Eelam Tamils Civil Society wants no engagement with Stinky Lanka....

TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society of Eezham Tamils

Prominent members of the Tamil civil society of all walks of life presented a memorandum to the Tamil National Alliance leadership on Tuesday, strongly condemning deception and deviatory polity of the leadership while times demand well-defined solutions to a long struggle. The civil society members urged firmness of leadership in political stand in convincing India and the US of the indispensability of addressing fundamentals of the aspirations of Eezham Tamils, i.e., nation and the right to self-determination. Tamils are not a `minority` requesting concessions, but a nation demanding self-rule, the memorandum said. The impressive list of signatories included prominent religious leaders, academics, educationalists, professionals, trade unionists and community leaders. For the first time the TNA leadership faces such an open challenge of the first magnitude from the civil society.

The uprising of the civil society of Eezham Tamils, coming from a realization that nothing but fundamental solutions only could guarantee their existence, is inevitably impelled by the brutal and suffocating oppression committed on them by occupying Colombo, political observers in Jaffna said.

One SL military personnel for every 12 civilians in Jaffna, and for every 4 civilians in Vanni is the gravity of the nature of the military occupation. The international community ostensibly plays down the crucial fact that the occupying military cannot be considered a State military, but in this context is an ethnic Sinhala military of genocidal intentions and potentiality, the political observers said.

Taking advantage of the plight of Eezham Tamils gagged in the island, sections lured by collaborative polity in the diaspora used to project every truthful Tamil opinion coming from the island as fabricated ones, by citing them as `unnamed`. But now, surging above all the oppression and pressures from the powers, the Tamil civil society in the island is openly up in arms, shaming the section of the impotent critics in the diaspora, the political observers further said.

For how long the simulated leadership in the clutches of powers attempting to hijack diaspora politics is going to sit on any uprising in the diaspora, they asked.

Representatives of the civil society of Eezham Tamils, after conducting a convention, handed over a 7-page memorandum signed by more than 75 signatories to TNA Secretary General Mavai Senathirajah MP at Uthayan Guest House in Jaffna on Tuesday evening.

Mr. Senathirajah`s objection to the presence of journalists along with the civil society members and his enraged comments over the role of Tamil media in spoiling TNA`s agenda, resulted in verbal exchanges between him and the journalists on the occasion.

The journalists later left the scene.

TNA Warns Srilankan government not to place new impediments in talks for 13++...

Reiterating the commitment of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to continue the talks aimed at arriving on an amicable political solution for the Tamils in Sri Lanka, the TNA on Saturday urged the government “to honour the mutual agreement reached and not to place new impediments to achieving an acceptable political solution that is desired by all the Peoples of Sri Lanka.”

Leader of the TNA R.Sampanthan said in a statement that after the talks resumed last month, and as per modalities agreed upon and confirmed in the minutes, it was “agreed that the bilateral talks between the government delegation and the TNA would continue and the consensus arrived at would be placed before the proposed Select Committee of Parliament. The TNA reiterates that its nomination to the PSC must await substantial consensus being reached at the bilateral talks, as was agreed.”

Outlining the manner in which the talks proceeded after resumption on November 16, he said that parties identified the issues to be discussed and agreed upon in evolving a political solution. The parties agreed on the specific order in which these issues were to be discussed and for this purpose scheduled four meetings - December 1, 6, 14, and 15. Thereafter, a time-table setting out these dates and issues was also circulated.

At the first of these meetings held on December 1, the Minister of External Affairs, G.L. Peiris indicated that without the TNA nominating its representatives to constitute the proposed Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC), the bilateral talks could not progress as previously agreed, Mr. Sampanthan said.

When the TNA reminded the government of the commitment already made, it requested time to deliberate and consequently a new meeting was scheduled for December 3. “Today despite lengthy discussions, the government delegation's position remained inconclusive,” he said.

Since the government – TNA talks began on January 10 this year, about 10 meetings were held. On August 4, the TNA walked out of the meeting, stating that no meaningful and purposeful dialogue could commence as the government had not responded to the TNA’s comprehensive proposals and that no purpose would be served by fixing a further date for talks unless and until the government made its response available.

Thereafter, after considerable back-room manoeuvrings, the TNA and the government agreed to recommence the dialogue.

"Debacle" of Asia Sinhala lanka assaults Law Student for trying to thwart Stinky Princes Record break....

Lanka law student 'assaulted again'

International human rights organisations have expressed serious concern over the safety of a Sri Lanka law student who has previously complained about alleged malpractices of the Law College (SLLC).

DM Thushara Jayaratne, the whistleblower of alleged exam malpractices by Namal Rajapaksa, MP, says he was assaulted by a group of assailants on Thursday at a safe house.

Though he was not physically injured, say activists, he is suffering from post-assault trauma.

"The recent attack follows threats and intimidation last year when Thushara publicly complained that President Rajapaksa's son received preferential treatment in his exams at the Law College," Yolanda Foster of Amnesty International told BBC Sandeshaya.

Lack of investigations

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), has also raised serious concern over the lack of investigations into the continued attacks on the rights defender.

Human rights organisations have protested against this treatment and requested a credible inquiry into his allegations. However, no such inquiry has been conducted," AHRC director Basil Fernando, said.

Mr Jayaratne was previously abducted, assaulted and regularly intimidated after he lodged complaints against President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s son, according to a complaint lodged earlier this year with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders.

While the national human rights commission has refused to entertain his complaints, the police have failed to launch any inquiry, the UN was informed.

"We are concerned about his security and call upon everyone to request from the government to inquire into this matter and also to provide him the security that he is entitled to," Basil Fernando added.

Harassment, intimidation and attacks against human rights defenders who expose abuses in Sri Lanka are not uncommon, according to Amnesty International.

"Many victims of human rights abuses feel an increased sense of insecurity as there is a lack of credible domestic mechanisms for filing and investigating complaints," added Ms Foster, AI's researcher on Sri Lanka.

Sinhalans Stop the Colombo - Tuticorin Ferry Service for settling Eelam tamils from Tamilnadu...

Colombo-Tuticorin ferry service suspended

The Colombo-Tuticorin passenger ferry service which was started in June has been suspended indefinitely amidst some confusion with officials of both countries giving different reasons.

The Ceylon Shipping Corporation, the general agent for the ferry service, was informed by the Indian counterpart Flamingo Liners Ltd that the Scotia Prince ferry service would be halted due to “technical difficulties,” a CSC official said.

However, CSC General Manager Sunil Obbodage said the ferry service was suspended because not many people were using it. The Scotia Prince ferry started operation following an agreement between the Sri Lankan and Indian governments last year. Flamingo Chief Executive Officer R.C. Thimaiah said the ferry service was suspended due to operational difficulties.

He also denied reports that there was an outstanding amount to be paid to the Sri Lankan fuel supplier and said they were clearing the outstanding credit facilities.However, the local fuel supplier has filed a case at the Colombo Commercial High Courts against Flamingo Liners.

Currently, the Scotia Prince ferry has been detained by port authorities on a court order until the outstanding bill of more than US$ 400,000 is paid.

Losers Liars Rotten Commission Report will go the way of all commisions of Stinky Lanka....

Work on translating the voluminous report of the committee that had studied the years since the collapse of the truce with the LTTE in 2002 to the end of the war in 2009 is set to begin soon.

One official in the know said the report prepared by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which submitted its report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 20, will be presented to Parliament in three languages — English, Tamil and Sinhalese.

“The report will form the basis of reconciliation attempts by the government,” said the official.

Dismissing the criticism that the translation of the report, prepared in English, was yet another ploy to delay the start of genuine attempts to offer a solution to the Tamil minority, the official said it was imperative that everyone was able to read what the report contained. While the government does not intend to table the complete report, it is certain that the recommendations will be tabled in English and the translated versions.

The official assured that there would be no delay in the report being presented to Parliament. The government had aimed for tabling the report in December, and it would stick by the deadline.

World Wide Eelam Tamils Mourn for the Sacrifices made by Valiant Warriors with ...

Eelam Tamils Call For War Crimes Tribunal

As Tamils gathered this week to remember those who died in the civil war, the call for an independent investigation into war crimes in Sri Lanka is getting louder, writes Brami Jegan

Yesterday I joined hundreds of thousands of Tamils across the world — in the UK, France, Germany Switzerland, America and India — to remember those who died in the 26-year struggle for our independence. It was day of haunting sadness.

The day is called "Maaveerar Naal". Veerar in Tamil means "warrior or hero". Maa means "great". Naal means "day".

It is held each year on 27 November, the date the first Tamil Tiger, Shankar, died in combat in 1982. I was two years old.

Alongside 2000 Tamils at a park in Silverwater in Sydney’s west, I wept for the 40,000 Tamils that were massacred by the Sri Lankan Government in 2009. I paid my respects to those who sacrificed their lives for my freedom.

I remembered the months of paralysing fear my family went through while my father was in the former conflict zone. I went to bed each night petrified of waking up to news he had been killed in an aerial attack by Sri Lankan Kfir jets or drones.

I honoured my dearest friend K, and the hours of laughter we shared together. A night I will never forget is when we sat under monsoon stars in Tamil Eelam in 2006, talking about life and love, war and peace till 4am in the morning. He kept the electricity generator running for me, even though it would have cost him more than he could afford because he knew I was scared of the dark. He died fighting for my identity.

The Sri Lankan Government is on a witchhunt to silence anyone that dares speak out about the atrocities committed against the Tamils. I have the honour of being on their list. This has only strengthened my resolve.

When people ask me where I am from, I say "I am Tamil". I am not a Sri Lankan. A regime that has brutalised, terrorised and murdered, does not speak in my name.

The Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka, is interpreted by the country’s rulers as "proving" that Sri Lanka is a Sinhalese Buddhist island. It can equally be read as the story of how the Sinhalese and Tamils founded the country together. In the story, the Tamil King Elara ruled with equal justice and was accepted by both communities.

As a diaspora Tamil I have struggled to understand my privileged place in the west. There is nothing I want that I can’t have. But since I first returned to Sri Lanka in 2002, I have had no peace of mind.

At the age of 22 I came face to face with the horrors of war: orphaned children; adults and children who had lost their arms, legs and eyesight; Tamil women who had been raped by the Sri Lankan army; men who had been tortured. The memories are endless and terrifying.

How do I reconcile my fortunate life with these stories? How do I explain to my western friends the pain and suffering I have witnessed? How do I not let their pain become a part of me?

I feel incredibly lost in post-war Sri Lanka as do many other diaspora Tamils. What is our role now?

Two and a half years ago genocide was committed against the Tamils of Sri Lanka and the entire international community did nothing to stop it.

The horrifying images of war crimes and crimes against humanity shown in Channel Four’s ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ were a stark wake up call to the world. The broader understanding and perception of the Tamil struggle is shifting.

UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron, Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser have come out strongly in favour of an independent war crimes tribunal for Sri Lanka. As has the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts, Amnesty International, International Crisis Group, and Human Rights Watch.

Shamefully our Prime Minister and Foreign Minister won’t add their voice to this call for an independent investigation.

I don’t know if there will ever be an independent war crimes tribunal for Sri Lanka. But the Arab Spring has shown the world that anything is possible. Hope must continue in some form.

The war no longer defines me. But the struggle forever will. I am a Tamil and with that comes a responsibility. A responsibility to myself, to my father, to K and to the Maveerars to honour the sacrifices and strength of my ancestors: "Because you died, we continue to live".

Sinhala KING threatened Buddhist Mottai Monks with Bomb attacks...

“The Fonseka arrest has led to a rift between the Rajapaksa leadership and four mahanayakas (chief monks) of the largest Buddhist sects. The arrest sparked the monks to raise broader issues of democratic governance and to call a Sangha Sabha (council of clergy) to discuss the situation. But the council was indefinitely postponed after the monks received bomb threats. Government apologists retaliated by promising that 500 temples would be split off from the main Buddhist sects and re-aligned with a lesser-known sect from Rajapaksas’ home region in the south.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

A leaked US unclassified diplomatic cable recounts the reaction of the Buddhist monks after the arrest of the opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka followed by the presidential election 2010. The Colombo Telegraph found the cable from WikiLeaks database. The cable was written on February 26, 2010 by the US Ambassador to Colombo Patricia A. Butenis.

On February 14, Mahanayake of Asgiriya Rev. Udagama Sri Buddharakkitha, Mahanayaka of Malwatte Rev. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala, Mahanayake of Ramanna Nikaya Rev. Weveldeniye Medhalankara, and Mahanayake of Amarapura Nikaya Rev. Divuldena Ganissara in a joint statement said the arrest of Fonseka was unjustified and unacceptable” the Ambassador wrote. Placing a note she said “In the recorded history of over two thousand years of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, there have been very few such councils of monks. A Sangha Sabha was summoned only when the king exceeded his limits, and the monks felt duty-bound to ask for governance.”

US Ambassador wrote “ The mahanayaka of the Malwatta Chapter went further to criticize attacks on journalists and the current state of democracy in the country.” “Statements by the monks criticizing the Fonseka arrest and warning that democracy on the island was at risk reportedly enraged the Rajapaksas. Two days before the Sangha Sabha was to open, Buddhist contacts from the provinces informed us that temples had been told that bombs would be hurled at buses transporting monks to the council. On February 16, the mahanayake of Malwatte announced the assembly had been indefinitely postponed due to security concerns.”

Placing a comment Butenis wrote “Contacts have told us that the monks’ rebellion against the Rajapaksas was unprecedented insofar as monks disregarded their traditional cast differences to come together against what they saw as abuses by the Rajapaksas.”