Sri Lanka's Return to War: Limiting the Damage(REPORT)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Sri Lanka is in civil war again, and there are no prospects of a peace process resuming soon. On 2 January 2008, the government announced its withdrawal from a ceasefire agreement with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This formalised a return to conflict that has been underway since 2006 but also presaged worse to come. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, abuses of human rights by both sides are increasing, and those calling for peace are being silenced. There is no present chance of a new ceasefire or negotiations since the government, despite pro forma statements in favour of a political solution, is dependent on hardliners and appears intent on a military decision. International actors must concentrate for now on damage limitation: protecting civilians from the war’s worst effects and supporting those working to preserve Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions.

In addition to heavy fighting in the north, the first weeks of 2008 have seen the assassinations of a government minister and a Tamil opposition member of parliament, multiple bombings in Colombo, a wave of deadly attacks on civilians in the majority Sinhalese south, and widespread disappearances and killings of non-combantants in the north and east. More than 5,000 combatants and civilians are estimated to have been killed over the past two years. At least 140,000 have fled intensified fighting in the north, and more are likely to be forced out if the military continues its push into Tiger-controlled territory. If the government’s military approach in the east is a precedent for its conduct of the northern campaign, civilians and their property are at grave risk.

Much of the blame for the resumption in violence lies with the LTTE; its ceasefire violations and abuses of the population under its control pushed the government towards war. The Tiger strategy was to shore up internal support by provoking a Sinhala nationalist reaction; it worked, although the insurgents may come to regret their approach. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has also overplayed his hand. Relying on support from Sinhala extremists, he has let them set an agenda that allows only for a military approach.

The military and much of the government leadership believe they can defeat or permanently weaken the Tigers by the end of 2008. The LTTE has been badly hurt over the past eighteen months: it has lost the areas it controlled in the Eastern Province; its arms routes have been disrupted; hundreds, perhaps thousands, of its fighters have been killed; and senior commanders are now vulnerable to targeted elimination, either from air force bombs or special forces. But the Tigers remain a formidable fighting force. While the army has been inching forward in the north, they are fighting back from well-defended positions. Even assuming the Tigers can be defeated militarily, it remains unclear how the government would pacify and control the large Tamil-speaking areas in the north that have been under LTTE domination for a decade or more.

The government argues its military campaign will clear the way for a political solution. Vowing to “eradicate terrorism”, it says it aims to destroy the Tigers or force them to disarm and enter democratic politics and negotiations alongside other Tamil and Muslim parties. But after promising for more than a year to undertake substantial constitutional reforms once the All-Party Representative Committee (APRC) recommended them, it now proposes only to “fully implement” the constitution’s long-existing Thirteenth Amendment. The limited devolved powers for the north and east that this would represent are unlikely even in the best case to be sufficient to win over many Tamils or Muslims, though they could be a useful start if implemented sincerely. Since President Rajapaksa has chosen to depend on strongly Sinhala nationalist parties for his government’s survival, however, this seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, ethnic divisions are deepening. The humanitarian costs of the war are concentrated in Tamil-speaking areas. In Colombo, security forces have conducted large, often indiscriminate arrests of Tamils under emergency regulations. But Muslims are under pressure from both the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), a paramilitary group which broke from the Tigers and operates with the government’s blessing, and government-sponsored land and administrative changes. The much touted “liberation” of the Eastern Province has failed to bring development or democracy; instead it has been characterised by military rule and rising ethnic tensions. The government will lose an opportunity to set up a democratic alternative to the LTTE in the east if it fails to rein in the TMVP ahead of a series of elections scheduled to begin in March 2008.

The human rights and governance crisis continues unabated, with paralysis of the institutions empowered to investigate and prosecute, and consequent impunity for abusers. The many ad hoc commissions of inquiry of the past two years have accomplished nothing, while disappearances and political killings continue, especially in Jaffna and other parts of the north. Both the Tigers and the TMVP continue to recruit and make use of child soldiers, despite repeated pledges to UN agencies and others not to.

The current conflict is worse than what preceded the 2002 ceasefire. The government’s counter-insurgency campaign is more brutal and indiscriminate, the terror and criminal activities of its Tamil proxy forces more extensive and blatant, and the role of chauvinistic Sinhala ideologues in government more pronounced. The suspected involvement of pro-government forces in the assassinations of Tamil politicians is particularly disturbing. The Tigers have fully militarised life in areas under their control and returned to brutal attacks on Sinhalese civilians, intent on provoking even worse retaliation.

As unpromising as present circumstances are, the government should be alert to any opportunities that arise to promote a new peace process. Meanwhile, the international community needs to use its limited leverage for the time being to prevent further deterioration, while developing strategies to strengthen the moderate, non-violent forces still committed to a peaceful and just settlement and to build the middle ground – significantly beyond the unitary state but far short of a separate Tamil state – that will be necessary if a lasting political solution is to gain traction once political conditions are better. This will require pressing the Tigers and their supporters to abandon terrorism and separatism, while simultaneously encouraging a new consensus in the south in support of constitutional and state reforms.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To the Government of Sri Lanka:

1. Meet basic humanitarian needs and protect civilians from the effects of war by:

(a) conducting all military operations in strict accordance with international law;

(b) guaranteeing full and prompt access for UN agencies and humanitarian organisations, with adequate medical supplies, to LTTE-controlled areas; and

(c) defending UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations against unfounded allegations by hardline politicians and parties and guaranteeing the safety of all humanitarian workers, Sri Lankan and foreign.

2. Take all necessary steps to protect the fundamental human rights of all citizens, including:

(a) conducting anti-terrorist operations in accordance with both domestic constitutional guarantees and international human rights and humanitarian law;

(b) investigating fully all allegations of disappearances and killings carried out by state forces or militant groups aligned with the state and prosecuting when credible evidence is available;

(c) passing through parliament a witness protection law that takes into account suggestions from civil society organisations and the International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP);

(d) accepting the proposed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) office in Sri Lanka with adequate powers to monitor and report on human rights violations throughout the country; and

(e) guaranteeing the protection of media personnel and investigating fully recent attacks on journalists.

3. Develop the Eastern Province equitably, transparently, inclusively and effectively by:

(a) delaying local and provincial elections until the illegal activities of all armed groups, including the TMVP, are curtailed and adequate security for all political parties is guaranteed by the police and legitimate security forces;

(b) ending de facto military rule over large parts of the Eastern Province and ensuring that politicians and civil servants of all ethnicities have a major role in planning and decision making; and

(c) guaranteeing full access for UN agencies and humanitarian organisations in the newly cleared areas.

4. Pursue vigorously political reforms that address the legitimate rights and needs of all citizens and ethnic communities in a united and democratic Sri Lanka by:

(a) granting the Eastern Provincial Council, once constituted, all allowable powers under the Thirteenth Amendment, including for police, finance, land and education;

(b) publicly commiting to pursue in the near future more substantial constitutional reforms, including power-sharing at the centre; and

(c) requesting the APRC to publish its proposals for constitutional reforms by the Sinhala and Tamil New Year (mid-April 2008), even if full consensus has not been reached.

To the President:

5. Establish immediately the Constitutional Council and request it to nominate new members to all independent commissions.

To all Political Parties:

6. Monitor closely implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment, work to ensure that maximum powers are granted to the Eastern Provincial Council once it is established after free and fair elections, and press the government to keep constitutional reform high on the agenda.

To the Constituent Parties of the All-Party Representative Committee (APRC):

7. Submit final proposals for constitutional reforms, including power sharing, by mid-April 2008, if necessary with majority and minority reports.

To the United National Party:

8. State publicly willingness to support in parliament reasonable devolution and power-sharing proposals that go beyond the limits of the unitary state, once these are submitted by the APRC.

To the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE):

9. Cease all attacks on civilians, suicide bombings, forced recruitment and repression of media freedom and political dissent and respect fully international human rights and humanitarian law.

10. Abandon publicly the demand for an independent Tamil state (Eelam) and announce willingness to negotiate within the framework of a united Sri Lanka.

To the International Community, in particular Japan, Norway, the EU, the U.S., India, Australia, South Korea and Other Asian States, as well as the United Nations:

11. Recognise that the 2002 peace process having now run its course:

(a) the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donors Conference (Norway, Japan, the U.S. and the EU) no longer have, as such, a clear peacemaking role; and

(b) there needs to be deepened cooperation between India, the EU and the U.S., with the goal of eventually developing a more politically powerful contact group.

12. Strengthen efforts to convince the government to accept a fully staffed UNHCHR office, able to monitor and report on rights violations throughout the country.

13. Continue support for constitutional power-sharing reform to address legitimate minority grievances, monitor Thirteenth Amendment implementation and urge the APRC to submit its proposals by mid-April 2008.

14. Strengthen efforts to close down the LTTE’s global financing and supply networks.

15. Cooperate with UK authorities in gathering evidence for possible prosecution of former TMVP leader Karuna on war crimes and human rights violations charges.

16. Speak out more regularly in defence of UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations and for the safety of all humanitarian workers, Sri Lankan and foreign.

To Donor Governments and International Financial Institutions:

17. Promote respect for the Guiding Principles for Humanitarian and Development Assistance agreed by donors and the Sri Lankan government in 2007 by forming a donor task force to investigate political and conflict dynamics in the Eastern Province and report publicly on the best way to ensure equity, inclusiveness and transparency.

To the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict:

18. Recommend that the Security Council impose targeted sanctions on both the Tigers and the TMVP for continued recruitment and use of child soldiers.

Colombo/Brussels, 20 February 2008

Source: crisisgroup.org

Church leader in fresh call for peace in Sri Lanka

By: George Conger.

THE INTENSIFICATION of the civil war in Sri Lanka has elicited renewed calls for peace from the Anglican Church of Ceylon.



The Bishop of Colombo, the Rt Rev Duleep de Chickera (pictured) has condemned government air attacks on Tamil villages in northern Sri Lanka sheltering Tamil Tiger rebels, [LTTE] and the LTTE terror bombing campaign targeting Sinhalese civilian.

"The recent spate of calculated mayhem targeted against innocent civilians that collectively killed scores of civilians including school children, and injured many more,” he said on Feb 7, “must be condemned without reservation."

The terrorist attacks demonstrated a “total disregard” for human life and were “counterproductive” to the cause of Tamil independence. The LTTE attacks were stiffening the resolve of the government not to give in to terrorism and were leading “to the conversion of moderates to extremism,” he said.

He also noted his “great concern” about government air attacks on rebel-controlled bases. Two church-run orphanages were in rebel territory he said. These children “live in fear and have nowhere to run except into their bunkers when the planes arrive. Please do everything possible to avoid harming these little ones,” he asked the government.

Bishop de Chickera urged Sri Lankans of all ethnic backgrounds “to remain calm under provocation and to do all we can to strengthen understanding and peaceful coexistence,” between the country’s ethnic communities.

Jayalalitha telling ‘a bundle of lies’: Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Monday accused archrival J. Jayalalitha of “telling a bundle of lies” about the DMK government’s support to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels, saying her “only aim is to get the DMK government dismissed”. He was responding to the AIADMK leader’s statements in an interview to her party’s television channel, Jaya TV, Sunday night. In the interview, the former chief minister said AIADMK MPs would raise in parliament the issue of DMK encouraging the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Accusing the central government of “lacking political will to do so”, Jayalalitha said her MPs “will seek the cooperation of parties that have faith in the sovereignty of the nation and concern for national security” to “seek the dismissal of the Karunanidhi government on this count (support to the LTTE)”.

In a six-page statement countering the AIADMK leader’s charges, Karunanidhi denied that his regime was “soft on the LTTE”.

He also recalled Supreme Court judges S. Rajendra Babu and G.P. Mathur’s interpretation that a section (3-1) of the draconian Prevention Of Terrorism Act could be construed to be terrorism only if support to extremist outfits led to terror against the state and people, and that mere oral support was not a crime.

Karunanidhi has earlier drawn flak for his ode to slain LTTE leader S.P. Thamilchelvan, who was killed in a bombing raid by the Sri Lanka Air Force in November.

Source: thaindian.com

Sri Lanka's controversial Minister to resign from parliament

Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Labour, Dr. Mervyn Silva says that he will resign from the parliament in order to secure a position in the Constitutional Council.

Speaking to media he said, that obtaining a position in the Constitutional Council where only 10 members will be allowed to chair, would give him a better opportunity to serve the people.

Asked whether his decision has anything do with a disciplinary inquiry to probe the alleged assault of the news director at the state owned TV station by the Minister and his supporters, the Minster said that he took the decision by himself and has no connection with any disciplinary inquiry as he has not involved in any breaching of discipline.

Following the assault the SLFP Central Committee appointed a three-member committee headed by Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to probe the incident. The report of the investigation is due next week.

The Minister, who entered the parliament in 1994 from the Tissamaharama electorate in Hambantota from the Opposition United National Party and later crossed over to SLFP, said that he will continue to engage in political activities despite his resignation from the parliament.

Source: colombopost

Germany wants sanctions if Sri Lanka continues war

Unless Sri Lanka’s hardline government abandons its militarist path, the EU should impose sanctions, Germany said this week, adding that an EU-Troika will travel to Sri Lanka in early March to assess the situation. In an interview with the Tages Speigel newspaper published on February 9, German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul also said Germany had frozen new development cooperation projects with Sri Lanka and, because of the deteriorating security situation, was withdrawing half their development personnel from the island as well as closing the German Development Bank in Sri Lanka.

The English translation of extracts of the Tages Speigel interview with Minister Wieczorek-Zeul published in The Morning Leader newspaper Wednesday follow:

Q: In January the Government of Sri Lanka has withdrawn from the Ceasefire Agreement. What can Europe and the world do?

A: The international community must influence both parties to the conflict to seek a political solution and withdraw from the war which brings only suffering to the people. In the beginning of March an EU-Troika will travel to Sri Lanka. If the Sri Lankan government continues to insist on a military option, I will demand that the EU should withdraw the General System of Preference (GSP) offered to Sri Lanka. This concession enables Sri Lanka to export its goods and products to the EU at reduced or exempted tax and duty levies. This step will really bring economic pressure on the GoSL. For Sri Lanka a preference system plus is in place until the end of 2008 which, however, requires good governance.

If the EU continues to accept the present situation the plus is meaningless. The biggest portion of Sri Lanka's exports consists of textile exports. Only garment product exports to the EU markets are valued at US$ 1-2 billion annually. The other part is exported to the United States. It is also important to consult with the US which has also taken up a very critical position towards Sri Lanka in the past weeks.

Q: And development cooperation?

A: For the past two years we have not concluded any new agreements on cooperation as projects cannot be implemented due to the security situation. We are only engaged in completing what we have started earlier. We could make new agreements over _38 million, but we shall not do so at this point.

Q: How should the United Nations act?

A: It would be encouraging if the UN Security Council takes up this issue. However, it seems that it is difficult at the moment for the UN Security Council to act. However, what the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon can do without a formal decision of the Security Council is to send a special envoy to Sri Lanka.

After the departure of the Norwegian monitors who were in place since the Ceasefire Agreement of 2002 there is nobody to document human rights violations. The war is now again in full swing.

Q: Why has Sri Lanka failed to achieve peace after the tsunami of 2004 as it has happened in the Aceh Province of Indonesia?

A: After the tsunami I had greater hopes of Sri Lanka achieving peace than in Indonesia. There were so many initiatives from people from around the world. But it turned out to be different. The reconstruction in Aceh is successful and there is a responsible government set up even in the province of Aceh.

In the north and the east of Sri Lanka where many Tamils live we practically cannot further undertake development projects. I presume both parties to the conflict believe they can solve the conflict which continues from 1983 by military means. However, this is unrealistic. It will result only in more deaths numbering thousands.

Since 1983 more than 75,000 lives have been lost in the fighting between the government and the LTTE. The LTTE considers itself as a freedom movement but the EU banned the LTTE as a terrorist organisation almost two years ago. It is such a beautiful country and its people are very motivated. I feel a genuine responsibility for the people of this country. If the violence increases the international community has a responsibility to act.

Q: Should tourists travel to Sri Lanka?

A: It is up to the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to issue travel recommendations. However, we are withdrawing half of the personnel working in development cooperation and we will close the office of the German Development Bank (Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau), because the security situation is very critical.

Source: LiveLeak

Former deputy Minister, 2 others in bribery net

by Harischandra Gunaratna

Bribery sleuths on Thursday arrested former Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and Director General of the Central Cultural Fund A. V. Suraweera, Bandula Mandawela, Director (Development) and T. M. J. Jude Thilan, Deputy Director (Promotions) on a charge of bribery.

The suspects were alleged to have advanced a sum of Rs. 1,382,052 to a contractor who had undertaken rehabilitation work at the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve, acting against the tender procedures.

The Bribery sleuths acted on a complaint lodged by the Acting Director General of the Central Cultural Fund Premalal Abeysinghe Gunasekera on August 3, 2003.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Nishantha Hapuarachchi ordered the suspects to be released on Rs 15,000 cash bail and Rs 1.5 million surety bail.

The suspects were ordered to surrender their passports to Court, report to police on every last Sunday of the month and directed to appear in Court on 28 March.

Source: Island

Karunanidhi says, even ready to step down over Tiger issue

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi hit back at Congress leaders and announced on Sunday that he was even ready to face a change of power in the state over false allegations of supporting the LTTE. Speaking at a marriage function at the DMK headquarters. In the function well-attended by several Congress leaders, Karunanidhi alleged that some people were trying to topple his government by indulging in a 'conspiracy' and requested Congressmen not to become a party to it.

"I regret that the Congress leaders speak as if Tamil Nadu has become the hunting ground for the Liberation Tigers. If such a situation arises, I shall be the first person who shall stand up to prevent it. Not only the Congress, but the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Dravida Kazhagam (DK) also share this responsibility. All the allies of the DMK party have this responsibility. I feel that even the Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Katchi (VCK), whose speeches makes us wonder whether they are really part of the alliance, also has this responsibility," he said.

Congress leader and Indian Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's accusatory remarks in a public meeting at Nagerkovil on Saturday was the immediate cause for Karunanidhi's ire.

The chief minister reiterated that legal action would be taken against anyone who indulges in anti-national activity in Tamil Nadu.

Though he had announced this is in the State Assembly, he regretted that Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu kept accusing him of giving room to the LTTE.

"A Congress leader, who gave a media interview that 'Karunanidhi doesn't support the LTTE one bit,' accuses me of betraying the nation when he addresses the State Assembly. Congress member Peter Alphonse, who was present in the house should have got up and refuted this statement. Even Chidambaram expresses similar views in a public meeting. I spoke to him and wondered why he had spoken as if the LTTE enjoys support in Tamil Nadu."

Karunanidhi reeled out statistics of those arrested for indulging in pro-LTTE activities in the state ever since his government assumed power on May 15, 2006: 12 cases had been filed against the Tigers, 103 people had been arrested in these cases, of whom 13 belonged to the LTTE. Moreover, 92 LTTE supporters had been arrested, of whom 31 were Lankan Tamils and the remaining were Indian Tamils. Currently, 40 people are detained in prisons under the National Security Act, and three of them are Tamil Tigers, Karunanidhi said.

Karunanidhi said that Congress leaders should not fall into the trap of forces inimical to the progress of Tamils. He reminded the gathering that he was a disciple of the late Annadurai who had given up the demand for a separate Dravida Nadu to strengthen the unity of India.

Source: tamilnet

On Lanka I-Day, British Tamils demand rights

British Tamils marked the 60th anniversary of Sri Lankan independence on Monday with a several-hundred strong Downing Street demonstration demanding "real freedom" and "real rights" for the community, even as the protestors were branded members of the LTTE, which is banned in the UK.

Meanwhile, at least 14 people were killed in two roadside bombings in Sri Lanka on Monday, as the island's president marked independence day by insisting he was winning the war against Tamil Tigers. In an address to the nation, President Rajapakse said the "challenge bestowed upon us by history is the defeat of terrorism," and said government forces had cornered the LTTE)in the north.

The demonstration was called by the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), which is spread across eight European countries, Canada and the US. Tamil sources said British and European politicians were expected to attend.

It came as the British Tamils Forum organised a photo exhibition near the British parliament with the professed aim of educating the second-generation of Tamils in the UK about "the past 60 years of oppression, ethnic cleansing and discrimination that largely the Tamil community has faced at the hands of the sovereign state of Sri Lanka". Expatriate Tamil angst has swelled in recent weeks, after Colombo formally ended a 2002 cease-fire with the rebel LTTE.

But Sri Lankan sources criticized the Downing Street protest as yet another instance of the banned LTTE managing to hoodwink the British authorities. According to sources, the protest, which reportedly drew at least 400 people, was organized by AC Shanthan, who allegedly heads the LTTE here and Golden Lambert. Both the main organizers are said to have formerly been arrested under Britain's anti-terrorist laws and are allegedly out on bail at present. Both men are said to be prominent fund-raisers for the LTTE.

The TYO organized a well-attended rally in central London's Hyde Park in July 2006. Sources said Shanthan and Lambert were subsequently arrested under Britain's anti-terrorism laws which ban monetary and moral support for a proscribed organization by way of speeches and fund-raising. The British Tamil Forum said it intended its photographic exhibition to travel to several major cities in the UK, Canada, Australia, the US and South Africa.

Source: indiatimes.com

Independence Day speech(FULL TEXT) by the President

Ven. Maha Sangha, Members of the Clergy of other religions, Hon. Prime Minister , Hon. Speaker,

Hon. Chief Justice and Members of Judiciary, Hon. Ministers and Members of Parliament,

Governors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Secretary to the President and all Officers of State,

The Chief of Defence Staff and Commanders of the Armed Forces and the Inspector General of Police,

Mothers, Fathers and Dear Children,

My friends who join me in celebrating the 60th anniversary of Independence.

On this historic day we witness the proud commemoration of the 60th anniversary of freedom of a great nation. I say with gratitude that we achieved this dignity and greatness as the Sri Lankan nation, not only through the sacrifices of today's heroes, but also due to the immense sacrifices of our forefathers throughout history. Let us make this the opportunity to first bow our heads in salutation to all those who sacrificed their blood and sweat for the country.
Friends,

I believe freedom is something that has to be made meaningful day by day. We have now arrived at an era where we have decisively dedicated ourselves to enrich the substance of freedom.

As I see it, among important measures that should be taken to enrich freedom are the defeat of terrorism, development of the country, and consolidating trust among all peoples.

Just as every drop of water released from the Mavil Aru anicut since its liberation, every plant we grow and nurture in our villages under the theme "Let us grow to build the country" is a gigantic step to nurture the country's independence and freedom.

During the last two years we have as a nation brought forth a very important and decisive factor to enrich the substance of freedom. It is an indicator that has so far never been used to measure a country's well-being or development. Just as the oil reserves that would be harnessed in the future from the sea off Mannar, and the electricity that would be generated from the Norochcholai and Upper Kotmale power projects, this indicator will have great import for Sri Lanka in the future.

This is none other than the patriotism, and love for the country that has emerged among our people today.

Our challenge today is to be true to the nation and maintain this patriotic fervor of our people, without letting it to be subjugated by political party differences, and political interests.

The competition among us should not be among the parties to which we give leadership. Our struggle should not be between the Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim communities. Our disagreements should not be among Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. Friends, our struggle should be between the past and the future; between what is wrong, and what is correct; between hate and Maitriya (Loving Kindness).

Friends, the Sri Lankan nation had to live with fearsome experiences of the terrible tragedy and cancer of terrorism for three of the six decades since independence. Infinite are the loss of lives, property and opportunities due to it. However, I am convinced that we can restore the lost opportunities for progress instead of lamenting and sighing, heaping blame on politicians and the motherland, while looking at and envying the progress made by other countries. I consider such behaviour as both treachery and a betrayal of the country.

Is there any meaning in comparing pre-independence Singapore, or the previous condition of any other country with our present status? We must as a nation stop regurgitating outdated thinking that is harmful to the well being of the nation.

The challenge bestowed to us by history is the defeat of terrorism and the development of the country. You are aware of how most governments that accepted this challenge, later handed it over to its successor, as a heavy and unbearable burden.

Friends, during the last two years, however, we faced this challenge squarely without avoiding it. Our security forces are today achieving victories against terrorism unprecedented in history. Terrorism is receiving an unprecedented defeat.

In less than two years we have liberated the large Eastern Province that was under the clutches of the terrorists and confined them to two districts, only. It will not be wrong to say they are confined to one-and-a-half districts. But Friends, this cannot be a victory of the southern people alone.

When this becomes a victory of the people in the south, we must make it an even greater victory for people in the north. When the people of the south are relieved by the defeat of terrorism, the people of the north have cause for even greater relief.

We are already taking steps to enable the people in the Eastern Province liberated from terrorism, to enjoy their democratic rights. We are expeditiously holding elections that will ensure to people hitherto subdued in silence, the exercise of their democratic right to elect one's own representatives.

We are also rapidly developing these areas that were subject to the extortion and ransom demands of terrorists.

You know that the rate of development of the Eastern Province is faster than the rate of fall of terrorist bastions today. The provision of electricity, water, housing, schools and roads is being accelerated. We want the people of the North and East to be victorious.

It is the same with the political solution.

You know that we did not win independence for the benefit of one community alone. The Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, Malays and all participated in the freedom struggle. None of us wanted freedom for a divided country. We all wanted freedom for a single country.

From the time of Handy Perinpanayagam, leader of the Jaffna Youth League who first called for full independence for Sri Lanka, to the time of Dr. T. B. Jayah, and Ponnambalam Ramanathan, whose statue stands at the Presidential Secretariat premises today; all our people were in the freedom struggle. The problem today is that there is no space for the emergence of such heroes. If there were such heroes who fought for the independence of a single country, they would have fallen victim to LTTE guns. Therefore, we will liberate the North from the clutches of terrorism and also provide a political solution and bring political freedom to the people there.

It is only if we act in this manner that we will we once again see the emergence of leaders from the North and the East like those heroes who participated in the freedom struggle. This commitment of ours is to go forward as a single, unitary state.

Friends, our solution must be based on what could be implemented in this country. We cannot offer solutions that are experiments. We cannot experiment with solutions when so much blood has been shed and tens of thousands of lives have been lost. That is why we selected a solution which can be implemented and about which we have experience. This practical solution is to bring the provincial administration closer to the people within the framework of our Constitution.

Friends, we also have a fine opportunity in this instance, to provide an example to the world.

As a policy we do not have cosmetic and shallow associations with the western countries. Our relations with them are true and real.

We have established new relations with our neighboring states, Arab states, and Buddhist states. Our neighboring states trust us. Our problems and issues are also problems and issues of our neighboring states.

The confidence placed in us by the international community has not diminished one iota.

Whatever is said by those people who make a show of their international connections, there has been no reduction whatever in the aid received by us. We have been able to obtain and use aid that is beneficial to the development of the country. The civilized world today, accepts that Sri Lanka is putting one full- stop to world terrorism.

The defeat of the most ruthless terrorists of the world in Sri Lanka is also a victory of the developed world, which too is a victim of terrorism. We are also fully committed to carry on this battle while safeguarding Human Rights. This is the reality.

Friends, you know that every government had to forget their election pledges even before the expiry of one year in office.

This is because either those policies did not suit the reality of the country, or else they were not bold enough to implement them, however great the support they received from the people. Or else, there was no commitment.

You know that we have implemented to the letter the policies contained in the election manifesto approved by the people at the last Presidential Election. All believed that the stopping of alcohol and drug abuse, the non-issuance of new liquor bar licenses and the prohibition of smoking in public places would be controversial and cannot be implemented. It was also believed by many that it was a law of world economics that the economy could not be maintained without divesting ownership of state enterprises. There was also the belief that identifying as terrorists, those who kill the Sinhala people by the thousands, would lead to dangerous consequences. In short, two years ago, no one believed that terrorists could be defeated. But, during the last two years we made it a reality in our motherland.

We have not abandoned the Mahinda Chinthana that was endorsed by the people. We shall not abandon it. Therefore, we say that we shall continue to defend the majority opinion of the people of this country.

During the last two years, we were able to solve many chronic issues that were postponed as being irresolvable. We need not stress that the resolution of these issues was related to the country's independence. Strengthening health, education and the national economy shows the way forward to a better future and an independent country.

Today, the whole country knows that the village exists and is awakening. Factories once closed, such as Thulhiriya have been re-opened. CTB buses are back on the roads with the Lion logo. The CWE and the cooperative movement are being revived. Good roads as in the western countries have now being laid even to remote villages, under "Maga Neguma". Thousands of new houses have been built in the plantations. Potable water projects could be seen in most villages. For the first time since colonial times, we have now begun the construction of an international airport and harbour. Fly-overs and hundreds of bridges and roads are being built. All these bridges are built by Sri Lankan engineers. Earlier, foreign experts were given contracts to oversee construction of our dams; in a country that was famous for its irrigation and reservoir construction. Now, our own Sri Lankan engineers are constructing huge reservoirs at Moragahakanda, Deduru Oya, and Weheragala.

We are building a country where the farmer could smile as he reaps the harvest from his cinnamon, betel, maize and rice cultivations. Venerable Sirs, when our people construct their own roads and reservoirs, when they receive a good price for their crops, when they consume their own food, they begin to feel that they are not strangers in one's own land.

We have given our nation every opportunity to link with the technologically developed world. We have been able to raise computer literacy in the country to 25% without trumpeting about it, in a country that did not attach much importance to it. During the last two years we have recorded the highest economic growth of 7 per cent after 30 years.

What is essential is to carry these achievements forward. We shall do so as a country that is not subjugated or frightened and open to exploitation or extortion. We shall do safeguarding our national identity and independence. Whatever difficulties we encounter we shall not betray our motherland.

We know that our people, as those in other countries, face the burdens of a high cost of living due to world food shortages and the rise in oil prices.

But as the Head of State who has ensured a difficult victory in our motherland, I say that these difficulties are not permanent. I say with responsibility that I will not allow them to be difficulties even in the long-term. It must be said that short-term difficulties lead to long term benefits and a life free of oppression.

Let us understand the hardships we face due to our efforts to raise our country to a significant place in the world. We are ready to create a country that will utilize to the maximum our ocean resources that are several times the size of the land mass of our motherland.

I am ready to create a society that will utilize to the maximum the resources of our country.

The task before us is to make maximum use of our natural resources in our skies, our land, our beaches and the sea. We have the huge task of making every inch of land productive and extract from nature all resources needed for a free country. I am convinced that our Sri Lankan nation has the strength to achieve this. Accordingly, our resolve will take us to the creation of a truly free and independent nation in our motherland.

I wish you all a happy and successful future.

May you be blessed by the Triple Gem!

Source: defence.lk

Cabinet Committee to study APRC proposals

APRC discussions to continue:

Rohan MATHES

The Cabinet has appointed a Cabinet Committee to seek ways and means of implementing the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) proposals.

Media and Information Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Anura Priyadarshana Yapa addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium yesterday said the Cabinet which met on Wednesday, had appointed the committee to discuss and formulate diverse ways and means whereby the APRC proposals would be discussed at length.

“The committee comprising all party leaders in the Cabinet and associated with the APRC, will pursue all ways and means on how the 13th Amendment could be implemented in relation to the APRC proposals. The committee’s decisions will be made public shortly,” he said.

He added that they will make sure that the Provincial Council for the East and the Governor and the Interim Advisory Council for the North would be appointed.

Meanwhile, the APRC in a press release said it met on Monday January 28 as scheduled.

After a critical review of recent events, it was decided to proceed with discussions to finalise the set of proposals that would be the basis for a new Constitution and provide a final solution to the National question. Ideas were exchanged on what should go into the agenda for future meetings and an agreement was reached on this matter.

Interest was expressed on the desirability of studying the constitutional set up in some countries like Britain, Spain and Germany.

The hope was expressed that the President and the Government would speedily and maximally extend the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the present Constitution.

Source: Dailynews

JVP rejects solution based on Indian model

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The JVP yesterday rejected APRC (All Party Representative Committee) call for a series of measures to achieve maximum and effective devolution of powers to the provinces in the short term.

JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said that Minister Tissa Vitarana’s so called APRC was no APRC at all. How could they categorise it as an all party committee when the JVP and the UNP weren’t represented. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which recognised the LTTE as the sole representatives of the Tamil speaking people, too, boycotted the committee.

Addressing the press at Savsiripaya auditorium, Amarasinghe asserted that except the SLFP, other parties which endorsed the proposals were in fact no political parties. They were ‘three wheeler’ parties and their endorsement wouldn’t mean a thing, he said.

Severely criticising President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s approach to solve the national problem, the JVP leader accused the government of reviving the long dead Indo-Lanka Accord of July 1987. He urged the government not to revive the accord forced on President JR Jayewardene by India at gunpoint as it would never facilitate a negotiated settlement. The president had conveniently forgotten the tough stand taken against the Indo-Lanka Accord by the SLFP, he said. The UNP killed 140 civilians who marched on Colombo against the Accord, the JVP Chief said, emphasising that the need to destroy the LTTE before tackling political issues.

"In our road map for durable peace, the annihilation of the LTTE comes first," he said. Along with that, the restoration of democracy, compensation to victims of violence irrespective of their ethnicity and eradication of the ‘separatist movement’ would be necessary, he said. This could be followed by elections to provincial councils and local bodies, he said, while emphasising the importance of a countrywide census after the annihilation of the LTTE.

Vitarana said that their recently unveiled proposals would be followed by a set of proposals that would be the basis for a solution to the national problem. "After, 63 sittings, over a period of 1 1/2 years, the consensus document is being finalised and it should be possible to hand it over to the President in the very near future. The outcome would be a basis for appropriate constitutional arrangements. Their implementation would of course require amendment of the present Constitution, and in respect of some Articles, approval by the people at a referendum. This would of course take time, once a favourable climate is established"

Amarasinghe strongly rejected the move to establish an Interim Council for the Northern Province in terms of the Constitution. This would cause chaos, he said adding that the JVP was totally in disagreement with the assertion that the Interim Council should reflect the ethnic character of a particular province, in this case the Northern Province.

In short, the JVP would accept the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitition, he said. Vitarana called for maximum devolution of powers to the provinces under the 13th Amendment. Amarasinghe said that the implementation of the amendment in respect of legislative, executive and administrative powers, overcoming existing shortcomings would be detrimental to the national interest and the JVP would do everything possible to thwart the move.

Responding to a query raised by The Island, Amarasinghe said that the JVP’s armed struggle against the State and that of the LTTE couldn’t be compared. The JVP was a democratic party and it never resorted to any illegal activity before the then UNP administration of JR Jayewardene proscribed the party, he said. Applauding the security forces, which twice put down JVP inspired armed campaigns, the JVP leader expressed satisfaction over the status of the ongoing action against the LTTE. He also launched a scathing attack on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Loise Arbour for being biased towards the LTTE. He emphasised that their protests directed against Ms Arbour shouldn’t be construed as anti-UN.

Briefly discussing the humanitarian disaster in US occupied Iraq, Amarasinghe challenged Arbour to criticise the US led allied action there. She was silent on the situation in Iraq, he said.

The JVP would oppose any effort on the part of the UN to bring Sri Lankan security forces before international court for human rights violations.

Source: The Island

Sri Lankan Power-Sharing Plan Proposes Interim Council in North

By Paul Tighe

Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- Sri Lanka should create an interim council in the Northern Province where the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has its bases as a first step toward settling the issue of Tamil separatism, an all-party forum said.

The conflict with the LTTE makes holding elections impossible in the mainly Tamil north ``in the near future'' and an interim council should be appointed by the president that reflects the ethnic character of the area, the All Party Representative Committee recommended.

The proposals are to meet the aspirations of the people and aren't ``aimed at meeting the demands of the LTTE,'' Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said yesterday, according to a statement on the government's Web site.

The Tamil Tigers, who are fighting for a separate homeland, now hold bases only in the north after they were driven from the eastern region in July. The all-party committee said security has improved so elections can be held in the Eastern Province, where the government is seeking $1.8 billion in international aid to develop the region.

A 1987 constitutional amendment on creating provincial councils is the basis for the power-sharing proposals, the APRC said in a report presented to Rajapaksa two days ago, according to the government's Web site. The amendment was part of a peace accord signed with India when it sent peacekeeping soldiers to the island.

The plan ``envisages an interim arrangement pending the restoration of democratically elected provincial councils in the north and east,'' the committee said.

Minority Groups

The government should oversee the passing of laws providing for the protection of the Tamil language and those of other minority communities, by bringing translators and interpreters into law courts and the police force. Ethnic Sinhalese minorities in the north and east should receive the same benefits, the committee said.

Rajapaksa's government rejects any peace settlement that would divide the country of 20 million people where Tamils make up 11.9 percent of the population and Sinhalese almost 74 percent, according to a 2001 census.

The LTTE, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., European Union and India, rejected the constitutional amendment in 1988, saying it left too much power with the national Parliament.

India's government said the APRC's proposals are a ``welcome first step'' toward a settlement, according to a statement from New Delhi yesterday.

``It has consistently been our view that a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka is to be done by the Sri Lankan people themselves in a manner acceptable to all communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka,'' the Indian government said.

Course of Action

The APRC's proposals identify a course of action to meet the aspirations of minorities through ``maximum and effective devolution of power,'' Bogollagama said in Colombo yesterday.

He earlier briefed the U.S., Japan, EU and Norway, the countries leading a group of donor nations for Sri Lanka, on the APRC's plan, the government said.

The donor nations told Rajapaksa there can be no military solution to the conflict in the South Asian island nation after his government ended a 2002 cease-fire with the LTTE on Jan. 16. Rajapaksa, in a speech three days ago, said he wanted a political settlement. ``However, when it comes to terrorism, I think it is necessary to defeat it,'' he said.

LTTE Attacked

The military has attacked the LTTE's bases in the north since winning control of the eastern region. It has also targeted the LTTE leadership in recent months.

Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE leader, was wounded in an air raid in November, according to the government, and the head of the political wing was killed in an air strike two months ago. The LTTE military intelligence chief was killed Jan. 6.

The Tamil Tigers said their forces repulsed an army offensive at Ma'nalaa'ru in the north late yesterday, TamilNet reported on its Web site.

Police found the bodies of 17 civilians shot dead near the northern town of Vavuniya yesterday, TamilNet said. The victims were found with their hands tied behind their backs, it said.

The Ministry of Defense said several bodies of young people were found near a road late yesterday and LTTE terrorists were suspected of the killings. The ministry didn't say how many bodies were found.

Source: Bloomberg

Government 'will consider grievances of all Tamils'

By Neena Gopal, Special to Gulf News

Bangalore: A senior minister in Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's cabinet said yesterday his government would "take the grievances of all democratically minded Tamil people on board" in evolving a political solution to the country's war between separatist Tamil Tigers and government forces.

Keheliya Rambukwella, Sri Lanka's Minister for Foreign Employment, promotion and welfare, in the UAE on a visit, was commenting on proposals submitted by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) to the president which recommended the full implementation of the 13th amendment - the setting up of provincial councils and a greater devolution of powers to the provinces.

It has been criticised by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the past as discriminatory.

---

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The 13th amendment was the brainchild of prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and Sri Lankan President Junius Jaywardene and never implemented, he said.

"Although any amendments to the constitution require a two-thirds majority, I am confident it will go ahead," he added referring to the support needed from the opposition United National Party and Sinhala nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya to get the amendment passed.

The APRC proposals are "in the same spirit" as the peace proposals by previous governments headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, he said.

The Rajapakse government has worked closely with the international community and particularly India on working out power sharing between the centre and the states. "India has a very strong devolution model," he said, adding that "one way or the other we will decide what political and administrative powers must be granted to each. After years of conflict, it is time to join hands, to give and take."

In a nod to addressing the alienation since the fifties of educated Tamils who resented Sinhala becoming the national language he said his government was even willing to re-examine the feasibility of making English the national language alongside Sinhala and Tamil.

The minister's comments come on the back of a sustained war of attrition to reduce the separatist Tamil Tigers' military capability and the controversial cancellation of a five year long ceasefire agreement (CFA) that has seen a spike in violence.

Rambukwella says "the CFA was never what it should have been". He said: "Prabhakaran (the Tiger supremo) used the piece of paper to advantage at various international forums, never intending to adhere to the deal.

"The Rajapakse government decided it would give the CFA a chance. We went in for two rounds of talks at Geneva but when the Tigers made an attempt on the army chief we felt we should get out of the CFA and liberate the Tamils, terrorised by the LTTE as we have done in the east where Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese live in harmony."

- Neena Gopal is an analyst on Asia.

Secretive: Brain trust targeted

"First there were five. Now there are three. I assure you we will get all three, - Prabhakaran, Soosai (head of the Tiger navy) and Pottu Amman," said Keheliya Rambukwella, Sri Lanka's Minister for Foreign Employment of his government's targeting of the Liberation Tigers for Tamil Eelam's secretive brain trust.

His famed "there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists, a terrorist is a terrorist" quote when the country's air force killed the head of the Tigers' political wing S.P. Tamilchelvam whom many mistakenly described as a "peace dove", made headlines.

"Why should we spare him [Prabhakaran], has he spared anyone? Not the leaders, nor people of this country, other countries, not respected Tamils, not his colleagues. He must be eradicated."

"If Prabhakaran is caught alive, yes, we will hand him over to India to face charges in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. That is a promise we have made to India, it is a promise we will keep."

Source: gulfnews.com

Government package, a deceptive farce- UNP

* Accuses govt. of deceiving people
* APRC held 64 sessions but 13th Amendment was discussed only on last two occasions
* No credible power-sharing formula to end ethnic conflict, says UNP frontliner

By Kelum Bandara

Main opposition UNP in a hard-hitting statement yesterday, accused the government of deceiving the people of this country and the international community by using the 13th Amendment as the basis for resolving the longstanding ethnic conflict instead of a credible power sharing formula.

UNP front-liner Lakshman Kiriella told a news conference the government had pledged to resolve the crisis with a consensual political solution of all the southern political parties.

Mr. Kiriella said the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) set up for this purpose held 64 sessions but strangely enough it was only on the last two occasions that the 13th Amendment was discussed.

“It was only at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the APRC began discussing the 13th Amendment.

The proposals submitted by the APRC on an earlier occasion were dismissed by the government. Later APRC Chairman Tissa Vitarana presented a report which too was rejected. Eventually, the President opted for the 13th Amendment as a way out of this impasse,” he said.

Mr. Kiriella said this constitutional amendment was introduced in 1987 and therefore there was no need for the government to seek the support of other parties to fully implement it.

“The 13th Amendment is already enshrined in Sri Lanka’s Constitution. The government need not ask us about implementing it. All this goes to show that the APRC was acting out a farce. The proposals have been put forward to mislead the people and the international community,” he said.

He said the minutes of the 64 sessions of the APRC ran into more than 11,000 pages but nowhere is any reference to the 13th Amendment as a means of resolving the ethnic crisis.

“We do not know how the 13th Amendment can at this time be helpful in addressing the grievances of minority communities,” he said.

Mr. Kiriella it was ridiculous to think of the SLFP presenting a power sharing formula when it even committed a blunder by agitating for the withdrawal of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) in the 1980s. “When the former SLFP leader and Prime Minister the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike sat down for a protest fast near the Pettah Bo-Tree agitating for the withdrawal of the IPKF, Mr. Rajapaksa also sat beside her,” he said.
He said the IPKF was sent back at a time when it had cornered the LTTE.
“Had it continued to be here for a few more months, the problem could have been resolved,” Mr. Kiriella said.

Source: Dailymirror

APRC proposals an important step, says Rajapaksa

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has described the “proposals” submitted to him by the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) on measures for the full implementation of the provisions of the Constitution for a political solution to the ethnic question as an “auspicious and important initial step.”

Receiving the proposals from APRC Chairman Thissa Vitharana on Wednesday, Mr. Rajapaksa said the government and the political parties that supported it undertook the responsibility to fully implement the proposals. He said they all had a responsibility to ensure the rights of all people to enjoy freedom without fear irrespective of race, religious, political and other differences.

He called on all parties to shed narrow differences and come together with due consideration for the people, to provide a suitable political solution to the political issue, while looking at a different solution to the problem of terrorism.

In a speech made at the presentation ceremony, Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) president V. Anandasangaree said his party and its allies were extending support for the implementation of the 13th Amendment in full, as a first step before a final solution is recommended by the APRC. The TULF leader said his party and its allies had joined the “historic assembly that could be described as the Constituent Assembly” as a first step to bring peace to the bleeding nation and to its people. “We have joined this assembly today to show our solidarity on behalf of the Tamil people, for the re-birth of a nation where we the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Malays, Burgers and members of all the other small groups live as equals in all respects, in a society where one is in no way superior or inferior to the other.”

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) said only it could offer pragmatic solutions. The 13th Amendment, the District Council Bills and the Provincial Council Bills were its measures to solve the problem. Neither the JVP nor the SLFP had ever brought forth any solution. Rather, they have only sabotaged its attempts, said a spokesperson of the party. He alleged that when the Indian Peace keeping Force (IPKF) came in 1987 and the 13th amendment was introduced, the SLFP and the JVP staged massive protests against them.

“If the IPKF has continued in Sri Lanka for a further month, even Prabakaran would have been captured. And, mind you this was all done at Indian government expense without the war becoming a burden on Sri Lanka’s finances,” he said.

The Sri Lanka Democratic Forum (SLDF) in a statement rejected the APRC’s announcement on the Amendment as the interim arrangement. It charged that the President and the ruling party had singularly failed to show even a semblance of leadership.

Forest damaged: LTTE

A day after the military claimed to have bombed an LTTE location frequented by its leader Velupillai Prabakaran, the Tigers on Thursday accused the Air Force of carrying out three sorties — spread over 20 hours — over Ambalahamam forest area in Kilinochchi and destroying a vast extent of forest in the extensive bombing. In a statement on its website, the LTTE said 10 hectares had been damaged as the Air Force dropped more than 16 bombs.

Separately, the military claimed that at least 22 LTTE cadres and a solder were killed in the Jaffna and Wanni defences.

Source: The Hindu

Diplomatic community hails APRC consensus

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama asserted yesterday that foreign diplomats had endorsed APRC proposals as a positive beginning for seeking sustainable peace.

Addressing the media, Bogollagama said he had taken steps to brief the diplomatic community including the Co-Chairs and the Indian HC, immediately after President Mahinda Rajapaksa received the set of proposals officially, from APRC Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitarana.

“In assessing these proposals, it is important that the international community recognise that these are not proposals aimed at meeting the demands of the LTTE, but at meeting the aspirations of the long suffering people of the North and East.

Its significant that these are implementable steps in a continuing process for greater devolution of power, with the objective of achieving a final and durable political settlement acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Hailing the effort as a historic step in Sri Lanka’s 60 years of independence, where consensus was reached to devolve power to the North and East through a democratic consultation, the Minister said all parties who participated in the process had attributed the success to the pragmatic leadership of President Rajapaksa and to the untiring efforts of Prof.Vitarana.

Elaborating on the proposals, he said these would include full implementation of relevant provisions of the present Constitution. It has also sought to identify a course of action to achieve maximum and effective devolution of power to the provinces to meet the aspirations of the minorities including the Tamil speaking people and other communities, especially ones living in the North and East, he noted.

Elaborating on the basic steps envisaged to overcome the existing shortcomings with regard to devolution of power, the Minister said that implementing the 13th Amendment fully was one such factor. Overcoming shortcomings especially through adequate funding of the Provincial Councils was another important aspect.

Holding elections in the East should also be considered a priority..

Also envisaged is the full implementation of Chapter Four of the Constitution on language which includes recruitment according to ethnic proportions. He further added that it was a new approach and a pragmatic way forward following a series of failed attempts.

The momentum generated by working together, would enable all communities to build trust, which is a pre-requisite to embark on greater reforms he added. While describing the APRC as a continuing process in exploring additional proposals the Minister said that the proposals had received the concurrence of all stakeholders and they were awaiting a positive response from other parties as well.

He added it was the duty of all who value democracy and humanity to support the process to achieve sustainable peace and ethnic harmony in the country.

Source: dailynews.lk

TMVP first armed group to receive political recognition ...

by Shamindra Ferdinando

The government yesterday dismissed UNP and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent claim that the TMVP (Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal) was the first Tamil armed group given the political recognition.

"An absolute lie," a senior official said while accusing the UNP and the TNA (Tamil National Alliance) of trying to undermine forthcoming local government elections in the Batticaloa district.

Pillayan, a hardcore ex-LTTE cadre seized control of the renegade outfit, which was once loyal to Karuna, who now faces the prospect of a jail term in the UK.

The official said that the TMVP wouldn’t be able to lay down arms as long as the LTTE carried weapons. "Without arms, TMVP cadres would be vulnerable," he said while recalling President JR Jayewardene’s decision to issue hundreds of weapons to all registered political parties including the UNP, SLFP and now defunct USA (United Socialist Alliance) to face the JVP challenge in the late 80s.

The UNP had conveniently forgotten the political recognition given to the LTTE during Ranasinghe Premadasa’s tenure as President, sources said.

Addressing a gathering of party activists at Sirikotha on Tuesday (22) Wickremesinghe said that this would be the first time an armed group was registered as a political party. He warned that the forthcoming elections would be marred by violence due to the TMVP factor.

US Ambassador Robert Blake during a visit to Batticaloa reiterated Wickremesinghe’s concerns. He emphasized the urgent need to disarm all armed groups operating in the East.

A senior official with the Elections Department Wednesday told The Island that the PFLT (People’s Front of Liberation Tigers)-the political wing of the LTTE, which was recognised by the then Polls Commissioner Chandrananda de Silva, remained a registered political party.

This writer covered the press briefing given by LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham on December 20, 1989, at the Colombo Hilton where the advisor to the newly formed political front revealed that their flag would be red of rectangular shape with the Tiger emblem in the middle. Mahattaya, Velupillai Prabhakaran’s second-in-command was named the President of the PFLT and Yogiratnam Yogi its General Secretary.

Flanked by armed LTTE bodyguards, Balasingham and Yogi declared that they wouldn’t lay down their arms until the IPKF pulled out of Sri Lanka. The LTTE had written to Polls Chief on December 4, 1989 and received political recognition on December 19.

This was done at the behest of President Premadasa, government sources said. The UNP leader couldn’t have been unaware of this, the sources said. The political recognition followed the double assassination of TULF leader A. Amirthalingam and Vettivelu Yogeswaran at the latter’s Colombo residence.

Military sources said that political recognition was given in the midst of a bloody LTTE campaign in the North and East where it hunted down the TNA (Tamil National Army) created by the IPKF and TELO, PLOTE, EPRLF and EPDP cadres. The LTTE received arms, ammunition and equipment from the government while security forces received strict instructions not to interfere with the LTTE action, the sources said. In fact, security forces provided tactical support for LTTE units to carry out massacres, the sources said.

The LTTE which won political recognition to contest the North East Provincial Council forced Premadasa to dissolve it, the sources said. The LTTE/PFLT continued killings with impunity. The victims included M. Mansoor, a member of the North East Provincial Council.

Chandrananda also recognised TELO, PLOTE, EPRLF and EPDP as political parties despite all of them retaining arms, during Premadasa’s administration. This came about after the LTTE resumed hostilities in June 1990 thereby forcing the UNP to forge an alliance with Tamil groups which it helped the LTTE to target.

Source: Island

1987 pact with India to be implemented: Sri Lanka

By P.K. Balachandran, Colombo , Jan 24 : Sri Lanka said Thursday that the recommendations of an all-party panel on devolution of power to the provinces reflected a collective resolve to fully implement the India-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987

"It is a fact that after 20 years the present formulation will see the letter and spirit of the agreement of 1987 being fully implemented in the areas it was intended to serve," Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said here.

"What is most significant about the present consensus is that political parties, both in the north and the south, have demonstrated a spirit of political flexibility in extending their cooperation to the proposals," he told reporters.

The All Parties Representative Committee (APRC) submitted a report to President Mahinda Rajapaksa Wednesday, recommending full implementation of the 13th amendment of the constitution that was based on the 1987 India-Sri Lanka pact.

The 13th amendment had created provincial councils enjoying a modicum of power devolved from the central government. But the provincial council of the north-eastern province, inhabited predominantly by Tamils and Tamil-speaking Muslims, ceased to exist in 1990, thus creating a grievance among the minorities.

The foreign minister said that the APRC's report stood out for three things: the recommendation to set up an Interim Advisory Council for the northern province; for seeking elections to a full-fledged provincial council in the east; and the call for the full implementation of the constitutional provisions for the use of Tamil, one of the official languages of the country.

The Advisory Council would consist of people from the civil society and leading figures from various walks of life and those with knowledge of the area. It will be temporary till elections are held to pick a new council.

The minister said that all previous attempts to resolve the dragging ethnic dispute had failed because there was no collective resolve over power sharing.

He claimed that there was consensus on the APRC's bid to fully implement the power-sharing system as envisaged in the 13th amendment of the constitution.

"Even those who opposed the amendment when it was passed are now operating within the provincial councils system, fighting for elections and taking part in provincial governance," he said.

Although President Rajapaksa is yet to say he has accepted the APRC's recommendations, the minister spoke as if the president had already accepted them.

Asked if Tamil Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran would be included in the Advisory Council, Bogollagama said: "He qualifies to the extent he is a citizen of Sri lanka and has knowledge of the area. But he would have to give up violence and terrorism first."

But the minister ruled out a merger of the northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.

Source: newkerala.com

India welcomes Sri Lanka report on devolution

New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS): India Thursday hailed as a "welcome first step" a report submitted to the Sri Lankan government suggesting devolution for that country's provinces.

The external affairs ministry said to the extent the proposals of the All Parties Representative Committee (APRC) contributed to a settlement acceptable "to all communities within the framework of a united Sri Lanka", they "are a welcome first step".

The APRC had presented an interim report on a devolution package for the island's provinces which Colombo said would be in keeping with the 1987 India-Sri Lanka Accord.

The long-awaited APRC report was submitted to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse Thursday.

"The government of Sri Lanka has been good enough to share with us the interim steps recommended by the APRC for implementation of devolution provisions and official language provisions of the Sri Lankan constitution," said ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna.

Sarna added that India would "continue to work with Sri Lanka and its people to bring about ... a settlement of the issues in Sri Lanka".

Source: kalingatimes.com

APRC recommends maximum devolution of powers to Tamils

An all-party peace panel in Sri Lanka has recommended maximum devolution of powers to Tamils in northern and eastern provinces while addressing the problems of Sinhala minorities in these areas.

The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) headed by Tissa Vitharna submitted its much-awaited report to President Mahinda Rajapakse yesterday.

It recommended that special arrangements are necessary to permit maximum devolution of powers to the Northern and Eastern provinces under the 13th amendments that calls for setting up of autonomous provincial councils.

Giving details of the report, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters today the government would not hesitate to undertake any kind of expenditure to implement the proposals that would initially come in the form of an Interim Advisory Provincial Council for the North and Eastern Part of Sri Lanka.

"We (Sri Lanka) are more than 20 billion rupee economy. Funds will never be a problem for implementing the proposals," he said in reply to a question.

"The APRC recommendations also seek to overcome existing shortcomings, especially through adequate funding of the Provincial Councils by the government," he told a crowded press conference here.

Taking into consideration the existing conditions in the Northern Province, an alternative arrangement there is to be made to enable people to enjoy the fruits of devolution, he said.

The committee recommended establishment of an Interim Council as a temporary measure for the Northern Province, reflecting the ethnic character of the province to aid and advise the Governor in the exercise of his executive powers until the elections are held.

The APRC recommendations included recruitment of Tamil speaking police officers and taking steps to recruit interpreters and translators for facilitating other relevant facilities in the courts of law in sufficient numbers.

They also included recruitment of staff and procurement of equipment to enable Tamil speaking people to transact business in public bodies in their own language.

According to the APRC report, similar steps are to be taken to address the problems of the Sinhala minorities in the North and the East of Sri Lanka.

The committee said it is of the view that conditions in the eastern Province are conducive to holding elections to the Provincial Council and that the polls should be held immediately.

On elections in the LTTE-dominated north, the report said conditions there are far from being peaceful.

"A free and fair elections in the North will not be possible in the near future. Hence an alternative arrangement is required in the Northern Province to enable the people there to enjoy the fruits of devolution.

"As it is not possible to hold elections in the North, the President could make appropriate order to establish an Interim Council for the Northern Province in terms of the Constitution," it said.

The APRC report said the proposed Interim Council for a Province should consist of individuals who have political experience and an abiding interest in the development of the province and in its people and be acceptable to the people of the province.

Source: outlookindia.com