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Bloody Red Tape

Published on 30/04/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, Money Matters and press coverage. 0 Comments

April 29, 2008 by jodevivre

Before I start this entry, I just want to say thanks to everyone for the comments and emails on my A?a??A?MysteriesA?a??A? post. Who knew so many of my friends would be so knowledgeable about toilets? I donA?a??a??t know what that says about youA?a??A? or meA?a??A?but I find it amusing nonetheless. Okay, on with the postA?a??A?

If there is one sure-fire thing IA?a??a??m going to gain from this Sri Lanka experience, it is patience. Unfortunately, IA?a??a??m not sure that patience was one of the big things that I was in need of before I came. Sure, I have no patience for idiots but, really, should anyone? Anyway, over the past 24 hours, I have encountered so many stumbling blocks and got myself tangled in so much red tape that I could probably fashion a sturdy noose out of it and hang myself. But I wonA?a??a??tA?a??A? patience, you see.

You may recall (did I tell you?) that after two weeks, I finally got a phone at home. IA?a??a??ve been waiting for said phone because it is the gateway to getting internet at home. Except apparently I donA?a??a??t have the right kind of phone. Mine is wireless and, according to the very unhelpful Sri Lanka Telecom representatives, I need a A?a??A?wire phone.A?a??A? So I logically asked them for a wire phone. But I canA?a??a??t do that because my landlordA?a??a??s name is on the account so he has to do the asking. The man is 100 years old and has a bum knee. Going to get my first phone was ordeal enough for him. Given that I made significant imaginary life changes the last time I tried to talk to him about the phone, IA?a??a??m really not looking forward to our next stressful conversation. I may end up pregnant.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Customs is still holding my package hostage. I have to write three letters requesting its release, go into town tomorrow during work hours to get a temporary VAT number and I probably have to drop a bag full of unmarked 1000 rupee bills in a garbage receptacle of their choosing before I get my bloody hairdryer. My computer, which our IT guy formatted for me to access wi-fi at the office now no longer able to access wi-fi anywhere else on the planet and I canA?a??a??t get the microphone in my headset or my webcam to work for more than one minute (just long enough to tease me that itA?a??a??s CAPABLE of working but chooses, infuriatingly, not to).

You just gotta laugh at it all. Oh woe is me A?a??a?? the challenges of my privileged life.

So I forgot to mention in my last entry something that made me laugh over the weekend. The fancy cafe the American girls and I went to is having a special food event. Apparently this is Hot Dog Week. Now this is a place that sells crepes and gourmet sandwiches and baked goods to die for but the big full-colour banner out front is trumpeting the awesome culinary masterpiece that is street meat. Yes, hot dogs with all sorts of different toppings (bun included!) are available, but only from April 25 to May 3. Get yours now.

Actually, I would totally welcome one of Oscar MayerA?a??a??s finest at lunchtime. During the day, there is absolutely no variety in what you can order from a Sri Lankan restaurant and, unfortunately, there are no fast food chains near my work. So every restaurant offers vegetable, chicken or fish curry. Or vegetable, chicken or fish buns. Now there are some very tasty dishes that IA?a??a??ve had since I arrived in Sri Lanka, but I canA?a??a??t find them anywhere during the day. But one evening as I was coming home after dark, I noticed that the street totally comes alive at dusk. From about 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. all of these food stalls emerge at the side of the road selling a variety of tasty things that are nowhere to be found during the day. They are like the vampires of food, except I am the one who wants to do the biting. The problem though is my office closes an hour before the vamps come out. And if I go home and then back to buy from these stalls, I have to take the food home again. That means I will need to go into my kitchen A?a??a?? after dark A?a??a?? to throw out the remnants. Oh dear. Oh, alright, ALRIGHT!! Maybe IA?a??a??ll break the no-kitchen-after-dark rule, but youA?a??a??re going to hear about it when I discover the rat party that goes on in there at night.

One of the things that I still havenA?a??a??t gotten used to is that in general, IA?a??a??m a total freak show here. It is partly amusing but most of the time itA?a??a??s just frustrating. EVERYONE looks at me. And most of these looks are not in a good way. They are prolonged stares that we would never give another human being out of politeness in Canada. IA?a??a??m talking discovering a new species stares. Stop walking kind of stares. Point and tug at your momA?a??a??s skirt stares. Actually turn around while youA?a??a??re driving a vehicle that could easily kill people kind of stares. Putting my shoulders under cover hasnA?a??a??t helped. And then Sunday morning, in search of breakfast food, I decided to go for a run. A very, very, VERY short run to the grocery store and back. And the running just made the staring worse. No one runs here. I knew this when I donned my sneakers, but sometimes you just gotta say A?a??A?screw itA?a??A? and embrace the freak in you.

Sunday was also BarbaraA?a??a??s birthday (one of the American girls), so that night, we went back to the fancy house where I had attended my first Sri Lankan birthday party to attend BarbaraA?a??a??s. It was a low-key affair with conversation, drinks, food and some easy listening radio (every English station in Sri Lanka seems to be easy listening). There was some yummy fresh guacamole. Guacamole! I hadnA?a??a??t even thought of that! All the ingredients are available at the local markets and itA?a??a??s healthy! This is another great reason to get to know people A?a??a?? to get meal ideas for when I start to eat again. J Tenormin nombre generico

I should also say an apology to Jesse. Turns out a Sri Lankan dog that was exported to England was infected with Rabies and has subsequently killed three Brits. All jokes about his neighbourA?a??a??s attack dog are retracted.

How much does olanzapine cost Phone Curiosities

Two more things A?a??a?? these fit in with nothing but they are things IA?a??a??ve observed and want to share. IA?a??a??ve noticed that both the Brits and the Sri Lankans have a habit, when rhyming off phone numbers or any number sequence, of saying A?a??A?doubleA?a??A? or A?a??A?tripleA?a??A?. When the first unhelpful telephone customer service rep referred me to the second one today, she said A?a??A?dial 2 triple five triple five.A?a??A? And it took me a couple of seconds to realize what she was saying. This wasnA?a??a??t the first time this has happened and the Americans stumble on it too. You wouldnA?a??a??t think that it is that confusing but it really is. A?a??A?The number is 0 triple 7 double 2 -1 – double 8 – 9A?a??A?. Uh, wha-?

Also, at both VSO and at Sewalanka (so I presume this is a pretty common office thing) staff canA?a??a??t make or receive phone calls directly. If I want to call out, I have to call the receptionist and tell her the number I want to call. She then hangs up, calls the person and then calls me back and connects us. To me, itA?a??a??s a highly inefficient system but I presume there is some logic to it. When I find out, IA?a??a??ll let you know.

source:
http://jodevivre.wordpress.com/

In the Eye of the Tiger. Part X

Published on 27/04/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters and press coverage. 0 Comments

Sunday, 23 December 2007

Another Holiday

The yearly “Contract Break” rolled around again, it doesn’t seem that long ago that I was doing it last year. This year was a bit of a repeat of last year, it is such a long way to go to NZ that it is hardly worth doing on the shorter breaks so when the month long break comes, it seems to be the best option.

The A380 at Changi Airport

I went through Phuket again, Steve was having his 40th birthday so I thought I’d drop in for a couple of ales to help him celebrate. As per usual, it was a pretty crazy week. Highlight would have to be trying to rock n roll dance with a bemused and probably slightly scared Thai girl while Max, an English guy that lives there, belted out Elvis over the stereo of some bar. Should really stay off that Samsong I guess, does funny things to you…

Steve ringing the bell to bring in his birthday

Eddie helping Steve with his birthday bikini and water wings

The girls behind the bar in Sirocco – Goong, Fa and Aon

After that flew to Perth and down to Bunbury for a few days. I stayed with John and Ange, Ange was pretty pregnant by that stage (she’s due around Christmas or New Year). Did a bit of visiting around, saw some of the old flatties etc which was all nice. Went to Perth to catch up with Aza but he got the wrong month – he thought I was talking about December when I was actually talking about November. He’s still Spaza.

Langley Park in Perth

From Perth I trooped on to New Plymouth where I did some hardcore sleeping for a couple of days – achieved about 13 or 14 hours on the first couple of nights. Mum cooked me a lamb roast which was grand and I did a fair bit of lazing about and hanging out with my niece. After that I flew down to Christchurch, my first trip back there in a long time, maybe 6 years. Hasn’t changed too much. Caught up with Greg, Rik and Kate, Setter and Cheryl and Poo as well as doing a bit of shopping.

Mountains north of Christchurch

Greg’s dog Kupa

Next was Blenheim, I hired a relocation rental (which didn’t turn out Fincar price in india to be as cheap as I thought after petrol was $1.70 per litre) and drove up to Picton which was a nice drive. I stayed with Lorree (she was house sitting). On Saturday, along with Andrea, we went and played mini-golf on the Picton foreshore, where I got a resounding hiding from both the girls as they have both been playing a lot of golf lately and had home-course advantage (OK, I was just really crap). After that we had lunch and a few beers. The next day Lorree and I went across to Nelson to see Marco and Anna in Mapua where we had a nice BBQ lunch and a chat and then an icecream at the inlet.

The Kaikoura coast

Mapua

Marco and Isabella

Marlborough

The new week had me in a plane to Wellington, where I stayed with Luke and Anna. I hadn’t seen them in a long time, and they had moved back from Melbourne earlier in the year so it was good to catch up. We did a short pub crawl then went to a Japanese restaurant, then another short pub crawl before having to go home as everything shuts quite early (or doesn’t open) on a Monday night in Wellington. Except for Luke and Anna’s house, where the bar was open until about 4am… Whilst in Wellington I also had lunch with Sean Gledhill and caught up with my cousins in Lower Hutt and my Aunt in Paraparaumu.

Paekakariki and Paraparaumu from Paekakariki Hill

Kapiti Island

Then it was on up to Hawkes Bay for a night with Jock and Kylie before back to Taranaki for Georgia’s 6th birthday party (kids can be so tiring, and I was only there for 1 1/2 hours with all of them!). Next day was on up to Auckland, where I had lunch with Theuns (who I used to work with in Napier) and also saw my Aunty Pat and Uncle Denis and cousins Brian and Craig. Craig had just arrived from Sweden and it’s been a few years since I saw them so we had a cuppa and a chinwag.

Georgia’s “rock star” birthday party – shes in the blue T-shirt and headband

I flew back through Singapore (11 hours, ouch) for an overnight. I got upgraded to a suite at the hotel but couldn’t really enjoy it fully as I was absolutely knackered and only there for about 8 hours, most of which was sleeping. Then back to Colombo where I got stuck until the day before Christmas Eve. Now I’m back out east for Christmas and New Year, Christmas will be in Arugam Bay and New Year I’m not sure about yet.

Sunday, 21 October 2007

Work and Play

Just so it doesn’t look like it’s all fun and no work here, I’ve added a couple of pics of some of the roads I am doing at the moment. I’m just about finished the bottom layer of a couple of kilometers, with the macadam (stone) and surfacing to seal it all off will be started soon. We’re going balls to the wall to try and get as much finished off before the rain, but I fear we may be fighting a losing battle.

First (or sub-base for you engineers) layer in Lahugala

Setting out in Panama

Also, here are a couple of photos of beaches that we are lucky enough to be able to enjoy. Both are pretty deserted (Pottuvil Point has a reasonable break so it does get a lot of surfers when it is on) at present which makes them nice. Peanut Farm has a lovely gentle slope and is very calm at the moment, I had a very peaceful swim around there last weekend.

Peanut Farm

Pottuvil Point. How’s the serenity?

This weekend Fergus and I went down and spent Saturday afternoon at Pottuvil Point, where we went for a wee paddle around the lagoon on a contraption consisting of a pallet nailed to a couple of the local fishing “canoes”. During the wet season we’ll get a couple of big torches and go out at night and try and spot crocodiles (there are some “beauties” in there”). Merete (the owner of Stardust where I was staying at the beginning of the year) had the opening party for her restaurant on Saturday night, which she has finished rebuilding after the tsunami. It’s been a bit of a labour of love for her, slowly slowly at times, but she is pretty happy she has finished and it is a beautiful building with great views of the sea and a nice breeze to keep it all cool.

Last week the LTTE attacked a small Army camp south of Panama, inside the Yala National Park. The usual knee-jerk reaction happened, with the military sending in a whole bunch of troops to look for them but by the time they arrived they were long gone. However they have decided to piss everyone off and cut off the mobile networks again in Thirukkovil and Akkaraipattu, and also this time in Pottuvil which they didn’t do last time, so I am kind of cut off with telecoms at the moment, probably for another week or so. It ain’t so bad though.

South Africa won the world cup, at least it wasn’t the Poms. But I’m over rugby…

Saturday, 20 October 2007

Gooooooooooood Morning Viet Nam

So off I toodled to Veit Nam (Ha Noi to be precise) for a couple of days for a conference, my nice mid-stint break. I was a little bit excited, a new country and all, and also a chance to get a bit more of an understanding of what the hell we are up to here.

Part of Ha Noi from the hotel

The Red River. It’s not so red, and not as famous as the Mekong

Fergus and I went for the SEACAP (South East Asian Community Access Project) conference. SEACAP is being implemented in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam at present but UNOPS has also secured a contract to implement a similar programme in Sri Lanka in the near future. Basically it’s about assisting with developing national standards for rural roads and providing reliable road access to vulnerable rural communities, kind of the same How much remeron does it take to overdose that we are doing under our EU funded project. We get to build 200 different trial sections and do lots of nerdy engineering stuff with them.

The conference was on 2 days but we arrived a little early so had a free day to have a bit of a wander around the city. Didn’t get too far as it rained a bit (wet season so hardly surprising) so we went and hid in a coffee shop for a couple of hours. After that we wandered through the city, got accosted by a lady trying to sell us t-shirts, who actually followed us down the road on a motorbike twice to show us different stock. Full marks for persistance…We ended up at a small bar/restaurant thing next to the lake which was pleasant (and cheap) for a couple of beers and watch the madness that was going on as the lads from three adjacent restaurants tried to get customers. The later it got into the evening, the more chaos there was as they tried to stop motorbikes and cars, and with “valet” motorbike parking, people would just get off their bikes and leave them in the middle of the road until the lads moved them.

Fergus and a statue

Crazy wiring

Me and a big glass o’ beer. Very heavy, had to lighten it a little…

Drummers at the conference dinner

Anyway I quite liked Ha Noi and Viet Nam (what I saw of it at least) and I think it will go on the “visit when I decide to give myself a nice, long holiday” list. One thing that did intrigue me was how they used a version of the Roman alphabet and not script like the Thai or Khmer language or characters like the Chinese. I guess it is a result of the French colonisation.

After Ha Noi, Fergus and I flew to Bangkok for the weekend, after Fergus decided that as it was his birthday on Saturday we shouldn’t spend it in stinky old Colombo. We got in late Thursday night and retired after some pizza and beer just down the road from the hotel.

Bangkok is pretty damned big

On Friday we slept late and eventually I got in touch with Bernardo, the son of Manoel (who we work with). He was in Bangkok on a visa run for a couple of days, so he came over to meet us. We ducked across Sukhumvit Road (a very quick duck, because it is a bloody busy road) and went to the Lebanese quarter for some kebabs and stuff, then jumped on the Skytrain to go to Siam Square and do a bit of shopping. On the top floor of the shopping centre they have car shops – Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, Lamborghini etc – so we did a bit of tyre kicking and wondered how the bloody hell they got them up the escalators, and how the bloody hell we could scam them into thinking we could afford to buy one so we could go for a test drive.

Bernardo and Fergus outside Siam Paragon shopping centre

I’m not a big shopper so little things amuse me when shopping, like in the Levi’s shop when the shop girl told Bernardo he was fat and laughed at him, as the size he asked for (that he usually buys, according to him) didn’t fit. He spent the next 30 minutes muttering to himself about it as we walked around the shop.After whiling away a few hours there, we hightailed it back to the hotel to change as we had tickets for the Muay Thai at Lumpini Stadium that evening. We picked the wrong time to travel across town (Bernardo was staying on the other side to us), then travel back to the stadium as it took forever but was kind of cool to see Bangkok’s night action beginning, with all the food stalls and markets springing up everywhere.

We had almost ringside seats at the kickboxing, and they bring beer and food to you so you don’t have to miss any of the action. Early in the night they have the younger, lighter fighters and the more experienced guys later. Unfortunately we had to leave after about an hour or so as we were late for meeting up with Fergus’ friends in a pub somewhere. Bernardo and I could have stayed longer but as we had no idea where the hell we were going, we had to leave with Fergus. We just really wanted to see some teeth go flying…

Kickboxing action

Kickboxing Video. The guys in the corners (at the end) were hilarious. Waaaay!

Then we moved on to some pub somewhere and met up with some of Fergus’ friends from when he went to AIT. They were a good bunch and the pub had a good live band playing. However they also sold Whisky and Tequila by the bottle, so I’m sure you can figure out what happened then…I woke up some time the next afternoon, feeling quite strange but I put that down to the Sam Song (Thai rum). Fergus went out that night to have dinner at his friends house which was just down the road from the hotel, but I couldn’t face it and stayed in and went to bed early. We later discovered that no-one could remember who actually paid at the pub, until we got back to Sri Lanka and Bernardo filled us in. Fun times.I like Bangkok, crazy city with heaps and heaps happening all the time. Very noisy and quite polluted though, could get to you after a while.

Sunday, 7 October 2007

My thoughts on Rugby

Rugby is a stupid game. That is all.PS Ha Ha Australia

Sunday, 30 September 2007

My Shitty Week

Just thought I’d share my shitty week. It was pretty shitty.

Shit Monday: My driver got fired after 1 1/2 years. To be honest he probably deserved it. Bright Spot: Got given 1 kilo of wild pork in Panama (the town, not the country)
Shit Tuesday: Tractor driver working for us in Pottuvil got arrested for “illegally” transporting sand between 2 sites, I spend 1 hour trying to get him released then another 2 at the court.
Shit Wednesday: Meeting with Police in Pottuvil to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Bright Spot: The Pottuvil Divisional Secretary (Government Rep) ragging on the Chairman of the Pottuvil Pradeshiya Sabha (Local Council) for 10 minutes about how hard he finds it to work in Pottuvil, and how he has never had so many problems in any other division he has worked in over the past 20 years. We agree.
Shit Thursday: Not much on the shittiness front this day.
Shit Friday: Boundary wall collapses on a site and kills one labourer and injures another. ’nuff said. Visit wailing family, accident site, got offered to see the body but turned it down. Police arrest Technical Officer and Supervisor but release later. Bright Spot: Get another 4 kilos of Panama pork
Shit Saturday: Visit other man in hospital. Bright Spot: Seems like he will be OK with no lasting damage. Fiji beats Wales (sorry, South Pacific solidarity and our Security guy is a big Fijian).
Shit Sunday: Get some sort of weird allergic reaction to something and lips around left corner of my mouth swell up for a few hours. Bright Spot: BBQing some of Friday’s pork tonight. Have lunch in Arugam Bay with Dawn as she is leaving for a few months. Get word that Annette will be back soon. Don’t have to deal with anything to do with work. Guys are here installing generator so I might be able to sleep in AC at nights now (it’s really hot at the moment).

Conclusion: This week SUCKED.

Had to share that. Hope to have some pics from Ha Noi and Bangkok up soon.

source:
http://intheeyeofthetiger.blogspot.com/

Eastern Province Muslis and Provincial Council Election

Published on 17/04/2008 in Blogs, people and press coverage. 1 Comment

by M. I. M. Mohideen
In the absence of official figures from the Government Department of Census and Statistics, the population of the Eastern Province and the eligibility to seats in the Provincial Council according to the ethnic ratio may be expressed as follows:

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The ruling UPFA contesting in alliance with the TMVP and the Muslim ministers in the present government has had talks with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to form a common list for the Eastern Provincial Council election scheduled to be held on May 10. SLMC had rejected the proposal.

At a meeting of Muslim civil society and religious leaders with the SLMC leader and party High Command members to join all Muslim parties under one common symbol, Mr. Hakeem had said that the SLMC would contest only under their own symbol the Tree.

But the SLMC is now contesting the Eastern Provincial Council election in alliance with the UNP under the Elephant symbol.

The TMVP leader Sivanesan Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan is insisting that a Tamil should be the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that the Chief MinisterA?a??a??s post would be available for the party which gets the majority seats at the election.

If Pillayan becomes the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province, he will have at his disposal an armed force of his own and the powers on land, local government and public administration.

………………..

In the last 50 or 60 years, during which Sri Lankan government mounted a constitutional struggle, you will not come across a solitary Muslim voice against the aspirations of the Sinhala people. Muslim representatives did not go before Royal Commissions, or have they gone before the international community with any accusation and sought to blacken the image of Sri Lanka government. In fact, if there is one community that could legitimately complain of being discriminated against in the field of education, land alienation, public administration and security which come under the purview of the state, it could be the Muslims.

There are a number of events occurring in the East which directly affect the Muslim people. Muslims cannot understand why the government is not taking their concerns seriously. They have the feeling that they are being left to the grace and favour and the mercy of the TMVP which is a heavily armed terrorist organisation with a high record of atrocities against the Muslims in the East.

After the ceasefire during the UNP regime, the Muslims have been denied access to mosques during mass agitation promoted by the LTTE. Further, there are the incidents at Muttur, Kinniya, Valachenai, Eravur, Addalachchenai and Akkaraipattu where the LTTE – Karuna / Pillayan group and other Tamil militants destroyed properties worth billions and abducted and killed hundreds of Muslims while praying in mosques.

LTTE-Tamils are unlawfully occupying 63,000 acres of agricultural land belonging to 15,000 Muslim Families in the East.

Ampara District

Former Muslim majority Panamapattu DRO Division, 472 sq. miles, population 26,916. When redemarcating the new administrative divisions, 19,831 – 74% Muslim Majority Pottuvil AGA Division was given only 22% – 103.9 sq. miles and the balance 78% – 368.2 sq. miles land area was allocated to the 7,085 – 26% Sinhala majority Lahugala AGA division. Now the Sinhalese and the STF in Lahugala are objecting the Muslims cultivating the state land which they have been cultivating on government permit earlier.

In the Sammanthurai Muslim majority DRO division, nearly 50 sq. miles of land area covering the Hardy Institute, Ampara Tank and the Town area was separated and added to the Sinhala majority Wewagampattu South – Uhana AGA division.

When compared with the land area of Sinhala majority Lahugala AGA division and the land areas of Muslim majority Kalmunai AGA division, the Sinhalese are having 208 times more than the land area of the Muslims. When comparing the land areas for the Sinhalese with the land area for the Muslims in the Muslim Majority Ampara District, the Sinhalese land area is 13 times more than the Muslim land area.

Batticaloa District

Serious issues have been raised by Muslims of Batticaloa on the ongoing activities of the several international organizations assisted by the government and the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) in resettling the displaced Tamils on lands owned by the Muslims.

After 1985, LTTE forcibly occupied Muslim residential, agricultural and cattle farming lands – more than 35,000 acres in areas under their control. The GOSL did nothing to restore these properties owned by the Muslims on title deeds, government permits and the paddy cultivation register.

The displaced Muslims suffered untold hardships during the last 22 years. Now after the GOSL cleared these areas of the LTTE, the TVMP of Pillayan with the help of the government security

forces and INGO assistance, is putting up permanent houses, churches, temples and schools in the Muslim lands forcibly occupied by the LTTE without any consideration for MuslimsA?a??a?? right to settle the displaced Muslims who are the lawful owners of these lands.

The Batticaloa district consists of 14 Pradeshiya Sabhas and covering an extent of 2633 sq. km. There are four predominantly Muslim DS divisions and the land area – Kattankudi 3.4 sq. km. Eravur Town 3.89 sq. km., Koralaipaththu West (Ottamavadi) 6.84 sq. km. Koralaipaththu Central 6.50 sq. km. Total extent of Muslim land area approximately 20.0 sq. km., which is less than 1.0% of the total area of Batticaloa District where the Muslim population is 33% today.

Although the Local Government Commission declared Koralaipaththu Central – the area of historical habitation of the Muslims, covering more than 240 sq. km. and consisting of 11 Grama Sevaka Niladhari divisions, the boundaries have not yet been demarcated on ground. The TMVP of Pillayan has encroached on more than 110 sq. km.

Of the agricultural and cattle farm lands, more than 12,000 acres owned by the Eravur Muslims lie along the Chenkaladi – Badulla – A5 road. Today the entire area along this road has come under the control of GOSL armed forces. Arrangements are being made now to bring back the Tamils who have been unlawfully occupying Muslim lands and settle them permanently by the TMVP of Pillayan and the Government armed forces without any consideration of the displaced Muslims by the LTTE.

During the ethnic conflict 1983, 1985, 1990 etc., more than 12,700 Muslim families were chased out by the LTTE and they forcibly occupied all the Muslim lands that came under LTTE control. The GOSL did nothing to provide any relief or pay compensation for the loss of livelihood of these displaced Muslims.

Resettlement of displaced Tamils on Muslim land in Iyankeni, Meerakerni, Mitchanagar, Hidayathanagar, Thakvanagar in and around Eravurpathu Pradeshiya Sabha would further deteriorate the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Tamils in Eravur.

Ollikulam, Sikaram, Karbela, Palamunai, Kankayan Odai, Keechampallam are the Muslim border villages of Kattankudi in Arayampathi Pradeshiya Sabha. Displaced Tamils after the A?a??E?TsunamiA?a??a?? and GOSL military operations to flush the LTTE terrorists in the Paduvankarai Tamil villages have been temporarily settled in private lands owned by the Muslims and the Mosques. Now the TMVP of Pillayan with the assistance of government armed forces and help from INGOA?a??a??s is making arrangements to provide accommodation to settle the displaced Tamils who have come from Paduwankarai Tamil areas, permanently on land belonging to the Muslims and the mosques, depriving the Muslims, the lands belonging to them.

Trincomalee District

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Kuchchaveli in Trincomalee district is a predominantly Muslim area. Total population 29,967 and 8,058 families. 65% Muslims 19,443, 31% Tamils 9,282, 3% Christians 905 and 01% Sinhalese 337. Kuchchaveli Pradeshiya Sabha 9 members, Muslims 6, Tamils 3.

But the Divisional Secretary is a Tamil in the predominantly Muslim division. Of the total number of 24 grama niladharies 65% Muslims are given only 7 GSs and the balance 17 GSs are given to the Tamils who are only 35%. Average population of a Tamil GS division is 250 people whereas the population in the Muslims GS division is around 1350.

After de-merging in October 2006, the Eastern Province administration is being ethnically transformed. Appointing retired administrative and security officials well-equipped to implement the A?a??E?SinhalisationA?a??a?? process.

Sri Lanka government has designed a new flag for the Eastern Province. The Muslim community which is the largest ethnic group in the East today has raised serious concern over the failure of the government to recognise this community by not printing any symbol in the flag to represent the Muslims.

Although the Muslims have not staged a war against the government of Sri Lanka for the settlement of our grievances, they are the worst affected lot in the East. The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord, the 13th amendment to the constitution and the provisions of the Provincial Council Act have failed to meet the legitimate and reasonable demands of the Muslims. They have failed to protect our lives and properties. They have failed to promote socio-economic interest of our people. They have failed to recognise the different ethnic and political aspiration of the Muslims. This total disregard shown to Muslim sentiments brings to surface one truth – the government has little or no concern about the safety and security of the Muslim people in the North-East.

Muslims should consider more seriously the present trend and take immediate steps to safeguard our legitimate rights in an appropriate manner. If proper safeguards are not secured now it would amount to be the biggest betrayal of not only the present generation but also those yet to be born in the Eastern province as Muslims.

Land, security, allocation of legitimate share of state land and natural resources to predominantly Muslim local bodies and the resettlement of Muslim IDPs and Tsunami victims are the serious issues that the Eastern Province Muslims are facing today. Therefore it is very important that the majority Muslim community should take control of the Eastern Provincial Council with a Muslim Chief Minister.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/17/features1.html

Nothing but sheer madness!

Published on 15/04/2008 in Blogs, people and press coverage. 0 Comments

Suicidal tendencies of politicians are monumental, as we have been repeating umpteen times in these columns. Lured by prospects of gaining political mileage, they resort to death-defying acts bordering on plain stupidity, which are suggestive of a kind of death wish. In so doing, they endanger not only their lives but also those of the ordinary people.

The government, we are told, is toying with the idea of having its May Day rally in Ampara by way of a show of strength in view of the upcoming Eastern PC polls. The proponents of this harebrained political project seem to think that turning Ampara into a sea of people for a few hours is the surest way to eclipse the UNP-SLMC combine and demoralise its supporters. PretenceA?a??a??or boru showA?a??a??is part and parcel of Sri Lankan politics. All political parties are notorious for transporting people to their rallies from distant places. The two main parties even dish out free food and liquorA?a??a?? mainly sachets of kasippu (rot-gut)A?a??a??to those who take part in their political circuses. For a rally, say, in Kandy, people are bussed from places as far away as Moneragala, free of charge. (Today, NGOs are emulating the SLFP and the UNP to attract crowds to their events in a bid to impress their donors.) Diclofenac over the counter nz

This certainly is not the time for such gimmicks, especially in the Eastern Province. The LTTE has manifestly lost the East and it is unlikely that the outfit will be able to stage a comeback. But, it is capable of launching small scale terror strikes in any part of the country. Its sparrow units have struck in areas like Buttala and Hambegamuwa, killing dozens of people and injuring scores of others. All it takes for the LTTE to disrupt a rally is a single suicide bomber.

It was at a May Day procession that the LTTE assassinated President Ranasinghe Premadasa, one of the most protected leaders in the world. It has attacked a number of political rallies with devastating impact. Leader of the Opposition and UNP Presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake and several other UNP stalwarts were assassinated at one of the UNP meetings at Thotalanga in 1994. President Chandrika Kumaratunga had a narrow escape at the conclusion of her final presidential election campaign meeting in 1999. A group of Opposition heavyweights perished in a suicide attack on a UNP meeting on the same day.

This is not the time, we repeat, for mass gatherings. PoliticiansA?a??a?? wisdom of holding May Day rallies anywhere at this juncture must, therefore, be questioned. The cancellation of a May Day rally is not an act of cowardice but the most sensible thing to do at a time when the war is raging in the Wanni and the LTTE is looking for something to offset the battlefield gains of the military. Nothing hurts the Tigers more than the fact that their invincibility pretensions have taken a serious dent at the hands of the military. They will do anything to boost the morale of their combatants. They will baulk at nothing in their desperate efforts to achieve that objective.

Ironically, it was only the other day that the government media announced that the ruling party politicians had been warned against making public appearances owing to high security threats against them. At a May Day rally, they will be there in their hundreds, exposing not only themselves but also those around them to terror strikes like the recent one that killed Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

Why should politicians get involved in May Day rallies in the first place? The International WorkersA?a??a?? Day has nothing to do with politicians. They had better leave that to workers!

The government-TMVP alliance and the UNP-SLMC coalition have turned the Eastern PC polls into a prestige battle. However hard they may try to flex muscles, it is doubtful that their vainglorious shows of strength will sway easterners, who will have to be assured of their safety and helped rebuild their lives.

We thought the government was confident when it threw down the gauntlet for the PC polls in the East. It has banished the LTTE from that province and initiated a number of massive development projects besides having the entire state machinery at its disposal. The JVPA?a??a??s conflict couldnA?a??a??t have come at a better time for the government as regards the Eastern polls, where the anti UNP-SLMC vote will be split due to the JVP’s entry into the fray. The intraparty dispute of the JVP has left a bad taste in many a mouth and many voters who would have voted with the JVP at a future election is utterly disillusioned. The recent vehicle robberies and incidents of assault and intimidation have evoked memories of JVPA?a??a??s reign of terror (1987-89). The government also seems to think that its alliance with the TMVP which is on a mission to liberate the East from the domination of the North will help secure a sizeable chunk of the Tamil vote.

Minomycin online dating The UNP-SLMC combine has sought to pooh-pooh military victories and development projects in the East. It is eyeing a block vote, especially in the Muslim areas and banking on a possible protest vote from the Tamils opposed to the TMVP and sympathetic to the LTTE in addition to the traditional UNP vote in the East.

Thus, the challenge before the government is how to eat into the SLMC vote bank and win over the Tamils whom it has antagonised through its military campaign and alliance with the TMVP. The UNP-SLMC coalition will have to give the people an alternative to the governmentA?a??a??s development projects and tell them what it proposes to do with the present military strategy and the de-merger. For, the government has apparently sought to give the people a choice between voting with it and losing development projects as well as paving the way for the LTTEA?a??a??s return.

These are not objectives that could be achieved through a show of strength. They need a great deal of effective campaigning at the grassroots level.

Boru shows serve little purpose in this regard. They only expose political leaders and their followers to danger.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/15/editorial.html

Eastern province: Impact of altered demographics

Published on 12/04/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

by Neville Ladduwahetty

Following every terrorist act in Sri Lanka there arises a refrain that the countryA?a??a??s conflict cannot be resolved militarily, followed by the proposition that since the conflict is essentially political in nature, the focus should be on finding an acceptable political arrangement instead of the military approach currently pursued. However, it must be conceded that there is a nexus between political goals and the choice of means and tactics, which in Sri LankaA?a??a??s case has been determined by the LTTE to be a separate state won through an armed conflict.

The leaders of the civil rights movement in the US realizing this nexus, consciously and deliberately decided on non-violence as the means to achieve their goals. By contrast, the Sri Lankan Tamil community resolved with conscious deliberation to resort to an armed conflict to achieve their political goal of a separate state. Under the circumstances, the choice for the Sri Lankan state has been to either to accept the creation of a separate state or to resist such a creation by neutralizing the means to create it. Since the choice undoubtedly has to be for the latter course, there is no option but meet the military threat militarily. Furthermore, as long as both positions remain unchanged, the armed conflict would continue. For there to be peace, therefore, either the Sri Lankan state has to accept the idea of a separate state, or the LTTE has to abandon its goal and dismantle the means as well.

Since it is the LTTE that has set the goal and adopted the means, the only option available to the Sri Lankan state is to address the military capabilities of the LTTE and weaken it to a point where the LTTE realizes that a separate state through armed conflict is not a realistic proposition. It was the reaching of such a point in the dynamics of the Northern Ireland conflict that forced the IRA leadership to abandon violence and seek a negotiated solution. A similar realization dawned on the Ache rebels when the tsunami of 2004 destroyed their military capabilities.

A similar dynamic has to occur in Sri Lanka for the LTTE to realize that the original goal is an unrealistic proposition. It would be only at such a point that the LTTE would be prepared to consider alternatives to its original proposition. The weaker the LTTE, the more significant would be the shift from their original position. Therefore, the military capabilities of the LTTE have a direct bearing on the nature and scope of the political arrangement that the LTTE would accept and which the rest of the country would tolerate.

This military/political dynamic was reached in the Eastern Province. It was the neutralization of the military capabilities of the LTTE in the Eastern Province that has paved the way for Peoples of the Eastern Province to exercise their civil and political rights. This and other developments taking place in the Eastern Province could very well undermine the whole concept of a separate state; a notion that is clearly NOT viable without the Eastern Province.

GROUND REALITIES

An imperceptible but pertinent fact that is emerging is the demographic changes in the Eastern Province. These changes have gone unnoticed since the Census of 1981. The 2007 enumeration conducted by the Census and Statistics Department reveal that the Muslims are not only a majority in the province but also that they are the majority in the Districts of Trincomalee and Ampara. This trend could lead to the Eastern Province becoming the territorial base of political power for the Muslims.

According to the data in the Preliminary Report of 2007 the distribution within the province is: Muslims 40%, Tamils 38% and the Sinhalese 22%. According to the Report the distribution by district is: Trincomalee District: 45.4% Muslim, 28.6% Sri Lankan Tamils, 25.4% Sinhalese; Batticaloa District: 25% Muslim, 74% Sri Lankan Tamil, 0.5% Sinhalese; and Ampara District: 44% Muslim, 18.3% Sri Lankan Tamil, 37.5% Sinhalese. These ground realities could have a profound effect on the short and long term trajectories of power sharing arrangements in Sri Lanka.

The immediate impact of this statistical data is that the Muslims are emerging as the most populous ethnic group in the Eastern Province, with the Sri Lankan Tamils remaining as the most populous ethnic group in the Northern Province. Even though each province may evolve as a political base of each respective group, the fact remains that the majorities of both communities reside outside these political bases. Under the circumstances, political arrangements based on territorial distribution makes no sense.

Perhaps, it is the awareness of these developments that prompted the Muslim leadership to take the forthcoming Provincial Council elections seriously to the extent that some of them have given up their seats in Parliament in order to contest the election. If not at the forthcoming election, there is a strong possibility that future elections may return Muslim majorities with Muslim Chief Ministers in the Eastern Provincial Council.

There is therefore, a need to rethink the whole premise of regional devolution of political power. The alterations to the demographics in the Eastern Province demonstrate the fluidity of population growths and distributions. Therefore, formulating political arrangements based on present ethnic or other concentrations could with time be not only meaningless but also inappropriate. Changes in power bases could lead to new ethnic tensions; a sure formula for instability.

IMPACT OF ALTERED DEMOGRAPHICS ON THE NATIONAL QUESTION

If and when the Eastern Province becomes a non-Tamil political base, the foundation of a separate state of Tamil Eelam would be undermined because the very heart of this concept was underpinned by the resources and potential of the Eastern Province. Furthermore, the ethnic mix of the Eastern Province together with the concentration of Sri Lankan Tamils in the Northern Province was intended to mirror the scene in the rest of the country with the concentration of Sinhalese in the South, thus creating the “image” that the country was divided between the Sinhalese and Tamils.

With the real possibility of losing the Eastern Province politically to another ethnic group, the political power base of the Tamils would be confined to the Northern Province which by all accounts would be mono-ethnic. A separate state in such a context would have little or no attraction. Therefore, with these facts in view, there is an urgent need to reconsider the relevance of former political arrangements contemplated in the light of existential realities.

Buy avapro blood pressure medicine One political arrangement that would be acceptable to the overwhelming majority in the light of this background would be to abandon the whole concept of ethno-territorially based power sharing and seriously explore central power sharing. This would give all communities the opportunity to be represented in the governing processes instead of regionally based power sharing; a concept that Sri Lanka has been forced to consider based on a demographic premise that has no relevance today. It is vital that the APRC becomes aware of these emerging transformations if its deliberations are to have any meaning.

CONCLUSION

It is the LTTE that has set the goal of a separate state and it is the LTTE that has adopted violent means to realize it militarily. Since the Sri Lankan nation finds both goal and means set by the LTTE unacceptable, Governments representing the Sri Lankan nation have no option but to respond to LTTE efforts militarily. Not to do so would leave the military capabilities developed by the LTTE intact and the issue would remain open ended without finality and closure. For the military operations to cease, either the LTTE has to dismantle its military capabilities voluntarily, or the Government has to neutralize it militarily.

A military approach is being pursued by the LTTE on the premise that the conditions that existed at the commencement of their endeavour to create a separate state, still exist. The notion that the Northern and Eastern Provinces could form a political unit exists among the non-LTTE Sri Lankan Tamils as well. These positions long held have no relevance in the context of two facts relating to the Eastern Province. The first being the reestablishment of the writ of the state and the second, being the transformed demographics. Both facts make it necessary for political goals once conceived to be revisited.

The impact of the transformed demographics in the Eastern Province is that this province could emerge as a political base for the Muslims; a fact that may emerge even as early as the forthcoming Provincial Council election. If the Eastern Province becomes a Muslim political base and the Northern Province becomes a Tamil political base with the rest of the 7 provinces becoming a Sinhala political base, the political boundaries would become coterminous with ethnic concentrations. Devolving power under such conditions is a sure recipe for instability as has happened with the former Yugoslavia, and more recently with Kosovo.

These developments would undermine the very foundation of a once conceived separate state consisting of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Despite the change in the scope of the original project, for the armed conflict to continue in order to create the Northern Province as a political base for Sri Lankan Tamils is senseless because this is already an accepted fact. Despite this reality, if the LTTE continues the conflict, it can only mean that its intention is to create a separate state consisting of the Northern Province all by itself.

Cheap atorlip While the conflict in Northern Ireland was resolved due to the IRAA?a??a??s self realization that violence was not taking them any closer to their political goal, and the conflict in Ache, Indonesia, was resolved because of the effect of the tsunami on the Free Aceh Movement/GAMA?a??a??s military capabilities, the transformation in the military/demographic dynamic in the Eastern Province will force the LTTE/Sri Lankan Tamils to consider alternatives hitherto not considered. Since these changing circumstances are also underscored by the security implications of devolving power to ethnically based territorial units, Sri Lanka can find resolution to its conflict only if its communities together explore arrangements where political power is shared by all at the Center.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/12/features1.html

STF clash with Army

Published on 09/04/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

By Supun Dias and Senaka De Silva How to buy bactroban Two soldiers and a civilian were killed in a forest 5 Km from the Komarikulam area in Ampara yesterday, when a group of Army personnel and Special Task Force (STF) personnel shot at each other after each mistook the other for Tiger rebels.

The Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said that another soldier had been wounded in the clash and was receiving treatment at Ampara Hospital.

Buy generic keflex online Pottuvil Police OIC Sena Suraweera said that the bodies of the soldiers had been handed over to the Army after conducting a post mortem. The Army personnel had been conducting a cordon and search operation in the area at the time of the incident.

The civilian who had gone to the forest to cut wood has been caught in the crossfire, he said.

source:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=11422

Top priority to develop East – Susantha

Published on 08/04/2008 in Money Matters and press coverage. 0 Comments

by Lakshmi de Silva
The development of the Eastern Province under the special effort made by the government to rehabilitate the infrastructure facilities involving irrigation, health and education is receiving top priority with the Ministry of Nation Building playing a vital role, Minister of Nation Building Susantha Punchinilame said yesterday.

The Divisional Secretariat in Thirukkovil in the Eastern Province had started working after a lapse of more than 20 years and 206 million rupees was allocated by the government for the 22 Grama Niladhari Divisions to implement a number of development projects in the area, Punchinilame said. The minister, who was on tour of the area when speaking to The Island, said that it was the first time that a minister was visiting the DS offices in Kandikuduchchiaru, Lahugala Order clozaril dosage , Panama and Aliadivembu after a couple of decades to get first hand knowledge of the development programmes implemented there.

Tenormin 25 mg price in pakistan People of the area were very keen to develop education and health care facilities that were neglected all these years and all projects are to be implemented. 20 percent of manpower was voluntarily contributed.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/05/news3.html

Ferial Ashroff Interview

Published on 07/04/2008 in Blogs, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

“Minorities in this country have a feeling that there has been discriminationA?a??A?”– Ferial Ashroff
Interviewed by Manjari Peiris Cost of fluoxetine without insurance

Q. Can you explain the political style of your party?

A. The name of my party, by itself speaks a lot. It is called the National Unity Alliance, because this was a party that came into being during my late husbandA?a??a??s time when the need of the hour was the unity of the people of Sri Lanka. We have been separated because of the war. Even if we go by the constitution of Sri Lanka, there was a time when we were considered Ceylonese. But that is all in fragments now. There was a need for uniting the people of Sri Lanka. That was the whole idea in the formation of the National Unity Alliance. We are still a party in our infancy. We are not a regional party, but a party wanting to propagate unity in Sri Lanka. We are not asking people to give up their identities. We want them to maintain their identities, but also try to develop a Sri Lankan identity.

Q. Were you engaged in politics when Mr. Ashroff was living?

A. I have always been a student of politics and I have always worked with my husband, behind the scenes. I have not been campaigning with him or addressing meetings or meeting people etc. But of course from his office and his home, I have been very much involved in politics. In fact I have been involved in politics long before I became Mrs. Ashroff, even as a student.

Q. What does your party do to improve the lot of the Muslim people?

A. My party is basically for national unity. I, as a Member of Parliament representing the Ampara district, try to help people from all communities in every way possible whenever there is a need. But of course as we all know, minorities in this country have a feeling that there has been discrimination and therefore there is something called a A?a??E?minority interestA?a??a??. If you take the district that I represent, Ampara, it was a district that had been neglected where development was concerned. We have a large number of Sinhalese living in the area, nearly 40%. Still for all, it was a neglected district. The only development that had taken place in that district was during my late husbandA?a??a??s time. He had seen to it that the area at least started developing, but we still have a lot of work to do, especially in the Sinhala areas. The Divisional Secretariat areas of Dehiattakandiya, Padiyathalawa, Maha Oya, Damana and Lahugala are far from developed. It is not a question of me working only for the Muslim areas. I am very much involved in the development of my district where all the three communities live almost in equal proportions. I work with all the people.

Q. What does your ministry do?

A. We are very happy with the kind of work that we do through this Ministry. We work with extremely poor people, who have given hope of ever finding a permanent roof over their heads. They are people who donA?a??a??t have permanent home to call their own. They are living in shacks. They live in very pathetic conditions all over the country. So our Ministry gets involved in helping the people to help themselves. We do not have contractors or private organizations building houses. We get the community involved and mobilize them and get the community to help themselves. We get them the technical know-how and provide the necessary material for them to build the houses and we are also making use of material available in those areas. We are able to annually build about 1000 houses which is a very small figure when you compare the needs in Sri Lanka. But we manage to build about 10,000 houses in terms of building new homes and also in renovating and rehabilitating existing homes. We do both. We are very happy about what we have done. We can be very proud of the fact that we have been able to divert all the funds right down to the grassroots level.

Q. Do you think that the Muslim community also needs a separate state?

Elimite cream over the counter A. I donA?a??a??t believe in any separate state for anybody in Sri Lanka. The whole idea of national unity goes for a six if I believe so. As Sri Lankans, we should make Sri Lanka a place for all to live peacefully with each other. We are all first class citizens of Sri Lanka. This is what we are trying to achieve A?a??a?? not to divide this little country.

Q. Do you think that the prosecution of the war has been effective?

A. We find that the government has been able to reduce the strength of the LTTE to a certain degree. Whenever the governments of Sri Lanka tried to negotiate with the LTTE, it always ended up in failure. The LTTE has also shown no interest in wanting to solve this problem through negotiations. So we are going ahead with the war, But I also believe that while going ahead with the war, that we should have a politically negotiated settlement. That we believe in. We donA?a??a??t believe that you can solve the problem merely by war.

Q. What kind of a solution do you envisage for the ethnic problem?

A. We believe in a negotiated political settlement. People in this country have a lot of issues. The minorities feel that their problems have never been dealt with, especially in terms of land, language, etc. We believe that it has to be a negotiated settlement and we should be able to listen to the other personA?a??a??s point of view. That is what is required in Sri Lanka. It is a basic question of understanding the other personA?a??a??s problems and aspirations.

Q. What do you have to say about the high cost of living?

A. This is definitely a huge problem. We canA?a??a??t deny the fact that life is becoming more and more difficult. It is so even for me personally, especially with the price of electricity and so on. I assume that the government is also taking it into account and trying to sort it out and manage it in a better manner. But when you read the news overseas also, there is talk of the escalation of prices. Cost of living is high all over the world. The price of fuel and most commodities have increased. We have to find ways and means of solving the problem. The government is very much interested in new agricultural methods. We have not had a long term plan for our country.

Q. Do you expect to be elected to Parliament at the next general election?

A. ThatA?a??a??s for the people to decide and I would be very happy with the decision of the people. If they think I am worthy enough to be in parliament, then they will elect me.

Q. Do you think that the President will be able to solve the ethnic problem?

A. He should be able to; there is no question about it. He is making all attempts – even trying to develop the country. Also he wants to tell the people of the Eastern Province that he is prepared to treat all the people equally. He is definitely going forward and we are confident that the President will be able to solve this issue.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/04/07/features4.html

East – from military to a political battle ground

Published on 06/04/2008 in press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

By Amantha Perera

It was June 20, 2001. Rauf Hakeem had just walked across the aisle in parliament into opposition ranks and dealt a death blow to the second Chandrika Kumaratunga administration.

He sat among journalists in one of the parliament dining rooms and mused aloud of the crossover of the seven SLMC parliamentarians. “My neck is on the line,” he said.

His neck is once again on the line – last week he upped the stakes in next month’s Eastern Provincial Council election by resigning from his parliament seat, along with two of his close associates, to run in the polls.

It is only apt that the Mahinda Rajapakse administration faces it first stiff political test in the east. The east, from Kumana in the south to Kokillai in the north, is where it fought its first major military battles with the Tigers, and won.

Eventual fall

Five years, one month and two days after Hakeem sat in the opposition triggering the eventual fall of the Kumaratunga Government, on the afternoon of July 22, 2006, the water ran dry under the Kallar anicut in Somapura, north of the now famous Mawilaru sluice gates.

The Tigers said that civilians angry at unofficial restrictions placed by the government forces closed the gates. Whoever closed the gates, the incident was the first fall in the domino action that would end with the Tigers losing all their real estate holdings in the east.

Just a week shy of the anniversary of the Mawilaru closure, on July 15 last year, government forces gained Toppigala in the Batticaloa District, a symbolic event that signalled the culmination of what began with Mawilaru.

By July 27, 2006 water flowed once again under Kallar, but by then the government had already ordered troops to march towards the sluice gates.

As battles raged near the dirt track that was the access road to Mawilaru from the Somapura Road, the Tigers attacked government held western parts of Muttur town, about 20 km north of Somapura.

Fighting spreads

The Tigers held western and southern parts of Muttur while the government maintained its hold on the north-eastern parts where the important jetty was located. Fighting spread like wild fire in the northern edges of the province in the first 10 days of August 2006.

On August 11, the Tigers upped the ante yet again, when they shelled the Palaly base using long range artillery and also launched an assault on the government defence line at Muhamalai. They even said that Tiger aircraft had flown over Palaly during the fighting.

The August 11 fighting closed the A9 and it has remained closed since. The Tigers also launched artillery attacks on the Trincomalee Naval Base, targeting a naval troop carrier convoy that was in the bay area.

But the tide quickly turned in favour of the government forces. The government gained lost ground and even moved a half kilometre into Tiger held areas in Muhamalai two weeks after the August 11, 2006 debacle.

By September 1, 2006, troops had broken out of their encampments in Kattaparichchan, west of Sampur after the camp had been besieged. Three days later on September 4, 2006, the security forces reported that troops had entered the Tiger stronghold of Sampur, and the Tigers said they had made a tactical withdrawal from the town. Sampur was the main Tiger political/military enclave in areas south of the Trincomalee bay and Tiger big guns had been positioned there.

On the march

By December 2006, troops had began moving up the A 15 that links Muttur and Valachchenai from the southern tip of the highway in the Batticaloa District.

January 21, 2007, government announced that the key coastal town of Vaharai had fallen into government hands.

On February 28, the Tigers committed yet another inexplicable act. They started shelling the Weber Stadium on the western edges of Batticaloa town as helicopters carrying several key Western ambassadors and Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe landed on the grounds.

A week later troops had launched into the only areas held by the Tigers in the Batticaloa District, around Toppigala, Karadiyanaru and Vavunathivu.

By July 15 last year it was all over and Toppigala had fallen. While the northern parts of the province were being cleared of the Tigers, the STF had succeeded in a similar effort in the Kanchikudichiaru areas in the Ampara District.

Hundreds die

The fighting did not go as a chess game as some media reports would indicate. Hundreds of combatants and civilians died, and hundreds of thousands fled for their lives. Between last year and this March the government had resettled over 104,000 in the Batticaloa District alone.

Seven months after Toppigala was gained, the Batticaloa local government elections were held, and the TMVP led Pillayan crowned in glory.

Now the entire province is heading into a provincial council poll. As the local government campaigning reached fever pitch last month, Hakeem felt the direction of the political winds in the east – that the LC polls was a launching pad for larger struggles.

Now that the sixth sense of the seasoned politician has come true, he has no option but to do battle himself.

Ampara Muslims want TMVP out

By Mandana Ismail Abeyawickrema

The Muslim factor in the east cannot be undermined in the forthcoming Eastern Provincial Council elections due to the large number of Muslims in the province.

The biggest Muslim bloc in the province is in Digamadulla (Ampara) District, which is to also elect the highest number of provincial councilors to the Eastern Provincial Council. A total number of 35 provincial councilors are to be elected at the elections (Digamadulla District 14, Batticaloa District 11 and Trincomalee District 10).

Over 50% of the 409,360 voters in the Digamadulla District are Muslims with Kalmunai, Samanthurai, Ampara and Pottuvil being the areas with the highest Muslim concentration.

However, the way in which the Muslim vote would sway depends mainly on one issue – the Pillayan factor and the support given to it by the government.

According to Muslims in the Digamadulla District, the results of the Eastern Provincial Council election would also play a key role in the future survival of Muslims and also the Sinhalese in the province.

The friction between the Muslim and the Tamil communities following the activities of the Pillayan Group in the area would push the Muslims to exercise their franchise against any group representing the Tiger breakaway.

The growing dissention against the Pillayan Group intensified last week when an act of intimidation by several members of the group in Kalmunai resulted in a hartal launched by the Muslims in the area.

Although the hartal ended by Tuesday, April 2 afternoon, the impact the incident had on the Muslims have made them more vocal on the need to safeguard their rights at the forthcoming elections.

According to residents in Kalmunai, being under Pillayan would be like being under the LTTE.

“The election results would show if the Muslims and for that matter even the Sinhalese would be able to survive in the east,” Mohideen Ajeemal, a resident from Kalmunai said.

He said that although Kalmunai was calm at the moment, there was growing dissention against the Pillayan Group.

Pillayan’s affiliation with the government has made the Muslims think twice about the UPFA and supporting it.

“Muslims and the Sinhalese have no issues and they can co-exist. The problem is with the Pillayan group,” Ajeemal said.

He added that Pillayan’s group was trying to intimidate people in the east just after winning the local government polls in the Batticaloa District. “The Pillayan Group does not have a huge presence in Digamadulla like in Batticaloa, but still they try to intimidate the Muslims. Imagine the plight of the people if Pillayan or any faction supportive of them wins the elections?” he pondered.

Muslim big guns enter the fray

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

What does prometrium cost

The closure of nominations for the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) ended on Thursday (3) on a dramatic note. The government, requiring significant Muslim political support managed to clinch a last minute deal with SLMC Executive member, M.L.M. Hizbullah, the SLMC’s driving force behind the recently concluded Batticaloa local authority election.

It is well known that Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapakse struck the crucial deal with Hizbullah, splitting the SLMC further in a bid to strengthen the government’s Muslim representation at the May 10 poll. Strangely, it was Hizbullah, whilst spearheading the SLMC election battle in Batticaloa last month that proved the most vociferous critic against the Pillayan Group, highlighting instances of violence and intimidation against Muslims.

Hizbullah’s explanation was, “Either Pillayan or I will be appointed chief minister, depending on how we fare at provincial level. One has to work with the government to become the chief minister.”

A political failure

Hizbullah who has twice defected from the SLMC was also critical of the SLMC Leader. “He has proved himself a political failure. The Muslims need to be heard. That’s why I am here together with other Muslim leaders who advocate a massive eastern voice for the Muslim community.”

Irked by the defection, Party Leader Rauf Hakeem claimed that some party members have been conspiring to destroy the party but expressed confidence in the unwavering loyalty of SLMC supporters.

Matching words with action, Hakeem struck a deal with the UNP and promptly resigned from his seat together with Party General Secretary, Hasan Ali and Basheer Segu Dawood to contest the polls. As things stand, the three SLMC members will provide leadership to the three districts in the UNP-SLMC joint campaign to capture political power in the east.

The SLMC’s massive entry will work in their favour, opines UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake.

“We are to contest in a province that is multi ethnic and multi lingual. Besides, the SLMC has a significant presence given that it is essentially, eastern based. We will ensure a formidable political contest,” he said.

No such pledge

At least one government minister, Digamadulla-based UNP defector P. Dayaratne has broken the UPFA chief ministerial theory claiming that no such pledge had been made to either Pillayan or Hizbullah despite their much-publicised ambitions to run the provincial administration.

“That post is currently open. It has not been pledged to either Hizbullah or Pillayan” Dayaratne said.

The quicksand political dynamics in the east is not confined to the Muslims. The Tamil community too has added to the sense of drama.

Last week, the TNA officially announced its decision to boycott the eastern PC poll giving historic reasons for doing so.

Amaryllis sales research heiloo The TNA’s position is that the government spent Rs. 250 million on a poll together with a Tamil breakaway militant group to deny the political rights of a community. “What are the credentials of the Pillayan Group? What ideology do they represent, having given into the Sinhala dominance and becoming a pawn in the hands of President Mahinda Rajapakse,” demands TNA Jaffna District MP, K Shivajilingam.

Tiger political arm

In the meantime, a political arm of the LTTE, the People’s Front of Liberation Tigers (PFLT) has submitted its nominations at the Ampara Kachcheri for the forthcoming poll. It is an interesting development to find one time Tiger Political big-wig Yogaratnam Yogi’s signature on the party nomination list. The PFLT is fielding 17 candidates including two women.

But the TNA remains unflinching, claiming that whoever who participates in this ‘farce’ goes against Tamil ideology.

“President Rajapakse has bifurcated north-east as opposed to the original merged north-east which were merged following an 1987 international treaty between India and Sri Lanka. The merged territory existed for 18 years and was accepted by four successive presidents of Sri Lanka,” adds TNA General Secretary, Mavai Senadhiraja.

‘Having destroyed the east through military offensives since July 2006, the government has caused immense damage to crops and livelihood, property including houses, plantations and fishing equipment. Over 500,000 Tamil civilians were displaced and extra judicial killings and enforced disappearances completed the picture,’ he charged.

“Hurriedly holding an election in the bifurcated east is a diabolical step. It is a smokescreen for all its misdeeds against the Tamil people,” he alleged.

Rightfully belong to a Tamil

Meanwhile, staking a claim for the top post in the region is Pillayan himself. “The post should rightfully belong to a Tamil. By working with the government, we can ensure development,” he told the media April 3 midday, as nominations closed.

The JVP that has vowed to ‘destroy the PC system from within’ has nominated a former teacher and Pradeshiya Sabha Member, Wimal Piyatissa as the party’s chief ministerial candidate.

Piyatissa will head the JVP in the Trincomalee District with Ibrahim Lebbe and Krishantha Priyadarshana heading the Batticaloa and Digamadulla Districts.

Adding a fresh twist, two PA constituent parties, the CP and the LSSP too entered the fray as the Left Front, staking a separate claim in the eastern political battle.

Like the terrain and the ethnography of the east, the political battle is proving to be interesting, as it prepares for a poll after 14 years.

http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20080406/spotlight-1.htm

The Muslims and Eastern Elections

Published on 29/03/2008 in Blogs, parties, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

by Shanie

With the election to the Eastern Provincial Council drawing near, all the parties seem to be wooing the Muslims who form the significantly large A?a??E?ethnicA?a??a?? group throughout the East. In one of the three districts of the East, Ampara, they are clearly the largest single group. Hence the sudden interest in Muslims among the other parties, large and small. The ongoing ethnic conflict affects the Muslims in a very real way. But successive Governments have paid little attention to the concerns of the Muslims and when negotiations take place and agreements are reached, the Muslims have generally been ignored as an interested party. But it is not strange to see the same parties who ignored, and sometimes were hostile, to the concerns of the Muslims, falling over each other to woo the Muslim vote at an election. And so it has been this time as well. Chief Ministerships and other political inducements are being offered; the same offers are being offered to Tamil groups without a twinkling of an eye!

The Muslim leadership since Ashraf has matured and the fez cap no longer turns to the direction in which the political winds blow. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, which Ashraf founded in 1986, initially did not find favour with the conservative Colombo-based Muslim leadership. But today, it undoubtedly represents a wide cross-section of the Muslim community throughout Sri Lanka, as elections over the past decade have shown. After AshrafA?a??a??s untimely death, it is a pity that a group has broken away on the question of leadership of the party. But it is only a question of time before the party re-unites. The present leadership has shown commendable responsibility in carrying forward AshrafA?a??a??s legacy. It is this that has made the party reject political overtures from groups across the political spectrum, that both in the past and now continue to disregard Muslim concerns. These groups seem to show concern for Muslims only at election time.

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The origins of Muslims in Sri Lanka

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Unfortunately, there is no clear historical evidence regarding the origins of the Muslims in Sri Lanka. But the common belief is that the Muslims migrated to Sri Lanka from a variety of Asian regions A?a??a?? from West Asia, South Asia and East Asia. Their ethnic origins are probably a mix of diverse elements, though perhaps a significant majority migrated, like many other Sri Lankans, from neighbouring South India. Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan once claimed in a presentation to the Royal Asiatic Society that the Muslims in Sri Lanka were ethnically Tamils. This caused an uproar among the Muslims. Clearly, Ramanathan made this claim with political considerations. The fact that the Muslims in Sri Lanka speak Tamil is no evidence of their ethnicity. But even though historians are yet uncertain of their ethnic origins, it is clear that the Sri Lankan Muslims today have a distinct and separate identity and must be recognised as such.

This also shows the hollowness of the claims to ethnicity of many groups who form the Sri Lankan community. Perhaps a generation or two ago, all Muslims, including Malays, spoke Tamil as their home language and A M A Azeez was to claim it was their mother tongue. But today, many Muslims, particularly in the Western Province, have been educated in Sinhala and some of the present generation Muslims speak little Tamil. But this is true of the Tamils as well. There are many Tamils who have been educated in Sinhala, have adopted Sinhala names and some even embraced Buddhism. )There was this recent controversy over a Tamil Buddhist girl, educated in Sinhala, who won a Fifth Grade Scholarship place but refused admission to Visakha Vidyalaya presumably because of her ethnicity.) Historians and anthropologists have pointed out that there are many Sinhala and Tamil groups living in different parts of the country, who now claim an ethnic identity which was different from that of their forefathers.

The Sri Lankan Muslims also fall into this category, like many other Sinhala and Tamil groups, who cannot be given a distinct ethnic identity. But they have a distinct identity as a community with particular concerns of their own. That is why they feel disappointed when they are excluded from negotiations to resolve the National Question. Without entering into the controversy over traditional homelands, just as Tamils have traditionally been in occupation of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the Muslims have also been in traditional occupation of the same provinces. For trade and other reasons, both Tamils and Muslims occupy pockets in other Provinces as well; and in recent times after the opening up of irrigation schemes, the Sinhalese occupy pockets in the Northern and Eastern Provinces too. Whilst conceding the need for each group to preserve their identity and to resist attempts to assimilate them by chauvinists with a political agenda, it is necessary for us to acknowledge that Sri Lanka is now a mix with ethnic boundaries getting blurred.

Historic Grievances

The Muslims have traditionally been a pacifist group in Sri Lanka. They were settled in trade, farming and other occupations, did not engage in overt religious proselytisation and did not engage in any organised violence against other communities. On the contrary, they have been the victims of violence over the years. Although we rightly criticise the colonial rulers for the heavy-handedness with which they handled the 1915 disturbances, we must also acknowledge that the Muslims then were the victims of hate and violence. In more recent years, they have been the victims of chauvinists who A?a??E?ethnically cleansedA?a??a?? them from the North. Thousands of them still remain as internally displaced in the Puttalam district. The same chauvinists desecrated the Mosque at Kattankudy and killed hundreds of worshippers in cold blood. Irrigation schemes and the introduction of new colonists from outside particularly in the Ampara district saw acres of land tilled by the Muslims being taken away. This process is being re-asserted in recent times through an extremist group who are part of the present Government.

Agreements were reached in 1958 and again in 1965 between the Tamils and the then Governments to devolve power to the North and East. In both instances, Muslim concerns were not accommodated. Muslim (and other minority) interests have been ignored by successive Governments. Muslims quite rightly feel that unless specific guarantees are in place, even a devolved administration, which naturally will be dominated by Tamils, in the North and East will continue to ignore Muslim interests.

Devolution and the Muslims

Part of the difficulty in devolving power is that the Muslims do not occupy a contiguous area in the North and East. In the East where they share almost equal numbers with the Tamils, the Muslim and Tamil villages almost alternate each other along the coast from Valaichenai to Pottuvil. Under ideal conditions, this is a welcome mix but in the present political context, it presents severe administrative problems. Having a non-contiguous Council for the Muslims may involve insurmountable practical constraints. One way out may be to carve out two contiguous Regional Councils out of the present Eastern Province with one having a Muslim majority and the other, a Tamil majority, with clearly defined safeguards to ensure that minority interests (which will include the Sinhala minority as well) within each Regional Council are protected. But this is thinking into the future when hopefully there will be a political will to ensure peace and justice for all communities living in our country.

For the present, the Muslims along with other Sri Lankans have to grin and bear. The forthcoming provincial election is not going to bring them any solace. But the SLMC is right not to opt out of the election, however farcical it may turn out to be. Undoubtedly for reasons of political expediency, the SLFP has shamelessly entered into an agreement with the TMVP which, despite all the rhetoric, remains an armed militant group that terrorises the civilian population. Using the TMVP for short term political gains will surely lead to longer term problems for the country, as we learnt to our cost by the Premadasa Government arming the LTTE for short term gains.

True liberation for the people of the East (and indeed for the people of the North and the rest of the country) will come about only when true democracy is restored; when our political leadership realises that a resolution of a political problem cannot come about by military or militant action but only by a political will to ensure fair, just and good governance.

source:
http://www.island.lk/2008/03/29/features4.html

Sir Arthur C Clarke

Published on 22/03/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, people and press coverage. 0 Comments

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Immediate family members gathered in Colombo for the writer’s funeral

British science-fiction writer Sir Arthur C Clarke has been buried in his adopted country of Sri Lanka.Music from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey was played at the funeral and members of the family which had adopted him cried as his coffin was lowered.

“Here lies Arthur C Clarke. He never grew up and did not stop growing,” his gravestone in Colombo is to read, in accordance with the author’s wishes.

Sir Arthur died from heart failure and breathing problems at the age of 90.

A nationwide minute’s silence was ordered by the Sri Lankan government to coincide with the ceremony.

Sir Arthur’s brother, Fred Clarke, attended the funeral along with members of the Ekanayake family, with whom the writer had lived in recent years.

Your footprint will never fade. If anything, it will only magnify what we do

Family friend Tamara Ekanayake

Post-polio syndrome meant Sir Arthur had used a wheelchair since 1995.

Fred Clarke said his elder brother had “always loved” the “warm climate and the friendly people” of Sri Lanka.

“He said he had managed to escape 40 British winters and had no regrets,” Mr Clarke told AFP news agency.

Tamara Ekanayake, who grew up at Sir Arthur’s home in Colombo, paid tribute to him at the service, saying: “We feel so privileged that you left your mark on us.”

“Your footprint will never fade. If anything, it will only magnify what we do,” she told mourners.

Before the funeral, yellow roses were thrown on to Sir Arthur’s body as a final gesture of respect as it lay on a white bed beneath curved elephant tusks.

source:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7309598.stm

More rains

Published on 20/03/2008 in Blogs, Money Matters, press coverage and the bay. 0 Comments

More rains forecast

Mohammed Naalir, Akkaraipattu Group, V.P. Sivappragasam and Maskeliya Group Correspondent K.Duraisami

COLOMBO: More rains were forecast by the Meteorology Department in the coastal areas of Kalutara, Galle and Matara while the prevailing weather pattern is to continue in most parts of the country marked by thunder showers in the afternoons and evenings.

Meanwhile, Ampara district Secretary Sunil Kannangara said that rains eased in the Ampara Venlor shipping district, one of worst hit by the recent floods.

He said they are waiting for reports from the relevant flood affected Divisional Secretaries to carry out relief work.

Ampara Kalmunai, Karaithivu, Ninthavur, Thirukkovil, Karawapattru, Saintahamaruthu and Alayyadivembu in the Ampara District and Manmunai North, Manmunai south, Eruwil Pattru, Porathivu Pattru, Manmunai Pattru, Oddamavadi, Eravur Town, Eravur Pattru and Manmunai South were among the areas that were affected by the floods.

There is an urgent need in Thirukkovil, Alayadivembu, Akkaraipattu Addalaichchanai and Karavapattu for pure drinking water, the District Secratary said.

Meanwhile an officer attached to the Batticaloa District Secretariat Disaster Management Unit yesterday said 329 flood displaced families numbering 1161 persons have been housed in four welfare camps in Manmunai North.

Those in welfare centres are being provided cooked meals and dried rations, he added.

It is reported that the Mousakele , Castlereigh , Laxapana, and Canyon reservoirs were overflowing while pilgrims to Adams Peak too have been affected by the heavy rains.

A shortage exists of rice, vegetables, fish and meat in certain flood affected areas in the Batticaloa district.

The Periyamugatthuwaram bridge is damaged and a part of the road too has been washed away due to invasion of sea waters in the Price for cialis 5mg australia Pottuvil area.

Watching out for the Tigers – in Ella

Published on 10/03/2008 in Blogs, people, press coverage and stop over Ideas. 0 Comments

watch out for the tigers..

Purchase haldol and pregnancy Ella, Sri Lanka

Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008A?A?A?A?08:43

Entry 53 of 53 | show all | Cost of amaryl print this entry

So, the warning are out there, keep your eyes peeled.. The tigers are on the move.. The Tamil Tigers that is, bombs have killed close to 200 people here in Sri Lanka since the year has begun, and although things have quieted off a little now, trouble has struck all over the country..

It was a little disconcerting on one of my last evening in Hikkaduwa, when the regional authority decided to have a conference in the hotel opposite the dive shop I was working at, road blocks were set up, the AK’s were unpacked and police roamed the street on the lookout for the “evil” tigers..

All very mixed up I feel, why have a security sensitive event in your prime holiday destination, then why make all the local bars shut early so the ministers or officials can party till the sunrises (keeping me awake with the music).
But that is Sri Lanka at its best, short term gain over long term investment.. if something had happen during that conference, that would have been it for a long time, no one would want to visit..

Anyhow, IA?a??a??m out of Hikkaduwa for the time being, I say for the time being, because I have to head back there and pick up my rescue diver cert, passed the test and all the exercises, then the boss managed to run out of paperwork for me to fill out, so IA?a??a??ll have to head back and dot the iA?a??a??s and cross the tA?a??a??s..A?A? Up in the hill country currently and the weather has changed from the heat and humidity of the coast, a fresh chill now filters through the sky, itA?a??a??s the cleanest air that IA?a??a??ve even tasted, itA?a??a??s crisp and sharp, full of goodness..

Yala national park was visited, http://padayatra.org/yala.htm and also the FCO,
A?a??A?as well as coastal areas of Ampara district east of the A25 and A27 roads.A?A? We define the areas around Yala National Park as those east of the A2 and south of the A4.A?A? See the Terrorism and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details.A?a??A?

Eak! But it was worth it, even if we had to start an hour later because the army have to sweep the road for bombs, and by losing that hour in the morning we lost our main chance of spotting a leopard in the wild, although it was that wild out there really, hair raising around in a 4×4 land rover whilst 4 or 5 other vehicles all do the same, itA?a??a??s one hell of a noise that is kicked up.. The animal have to build up a tolerance to it, but only after time..

Breakfast time was a interesting, we stopped at the tourist rest area, which was made up of 3 concrete slabs and a plaque of remembers,A?A? 22 Japanese tourist were killed here when the tsunami struck, around 40 people in total were killed as the wave washed inland 1.5km.

We had a good day, besides the sore arse from bouncing about in the jeep for 6 hours..

Ella is somethingA?A? else though, up in the highest inn, run by an Aussie couple it has been a refreshing break from the usual faceless guesthouses that are on offer, they have turned the place into their home and warmly welcome guest, iggy popA?a??a??s A?a??A?a lust for lifeA?a??A? was bellowing from the hifi as we entered, what a luxury, music A?a??a?? loud music, music from back home.. itA?a??a??s weird how the small things make the difference..

More to follow..

We stayed at the Highest Inn, Ella

source:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/jhnhtt/berlin/1204033380.html

IIGEP’s decision

Published on 09/03/2008 in Blogs, people, press coverage and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

* 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.

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Continue reading ‘IIGEP’s decision’

Lanka First Newsletter

Published on 23/02/2008 in Blogs, From our own Correspondent, press coverage, presse-deutsch and Security & Safety. 0 Comments

Liebe Sri Lanka-Freunde!

Ganz herzlich begrA?A?A?A?e ich die neuen Abonnenten, die mit der Registrierung im neuen Forum diesen Newsletter automatisch zugestellt bekommen.

Schlagzeilen, die A?A?ber das normale MaA?A? des Wahnsinns, wie er in Sri Lanka praktiziert wird hinausgehen gibt es nicht viele und ich mA?A?chte darauf verzichten den BA?A?rgerkrieg buchhalterisch aufzuarbeiten, zumal wie A?A?blich, beide Kriegsparteien stumpfe Propaganda pflegen, die sich darauf beschrA?A?nkt eigene Erfolgsmeldungen von zweifelhaftem Wert in die Welt zu setzen. Solange eine freie und unabhA?A?ngige Berichterstattung aus dem Krisengebiet verhindert wird, werden wir auch nicht erfahren, was denn wirklich dort passiert.

Schlagzeilen

Im Newsletter Nr. 9 vom 08.02.08 hatte ich den Versuch unternommen Ursprung und Entwicklung der Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Singhalesen und Tamilen in Sri Lanka fA?A?r die Leser aufzuarbeiten, die mit den Gegebenheiten und Protagonisten des Konfliktes nicht so vertraut sind. Bei nochmaliger Revision des Geschriebenen habe ich festgestellt, dass diese Chronologie unvollstA?A?ndig wA?A?re ohne ErwA?A?hnung der Frau, deren Politik es war, die einen Konflikt heraufbeschworen hat der mit den Jahren kontinuierlich an Heftigkeit zunahm und zu dem wurde was er heute ist: BA?A?rgerkrieg!
Im Folgenden die Kurzbiografie der Sirimavo Bandaranaike: Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike

*17. 04.1916A?A?

^U10.10.2000

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

Sunethra Bandaranaike, zweite Tochter von Sirimavo Bandaranaike

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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

Chandrika Kumaratunga

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

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

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.

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”!

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

Euro im Vergleich zur Sri Lanka Rupie
08.02.2008 bis 22.02.2008

A?A? NUCLEUS 2008

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.

Zinsen fA?A?r Euro-Festgeld

Stand: 22. Februar 2008

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

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


		Das AuswA?A?rtige Amt hat am 07.02.2008 eine geA?A?nderte Reisewarnung fA?A?r Sri Lanka herausgegeben.

Der Wasgamuwa Nationalpark ist seit dem 11.02. wieder geA?A?ffnet. Udawalawe und Yala bleiben auch weiterhin aus SicherheitsgrA?A?nden geschlossen!

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?

A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?

Sri Lanka im TV

	Mittwoch 27.02.08 08.00 Uhr	Sri Lanka – Wo Gott weint
…mehrA?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?A?

Tipp der Woche

Sie haben sich durch die Seiten von lankafirst.de ‘geklickt’ und haben nicht das gefunden, was Sie gesucht haben? Nicht verzweifeln! Probieren Sie doch einfach mal die Suchfunktion aus. Geben Sie ein SchlA?A?sselwort in das auf fast allen Seiten obern links vorhandeneA?A? Suchfeld ein und drA?A?cken Sie die EINGABE-Taste. Sie werden sich wundern, alle Seiten innerhalb lankafirst.de, die den von Ihnen eingegebenen Begriff enthalten werden Ihnen auf einer Ergebnisseite angezeigt und Sie kA?A?nnen von hier aus die entsprechende Seite bequem mit einem ‘Klick’ erreichen. So dringen Sie in Tiefen der Website vor, von der Sie nicht wussten, dass sie existieren.

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!

Okanda

Published on 17/02/2008 in Blogs, people and press coverage. 0 Comments

Saturday, February 16, 2008

An accident: Story

An accident
By Dibyajyoti Sarma

To sit alone near a crowded sea-shore like the one in Juhu can be quite a task. The solitude of the jungle has its own charm; the silence among the crowd is quite unnerving. It would have been different in Calcutta; IA?a??a??ve a routine there to ward of my loneliness. IA?a??a??m new in Bombay, a tourist and evenings are the bad times for a lone and poor tourist.
I pass time by looking at the crowed, especially a couple, standing near the approaching waves, the husband with his hands in the pocket of his trousers and the wife clutching the fluttering pallu of her sari by her left hand; I am especially looking at her. I donA?a??a??t know why.
A small boy selling small sea shell key chains accost me. Sir, take this bunch for forty rupees. I inform him that I donA?a??a??t have money. He asks me not to make jokes with him and tells me: sir, you are like my big brother, IA?a??a??ll give you the whole bunch for twenty rupees. Take it sir. Impressive marketing! I give it to the young chap. Does he go to school? I ask him. Yes, he answers.
Excuse me, Okan? The key chain seller nudges me; someoneA?a??a??s standing behind me, clutching the fluttering pallu of her sari by her left hand.
Excuse me, are you Okan, Okan Bhatt? I look at the woman. Yes, thatA?a??a??s me, and you?
Dada, IA?a??a??m Nila. DonA?a??a??t you remember?

Some things cannot be forgotten, but it is difficult to remember either. They try to cease the movement of time. They are like thorns in the garden of spring forgotten in the big fair of life, and one day when it pricks the sole of your chapped feetA?a??A?
I donA?a??a??t remember when I last saw Nila. The last time I went to her house, Machima prepared luchi and aloo bhaji, especially for me. And she cried. No, no, I forgot. I went to her place again for one last time. That evening too, Nila was not at home.
Machima opened the door. Seeing me she said sweetly, A?a??A?Come, come, IA?a??a??ve prepared khir today. I said I was in a hurry, just stopped by to say this: A?a??A?If you are sure, then let Nila marry him. I donA?a??a??t have any problem. IA?a??a??ll just disappear from her life. Let her be happy.A?a??A? Machima stood frozen on the threshold. She knew how much I loved Nila. She knew how much Nila loved me.
For many years I was even scared to think whatA?a??a??ll happen if I just bump into Nila some day. IA?a??a??d imagine, after seeing me sheA?a??a??ll break into tears, will call me names A?a??a?? coward, hypocriteA?a??A? will slash my hand with her long fingernails – nothing of that sort happened.
A?a??A?Okanda, after so many years,A?a??A? she cried. What are you doing here?A?a??A?
A?a??A?What are you doing here?A?a??A? I ask back. A?a??A?How did you recognize me? My appearance has changed a lot.A?a??A?
A?a??A?Of course, one can count the hair on your head. But is it possible to forget you?A?a??A?
I search for malice in her voice. There is none. It is the plain expression of a plain truth.
A?a??A?We live here, what else,A?a??A? she informed and called out to the man with his hands tucked in the pockets of his trousers. A?a??A?Rana, Adige asho, come hereA?a??A?A?a??A? Then she turns towards me and asks: A?a??A?WhoA?a??a??s with you?A?a??A?
None. I answer. I am alone.
A?a??A?Not married yet. Or ashamed to travel with your wife?A?a??a??
Before I could muster an answer, like an obedient student, her husband stands beside her. Nila introduces him to me. By the look of it, heA?a??a??s certainly one of those big corporate bosses: manicured nail, a wiseacre smile, and an unimaginative face.
She asks me what I was doing in Bombay. I mumble something. She talks about herself. SheA?a??a??s in Bombay for last two years with her husband. Next year they are moving to Australia. I feel like having a cigarette. I control myself. How Nila used to fight with me about my smoking habits. Finally I had to quit that small addiction of mine. It is a long time since I began smoking again. I look at her husband and smile. Does he smoke when sheA?a??a??s not around?
Once I thought I would never be able to face Nila again. And here she is, talking animatedly to me in a crowed beach, as if nothing had ever happened between us, as if she was not betrothed to me, as if she never told me that she could feel my breath inside her bones, as if we never planned our lives together.
ItA?a??a??s not meeting Nila, but the banality of the situation, the way she is responding to this sudden, strange meeting, the way she is blabbering, animatedly, the way her husband is grinning encouraginglyA?a??A?
Want to have some coffee? I ask and she answers, A?a??A?no, bhel.A?a??A? Her husband looks at her. Probably it hurts his ego. I join in some small talk with him. Just courtesy. Did Nila ever told her husband about me? If yes, just how much? Nila offers a plastic plate of Bhel to her husband and then one to me.
Nila enquires where am I am staying in Bombay. Then she asks tell me where you live in Calcutta these days. I will try to see you next time I am there. I look at her searchingly. Why she wants to see me again? Whatever was there between us is all over. I donA?a??a??t want to scratch all those wounds that are, thank god, healing. This, today evening was an accident. Nila shrugs her shoulders and says: A?a??A?Leave it. God knows when IA?a??a??ll go home again.A?a??A?

Am I jealous of Nila? Or am I angry with her? Bitch! Once she said, if she canA?a??a??t marry me, sheA?a??a??ll remain a spinster. And today, how sheA?a??a??s fluttering around her rich husband. As if she doesnA?a??a??t remember me at all.
And I? When people ask, I tell them, I got divorce before marriage. I donA?a??a??t have the courage to put my hands into burning fire again. People laugh, they pity me.
Perhaps Maya was right after all. Whatever was supposed to happen between you and her is already over. And it was your decision. But is it wise to destroy everything for that one decision? IA?a??a??m not asking you to forget Nila. But donA?a??a??t kill yourself with her memory. You can start your life all over again. With meA?a??A?
One day she too got married to someone else.
That decision was mine too.
It was a difficult time. Nila had already completed her graduation. Her family wanted her to get married soon. I was still struggling, doing odd jobs.
Machima said, son, why donA?a??a??t you two get married. YouA?a??a??ll get a good job one day. Nila too can find something for herself. And for the beginning, even NilaA?a??a??s father can help.
Those were depressing days. Those were the days of blunt ego. Nila cried. I screamed like mad: A?a??A?Marriage, marriage. Just get married and youA?a??a??ll see how all the love just vanishes like a smoke when thereA?a??a??s no money.
Leave that to me. IA?a??a??ll manage. She said.

Serving me some extra aloo bhaji, Machima informed. A proposal has come for Nila. A suitable boy. Good job and everything. I didnA?a??a??t know how to respond. Sitting beside me Machima said: We canA?a??a??t even say sheA?a??a??s engaged, can we?
That night I took the decision. Let Nila get married. ThatA?a??a??s better for her. ThereA?a??a??s no point spoiling her life with a futureless person like me.
And that morning, I removed everything from the garden of my desire, packed the sun in a black cloth and locked it inside a cupboard. I tried to stop the passing current with my fist. There was no option but to burn away into a heap of ash.

Room service comes at eight. Then whoA?a??a??s knocking at my door at six in the morning? Yesterday was a bad night. I didnA?a??a??t sleep a wink. I open the door, disturbed, irritated.
You? ItA?a??a??s Nila in front of me; a big polythene bag in her hand, water still dripping from her long flowing hair.
A?a??A?WouldnA?a??a??t you invite me inside?A?a??A? she asks. A?a??A?You are surprised, arenA?a??a??t you? She closes the door and sits on a chair. SheA?a??a??s wearing a cloud white sari. A?a??A?We werenA?a??a??t supposed to meet like this, isnA?a??a??t it?A?a??A?
It was an accident. I grin foolishly. If I were you, I would have just disappeared from the scene.
A?a??A?I know. You are cowardA?a??A?A?a??A?
Finally. Finally. I am prepared. After all these years, I have to face all her bickering.
A?a??A?But Okanda, I couldnA?a??a??t. All these years IA?a??a??ve been praying to god only for just one thing, that you are still alive, that I see you at least once. You just disappeared. How I tried to find any information about you.A?a??A?
Bending my head down, I listen. What is there for me to say?
A?a??A?I couldnA?a??a??t OkandaA?a??A? IA?a??A? IA?a??A? still love you.A?a??A?
No. Those are stories from the previous birth. I donA?a??a??t remember.
Would you like to have some tea? I ask.
A?a??A?No,A?a??A? she answers. A?a??A?I have to return back soon. I told Rana that I am visiting a temple.A?a??A?
Why? Why Nila has come to meet me? I canA?a??a??t ask.
A?a??A?Why didnA?a??a??t you get married, Okanda? Seems you tell people that you got divorce before marriage A?a??a?? do you tell them who filled for divorce?
Have you come to ask me this? Have you come to do the accounts?
A?a??A?You did all the accounting, didnA?a??a??t you? I had to accept you rulings. DonA?a??a??t think that you are the only one who failed. I lost too.A?a??A?
Then why have you come to meet me without telling your husband?
Without speaking a word Nila gets up and picks up the polythene bag. ItA?a??a??s filled with marigold flowers, my favourite. She spread the flowers on the bed.
What is all this drama, Nila?
A?a??A?Drama?A?a??A? she sits next to me on the bed and takes my hands between hers. (Oh, these hands!) Then she speaks softly: A?a??A?Drama? You played drama with me, Okanda. You just disappeared into the blue. CouldnA?a??a??t even trust me that much that I could love you without any money.
My hands are between hers. She smells of jasmine. What is there for me to say?
You are happy with your husband, arenA?a??a??t you?
Nila smiles. A dazzling smile. A?a??A?How easily you could ask, am I happy? Yes sir, I am very happy. Did I surprise you? I hope not. IA?a??a??m very happy with Rana. My husband is a good human being and he loves me. And heA?a??a??s rich. What more do you want from a husband anyway?
Her voice trails off. A?a??A?And suddenly amidst the luxury of my husbandA?a??a??s home I scream out in pain.A?a??A? She pulls my hand and puts it on her heaving bosom. A?a??A?ThereA?a??a??s a live wound thereA?a??A? sometimes it painsA?a??A? then I need youA?a??A?
A?a??A?IA?a??a??m still in love with you.A?a??A?
Nila. Nila. DonA?a??a??t speak a word. Please. IA?a??a??ve wrapped the sun with a black cloth. DonA?a??a??t uncover it.
Nila, it was not a good idea for you to meet me.
A?a??A?For one last time.A?a??A? She smiles. She gets up from the bed and stands before me. So, Mr Bhatt, since you had your divorce before marriage, how about honeymoon after divorce.
She pours her fingers through my unkempt hair. A?a??A?You know, finally, Rana and I have decided to have a baby. According to the doctor too, itA?a??a??s the right time.A?a??A?

The proximity between us recedes. And she whispers on my ear: A?a??A?Give me a baby. Give me a baby from your side.A?a??A?

2 Comments:

Over the counter sleep aids unisom

At 3:03 AM, A?A?jason said…

hey, here is the site i was talking about where i made the extra cash……

source:
http://writeriot.blogspot.com/2008/02/accident-story.html

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watch out for the tigers..

Saturday, February 16, 2008

An accident: Story

2 Comments:

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