TNA called upon to adopt constructive attitude :Lanka expects integrity and impartiality from UN – External Affairs Minister
Posted on May 25th, 2013
By Manjula FernandoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Courtesy The Sunday Observer
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris told the TNA to shake free of the notion ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”that it is the international community that is going to frighten us, intimidate us and impose a solution on us.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢
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ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I tell the Hon. R. Sampanthan on the Floor of this House that it will never happen,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ the Minister asserted, wrapping up a debate on the adjournment motion moved by TNA Parliamentary group leader R. Sampanthan on the US-sponsored UNHRC Resolution against Sri Lanka, in Parliament last Tuesday.
Inviting the TNA for talks, the Minister urged them to adopt a constructive attitude and help the Government to find a lasting solution to the issue at hand.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The international community is neither disposed nor able to impose a substantive solution on the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. That is a futile illusion,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ he cautioned the TNA.
He said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Let us resolve these problems within our shoresƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, adding that a direct dialogue is more promising to throw up solutions to the domestic problem – the problems facing the people of the North and the East.
Explaining the Government’s decision to reject the US-sponsored Resolution which was adopted in Geneva in March this year, Prof. Peiris said the Resolution is never founded upon objective premises.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Hon. R. Sampanthan, moving this Motion, very early in his speech said that the ideas contained in the Resolution adopted in Geneva and his own initiative in proposing this Motion were not intended to inflict any harm on the country or its people. That, Sir, is the fundamental disagreement.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
He said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The whole thrust of the speech of the TNA leader was that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”this Resolution passed in Geneva is a good and proper Resolution; it embodies the truth; it is something that should be accepted without question and the principles contained in that Resolution should govern our conduct in the future.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
He said the contrary is very much the case.
The Minister said one important point was not mentioned by the TNA Parliamentarian.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-There was one very significant circumstance which my friend omitted to mention. It is this; I am sure he knows that. This Resolution was not proposed for the first time by the United States of America. That was not the case. It was originally brought up by another country. It was brought up by Canada. Canada actually submitted a draft resolution in Geneva. So, the initiative came, not from the United States of America, but from Canada. This happened in September 2011.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Original resolution
Refuting the argument by Sampanthan that the influence and clout of the mover of the Resolution was totally irrelevant to the outcome, he questioned as to why the Resolution failed dismally in 2011 when Canada originally submitted it.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-When we were in New York, we were informed by our Permanent Representative in Geneva that this Resolution had been submitted to the Human Rights Council by Canada and a text of the Resolution was sent to us.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
After Canada’s strong efforts to garner support for the resolution failed, a bilateral meeting was held between Prof. Peiris and his Canadian counterpart in New York on the request of the Canadian Foreign Minister.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-At that meeting, the Canadian Foreign Minister informed me that Canada was not proceeding with this Resolution on that occasion. The reason was that they did not have support.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚He said what Canada could not do was taken over by the US and the superpower garnered the necessary votes with its might.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It is quite idle and entirely disingenuous to suggest that the attitudes of countries have nothing to do with the economic, military and strategic influence of the United States.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-You cannot gauge the influence of the United Sates on those countries by simply looking at the bare figures relating to direct aid. Influence takes a variety of forms as my friend is very well aware. So, many countries did have a very substantial difficulty in saying ‘No’ to the United States.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ He said the members of those governments have shared their individual sentiments to him personally.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-International relations are not founded upon unlimited altruism. Foreign policy is all about enlightened self interests. These countries are trying to protect and nurture their own interests. It is not their job to make a very clinical, objective and dispassionate appraisal of the situation. That is not how decisions are made with regard to the patterns of voting in Geneva.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Commenting on the attempts by the TNA leader to give the Resolution a humane face, Prof. Peiris said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I do not think we should try to dress it up and give it a complexion that it simply does not have.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚He said what happened in Geneva has ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”many unusual features’. The US came into the Human Rights Council in 2009 and they have a track record of being highly critical of country-specific resolutions. Many countries who voted for the Resolution have gone on record that they were in principle against such moves.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-They deviated from that policy, not because of great moral and ethical considerations, that is to live in a dream world.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Practical dynamics
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It was the practical dynamics of the situation and issues involved in the bilateral relationship between the country bringing the resolution and the countries whose votes were canvassed that accounted for the result.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Speaking on the EU vote, he said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-At any given time, there would be more than 10 countries belonging to the European Union that would be members of the Human Rights Council. Those countries, as I am well aware, cannot make an independent decision on how they are going to vote. They cannot. Because, that is a subject that is delegated to the Commission in Brussels.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
The Minister said that the the Human Rights Council today is the most politicised among all organs of the United Nations system. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It is a fact and that has very considerable consequences, not only for Sri Lanka, but for other countries as well.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
He opined that the implications of that situation far transcend the specifics of the Sri Lankan situation and are of far wider interest to the world community and in particular to developing nations. He said there is an acute reason for concern about the implications of the unfolding situation in the UNHRC with regard to Sri Lanka.The Minister said the manner in which the Human Rights High Commissioner has acted in relation to Sri Lanka is highly questionable.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The report that the Commissioner submitted to the Human Rights Council seeks to incorporate into the formal documentation of the Human Rights Council, certain other documents and the whole purpose of that exercise is to sanctify those documents by being brought into the mainstream of the documentation of the Human Rights Council.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Darusman Report, the virtues of which Sampanthan extolled eloquently, describes the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as the most disciplined and nationalist organisation; it was the same organisation that liquidated a member of his party who graced the Chair of the Leader of the Opposition in this august assembly.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam was killed brutally by the LTTE and this is the organisation that is described as the most disciplined and nationalist organisation and that is a report which Sampanthan finds eminently acceptable.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Report further goes on to analyse the conflict in this country which raged for such a long period as essentially a conflict between the Sinhala and the Tamil people.
How come the LTTE liquidated most of the leadership of SampanthanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s party, not to mention many other distinguished Tamil citizens of this country – professionals, academics, industrialists and business people?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
The Minister said this was a bizarre characterisation by the Darusman Report. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The committee has gathered information in a clandestine and furtive manner, and cannot possibly be held to be doing justice.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Incredible feature
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-There is also one other, absolutely incredible feature of that Report. If the Hon. R. Sampanthan would care to refresh his memory and read some of those passages, they describe in the most horrendous terms, events which are supposed to have occurred and then, believe it or not, they say that these should not be accepted as facts. They are not prepared to vouch for the accuracy of what they are putting into that Report.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The African Union and the Organisation of Islamic Countries have unequivocally rejected the Darusman Report because it is incurably flawed and yet that is the report which the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights is incorporating into the formal documentation of the Human Rights Council and therefore, the United Nations system.
That is something which we vigorously and vehemently object to.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
As for the Petri report, which was mandated to examine the manner in which the UN system had operated in the country, the Minister said it has been exposed that they committed portions of documents used which did not support their pre-conceived conclusions.
Referring to the 40,000 casualty figures mentioned in the reports, the Minister said Sir John Holmes himself admitted that this figure was not based on factual information.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-This is why we say that this modus operandi spells disaster for the system as a whole, because it strikes at the very root of credibility and confidence.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Speaking of the visit by a technical team from the office of the Human Rights High Commissioner, the Minister said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We wrote to the Commissioner 11 months before the Resolution was adopted in Geneva, inviting her to come to this country to rely on the evidence of her own eyes and to see for herself the progress that was being achieved on the ground. She said she will come, but that she would like her visit to be preceded by a visit by a technical team from her office.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Appreciation expressed
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-So, that is how we received in this country, Hanny Megally, one of her officers who was accompanied by two or three other officials of the Commissioner.
We have in our Ministry a letter from the Commissioner expressing appreciation of the assistance which we gave her officer at every point. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-What happened when Megally went back to Geneva? The first thing that happened was that he went to the residence of the United States Permanent Representative to brief selected invitees.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
The Minister said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-That is why we have every reason to expect integrity and impartiality of treatment. Countries big and small; powerful and not so powerful are all equal in the eyes of the United Nations and we reject this kind of behaviour as thoroughly unacceptable. So, these are the reasons why we think that the system is going wrong.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
Speaking on the ‘motivation underpinning the extraordinary behaviourƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ by the Canadian foreign Minister who called Sri Lanka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”evilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, the Minister cited a Canadian newspaper, Globe and Mail, which reported a Cabinet member of the Harper Government, Peter Kent criticising the relationship between the Canadian Government and a gentleman called Paranjothy who had very close connections with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Kent has called the situation ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”outrageous’.
The Minister also reminded the TNA leader that although the LTTE is no more as a military outfit, the international threat posed by them is still there.
Commenting on the upcoming Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting in November, Prof. Peiris said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Strong voices were raised in support of Sri Lanka and Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s leadership of the Commonwealth for the next two years.
This is not simply a matter of a physical event that will take place within the shores of the island.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-It has far greater significance because this country will lead the Commonwealth for two years from November and President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be heading that organisation during that period.
This is what some people cannot stomach and that is the stark reality of the matter.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
May 26th, 2013 at 1:42 am
The TNA worshippers of the “ONE True SunGod” hope to win in PEACE through the 13th Amendment Backdoor the Tamils-only Apartheid Eelam that they failed to win by murderous WAR.
A little bit of Eelam today through Provincial Council Elections to get themselves in the saddle, then more and more later by using land and police powers to expel central government and Sinhala and Muslim people, and create facts on the ground, onwards steadily towards complete separation and a Unilateral Declaration of Independence.
Expect to see the resurrection of now defunct Tiger cemeteries, building of Monuments to the Tamil Tiger War Dead, a resumption of the brainwashing of future generations of Tamils picking up where the defeat of the Tamil Tigers halted the process, unlimited immigration from Tamil Nadu to change the demographics of Sri Lanka permanently, and so on ad infinitum, ad nauseam … all geared to secession from Sri Lanka.
In what way is this goal different from that of the late unlamented SunGod? His proxies in Colombo, the TNA, who cheered on his murder and mayhem only a few years go, are now masquerading as “democratic legislators” orchestrating the “human rights” approach to Eelam through subterfuge. The murderous wolves of yesteryear are now hiding under the sheepskins as perpetually wailing victims of discrimination.
Clearly, the GOSL, and Sri Lankans as a whole, have not exerted themselves enough, and devoted sufficient resources, to EXPOSE these SERIAL CON ARTISTES for who they really are: Criminal Terrorists who murdered 150,000 innocent citizens of in Sri Lanka with IMPUNITY with the covert and overt Aid from India and Western Countries.
Rise Up ….. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. and REPEAL the 13th Amendment from Sri Lanka’s Constitution, and TOTALLY UPROOT Provincial Councils from Sri Lanka’s System of Government.
May 26th, 2013 at 11:31 am
Hah! We will see integrity and impartiality from the UN only when HELL BOILS OVER!
The United Nations is a KEPT WOMAN of the Neo-Colonialist West!
May 26th, 2013 at 11:36 am
JHU to mount “three pronged approach” to abolish 13th Amendment
By Franklin R. Satyapalan
Island.lk
May 25, 2013
The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), an important constituent party in the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, yesterday unveiled a “three pronged approach” to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
JHU spokespesman, Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said the party would mobilize the public to urge the government to change its stand on the 13th Amendment by holding awareness rallies countrywide from the June 1, canvass the support of political parties in government and as well as the opposition and present a private member’s motion in Parliament after the conclusion of the Vesak celebrations.
JHU sources said that the decision to take to the streets and “go before the people” was made in the backdrop of the statement made by Cabinet spokesman, Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa that the government had no intention of abolishing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution or postpone the Northern PC polls scheduled for September this year.
“We are totally against the holding of the polls to the Northern PC as we believe the local and international political situation and pressures being brought to bear could have serious implications for the country”, they said.
If the polls should be held in the North, then the Sinhala and Muslim people who were ethnically cleansed from the North should be resettled. There were about 20,000 Sinhalese living in the Jaffna district earlier. All of them should be resettled before the polls are conducted”, the sources said.
When asked whether there was sufficient time before the scheduled elections in September to resettle these people, the sources replied “In that case, let the government postpone the polls until such time all Muslims and Sinhalese were resettled”.
Warnasinghe said that there would be no problem as the majority of the displaced Tamils are being resettled. All the IDP camps had been closed down.
Asked about the implications the government would face from neighboring India and the international community if it abolished the 13th Amendment and went back on holding the Northern PC poll, Warnasinghe said that Sri Lanka, as a Sovereign country, need not give into pressures from any quarters, be it India or the international community.
May 26th, 2013 at 11:54 am
My Dear Sonia,
Since the Tamil Separatists in Sri Lanka have your support, adore and worship these Maoists are “Freedom Fighters” too!
Oh, by the way, I recommend Full and Complete Devolution of Power to these Maoist Freedom Fighters so they can achieve their “Legitimate Aspirations” outside of India’s control …. as you Indians prescribe to Sri Lanka.
When 800 million people of India are under the control of Maoists during the night in areas the Indian government claims to control by day, I would say that your saree is on fire!
Good Luck with swallowing that poison pill of Devolving Power to Terrorists claiming to be Freedom Fighters!
……………
Sonia Gandhi ‘devastated’ by India Chhattisgarh ambush
BBC
May 26, 2013
The president of India’s Congress Party, Sonia Gandhi, has said she is “devastated” by Saturday’s attack on party officials in Chhattisgarh state.
At least 24 people were killed, including Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nandkumar Patel, his son, and local leader Mahendra Karma, when suspected Maoist rebels ambushed their convoy.
Mrs Gandhi visited some of the wounded with PM Manmohan Singh on Sunday.
The prime minister said India would “never bow down” before the rebels.
He denounced the “barbaric attack” which he said should be an inspiration in the fight against extremism and violence.
Unconfirmed reports said they were unable to visit the scene of the attack because of security concerns.
‘Firm action’
The convoy carrying state Congress leaders and party workers was ambushed at around 17:30 (10:00 GMT) on Saturday as it travelled through the Darba Ghati valley, in the Sukma area about 345km (215 miles) south of Raipur, following a campaign rally.
Police said the convoy was first forced to stop by felled trees on the road. At least one vehicle at the front of the convoy was then hit by a land-mine blast before as many as 200 suspected rebels opened fire, they added.
map
The main target of the attack is believed to have been Nandkumar Patel, who witnesses said jumped into a ditch with his son, Dinesh, to take shelter before they were abducted. Their bodies were later found nearby; the Congress chief was reportedly mutilated.
Mr Karma was found dead at the scene. A former home minister in Chhattisgarh, he founded the Salwa Judum, a local militia given the task of fighting the Maoists which has been accused of abuses.
Former federal minister Vidya Charan Shukla was among the 32 people wounded in the ambush, many of them seriously, police said.
He was taken to hospital outside Delhi where his condition was described as stable.
Mrs Gandhi denounced the “dastardly attack” on India’s democratic values, words reiterated by the prime minister as they visited Raipur.
Congress party leader Mahendra Karma with his bodyguards. File photo Mahendra Karma was instrumental in setting up a movement to fight the Maoists
“Those who have lost their lives in this barbaric attack are martyrs of democracy,” Mr Singh tweeted from Raipur, where many of the wounded are being treated.
Maoist rebels, also known as “Naxalites”, have been operating in central and eastern India for the past four decades. They demand land and jobs for the poor, and ultimately want to establish a “communist society” by overthrowing India’s “semi-colonial, semi-feudal” form of rule.
After attending an emergency meeting in Delhi with the prime minister, Mrs Gandhi described the attack in Chhattisgarh as “shocking”.
“Naturally, we are devastated,” she told reporters. “It is despicable that ordinary people engaged in political activity were attacked.”
The prime minister had also spoken by telephone to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and promised him all “necessary aid”.
“Government will take firm action against the perpetrators of violence of any kind,” he said in a statement.
May 26th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
In the above article on the Attack by Maoist Terrorists in Chattisgargh, India, note the following statement:
“However, Gill said the state government was incapable of devising a strategy to tackle the Maoist threat. “They don’t have the political will and bureaucratic and police set-up to prevent such attacks,” he said.
He said the state government had ignored the need for special forces to tackle the threat. “Most of the special forces in the state are being used for non-operational duties like guarding state politicians,” he said.”
Likewise, if LAND and POLICE powers are vested with a Tamil majority Provincial Council in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, they will not have the “political will, and the bureaucratic and police setup” … to put it mildly …. “to prevent such attacks”.
In fact, it will be the TNA-dominated Provincial Government that will initiate and orchestrate such attacks.
Only the central government can enforce the necessary action to maintain peace in the NATIONAL INTEREST which is not shared by the TNA separatists.
If the TNA gets control of the Northern Province, and land and police powers to boot, there will be INTERMINABLE CONFLICTS between the Central Government and the ProvincialGgovernment setting the stage for another Eelam War …. this time possibly with ACTIVE Tamil Nadu participation.
Why would ANY GOSL allow such a security threat to arise and threaten the lives and livelihoods of ALL of Sri Lanka’s people …. all over AGAIN? But, such STUPIDITY is at the heart of the impending PC Elections in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Are we to gift to the Tamil Separatit Terrorists in PEACE what they failed to win in Murderous War? Have all of our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, police and civilians DIED IN VAIN?
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. and COMPEL the Government of Sri Lanka to REPEAL the 13th Amendment rammed down Sri Lanka’s throat by India; an India that does not even know how to maintain its own territory free of terrorism!
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. and GET RID OF the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Councils NOW before it is TOO LATE!
May 27th, 2013 at 1:01 am
Bravo, Mr. Defense Secretary!
Indeed Sri Lanka cannot change its system of Governance to suit a Foreign Country; a Foreign Country that Rammed the 13th Amendment down Sri Lanka’s throat while it was Militarily Occupying a large part of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is NOT BOUND BY AGREEMENTS FORCED UPON IT UNDER DURESS. Under International Law, no Country is bound to honor agreements entered into under blackmail.
Sri Lanka did what it had to agree to do then … in order to survive … just as a KIDNAPPED PERSON would sign over his property when a gun is held at his head. But, it is the duty of that victim to regain his freedom and to recover his assets and rights at the earliest possible opportunity.
There are many PRECEDENTS in International Law of NULLIFICATION OF AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO UNDER DURESS. For example, Hitler forced Czechoslovakia to give up the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany under the threat of invasion by Nazi Germany, and abandonment by the Allied Powers. As soon as Nazi Germany was defeated, Czechoslovakia ABROGATED the Munich Agreement, and reconstituted itself in full regaining the Sudetenland.
The Rape of Sri Lanka by India, and the attempt to partition Sri Lanka by IMPOSING BY FORCE the 13th Amendment upon Sri Lanka, are CRIMES under International Law just as much as the Rape of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany was a CRIME.
It is the DUTY of ALL PATRIOTIC Sri Lankans to help FREE Sri Lanka of this CHAIN OF BONDAGE to India’s internal and regional political needs.
Sri Lanka MUST NEVER FORGET this CRIME which our own ethnic relatives in India, and our collaborators in the struggle for independence from Western Colonialists, INFLICTED upon us.
Sri Lanka must ALWAYS be PREPARED to DEFEND and PROTECT Sri Lanka’s TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, Sri Lanka’s unique CULTURE that has DEVELOPED INDEPENDENTLY over many millenia from its early Indian origins, and the FREEDOM to GROW and PROSPER in the FUTURE as we Sri Lankans see fit.
There is AMPLE EVIDENCE in the MISSTEPS India has taken since independence, in governance, foreign relations, maintenance of internal security, and the assurance of equity to all of its citizens, that India has little to offer Sri Lanka in the way of SOUND ADVICE. India is travelling on a fast path to disintegration; Sri Lanka would be well advised to avoid all self-serving advice given by India and to protect itself in every way from contamination by India’s self-inflicted social diseases.
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. to GET RID OF the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Council System designed to create a Patchwork Quilt of Racist Apartheid Bantustans in Sri Lanka.
Let Sri Lanka move CONFIDENTLY towards the goal of ONE Indivisible Nation, of ONE Inseparable People, sharing ONE Indomitable Destiny!
……………………
Lanka can’t toe India line on 13th Amendment: Gotabaya
By P K Balachandran
NewIndianExpress.com
May 27, 2013
The influential Sri Lankan Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, has said Sri Lanka should jettison the system of devolution contained in the India-inspired 13th Amendment of the country’s constitution, irrespective of India’s reaction.
“Just because India or some other country will get angry, we cannot stop doing what is good for our country,” Gotabaya told the Tamil daily Sudar Oli on Sunday.
He was asked if his statements against the devolution of power to the provinces would not irk India, which was responsible for the promulgation of the existing devolution system through the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987 and the 13th constitutional amendment which followed it. Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid had recently expressed displeasure over Lanka’s attempts to prune the 13th amendment to deny the provinces powers over land and police.
Gotabaya expressed the fear that if the Tamil majority Northern Province went into the hands of the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) following the September 2013 elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC), that province would demand power over land and police and jeopardize national integrity and security.
He recalled that the 13th amendment did not have the people’s support when it was enacted in 1987. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna had “set fire to the whole country,” and the LTTE leader Prabhakaran had rejected it, he pointed out.
“Why should we implement it merely because it meets India’s needs?” Gotabaya asked.
According to him some forces were trying to weaken Lanka’s Central Executive by divesting it of powers of land and the police; demanding independent commissions to make official appointments; and promoting an independent judiciary. Gotabaya, who is President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sibling, suggested that Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims, should all “forget” about the 13th amendment and think about a “reasonable” solution to the ethnic question.
However, according to “The Sunday Times” President Rajapaksa had told the cabinet that the NPC elections should be held as scheduled in September, and under the existing constitutional arrangement. Perhaps, Rajapaksa does not want to ruffle feathers in India and the West ahead of the Commonwealth summit scheduled to be held in Colombo in November.
May 27th, 2013 at 1:23 am
Here is MORE of TNA’s CONSTRUCTIVE attitude!
………………
Sampanthan says Gotabaya is not govt.
DailyMirror.lk
May 27, 2013
“Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said police and land powers would not be given to the Northern Province. I am not ready to talk to him because he is not the government,” said ITAK leader R. Sampanthan at the Trincomalee District General Meeting of the ITAK yesterday.
The meeting was held at the New Silver Star Inn to appoint electoral agents, re-structuring party branches and to explain the current political situation.
“The problems of Tamils have reached the United Nations. UNHCR conducted discussions with regard to Sri Lankan Tamils. Therefore, we cannot give up our principles for the sake of a 2 km road,” he said speaking at the meeting.
“Except for the 50 acre-land acquired for the Sampur Electricity Scheme, all other lands will be released; that was the promise given to me by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, however, in spite of the promise the lands are still not released. Countries which helped to destroy LTTE, should place a solution before Tamils, be it the USA or India; we need a solution and they are duty-bound to provide it,” Mr. Sampanthan said.
He further said “We have shared Rs. 5 million received from our decentralised budget among eleven temples. Had we joined the government, we would have received even Rs.100 million for development, but we will not deviate from our principles.” (Singaravelu Sasikumar)
May 27th, 2013 at 6:18 am
WHAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA IS EXPECTING IS, ACTION AGAINGST THE 13TH AMMENDMENT, ABROGATE IT. NOT JUST GLs MELLIFLUOUS BULLSHITING, WITH A MUG SHOT TO BOOT. ALL FART AND NO SHIT IS NOT THE PANACEA.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF TALKING THE TALK. NOW LET US HAVE WALKING THE WALK. RIGHT NOW.
May 27th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. GET RID OF the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Council System designed to create a Patchwork Quilt of Racist Apartheid Bantustans in Sri Lanka.
Rise up … O Patriotic Sons and Daughters of Lanka …. your Motherland needs you to DEFEND her NOW! Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country … NOW!
Let Sri Lanka move CONFIDENTLY towards the goal of ONE Indivisible Nation, of ONE Inseparable People, sharing ONE Indomitable Destiny!
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Provincial council system fails to address the problems of Sri Lanka’s North and East – JHU
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
May 27, Colombo: An ally of Sri Lanka’s governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), says the provincial council system was introduced to address the problems of the North and East, but has so far failed to resolve the issue.
JHU parliamentarian Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thero has said that the JHU’s decision to move a motion seeking the abolition of the provincial council system was based on many reasons that range from the illegal manner in which the Constitution was amended to establish the Provincial Council system to its failure to address the issues in the North and East.
“The Provincial Council system was brought about as a solution to the problems in the North and East. Over 5,000 Indian forces personnel sacrificed their lives in Sri Lanka’s North and East in order to get this system implemented. However, the terrorists in the North and East did not agree to the Provincial Council system. Therefore, the system has not solved the North and East issue. This is an issue that has been coming from the past,” he has explained.
According to Ven. Ratana Thero, the worst clause in the amendment is on the merging of provinces if there were no objections between the respective provinces.
“Under this clause, the North and East provinces were merged on the basis of the area being the traditional homeland of the Tamil people. This is a wrong concept and it cannot be proven with historical facts,” he has observed.
“After considering all these reasons, the JHU will introduce to parliament next week a motion to repeal the Provincial Council system,” Ven. Ratana Thero has said.
He has added that the JHU would speak to other parties including the UNP, TNA and the JVP to get their support for the draft motion.
The Thero has noted that the party was looking at people’s support before looking for government support for its draft motion to amend the Constitution and repeal the Provincial Council system in the country.
May 27th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
While PATRIOTS rush to her DEFENSE, here is another group of TRAITORS from the LSSP stabbing Mother Lanka in the back.
Our MEMORIES are LONG; we will NEVER FORGET who the TRAITORS are.
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Sri Lanka’s leftist ministers to support Tamil party on the 13th Amendment
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
May 27, Colombo: Several ministers in the Sri Lankan government are to support the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in demanding the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Leader of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and Minister of Technology and Research, Prof. Vitarana, General Secretary of the Communist Party (CP) and Minister of Human Resources, D.E.W. Gunasekera, and Leader of the Democratic Left Front (DLF) and Minister of National Languages and Social Integration, Vasudeva Nanayakkara had reportedly met a group of TNA parliamentarians.
The meeting had taken place last week at the Parliament Complex.
TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran said the meeting between the leftist ministers was an encouraging sign given that certain elements within the government are opposed to the 13 Amendment.
He has observed that the three ministers had said the 13th Amendment should not be weakened and the Northern Provincial Council polls should be conducted in a manner without destabilizing the amendment.
The ministers had also said that land and police powers should not be stripped off the 13th Amendment.
Two allying parties of the government, Jathika Hela Urumaya and National Freedom Front oppose giving land and police powers to the provinces and call to abolish the 13th Amendment.
May 28th, 2013 at 11:34 am
JHU to hand over private member’s motion on abolishing 13 A tomorrow
by Ranil Dharmasena
Island.lk
May 27, 2013
The Jathika Hela Urumaya would hand over a private member’s motion to the Secretary General of Parliament tomorrow, seeking to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which established the Provincial Councils, Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gamanpila said yesterday.
Gamanpila told The Island that the Sinhala and English versions of the proposed draft bill were ready and the Tamil translation too would be ready by today.
After handing over the bill, they would meet all political parties represented in Parliament, including the Tamil National Alliance, to apprise them of the importance of abolishing the 13th Amendment.