• The shame of being honoured by Douglas

    Sep 10

    The prominent South Indian Carnatic and Kollywood singer P Unni Krishnan has apologised to his Tamil fans, for being honoured by Douglas Devananda in Jaffna during a music concert last month, reports Uthayan.

    Unni Krishnan said he was deeply ashamed of the incident, in which Devananda marked the singer with the traditional honour of being draped in a silk cloth or ‘ponnaadai’ during a performance at Nallur Kanthasamy temple in Jaffna on 18th August 2012.

    Describing the incident as a "black mark" in his musical journey, the singer apologised for hurting Tamil sentiments worldwide.

    Speaking in an interview, Unni Krishnan said (translated text follows):

    “I was invited to perform at a musical concert during the Nallur Kanthasamy Temple Festival (Thiruvizha) in Jaffna. Having earned a place in the hearts of Eelam Tamils through songs on liberation, I agreed to go to Jaffna to meet and perform for them.”

    “While the concert was taking place, Douglas Devananda, the leader of a paramilitary group responsible for killing scores of Tamils, and other members of his group suddenly climbed on stage. This created a dilemma for me as I only learnt about him after the incident.”

    “It was only afterwards I learnt that this man Douglas Devananda is despised by Tamil people in their entirety and is the leader of a paramilitary group accused of murder in India.”

    “This incident was unexpected and an uncalled for embarrassment which I deeply regret. I am someone who is always trustworthy and I feel that this event has dropped a black mark on my musical career. I can promise that such an incident will not happen again in the future. I apologise again for the hurt this would have caused to the Tamil people.”

    See here for photographs of the incident.

    At the time, the Foreign Correspondent of The Hindu, RK Radhakrishnan, tweeted: "Douglas Devananda forced himself as chief guest at Jaffna Music Festival yday where Unnikrishnan was singing. No better way to close it down."

  • Sri Lanka gives itself a pat on the back

    Having submitted to its National Report for the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council, the new ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha, told the 21st session that Sri Lanka was looking forward to the process.

    Claiming that the government the military was "no longer involved in civil administration in the Northern and the Eastern provinces", and "the Security Forces presence in the Jaffna peninsula has been reduced from 50,000 at the height of the conflict, to 15,000 at present", Aryasinha also claimed that "Sri Lanka's democratic credentials were yet again re-asserted 2 days ago with the successful conduct of Provincial Council elections, including in the previously conflict affected Eastern Province."

    Civil society groups and rights groups on the island, within the Tamil diaspora and internationally, sumitted rather different reports however.

    See here for a summary of their submissions to the upcoming UPR session on Sri Lanka. The summary was prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN Human Rights Council.

    Extracts reproduced below:

    'FT [Freedom from Torture] noted that torture perpetrated by state actors within both the military and police had continued following the end of the conflict in May 2009 and was still occurring in 2011. Those at particular risk included Tamils who have an actual or perceived association with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).'

    'AI [Amnesty International] noted reports that torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment of detainees, remain common and widespread in Sri Lanka. According to AI, legal and procedural shortcomings contribute to this failure, as does the lack of political will on the part of the authorities to eradicate the use of torture and ill-treatment and to bring those responsible to justice in fair trials.'

    'HRW [Human Rights Watch] stated that since the war ended, the Government had not launched a single credible investigation into alleged abuses. The lack of investigation was conspicuous with regard to several incidents featured in two documentaries by the British television station Channel 4 showing gruesome images of apparent summary executions of captured and bound LTTE combatants.'

     

  • Prime Minister praises 'answer to international conspiracies'
    Sri Lanka's Prime Minister D M Jayaratna has praised the government's recent victory at the Eastern Provincial Council elections, stating that the government had now negated "hostile attempts... against the motherland".

    Sri Lanka's state-run Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation reported Jayaratna as having said the victory was "an obvious answer for the international conspiracies against the country."

    He was also reported to have said,
    "Some conspiratory elements have attempted to discredit the government at the UN Human Rights Council and at the international arena.  This victory has annulled all hostile attempts by them against the motherland."
     
  • Army camp construction jeopardises basic needs of locals
    The locals of Karainagar have expressed concern of the inconveniences they will face due to the construction of an expansive army camp in Sambalodai area.

    Sambalodai holds the most fresh water resources in the Karainagar area as well as being a significant location for carrying out funeral rites.

    Uthayan reports that locals have expressed concern that the camp would cut them off from water supplies and restrict access to the areas many crematoriums.

    Chairman of the Karainagar regional council S. Thurgeswaran said,
    “The construction of the Sambalodai army camp will cut off the basic needs of the people of Karanaigar. This will also discourage those wishing to resettle in the area.”
    “The consequence of this is that the military would outnumber citizens in Karainagar. The lands of hundreds of citizens have already been seized in order to expand what started off as a small navy base in Karainagar.”
    “Now the construction of an army camp in Sambalodai has left the people of Karainagar fearing the loss of their lands and livelihoods. Therefore they want to stop the construction of this camp in its early stages of creation.”
  • US wants to boost trade with SL

    The American Chamber of Commerce in Colombo has said it is keen to boost investment and trade in Sri Lanka.

    "The US has expressed its desire to increase more FDI (foreign direct investment) flows to Sri Lanka and also see an increase in Sri Lankan exports to the US," Vijaya Ratnayake, president of AMCHAM Sri Lanka said, according to LBO.

    The AMCHAM is planning to hold a trade show in Colombo on September 16 to promote trade and investment between the two countries.

    "This event provides an excellent opportunity for those who are interested in doing business with USA whether it is imports, exports, tourism, education or investment to obtain information and find partners," he said.

    The US embassy said the trade show is to encourage and strengthen economic ties between the US and Sri Lanka.

    "The trade show will attract investors who will see Sri Lanka as a serious opportunity for investment," William Weinstein, Charge d' Affairs of the US embassy said.

  • South Africa to make US $122 million investment

    The South African High Commissioner to Colombo, Geoff Doidge has announced that his country will make an initial investment of US$ 122 million, whilst speaking at a dinner hosted by the Export Development Board of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for a South African business delegation.

    “The Progressive Business Forum, which is visiting Sri Lanka has realised the potentials in the resurgent Sri Lankan economy as a result of the committed leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

    “We are confident that this bold and far-sighted initiative will expand existing opportunities for the South African business communities for vigorous cooperation in bilateral trade”, he said.

    Sri Lanka’s deputy economic development minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene meanwhile said that Sri Lanka is looking to expand trade ties with South Africa according, while speaking at a business forum attended by the business delegation.

  • UPFA wins most seats in controversial Eastern Provincial Council elections
    Sri Lanka’s ruling UPFA coalition has won 14 seats in the Eastern Provincial Council elections to the TNA’s 11, in an election mired with controversy.

    The margin and manner of victory has been hotly contested, with the loss of a seat for the Tamil National Alliance during a reported “power cut”, whilst votes were being counted in Batticaloa (See report from TamilNet here).

    The UPFA also managed to gain two ‘bonus seats’ through the Provincial Councils Elections Act (see here) despite having an overall winning margin of less than 7,000, according to government figures. If the TNA had won the ‘bonus seats’, they would have come first in the elections.

    Furthermore, low voter turnout and reports of threats and intimidation along with a massive Army and Police presence, marred the elections.

    Nonetheless, the Tamil National Alliance emerged as the single largest party in both Trincomalee and Batticaloa, only losing to the UPFA in the Amparai district.

    The TNA also saw a marked increase in votes from the 2010 Parliamentary elections in both Trincomalee and Batticaloa. In 2010, the TNA gained 33,268 and 66,235 votes in both districts respectively, but now obtained 44,396 and 104,682 votes in the district.

    The Eastern province has seen a flurry of colonisation and Sinhalisation, with the ICG reporting earlier this year that this was part of a strategy to ""change the facts of the ground", as has already happened in the east, and make it impossible to claim the north as a Tamil-majority area deserving of self-governance."

    Almost 100 civil society leaders earlier wrote to the Tamil National Alliance urging them to reject the provincial council system and the demerging of the North and East, as they prepare to contest in the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council Elections. See here.

    The Tamil National Alliance boycotted provincial council elections in the east in 2008, claiming the environment was not safe to operate in due to the activity of paramilitary groups.

    Batticaloa
    In the Batticaloa Districts, the TNA won convincingly in all the divisions but one in Kalkuda, losing that to the UPFA by a margin of just over a 1,000 votes. In the Padiruppu division alone, the TNA won by over 25,000 votes.
    They gained 6 seats in the district overall, to the UPFA’s 4.

    Trincomalee
    Overall in the Trincomalee district, the TNA and UPFA won 3 seats each.
    In the Trincomalee Division, the TNA won by a margin of almost 20,000 votes, but the division of Seruwila where Basil recently dispatched a 1,000 member squad saw the UPFA, UNP and Wimal Weerawamsa’s NFF all beat the TNA.

    Amparai
    In the Amparai district, the TNA only won 2 seats to the UPFA’s 5.
    In the Amparai division itself, the TNA only mustered 33 votes overall.
    They managed to defeat the UPFA in both Pottuvil and Kalmunaim losing in Sammanturai.
  • Mannar Church attacked with stones
    Kappalenthi Mary’s Church in Karusal, Mannar was attacked by a group throwing stones, reports Uthayan.

    Stones were thrown into the Church during evening prayers on Friday and fire crackers were reportedly lit in an attempt to further disrupt worship. The bishop delivering mass is believed to have sustained minor injuries from the attack.

    Two young worshippers who went outside to check on the commotion were also assaulted by the attackers.

    TNA MP for Vanni S Adaikalanathan said of the incident,
    “Because there are Tamils and Muslims living in this area, this attack carried out by thugs had the potential to spark mass riots in the village.”

    “To prevent this happening, the perpetrators of today’s attack should be arrested and brought to justice immediately,”

    “Harmony between Tamils and Muslims must be maintained. In this respect, the TNA severely condemn this assault.”
  • Elections over but security forces remain
    Despite the end of the Eastern Provincial Council elections, Sri Lanka’s police force have declared that they will remain out in full force in five areas across the province.

    Colombo Page reported that the police will remain in Akkaraipattu, Pothuvil, Thirukkovil, Sammanthurai and Kalmunai where there were reportedly high levels of election violence.

    This comes after over 21,000 police officers, including 300 motorcycles for patrol units, were deployed in the east, and the army increased its operations in the area.
  • Low turnout at Provincial council polls in the east

    The Eastern Province elections saw low turnout by Muslims reported TamilNet.

    The polls, held on Saturday, saw around 60% of registered voters casting their vote.

    TamilNet said that turnout was low, especially in Muslim areas, thought to be due to an “internecine fight between Muslim political parties”.

    There were also reports of threats and intimidation in Trincomalee and Amparai.

    More than ten ministers of the ruling UPFA, including Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senarathne, are reported to have threatened voters and local officials in Trincomalee to vote for the UPFA candidates.

    TNA member Gunaratnam and his supporters were threatened in Amparai by UPFA candidate Pushparasa and his bodyguards, reported TamilNet.

  • Blake to visit Colombo next week

    Assistant Secretary of State Robert O. Blake is visiting Sri Lanka next week and will meet with External Affairs Minister GL Peiris to discuss ‘a wide range of issues, including progress in implementing the LLRC action plan’, according to the State Department.

    He will also hold a roundtable with civil society representatives said a statement on the State Department’s website:

    “In Colombo, Assistant Secretary Blake will meet with Minister of External Affairs GL Peiris and other senior Sri Lankan officials to discuss a wide range of issues, including progress in implementing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Action Plan.

    “Assistant Secretary Blake will also hold a roundtable with civil society representatives and meet with business community leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, followed by a press conference at the American Center.”

  • Southerners ‘summoned’ in connection with Tamil Eelam flag incident

    Two people have been ‘summoned’ for inquiry in connection with the waving of the Eelam national flag during a protest in Nelliyadi, Jaffna, reports Uthayan. 

    The incident involved masked men on motorbikes driving through carrying Tamil Eelam flags while the Sri Lankan Army stood by and watched.

    Reports from the day expressed the protesters’ belief that the men were sent by Sri Lankan Intelligence to disrupt the peaceful protest, as the military and police were given a ‘firing order’ to contain the protest.

    Investigations have revealed that the men are indeed from the South, with one coming from Ja-Ela the other Colombo 15.

    Statements regarding the investigation will be released on the 12th September.

  • Jaffna Civil Society concerned about Pillay's visit - TamilNet

    Tamil civil society activists have written to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressing their concerns that Sri Lanka will use an upcoming visit from Pillay’s team to propagate a manufactured view of progress in post-war efforts on the island, reported TamilNet on Saturday.

    Extracts reproduced below:

    “While we welcome the visit of the team, we are concerned that the team might not be given the access that would enable an independent assessment of the Government of Sri Lanka’s performance of its obligations under Resolution A/HRC/19/2.

    “To avoid giving the GOSL the opportunity of appropriating the UN OHCHR team’s visit for their propaganda purposes we consider it important that your office seeks guarantees from the GOSL that the mission will have sufficient freedom in being able to devise their own agenda... particularly during their visits to the North and East parts of the country.

    “We also believe that your office should ... make public any restrictions that the GOSL may have imposed on the UN OHCHR mission.

    “As people on the ground we are afraid that nothing concrete has materialised in terms of real change for the war affected Tamil people in the North and East of Sri Lanka since the passing of the March 2012 Resolution. The purpose and objective of the resolution still remains a distant dream and the trajectory of the GOSL does not indicate by any means that the situation will improve.

    “We are afraid that the November 2012 Universal Periodic Review on Sri Lanka and the March 2013 review of the Resolution will result in the endorsement of the GOSL’s National Action plan on implementing the recommendations of the LLRC thus giving more time to the GOSL to continue and complete its agenda of Sinhalisation of the North and East.

    “If the mission is given adequate access to assess for themselves the situation in the North and East we have no doubt that they will arrive at the same conclusion that we have described above."

     

  • Another attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan Navy
    The Sri Lankan Navy has been accused of attacking Tamil Nadu fisherman off the Kodiakarai coast yet again damaging fishing boats and injuring fishermen on Wednesday. 

    According to the officials, eight fishermen of Arucottuthurai in Vedaranyam district were attacked with iron rods by Lankan Navy when they were fishing off Kodiakarai. Eight fishermen from this district were earlier attacked by the Lankan Navy on August 19 at the same place.

    The attack comes just after Tamil Nadu fishermen appealed for all protests against Sri Lanka to be halted, as they feared an escalation of reprisal attacks from the Sri Lankan Navy.

    See our TG Comment: The cycle of oppresion (06 September 2012)

    Attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Lankan Navy continue to be reported in the past few months and the state government has been demanding the Centre to seek a strong solution with the Lankan administration.
  • Boycott, divestments and sanctions call against Sri Lanka
    Tamil Nadu based writer and poet Meena Kandasamy has called upon India to impose a boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Sri Lanka, as "one of the solutions to the continued oppression against Tamils by Sri Lanka".

    Writing in Tehelka she stated that "there is no denying the fact that massive international pressure alone can halt the ongoing cultural and structural genocide against the Tamils in Sri Lanka" and called upon India to "sever all diplomatic relations with its island neighbour" and organise a widespread boycott against Sri Lanka.

    See her full piece here. Extracts have been reproduced below.
    “A visiting football team sends out the superficial message: all is well in Sri Lanka. It does not reveal that 4,000 university teachers have been striking for the past two months demanding better wages and greater spending on education, or that the government ordered the closure of all universities last week. It conceals a genocide that claimed 1 lakh Tamil lives in 2009 and a structural racism that marginalises minorities. In enthusiastically supporting the sporting spirit, even sections of the media fail to note that the football team had no permission to play in Tamil Nadu.”

    “Instead of mutely following the dictates of the Central government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has stood up for the people of her state. When she sent the football team packing, she showed how far the autonomy of a state could offer resistance to the Indian government, which has repeatedly disgraced Tamil aspirations and sentiments. While we were smarting from the wounds of a genocide that wiped out Tamils in the Vanni, New Delhi added insult to injury by inviting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse as the chief guest for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The Tamil Nadu Assembly’s unanimous resolution last year demanding investigation of war crimes and imposing economic sanctions against Sri Lanka has been met with absolute inaction.”

    “In a classic twist, it is New Delhi’s mollycoddling of the 21st-century Hitler Rajapakse and his armed forces that is going to implant the idea of self-determination and the national question indelibly in the people of Tamil Nadu, much more decisively than the LTTE or its struggle for Tamil Eelam. If the Centre has any shred of belief in the parliamentary democracy that it espouses, it has to also believe the necessary corollary: the Jayalalithaa-led government and the Tamil Nadu MLAs represent the 60 million people of the state. Their unanimous demands reflect the demands of the people. India, already complicit in the mass killings of Tamils in the Vanni, should ideally restrain itself from doing further harm to the Eelam Tamils.”

    “The Hindu, a staunch critic of anyone who criticises Sri Lanka, termed Jayalalithaa’s action “myopic” and went on to say in an editorial that she was asking for, and peremptorily imposing, a “virtual embargo on sporting and cultural ties” with Sri Lankans. On the contrary, such a boycott is one of the solutions to the continued oppression against Tamils by Sri Lanka.”

    “There is no denying the fact that massive international pressure alone can halt the ongoing cultural and structural genocide against the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Boycotts, divestment and sanctions successfully worked against the South African apartheid State. Those who seek to support the Palestinian State have enforced a cultural and intellectual boycott to expose Israel’s policies of exploitation. It is time to apply the same yardstick to the authoritarian Sri Lankan State, a country with a Constitution that explicitly treats Tamils as second-class citizens.”

    “Not only should the people of Tamil Nadu press upon New Delhi to change India’s foreign policy with respect to Sri Lanka to sever all diplomatic relations with its island neighbour, but they should call upon foreign governments, international movements, cultural artists, intellectuals, universities, revolutionary organisations and ordinary citizens to boycott the genocidal Sri Lankan government and suspend interaction in every possible form until this failed State delivers justice to the Tamils.”

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