http://www.groundviews.org groundviews is an award winning Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Fri, 16 May 2008 04:33:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Island newspaper in Sri Lanka is already known for its Editorial blunders. Yesterday however, it sunk to a new low when it published the following in the children's section of its daily edition (Page 2, The Happy Island).  Clearly The Island has a very different idea to most parents on the nursery ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/16/the-island-newspaper-promotes-pedophilia-sex-and-fellatio-for-children/ 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 ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/14/to-the-tamils-in-the-north-why-didn%e2%80%99t-you-vote/ Stupid Old Men I don't want to end up being a stupid old man Just look at what they have done to our world in vain What's the big deal in going to the moon As he yet settles score by inflicting pain War on terror, crusade or witch hunts Stupid old men run scared to ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/11/old-truths-and-old-men/ Economic sanctions have been used for foreign policy objectives since the time of Ancient Greece. The idea that economic sanctions might be an alternative to the use of force received attention after the First World War, largely owing to President Woodrow Wilson's advocacy. Since World War II, Economic sanctions have been ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/11/eu-withdrawal-of-gsp-to-enforce-human-rights/ It was a busy afternoon on the Galle Road in Moratuwa and I stopped my vehicle at a pedestrian crossing to allow a few women and children cross the road.  The vehicle on the left lane also stopped and the people were now more than halfway across when a Matara ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/09/bus-terrorism-and-justice/ As soon as the security forces arrived at Arrippu, in September 2007, we were escorted out of our villages, some with personal belongings many with only what they were wearing. We sheltered at Nanattan School for 15 days. We made a request to the area commander through our GA Mn ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/09/fate-of-the-displaced-mannar/ Groundviews makes it easy for you to send content for publication and to respond to that which is posted on the site. Please make sure you've read the CONTENT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES before sending any text, photo, video or other content for publication. Restrictions, guidelines and best practices For text, we request that you ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/03/submit/ There appears to be renewed interest in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) within policy circles here.  The GFA is certainly unique because it fundamentally reconstituted the state and politics in NI. Republican and unionists expectations on a number of issues were diametrically opposed to each other, ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/05/03/peace-in-northern-ireland-lessons-for-sri-lanka/ Any satisfactory answer to this question must examine, and consider the root causes for this problem; however, the solution must be sensitive to the numerous complexities brought about by the conflict itself. In the case of Sri Lanka, it would be naive examine this problem from a purely pre-1983 perspective. The ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/29/what-is-the-solution-to-the-ethnic-conflict-in-sri-lanka/ My mother in law, age 55 is from Kalliyaddy, Mannar, (an LTTE controlled area) came to live with her daughter, who is married to me in Sinnakarishal, Pesalai on 15.01.08. Kalliyady is in LTTE controlled area with around 500 families. Life there has been extremely difficult for her and during ... http://www.groundviews.org/2008/04/28/doesnt-she-have-the-right-to-live-with-her-daughter/