Tamil IDPs from Keppapulavu, supposedly 'resettled' by the Sri Lankan government earlier this week, were moved to the Suriyapuram forests by Nandikadal Lagoon, reports Uthayan and Tamilwin.

See here for coverage, including an interview, on TamilNet.

Dumped in little more than a clearing in the woods, families - many of whom headed by widows - have no access to drinking water, adequate shelter or food. 

According to Tamilwin, the families were moved by the Sri Lankan military from the Cheddikulam IDP camp to Vattrapalai school on Monday where they were told that they could return to their own homes. However, on Tuesday when the families demanded that they be allowed to return, the Sri Lankan military took them to the forests.  

Following the proposed closure of European embassies "that serve no purpose", Sri Lanka has announced its latest diplomatic relocation, with a new embassy to open in Manama, Bahrain.

The Bahraini foreign minister, Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, said: "The embassy in Manama will help foster diplomatic relations and coordination in various areas and will also serve the interests of the Sri Lankan community in Bahrain."

The Indian government has invited Tamil National Alliance (TNA) delegates to participate in talks with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other delegates on 10th October. This invitation comes after President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently met with Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukjherjee along side India’s External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on his recent visit to India that received critical views from the main parties of Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to Ceylon Today, TNA MP from Jaffna district Suresh Premachandran said they have received the invitation and expected the meeting to focus on initiating stalled dialogue between TNA and the government. Commenting on the past eighteen rounds of talks between the two sides, Premachandran said they had taken place “without reaching anything constructive”. The last such round of talks took place in early January of this year.

A report by Freedom House has named Sri Lanka as one of seven countries at risk of facing further restrictions on internet freedom.

The ‘Freedom On The Net 2012’ report details how some governments have restricted freedom on the internet and are finding different ways to impose restrictions.

“The findings clearly show that threats to internet freedom are becoming more diverse.

"As authoritarian rulers see that blocked websites and high-profile arrests draw local and international condemnation, they are turning to murkier—but no less dangerous—methods for controlling online conversations,” said Sanja Kelly of Freedom House in a press release.

The report says the "empowering" impact of the internet in Sri Lanka has been undermined by “the government’s efforts to arbitrarily block, filter, and regulate online content that provides dissenting views and reportage on sensitive political issues.”

The blocking of several websites, including TamilNet, is highlighted in the report, along with the law requiring registration for websites containing material related to Sri Lanka.

The report also criticised the intimidation and violence faced by reporters and web users on the island.

Estonia topped the list and was found to have the highest degree of internet freedom in the world, with the USA a close second.

“Army! Leave Tamil lands now!”

“Are Tamil lands High Security Zones?”

“Let us live freely in our lands!”

“Free Tamil political prisoners!”

Nivard Cabraal’s bold claim, that events like the T20 Cricket World Cup will make the war crimes issue ‘fade away’, clearly shows that the international community’s continuation of ‘normal’ relations with Sri Lanka are critically undermining the possibility of creating a lasting peace, based on accountability and justice.

The Central Bank governor’s conviction that war crimes can be made to disappear behind a facade of cultural and sporting festivity is shared by the rest of the Sri Lankan government.

The continuation of normal international relations makes it unnecessary for Sri Lanka to take any meaningful steps in addressing the issues that are now central to international and Tamil demands.

Sri Lanka will not need to pay any heed to repeated calls for meaningful accountability if it continues to enjoy a normal range of diplomatic contacts and indeed is even rewarded by being allowed to hold major sporting and political events.

Crucially the government’s domestic credibility is strengthened by its apparent international profile and the Rajapaske regime readily uses events such as the T20 Cricket World Cup or the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to portray itself locally as a valued actor in world affairs.

This critically weakens and undermines the efforts of human rights activists and Tamil civil society groups who are demanding international action to end ongoing human rights violations and establish accountability for the grave war crimes that have occurred.

Allowing Sri Lanka to play a major part in the international community therefore simply strengthens the Rajapakse regimes determination to continue on its current course and emboldens it to dismiss war crimes charges as mere ‘LTTE propaganda’ or ‘Tamil vengeance’.

Those who argue in favour of ‘engagement’ must now explain why despite decades of human rights ‘engagement’ Sri Lanka’s violent oppression of the Tamils has simply intensified and indeed continues unabated three years after the end of the military conflict.

However, Sri Lanka’s defiance of international norms does not mean that the international community has no leverage. For all its rhetoric of sovereignty and ‘anti-colonial resistance’, Sri Lanka craves international acceptance and recognition.

This craving can and must be exploited to achieve a just and lasting peace on the island.

It was international pressure, coupled with the fact that the LTTE's military strength had caused a stalemate in the conflict, that previously brought Sri Lanka to the negotiation table.

In December 2000, the Paris Aid Group said that aid would be dependent on progress towards peace and it was this kind of pressure that ultimately forced a reluctant Sri Lankan government to enter negotiations with the LTTE.

The international community must withhold economic and sporting ties until Sri Lanka makes credible steps to end state sanctioned human rights violations.

It would be unacceptable for North Korea or Syria to hold a major sporting event and it should be equally so for Sri Lanka.

"Masters of prevarication, the Sri Lankan Government is once again stalling the UN's attempt to ensure an open assessment of the brutal final stages of the country's civil war. The regime is probably hoping interest will fade, but every day it refuses a fair examination of some 40,000 civilian deaths is another small step away from reconciliation between the Sinhalese-dominated state and Tamils, and toward the next ethnic conflict."

"Colombo's contempt for the international community seems to know no bounds. Six months after the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) requested that Sri Lanka address its culture of impunity and badly damaged rule of law, the regime has taken no concrete action."

"The Sri Lankan Government's recently announced 'national action plan' purports to implement the LLRC's recommendations, but in fact, it rejects that commission's central finding: the need to initiate independent investigations and restore the independence of the judiciary, police and other public bodies."

"The action plan proposes only flawed inquiries into alleged war crimes and other serious human rights violations, generally relying on the very institutions accused: the police and the military. It does nothing to establish independent institutions able to hold to account state agencies, President Rajapaksa (pictured) and his family, or the increasingly powerful military."

"As for all the other 'vast number of credible allegations' of war crimes cited by a UN panel of experts, the 'action plan' promises only that the military will 'complete ongoing disciplinary process being conducted in terms of Armed Forces statutes' and 'upon conclusion, take follow up action to prosecute, where relevant'. No information has been released about which incidents or military personnel may be under investigation. The Government gives itself five years to complete the process."

"Sri Lanka's human rights problems did not end with the war either. There have been scores of disappearances and political killings even since the LLRC report in December 2011, and prospects for reconciliation are further away than ever."

"Despite Government claims to have reduced the role of the military in the Tamil-majority north and east (a key demand of the HRC resolution) reports from the ground confirm continued military control over virtually all aspects of life. By refusing to restart negotiations with the main Tamil party, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), or allow elections to the northern provincial council, the Government is fueling anger among Tamils and weakening support for the TNA's moderate, pro-engagement approach."

"The international community, especially member states of the Human Rights Council, must now demand action, not action plans. Sri Lankans of all ethnicities need independent and effective bodies to investigate the many serious human rights violations they have endured during the war and in the years since. They need independent police, judges and prosecutors, freed from the control of the president and the ministry of defence. Provincial council elections and demilitarisation in the north are crucial first steps to sustainable peace, and international development institutions, including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, should condition assistance on both processes."

The Sri Lankan government has expressed concern over the hardships faced by the Palestinian people.

Speaking at the 21st UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva, the Sri Lankan representative said,

“Sri Lanka […] remains steadfast in its unequivocal support to the people and the Government of Palestine for their just struggle to achieve the right of statehood”, reported the Daily Mirror.

Sri Lanka also urged the Israeli government to lift the blockade on the Gaza strip and expressed its conviction that Palestine would soon assume its rightful place at the United Nations.

The permanent mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva also said it “renewed its commitment to the core principles of equality and non-discrimination embodied in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.”

See below for recent stories of hardship and discrimination faced by Tamils on the island.

UN still “concerned” for displaced Tamils (25 Sep 2012)

3 Tamil men abducted by SL Navy in Vadamaradchi (25 Sep 2012)

TNA complains about continued discrimination to UN officials (22 Sep 2012)

Speaking to Tamil Canadian, Canadian MP for Ajax - Pickering, Chris Alexander, expressed scepticism of Sri Lanka's claims of change, asserting that Sri Lanka's "there is a new action plan put forward by the government this summer – but has not translate into change in the ground".

See here for full interview by Tamil Canadian, extracts reproduced below:

“Human right is not respected by and large... Peace is not a durable one, and the situation will not be satisfactory from our perspective until certain of the major concerns are addressed,”

“We saw north of country and same is true in many part of the east, Military presence that is far greater that what would ever be justifiable in peace time in our country or other countries that claim to have ended a conflict. Local police and civil institutions are far too weak. Local elections are not been held. Far too many credible reports of continuing human rights abuses,”

“People disappearing – people facing arbitrary detention in one way another or arbitrary abuses from those in authority - We raise these issues – we expect action – actions have been promised for long time – there is a new action plan put forward by the government this summer – but has not translate into change in the ground,”

"The Prime Minster said not prepared to attend the Commonwealth summit in Colombo unless there is a significant progress in those fronts – we have yet to see that.”

Thirty-one members of the US Congress have written to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, expressing their concern over Sri Lanka's lack of progress towards reconciliation and accountability, despite the resolution passed by the UNHRC earlier this year.

See here for letter in full, extracts reproduced:

"The resolution [UNHRC 19th Session] signaled an important step forward in placing additional pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka to implement constructive recommendations contained in the LLRC report, while also noting that the report failed to adequately address serious allegations of violations of international law."

"Despite these initial steps toward reconciliation and accountability, we remain concerned that the Government of Sri Lanka will resist taking the good faith steps necessary to implement both its obligations under the UNHRC Resolution and the LLRC report."

"To add to these concerns, the 'National Action Plan to Implement the Recommendations of the LLRC' released by the Government of Sri Lanka in July merely sets up further committees and organizational bodies to 'consider' the LLRC recommendations, but does not mandate that specific actions be taken on even easily accomplishable recommendations, nor does it set firm timetables of any kind. Without persistent US involvement, we fear these delay tactics will continue."

"Thus far, there is no indication that the UNHRC resolution has had any significant impact on the Sri Lankan government's response to the issue. We believe that the State Department must ensure that its diplomatic efforts yield fruitful and meaningful results via further US action and engagement on reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka. With the impending evaluation of Sri Lanka's compliance with the UNHRC resolution in March 2013, there is an added sense of urgency to this request. It would be all too easy for the Rajapaksa administration to make excuses for failing to adhere to its obligations at next HRC session without strong oversight from the State Department."

Addressing the alleged 'final' group of resettled internally displaced civilians in the Mullativu district, Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, exemplified the government’s notion of assurance by imploring the people to work hard for the welfare of their own families and future generations.

Rajapaksa encouraged the 'resettled' internally displaced persons to "work hard" for his future generations.

Disseminating the government’s questionable rhetoric on ‘successful resettlement’, Rajapaksa added that ‘the benefits enjoyed by the people in the southern part of the island’ would be restored to the ‘resettled ‘people.

The President’s Media Coordinating Secretary, Wijayanada Herath, indicated that several projects would contribute to the ‘development’ needs of the northern district, and outlined plans to construct a canned fish factory, fisheries harbour and development of the tourism industry. 

Expressing concern for displaced Tamils, the UN recently highlighted a set of needs that remained to be addressed.

The Madras High Court directed the Indian Coast Guard to file an affadavit on plans to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Justice Vinod K Sharma, and Justice A Selvam, asked the state and central government to produced details of future steps, though made clear that the court could not direct the Indian government to protect fishermen in Sri Lankan waters. The judges said, "You should ensure that they do not cross the International Maritime Boundary Line. Tell us the steps taken to protect them,"

The judges rejected a plea by petitioners asking that fishermen be allowed to carry arms.

"This court cannot give such directions", said the judges. "That will amount to court asking to wage a war."