I am variously labeled in the media and was most recently called a traitor. Not the first time I’ve heard it and won’t be the last, but this time, it was because it was noted by some in the State media that those who made representations at the UN’s Human Rights Council in March were engaged in a vast, NGO driven conspiracy to tarnish the good name of the Government and the Sri Lankan State.

I go back to 1990, and an interview with Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was then the Secretary of a Parliamentary Committee on Fundamental and Human Rights, followed by the response of the self-proclaimed doyen of human rights today, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

After going back …

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Mr Prabhakaran has managed yet again to shock and even awe with the air strike on the Katunayake air base, even though the talk about a Tiger air capability has been around for some time.  According to a former Indian intelligence chief, the LTTE has had this capability for some nine years.   The question is as to whether this air strike alters the balance of power, militarily, politically and psychologically.

That the LTTE pulled off the attack begs a host of questions regarding the detection of the aircraft and as to why they were not pursued and destroyed before the attack or after it.  There is to be yet another commission to look into this and its findings may well go …

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Since the devastating tsunami struck the coastal areas of Sri Lanka just over two years ago, there have been mixed reviews about the rehabilitation process reported in the media. On the one hand, it has been said that Sri Lanka experienced two tsunamis, the second being the wave of money that flowed in and allowed people to rebuild their lives and look to the future. But on the other hand, and far more frequently, these stories go untold or are overshadowed by reports of corruption, unfair aid distribution and incompetent international relief organisations.

Far too rarely do we hear of stories that reflect the support and participation of various stakeholders including local level collaborations across ethnic and caste divides, NGOs, INGOs …

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Regrettably, the continuing tragedy of violent conflict in Sri Lanka is further compounded by the increasing emergence of all manner of conspiracy theories. Because of their risqué sensationalism with scant regard for verifiable facts and a marked disdain for accountability, those who promote such conspiracy theories are out to get media attention and through it, further a parochial agenda that otherwise, in their perception, lacks the gravitas to command public attention and support. The most recent cause célèbre are allegations of a secret deal between the President and the LTTE during the Presidential Elections in 2005 that guaranteed through nefarious means Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ascendancy to power. There have also been conspiracy theories regarding the recent spate of abductions and disappearances …

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Photo credit: Tamilnation

In my article to Groundviews, I ask what I believe is an extremely pertinent question from my erstwhile colleague, Victor Ivan, the Editor of Ravaya.

I ask him to explain his stance regarding the blanket censorship on news and information on “Mawbima” and Managala Samaraweera. My article uses the philosophy of Bertrand Russell, a favourite of Victor, to attempt to convince him that the current editorial bent of Ravaya is hugely detrimental to the perception of the newspaper as a progressive and alternative media voice.

Read my article in full here.

-நாரதர்-

இலங்கை ஜனநாயக சோசலிச குடியரசு என்ற இலங்கையில் இன்று எந்தளவு அது நிலைத்துள்ளது என்பதனை கேட்குமளவிற்கு அப்பதம் கேள்விக்குறியாகியுள்ளது.அதற்கு ஒரு எடுத்துக்காட்டாகவே திருகோணமலை இன்று திகழ்கிறது.

இனந்தெரியாத ஆயுத குழுக்கல் என்ற பெயரில் படுகொலைகள்,மக்களின் அன்றாட வாழக்கையின் ஓர் அங்கமாக கலந்துள்ள பாதுகாப்பு சோதனைகள்,நித்தமும் நகரில் குவிந்து கிடக்கும் பாதுகாப்பு படையினர்,எவ்வேளையிலும் எதுவும் நடக்கலாம் என்ற அச்சத்தில் உறைந்துபோயுள்ள பொதுமக்கள் என இவ்வாறு அவற்றை பட்டியலிட்டுக் கொண்டே போகலாம்.

அந்த வகையில் கடந்த வருடங்களில் விடுதலைப்புலிகளின் அலுவலகங்கள் நகரத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.இன்று அவற்றுக்கு பதிலாக கருணா குழுவினர் அலுவலகங்களை அமைத்துக் கொண்டுள்ளனர்.அவர்கள் வழக்கு விசாரணைகளையும் மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றனர்.அதற்கு பொலிஸ் அதிகாரிகளும் ஒத்துழைப்பும் வழங்கி வருகின்றனர்.இதனை நாம் அங்கு சென்று போது நேரில் காணக்கூடியதாயிருந்தது.’நாம் இங்கு பொதுமக்களின் முறைப்பாடுகளை விசாரணைகள் செய்து வருகின்றோம்.அத்துடன் பொது மக்களுக்கு எதிராக இடம்பெறும் வீதிகளில் இடம்பெறும் துன்புறுத்தல்கள் மற்றும் இடைஞ்சலுக்கெதிரான நடவடிக்கைகளையுமே நாம் மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றோம்.” என அலுவலகத்தின் அதிகாரியொருவர் தமது கருத்துக்களை தெரிவித்தார்.ஆனால் கருணா குழுவினர் நகரில் பிரபல வர்த்தகர்களிடம் கப்பம் பெற்று வருவதாக பொதுமக்கள் குற்றம் சாட்டுகின்றனர்.

ஒரு ஜனநாயக நாட்டின் இறைமையுள்ள அரசாங்கத்திற்கு மட்டுமே ஆயுதப்படையை வைத்திருக்க …

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From Australia:

This image occupies almost half a page in the World section of today’s Age - the leading paper in Melbourne. I am sure it has also been printed in the Sydney Morning Herald and in many papers around the world.

I wonder if it made it on to Sri Lanka’s papers… Of course, it’s not clear when this photo was taken, and if it represents the type of aircraft that dropped the explosives over the air force base - but nevertheless - it’s no doubt doing the rounds in newspapers and websites throughout the world …
And where’s the discussion speculating the type of aircraft? Perhaps CNN / Fox / BBC are all running panels, …

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A conversation with a friend over SMS when I was at a book launch recently:

Sanjana: “At Sumane’s book launch. Peace and federalism are supposedly nigh”
MR (Friend): “That sounds fun. So u chose that over the poet rapper. I think that’s the critical problem. We don’t have a song about federalism so people can’t relate to it”
Sanjana: “But we do right? Remember that YA*TV rap song on peace?”
MR: “Yes, but would it not be meaningful if Shehan and Anarkali sang Mege Pemwathage Pedral Wadaya?”
Sanjana: “Quite. But form would overwhelm content in your example”
MR: “Yes, but that is most peace agreements. I think I am so inspired I will write the lyrics 4 Sha FM. Soon 2 b most requested”

I …

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Several stories related to the conflict in Sri Lanka remain untold by the Indian media, including the situation of the embattled media in Sri Lanka.

Ammu Joseph

The renewed conflict in Sri Lanka has been making some news in India over the past few months - though not quite as much as the continuing violence in Iraq, despite the proximity, as well as the historical and cultural connections, which render the former particularly significant for this country.

However, the scanty and sporadic reports on the Sri Lankan conflict in the Indian media remain largely event-based, with little depth and even less analysis, as Sri Lankan journalist Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Editor-Investigations and Political Correspondent of The Sunday Leader, Colombo, pointed out recently.

Her brief presentation …

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From CommonDreams.org

The United States is a major donor in Sri Lanka and funds projects and initiatives ranging from infrastructure development to governance and research. The question on aid conditionalities and parochial donor agendas is one never fully resolved, but is important to discuss in order to alert beneficiaries and the larger polity and society on the essential nature of aid disbursed by bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors. Clearly, this is not to support the simplistic assertion that such aid invariably contributes to the vast conspiracy of Western powers hell-bent on undermining our sovereignty, but is aimed at stimulating intelligent debate on how aid and development often closely tied to the foreign policies of donor countries, and …

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Photo credit: Lanka Truth

It’s unreasonable to even for a moment believe that the recent arrest of Former Port Development Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi was not politically motivated to a large extent. As one blog on anti-corruption in Sri Lanka notes, Sripathi’s arrest raises valid questions as to why arrests have not been made regarding the gross misuse and misappropriation of public money and property by other high ranking officials in power.

In my article, I suggest that what is more disturbing and quite frankly frightening, quite aside from the allegations and conspiracy theories parried about by Sripathi and Mangala of late, is the government’s sophisticated media and political machinery that quashes, violently if need be, any dissent …

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Mr. President, this is a blot against your name!

It’s not Mahinda Rajapaksa I refer to when I begin my article with these words, but Félix Faure, the President of France at the time of the infamous Dreyfus Affair, involving the wrongful conviction for treason of a young French artillery officer, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, and the political and judicial scandal that followed until his full rehabilitation.

I begin my article with a lone voice of reason and truth, Émile Zola, who stood up in support of Alfred Dreyfuss. In an open letter to President Faure, Zola said that the haunted vision of a man wrongfully accused troubled him at night and compelled him to stand …

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Sometimes it’s important to force oneself to see the glass as half full rather than half empty. When looking at the current situation in Sri Lanka, the bigger picture often looks very bleak and hopeless. But on a lesser scale, positive initiatives are being carried out and small steps are slowly being taken forward.

One such step is the story of the Welfare Centre in Maharagama. Located within a stone’s throw from the Maharagama Cancer Hospital, the centre provides patients and their families with free accommodation and facilities, making a very traumatic experience a little easier. The initiative is organised by the Maharagama Buddhist Association who have opened the doors of the temple in order to provide shelter …

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நாரதர்

‘அய்யோ பகலில் கேட்கும் மல்ரி பெரல் (Multi Barrel) வெடிச் சத்தங்களினால் என் நெஞ்சே வெடித்து விடும் போலிருக்கிறது.அய்யோ பாவம் மட்டக்களப்பு சனங்கள்.” என கடந்த வாரம் மட்டக்களப்பு சென்று வந்த இளம் யுவதியொருவர் இவ்வாறு புலமபுகின்றார்.

இலங்கையின் கிழக்கில் விடுதலைப் புலிகளுக்கும் அரசாங்கத்திற்குமிடையில் இடம்பெற்று வரும் உக்கிரத்தாக்குதல்களினால் சுமார் ஒரு லட்சத்து முப்பதாயிரத்திற்கும் அதிகமான குடும்பங்கள் மட்டக்களப்பு நகரத்தில் அகதிகளாக தஞ்சமடைந்துள்ளனர்.

இவர்கள் படும் துன்பங்களையும் நெருக்கடிகளையும் வார்த்தைகளில் சொல்லமுடியாதளவிற்கு எல்லை மீறிச் செல்கின்றது.இது அம்மக்கள் மீது ஏற்பட்ட இரண்டாவது சுனாமியாகும்.

ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் சபையினர் கூட இம்மக்களுக்கு போதுமானளவு உணவுகளை வழங்க முடியாதுள்ளதென தெரிவித்து வருகின்றனர்.

கடந்த இரு தசாப்த காலங்கள் இடம்பெற்ற யுத்தத்தினால் பல கசப்பான சம்பவங்களுக்கு முகம்கொடுத்தும் இன்னும் யுத்தத்தின் மீது இரு தரப்பும் ஆர்வம் கொள்வது நாட்டை மேலும் சீரழிவிற்கே இட்டுச் செல்லும்.

நவீன உலகில் மக்கள் இன்னோரன்ன நன்மைகளையும் சுதந்திரங்களையும் அனுபவித்து வருகின்ற வேளையில் இலங்கை வாழ் தமிழர்கள் மட்டும் அதளபாதாளத்தை நோக்கிச் செல்கின்றனர்.

தற்போதைய சூழ்நிலையில் இலங்கை வாழ் தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு எவராலுமே உத்தரவாதமில்லாத நிலையில் வாழ்ந்து வருகின்ற நிலையில் …

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According to a front page article in the Daily Mirror on the 19 March 2007, titled “Mangala calls on democratic forces to rise against ‘emerging tyranny’” ex- Minister Mangala Samaraweera is calling on all political and civil organizations to rally behind him to come forward against the undemocratic triumvirate;

Mr. Samaraweera told the Daily Mirror yesterday that even the UNP and the SLFP as democratic political parties could be a part of that exercise. … “Not only political parties but also civil society organizations and other individuals can come forward against this dictatorship,” he said.

The ousting of the three ministers and the flurry of activities thereof has been fascinating. Anura Bandaranaike managed to work himself into the fold but the …

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The 82 Sri Lankan asylum seekers are making news in Australia. They haven’t been sent to Indonesia to be ‘processed’ and it’s unlikely they’ll be handed back to the Sri Lankan Government. But they have been moved to Nauru for processing. In the past, Nauru has been used to process other asylum seekers who have attempted to arrive in Australia through unofficial channels.

The tactic, known as the Pacific Solution, aims at keeping asylum seekers to Australia offshore, in a isolated island that’s difficult for refugee advocates to access, and out of sight from the media spotlight. The detention centre in Nauru is funded by Australia, costing taxpayers millions of dollars per year. BUT that’s a whole other issue.

Though one …

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Today, in the wake of recent crossovers by the UNP reformists and the presentation of reports from APRC process, the federal debate has once again taken centre. For many years Federalism has been looked at with so much of disgrace by mainly Sinhalese, particularly to those who are against any sort of devolution of powers to other ethnic communities. However, given the prominence of the federal debate, during the last 80 years exemplifies the importance and dire need of a power sharing arrangement. In the 1930s it was the Kandyan Sinhalese who put the federal demand forward for the first time in Sri Lankan political history. Later, Tamil political parties championed by the late …

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This time around, I examine the manner in which Buddha first came to Sri Lanka and encountered the non-Aryan Tamilian inhabitants. Called demons in Dharmapala’s description of them in 1908, they were according to the Dipavamsa, Lanka’s first inhabitants.

My article explores, according to the ancient texts, how the Buddha overcame the Demons. The manner in which he did so, that I explore in my article, is justified in the ancient texts by the fact that the Demons were impervious to the Truth and the Dhamma, and that accordingly, they posed a threat to the Buddha Sasana.

My article was written after listening to the President’s comments on television recently, that Sri Lanka was a country that had witnessed the …

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In my recent contribution in Sinhala to Mawbima, I explore the murder of Thillainayagam Theeban as first reported by Nalaka Gunawardene in this forum. An interesting footnote is that not a single one of the 3 Police Stations or 7 Policemen I spoke to in order to find out more information about Theeban was aware of any developments in the hunt for his killers.

Sadly, he is just another number for them - and the numbers just keep piling up in Sri Lanka.

I also translate into Sinhala a particularly important excerpt from the recent UTHR(J) Information Bulletin No. 44, “The Race for Infamy in Sri Lanka’s North-East“.

Read the full article here.

Writing on the political economy of war, David Keen has written the following words: “[T]he study of war has been characterized by a kind of mental block.  Sometimes war appears as a kind of ‘black box’, an important phenomenon which we somehow think that we understand but avoid analyzing in any detail.”  I think this is also true of the political economy of peace.  The failure of peace attempts is commonly attributed to lack of capacity, volition and mutual trust of the main protagonists of the conflict.  Of course, those factors are crucial for the success of the peace process.  However, a little attention has been paid to an issue that is of great importence in making peace effort difficult …

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