Archive for March, 2008
March 31, 2008 at 6:07 pm · Categories: Colombo, English, Peace and Conflict | by Sanjana
In response to the appearance of posters in Colombo promising generous cash rewards for would be suicide bombers who gave themselves up, Sri Lanka’s military spokesman, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara, said last Friday (28th March) in a BBC news report that the police were investigating the posters.
“He said there was no answer when he had called the number himself and he suspected it was a hoax.” (Emphasis mine)
In an absurd turn of events that beggars belief, the Daily Mirror reports today that it was in fact the Defense Ministry itself that had put up these posters!
“Those posters had been put up by the Ministry of Defence and accordingly, now there is an opportunity to all would-be suicide bombers to …
March 30, 2008 at 4:27 pm · Categories: Colombo, English, Peace and Conflict | by Ange
Responding to a friend’s inquiry on my silence I realised how much I valued being away from home. I actually responded saying I was out and glad to keep away from the madness when he asked me how I was keeping and why he hadn’t heard from me.
Of course I was looking forward to seeing my family and friends. But I hurriedly forwarded the various mails to a few interested contacts and deleted them without reading them myself. I wanted a respite from the situation reports from this or that place, the press releases by this or that body condemning this or that attack.
I felt the reverse of what someone returning home after a stay abroad would probably feel. I …
March 30, 2008 at 11:46 am · Categories: Batticaloa, Constitutional Reform, English, Peace and Conflict | by sam
This video clip contains a brief interview with A.L Thavam – Chairperson of Akkaraipattu Pradeshiya Saba (local government).
It is presented here as is, without analysis or comment.
Summary of the interview.
- Feels that Batticoloa election was successful because of the lack of incidents, and says therefore Government has been successful in liberating the Eastern Province.
- Acknowledges there may have been ‘little incidents’ but says these do not carry significance when the bigger picture is considered.
- Says that if the people did not want to vote, they could have made a mark on the ballot paper and submitted it – in effect, just pretended to vote. But says the number of these …
March 30, 2008 at 8:27 am · Categories: Batticaloa, English, Human Security, IDPs and Refugees, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by CHA
By K. Ratnam
It is as if the city of Batticaloa has become a red hot furnace due to the scorching sun. Yet at high noon there is a pall of gloom that hangs over the city. People who have come to attend to their requirements are wandering about hither and thither in a mighty hurry to get back as if a storm were expected any time.
It is likely their only objective is to achieve their needs and leave the city as fast as possible.
What is happening in Batticaloa these days?
If the Government is asked this question, a probable response would be: “these days we are sowing the seeds of democracy.” In other words, they hope to widen the limits of …
March 28, 2008 at 5:49 pm · Categories: Colombo, English, Human Rights, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by groundviews
Prominant Civil Socity activist and Lawyer Nimalka Fernando speaks on the withdrawal of IIGEP (International Independent Group of Eminent Persons) and its implications for human rights protection in Sri Lanka.
March 28, 2008 at 1:05 pm · Categories: Colombo, English, Human Security, Mannar, Peace and Conflict | by CHA
An armed group abducted my younger brother this month. He was 25 years old. They came in a van in early February at around 8.30 in the night.
I am the eldest son in my family and I returned to Mannar after my marriage. After one year I told my parents to come down to Sri Lanka since a ceasefire agreement was signed between LTTE and the government. They returned to Mannar after 12 years from India.
As soon as he was abducted I informed the ICRC, FCE, Citizen Committees and CHA. My abducted brother is the youngest in our family. He neither knows nor has any connection with any militant group.
Yet he was abducted.
We searched all over but we could not …
March 28, 2008 at 12:44 pm · Categories: English, IDPs and Refugees, Mannar, Peace and Conflict | by CHA
I am the director of a convent in Madhu. Our convent was shifted from Adampan to Madhu at the end of January this year due to the heavy shelling & aerial attacks by the security forces. There were 25 school children with me in the convent in Madhu including 300 families also sheltered at the Church compound. The students at the Madhu Church used to travel in the bus that used to set off at Madhu at 7.30am toward Thadchanamadhu School.
On 28th January this year, I had to go to Killinochchi to get a pass. I told the convent children not to go to school in my absence. Only one student from my convent went for basketball practice. On the …
March 28, 2008 at 7:51 am · Categories: English, Human Security, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by CHA
Puthiyavan
A recent survey conducted by a social organisation in Savatkadu, Anaikodai Jaffna under a the supervision of a psychiatrist, revealed the silent suffering of generations who’ve witnessed the war first hand.
The killings, abductions and disappearances that take place daily have contributed to decades of mental agony which are finally taking its toll in the manifestation of an aggressive society.
The survey revealed that the majority of young widows had lost their husbands due to killings or abductions. All the young widows were with mental depression.
Their children in the age group of 1- 10 years displayed signs of stubbornness, urinating in the bed, and pain in the limbs. However it was indicated in the survey that these disorders were purely psychological impacts …
March 27, 2008 at 11:01 am · Categories: English, IDPs and Refugees, Peace and Conflict, Puttlam | by CHA
‘Cries from Puttalam’
For those familiar with the fairytales of the Grimm Brothers, the story of the young girl who equals her love for her father to her love for salt is no doubt a resounding one. Banished from her home by a wounded father who assumes her love for him to be trivial, she later gains grace when he realises the true depth of her love for him.
However, for the Muslim refugees of Puttalam, life is no fairytale. The situation is certainly grim, and the taste of salt is now bitter.
For these Muslims, who once led peaceful and productive lives in the north of the country, their lives were shattered when they were ordered to leave their homes in just …
March 25, 2008 at 8:09 am · Categories: Colombo, Constitutional Reform, English, Politics | by raja
The history of democracy is a history of evolution. In Britain the King was the Head of the Executive. There was the legal principle that ‘the king can do no wrong’. It was a Royal Prerogative to appoint Ministers and officials and dismiss them at his will and pleasure. But Parliament got the King to agree to the principle of ‘no taxation without representation’.
But what if the tax revenue was wasted by the King and his Court? That would be unfair by the people. But Parliament could not punish the King for such misdeeds. So Parliament hit upon the principle that although the King had an absolute privilege to appoint his officials Parliament could hold them accountable for financial misdemeanors …
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