Sri Lanka Govt. secretly meets Ban’s panel

By ST Political Editor | The Sunday Times
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A Sri Lanka delegation, which held talks in New York with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also, met with his three-member panel probing accountability issues over alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka.

The Sunday Times learns that the meeting took place on Wednesday (February 23) soon after the four-member delegation called on UNSG Ban at his temporary office on the third floor of UN headquarters. His 38th floor office is now under renovation.

The delegation comprised Attorney General Mohan Peiris, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Palitha Kohona and his deputy, Major General Shavendra de Silva. Both sides have kept the meeting a secret.

Authoritative sources said that the Sri Lanka delegation explained the progress of the work carried out by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission. This was in the presence of Ban and his Chief of Staff, Vijay Nambiar. They pointed out that the LLRC required more space to complete its task.

However, they said, that an Inter Agency Advisory Committee (IAAC) was already implementing the interim recommendations made by the LLRC. Further implementation of other recommendations awaits the LLRC’s final report, they said.

The report of the UN panel chaired by Marzuki Darusman (Indonesia), Yasmin Sooka (South Africa) and Steven Ratner (United States) was scheduled to be handed over to UNSG Ban last Friday. A copy was also to be given to UN Human Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillai. However, a UN source in New York said yesterday that it had been delayed by “two to three” weeks. No reasons were attributed to the delay. Government sources said the Sri Lanka delegation members were happy that the UNSG as well as the panel gave them a “satisfactory hearing.”

Preparations for the meeting with UN Secretary General as well as the panel remained a top secret. Both Attorney General Peiris and External Affairs Ministry Secretary Jayasinghe flew from Colombo unannounced. Even after the return of the delegation via Geneva, having taken part in the ongoing UN Human Rights Council sessions, no formal statement was issued. Earlier, senior government officials in Colombo scoffed at even suggestions in New York that the Sri Lanka delegation met the UN panel as revealed in the Sunday Times political commentary last week.

© The Sunday Times

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Sri Lanka: Election violence peaks

By Rathindra Kuruwita | Lakbima News
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The last three days have seen the most intense election law violations and election related violence since nominations were handed in for the Local Government polls on March 17, claimed Campaign for Free and fair Elections (CaFFE.)

Two murders, 44 cases of assault and 18 cases of damage to property have been reported in the last 72 hours from around the country.

Gampaha, Nawalapitiya, Puttalam, Galle and Hambantota are the districts in which violence has peaked, reason being the strong rivalry among the candidates, both inter-party and intra-party.

“The highest incidence of election law violations and election related violence has been reported from Gampaha and Hambantota. Two United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) supporters died in a shooting incident in Peraliya, Galle, figuring supporters of one party,” he said.

There were also several incidents reported in the last 24 hours in Walasmulla in Hambantota, and in Matara and Dambulla, said CaFFE Executive Director Keerthi Tennakoon.

One of UNP MP Sajith Premadasa’s election meetings was attacked. About 20 vehicles were damaged and 15 persons injured in the incident including LAKBIMAnEWS correspondent H.G.A.H. Amarasekara.

Tennakoon said that election propaganda deemed to be illegal took place on Saturday (March 5) in most parts of the country. He added that members of the National Congress assaulted and harassed members of the opposition parties at Akkaraipattu yesterday.

© Lakbima News

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Double fatigue with “Mahintriotic” Cricket and “Eurobarking”

By Kusal Perera | The Sunday Leader
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Cricket was a gentleman’s game in the past. Cricket is a businessman’s game in the present. Cricket could be politics of the fundamentalists in the future. Cricket is what’s spooned now into such racist campaigns here in Sri Lanka, with the 2011 Cricket World Cup just getting its pads on, for big time matches to come.

Government MP Sumathipala is on record, hitting out at those who may have cheered Pakistan at the first game which Sri Lanka lost by 11 runs. Sri Lankans have no choice. They have to cheer Sri Lanka and none other. Sumathipala wants all houses to fly the “Lion” flag too during the World Cup tournament, calling it a national event. There was news in mid February, of two other prominent but not necessarily popular Muslim politicians with the government, asking all Muslims to cheer Sri Lanka and not Pakistan at the World Cup matches. A chorus taken over by the mosques in Colombo on a Friday, according to loud whispers that made the rounds.

ricket is getting a new patriotic dressing by a Sinhala regime, making it different to the old “imperialist game” of the British. Cricket is being turned into a political staple, garnished with Sinhala patriotism and served as a salad of “Mahintriotism” that makes everything taste conspiratorial and ghostly.

It is right therefore to assume that Pakistan won the match even by that tiny, hard fought margin, due to a conspiracy that had 18,000 dollars packed in a State employed laundryman’s fantasy, scripted for the State owned and controlled, ITN. Neither Abeysundera nor ITN thus have any reason to apologise to Mahela and Thilan or to Pakistan, for belittling their keenly contested win or to Asif Ali Zardari who wanted ten large bulls donated to the Rajapaksa government as a token of friendship.

Mahintriotism is therefore a right to accuse any, with no responsibility in proving the accusation(s). Its the responsibility of the “accused” to steer clear of further damage. That’s what the war against “Tamil separatism” was fought for. To give the Rajapaksa regime, the unquestionable power to do as it pleases. With brutal State repression, continuously endorsed by Sinhala votes.

The Sinhala supremacy has to be preserved, nurtured and carried forward and needs barbarians stopped at the gates of the “kingdom”. The barbarians come in many assorted forms. As the LTTE through the Diaspora. As external and internal enemies supporting the regrouping of the LTTE. As federalists who still believe in power sharing as a political solution. As democrats who opposed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution and talk of de-militarising of society. As media that criticises the government. And now as unpatriotic Muslims, who cheer Pakistan and as conspirators who team up to fix games against Sri Lanka.

Tomorrow there has to be another barbarian at the gate. How else can Mahintriotism keep this regime in power? But there are big time, covert allies too who help, apart from Selvarasa Pathmanathan and his Tamil Diaspora.

he slow tune of “Eurobarking”

During the weekends, crowds swell at the main gate of the Dehiwala Zoological Gardens. Not because the zoo has new and rare species on exhibition. But, because it is a place where those who want to spend some time among an assorted collection of fauna could do so, then get back home and tell others about what they saw. Often the stories sound good, because any other interpretation or insight, would diminish the visit.

Visitors don’t differ much. We have had some during the past few months. They visited, collected information and then informed the media about the good that they saw. Purpose of visit, achieved. Visitors have seen and heard of rehabilitation, about democracy and human rights, post war reconciliation, development and also the affected people, most of them getting back to normal life.

A team of Members of the European Parliament were the latest. They’ve also made their observations to the media; on housing in the affected areas, “there is progress being made….”, on development planning, “there has been some thorough thinking about issues of water supply, power generation, a whole set of issues, even looking at funding sources for these projects”, on the military presence, which is always a concern in post war situations, “there is the commitment that the military will pull back from civil society duties, and it is the duty of parliament and the government to ensure that this happens”.

They also explained that it is a common feature in countries having long-term detainees where they are not being charged and have no idea if they will ever be charged. ‘‘This is an area of concern,” they said. Well, the MEPs should not forget that human rights had been discussed in the European parliament. But they said, “……in a post-war situation, certainty of the rationale for those practices disappears.” So, if emergency regulations are “continuously under review, then that is very positive for the citizens of Sri Lanka.”

This government now stands completely bailed out. “…..there will be a time-lag even with the best government in the world between planning and implementation”, is no small certification. Praise from none other than the Head of the EU Parliamentary Delegation, Ms. Jean Lambert, a Greens member from the UK, who visited Sri Lanka from February 22 to 26.

Did anyone in Colombo ask her, “Ma’am, can we now have our GSP ‘Plus’ back from the EU?” In fact, Minister Samarasinghe could have made that request while defending Sri Lanka’s human rights record in Geneva last week, quoting MEP, Ms. Lambert for certification.

A certification that justified the government’s performance by ignoring the continued Emergency Rule used against opposition protests, serious allegations of death and abduction in the North, illegal registration of persons by security forces in Jaffna, over 146,000 persons unaccounted for since the conclusion of the war as raised at the LLRC by the Bishop of Mannar, allegations of “Sinhalisation” of Tamil areas as raised at the LLRC by the Bishop of Mannar, the undeclared number of supposed ex-combatants detained with no details given, total negligence in concluding independent investigations on extra judicial killings and abductions, heavy militarization of civil administration and the diplomatic service, the lack of judicial procedures which in turn provides for impunity, refusal to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in full thus violating the Constitution, repression of FTZ workers and the BOI and Labour Department staying silent, refusal to allow workers in BOI approved projects to have their choice of unions and the right to collective bargaining as stipulated in ILO Conventions 87 and 98, creating “sweat shops”, the eviction of thousands of long term Colombo city dwellers with no clear and publicly announced compensation package and with no right allowed to protest and negotiate their status, mega sale/lease of public property in Colombo city with no details of any development plans and budgets, mega construction carried out ignoring regulatory laws and tender procedures and in violation of the National Environment Act No. 58 of 1988 that requires feasibility reports/evaluations to be provided for public consultation.

This is an incomplete list which the EU may chose to leave aside so that the Rajapaksa regime can engage in trade discussions with them. The most recent statement that this government would not want GSP ‘Plus’ renegotiated, often means just that. Its Mahintriotic cricket with a slow tune of Eurobarking, for the cavalry to trek along, for now.

© The Sunday Leader

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Top level Pakistani Army delegation to visit Sri Lanka

The Island
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A high level Pakistan Army delegation is visiting Sri Lanka from March 6-11. It is headed by Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain, Inspector General Training & Evaluation, Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army delegation comprises of senior officers from operation, training and other important fields, who will interact with their counterparts in Sri Lankan Army to share each other’s professional experience. Besides staff level conferences, the delegation will also visit Srilanka Army training institutions like Defence Services Command and Staff College and the Srilankan Military Academy etc.

It is the next high level defence related visit from Pakistan after the Chief of Army Staff Pakistan Army visited Sri Lanka in January this year. The visit will further strengthen the bond of friendship between the armed forces of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The General belongs to illustrious Baloch Regiment (SARBAKAF) of Pak-Army. General Muzammil has served at various coveted posts all along his professional career. Lieutenant General Muzammil Hussain HI (M) was commissioned in 12 Baloch Regiment (SARBAKAF) an Infantry Battalion in 1978. He attended Armed Forces War Course 2003 – 04 and was posted on the prestigious slot of Chief Instructor in Command and Staff College Quetta. He subsequently served on the coveted slot of the Chief of Staff in a Corps Headquarters.

He was promoted to the rank of Major General in 2007. He commanded Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA), a deployed formation of Pakistan Army. He also served as Director General Military Training in 2010. On promotion to the rank of Lieutenant General, he took over as Inspector General Training and Evaluation in Oct 2010.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka being located in the South Asian region and being members of various regional and international bodies like UN, commonwealth, NAM and SAARC are mutually important for each others. The relationship between Pakistan and Srilanka is based on mutual trust and commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability. Pakistan has always supported the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. Both countries have shared common perceptions on almost all regional and international issue and are working together on all these forums for shared values and interests.

Pakistan is the 2nd largest trading partner of Sri Lanka within the South Asian region. The level of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka increased as a result of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Trade between the two countries increased from US$ 150 million to over US$ 300 million during the last three years, as it doubled within a short period of time with the positive support gained from the FTA.

© The Island

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Sampur coal power project delays worry India ; displaced residents live in camps

By Chris Kamalendran | The Sunday Times
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India has expressed concern over the delayed launched of the coal power project in Sampur, Trincomalee.

The concerns were conveyed to the Minister of Power and Energy, Champika Ranawaka, when he recently met representatives of India’s state-owned Natural Thermal Power Company in Colombo.

Minister Ranawaka told the Sunday Times that the Indian delegation was concerned about unresolved legal and technical issues that have stymied the project for the past four years. Outstanding issues were the pricing of power purchases and implementation delays.

“The Attorney-General has advised the Ministry that we should be careful about the pricing issue, in the light of the oil hedging deal that caused the government great losses,” the Minister said. Minister Ranawaka said the visiting Indian delegation was assured that pending issues would be resolved as early as possible.

An Indian High Commission official in Colombo confirmed to the Sunday Times that the Indian company had expressed concerns about the delays.

© The Sunday Times

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