The AI campaign ‘Play by the Rules’ is a trailblazer (http://web.amnesty.org/pages/lka-020407-petition-eng), in marketing terms AI must be exultant with the publicity that it has received globally and especially in Sri Lanka. For a campaign of this nature nothing is negative publicity and so counter pressure in the form of agitated Sri Lankan government officials and Ministers referring to this campaign and calling it blasphemous, Southern based political groups taking to the roads and disquietened Sinhala diaspora must only add to the number of balls signed or the hits on the AI website.

According to AI the campaign ‘Play by the Rules!’ is to remind stakeholders in Sri Lanka that,

All parties involved in the escalating armed conflict in Sri Lanka need to …

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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 JVP and the UNP are making angry rumblings and, accusations of LTTE-Mahinda pacts and US-Gotabaya Pacts are doing the rounds. Amidst the turmoil the APRC is making feeble attempts to ‘put out something’ by the 15th of March. Most observers of the process are cynical; the APRC is seen as an eye-wash with no real participation by the political parties and no real ability to produce even ‘some good ideas’ for a political solution.

One wonders if there is any discussion about what these ‘political solutions’ mean and how they are going to be translated into do-able practical components by the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims with ethnicity deeply etched into their minds. At a time when pluralism and multiculturalism seem …

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As of February 2007 3,103 US Soldiers have been killed and, 23,279 others seriously wounded in Iraq. $505 billion of US taxpayers’ funds, including $70 billion for fiscal year 2007 have been spent or approved for spending and President Bush is expected to request another $100 billion in war-spending for 2007 and $140 billion for 2008, which will bring the cumulative total to well over $700 billion (http://usliberals.about.com/od/homelandsecurit1/a/IraqNumbers.htm) According to CNN the Bush administration hopes to resettle about 7,000 Iraqi refugees to the United States this year. The war in Iraq has certainly taken a serious toll in US politics and life. So why did the US invade Iraq? Did they bargain for such a costly prolonged war? How would …

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Colombo has gradually degenerated into a sinister looking, ‘frightened city’. During the past few months roads have been blocked, speeding convoys disrupt normal traffic, traffic is directed one way, (which is still rather disorienting) and men in khaki walk around carrying T56s watching, wary. The stalling of the peace process and the military offensives have had their toll on Colombo. It seems as if the normal civilian life has been changed, Sri Lankans seem to be under siege and there are hardly any questions about how one deals with it and its overall impact on civilian life. This short writing is not a judgment on whether Colombo should be under siege or not but rather to illuminate the situation and …

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Amidst flashing bulbs the second son of President Rajapakse, Yoshitha, was sent off to China Bay, Trincomalee for training to join the Navy.

 

Are there any implications of this for the other Sri Lankans? What are the implications of this historic event for Sri Lanka? They can be three fold, two short to medium term and one long term ramification. Firstly it portrays the military mindset of the present regime. This event was first class propaganda for the ongoing military operations. The media circus that surrounded the event intimated the importance that was laid on sending one’s children to war as a patriotic gesture in her hour of need. There is belief that a military victory is at hand in the …

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Nations are built by the imagination and the untiring enthusiastic efforts of generations. One generation transfers the fruits of its toil to another which then takes forward the mission. As the coming generation also has its dreams and aspirations for the nation’s future, it therefore adds something from its side to the national vision; which the next generation strives hard to achieve. This process goes on and the nation climbs steps of glory and gains higher strengthens.

(Abul Kalam and Rajan, 2002)

The current crisis in Sri Lanka is drawing increased Indian attention. The President of Sri Lanka, Leader of the Opposition and TNA Parliamentarians all in their turn visited New Delhi to brief India of the current situation, request …

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