Archive for Jaffna
May 14, 2008 at 3:57 pm · Categories: English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by The Under Dog
By Under Dog
Amidst the bombs, the war, the white vans, and the checkpoints, I look back with fond memories of the ceasefire. It brought four glorious years of peace and prosperity, and also did what the naysayers said could never happen—it split the LTTE in two. Karuna, the LTTE’s fiercest combat commander, and an incessant thorn in our side during the ill-fated Jayasikurui operation, decided he wanted out. Perhaps he wanted a bigger share of the spoils from the LTTE money machine, perhaps more authority, or perhaps he had a lover’s quarrel with Prabhakaran (when the Dear Leader asked ‘do I look fat in this?’ he shouldn’t have recommended changing the uniforms to vertical stripes). Anyway, the …
April 16, 2008 at 10:49 am · Categories: English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict | by CHA
“The cost of living is sky rocketing like the Kfir jets,” said an old man standing along the road side with great sigh. He was holding his loaf of bread tightly as though it was something precious. “Yes, soon will have to give up eating,” another old man standing next to him admitted. Now a days bread is the main food item in many families. We can simply estimate the rate of cost of living with the price increase of wheat flour and bread.
Posing a question regarding the cost of living to a crowd in front of a grocery shop a man answers saying, “so many reporters and media people have visited us and asked the same question again …
April 1, 2008 at 8:33 am · Categories: Colombo, English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by Michael Roberts
Early in February we were treated to a cogent, indeed, masterful, essay by Publius [Editors note - read ETHNOS OR DEMOS? - QUESTIONING TAMIL NATIONALISM]. Locating the debate within the general difficulty that liberal constitutional theory has with sub-state nationalisms and the problems associated with the disaggregation of “nation” and “state,” Publius addressed the situation in Sri Lanka. Fully attentive to the failures of the Sri Lankan state itself and the character of the present regime, one “fundamentally hostile to the constitutional recognition of diversity, quite apart from Tamil nationalism,” Publius focused on the failures of Tamil nationalism.
In measured manner he identified two shortcomings. Firstly, he said, theoretical poverty permeates Tamil nationalist thinking, so that it displays an inability …
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 20, 2008 at 7:48 am · Categories: Colombo, English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by groundviews
Lionel Bopage speaks on the evolution of the Liberation of Tamil Tigers Eelam (LTTE) and Prabharakan’s role in making the outfit what it is today. Lionel Bopage was a former General Secretary of the JVP and was involved with the party since 1968 until his resignation in 1984.
Other related contributions by Lionel Bopage to Groundviews can be found here.
See also Prabakaran’s Role in Tamil National Struggle: Interview with Shanthi Sachithanandan.
For other compelling videos with alternative perspectives on war, peace and governance, visit the Vikalpa Video Channel on YouTube.
February 28, 2008 at 8:33 pm · Categories: English, Human Security, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by groundviews
The current socio-economic, political and ground situation in Jaffna from a resident in the embattled region in the North of Sri Lanka as captured by Vikalpa Video.
Also see Present situation in Jaffna: A video interview in English and Sinhala.
February 28, 2008 at 6:09 pm · Categories: Colombo, English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict | by David Blacker
It’s easy. You just lead them a little less. It’s an old joke, born in the Vietnam War, and first recorded by Michael Herr, though Kubrick made it famous with his portrait of the crazed US Marine door gunner in Full Metal Jacket. In layspeak, a shooter “leads” a running figure so that he’s aiming at where the target will be when the bullet reaches it. Women and children run slower than an adult male.
It’s not so funny anymore though, when we’re fighting a war in which the uniformed enemy often is a woman or a child. Earlier this week, a US military court sentenced Sgt Evan Vela, a 24-year-old Army sniper, to ten years imprisonment for killing an Iraqi …
February 22, 2008 at 6:39 pm · Categories: Colombo, Constitutional Reform, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by groundviews
Fashionable as any aspiring theoreticians, writer Publius with above article once again takes on a contemporary and important topic, yet with wider pseudo interpositions and an assumed role of political advisory.
Following is a very short response.
Those who know me will bear witness that I am neither an Eelamist nor a separatist. I envisage and endeavour for a normative multination democracy where the Thamil nation, legally, constitutionally and normatively will restore its nationhood with or without a state because all nations does not need to own a state (Taylor 1992,2004) ,but every nation needs to live in its fullest freedom including the right to self determination. (Connor 1990, 2002)
The core of the argument forwarded by Publius is encapsulated
‘’…A …
February 1, 2008 at 6:51 pm · Categories: Colombo, Constitutional Reform, English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by Publius
As the major military onslaught against the LTTE gathers pace to the accompaniment of increasingly jingoistic rhetoric of ruling party politicians, bureaucrats and military top brass, Tamil nationalism in Sri Lanka finds itself at a critical crossroads. What may or may not happen in the battlefield this year is still a matter of conjecture, in spite of the bellicose rhetoric of both parties. Faced with the military resolve of the State and the seeming apathy of the international community in respect of any form of intervention, what is also clear, however, is that Tamil nationalism appears to be running out of ideas at the political level. The paucity of political ideas and their articulation in constitutional and legal claims to …
January 27, 2008 at 7:49 am · Categories: Colombo, Constitutional Reform, English, Jaffna, Peace and Conflict, Politics | by groundviews
Note: Interacting with Willie Senanayake, Lionel Bopage and other moderates in Australia I found them composing a “Handbook of Answers” to typical objections against devolution presented within the Sinhala speech community. This can be an useful exercise. But then one is facing one’s debating opponents on terrain of their choosing. I propose rather to create a different landscape. This is the product.Inevitably it overlaps with SPLIT ASUNDER. I have responded briefly to brief comments under that topic; but this new essay will hopefully spark further commentary. Note, however, that the Vitharana Committee’s proposals will perhaps overwhelm our thinking when they appear soon.
ADDRESSING THE NATIONS OF SRI LANKA
Michael Roberts
14 January 2008
The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has been …
Next entries »
