Sri Lanka's hidden Pearl
* Sri Lanka government says IIGEP’s decision hasty
Saturday, March 8, 2008, 6:57 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Mar 08, Colombo: The decision taken by the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) to wrap up their operations at the end of this month is hasty and regrettable, Sri Lankan government said.
March 9, 2008 by lrrp
In a worrisome development, amid violence and threats in the east, there are confirmed reports that say Muslim extremists are abandoning their previously quiet lifestyle for armed resistance.
Several attempts by a few Muslim leaders in the east to conceal this fact has failed as the extremists, mostly youth, who have been ignored by society, are insistent on carrying arms and fighting for their lost rights.
It is known that the creation of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) itself was in order to prevent Muslim youth from embracing arms. This is a clear indication that the Muslim youth have been longing to embrace militancy, similar to Tamil militancy, with a view to protecting their interests.
The majority of Sri LankaA?a??a??s 1.3 million Muslims live in the east and a section of the community has been overtly exerting pressure on Muslim politicians and leaders to deal with the LTTE militarily.
Open secret
While right-thinking Muslim leaders, not succumbing to this pressure, have tried to get the frustrated youth to involve themselves in politics instead, others have made use of them A?a??a?? and continue to do so even today A?a??a?? for crimes. This is an open secret in the east.
Only a few are chosen as power players to mould and make political parties from behind the screen in politics. They may not be popular in politics but certainly make others popular through their skills and expertise. One such person who has been active in the Sri Lankan politics is A. M. M. Naushad, son of former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ninthavur M. I. M. Majeed and son – in – law of also former MP for Ampara M. A. Abdul Majeed. He is today the UNPA?a??a??s convener for Eastern Province and Chairman of the Eastern province Political Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the UNPA?a??a??s working committee.
Naushad who was one time a High Command member of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) says if the TMVP was not armed today, the UNP would have participated at tomorrowA?a??a??s election in Batticaloa. Accusing the TMVPA?a??a??s alliance with the government, Naushad told The Nation that the non participation of the UNP at tomorrowA?a??a??s election was to protest against the governmentA?a??a??s efforts to legitimise the TMVP through a working arrangement both parties have arrived at. He also declared that the UNP in the future will not align with smaller parties to contest election, but instead, added, if smaller parties desired to contest with the UNP, they should do so under the UNP symbolBy Wilson Gnanadass
Following are excerpts:
Q: How would you describe the support to the UNP by the Muslims in the East at present?
A: The UNPA?a??a??s support per se in the East among the Muslims is not something that can be quantified from what has happened since 2001. Up to the year 2000, the UNP had Muslim elected representation in Trincomalee and Batticaloa while in Ampara there was a National list MP. Thereafter with the electoral arrangements made with the SLMC, there has been no UNP organisation at electoral level, even though Ali Sahir Moulana and thereafter Myown Mustapha, were nominated on the National list. This has been due to the fact that the SLMC has always aligned with the governing party, and this has basically kept the people with them for want of political patronage. The SLMC will admit that their success at the 2001 and 2004 general elections in the East was as a result of them being able to rope in the UNP vote base.
Q: The UNP on your recommendation is not contesting the local polls scheduled for tomorrow. Why?
A: The assumption that the UNP decided not to contest in Batticaloa on my recommendation is incorrect. I as the Provincial Convener, having assessed the ground situation and the happenings in the district, was of the opinion that a free and fair election cannot be held in the Batticaloa district, with one contesting group being armed and working along with government forces. I am of the opinion that the UNP contesting at Batticaloa would only legitimise an illegal exercise. There was a lot of discussion in the party over this, and the final decision was taken by the party that it should stay out as a protest against the actions of the government.
Q: Had the TMVP contested the election unarmed conditionally, would the UNP have contested the election?
A: If the TMVP sheds its arms and enters the democratic stream of politics I would definitely be spearheading a move to work with them for the benefit of the Tamil speaking people of the area, because the TMVP comprises Tamil youth of the Eastern Province who have an important role to play in deciding our future.
Q: But the people who have been used to vote for the elephant symbol are being deprived. They say the UNP should have contested the election.
A: This decision was not taken just by the hierarchy of the party, but also on the feed back given to the party by the organisers of the district, after having consulted their supporters. In fact during the run up to the nominations, there were many reports of former UNP candidates and prominent supporters being coerced by the TMVP cadres to either contest on their list or stay away. It was a decision based on the sentiments of the people and the position of the party with regard to the activity of another wing of the LTTE in the district.
Q: Would this lead to the erosion of the UNP vote base in the East?
A: The UNP vote bank in the East has been of recent past based on the position the party faces vis a vis the national issues. The UNP is the only party that has a clear position with regard to the rights of the minorities in a negotiated settlement to the national issues. Therefore it cannot be said that decisions taken in the interest of democracy and the rights of people would erode the vote base of the UNP.
Q: What is the UNPA?a??a??s position regarding the governmentA?a??a??s plan to hold Provincial Council elections?
A: The party has just initiated discussions on this issue, and there will be a series of meetings during the course of next week with organisers of the area, after which the Political Affairs Committee of the party would take a decision.
How much atarax for anxiety Q: Do you think a Provincial Council election is necessary at present given the escalation of violence in these areas?
A: Any attempt at giving power to the people in the regions is welcome, provided a level playing field can be assured by the government in power, so that the people of the area can freely make their choice of who should govern them.
Q: The UNP is accused of involving in, A?a??E?patch work politicsA?a??a?? in the East by the SLMC. How do you view this accusation?
A: I am really amused at this accusation if there is any. Because today the SLMC is holding seats in the East only because of the UNP not nominating Muslim candidates of their own, at elections at the request of the SLMC. And in fact, the UNP not contesting the local poll in Batticaloa, is also to the advantage of the SLMC, which the SLMC will be reluctant to concede. This has actually damaged the support of the UNP. The UNP has now realised that patch work agreements with smaller parties does not help in the long run. Hence the decision to reorganise and revitalise its vote base among the minorities in the North and East.
Q: Does it mean that the future elections will be contested by the UNP without aligning with smaller parties?
A: The UNP has taken a decision that it is open to alliances with like thinking parties for an election, or for the formation of the government without surrendering its identity in the regions. This would effectively mean that any like thinking party wanting to align with the UNP would have to contest under the UNPA?a??a??s symbol, without restricting the UNPA?a??a??s need to field its own candidates as well.
Q: But is it possible under the existing electoral system to win an election without aligning with smaller parties?
A: If you go back to 1989, with the emergence of the SLMC in the East with its founder leader at the helm and at the height of its popularity, the UNP still won the Ampara and the Trincomalee districts which formed the backbone of the SLMC support at that time. So alliances with parties with a view to come into power compromising the founding principles of national parties has cost them dearly and lessons learnt are what is now the compelling factor.
Q: Has the UNP identified the needs of the people in the East and if so what are they?
A: Basically the primary need of the people in the East is peace. With peace coming in, mobility, access to their livelihood, investments in infrastructure, and maximising the resources of that area which has remained untapped for the last 30 years, would also come in automatically.
Q: What are the measures taken by the UNP to deliver this to the Muslims?
A: The UNP has very clearly in its election manifesto spelled out how it would address these issues. If you look at the manifesto of the 2005 Presidential election, 2001 and 2004 General elections the development of the East and bringing peace to the area has been given the highest priority. And once the UNP assumes power it will definitely be working on swiftly implementing its plans. But for all this to happen, honorable peace within all communities has to come.
Q: You were one time SLMC High Command Member. How do you see the performance of the SLMC now?
A: My joining the SLMC was a result of the persuasion of the Ampara district Mosque Federation that declared all Muslim political forces in the district should contest under one banner. At a meeting held at the Ranmuthu hotel subsequently, I was the first to get up and declare that I would unconditionally agree to work with the SLMC, which I was doing even at that time as a member of their Constitutional Council in an independent capacity. I was even willing to contest the election if the party requested me to do so. This was a need of the day as we had to make an effort to consolidate the Muslim voice to strengthen the communityA?a??a??s demand for independent participation at the peace process.
But this did not work out. Thereafter having joined the SLMC, I worked to ensure that the party realised the mood of the people and in keeping with reality take up positions that could eventually ensure that the community had its fair share in any negotiated settlement to the ethnic issue. Unfortunately the power politics of the current proportional representation system and the fact that the SLMC had been corrupted by power and absolute power during the 1994 to 2000 period, I realised it was difficult for the party to work towards the basic founding principles of the party. This is why the SLMC, even after having received a majority of the Muslim votes at every election, has not been able to hold on to its representatives who were elected on a mandate which is very dear to the Muslims of the North East. So the end result has been that today the party support if analysed statistically will show a very sharp decline in the North and the East. The latest episode of the SLMC deciding to join the government to save the party and thereafter leaving the government, dividing the party, proves that the party is now drifting, and unable to basically work towards maintaining its vote base among the people of the North East, who have continuously hoped that the party would deliver on its promises.
Q: Does the UNP recognise the SLMC demand for a separate administrative council for the Muslims in the East?
A: The cry for a separate council by the SLMC or for that matter Muslims of the East should be seen as a part of the whole problem because it is more a reactionary call than something that has evolved over time. The Muslims have in the history of the country never clamoured for regional power. This has come about by the non-inclusion of their aspirations by both the majority communities; that is the Sinhalese and the Tamils, though the Tamil leadership has been pointing a finger at the Sinhala majority. They have not turned that finger towards themselves and seen that they were repeating that same behaviour towards their minority, that is the Muslims of the North and East. The very same reasons attributed by them for autonomy is what is echoed by the Muslims. So this cry will not be sustained if an inclusive process evolved, which is just and equitable to all communities. The UNPA?a??a??s position is that we have to build a national identity. And it is on record that should the resolution of the North East conflict be conditional to the merger of the North and East, then the just demand of the Muslims and Sinhalese should also be met.
****
source:
http://www.nation.lk/2008/03/09/inter2.htm
The annual report of the Human Rights Watch 2008 contains a Chapter on Sri Lanka which has failed to distinguish between a democratically elected Government which has reaffirmed its commitment to promote and protect human rights while combating an unprecedented challenge of terrorism, and the LTTE, a fascist terrorist group recently branded as one of the worst of such groups in the world by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the USA.
Despite the Government of Sri Lanka maintaining an open dialogue with the international community and INGOs, including the Human Rights Watch (HRW) regularly, it fails to acknowledge any positive steps taken by Sri Lanka to enhance protection in a situation of emergency. Senior Ministers and high officials from Sri Lanka have had discussions with the Human Rights Watch in New York and Washington in September 2007 where they have amply explained the measures the Government has taken to uphold human rights in an extremely difficult situation of fighting a ruthless terrorist group to rid innocent civilians from the clutches of subjugation of this outfit.
The Human Rights Watch has placed selective focus on some civil and political rights, avoiding entirely any mention of GOSL’s considerable achievements in providing economic, social and cultural rights, including to all citizens in the North and the East.
The Human Rights Watch appears to ignore the fact that since independence the Government has provided a free and comprehensive national education system, including schools, non-formal education institutions, and technical colleges. The salaries of teachers, administrative, clerical and elementary staff are met from state funds.
There are no private schools in operation in Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara and Trincomalee. Schoolchildren in these areas are entirely dependent on Government run schools for their primary and secondary education, which the Government continues to provide. Every single teacher is funded by the Government.
There are an estimated 1848 functioning state funded schools with over 700,000 students in the North and the East. These schools include 411 in Jaffna, 94 Buy biaxin xl in Kilinochchi, 93 in Mannar, 187 in Vavuniya, 102 in Mullativu, 314 in Batticaloa, 388 in Ampara and 259 in Trincomalee. Thus 18.9% of the schools administered by the Ministry of Education are located in the North and the East. The scope of the education service provided by the Government of Sri Lanka is apparent, for instance in the latest report of the UNHCR on Welfare Centres in Jaffna, which indicates that 1251 of 1252 Primary Level children are in school in these centres, and 1434 out of 1716 among secondary school children.
State hospitals and State run health care centres provide a totally free service – both preventative and curative and are funded by the Government. The State meets the recurrent costs of doctors, nurses and minor employees, including salaries, drugs, equipment and the maintenance of hospitals. In the North and the East, there are over 53 Hospital institutions with more than 4427 hospital beds providing free curative healthcare.
The Human Rights Watch does not take into account any of the achievements of the Government in providing numerous welfare and protection programmes for migrant workers, especially women migrant workers including their families. The Human Rights Watch appears to proceed from some abstract “standards which has little relevance to the conditions on the ground in a developing country”. It is unfortunate that the Human Rights Watch continues to use developed country standards, which are used only selectively in the case of developed countries, in criticising developing countries.
Vague accusations proliferate in the report such as “indiscriminate firing” “unnecessarily preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid” etc., which are not borne out by the facts. The rationalisation undertaken by the Government in consultation with INGOs and NGOs seem to have escaped HRW completely.
Sri Lanka’s Security Forces are fully trained to take every precaution against harming civilians. The ICRC has imparted international humanitarian law (IHL) training to Security Forces since over 20 years, such that over 90% of forces are now fully trained in IHL. Since 2006, most deaths have been among combatants (especially Government forces) while most civilian deaths have been caused by LTTE bomb blasts such as on buses at Kebbetigollawa, Nittambuwa, Seenigama and Chettikulam and even in Shopping Complexes at Nugegoda. The LTTE gunned down civilians fleeing the bus bomb in Buttala.
Sufficient information is available on Sri Lanka websites (SCOPP/Commissioner General for Essential Services) regarding provision of essential supplies to North and East. HRW fails to acknowledge that throughout the years of conflict, humanitarian and developmental needs of the civilian population of the North and the East, including in conflict areas, were continuously met by the Government of Sri Lanka together with some assistance from the donor community. The administrative machinery including the free national health, education and infrastructure facilities in conflict areas are continuing to be maintained by the Government despite the fact that the LTTE siphons of such funding for its own illegal purposes.
The Government of Sri Lanka is presently taking all steps to provide the essential services that people need in the uncleared areas. In fact, even today the Government Agents in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, LTTE dominated districts, are actively delivering all essential services. The salaries and pensions and other expenses of these services are fully met by the Government, and the Government also monitors these activities to ensure that the services reach the people as expeditiously as possible. However, given the hazardous ground conditions that prevail in these areas it is necessary for the LTTE to cooperate to ensure that these efforts are made more effective. Already, massive programmes for housing, roads, bridges, electrification, livelihood development, hospitals, and schools have been planned. The completed projects and other projects in progress and in the pipeline are valued at approximately 1,250 Million U.S. Dollars. This is a massive sum, and the investment of such an amount would need stable ground and safe conditions that are essential for the effective realization of the benefits of this vast investment.
HRW analysis of the situation of internally displaced persons (IDP) is therefore, flawed with exaggerated figures quoted and failure to acknowledge the success of GOSL in speedily resettling IDPs in their own homes after evicting the LTTE from the Eastern Province, whilst providing assistance in food and livelihood support etc. Sri Lanka has expended considerable resources over the last many years in caring for IDPs affected by both conflict and tsunami.
Despite repeated Government requests for specific information, HRW has not supplied any ‘credible evidence’ on any complicity by GOSL Security Forces with the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulugal (TMVP), a breakaway group of the LTTE. Accusations are vague and unsubstantiated and tend to reflect the propaganda line of detractors of the Government. Today, the TMVP is making the difficult transition to a political party, having registered with the Commissioner of Elections for the local government elections in the Eastern Province.
Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
How much is abilify at costco Sri Lanka: Diovan cheaper alternative Statement of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights on the decision by the IIGEP to wind-up their operations in Sri Lanka
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka – Geneva – Switzerland
07th March 2008
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The International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP), is a unique structure hitherto not encountered in any fact finding exercise anywhere in the world and is mandated to function over a period of one year. On 30 November 2007, the IIGEP by its letter addressed to His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa, communicated its decision to end its mandate by the end of March 2008. The IIGEP embarked on its work in February 2007 which means that, within 8 to 9 months of the commencement of its mandate, and prior to fulfilling a full year, such a decision to quit was taken.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights regrets the haste with which this decision was taken, especially in the context of the public inquiries that have started and are ongoing in two important investigations, namely: the investigation into the deaths of 17 aid workers belonging to the Action Contre La Faim in Muttur and the killing of 5 youths in Trincomalee. Public inquiries into the slaying of 10 Muslim civilians in Pottuvil are also due to commence shortly. |
The security forces are accused of abducting hundreds of people
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Sri Lanka’s government is one of the world’s worst perpetrators of enforced disappearances, US-based pressure group Human Rights Watch (HRW) says. Noroxin shipping An HRW report accuses security forces and pro-government militias of abducting and “disappearing” hundreds of people since 2006.
Many of the missing are young Tamil men targeted on suspicion of links to Tamil Tiger rebels, HRW says.
Sri Lanka’s government says HRW has exaggerated the scale of the problem.
Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona says there has been a “steady decline in disappearances over the last 12 months” because of new measures taken by the government.
“Unfortunately Human Rights Watch has tended to exaggerate the real situation,” Mr Kohona said.
He said the group’s “unfair” report was based on unsubstantiated claims and “anecdotal evidence”, while the government’s own investigations into disappearances were proceeding quickly.
Tens of thousands have died since separatist Tamil Tiger rebels began fighting the Sri Lankan government more than three decades ago.
‘Inadequate response’
HRW said several hundred cases of disappearances had been reported since 2006, when fighting between the Tamil Tiger rebels and the government intensified.
The rights group said the majority of cases “indicate the involvement of government security forces – army, navy or police”. Eurax quanto costa
The group said pro-government armed Tamil groups – such as the faction led by renegade rebel commander Col Karuna – had also been implicated in the abductions and disappearances.
While most of the victims were members of Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil minority, HRW said, some Muslims and Sinhalese had also been targeted.
These included journalists, aid workers, clergy and teachers, HRW said.
Many of the missing were feared dead.
HRW said the Sri Lankan government’s response to the disappearances had been “grossly inadequate”.
It urged the government to reveal the whereabouts of the missing and prosecute those responsible.
The rights group said the number of disappearances carried out by the Tamil Tigers in government-controlled areas was relatively low.
But it said, the Tigers were responsible for targeted killings, forced child recruitment, bomb attacks on civilians and the repression of basic rights in areas they controlleds
source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7280050.stm
MIA in Sri Lanka (Part 2 – The finale)
Part 2 – The finale
In my last post I spoke of sea urchins putting at end, or at least a temporary end, to my travels around Sri Lanka. In this post you will discover that this may not have been such a disaster after all.
Originally I had intended to travel to Matra the day after surfing in Mirissa and catch a bus inland to Wellawaya. My aim was to reach my familyA?a??a??s rubber plantation, but as you read in the last post, the sea urchins had other plans. I woke up in my Uncle CharithA?a??a??s bungalow the morning after the SUA (sea urchin attack) to hear that a bus near Wellawaya had been bombed leaving many casualties and fatalities behind. Devastated as I was to be sitting there, nursing my swollen and bandaged feet, I could not help but thank those sea urchins for perhaps sparing me the cruel faith that those on the bus had suffered. For the moment I was benched and could not walk, but I would soon recover and set forth again, and as you will learn, lady luck would smile upon me twice more.
Two weeks after SUA, I was travelling again. This time I was staying with my Uncle Lal in Arugam Bay, a chilled surfing town on the east coast that boasts some of the best surf in Sri Lanka. This however was the off season, which explained why there were no other travellers on the beach or in the town. The other reason for the lack of tourism, may have been the fact that there recently had been LTTE activity in the surrounding districts and that there were soldiers now stationed every 100m on the 40km stretch of the main road into and out of town. Lucky for me, my Uncle was there as engineer working with an NGO to build a bridge and water treatment station (the tours were very informative and enjoyable, I assure you), which meant travelling to and from Aruguam Bay was relatively pain free, for me that is. The locals need to get permits from the police station to drive vehicles in and out the town while all the passengers aboard the buses need to disembark produce ID and have their bags searched. The whole process can take up to 3 hrs to get through the 40km stretch. I managed it in an hour and a bit.
Leaving Aruguam Bay Purchase prazosin hydrochloride I headed west to my familyA?a??a??s rubber plantation just passed Wellawaya, my intended destination before SUA. There I spent a very relaxing week enjoying all that hill country life has to offer. My hosts, and what wonderful hosts they were, were my Uncle Lalith, and his wife Aunty Daritha, their naughty but lovable son Vilhan and of course my other Aunty Bundi. They, like all of my relatives in Sri Lanka, looked after me with greatest love and care.
While on the plantation I indulged in many taxing pursuits such as; going through the hundred year old historical documents connected with Rosebury Estate (the name of the plantation) these incredibly included a death certificate of old Englishman, perhaps former owner, who died of gang green in lunatic asylum, nice! another past time was learning about the running and management of the rubber plantation, from labor management to when and how the trees are tapped; but most favourite of all past times was driving the old Morris Minor Traveller around, cue videoA?a??A?
Unfortunately this video is all I have to show for my travels outside of Colombo as the portable hard drive I was carrying around failed when I returned to Colombo which meant all the photos, which included sporting a hard hat and fashionable fluorescent jacket while stood next to half finished 140m bridge and one where I am giving 3 year old Vilhan a stylish Mohawk hair cut were lost. The slideshow below is of some photos I took when I returned to Colombo. You may be wondering whether I lost everything, well worry not, being the good comp sci geek that I am, I backed everything up before I left Colombo, which was damn lucky. Talking of luck.
Earlier I said that lady luck had smiled twice more on me, well she did, and this is how it happened. When I left Hoodia comprar online Arugam Bay I had intended to travel to Rosebury Estate and then north to the old cities, namely Dumbula, and from there take day trips to the nearby sites. But when I reached Rosebury, I enjoyed myself so much so, that I forgot about heading north to Dumbula. A couple of days later, there was yet another bomb on a bus in Dambula leaving more casualties and fatalities. That is the second time and this is the third. In leaving the hill country I had hoped to take the scenic train that lonely planet lists as one of its highlights. You would think that I would have learnt not to use the public transport by now, but it took yet another bomblast in ColomboA?a??a??s main train station with yet more casualties and fatalities, for me to finally get the message.
When I set out to travel I had always envisaged that I was the master of my own destiny, that I alone decided where and what I did. Sri Lanka taught me that your actions affect those around you and care about you, and whether you like it or not, you have a responsibility to them. I was willing to risk my safety and travel on the trains and buses but my uncle was so worried, he would not allow me to travel alone and insisted that he accompany myself. Looking at his worried wife I realised that I was being selfish and conceded not to travel. I dread to think what might have happened had we taken the train to Colombo.
I did finally leave the plantation and return, hitching a ride with yet another uncle and aunty who had come to visit – I know what your thinking, how many auntys and uncles do I have! well the fact that my mother is one of eight and my father one of ten, should clear things up. When I returned to Colombo, I discovered the shocking news that my grandfather had had a heart attack and was in intensive care. When I spoke to the doctors, they were very clear about the chances my 86 year old grandfather had. It was a difficult time for all. But, I am glad to say that my grandfather, being the stubborn determined man that he is, proved the doctors wrong and was discharged and was back at home 10 days later. In the following days I said goodbye to my grandfather and the rest of the family (all of his children had flown in from around the world, my mother included) and boarded a plane to Bangkok.
source:
http://roshansblog.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/mia-in-sri-lanka-part-2-the-finale/
The duel between man and beast does not seem to have an end and the situation seems to be worsening by the day. The result is that both man and beast die in the confrontation. While an elephant at Dighawapiya area in Ampara district was killed in early February, on the 26th of last month a wild elephant killed a farmer in Ruhunugama village.
Other villages where the menace is rampant in this district are Kotavehera, Suduwella and Vijithapura where at sundown elephants stray into paddy fields destroying crops and other cultivations. According to Wild Life officials already four elephants have been killed in the two months of this year.
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| A farmerA?a??a??s bicycle mangled by an angry elephant |
Speaking on the issue of negligence on the part of the Wild Life officers, Ven. Anuradhapura Dhammarama Thera of the Ruhunugama temple said that so far three villagers have become victims.A?a??A?When his mother was killed by an elephant, her son had shot the animal dead. Much harm is being done to cultivation by marauding animals who stray into villages at dusk,A?a??A? he said.
The thera lamented that no amount of appeals made to officials has met with any success and added that requests for necessary items be supplied to scare the animals away have not met with success either. He appealed to the President to take some action to counter the menace which has caused villagers to leave their homes and go elsewhere.
A person identified as W. Nimal said animals roam at night in the Buddhangala area and requested officials to have an electrified fence erected to tackle the problem. Dighawapi farmers organisation president S.S. Wijekoon said he wanted officials to have an electrified fence erected.
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A Wild Life official blamed humans for straying into animal territory forcing them to invade villages. He, however, said staff was insufficient to fight the menace. According to him areas where electrified fences were needed have been identified and said chief among them were Buddhangala, Ekgalaoya and Dighawapi.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080302/News/news0020.html
Construction work on the new Kallady Bridge at the Akkaraipattu, Batticaloa-Thricondiyadi Road has commenced. An official of the Ministry of Highways and Road Development said, “the total cost of this project is Rs. 700 million, funded by the Japanese Government.
The project is due to be completed within three years”. The Kallady Bridge has two lanes for vehicles with two additional side lanes for cyclists. The length of the concrete bridge is 290 metres and the width is 14.5 metres. Informed sources said that construction work on bridges at Arugam Bay, Oddamavadi, Erakkakandy, Puduwaikattu, Yanoya and Kinniya has started.
Meanwhile, construction work on bridges in Komari, Kallar and Koddaikallara has been completed.
Sources also said that the bridges will be built shortly in Verugal, Ralkuli, Gangei and Upparu. Currently these areas are linked by ferry services. Difficulties in transportation in those areas are expected to ease with the new bridges.
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/03/02/new15.asp
* USAID-funded road and drainage system opened in Ampara, Sri Lanka
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 16:02 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 28, Ampara: The United States has funded an 8-kilometer road and drainage system, which was opened today in Pottuvil, Ampara.
The US Embassy in Colombo said its United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) funded the project to construct a low maintenance, durable road system and drainage structure throughout the Pottuvil Division.
In the past, the roads flooded and became almost impassable, the Embassy said, adding that the finished roads have had a major impact on Pottuvil by reducing dust in the town and increasing localsA?A?A? access to essential services, including schools, health clinics and places of worship. The project also created jobs and experience in the area.
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For the opening ceremony, USAID and UNOPS welcomed representatives from local government and the community.
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source:
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/February28160259JR.html
Seroflo 125 inhaler price UK issues travel advisory on Sri Lanka
Tuesday, February 26, 2008, Buy xenical orlistat cheap 15:17 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 26, Colombo: The United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised its nationals traveling to Sri Lanka against all travel to the north and east of the country, as well as to Yala National Park and the areas around it.
Fatal terrorist attacks throughout the country became more frequent in the first two months of 2008 and the FCO says they have occurred in places frequented by holidaymakers.
The warning for Sri Lanka includes the area north of the A12 road (which runs from Puttalam in the west to Trincomalee in the east) and the Jaffna peninsula. Also, travelers are advised to avoid the districts of Trincomalee and Batticaloa, as well as the coastal areas of Ampara district.
source:
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/February26151754JV.html
Published by Order serophene dosage February 26th, 2008
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs Buy lozolla
Washington, DC 20520
February 08, 2008
This Travel Warning provides updated security information and alerts American citizens traveling to or living in Sri Lanka about the continuing danger of terrorist attacks throughout the country.A?A?A?A?This supersedes the Travel Warning for Sri Lanka dated October 18, 2007.
The Department of State urges American citizens to evaluate carefully the risks of travel to Sri Lanka and specifically warns Americans against travel to northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka.A?A? Since early January 2008, attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) against civilians have increased, including in areas frequented by foreign tourists.A?A? Although there is no specific indication that American citizens or institutions were targeted, there is a heightened risk of American citizens being victims of violence by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.A?A?A?A? American citizens who decide to travel to Sri Lanka despite this travel warning should be aware of their personal surroundings and follow prudent security practices.A?A? Americans should avoid large crowds and public gatherings and should particularly avoid political rallies, military bases, and government and military vehicle convoys, which are frequent targets of LTTE attacks.
On February 3, 2008, 14 civilians were killed and approximately 100 were injured when a suicide attacker detonated an explosive device inside the main railway station in Colombo.A?A? The same day, seven were injured when a grenade was detonated at the Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo.A?A? On February 2, 2008, a bomb on a bus from Kandy, headed for Anuradhapura, exploded in Dambulla and killed 18 civilians and injured over 50.A?A? On January 8, 2008, a government minister was killed and several persons were injured when his vehicle was attacked on the road between ColomboA?a??a??s international airport and central Colombo.A?A? On October 15, 2007, the LTTE attacked a Sri Lankan Army camp in Yala National Sanctuary, located in southeastern Sri Lanka.A?A? On March 26, 2007, the Katunayake Air Force Base in Colombo came under attack from LTTE aircraft, causing the adjacent Bandaranaike International Airport to briefly suspend operations.A?A? Foreign tourists were not specifically targeted in these attacks and none were injured.
In light of attacks against civilian buses and trains, American citizens are strongly advised against traveling by bus or train in Sri Lanka.A?A? U.S. Government personnel are currently prohibited from using these modes of transportation.
While the government has effectively controlled the eastern part of the country since July 2007, security is not yet assured.A?A? Some LTTE members and larger numbers of armed paramilitary members are active in the area, leading to instability and incidents of violence.A?A? This situation is likely to continue for some time.A?A? Americans are particularly warned against travel to LTTE-controlled areas in the north, which may pose severe hazards.
Official travel by U.S. Government personnel to areas north of a line following the highway from Puttalam through Anuradhapura to Polonaruwa, Bibile, and Pottuvil in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka is restricted, and unofficial travel is prohibited.
Americans should comply with all instructions from security forces and police when traveling in Sri Lanka.A?A? American citizens, including those of Sri Lankan origin, living in Sri Lanka or traveling there for even a few days are strongly urged to register with the Embassy.A?A? Registration will allow the embassy to provide direct information on the security situation as necessary.A?A? Registration is done on-line and can be done in advance of travel at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. Information on registering can also be found at the Embassy website: http://srilanka.usembassy.gov or at the Department of StateA?a??a??s Consular Affairs website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registration/registration_1186.html.
As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.A?A? In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or, outside the U.S. and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
Squaremouth recommends travel insurance for all your overseas trips.
source:
http://www.squaremouth.com/travel-advice/travel-warning-sri-lanka-3/
SRI LANKA: Half a million people could be affected by conflict in 2008
COLOMBO, 25 February 2008 (IRIN) – The UN and NGOs working in the conflict-ridden north and east are warning of a mounting humanitarian toll in 2008 due to the escalation in hostilities between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Agencies should be prepared to assist “up to 500,000 conflict-affected individuals comprising IDPs, returnees and economically affected persons”, according to the Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP) 2008, prepared by the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) country team for Sri Lanka and released on 22 February.
“The CHAP is based on the assumption that as the government acts on its stated intention to disarm the LTTE, the conflict in Sri Lanka will continue and intensify,” the report stated. “Even if it were to slow down or end during the year, there would remain very significant humanitarian needs to be met in the areas of conflict.”
The report warned that displacement levels could be similar to 2007 when 308,000 persons were forced from their homes. More than 140,000 have now been resettled in eastern Sri Lanka, but as of mid-February, 225,000 people remained displaced in eight north and eastern districts.
The main areas of assistance identified in the CHAP are protection, shelter, food, water and environmental sanitation (WASH), food aid, nutrition, health, education, food security (including agriculture and fisheries), economic recovery and infrastructure, and logistics. The CHAP report states that of the US$175.4 million required for 2008, $29.2 million has been committed by donors.
“The humanitarian community is operating under extremely difficult circumstances, which have affected its ability to reach as many people as need support,” the report stated. In some areas of the north access is near impossible.
Since December 2007, when the Tamil Tigers informed UN and other agencies working in the northern Mullaitivu District under their control that they could not guarantee their safety, agencies have downsized, with limited numbers of staff returning only during daylight hours, Mullaitivu government agent, Imalda Sukumar, told IRIN.
“No one [UN or other relief agency staff] stays here in Mullaitivu . everybody leaves by late afternoon,” Sukumar said, adding, “Obviously there are delays in programme implementation and assistance.”
Humanitarian agencies are finding it increasingly difficult to transport assistance into Tiger-held areas beyond Vavuniya, the last government-held town before Tiger-controlled areas 220km north of the capital, Colombo. All goods and vehicles undergo stringent government checks at Madavachchiya town, 30km south of Vavuniya.
Barriers
To facilitate its own food distribution activities in the north and to assist other agencies with transport and storage of their own relief goods, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing a fleet of trucks for transport and established logistical hubs and storage facilities just south of the line marking Tamil Tiger-controlled areas.
Mohamed Saleheen, WFP country head in Sri Lanka, told IRIN it was critical given the escalating food needs in the north to pre-position food supplies in Vavuniya to avoid pipeline breaks. He also cautioned that as demand increased, WFP would need additional funding to purchase food and maintain storage and logistical capacity.
CARE International is one such agency that depends on the WFP storage facilities and trucks to move supplies to LTTE-held areas. “It is vital now that the WFP operations continue,” Nick Osborne, CARE country head, told IRIN. “There are so many issues related to the transportation of goods and it’s easier to do that through one agency.”
However, he warned about increasing barriers to distribution. “There are all kinds of restrictions and checking on goods being transported to areas under the Tigers,” he told IRIN.
On 12 February, the Sri Lankan Army introduced new procedures for allowing vehicles into Vavuniya from Vanni (Tiger-held areas), according to the IASC. “This new directive permits only seven light vehicles and seven trucks per day,” it stated.
The Sri Lankan military said the delay was due to a lack of technical staff to man the checkpoints. “It is because of lack of personnel and we are working to get more people to the checkpoints and soon the restriction can be eased,” a military spokesman, Brig Udaya Nanayakkara, told IRIN.
However, the situation is unlikely to improve significantly soon, as the CHAP report warned. “Since the CHAP was drafted at the end of 2007, the best-case scenario, which included cessation of violence, implementation of the CFA [ceasefire agreement] and no new internal displacements, can no longer be viewed as a realistic option, at least during the first part of 2008,” it stated. “Indeed, the first month of 2008 witnessed an escalation of fighting along the FDL [forward defence line], several devastating Claymore attacks and growing insecurity inside and out of the conflict areas.”
ap/bj/mw[END]
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Despite speculation that the killing of the Christian pastor in Ampara could be the work of an organisation which resented conversions to Christianity, within 16 hours police were able to reveal that it was a contract killing ordered by a husband whose wife had been converted.
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Purchase endepth  |
| Rev. Edirisinghe. | His daughter in the arms of a relative |
The pastorA?a??a??s motor cycle fallen after the shooting |
Rev. Neil Samson Edirisinghe was the pastor of the new church started in Ampara recently. He lived with his wife Shiromi and their one and a half year old child. According to police, the pastor was returning home last Monday on his motor cycle at around 8.30 p.m. when he became the target of a gunman. He was shot in the back by the assailant who also injured his wife while their child was in shock after witnessing the shooting.
The Ampara child rehabilitation centre president Chamila Kodagoda who had heard the sound of gunfire had informed the Ampara police about the incident. When police arrived on the scene, Mrs. Edirisinghe who was badly injured had requested them to hand over her child to the YMCA before she was admitted to the Ampara hospital, where the pastor was also taken and pronounced dead.
Chief Inspector Asoka Weerakkody ordered an investigation by a special police team. According to police, two security men attached to an NGO had reported that two armed men dressed in uniform similar to that worn by home guards, were seen passing close to the pastorA?a??a??s house.
Based on this piece of information police had been on the look out for the two suspects. In the wee hours of the next morning Inspector Weerakkody had received information that two men dressed in home guard uniform had walked into the police canteen a few hours earlier.
Further information helped the police investigation team arrest two civil security men posted to a bunker. At first the duo denied they knew anything about the incident but further grilling by police revealed that the two men were responsible for the attack. It was a contract killing for Rs. 100,000 given by a rich businessman in Ampara. The suspects were taken to custody after admitting that they obtained an advance of Rs. 20,000 for undertaking the task.
The firearm used in the killing was also seized and the suspects remanded. DIG Eastern Range Rienzie Perera, SSP A.Wijesuriya and ASPs Arunapala and Ravichandra led the investigation team.
source:
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080224/News/news007.html
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U10.10.2000
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Sirimavo Bandaranaike in jungen Jahren |
Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike (geb. 17. April 1916, gest. 10. Oktober 2000) war dreimal Premierministerin ihres Landes, 1960 – 1965, 1970 – 1977 und 1994 bis 2000. Bei ihrem ersten Amtsantritt war sie der erste weibliche Premierminister der Welt und fA?A?hrte die Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) an. Ihr Ehemann war der ehemalige Premierminister Solomon Bandaranaike und ihre Tochter Chandrika Kumaratunga wurde Sri Lanka’s dritte PrA?A?sidentin, ihr Sohn Anura Bandaranaike war Tourismus Minister und die zweite Tochter Sunetthra Bandaraneike, eine Philanthropin.
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Ex-Premierminister Solomon Bandaraneike, Ehemann von Sirimavo Bandaranaike |
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Sunethra Bandaranaike, zweite Tochter von Sirimavo Bandaranaike |
Nach der Ermordung ihres Ehemannes, der die Sri Lanka Freedom Party in wesentlichen Teilen geformt und 1956 zu einem Wahlsieg gefA?A?hrt hatte, A?A?bernahm Sirimavo Bandaranaike seinen Platz in der FA?A?hrung der Partei und behielt diesen 40 Jahre lang bis zu ihrem Tod. Am 21. Juli 1960 wurde sie erstmals Premierministerin und damit der erste weibliche Regierungschef der Welt. In insgesamt drei Amtsperioden bestimmte Sirimavo Bandaranaike die Geschicke des Landes wA?A?hrend der 60er und 70er Jahre des letzten Jahrhunderts bis sie bei der Wahl in 1977 eine vernichtende Niederlage erlitt. 1980 wurde sie vom Parlament wegen “Machtmissbrauchs” abgesetzt und fA?A?r sieben Jahre aus allen A?A?ffentlichen A?a?zmtern verbannt.
Als A?A?berzeugte Sozialistin setzte Bandaranaike die Politik ihres Mannes, SchlA?A?sselindustrien wie Banken- und Versicherungswesen zu verstaatlichen, fort. Mit A?A?bernahme des Amtes begann fA?A?r sie eine Achterbahnfahrt. Im ersten Jahr nach ihrer AmtsA?A?bernahme 1960 rief sie erstmals den Ausnahmezustand aus. Das hatte massive Proteste und Akte zivilen Ungehorsams der tamilischen Minderheit im Lande zur Folge, die sich durch ihre Anordnung Englisch als
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Chandrika Kumaratunga |
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Anura Bandaranaike |
offizielle Landssprache abzusetzen und stattdessen Sinhala, die Sprache der in der MajoritA?A?t befindlichen Sinhalesen, einzufA?A?hren auf das GrA?A?bste benachteiligt sahen. Die Tamilen betrachteten die Anordnung als hA?A?chst diskriminierenden Akt und den Versuch Tamilen den Zugang zu A?A?ffentlichen A?a?zmtern und Gesetzgebung zu verweigern. Die Militanz der Tamilen wuchs und setzte sich unter den Folgeregierungen fort.
Weitere Probleme tauchten mit der Verstaatlichung auslA?A?ndischer Unternehmen, besonders im A?a??lsektor auf, was in einer VerA?A?rgerung der Amerikaner und Briten endete, die mit der Verweigerung weiterer Hilfen fA?A?r Sri Lanka reagierten. Als Reaktion rA?A?ckte Bandaraneike enger an die Chinesen und Russen heran und verfolgte fortan eine Politik der NeutralitA?A?t. Zuhause konnte sie 1962 und 1964 erfolgreich Umsturzversuche des MilitA?A?rs abwehren. 1964 ging sie die historische Koalition mit der Lanka Samaja Party (LSSP) ein. Am Ende dieses Jahres wurde sie durch eine verlorene Vertrauensabstimmung ihres Amtes enthoben und verlor auch die folgenden allgemeinen Wahlen. Sechs Jahre spA?A?ter war sie wieder da, ihre United Front gewann bei den Wahlen 1970 eine tragfA?A?hige Mehrheit. In ihrer zweiten Amtszeit wurde eine neue Verfassung eingefA?A?hrt, die den Status des Landes als Teil des Commonwealth A?A?nderte. Das damalige Ceylon wurde umbenannt in Sri Lanka und die Republik wurde ausgerufen. Gerade mal 16 Monate im Amt begann eine aufsteigende linke Jugend ihre Politik fast zu kippen. Sri Lanka’s damals rein zeremonielle Armee war nicht
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Indische Truppen in Sri Lanka |
in der Lage des Aufruhrs Herr zu werden und ihre geschickte AuA?A?enpolitik begann sich auszuzahlen. Die neutralen Staaten Indien und Pakistan kamen ihr zu Hilfe und schickten Truppen nach Colombo, die den Aufstand niederschlugen. In diesen unruhigen Jahren erwies sich Bandaranaike als ernstzunehmende politische FA?A?hrerin. WA?A?hrend des HA?A?hepunktes der Unruhen bekannte eines der damaligen Regierungsmitglieder: “Sie ist der einzige Mann im Kabinett”.
Die A?a??lkrise im Jahr 1973 hatte traumatische Auswirkungen auf die A?a??konomie des Landes. Sie hatte keinen Zugang mehr zu westlicher Hilfe und ihre sozialistische Politik lA?A?hmte wirtschaftliche AktivitA?A?ten. Rationierung musste angeordnet werden. Bandaranaike wurde mit der Zeit immer intoleranter gegenA?A?ber Kritik und sie betrieb die SchlieA?A?ung der Independent Newspaper Group, deren Medien ihre heftigsten Kritiker waren. FrA?A?her schon hatte sie die grA?A?A?A?te Zeitung des Landes “Lake House” verstaatlicht, welche noch heute offizielles Sprachrohr der Regierung ist.
Von ihren Freunden “Mrs. B.” genannt war Sirimavo Bandaranaike geschickt im Umgang mit A?A?ffentlichen Emotionen besonders wenn es um die UnterstA?A?tzung ihrer PlA?A?ne ging. HA?A?ufig brach sie in TrA?A?nen aus wenn sie von dem GelA?A?bnis sprach, die Politik ihres ermordeten Mannes fortzusetzen. Ihre Gegner und Kritiker nannten sie die “weinende Witwe”.
Im Jahr 1976 war Bandaranaike im Ausland anerkannter als im eigenen Land. Der grA?A?A?A?te Triumph ihrer auA?A?enpolitischen Karriere war der Vorsitz in der Konferenz blockfreier Staaten, als sie erstmals Gastgeberin der grA?A?A?A?ten internationalen Konferenz mit den StaatsoberhA?A?uptern aller neutralen Staaten sein durfte, die das Land jemals gesehen hatte. Trotz ihres international hohen Ansehens verlor sie im Lande rasch an Akzeptanz. Beschleunigt wurde er Niedergang durch gegen sie erhobene KorruptionsvorwA?A?rfe und die stark rA?A?cklA?A?ufige Wirtschaft des Landes. Nichts, so schien es damals, konnte sie vor dem politischen Aus retten. Das veranlasste ihre Regierung, die zu der Zeit eine komfortable Mehrheit von 75% der Stimmen im Parlament besaA?A?, diese Mehrheit aus der letzten Wahl zu nutzen, um anstehende Wahlen um zwei Jahre zu verschieben und ihre Amtszeit von ursprA?A?nglich 6 Jahren auf 8 Jahre zu verlA?A?ngern. Dieser undemokratische Akt war der Hauptgrund fA?A?r die Aberkennung ihrer BA?A?rgerrechte in spA?A?teren Jahren.
1977 erlitt sie eine schmerzhafte Wahlniederlage in deren Folge ihr von den neuen Machthabern wegen Machtmissbrauchs die bA?A?rgerlichen Rechte aberkannt wurden. Die 80er Jahre waren wohl ihre dunkelsten – sie wurde zur politisch AusgestoA?A?enen die von den Leuten gemieden wurde, die einst ihre glA?A?hendsten AnhA?A?nger waren. Die nA?A?chsten siebzehn Jahre verbrachte Bandaranaike in der Opposition, stA?A?ndig darauf bedacht Angriffe – selbst die ihrer Kinder – auf ihren FA?A?hrungsanspruch in der SLFP abzuwehren. Ganz Politikerin spielte sie ihre ambitionierte Tochter Chandrika und ihren Sohn Anura gegeneinander aus und behielt die Kontrolle, trotzdem sie sA?A?mtliche nachfolgenden
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Sirimavo Bandaranaike bei der Stimmabgabe kurz vor ihrem Tod am 10. Oktober 2000 |
allgemeinen Wahlen verlor. Letztendlich fand sie ihren Meister ausgerechnet in ihrer Tochter Chandrika, der es gelang ihre Mutter auszumanA?A?vrieren und im Jahr 1994 selbst Premierminister und im Jahr darauf PrA?A?sidentin zu werden, als es einer Koalition unter FA?A?hrung der SLFP gelang in den Wahlen an die Macht zu kommen.
Bandaranaike wurde nochmals Premierminister, doch hatte sich die Verfassung seit ihrer letzen Amtszeit geA?A?ndert, sie war nun ihrer Tochter, der PrA?A?sidentin, unterstellt. Vor ihrem Tod A?A?bte sie ihr Amt gerade mal ein paar Monate, mit sehr geringen Machtbefugnissen aus. Sirimavo Bandaranaike starb sie im Alter von 84 Jahren am 10. Oktober 2000 – einem Wahltag – nachdem sie ihre Stimme abgegeben hatte.
| nucleus meint:A?A? Eine beachtliche Karriere mit Up und Downs die leider aber auch wieder einmal deutlich macht, wie Politik in Sri Lanka funktioniert. Erbfolge ist nichts ungewA?A?hnliches und die in der Politik EngagiertenA?A? verwenden den GroA?A?teil ihrer konstruktiven Energie darauf sich zu bereichern und ihre Positionen zu verteidigen: Wenn nA?A?tig mit Mitteln die z.T. jenseits jeden Gesetzes stehen. |
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KURIOS
Saddam Hussein Village – Sri Lanka
Saddam Hussein Village ist der Name eines kleinen Ortes an der OstkA?A?ste nA?A?rdlich von Batticaloa. 1978 wurde das Dorf nahezu vollstA?A?ndig von einem Zyklon zerstA?A?rt. Der damalige Abgeordnete fA?A?r den District Battcaloa Dr. Fareed Meeralebbe initiierte fA?A?r seinen Geburtsort ein Hilfsprogramm, fA?A?r das er anlA?A?sslich eines Besuches im Irak den irakischen PrA?A?sidenten als Sponsor gewinnen konnte. Saddam Hussein, frA?A?herer PrA?A?sident des Irak, A?A?bernahm die gesamten Kosten fA?A?r den Wiederaufbau – etwa 100 WohnhA?A?user, mit einer Schule und einer Moschee im Zentrum wurden zwischen Eravur und Thalavai gebaut. Aus Dankbarkeit benannten die Einwohner ihr Dorf nach dem irakischen Diktator. So versteht es sich, dass die Dorfbewohner von Saddam Hussein Village der Irak-Politik der Vereinigten Staaten und der Gefangennahme von Saddam Hussein durch die US-StreitkrA?A?fte hA?A?chst kontrovers gegenA?A?berstanden und -stehen.
In den Fokus der A?a??ffentlichkeit geriet Saddam Hussein Village dann nochmals 1990 als der Ort Ziel des LTTE-Terrors wurde. In der Nacht wurden harmlose moslemische Bauern von der LTTE regelrecht hingeschlachtet. Damals flA?A?chtete ein GroA?A?teil der BevA?A?lkerung und galt fortan als Vertriebene, die Zuflucht im FlA?A?chtlingslager von Eravur fanden. Zur Zeit kehren die Einwohner vereinzelt in ihre HA?A?user zurA?A?ck.
Wer nun denkt, dass es sich bei dieser exotisch anmutenden Namensgebung um eine Einmaligkeit handelt, der sollte mal einen Blick auf das indische Lakhanow im Staat Bihar werfen. Zwar ist der Ort nicht nach Saddam Hussein benannt jedoch tragen alle nach 1991 – dem Jahr des Golfkrieges – geborenen mA?A?nnlichen Kinder den Namen Saddam Hussein. In der A?A?rtlichen Privatschule lernen fast 100 Saddam Husseins das Lesen und das Schreiben. Nach ihrem Namen befragt bekunden alle groA?A?en Stolz nach dem “Kriegshelden Saddam” benannt worden zu sein und am Tag der Hinrichtung quoll die A?A?rtliche Moschee A?A?ber von Namensvettern die nach dem Gebet lautstark gegen die US-Politik im Irak protestierten und dabei eine Puppe des amerikanischen PrA?A?sidenten George W. Bush verbrannten. Eine Familie ging in ihrer Verehrung fA?A?r Diktatoren und muslimische Terroristen noch ein StA?A?ck weiter – hieA?A? der Erstgeborene noch Saddam Hussein, wurde der zweite Osama Bin Laden genannt.
Quellen:
Wikipedia
“The War on Terror’A?A? A?a??a??A?A? from Birmingham to Batticaloa“
“India’s Saddam Hussein Village”
| nucleus meint:A?A? Einerseits amA?A?siert, andererseits auA?A?erordentlich besorgt finde ich, dass Dankbarkeit m.E. so etwas wie eine moralische Verpflichtung ist, Personenkult dagegen Folge demagogischer EinflA?A?sse und damit pathologisch. Zugute halten muss man Sri Lankern wie Indern, dass sie in einer kleinen Welt leben, in der man, von neutralen Informationsquellen abgeschnitten,A?A? traditionsgemA?A?A?A? die Meinung der Herrschenden A?A?bernimmt. Das ist auch der Grund, warum ich die Verbannung von unabhA?A?ngigen Journalisten aus dem Kriegsgebiet in Sri Lanka verurteile. Reality-TV A?A? la USA “Nein”, objektive und sachliche Berichterstattung “Ja”! |
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WIRTSCHAFT & FINANZEN
‘Business as Usual’
In der Wirtschaft Sri Lanka’s A?A?herrscht ‘business as usual’. Lediglich die Betreiber von Teeplantagen haben einen Grund zu heimlicher Freude. Sri Lanka profitiert stark von den, durch die Keniakrise verursachten Reaktionen auf dem Weltmarkt. Wer auf KokosnA?A?sse gesetzt hatte wurde allerdings stark enttA?A?uscht. Der ‘Minister of Coconut Development’ (Minister fA?A?r Kokosnussentwicklung; Ja, so etwas gibt es in Sri Lanka!) musste bekannt geben, dass die Preise fA?A?r die in Sri Lanka allgegenwA?A?rtige Nuss aufgrund mangelnden Angebotes wohl steigen werden. Grund sei das Wetter aber auch die Rodung von 200.000 Acres (ca. 67 ha) Plantagenland. DarA?A?ber hinaus seien rund 200.000 BA?A?ume im SA?A?den der Insel von einem Bakterium befallen, das den Tod der Pflanze verursache. Wie gut, dass da der Entwicklungsfond der Vereinten Nationen zur rechten Zeit US$ 30 Mio. fA?A?r den Ausbau der Kokosnussindustrie ins Land pumpt.
Ganz auf das Wohl des Volkes bedacht hat die Regierung nun angekA?A?ndigt LKR 500 Mio. Rupien in die Entwicklung der Ostprovinz stecken zu wollen. Bravo, nur wo sind den die ursprA?A?nglich versprochenen US$ 500 Mio. aus dem ErlA?A?s der Staatsanleihe geblieben, die aus der gebeutelten Provinz eine blA?A?hende Landschaft machen sollten? Und wie die Rs. 500 Mio. finanziert werden sollen weiA?A? wohl auch noch niemand so richtig, jedenfalls denkt die Zentralbank bereits A?A?ber einen neuen internationalen Kredit von US$ 300 Mio. nach. Die ironischen UntertA?A?ne bitte ich mir zu entschuldigen aber ich weiA?A? nicht wie man solche VorgA?A?nge noch erklA?A?ren kann ohne unsachlich zu werden.
Spannend wird die nA?A?chste ErhA?A?hung der Strompreise werden. Die Marxisten haben bereits angekA?A?ndigt Massenproteste organisieren zu wollen und es steht zu befA?A?rchten, dass diese A?a?zuA?A?erungen des Volkeswillens nicht friedlich verlaufen werden. Der Regierung Rajapaksa steht eine ‘heisse’ Zeit bevor.
Der Wechselkurs des Euro zur Sri Lanka Rupie ist in den letzten 15 Tagen wieder relativ stabil geblieben. Der Interbank Kassakurs lag im Durchschnitt bei EUR 1 = LKR 157,81360 mit einem HA?A?chststand von EUR 1 = LKR 159,32000 und einem Tiefststand von EUR 1 = LKR 156,45900
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Euro-Guthaben werden in Sri Lanka unverA?A?ndert verzinst. Die Angebote fA?A?r Euro-Festgeld der fA?A?hrenden Banken haben sich seit dem 07. Februar nicht verA?A?ndert. Hier die aktuellen ZinssA?A?tze vom 22. Februar 2008.
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| Bank | 1m (%) | 3m (%) | 6m (%) | 12m (%) | ||
| Bank of Ceylon | 3,25 – 3,60 | 3,35 – 3,70 | 3,45 – 3,80 | 3,55 – 3,90 | ||
| Commercial Bank of Ceylon | 4,10 | 4,20 | 4,35 | 4,50 | ||
| Hatton National Bank | 3,50 | 3,75 | 4,00 | 4,00 | ||
| ICICI Bank | 4,35 | 4,45 | 4,50 | 4,60 | ||
| People’s Bank | 3,00 | 3,10 | 3,20 | 3,25 | ||
| Seylan Bank | 2,75 | 3,00 | 3,25 | 3,50 | ||
| Sampath Bank | 3,50 – 4,00 | 3,75 – 4,10 | 3,90 – 4,25 | 4,00 – 4,40 | ||
| National Savings Bank | 3,15 | 4,00 | 4,30 | 4,40 | ||
| Union Bank of Colombo | 3,50 | 3,60 | 3,75 | 3,90 | ||
Quelle: lankarates.com |
Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) fA?A?r Januar 2008
| LANKAFIRST INTERN |
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Das AuswA?A?rtige Amt hat am 07.02.2008 eine geA?A?nderte |
| TropenstA?A?rme MA?A?glicherweise ist es Ihnen entgangen, dass lankafirst.de die MA?A?glichkeit bietet die Entwicklung von TropenstA?A?rmen und Zyklonen zeitnah auf Satellitenbildern zu verfolgen. Mehrfach tA?A?glich aktualisiert zeigen die Bilder sehr plastisch aktuelle Bedrohungen vom tropischen Tiefdruckgebiet bis zum Zyklon der Kategorie 5. DarA?A?ber hinaus warnt die Seite bei akuten Bedrohungen mit aktuellen Prognosen zum Verlauf. A?A? …mehr |
| Eigene Ansichten? Sie mA?A?chten Ihre Sicht der Dinge in Sri Lanka loswerden, konstruktive Kritik anbringen oder gar ein Lob aussprechen? Das kA?A?nnen Sie nach Herzenslust im Forum tun. Der Newsletter hat dort neben anderen interessanten Themen eine eigene Ecke. Nach einer kurzen Registrierungsprozedur sind Sie dabei. Ich zA?A?hl auf Sie …..A?A?A?A? …mehr A?A? |
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Sri Lanka im TV
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| Tipp der Woche |
NatA?A?rlich bin ich mit meinen bescheiden Resourcen nicht in der Lage in diesem Newsletter das Geschehen der letzten 14 Tage in Sri Lanka 1:1 abzubilden. Meinem Versuch einer Zusammenfassung fallen natA?A?rlich viele Themen zum Opfer, die mancher mA?A?glicherweise vermissen wird. Sehr viel aktueller und umfassender ist da der Pressespiegel in lankafirst.de oder aber der Themenstrang
Lanka aktuell im Forum.
A pro pos Forum. Ich bin ein wenig enttA?A?uscht, dass von der groA?A?en Zahl der Abonnenten nur recht wenige meine Einladung wahrgenommen haben am Forum teilzunehmen. Leider handelt es sich auch um viele der Sri Lanka-Freunde, die mich fA?A?rmlich bekniet haben dieses Forum einzurichten. Ich mA?A?chte nochmals betonen, dass der Besuch des Forums vA?A?llig kostenlos und anonym ablA?A?uft. Niemand wird genA?A?tigt einen Beitrag zu schreiben auch wenn ein Forum erst mit der Vielzahl der Meinungen und BeitrA?A?ge interessant wird. Also, raffen Sie sich auf und besuchen Sie unser Forum. Helfen Sie dem Forum Leben einzuhauchen und es zu dem zu machen was es sein soll: Kommunikationsplattform fA?A?r Sri Lanka-Interessierte.
Zum Schluss noch eine kurze AnkA?A?ndigung:
In der Zeit vom 07. MA?A?rz 2008 bis voraussichtlich 14. MA?A?rz 2008 bin ich aufgrund eines Krankenhausaufenthaltes leider nicht in der Lage Seiten in lankafirst.de, die einen aktuellen Bezug haben zu pflegen. Ich gehe davon aus, dass die Mitglieder des Forums mit ihren BeitrA?A?gen helfen, den A?A?berblick A?A?ber die Situation in Sri Lanka zu behalten.A?A?A?A?
Der nA?A?chste Newsletter erscheint bereits am 06.03.2008.
Nun wA?A?nsche ich ein schA?A?nes Wochenende und sage TschA?A?s aus DA?A?sseldorf.
Bis bald in lankafirst.de oder im
Forum.
| Sollten Sie den LankaFirst-Newsletter unaufgefordert erhalten haben, so bitte ich um Entschuldigung fA?A?r die BelA?A?stigung und bitte Sie, sich HIER mit der Emailadresse aus der Mailinglist auszutragen unter der Sie dieser Newsletter erreicht hat. FrA?A?here Ausgaben des LankaFirst-Nesletters finden Sie im Archiv! |
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