slogans, including the following:
Arbour, keep the assistance to yourself!
Neo Colonialist Arbour, keep hands off Sri Lanka!
Arrest the Tigers hiding in your home country Canada!
Don’t try to establish Neo Colonialism in Sri Lanka! The demonstration lasted for nearly 30 minutes.

CPI calls for political solution in Sri Lanka

Expressing its deep concern over the present situation in Sri Lanka, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Thursday said that only a political solution would end the ethnic strife in the island Nation.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at the National Council meeting of the party here in Chennai. The three-day National Council of the party, which began its sitting here, in a resolution said a military offensive could not be a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Noting that the armed conflict in Sri Lanka had claimed over 65,000 lives since 1983, it said ceasefire declared by the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was unilaterally terminated by the government.

“The National Council of the CPI is of the view that a military offensive cannot be a solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka. The Tamils of Sri Lanka are striving for peaceful co-existence with equal rights over these years. The legitimate aspirations of Tamils in Sri Lanka with all democratic and human rights must be safeguarded through a proper mechanism for devolution of powers on the basis of federal principles within Sri Lanka,” the resolution said.

Party General Secretary A B Bardhan placed the draft political resolution to be placed before the party's 20th Congress to be held at Hyderabad from March 23.

The U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has also said dialogue is the only way to stop further violence in Sri Lanka.

"These latest deadly attacks coincide with the expiration today of the ceasefire agreement. The Secretary-General reiterates his firm belief that the only way to stop further violence in Sri Lanka is through dialogue," UNSG spokesperson said in a statement

UK issues stern warning to Colombo

The British government has issued a stern warning to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse that "the world is watching and waiting" for the island nation to make a "bold" leap towards peace. The warning comes barely 72 hours after Colombo scrapped the tattered 2002 ceasefire with Tamil rebels. Calling for a new ceasefire, foreign office minister Kim Howells issued the warning to Colombo during a special parliamentary adjournment debate requested by MPs anxious about the deteriorating situation after fighting between government troops and LTTE militants escalated in recent weeks. The British government's rap on Sri Lankan knuckles came just hours after UK MPs, members of the European Parliament and leading politicians across party lines met members of the British Tamil community to discuss the plight of their friends and relatives in the embattled north and east of Sri Lanka. Cautioning Rajpakse against a too-hasty and ill-judged attempt to sideline Tamil representatives by failing to invite them onto the powerful All Party Representative Committee (APRC), which will recommend a devolution package a week from now, Howells said it was a "big mistake". He added that the president's refusal to invite the Tamil National Alliance onto the APRC did not bode well for Rajapakse's promise to "take the necessary bold steps to put an end to dashed hopes and aspirations and lost opportunities". The warning came even as Sri Lanka's former colonial master reminded the world of the crying need for Colombo to "address the grievances of the Tamil people" in the 60th anniversary-year of independence. The minister insisted that the Sri Lankan government, which had ended the ceasefire, consequently bore "a heavy responsibility to deliver their commitment to produce a just political solution that satisfies the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans. That must happen soon." The strong UK statement came as MPs across party lines, including Liberal Democrat president Simon Hughes, Labour's David Kidney, Andrew Love and Paul Murphy and Conservatives Clifton Brown and Lee Stark, expressed grave concern about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka. The minister said that the withdrawal of the Sri Lanka monitoring mission "can only add to deep concern about the human rights and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka". Pointing out that after a recent visit to Sri Lanka, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed "alarm at the weakness of the rule of law and the prevalence of impunity for those abusing human rights", Howells said the UNHCR had "criticized the absence of credible systems of public accountability for the vast majority of these deplorable incidents and the general lack of confidence in the ability of existing government institutions to safeguard against the most serious human rights abuses". In what many described as one of the strongest nudges from the British parliament to Colombo urgently to pay heed to Tamil problems, the minister pointed out that "Tamils argue that the military pursuit of self-determination is generated by a sense of despair that their grievances will never be addressed in a united Sri Lanka." MP Simon Hughes criticized Sri Lankan government forces for the "absolutely unacceptable" practice of being "actively involved in forcibly recruiting children", even as Paul Murphy of the governing Labour Party urged muscular international interventionism. Earlier, on the very day Colombo formally abrogated the ceasefire agreement, the parliamentary meeting organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF) and chaired by Goan-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz drew parallels between the Tamil plight and the Rwandan genocide, Darfur killings and Bosnian ethnic cleansing. Gareth Thomas, parliamentary undersecretary of state at the Department for International Development, told the Tamils his government regretted Colombo's decision to walk away from the peace process and that London suspended aid payments to Sri Lanka last year because of growing concerns about human rights abuses by government forces. BTF spokesman Suren Surendiran alleged that Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe is violating his people's human rights sans international assistance but the Rajapakse government was "abusing the Tamils fundamental human rights and killing innocent Tamil civilians with the aid and assistance from the international community."

Five countries issue travel ban on Sri Lanka

The country’s tourism sector, which is already in dire straits, was dealt yet another severe blow after at least five countries issued strict advisories against their citizens travelling to the war-torn island, owing to the prevailing fear psychosis.Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Russia late last week updated their travel warnings in the backdrop of back-to-back bomb blasts and other sporadic violence-related incidents occurring in almost all parts of the country. Some of the countries which warned their citizens against travelling to Sri Lanka were the main sources of tourism to the island.The British warning, issued on January 18, has warned its nationals of a high threat from terrorism in Sri Lanka and emphasised that the attacks could be indiscriminate and have occurred in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers, including in and around Colombo.The updated advisory also warned its citizens against all travel to the north and east of Sri Lanka. Germany has also cautioned its citizens against travelling to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Canada in its advisory issued also on Friday advised against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka unless the visitors had critical business or family reasons to do so.The Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada noted that incidents of violence could occur without notice throughout the entire country and were not restricted to the north and east of Sri Lanka.“Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to areas in the east and north of the country, including Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, the Jaffna peninsula, Mannar and Vavuniya. Canadians currently in these regions should leave if it is safe to do so,” the warning said.Australia, in its warning issued on January 17, advised its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Sri Lanka at this time because of ongoing civil unrest, the volatile security situation and the very high risk of terrorist attacks.Russia in a recommendation to its citizens requested them to refrain from trips to Sri Lanka in the wake of growing violent incidents in the nation.“In the light of it, the Foreign Ministry recommends Russian citizens to refrain from trips to Sri Lanka until the situation in that country returns to normal,” the advisory said.

APRC: key to peace or an albatross?

J.R. Jayawardena's Government claimed that the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution passed in August 1987 fulfilled the promises made in the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, to 'devolve power' on the Tamil people. Liberation Tigers dismissed the legislation outright, and said it allowed "perpetuation of the domination, oppression and exploitation of the Tamil masses by the racist Sinhala state," and N. Satyendra, a constitutional scholar and attorney who represented ex-militants in Sri Lanka trials, ridiculed the legislation as a "comic opera."

LTTE critique of Indo-Sri Lanka AccordOn the 13th Amendment, the LTTE said in 1988, "With Presidential authority exerting rigid control over the functions of the Provincial Councils, the powers accorded to Parliament to amend or repeal the chapter pertaining to the P.C's make this 'devolution package' a mockery. "The legislative powers devolved to the Councils become meaningless and impotent since Parliament retains the power to legislate even on matters allotted to Provincial Councils. In brief, the provisions of these Bills, having effectively constrained devolutional power, allow the perpetuation of the tyranny of the Parliamentary majority which has been the medium of repressive racist policies against the Tamil people," LTTE said in its report.

13th Amendment TextNow, Sri Lanka's President has given an ultimatum to the the All Party Representative Committee (APRC), appointed by him in June 2006, and tasked to produce a consensus of the South in devolving power, to deliver by the 23rd January, a proposal based on the 13th Amendment.

Click for larger image (Adapted from Economist of Jun 28th 2007)
Rajapakse aims to achieve two political objectives with this effort. First, he intends to placate India and to encourage a visit by the Indian Prime Minister to attend the 4th February Independence day celebrations. Secondly, Colombo is under severe international pressure to present a political solution to the Tamils, the abrogation of the CFA by Colombo making this matter even more urgent. Rajapakse appears to believe that this effort will help to convince the international community of the bona fides of his peace motives.He needs “something” from APRC's report to be handed over to him on Wednesday [23rd January deadline] as “everybody expects us to put a political package on the table,” Sunday Times quoted Rajapakse as telling APRC members.APRC has become an albatross, as a committee that hinders political progress with its duplicitous conduct reacting to external political exigencies.

Groundviews article by LiyanageSumanasiri Liyanage who teaches political economy at University of Peradeniya says in a recent article: "Although the full implementation of the 13th Amendment is a positive step, this proposal is a backward one. Why? For two reasons. First, the full implementation of 13th Amendment today means something less than the 13th Amendment of 1987 because of the Supreme Court decision to de-merge Northern and Eastern provinces. Secondly, many powers initially devolved to the provincial councils have already been taken back by the center government. Now the provincial councils have lesser number of schools, hospitals, and many other institutions."Shanthi Satchithanantham, a prominent civil activist, echoes this view, and doubts the ability of Colombo in genuinely implementing any proposal, and says there is no political will to even sorting out the "concurrent list" in the 13th Amendment to fully devolve power.

13th Amendment: Devolution or Comic OperaThe provisions of the 13th Amendment are impossibly "burlesque and farcical," Satyendra says.While derisively calling the Provincial Governor, the Provincial Board of Ministers with a Chief Minister, and the Provincial Council "a trinity of marvels, he adds, "In sum, executive power in relation to provincial matters, will be exercised by a Governor who will be appointed by the President, who will hold office 'during the pleasure' of the President, and who will exercise his executive powers as the faithful and loyal servant of the Executive President of Sri Lanka. That is the naked political and constitutional reality of the character of a Provincial Governor under the 13th Amendment."

Indo_SriLanka Accord: Not even a Kovanam- SivaramLate Dharmeratnam Sivaram, a popular military analyst, and senior editor at TamilNet, said the 13th Amendment did not provide even a "loin cloth" to the Tamils even after a decade of its existence.But APRC is speculated to present a 'parallel' set of proposals to lay claim the need for "further discussions." Without the participation of UNP, JVP, and TNA.

On the road to chaos

Even as President Mahinda Rajapakse started last week to kiss Indian posteriors in a bid to settle for the 13th Amendment as a final solution to the ethnic conflict, a gallon of petrol was to hit an all time high of Rs.571.50.
While the economic burdens become unbearable and the government continues to blame the rising cost of international fuel prices for the drastic price hike in fuel last Sunday the JVP that condemned previous regimes for raising prices by a much smaller amount due to international increases remains dumb struck. Ironically while a debt ridden toy project of Rajapakse’s, the loss making Mihin Lanka continues to burden the public of Sri Lanka owing a colossal amount of over Rs 420 million to the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the CPC states it incurs a monthly loss of Rs. 3,089 million and has no option but to burden the general public by increasing kerosene, furnace oil, diesel and petrol further.
Wallowing
Rajapakse meanwhile is wallowing in a false sense of euphoria as the military pushes forward into the Wanni and news of a large number of war dead reaches the ears. Rajapakse has in this militarised high, like Pharaoh, hardened his heart. Despite the voice of common sense prevailing upon him he now feels there is no need for concessions or negotiations whatsoever.
Already he has made this clear to the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) which had toiled for 18 months to carve out a solution and a much publicised southern consensus in accordance with that supreme document – the Mahinda Chinthanaya.
Rajapakse for his part was happy to bring out a soiled copy of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which provides for provincial councils and directed the APRC to rehash the document and present it to him on January 23 as their own final draft.
He rejected the APRC final draft stating he would lose the support of the JVP leading to the fall of the government making the entire exercise worthless.
Ironically Rajapakse as Executive President has all the powers to fully implement the provisions of the 13th Amendment which is now part of the constitution of the land but wants the APRC to forward it as a new mantra.
The irony of course is that he has to fall back on a package introduced by the UNP in 1987 as his great solution to the national crisis, a solution he opposed tooth and nail at the time, even taking to the streets in protest.
MR’s subterfuge
Mahindra Percy however was setting the stage to perpetrate the ultimate subterfuge on the public weal by first falsely planting stories in several newspapers the APRC had in its final draft called for a full implementation of the 13th Amendment.
Then in what can only be termed absurd and excessive, he started to build a monument to the IPKF near parliament and even invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Colombo on Independence Day, February 4, to inaugurate the structure. He insisted on lauding and applauding the 20 year old Indo Lanka Peace Accord of 1987 – a formula mind you of which he was a vociferous opponent.
Indeed he was one of the most vocal critics of the IPKF too having taken to the streets calling for their eviction.
To this end he was to give one of the most puerile and grossly infantile interviews ever given by a politician in the history of independent Sri Lanka. (See full interview on page 7.)
Speaking to the Indian Express Editor-in-Chief, Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk The Talk, he first invited India to mediate with the LTTE. And the man who stood with the late President Premadasa in his bid to flush out the IPKF 20 years ago now, roundly condemned Premadasa calling his move purely politically motivated.
India as mediator
‘Why not India (to mediate with LTTE)? I trust neighbours, if they are ready. I think they know LTTE’s mentality,’ Rajapakse stated. He also said he was the only politician ready to talk with the Tigers and said he did not want the Wanni to lay down arms and was ready to talk to them while fighting to the last.
That India itself was not enamoured of this new found fondness was evident as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has now declined the offer to officiate as an honoured guest at the Independence Day celebrations.
In fact Rajapakse or at least his brother Basil should know that the entire international community including India has been supporting Norway as the most suitable facilitator for the country. Indeed the Co-Chairs in their statement on the abrogation of the CFA has said this in no uncertain terms and India has completely washed its hands off being a mediator.
It is obvious given the history with the LTTE that India would not be suitable in the first place, unless Rajapakse intends to negotiate with a party other than the LTTE.
India washes its hands off
Interestingly enough giving an indication of India’s hands off policy on Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee speaking with Karan Thapar on Devil’s Advocate on CNN-IBN on Sunday washed his hands off the abrogation of the Ceasefire Agreement but insisted there was no military solution to the conflict.
Earlier when asked by Thapar if it wasn’t a bit rude and discourteous to Sri Lanka not to make up India’s mind on whether it would accept the invitation or not, Mukherjee curtly replied, ‘No, because we require time. As and when it is decided we will let you know, but no decision has been taken.’
Mukherjee also reiterated that India has zero tolerance for terrorism but it is important to note he said a country must take action within their legal system. He also circumvented any value judgment on the abrogation by stating India was not a party to it and had scrupulously avoided any attempts to drag them into the equation.
The Minister warned however that the legitimate aspirations of the ethnic minorities including Tamils had to be fulfilled when finding a solution.
Japan as facilitator
But if India was refusing to get involved, not so the Co-Chairs – especially Japan. With a possible end to the Norwegian role near, Japan was ready to take on the mantle of neutral facilitator. A role Japan, looking to upgrade its international profile has been keen to play in the region for a long time.
So far Japan which has often refused to take a stand on gross human rights violations by government forces has been seen as a pro establishment player and has failed in its attempts to be perceived as neutral.
Japan provides nearly two-thirds of all international aid to Sri Lanka but had declined to link financial aid to a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation despite growing international concern over the country’s rights record.
But this position had undergone an apparent change with Akashi telling the media Tuesday at a press conference that Japan will take a decision on its aid commitments based on the situation in Sri Lanka including human rights and the political solution the government would forward.
Akashi rejected by LTTE
In fact Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi has been refused a meeting with LTTE supremo 13 times due to the deep distrust the Wanni had cultivated over a period towards the Japanese’ role in the peace process due to the country’s perceived stance of being partial to the government as a Co-Chair member.
In an attempt to salvage its neutrality Akashi Monday on a three day visit to Sri Lanka met with both Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and President Mahinda Rajapakse expressing concern over the abrogation of the Ceasefire Agreement, even as the international community stepped up pressure on the Rajapakse government to reconsider its decision. It is following these meetings that he set out Japan’s position at the media conference.
Akashi meets Ranil
In fact Monday night at a dinner meeting with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP Ravi Karunanayake and Bradman Weerakoon too the Japanese envoy was to express serious concern at the trajectory of the political process and the deteriorating human rights situation and said Japan cannot act in isolation when the international community is calling for action on the human rights and political fronts.
Thus in sharp contrast to its previous stand Japan this time indicated it could withhold aid to Sri Lanka if the violence keeps escalating.
Akashi did not visit the war torn Wanni but met with the JVP on Sunday and the Marxists sensing the shifting policy of Akashi was to also go on the offensive in what was a counter productive exercise for the government considering the JVP was a close ally of Rajapakse.
JVP insults Japan
Critical of Japan, the JVP told media "While Japan and other international donors give a lot of aid to Sri Lanka, Mr. Akashi indicated donors may call off aid, given the current ground situation," the JVP said after the talks. And in a state of pique the JVP also drew parallels with Japan’s World War II kamikaze pilots to LTTE’s suicide bombers. These statements Akashi was to consider downright insulting as it later surfaced when they privately conferred at the Embassy.
Meanwhile rights groups warn that the departure of the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the official end to the CFA today would lead to an upsurge in violence.
The government continues to press forward in the north in its promise to wipe out 3000 Tamil Tigers by August. On that score too conflicting reports emerged with the security forces claiming a large number of Tigers were killed but with the LTTE stating 30 soldiers were killed and scores injured.
And with the government set to launch an all out offensive in the days to come the humanitarian crisis is bound to escalate with civilians compelled to move out to safer territory by the thousands and that is what India fears most.
India’s concerns
Such a move India believes will make it extremely difficult for them to stay neutral given the outcry that is bound to follow from South India and with the SLMM also out of the way, pressure will mount to accede to a UN mission.
This aspect the Co-Chairs have also hinted at in their statement as has other rights groups and in the absence of a viable political package as well, there is little the government will be able to draw from the international community by way of support in such a scenario.
US based Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Elaine Pearson in fact warned earlier this month that the monitors helped to minimise abuses against civilians even as Sri Lanka’s largest aid givers including the Co-Chairs, the United States, the European Union and Norway, have sought access to meet with the LTTE and are pushing the Rajapakse regime to allow the United Nations to monitor human rights.
A call the Rajapakse regime in a JVP stranglehold has completely rejected.
More devastating was UN Human Rights Commissioner Louise Arbour’s statement yesterday warning even international criminal action against human rights violators including against those in command. That is the strongest statement yet to come out of the UN which paints the government into a corner as it prepares for all out war against the LTTE having disposed of the CFA.
http://www.themorningleader.lk/20080116/politics.html

Killing others for political ends is not the way forward

British House of Commons motion on Sri Lanka by MP Simon Hughes during adjournment debate on Jan. 17 It is sad - this year should have been one of great celebration for all the peoples of Sri Lanka. The 60th anniversary of the independence of Ceylon from the United Kingdom falls on February 4. In normal circumstances, that would be an occasion for great celebration across that beautiful country. Furthermore, this year is the 30th anniversary of Sri Lanka’s change to an executive presidency. In the same year, under that constitution, Tamil was recognised, with English and Sinhala, as an official language. The country’s history suggests that there is much for celebration, but that is not how it has been in recent years.
Since I was elected to this place in 1983 there has been a state of emergency and a continuing difficulty that is most easily and sadly described as an effective civil war. It has continued month in, month out, and last year ended in sad circumstances—violence, attacks, deaths and a very dim prospect. Sadly, this year has begun equally badly in two senses. First, the Government, for reasons that I can understand but that are ultimately misguided, announced on January 3, that they were to terminate the ceasefire agreement that was entered into in 2002, and yesterday that ceasefire agreement ended. In parallel with that, over recent weeks there has been continuing violence, with attacks in the north and the south, the assassination of a Minister and of another Member of Parliament, and the killing of innocent people—people absolutely not part of the political process, including children—on bus journeys.
Let me make it absolutely clear that my view, like that, I imagine, of every single person in the House and elsewhere, is that violence is unacceptable, that killing other people in the pursuit of political ends is not the way forward, and that, as other places have learned—I welcome to his place the right Hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy), who had direct experience of this in our country, in Northern Ireland—there must be an alternative route that says that violence is put aside and people talk to each other until they reach a solution.
I have no vested constituency interest in this issue. I have friends who are Sinhalese and Tamil, but I do not have a huge Sri Lankan population in my bit of London, although friends in other parts of London have significant Sri Lankan populations. I am not doing this because I have 10 per cent. of my electorate to address and want to deal with their concerns.
Back in the ’70s, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was formed as a liberation struggle movement. We know, in general terms, what its history has been. It led to the fact that in 2001, in this Parliament, we proscribed it as an organisation in this country. In May 2005, the European Union took a similar view. As a result, one of the players—an organisation that is not going to go away, whatever the Government and other people may wish—is officially illegal in the eyes of the rest of the world. We are familiar with that in this country, as we similarly banned the Irish Republican Army—the IRA—and placed restrictions on Sinn Fein in all those past days in Northern Ireland.
Just over two years ago, we had the latest political resolution when, in a very hotly contested presidential election, current President Rajapaksa was elected by a narrow majority of 50.3 per cent. to 48.3 per cent. over Ranil Wickremesinghe, with the two big coalition parties providing the two main candidates. This is a country where, as you will know, Madam Deputy Speaker, people in high office have often had a very difficult time personally. One Prime Minister and one President have been assassinated, as have a Foreign Minister and many others. As in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, families who have been involved in politics have sadly been afflicted by killing and terrible personal experiences. No one would wish that on anyone. A coalition Government is in place, which reflects the view of the President, by and large. There is a majority who reflect his view.
In this House, we have sought, along with the Minister, who has always been extremely co-operative, and his fellow Ministers, to debate regularly how the Government and others in the UK can assist in the peace process. I pay tribute not only to the rightHon. Member for Torfaen, but to people such as the Hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox), and other colleagues who have taken a consistent interest and sought to facilitate progress. Some of my colleagues who cannot be here today were with me yesterday at a meeting, such as my Hon. friends the Members for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) and for St. Ives (Andrew George). The former has constituents from Sri Lanka, and the latter does not, but they have taken a concerned interest and want proper development, economic success and prosperity for Sri Lanka. The Minister made the Government’s position very clear at Foreign and Commonwealth questions last week. He called for the Sri Lankan Government to go down a different route to try to come to a peaceful and just conclusion. Sadly, that did not happen, and formally, as of yesterday, the ceasefire is at an end.
Last night, in the Grand Committee Room in Westminster Hall, there was a large gathering of the Tamil community. Colleagues from all three major parties met people to hear them express their concerns, which they did moderately but with great anxiety. I know that many of them have lost relatives; they have had family killed or injured. Many cannot get things through to their relatives, particularly if they are in the Jaffna peninsula in the north. At 4 o’clock today, a petition was presented to No. 10 expressing the concern of the Tamil community here that the ceasefire should be reinstated and that the peace process should continue.
During this period of catastrophe, according to the best figures available—Government figures that are not fundamentally disputed—70,000 people may have been killed and 1 million may have been displaced. On top of all that, as if it were not enough, the tsunami struck, and a further 30,000 or 40,000 people were killed on Boxing Day just over three years ago; hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. This country desperately needs peace in order that it can have prosperity. I will not go through the litany of killing, but in the past two years probably 5,000 people have been killed—estimates vary—and that has continued, as I said, even in recent weeks.
I shall make a linked point before I come to my reflections and suggestions. I have been in touch with the Sri Lankan high commissioner here, and I am grateful for her considered response to my request for an accurate, up-to-date statement of the Sri Lankan position, to ensure that I was not misrepresenting it.
We have always had a good relationship, though a tense one, as we have debated the issues. According to independent reports, the economy is suffering as a consequence of what had happened there. There is growth in the economy, but the trade deficit has widened by 66 per cent. in a year, and exports have gone down. In November, imports went up, and stocks are going down. Probably some 1 million people are in poverty, mainly in areas affected most by the conflict. That situation will go on, and it is a worldwide phenomenon. On the BBC World Service this morning I heard someone reflect that it is always the case in the developing world that conflict absolutely and directly exacerbates poverty.
The Government and international bodies, such as Amnesty and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, have a similar view as to what has happened in the peace process. There is not really any international dispute.

The agreement that was reached in 2002 followed unilateral efforts to hold a ceasefire for a month and see how that went. The ceasefire has been piecemeal and inconsistent, and of course, as everybody knows, it has not been universally respected. However, in the middle of it, suggestions for proper devolution were made. Proposals for an autonomous Tamil province or part of the country were on the table. I do not mean proposals for local government but a new constitutional settlement, such as, in some ways, we have achieved here, and as has happened in many other parts of the world. Things went well, but then the past President intervened and sacked people from various Ministries and progress stalled.
People keep hoping, but their hopes are repeatedly dashed. After the tsunami, people hoped that it might, paradoxically, be an incentive to get together but that was not to be. It is troubling that there is a universal view that, despite countries such as ours linking their development assistance to the peace process—the Government agreed a strategy in 2002 that was rightly clear about that—human rights have been poor. That remains a general understanding. The Foreign Office website states:
“The Sri Lankan government has taken steps to improve its very poor human rights records of the 1980s and the 1990s.”
Yet records for recent years and months confirm that serious cause for concern remains.
Amnesty International’s 2007 report states that the United Nations special rapporteur reported in March on a visit made some months previously and on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions. The rapporteur said that freedom of expression, movement, association and participation were threatened, especially for Tamil and Muslim civilians.
In May, the president appointed new people to the Human Rights Commission, which then no longer appeared to fulfil its constitutional requirements or the international requirements for independence. In September, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no legal basis for the UN Human Rights Committee to hear cases from Sri Lanka. That was regrettable. As the year went on, international human rights bodies raised concerns about the escalating human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. That has been on the agenda at the Security Council.I do not say that those leading the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam do not share responsibility, as insurgents, for the situation. However, it is clear from reports that Sri Lankan Government responses have not been confined to those acting militarily. They have intervened in the lives of civilians and gone far beyond what is internationally recognised as acceptable. I understand the provocation when suicide bombing happens and ships get blown up, but Sri Lanka spends $1 billion on defence—money that should logically be spent on development.
Amnesty International says that last year, humanitarian aid agencies were unable to reach many of those at risk in the north and east. From August, aid supplies to the north were obstructed

Diaspora Tamil Community urges Boycott of Goods and Services from Sri Lanka

One million Tamils from Sri Lanka displaced throughout the world, especially Europe, America, Canada, Australia, India, South Africa and many other countries due to the ongoing civil war between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for over three decades.

The British Tamils Forum is urging its Diaspora Tamil community to immediately boycott the use of the Sri Lankan's Air Line when they traveling to other places from where they are residing also, all the goods and services from Sri Lanka citing, Sri Lanka is using the foreign exchange earner from goods and services they sell it to the a million strong Tamil Diaspora to fight the war with Tamils cause mayhem and destructions to the Tamil people in the North and East of Sri Lanka.


Meanwhile, since the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has unilaterally withdrew from the February 22, 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA), one million strong Diaspora community worries about their brethrens back home and are willing to go to that extra mile to assist their helpless loved ones, as the world at large is relatively unwilling to come to the assistance of the Tamils. They also calling for a total boycott of the Sri Lankan groceries, tea, garments and other related products that are produced in Sri Lanka as they feel every pound they spent to wage savage war against Tamils.

Sri Lanka embarked on near daily aerial bombardments in the densely populated areas of Killinochchi, Mullaiteevu and other areas causing deaths and destructions to the people including school children. Diaspora Tamil community is strongly convinced that their money which spent on the Sri Lankan air lines, groceries, garments other items imported from Sri Lanka tainted with their own brethrens blood and flushes and calling to boycott of the products.

Ivan Pedropillai, of the British Tamils Forum says, there are 300,000 Tamils from Sri Lanka living in the U.K. alone and claimed that the Diaspora Tamil community spent approximately 12 million sterling pounds per annum on the Sri Lankan air lines and close to 100 million sterling pounds spent on the Sri Lankan groceries, garments and other items imported from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan government using all its foreign exchange earners from the Diaspora community together with the other forms of financial aid from many countries are diverted and being used to fight the destructive war against Tamils, said the British Tamils Forum.

"The Sri Lankan government has abandoned all pretence of observing a ceasefire while resorting to an escalating war on the Tamils corralled into an ever tightening military cordon in their traditional homeland," said Ivan Pedropillai, of the British Tamils Forum.

"We appeal to our fellow Tamils ... to understand that traveling with Sri Lankan Airlines is tantamount to paying the government of Sri Lanka to buy the weaponry with which to kill our own people in their homeland in Sri Lanka.

"We appreciate that flying with other airlines to Colombo may involve some delay in transit stopovers."

He also urged Britons to avoid taking holidays in Sri Lanka: "We extend this appeal to our other British compatriots who want to travel on holidays to Sri Lanka to think of the deaths and destruction that their money paid will eventually cause among the Tamils of Sri Lanka and to kindly avoid such travel."

Sources at the Sri Lankan High Commission declined to comment on the call on the British Tamils Forum and said that such campaigns had failed in the past.

"They have tried many times to request the Tamil expatriate community living in the UK to boycott even Sri Lankan products," the source said, "but they failed. The people did not listen. They are trying to find an opportunity to hit the Sri Lankan government.

"The government decided to abrogate the treaty because there's no point in having a document that serves no purpose.

"The Tamil Tigers were carrying out atrocities even before the treaty was ended."

"They have tried many times to request the Tamil expatriate community living in the UK to boycott even Sri Lanklan products," the source said, "but they failed. The people did not listen. They are trying to find an opportunity to hit the Sri Lankan government.

"The government decided to abrogate the treaty because there's no point in having a document that serves no purpose.

"The Tamil Tigers were carrying out atrocities even before the treaty was ended."

"It is time for our fellow Tamils to boycott all Sri Lankan goods and services available. We Tamils living outside the country are helping GoSL to earn foreign exchange earner and to kill our loved once back home,' said Mani Maran from London who was migrated to UK after the 1983 pogrom against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Just a small breakdown of how the Sri Lankan exports earned the foreign exchange in two countries namely Australia and Canada.

Major Australian imports From Sri Lanka, 2004-05(A$m):

Tea and mate 28 Million
Clothing 14 Million
Rubber Tires 9 Million
Clay construction materials 3 Millon
Articles of iron or steel 3 Million


Year Sri-Lanka's exports to Canada in Million
1992 40.7
1993 44.1
1994 67.7
1995 76.4
1996 71.5
1997 83.0
1998 96.5
1999 92.00
2000 137.05
Jan-Sep 2001 95.26

"What we the Tamil Diaspora community is doing when we purchase goods and services from Sri Lanka are actually contributing nothing but death to innocent Tamil people. One of those innocent people may be one of our Sister, Brother, Mother, Father, Uncle, Aunt, Niece, Nephew, or your neighbor. Do you know that if you buy a product from Sri Lanka, you also directly responsible for all those innocent death? One MD jam can kill 20 Innocent people," said a Tamil community leader in London.

Enforced abductions, disappearances, massacres, extra-judicial killings, and mass displacements of civilians in Sri Lanka are real and serious concerns to most of the human rights organizations and governments around the world, a rights activist said.

In contrary to the believe of the London High Commission sources, if the Tamil Diaspora community at large determined to not to buy any goods and services imported or sold from Sri Lanka even starting from today, severe dent can be inflicted on the Sri Lanka's ability wage this savage war against our Tamil brethrens in Sri Lanka and sure to save the lives and destructions of our kin and kith who are continue to live in hopes back home, Sivaraman, another Tamil Londoner fled Sri Lanka after 1983 racial riots against Tamils told TNS.

Sri Lanka need not yield to international law

Sri Lankan Nation need not yield to so-called international law that would be brought against sovereignty of the Motherland states Patriotic National Movement.
PNM makes this observation in a statement issued against a statement made by Ms. Louise Arbour, U.N. High Commissioner for human rights regarding human rights situation in Sri Lanka. In its statement PNM points out that Ms. Louise Arbour has launched diplomatic terrorism against Sri Lanka.
The full text of the PNM statement:
"We believe that the whole Sri Lankan Nation should pay its attention to the serious statement made regarding Sri Lanka recently by Ms. Louise Arbour , head of U.N. High Commission for human rights.
In the relevant statement she had stated that violations by any party could entail individual criminal responsibility under international criminal law. She had emphasized that this law would be seriously effective on those in positions of command. She had said this emphasizing that according to international law all rights of civilians should be defended.
From this statement of Louis Arbour it is clear what agenda the western imperialist forces have conspired to carry out in Sri Lanka. We, from the very beginning, have indicated what plans Louise Arbour and her kind had aimed to be implemented in Sri Lanka when they tried to exaggerate the human rights situation in the country to the world and made various statements. What western imperialism and Louise Arbour and her kind want today is to deny to the Sri Lankan Nation the opportunity to bring about a final defeat to the murderous separatist terrorists, who are helpless and confined to a small area in Wanni and Killinochchi. In order to fulfill this villainous aim Louise Arbour and her kind put forward the so-called human rights issues.
In the statement we quoted above Louis Arbour directly threatens the political and military leaders who are involved in taking measures for national security. What she says in diplomatic language is that if anyone takes steps to liberate Wanni and Killinochchi they would be branded as war criminals and brought before international law. This is clearly a threat. It is terrorists who carry out threats. Hence, Louie Arbour has unleashed diplomatic terrorism against Sri Lankan state. Louise Arbour has unleashed this terrorism on behalf of murderous, separatist tiger terrorism.
The process of solving the internal issues of Sri Lanka is decided by the majority of its inhabitants. Any government that has come to power with people’s mandate is responsible in implementing the law of the land all over the country without any hindrance. It is presently done through legitimate armed forces. One of its tasks is to destroy the world’s most ruthless terrorist organizations that has proved to be an obstacle in implementing law and order in the country. It is the prerogative of the Sri Lankan government to fulfill this task. No organization or country in the world has the right to challenge this right in any manner. Louis Arbour and her kind should understand this. If they don’t comprehend this of their own, it is necessary to emphasize, that the day the patriotic masses in this country take action to close all offices that belong to various organizations of the UNO would be not very far away.
The administrators, military chiefs and all inhabitants in this country give allegiance only to law of this country. Sri Lankans don’t have to abide by a so-called international law that is brought up against the sovereignty of the country. None in Sri Lanka would be cowed down by the idiotic threats of Louise Arbour and her kind who are grief stricken at the defeats their tiger pals have been inflicted with. It is unfortunate for the UNO that Arbour and her kind have not been able to comprehend this.
However, it is the responsibility of all patriotic forces in this country to ‘nip in the bud’ the “diplomatic terrorism” Louise Arbour and her kind have attempted to unleash. We call upon all patriotic mass organizations to be alert to this threat and rally to defeat such attempts. We also call upon all responsible officials of the UNO in Sri Lanka, considering the safety of the employees of the UNO and its assets, to refrain from making such utter foolish statements that would enrage the people in this country. We would like to emphasize, by threatening with international law, Louise Arbour and her kind would never get the opportunity to reverse the struggle being carried out to create the atmosphere to implement the law of the land in every inch of the Sri Lankan soil and it is from Sri Lanka that they would get this latest experience. "

http://www.lankatruth.com/full_story/2008/January/18/20080118_05.htm

Sri Lankan court further remands Sinhalese Tigers

The Colombo High Court has refused to grant bail to the 23 Sinhala persons arrested for planning and abetting LTTE attacks against Sri Lankan citizens.
Dismissing a request made by the suspects, the Colombo Magistrate said he has no authority to grant bail and informed them to make the request from a higher court. The suspects were further remanded until January 30.
The Police’s Terrorists Investigation Division (TID) has informed the courts that the investigations on the suspects are complete and the reports are being sent to the Justice Department.
Earlier last year, a group of trade union activists and journalists were arrested along with a large stock of weapons following a sting operation carried out by military intelligence.

Britain tells world – Stop violence in Lanka

The Britain yesterday urged the international community to continue efforts to end violence in Sri Lanka while building a credible environment for a sustainable peace process.
It also expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to invite the TNA to be part of the APRC deliberations.
Expressing his views during the adjournment debate on Sri Lanka in the House of Commons on Thursday Deputy Foreign Minister and West Asian Minister Kim Howells said after ending the ceasefire agreement, Sri Lanka has a clear responsibility to live up to its commitment to address the grievances of the Tamil people and urged the APRC to go beyond constitutional provisions to protect minority rights.
“The TNA was not invited to participate — a big mistake, in my view. The committee is due to present its final recommendations in a little over a week. We think it important that those recommendations go beyond the current constitutional provisions to protect minority rights. We have called on the President to take a bold and courageous lead from this foundation to set out a framework for a just solution
within a united Sri Lanka that satisfies the legitimate aspirations of all Sri Lankans. The international community will be watching carefully and we do not want to see another false dawn,” Dr. Howells said.
The Deputy Foreign Minister also condemned the Buttala bus attack and said he did not believe the LTTE which advocated the use of murder and terrorism represented the hopes and aspirations of the majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka and around the world.
“The LTTE must renounce terrorism and demonstrate a real commitment to democratic principles if it is to be regarded internationally as a legitimate political movement. There needs to be a full debate among the Tamils, free of intimidation and polarisation, on what an acceptable political settlement might look like for the Tamil people,” he said.
“The message that we have for the Sri Lankan government — that there can be no military solution to this appalling conflict — applies equally to the LTTE. Some Tamils argue the Tiger pursuit of self-determination is generated by a sense of despair that their grievances will never be addressed in a united Sri Lanka. It is vital that the Government allay those fears and give them hope. For Sri Lanka to find a way forward, we need to see signs of genuine good will from the Government to any proposals for devolution that might emerge and a readiness on the part of disillusioned Tamils to contemplate alternatives to self-determination. Without generating trust and confidence, that will not happen.”
He said Britain’s support calls for a much more effective UN human rights monitoring presence on the island adding that the case is made stronger following the departure of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.
“Peace will not happen until the parties to the conflict understand that nothing can be gained from continuing violence. Some in Sri Lanka did not welcome our involvement. We regret the fact that they do not understand, or chose not to, that our aim has been simply to do what we can to help the Sri Lankans find a way forward. We have no ulterior motives. We remain ready to help with the search for peace in Sri Lanka,” he added.

‘Why not India (to mediate with LTTE)? I trust neighbours, if they are ready. I think they know LTTE’s mentality’

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Gandhi-Jayewardene accord is the best solution
It’s 20 years since the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) carried out its operation against the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. At a time of renewed fighting between the Sri Lankan army and the rebels, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to The

Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk. In the first part of the interview, he says sending back the IPKF was a wrong political decision taken by the then President, Premadasa. He also says that the then Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, had a clear vision of what was best for Sri Lanka in the long run.
My guest this week, in Colombo’s presidential palace, is one of the most unassuming men to become a head of state. President Mahinda Rajapakse, welcome to Walk the Talk. A wonderful setting, in the shade of a banyan tree that’s nearly 200 years old.
More than 200 years old. I think one of the governors in the British period planted it. It has become a beautiful tree now.
Q: It has become a whole neighbourhood by itself. And this is your home, and I know you also work from here a lot.
A: I work from here and from my office.
Q: You seem to have a partiality for this place. It’s a wonderful building with beautiful old ceilings.
A: Yes, it was all redone by former presidents.
Q: People tell me you are the one of the most informal presidents, and I know Sri Lankan culture.
A: That is the culture I have been practicing in Sri Lanka for a long time. I’m not from the city. I’m from a village.
Q: Even your name is informal. Nobody remembers your full name. In fact nobody calls you Mahindra.
A: Yes, because from childhood everybody calls me Mahinda. It was easy to pronounce (for people) in my village, so they called me Mahinda Matya. Even today people from my electorate call me Mahinda Matya. Even when I was a minister they used to call me Mahinda Matya. It’s in their minds.
Q: I believe you even sign your name as Mahinda now. It’s your nickname.
A: Yes. It’s popular and easy to remember.
Q: What surprises me is how relaxed you sound with so much fighting going on.
A: Yes, you have to be relaxed. You can’t take all these things into your head. Then you won’t be able to think. Now we have faced this situation (fighting with the Tamil Tigers) for long. You can think and take a decision if you are relaxed. When you are excited, the decisions go wrong.
Q: Give us a sense of what’s going on in the north.
A: If you speak about the north, you have to speak about the east also. When I came to power in November 18, 2005, (that was my birthday), I invited the LTTE for talks. Even before the elections, I was the only politician who said I’m ready to talk to them, talk to their leader. But within two weeks they started killing people, civilians, and unarmed soldiers. I pleaded to them for six-seven months . . . and till they attacked the army commander in Colombo, I was silent and was trying to get them to talk, and we managed to get them to Geneva, but they backed out. Then again in Oslo, they didn’t even meet my people. When they stopped the anicut that goes to the canal, I had to call in the army to open it. We tried to discuss and negotiate with them for one week. But it all failed. Then I ordered the army and we started clearing the area because they were attacking us.
Q: And it became a backward slide in terms of peacemaking.
A: Still, I’ve appealed to them that I’m ready to talk.
Q: But do you put conditions for talking?
A: No, I said without conditions. Let them fight. I’m ready to talk to them. I said they can keep their weapons, keep the fight going, but we will talk.
Q: Now what are you saying?
A: Now, we can’t allow that to happen. Either we continue like this . . .
Q: Fighting?
A: Fighting, and we can start the talks. Let them do whatever they want.
Q: You mean without a ceasefire.
A: Yes. I’m ready to talk to them.
Q. You are not offering a ceasefire.
A: There is a ceasefire on at the moment. It is being implemented. They have violated it.
Q: Let me get this clear. You are now saying you don’t need a ceasefire, you can talk on the sides.
A: I’m ready to do that because I want peace in the country. I don’t want a ceasefire.
Q: So you are not insisting that they first drop their arms before negotiations.
A: No, if he is ready to fight with me and if he thinks this is the best way of negotiating, let him continue with the violence. We are ready to talk to them, but we have to attack them if they attack us. Otherwise I will not.
Q: How do you react to your description as a hawk?
A: This is what some western media and some allied groups . . .
Q: India is to the west, too.
A: Exactly, even India. They misunderstood me and sometimes some of our politicians, who are close to India, I think they are the people who spread it. Even from my own side.
Q: Such as? Give me some names.
A: I don’t want to.
Q: Mahinda Rajapakse, shy of naming names!
A: No, I can name them. They are from the opposition and some are from my party but are still working against me. But most of them are with me at the moment.
Q: You can describe yourself as a hawk or a dove, but the fact is that this kind of a sustained military campaign has not been seen in the past. In fact it’s also a success because now LTTE has isolated itself to a corner.
A: I have learnt from history, experience, because whenever I say there is a ceasefire, whenever they have had some breathing period, they have increased their fire power, trained their people, and started fighting after that. They were not genuine.
Q: So they have exploited the period of ceasefire.
A: Yes.
Q: And you are not going to let it happen now.
A: I won’t. I don’t think I will, because knowing what happened earlier, why should I do the same thing? If they hand over their arms to an independent party . . .
Q: Or a mediator. Like the Norwegians?
A: Why not India?
Q: Are you serious?
A: Yes.
Q: Would you rather that India mediate, or a really neutral country like Norway?
A: I trust neighbours. Let them handle it if they want, if they are ready. But I don’t mind if there is a group of SAARC countries. I’ll prefer (that).
Q: Why are you shy of the Scandinavians? They are everybody’s neutral these days.
A: This is what everybody is talking about. This is the picture you see. I don’t mind whether it is Norwegians, Japanese, or some other Scandinavian country. It’s whether the people of our country will believe them or trust them.
Q: You think a bigger power will command a greater assurance?
A: I think so, because sometimes the pressure that India can put on the LTTE . . . I think they know their mentality. They’ve been working with them for a long time.
Q: One way and the other. But can India do all this despite the Tamil politics?
A: This is my problem, about which I’m always thinking. I don’t want to pressurise India or make any demands on it, because I know the difficulty, especially in a coalition government.
Q: Have you made progress
in your talks with the Indian side?
A: I think we have a very good relationship. They understand me and I think now they understand me better than earlier.
Q: Earlier, even they saw you as a hawk.
A: I don’t know. I won’t say anything about it. But I think now they know who Mahinda Rajapakse is and what I think.
Q: Did you see initially that there were areas where the Indian side needed to understand you better?
A: I think some of our leaders who were close to India and who went there must have given a wrong picture about me. But when they understood me, it was very easy to negotiate and talk to them and they were very sympathetic.
Q: Have you asked (India) that whenever you are ready, I would like you to mediate?
A: They never asked me.
Q: Have you asked them?
A: We will prefer them.
Q: You will prefer India to mediate?
A: This I said before I became a MP.
Q: But politicians say one thing when they are out of power and another when they are in power.
A: When I was a minister and when I went to Dehradun, somebody asked me this question, and I said, ‘Yes, why not!’ But western countries, and even India, prefer (that) a country like Norway (negotiate).
Q: It’s interesting that you say so. But tell me one thing: would the public opinion in Sri Lanka accept an Indian role?
A: I think so.
Q: After the IPKF experience? Is there no gratitude for what the IPKF did here?
A: That’s past. We have to build a new relationship. There is a new trend in Sri Lanka. Most businessmen are investing in Sri Lanka. In the past, I will admit, we have not shown gratitude. But as soon as I came I ordered a monument to be built for them (IPKF) and I will see the work is completed before our Independence Day, February 4. It’s under construction.
Q: Where is it being built?
A: Near Parliament.
Q: You don’t think this is an unpopular decision? Will Sri Lanka appreciate that?
A: I don’t think this will be an unpopular move. But the LTTE may not like it.
Q: So you are saying that the people of Sri Lanka should have some gratitude for what the IPKF did here?
A: Certainly. They came here and sacrificed their lives.
Q: And many limbs. And what did they achieve for Sri Lanka that people at that point of time did not appreciate?
A: That was a political campaign by Premadasa. If Premadasa had allowed IPKF to continue for another few months, they would have done something substantial.
Q: Finish the LTTE? Do you think they were that close.
A: In a way, yes. They would have at least given the Sri Lankan army a better position.
Q: And Premadasa sabotaged it? He was a Sri Lankan patriot.
A: The problem was that he wanted to become the president of this country and wanted the support of some of the extremists, some of the Left parties.
Q: Like the JVP then. And just for the cynical pursuit of presidency he did this?
A: Yes.
Q: Because when I used to come here as a travelling reporter, people used to say that the Sri Lankan government used to supply weaponry to the LTTE and at the same time used to leak the movement of the Indian units to the LTTE.
A: I don’t want to comment on the (allegations of ) the Sri Lankan army supplying weapons or giving information about the (IPKF) troops. But that was an allegation by the opposition.
Q: No, not your opposition, but your own party people: Chandrika Kumaratunga once told me, he supplied weapons and later Lalith (Atulathmudali) went a step further and said these weapons were supplied to the LTTE by Premadasa in Tata trucks supplied (by India) to the Sri Lankan army.
A: Quite right. But I don’t want to comment on what he did because he’s dead and gone.
Q: It’s almost exactly 20 years since the IPKF came here or Pawan was launched. I was also here in Jaffna in exactly the same week, covering the tail-end of Pawan and also reconstructing what went wrong in the first five days of military operations. If you were to sum up the Indian military campaign at that time, how close did they come to breaking the back of the LTTE?
A: First, I think, they miscalculated the power of LTTE.
Q: And the intention.
A: Yes. But then they were catching on. They were studying the ground situation and trying to consolidate themselves. And that was the time they were sent out.
Q: Premadasa got them out.
A: Yes. Only for a political issue.
Q: Has the political class in Colombo done some introspection about it? That they lost a chance, lost a good friend in India?
A: Quite. We lost a friend by doing that.
Q: What’s your view on the Rajiv Gandhi-Jayewardene accord?
A: In some aspects, I don’t agree with that accord. But in some aspects, we were ready to accept it.
Q: Was it a good deal?
A: I won’t say it’s a good deal or a bad deal. That has become a law now. We have accepted it.
Q: But not fully implemented it.
A: Yes. Now I feel it’s the best solution for devolution of power.
Q: Rajiv Gandhi, in 1987, 20 years back, had the wisdom to figure out what would be best for Sri Lanka in the long run.
A: In the future.
Q: So he had that vision.
A: I think so.
Q: You didn’t know him.
A: No, I have not met him.
Q: Sad that we have lost him, too.
A: Yes. Certainly he was a great leader. He knew what was going on. The villagers in our area, deep south, felt that India came in by force. That was the mistake.
Q. I remember posters saying: IPKF — Innocent People Killing Force.
A: That is because of the way they carried out things, air-dropping food. That was not a good gesture.
Q: You think management of the operation was poor.
A: It could have been done much more sophisticatedly.
editor@expressindia.com