tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88993283863570072992024-03-14T00:26:19.626-07:00Sri Lankan Security ForcesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger398125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-19890457131344539172010-09-25T19:24:00.001-07:002010-09-25T19:24:44.025-07:00Sri Lanka already attained, or on track to attain MDGs - President tells MDGs Summit<div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sri Lanka has incorporated Millennium Development Goals key performance indicators in our national budget policies, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Speaking at the Summit of the Millennium Development Goals in New York, he pointed out that as a result Sri Lanka has already attained or is on track to attain the MDGs, despite formidable odds, including the almost thirty years of a violent terrorist movement and the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">"In terms of universal primary enrollment and completion, we had recorded a level of almost one hundred per cent (100%) by year 2007. Gender parity in primary education has reached ninety nine per cent (99%) and in secondary and tertiary enrollment, the ratio of girls to boys exceeds one hundred per cent (100%)," the President said.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Quoting from what Buddha preached in the Maha Parnibbana Sutra, President Rajapaksa expressed deep conviction that "the well-springs of our civilization, nurtured by the Buddhist tradition should guide our approach to economic and social policy making.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">At the core of this, there must be a sound scale of values. Nowhere is this better expressed than in the Maha Parnibbana Sutra, the final sermon preached by Gauthama the Buddha. Here, he declares that the moral worth of any society can be assessed by a clear yard stick. This consists of the quality of treatment meted out to women and children. In building a caring and compassionate society over the centuries, we have never lost sight of this ideal.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Emphasizing the imperative need for protecting the environment, the President said, "while we strive to achieve reasonable standards in living, we must not forget the need to avoid treading heavily on the natural environment. The current spate of natural disasters around the world and frequent flood situations in countries, are a stark reminder of the effects of environmental degradation."</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">President Rajapaksa urged the world leaders to treat this as urgent and reach consensus on curtailing global warming based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and the Bali Action Plan.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Following is the full text of the speech:</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Ten years ago at the dawn of a new millennium, we re-affirmed our commitment to consolidate efforts in the spirit of collective responsibility, to free our world from hunger, to uphold human dignity, and to ensure sustainable co-existence with Mother Nature.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We set for ourselves the goal of advancing progress in eight key areas by the year 2015. Today, with just five years left, we have mixed results. Amidst multiple, inter-related and worsening global crises that confronted our world in the past few years, some countries have suffered setbacks in achieving these goals while others have scored remarkable success.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mr. President,</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yet, time is still on our side to renew the political will and look for a way forward to reach the set targets, by harnessing our synergies. It is in this context that this High-Level Forum under the auspices of the United Nations assumes special significance.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Although each individual country has the sacred responsibility to ensure the welfare of its people, in an increasingly inter-connected and globalized world we cannot survive in isolation. Hence, achieving the Millennium Development Goals becomes ever more important in the collective interest.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The recent global economic and financial crisis has severely reduced the access to external resources and private capital flows, for developing countries. In such circumstances, there should be genuine commitment to fulfill donor obligations.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Unfortunately, the trend for more restrictions and protectionist measures in trade, debt relief and access to technology is posing a challenge to development. Hence, we need to act with a sense of urgency and partnership. At the same time, it is important for development assistance from external sources to continue to encourage for the sake of sustainability.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Our national policy has been developed within the framework of global priorities which we consider appropriate at this time. In the South Asian context, some of our urgent pre-occupations include food security, energy security, and global warming. Building up buffer stocks of essential food items, ensuring price stabilization and continuity of supply calls for a more systematic approach to international cooperation.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We are convinced that economic development to be sustainable, must include emphasis on protection of the environment. Green technology in industrial production is, therefore, one of the central needs of our time. The improvement of infra-structure in our villages and opportunity for social advancement is necessary to discourage mass movement of populations from rural areas into our towns.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Gender equality and the breaking down of social barriers are features of a peaceful society. Equity with regard to the distribution of wealth and access to essential services, we believe, are hall-marks of long term stability.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mr. President,</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In Sri Lanka, social development goals, such as free healthcare, access to education were embedded from independence, in the country's overall policy framework. In addition, through my own vision spelt out in the "Mahinda Chinthana - A vision for future", we embarked upon a 10 year pro-poor, and pro-development oriented framework, to further consolidate and accelerate socio-economic progress, equally importantly.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">It is our deep conviction that the well-springs of our civilization, nurtured by the Buddhist tradition should guide our approach to economic and social policy making. At the core of this, there must be a sound scale of values. Nowhere is this better expressed than in the Maha Parnibbana Sutra, the final sermon preached by Gauthama the Buddha.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Here, he declares that the moral worth of any society can be assessed by a clear yard stick. This consists of the quality of treatment meted out to women and children. In building a caring and compassionate society over the centuries, we have never lost sight of this ideal.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sri Lanka has incorporated MDG key performance indicators in our national budget policies. As a result, Sri Lanka has already attained or is on track to attain the MDGs, despite formidable odds, including the almost thirty years of a violent terrorist movement and the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami that brought massive destruction to my country.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mr. President,</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In terms of universal primary enrollment and completion, we had recorded a level of almost one hundred per cent (100%) by year 2007. Gender parity in primary education has reached ninety nine per cent (99%) and in secondary and tertiary enrollment, the ratio of girls to boys exceeds one hundred per cent (100%).</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Now the challenge is to further enhance the quality of our education to empower and prepare young people for productive employment. We have also undertaken vigorous measures to enhance computer literacy through a nation-wide project called "Nena sala" - centers of wisdom, covering mostly the rural areas.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In the health sector, our endeavour is to ensure every expectant mother a safe and attended child birth, and to increase the current rate of ninety eight per cent (98%) of such births, immediately to one hundred per cent (100%). The infant and under-five mortality rates, have decreased from a rate of 32 per thousand births in 1990 to 11.3 per thousand in 2009.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">While our focus has been on countering tropical epidemics such as malaria and other vector borne diseases, we now need to pay adequate attention to forms of non-communicable diseases that pose a serious challenge to our health sectors. We would therefore urge access to medicines at reasonable costs and more predictable financial and technical assistance to develop local capacities, to improve conditions for patients.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mr. President,</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">While we strive to achieve reasonable standards in living, we must not forget the need to avoid treading heavily on the natural environment. The current spate of natural disasters around the world and frequent flood situations in countries, are a stark reminder of the effects of environmental degradation. We must, with a sense of urgency, reach consensus on curtailing global warming based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility and the Bali Action Plan.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Mr. President,</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Every crisis while posing a threat brings an opportunity as well. Let us therefore resolve to use the opportunity afforded by our High-Level Meeting, to forge the strongest possible global platform to achieve the goals so necessary for our common good. I thank you.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Courtesy : </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">PRIU</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-48489335784885191302010-09-25T19:23:00.001-07:002010-09-25T19:23:59.291-07:00Army Para Games 2010 concluded<div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Army Para Games 2010 ceremoniously concluded with the participation of over 1000 disabled war heroes at Army Grounds today (24 Sep) evening.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the chief guest.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">War Heroes, who sacrificed their legs and limbs to bring the lasting peace to the country, showcased their multiple sport talents in the Sri Lanka Army Para Games 2010 tournament.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Speaking at the event the Secretary Defence said that war heroes had made tremendous sacrifices during the last 30 years to liberate the country from the most ruthless terror outfit in the world and many were disabled in action but, still their courage and morale are at the highest level. We should appreciate their participation in this Army Para Games 2010.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">He further emphasized that "as a responsible government we always take care of them catering for each of their needs such as medical needs, housing problem, legal issues, education of their children and so on, the welfare of disabled war heroes is our paramount concern". In addition the Ministry of Defence has built a "Ranaviru Nikethanaya" at Atthidia for permanently disabled war heroes and it is nearing completion. Apart from that the Army too has initiated "Abimansala" project at Anuradhapura to cater for permanently disabled war heroes.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Finally, he said that he was happy to see the talents displayed by the disabled war heroes and wished them all a brighter future.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sergeant Rajakaruna of SL Army Singha Regiment honoured as the best sportsman of the Army Para Games 2010.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The Chairperson of the MOD Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath jayasooriya and Mrs. Jayasooriya and senior army officers were present at the occasion.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-19899650628780819002010-09-17T19:46:00.001-07:002010-09-17T19:46:35.313-07:00'Any country facing terrorism should follow Lankan model'<div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><img align="left" border="1" height="165" id="id32607384491711855" src="http://defence.lk/img/20100915_Defsec.jpg" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">In an exclusive interview, with 'The Asian Age' Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa says that Sri Lanka's military victory over the LTTE offers lessons for the international community.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Following are excerpts of the interview on 15th September, 2010.</span></i></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. Recently you visited India for defence talks. There was defence cooperation for years before and during the conflict, so what are both sides talking today?</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> India could not do certain things, meet certain needs of the Sri Lankan armed forces, like supply of weapons, because of the sensitivities during the conflict period. Now that issue is no longer there, so we can think of going beyond that. The whole idea is to improve the defence relationship, to strengthen regional security, to improve maritime security in the Indian Ocean.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. There are concerns in India about China looking to beef up its presence in Sri Lanka, particularly its role in the Hambantota port project.</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> It is purely a business arrangement, nothing beyond that. I don't think there is any issue in that sense. Wherever possible, when India has faced any security concerns, we have always bent backwards to accommodate them. With India, we are not looking at government-to-government relations alone; we are interested in people-to-people ties and trade. I know that Indian investors are interested in infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. We are studying India's successful PPP (public-private partnership) model.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. There has been criticism of the delay in the rehabilitation of the displaced Tamils.</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> I don't think any other place in the world has so quickly resettled these people in their original habitats in such a short period. In one year we have resettled a majority of the three lakh IDPs. Very few are remaining, and that is because of the delay in clearing landmines. We cannot solve problems overnight but the government has aggressively invested more money in the North and East than the other provinces.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. Sri Lanka has also been criticized for not minimizing the civilian casualties of the war.</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> India knows what is LTTE but most of the outside world does not. It was a most ruthless terrorist organisation. Some think the attack on the USS Cole was the first attack by a terrorist group but by that time the LTTE had done many attacks on ships. It had done more suicide attacks in one year in Sri Lanka than all the suicide attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq put together. The LTTE's weaponry was equivalent to that of the armed forces - heavy artillery guns, mortars, machine guns, missiles, Naval suicide boats and, ultimately, even small aircraft. That was the magnitude of its military strength. So it was not a small insurrection or a civil disturbance. By defeating the LTTE, we have stopped the killings of innocent civilians.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. How are you dealing with the former LTTE combatants?</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> We have rehabilitated about 500 child soldiers. We started a skill development programme for the 11,000 former combatants who surrendered; some of whom have completed this programme and joined the society. This is the truth but the other side does not know the true story.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. What can the world learn from Sri Lanka's experience with terrorism?</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> What we have done is to defeat the terrorists. I should say any country which faces terrorism should follow the Sri Lankan model. I think in fighting terrorism as well as humanitarian assistance in a conflict like this, there are lots of lessons for others to learn rather than criticise. But there were concerns about humanitarian assistance during the conflict. Our military operations and humanitarian assistance ran parallely. One can say the actions were not effective, maybe there were weaknesses, but it was a success. Of course, there were issues but in a situation there would be issues. We had no-fire-zones and restrictions on use of heavy weapons which are not normally done anywhere in the world in this type of situation, but we did that.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. Looking back at the last days of the conflict, would you have done anything differently? There were reports that some LTTE leaders wanted to surrender but they were shot, there was also talk of ceasefire.</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Prabhakaran did not want to surrender. Even the night before they were defeated, they tried to launch a counter attack and escape. There would have been no problem if they had surrendered, but we came to that last minute after a hard battle and a lot of sacrifices, so we were not ready for ceasefire.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. And did they inform the UN?</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Nobody informed us about any surrender. We took the time to defeat the LTTE because of the civilians. If we had no such concerns, we could have bombarded the place, used all our artillery and walked through within a day but we took over two months. So the international community must consider the risks that we took.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. Looking ahead, do you have a political solution of the ethnic problem, a devolution package?</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Political jargons alone will not bring about a solution. We have created an environment for everybody to live peacefully, as Sri Lankans, as one nation. All other issues are for politicians. The ground reality is we must give people the opportunity to live peacefully, with jobs and education. That is what they want and the government will ensure that is there in Sri Lanka.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Q. What will be your message to the Lankan-Tamils living in India and abroad?</span></b></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Some of them left long ago; others, more recently. The second and third generations have concerns about their children's education. I know it is difficult to give all that up and come. But if they come, they are most welcome. I think they must bring their know-how, knowledge, and invest their wealth here because development is the main requirement.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Courtesy: The Asian Age</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-12005767419533550792010-09-11T21:59:00.001-07:002010-09-11T21:59:23.885-07:00No training for LeT in Sri Lanka - Secretary Defence<div class="A_news" style="color: white;">Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that extremist groups operating in Pakistan have not received any type of training on Sri Lankan soil. He stressed that Sri Lanka is free from terrorists and there is no ground for terrorists to receive training in the country. </div><div class="A_news" style="color: white;">The Defence Secretary's denial came in the wake of Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT) suspect involved in the German Bakery blast in Pune claimed that he was trained in Colombo. Two suspects involved in the attack were arrested by the Anti Terrorism Squad of India last Tuesday. Nine died and 45 people were injured by the incident. </div><div class="A_news" style="color: white;">One suspect has claimed that he was trained in Pakistan and the other suspect Miza Himayat Beig , 29 has confessed that he received training in Colombo. The Defence Secretary categorically denied the claims made by the suspect in Indian custody. </div><div class="A_news" style="color: white;">Secretary Defence further insisted that there is no ground in Sri Lanka for such an activity. He added that no terrorist group is operating in Sri Lanka after LTTE terrorism was swept out of the country. </div><div class="A_news" style="color: white;">Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has sought a comprehensive report from Indian defence authorities over the claims made by the Lakshar-e-Taiba suspect through the Defence Attache of the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-28837183284279471042010-02-01T01:06:00.000-08:002010-02-01T01:06:40.018-08:00TID arrests 'Rajan' senior LTTE leader<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/S2aZkFzC7xI/AAAAAAAAMsA/gc7C_eOVG-Q/s1600-h/20100129_05p1rajan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/S2aZkFzC7xI/AAAAAAAAMsA/gc7C_eOVG-Q/s320/20100129_05p1rajan.jpg" /></span></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">'Rajan' recently, said DIG Nimal Wakishta, head of TID in Colombo Division.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">He made this comment at a press briefing held at MCNS yesterday 28 Jan.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">He further said that Rajan was one of key supporters of LTTE and engaged in supplying of weaponry, military hardware, vehicles and other necessities to the LTTE, locally and internationally.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The coordinated and clandestine operations conducted by the Ministry of Defence and intelligent agencies were vital to arrest him, he added. He further said Rajan involved in taking a bomb lorry to "Sama Viharaya" Kotahena in 1996.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">During the peace negotiations he had visited to Vanni and met Prabakaran and exchanged information with Tamil exiles who actively supported the LTTE. He went on to say that "though the LTTE had been wiped out from the country its activists like Rajan may still have the hope of restoring lost Elam in this country". Therefore he requested the public to be vigilant of such people.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-10357508195261168912010-02-01T01:04:00.003-08:002010-02-01T01:04:53.360-08:00Troops recover more weapons<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sri Lankan troops of 593 Brigade recovered 10 Rangan 99 anti personnel mines during their search operations in general area Andankulam yesterday (January 30 ).</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> Meanwhile the troops of 591 Brigade engaging a search operations in general area mullaitivu recovered 1 x 60mm mortar bomb with fuses 23 x RPG bomb with out booster and 2 x Bangalore Torpedoes (60 feet each). And also a separate search operation Troops recovered following war like items in Mullaitive area.</span></div><div align="left"><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="table1"><tbody>
<tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Items</span></b></td><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Quantity</span></b></td></tr>
<tr><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Anti personnel mines with fuse</span></td><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">05</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Claymore bombs (12.5 kg each)</span></td><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">02</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Claymore bombs ( 8.5kg each )</span></td><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">03</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">60mm mortar bombs</span></td><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">10</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Trip flares</span></td><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">04</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;" width="282"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Explosives( in plastic pipes)</span></td><td class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Separately the troops of Military Intelligence Corps conducting search operation in Arugampuliya area Vavuniya, uncovered 02 claymore mines each weighing 10 Kg and 1 x cleymore mine weighing 5 Kg Yesterday ( January 30 ).</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-82143926946142795642010-02-01T01:04:00.001-08:002010-02-01T01:04:26.854-08:0056 ex-LTTE cadres handed over to parents after rehabilitation<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Another batch of ex-LTTE members, totaling 56, who had undergone rehabilitation have been handed over to their parents.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Many of them had quit the terrorist organization at the height of the humanitarian operation to liberate the Wanni and surrendered to the security forces. The government launched a programme to rehabilitate them so they have better prospects for their future. They underwent rehabilitation at the Nawasenapura Rehabilitation Centre at Welikande.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">They were handed over to their parents after a period of one year in a ceremony presided over by Major Gen. R.M.D. Ratnayake, the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-28799990406821064372010-02-01T01:03:00.000-08:002010-02-01T01:03:39.630-08:00HRW undermining Human Rights in Sri Lanka - Prof. Wijesingha<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Verdana; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Responding to criticism of Sri Lanka's HR record by an NHR activist published in the Guardian of January 21, 2010, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary to the Ministry of Human Rights said "With its false accusations and refusal to engage, Human Rights Watch is undermining the cause of human rights in Sri Lanka"</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Prof. Wijesinha's further states: "This is not the first time we have found HRW seeking to further its own agenda by adopting a selective approach to evidence. Not only this, but it seems ready to overlook the real progress that is taking place in Sri Lanka. Before outlining the key plans we are undertaking to improve Sri Lanka for the benefit of all, let me provide some background on our own grievances against HRW."</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Here is the text of Prof. Wijesinha's response published in the Guardian Online "Comment is Free" of January 28, 2010.</span></div><h2 style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 1pt; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 6pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sri Lanka's real human rights record</span></h2><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">With its false accusations and refusal to engage, Human Rights Watch is undermining the cause of human rights in Sri Lanka</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The recent </span><u><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/21/sri-lanka-war-crimes-investigation" style="text-decoration: none;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Guardian article by a Human Rights Watch office</span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">r exemplifies</span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">what EM Forster described as the world of telegrams and anger. Today, he would have used the term "soundbite", and this is what </span><u><a href="http://www.hrw.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">HRW</span></u></a></u><a href="http://www.hrw.org/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> has</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">engaged in relentlessly against </span><u><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/srilanka" style="text-decoration: none;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sri Lanka</span></u></a></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">, with no attention to accuracy, nor to engagement.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This is not the first time we have found HRW seeking to further its own agenda by adopting a selective approach to evidence. Not only this, but it seems ready to overlook the real progress that is taking place in Sri Lanka. Before outlining the key plans we are undertaking to improve Sri Lanka for the benefit of all, let me provide some background on our own grievances against HRW. In 2007, HRW issued a press release referring to "indiscriminate attacks on civilians", regarding a report about the liberation of Sri Lanka's eastern province from terrorists. The report only cited a single example of civilian casualties in these operations, and our forces, in granting this, explained that it had happened because of their use of mortar-locating radar. The HRW report conceded that the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) had used weaponry in a civilian encampment, but claimed that this was not heavy weaponry and therefore they could not be held responsible.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">After one casuistic reply to our reasoned protest, they stopped answering letters.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">After one meeting with a new representative in Geneva in September 2007, we were promised a response, but none was forthcoming. Since then, HRW has avoided discussion altogether, refusing to meet government representatives in Geneva, cancelling a meeting in the House of Commons when it heard the Sri Lankan government was sending someone who would refute its allegations. It claimed to our High Commission that it did not want to be "rubbished", but the way to avoid being rubbished is to refrain from lies, not dodge reasoned discussion.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Typically, while refusing to talk - quite unlike </span><a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/" style="text-decoration: none;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Amnesty International,</span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> which readily discusses problems at length - in 2008, HRW issued a glossy booklet that claimed abductions were on the increase in Sri Lanka. This report distorted the reality: it contained only three examples from 2007, with the rest of the 90-odd cases recorded dating from 2006. We accept there were problems in 2006, largely arising from diminishing LTTE domination following years in which it had freely killed members of Tamil groups opposed to them - their claim to represent Tamils clearly did not extend to those who challenged their supremacy. By 2007 however the situation was better and, in the last couple of years, instances of abduction have fallen still further - though even a single case is one too many and we are working to prevent this in its entirety.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Now, with regard to the pronouncements of </span><a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33423" style="text-decoration: none;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Philip Alston, the UN independent expert </span></u></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">who explained to me why he feels obliged to "behave like a bulldog" towards Sri Lanka, HRW pronounces on a controversial video on which he bases his report that the "government has consistently claimed the video is fake, without providing any evidence that the gruesome scene was staged or the footage tampered with."</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This is simply untrue. Even Alston's three experts declare that a moving leg of a supposedly dead person is strange. The experts note, too, that there "are unexplained characteristics of this file, the most troubling of which appears in the final 17 frames of video", while they are equally unable to explain why the date on the footage is six months later than the incident was supposed to have taken place (and after the battle had been concluded).The claim that there may be a legitimate explanation remains simply a claim, with no effort to justify it. Thankfully, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, has adopted a more measured approach. Earlier this month, Ban distanced himself from the report - something not as widely reported as Alston's claims - suggesting that Alston "acted alone" and that his report does not represent the view of the United Nations.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We are also accused of refusing to investigate allegations of human rights abuses. And yet this is precisely what we are doing. In response to the US State Department report, presented in a balanced manner last October, on alleged incidents during the military action last year, President appointed an independent commission to investigate. The report will be provided in April.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The problem with all this sound and fury is that it detracts from the real problems with human rights issues that Sri Lanka does face, and to which it can now devote attention. While it could be argued that the authoritarianism of the government of the 1980s contributed to the growth of terrorist movements, this cannot be said of more recent administrations. None the less, the first priority of government had been to ensure security and defeat terrorism once and for all.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Alongside this, we have moved apace on much-needed reforms, which are now being introduced to the north and east. In consultation with the police authorities, we have helped with reinforcing training programmes to enforce rights that suffered during a decade of increased recruitment. The new inspector-general of police has begun a policy of improving women and children's desks in areas of particular vulnerability and, through the ministry of child development and women's rights, we are strengthening community structures to enhance protection capacity.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">During the relative quiet of election day, I was able to go through the draft action plan for human rights, a monumental effort by eight consultative committees, including some of the most vociferous critics of government. We were also able, last November, to present to the president, fulfilling an earlier campaign pledge, a proposed bill of rights, prepared by a group of independent experts who consisted of four Sinhalese, two Tamils and two Muslims. The ministry - before I became its secretary - had picked eight admirably qualified people, who represent the pluralistic society we were, and will be, without the corrosive divisiveness of terrorism.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This is the real picture of human rights in Sri Lanka. We are happy to receive and respond to criticism, but we do expect proper engagement and an attempt to understand the full picture. There is enormous promise for Sri Lanka over the decade ahead and we know that all Sri Lankans must benefit from sustained peace in our country after nearly three decades of terrorist threat. Organisations that seek to stoke division and not engage will not help us meet this goal.</span></div><div class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">sourse - DEFENCE.LK</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-61410017835131995362009-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:002009-12-08T00:01:26.381-08:00Security agencies turn spot light on most wanted LTTE arms cum human smuggler<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/Sx4HyHjuouI/AAAAAAAAMik/FRw1np13OOE/s1600-h/Ravi_Shankar.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/Sx4HyHjuouI/AAAAAAAAMik/FRw1np13OOE/s400/Ravi_Shankar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412772359749673698" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;"><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Security and INTEL agencies have turned the spot light on Ravi Shanker Kanagarajah alias Shangili, a most wanted transnational terrorist cum kingpin of overseas based human trafficking and illegal arms smuggling activities.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">According to informed sources, Ravi Shankar is also found to be the owner of MV Ocean Lady alias Princess Eashwary, an LTTE floating warehouse extensively used in human smuggling activities- in the outfit's overseas network based in INDONESIA, MALAYSIA and THAILAND. Earlier, on October 2009, Canadian immigration authorities confiscated MV Princess Eashwary (MV Ocean Lady) while smuggling-in 76 bogus asylum seekers into Canadian waters from South Asia. The vessel "Princess Eashwary" is also said to be used extensively for gunrunning activities for the outfit, prior to its military defeat in May, 2009.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">“His activities abroad have to be very closely monitored by the Law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the countries where he is taking shelter. It is the responsibility of such authorities to take him into custody and deport to Sri Lanka”,</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> a senior defence official said in reply to a question raised by our correspondent on the possibilities of Shanker’s arrest. “Terrorism is no longer a crime but an extension of war”, </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">he further stated.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">According to the official, Sri Lanka Law enforcement authorities are working hand-in-hand with the concerned government’s for extradition orders on such criminals cum terrorists.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ravi Shanker is a great threat for the security of the entire South Asian region, he said. He is also one of the very important and most wanted figures in organized crimes and human smuggling in the region, the official further said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In the backdrop of the military defeat of LTTE, its activists of the existing international wing are making extraneous efforts to mobilize. Such steps are aligned with its sole aim of destabilizing the island nation, affecting its sovereignty and drawing it back to death and destruction.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ravi Shanker alias Shangili is a Sri Lankan passport holder who had claimed bogus asylum to evade Canadian immigration authorities. He is a key LTTE gunrunner also allegedly engaged in human smuggling, who owns three vessels which are currently under operation and registered in Panama. According to informed sources, these vessels were used as floating LTTE warehouses cum armories</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The subject maintained close links with Ponniah Anandarajah aka Aiyya aka Rajah aka Aiyyanna (Accountant, US), Rajan (LTTE Air Wing activist, Malaysia), Bahitharan aka Bhavi (Manager of LTTE shipping operations, Indonesia) and Kumar one of the shipping agents/human smuggler in Indonesia. Presently owns few LTTE vessels and speedboats that had been previously used to transfer arms and ammunition from overseas to Sri Lanka and presently these are being used to coordinate illegal operations particularly human smuggling, sources further said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ravi Shankar had joined the LTTE as a Sea Tiger cadre and had been involved in arms procurement/smuggling to LTTE since early 90s. He joined the LTTE shipping network and was employed as a cadet in the MV SUN BIRD which was operating under the strict control and guidance of Prabakaran. Since then Ravi Shankar is involved in smuggling of arms and illegal human trafficking.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Presently he owns “Harritel Merchant Marine Co. Ltd registered in Republic of Marshall.</span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-26781557768439310742009-12-07T23:55:00.000-08:002009-12-07T23:56:17.010-08:00US cannot afford to "lose" Sri Lanka - Senate committee report<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">(By : Dr. Chandrani Gunaratna )</span></b></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Sri Lanka is increasingly aligning towards the Asian powerhouses like China and politically and economically distancing from the West as Western countries increasingly criticizing Sri Lankan Government's handling of the war and human rights record, the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In a report titled "Sri Lanka: Recharting U.S. Strategy after the War" and released today by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations headed by the democratic Senator John Kerry said this strategic shift in policy of Sri Lanka will have consequences for U.S. interests in the region.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Sri Lanka, being located at the center of crucial maritime trading routes in the Indian Ocean connecting Europe and the Middle East to China and the rest of Asia has great potential to affect the stability of India, the report warned.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Considering the strategic position of Sri Lanka and its deteriorating bilateral relationship with the West the United States cannot afford to "lose" - Sri Lanka, it said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Committee report said that the Obama administration is currently weighing a new strategy for relations with Sri Lanka.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Committee proposed to increase the however, considering a new approach that increases U.S. leverage on Sri Lanka by capitalizing on the economic, trade, and security aspects of the relationship.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"U.S. strategy should also invest in Sinhalese parts of the country, instead of just focusing aid on the Tamil-dominated North and East," it suggested.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Senate Committee report commended the government for taking positive steps to ease the humanitarian crisis in the North, develop the East, and reduce the number of child soldiers despite ongoing allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It pointed out that Tamil leaders for their part have not yet made anticipated conciliatory gestures that might ease government concerns and foster a genuine dialogue.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Senate Foreign Relations Committee in February held a hearing on Sri Lanka. The hearing was widely considered by Sri Lankan community as one-sided because the hearing had no representation from the government but only its critics.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">More recently in early November the Committee sent two staffers to Sri Lanka on a fact finding mission and to assess the ground situation.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Most Western governments have curtailed the aid to government of Sri Lanka citing its conduct during the last phase of the war and the human right record or have attached conditions to aid packages.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In contrast China and Iran have unconditionally supported post-war Sri Lanka to rebuild the country and carry out massive development projects. The government's close relationship with countries like Iran, Libya, Myanmar and China has wracked a nerve of the West.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px;">http://defence.lk</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-20659323869001921782009-11-26T09:17:00.001-08:002009-11-26T09:17:32.501-08:00Caging Tigers: France deserves praise<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">France deserves praise for having busted a major LTTE extortion racket and we fervently hope that it will go the whole hog to eliminate the menace once and for all. There must be hundreds of LTTE collectors throughout France, and all of them must be brought to book, states The Island editorial on Thursday (Nov 26), commending France's stringent actions against LTTE activists.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It behoves other countries where the LTTE is active such as the US, the UK, Canada, Norway, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark to rid their soil of LTTE extortionists and killers. After all, they are the countries that champion human rights and democracy and on no grounds could they countenance LTTE fund-raising, the editorial further asserted.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Following is the full text of The Island editorial on 26th Nov, 2009.</span></b></i></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">One main reason for the rapid growth of global terrorism is the world's slow reaction to that threat. If the US had taken steps to neutralise the militant groups it created in Afghanistan at least after the Russians were ousted, both countries would not have been in the present predicament. The US is today using a chainsaw to deal with something that it could have just nipped in the bud years ago.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Sri Lanka's terrorism flourished because the western countries took the LTTE for granted. But for the huge funds that flowed into the LTTE's war chest from overseas, Prabhakaran would not have been able to raise a terrorist army and equip it with the state of the art arms and equipment to sustain a bloody war of attrition. After the LTTE severed its umbilical cord with India, it turned to the West for refuge, political clout and funds. If the outfit had been prevented from abusing foreign soil to wage war against this country, perhaps it would have been compelled to negotiate a solution seriously and a lot of precious lives could have been saved.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It is reported that France has at long last cracked down on some LTTE extortionists and jailed 20 of them including a key terrorist. If only such action had been taken about two decades ago! However, better late than never. Millions of dollars and Euros were extracted from Tamils overseas and even those who detested violence coughed up funds for the terrorist cause out of fear and the sake of their families at home in the LTTE-controlled areas. Although the LTTE's military muscle has been decimated, extortion is said to be going on in many countries at the behest of Diasporic Tigers.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">France deserves praise for having busted a major LTTE extortion racket and we fervently hope that it will go the whole hog to eliminate the menace once and for all. There must be hundreds of LTTE collectors throughout France, and all of them must be brought to book.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It behoves other countries where the LTTE is active such as the US, the UK, Canada, Norway, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark to rid their soil of LTTE extortionists and killers. After all, they are the countries that champion human rights and democracy and on no grounds could they countenance LTTE fund-raising.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">When the US banned the LTTE, the late Anton Balasingham boasted that his boys knew how to circumvent the proscription and continue fund-raising. His prediction came true. In spite of the US ban, the LTTE fronts have been operating freely in that country. Worse, some of them have even contributed generously to the election campaigns of key American politicians. Prominent US citizens have been working for the LTTE thus making a mockery of the US proscription.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">There is a reason to believe that LTTE lobbyists have been able to shape the Obama administration's Sri Lanka policy, as evident from the anti-Sri Lankan utterances by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and some top US diplomats exuding antipathy towards Sri Lanka from every pore.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In Britain, some lawmakers are apparently representing the LTTE's interests in the House of Commons. LTTE fronts continue their fund raising operations, though it is not known where the money ends up. Britain is one of the countries that could have used their influence over the LTTE to prevent it from unleashing terrorism in Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, they made an intervention only after Prabhakaran had been cornered.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">At least now, Britain should clamp down on LTTE activities on her soil. It has no moral right to impart lessons on human rights, democracy and good governance to Sri Lanka without putting its house in order first of all.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The same goes for other western countries engaged in protecting global democracy. The biggest contribution to world peace they can make is to desist from harbouring terrorists of all hues responsible for heinous crimes elsewhere.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Courtesy: The Island</span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-71868075766285407232009-10-27T00:41:00.000-07:002009-10-27T00:45:11.950-07:00President to appoint committee to study<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to appoint an expert committee within one week to verify the facts behind the allegations against the Sri Lanka Government in the report submitted by the US State Department to the US Congress on incidents during the recent conflict in Sri Lanka, Human Rights and Disaster Management Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Government stance on the report will be announced after the report was made by the committee appointed by the President, he added.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He was addressing a media conference held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday to explain the new situation following the submission of the said report.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Minister Samarasinghe said that the third paragraph of the report itself highlights that the facts included in the report are without any legal value and cannot be proved. They are not in a position to prove the allegation contained in the report.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It has been clearly stated that the Report of the US State Department was based on some sources such as Amnesty International, Humanwatch and imbalanced and haphazard private sources and communiques, he stressed.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Minister Samarasinghe further said that certain international elements were once again trying to fuel the flames of secession and undo the concerted efforts of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka for rehabilitation and national reconciliation. "The report does not speak of any war crimes at all," he said.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He said that he has already discussed this matter with the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and she was very keen about the decision of the Sri Lanka President on this controversial report.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Courtesy: Daily News</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-89164971964285840282009-10-13T22:46:00.001-07:002009-10-13T22:48:40.681-07:00An empty honour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We are still trying to figure out why the Nobel Committee gave Barack Obama its annual Peace Prize. As far as it appears, the award was based on the fact that the U. S. President is a good-natured fellow who people seem to like --and who isn't George W. Bush.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In fact, committee chairman Thorbjoen Jagland didn't really try to pretend otherwise. Consider the committee's stated reasons, along with Mr. Jagland's comments when reporters pressed him to justify Mr. Obama's selection: - "He has created a new international climate." - "One of the first things he did was to go to Cairo to try to reach out to the Muslim world, then to restart the Mideast negotiations, and then he reached out to the rest of the world through international institutions." - "Obama has as president created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play." - "Obama [has] captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future."</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What seems clear from all this bafflegab is that Mr. Obama is being given his award for mere words -- for striking fashionable poses in favour of multilateralism, for making a nice speech in Cairo, for offering "hope." Months after Americans learned to dismiss Mr. Obama's 2008 presidential campaign slogans as the bromides they were, Scandinavians apparently are still drinking his Kool-Aid.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So who should have gotten the Nobel Peace Prize?</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Instead of droning on about "hope" and "a new international climate," a group of people charged with awarding an annual peace prize might find it useful to focus on a more mundane and obvious inquiry. To wit: What part of the planet was beset by bloody war in 2008, but is now entirely at peace?</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The only nation that fits the bill is Sri Lanka. And the reason for that is a ruthless military campaign waged by President Mahinda Rajapaksa against a militarized Tamil death cult known as the Tamil Tigers. This conflict has taken nearly 100,000 lives since it began three decades ago. But Mr. Rajapaksa ended it definitively at one stroke, killing or capturing virtually the entire Tiger leadership. It is one of the only times in the history of modern warfare that a guerrilla/ terrorist movement has been utterly destroyed in such a fashion. Overnight, war became a stranger to Sri Lanka.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sounds like a pretty good candidate for a "peace" prize, don't you think?</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But of course, actually making peace is not what this nominal peace prize is about. It's about going through the motions of pursuing peace in a touchy-feely UN-approved way.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.667em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.333em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mr. Rajapaksa has done some fairly nasty things en route to destroying the Tigers -- including imprisoning and perhaps even killing pesky journalists and human-rights activists. More importantly (from a Scandinavian point of view), Mr. Rajapaksa committed an unpardonable foreign-policy sin en route to his victory: flouting "multilateralism." Which is to say that he ignored the bien pensant voices from abroad urging him to let the Tigers go just as the Sri Lankan military was about to administer the coup de grace. Had he listened, the war would continue to this day.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's so much more fashionable to honour a man such as Mr. Obama, whose foreign-policy record hasn't been sullied by the moral trade-offs that inevitably accompany actually doing something to create peace on the battlefield.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Since the entire body of work for which Mr. Obama is being honoured consists of idealistic pronouncements, the Nobel prize committee was able to pick him without worrying that the choice could stir up controversy among umbraged minority groups, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch or the UN's various institutional cheerleaders.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With this pick, the Nobel Committee has declared itself to be a debating society -- and it has given its shiny prize to the nice man who gave the best speech. It's like those beauty pageants wherein the MC asks contestants what they would do to promote world peace. The best answer earns applause, flowers and a trophy. But no one expects the winner to actually go out in her tiara and ballroom gown and stop people from fighting.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">That task is left to head-knockers such as Mahinda Rajapaksa, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and General Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan. Their job is difficult and bloody. But every once in a while, as in Sri Lanka this year, they actually defeat the bad guys.</span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then they go home, and turn on their televisions, and watch men such as Mr. Obama get showered with praise for their pretty words.</span></span></p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">National Post </span></span></strong><span style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Published: Saturday, October 10, 2009</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-6556872922778690472009-10-09T01:04:00.000-07:002009-10-09T01:06:39.341-07:00Intelligence agencies in hunt for key LTTE arms dealers & front activists<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><blockquote><ul style="list-style-image: url(http://defence.lk/arrow.gif); list-style-position: outside; "><li><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br />Suspect of major drug trafficking, human smuggling, gun-running and transnational terrorist activities....</span></i></p></li></ul></blockquote><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Intelligence agencies in several countries are now on a hunt for several high-profile LTTE front agents cum arms dealers, with reliable suspicions of transnational terrorist activities including drug trafficking and human smuggling, informed sources said citing latest reports received.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">According to these sources intelligence agencies are on the track of LTTE terrorist agents who are alleged to have links with many active militia and terrorist organizations abroad. These agents had worked clandestinely, based in foreign locations, aiding and abetting in many crimes against humanity perpetrated by the LTTE. This hunt is a combined effort of the intelligence circles in several countries, along with the concerned law enforcement agencies, the sources further said.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">This tracking ;points to determined and coordinated efforts of intelligence agencies, which are fast shrinking the space for terrorists, their dealers and front groups to function with ease.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">According to reports, </span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Sivarasa Pirundaban alias Achchudan alias Suresh, Ravi Shanker Kanagarajah alias Shangili, Bahitharan alias Bhavi, Narendran Rathnasabapathi alias Naren, Ganeshruban alias Ruban, Ponnaiah Anandarajah alias Aiyya alias Rajah alias Aiyyanna</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">are alleged to be under intense scrutiny.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Achchudan </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">has provided LTTE with technical assistance and training for its pilots on air suicide missions in 1998 including the 2003-2004 CFA period. He is alleged to have co-coordinated the LTTE's air raids in Colombo via satellite communication from his overseas base station. According to available reports, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Achchudan </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">owns many air power related assets overseas.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ravi Shanker alias Shangili </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">is a Sri Lankan passport holder who had claimed bogus asylum to evade Canadian immigration authorities. He is a key LTTE gunrunner also allegedly engaged in human smuggling, who owns three vessels which are currently under operation and registered in Panama. According to informed sources, these vessels were used as floating LTTE warehouses cum armories. </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Shangili </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">also runs a LTTE network with agents based in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Meanwhile, intelligence agencies have also turned the spot light on </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bhavi, </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">another key LTTE figure who runs the terrorist outfit's Far Eastern based illegal activities, involving its shipping fleet. He is also said to own a large share of LTTE's overseas assets including business ventures in real estate and shipping.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ruban</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> is also said to own a large share of LTTE's overseas assets including real estate, in East Asian countries.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Naren </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">is another key figure of the LTTE's foreign procurement arm with diversified businesses in real estate and share-markets. Allegedly involved in many illegal arms procurement deals, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Naren </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">has reportedly twice been deported by Singaporean authorities.</span></p><p align="left" class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Further information on the activities of these key LTTE arms dealers will follow, as intelligence services close in on them.</span></p><table border="0" id="table1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="510"><tbody><tr><td width="222" colspan="2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><img border="0" src="http://defence.lk/img/20091007_05.jpg" width="208" height="166" id="id04482861887663603" /></span></td><td width="145" valign="bottom"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><img border="0" src="http://defence.lk/img/20091007_07.jpg" width="139" height="158" id="id5385007904842496" /></span></td><td valign="bottom"><img border="0" src="http://defence.lk/img/20091007_06.jpg" width="134" height="158" align="right" id="id0627943491563201" /></td></tr><tr><td width="207" bg style="color:#EEEEEE;"><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: center; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Ravishanker Kanagarajah alias Shangili</span></b></p></td><td width="15"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"> </span></td><td colspan="2" bg style="color:#EEEEEE;"><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: center; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Sivarasa Pirundaban alias Achchudan alias Suresh</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">reference - defence.lk</span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-16020431166503964102009-10-04T19:43:00.000-07:002009-10-04T19:45:35.551-07:00"Our victory showed the world how humane our brave soldiers are..." - President<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"No one could charge the military for any crime as they had engaged in a humanitarian operation in a professional manner. I urge those who point their finger at us to be careful as their other fingers are pointed at themselves," President and Commander-in-Chief Mahinda Rajapaksa at the inauguration of the 60th Anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lanka Army on Saturday (Oct 03).</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He said that terrorism is born and nurtured due to the lack of development . Now the government has taken over the responsibility of ushering in national development. Anyone who has witnessed the bravery of the army that fought the most dreaded terrorists in the world would not think of leaving the country. He said that this exhibition displays the pride of the Lanka Army which is experiencing its golden era. The Sri Lanka Army flag has strengthened the national flag.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">President Mahinda Rajapaksa asserted that some internal forces were trying to charge Sri Lanka for war crimes to cover up their shortcomings and to degrade the hard earned military victory, but as long as there are patriotic people, these forces would not achieve their ignoble 'missions'.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The President said that no one could charge the military for any crime as they had engaged in a humanitarian operation in a professional manner.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"I urge those who point their finger at us to be careful as their other fingers are pointed at themselves," he said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The President expressed confidence that those who witnessed the heroism of our soldiers who had defeated the world's most ruthless terrorists would not attempt to take up arms again to destroy this united country and would not think of a separate State when they reap the benefits of the country's development.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The President said that the 60th anniversary of the SLA would be the most spectacular event in its history, as an honour to the soldiers who recorded this victory by sacrificing their lives and limbs.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"The victory over the LTTE, after three decades, was not handed over to us on a platter. It was not a mere victory, but it is a victory that showed the world how humane our brave soldiers are. The soldiers carried guns in one hand and the Human Rights Convention in the other. At the same time their hearts were full of love for their fellow human beings," he said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He said that over 30,000 military personnel had died during the 30-year war, of which over 23,000 were from the SLA.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"This shows the commitment of the SLA to defeat terrorism in this country. Armies of other countries may have the latest firepower, but their soldiers lack humanity. The SLA is the only Army that can celebrate its anniversaries with pride as it is the only Army that defeated terrorism. The SLA flag will flutter majestically among all Army flags of other countries," he said, adding that other armies could not defeat terrorism though they may have superior firepower.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"Our soldiers had fought the world's most ruthless terrorists who had adopted the most inhumane tactics like suicide bombers. I hope these armies study and research the means with which our Army defeated the LTTE. They have to study the courage, bravery and commitment of our soldiers and military leaders who led the war to its victory. They also have to study the humanity of these soldiers, who rescued thousands of civilians that suffered under terrorism," President Rajapaksa said.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He said the SLA is a professional and disciplined Army unlike the armies of those countries which talk against Sri Lanka.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"I think that our Army was encouraged to defeat terrorism by the support given by the people of this country. They gave their children to the Army, they protected the military leaders who led the war and tolerated all the hardships they faced until this victory," he said, pointing out that the people of this country - the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims - joined hands with the Government with one goal in mind - to defeat the LTTE.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He said the Government would do anything to protect the country and the hard-earned victory.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">courtesy : defence.lk</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-79998116888185421952009-10-04T19:40:00.000-07:002009-10-04T19:43:55.254-07:00State department admits there had been no recent rape cases by Sri Lanka army in response to controversial Clinton statement<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;"><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; line-height: 16px; "></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">(By Walter Jayawardhana)</span></b></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The United States went back on the statement of Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton and said the US does not have any recent evidence of women being raped while in Sri Lankan government custody.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hillary Clinton generating widespread condemnation mentioned Sri Lanka as a country which uses rape as a military tactic while speaking at the Security Council meeting of the United Nations recently.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Sri Lanka government officially protested against her statement and the cabinet spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said Sri Lanka totally rejected and condemned the Clinton statement.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In a letter addressed to the Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama the State Department said there had been such charges only in the past- "over the years."</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Melane Verveer, ambassador at large for global women issues of the State Department writing the letter to the Sri Lanka Foreign Minister said, "in the most recent phase of the conflict, from 2006 to 2009 ... we have not received reports that rape and sexual abuse were used as tools of war, as they clearly have in other conflict area around the world."</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The letter further said, "We hope that this clarification puts the issue in its proper context."</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The letter however said, "Secretary Clinton believes that Sri Lanka must focus to the future and move forward on the promotion of peace and the protection of human rights."</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"We've seen rape used as a tactic of war before in Bosnia, Burma and Sri Lanka and elsewhere", the US secretary of state had said addressing the Security Council meeting. Following her statement by Secretary of State Clinton was widely condemned by the government as well as other political parties.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the National Freedom Front said her statement exposed from where the LTTE terrorists received their support over the years. The JHU held a protest demonstration condemning her in front of the US embassy in Colombo. They called the statement as mudsling and irresponsible. Many websites warned her not to pelt stones while living in glass houses.</span></p></span><p></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">courtesy : defence.lk</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-56292309570545580392009-10-01T23:17:00.001-07:002009-10-01T23:17:34.368-07:00Religious observances spearhead Army 60th Anniversary, its mega exhibition & tattoo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The series of celebratory events, designed to coincide with Army's 60th Anniversary under the theme "Victory through Commitment, Dedication, Sacrifice and Professionalism" gets underway from today (2) with commencement of the customary flag blessing ceremony at Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi precincts.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya gracing the occasion as Chief Guest will join the representative gathering of officers and other ranks from all Regiments for the symbolic Flag Blessing rituals at the upper layer (Udamaluwa) at the sacred premises.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Members of the Maha Sangha, led by Ven. Pallegama Sri Niwasabhidana Nayaka Thero, Atamastanadhipathi (chief incumbent for eight sacred places) are expected to invoke blessings on all Army flags after offerings are made by Commander and other Senior Officers. Christian, Islamic and Hindu religious observances and services will follow before the Army Day (October 10th). Islamic religious observances at Davatagaha Jumma Mosque on 5th October 2009, Hindu religious observances at Sri Bala Selvanayagam Moorthi Kovil in Maradana on 6th October 2009 and the Christian Service at Cathedral Church in Colombo 07 on 7th October 2009 will complete the first phase of the Anniversary programme.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The 60th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday (3) enter another important phase with the opening of the grand Army Exhibition at BMICH premises where display of captured stocks of LTTE equipment, arms and ammunition, military hardware, Army expansion and achievements, etc is expected to draw massive crowds. Special musical shows and display of fire works are to add colour to the event on all four days of the Exhibition (Oct 3 - 7). A model enactment of the last battle in Puthumattalan is also to be staged both during this Exhibition and the Army Tattoo. The Exhibition will be open for public from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. everyday and an entry ticket to the site is priced at Rs. 50.00. School students cost half the price.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Army Day (Oct 10th) commemorative ceremonies at Army Headquarters begin with a Guard of Honour, accorded to the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya. His subsequent Army Day address to the troops is also a main item on the day's agenda. Commander is also expected to visit recuperating War Heroes at the Military Hospital and declare open the newly-built operation theatre and a ward complex for injured War Heroes at the Military Hospital. Towards the end of the day, a Pirith chanting ceremony at Panagoda Sri Bodhirajaramaya, will culminate the day's proceedings. Issue of a first-day cover plus a special stamp and a Rs. 1000 worth special coin has also been organized to mark the occasion.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">On 12th October, Army troops are to accord a special Guard of Honour to the Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka who is also the most senior Army officer still serving.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">A special volume of Army history, "Sri Lanka Army - 60 years On" that covers the period (1999-2009) is also to be released as part of the celebratory events.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The next attraction, the Army Tattoo will commence on 17th October at Kettarama Stadium and continue till 23rd October. This mega display of thrill and excitement will highlight speedy fixing of vehicles, instant construction of temporary bridges, parachute jumps, cultural shows, ceremonial display by women's corps, model simulation attacks and a host of other exclusive talents of elite Commando units and Special Forces. This rare show will be open to the public from 5.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. everyday. Entry tickets are available at Cargills Ceylon PLC and also at entry gates to the stadium. Tickets are priced at Rs. 200, Rs. 500, Rs. 1000 and Rs. 2000.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The modern Sri Lanka Army counts its birth after its founding in 1949 as a commonwealth force of the post-independent Ceylon and this maturity of the Army came about as a result of its dedication, professionalism and commitment to the cause. The Army has received recognition as a troop-contributing country to the UN and other member states and its extensive roles in de-mining, humanitarian services, national emergencies, construction and development work, etc, </span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Courtesy : Army Media</span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-22681200315350034922009-10-01T23:09:00.000-07:002009-10-01T23:10:54.325-07:00Rape - Hillary said!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: medium; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><h2 style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 1pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; "><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">(By: Gomin Dayasri)</span></b></p><div align="right"><table border="0" width="14%" id="table1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><img border="0" src="http://www.defence.lk/img/iraqis20091002_02.jpg" width="320" height="240" id="id29225604236125946" /></span></td></tr><tr><td bg style="color:#EEEEEE;"><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The photograph was released by CBS News in 2004. Iraqi POWs been sexually tortured by a US military woman at the Abu Ghraib prison.</span></b></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Fury of a woman knows no bounds. Worse, when she is powerful and arrogant but yet failed to achieve her goals. Such is Hilary Clinton. The mighty Secretary of State failed to tame Sri Lanka. The failed Presidential aspirant, knowingly or unknowingly, received terrorist funding for her election campaign and was compelled to return the cash to comply with the law. Notwithstanding her strenuous efforts she could not save the lives of the terrorists, to whom she is obliged. Therein lays the story.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The anger is intensified because Sri Lanka in its drive to dismantle terrorism, did not heed to the pleas and pressures of Hillary Clinton to save the terrorists. Her pride is wounded but the country rid itself of terrorism. Having to hang her head in shame, she is hell bent to damage and destroy the country that defeated terrorism comprehensively, which her country has failed to achieve and continue to unsuccessfully grapple with forces of terrorism. Green Eyes, Madam? Understandably, a jealous woman is an angry woman.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Her recent intemperate outburst was in her capacity as the representative of the USA at the Security Council where she named and implied Sri Lanka as a country where women are raped and its Armed forces use rape as a weapon of war and remain unpunished.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In law it means she has to establish the defense establishment, willfully and intentionally, on a premeditated design uses and/or permits it forces to rape women on a pre arranged scale to achieve its objectives in war. Otherwise she fails flat on the charge. The significance here is that- there is not even a scintilla of evidence, not even a complaint- of simple rape during the course of the war against an individual member of the defense forces. While Clinton bases her charge on collective structured rape as a tool of war, in fact, there is not even an allegation of rape of a single woman by a rapacious member of the defense forces. Where do you stand in the dock, fair lady?</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Except for the verbal indictment, not an iota of evidence was provided by Mrs. Clinton to substantiate the charge. She has a right to make a charge provided she can support it with material to reveal that rape was used as a weapon of war .The charge is not plain and simple rape but more serious since it is made against a State. Therefore accuser has to be responsible as to substantiate with hard facts. She accuses the Sri Lankan Forces having used rape as a tool to defeat terrorism. It requires proof of collective pre meditated rape on an organized scale. A charge unheard and unleveled against Sri Lanka's Armed Forces except by the Diaspora who is forever making irresponsible accusations without proof. Then Hillary Clinton stepped on the podium. Have her previous financiers sold her a fabricated story? Is it a meeting of minds between birds of one feather!</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Where is the proof with credible evidence? Was there a single complaint lodged against the Forces of having raped a woman during the period of conflict? Where are the complainants- where are the victims? There is not a scintilla of evidence against any other than in the fertile imaginary mind of Hillary Clinton and the Diaspora. When a charge of rape was presented as in the Krishanthi Kumaraswamy's case indictments were filed in court and after trial the accused were sentenced. In the USA only 6% of those accused of rape even spend a single night in a lock up. Such is Justice in the USA.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">There is established rape by the US Forces in Iraq in conflict situations with photographs produced (see Ernesto Cienfuegos in La Voz de Aztlan) wherein it is alleged that many of the photographs were freely disseminated to US occupying forces perhaps to inflame their nefarious desires and to motivate them to strike out against the Iraqi populace in a perverse manner. It is reported many of these pictures were found when the luggage of the soldiers were searched before they left for the US from Iraq.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The charge of rape is established against the Security Forces of Hillary Clinton.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hillary Clinton talks of rape during periods of conflict. In her back yard in the United States in times of peace there were </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">232,960 cases of rape in 2006 </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">which increased to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">248,300 in 2007 [Justice Department(US) Table 2 page 17]. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">That amounts to </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">600 cases a day mostly women between 20 -24 </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">of rape in times of peace </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">[Justice Department (US) Table 4 page 17] </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">on a normal working day in her home country. Justice Department reports </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">1 in 5 college girls in US universities have been raped or experienced attempted rape.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It also reports </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">the Indian American women are subjected to rape at a rate twice the national average and black Americans are raped more than white American women. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">These are statistics originating from a society where </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">only 60%of rape is reported! Are not our women safer both in times of war and peace than their sisters in America?</span></b></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Why does Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State not look after the folk back home before opening her dainty lips in the UN! Is she not concerned of her own electorate who are experiencing frequent rape from the criminal elements in her society and the women of the world from the unruly elements in her armed forces?</span></p><h2 style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 16px; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 6pt; margin-bottom: 1pt; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Practice before you preach, lady!</span></b></h2><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Mrs Clinton, learn the basic lesson-fast and furiously- from our Armed Forces to beat Terrorism. The art of carrying effectively a Humanitarian campaign where you win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan so that they do not provide men and material to the terrorist but wait to flee to the forces of liberation.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Women- inclusive of you- are a precious possession of society in times of war and peace. Teach US Forces, to treat women with respect and not to make love to them in an improper way to offend the people in such a manner which makes it necessary for your Commanders to seek frequently additional forces in occupying countries to control terrorism.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Do control terrorism and rape in your own country, Mrs Clinton, and then you can speak with your head held high in the UN.</span></b></p></span></h2></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-69115888249109756092009-09-10T20:49:00.000-07:002009-09-10T20:51:06.205-07:00De-mining expedited<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqnJCnz4-XI/AAAAAAAAMFg/mjUju0dETyo/s1600-h/20090911_A01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqnJCnz4-XI/AAAAAAAAMFg/mjUju0dETyo/s400/20090911_A01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380052276754315634" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;"><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Government has taken the initiative to import more de-mining machines to expedite the de-mining process in the North and to facilitate the speedy resettlement of the displaced civilians now living in welfare centres in the Menik Farm, sources from the Ministry of Nation Building told the Daily News yesterday.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The latest addition to the de-mining activities, five de-mining machines costing Rs. 270 million, will arrive in Sri Lanka from the Republic of Croatia. The five de-mining machines (MV-4 Flail machines) from the Republic of Croatia will be airlifted to Sri Lanka on September 12.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Police Special Task Force too had engaged in de-mining activities to make the areas in the Vavuniya district safe for the public. The Police Special Task Force engaged in landmine clearing and de-mining operation under the Uthura Vasanthaya program has completed the clearing of a 27 km stretch of road along the Omanthai-Welioya road.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Within a short span of five months, 26,734 anti-personnel mines, 26 land mines, 20 death traps, 31 pressure bomb reels several hard bombs and huge quantity of detonators were removed by the STF team, Officer-in-charge Lal Jayathilake said.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They are now engaged in the operation along the Omanthai-Panikkanai road towards Puliyankulam. Accordingly, the villages of Alankulam, Navakkulum Junction, Sinna Pulleyarkulam.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kovil Junction, Pulinda Kulam and Nedunkulam along the Omanthai-Welioya road have been made safe areas.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Minister Rizard Bathiudeen, Nation Building and Infrastructure Development Ministers Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Minister S.M. Chandrasena are due to receive these five de-mining machines worth Rs.270 million imported from the Republic of Croatia at the Bandaranaike International Airport.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Earlier the Government imported five de-mining machines from Slovakia at a cost of Rs.260 million to expedite the de-mining process in the North.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to the officials the machines imported will expedite the de-mining activities as only 10 square metres can be de-mined daily through manual work. But these machines can clear 5,000 square metres per day.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The arrival of these latest machines will expedite the process to speed up the resettlement of displaced civilians in the North with is now at a speedy phase under Uthuru Vasanthaya program implemented by Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa", Northern Province Governor Major General (Rtd) G.A. Chandrasiri told the Daily News.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He said the Sri Lanka Army and other organizations engaged in de-mining activities have completed the de-mining in the Giant tank area in the Mannar district and handed it over for cultivation.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to Secretary to Nation Building Ministry W.K.K. Kumarasiri Sri Lanka Army and eight other organisations are engaged in de-mining activities in the North. The work is getting delayed as it is done manually. Meanwhile, the Government is also receiving support from various Governments to expedite the de-mining activities.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The United States is providing training and equipment to the Sri Lanka Army to assist its efforts to de-mine areas in the North.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The training will build additional military capacity to clear mines in the Northern Province and expedite the safe return of people displaced by the war to their homes, a US embassy statement said Wednesday.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The training is being conducted at the Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering at Embilipitiya.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The US Pacific Command also donated personal protection equipment (vest and visors) and de-miner equipment. The cost of the program is estimated to be over $100,000.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is in addition to the $6.6 million the US recently contributed towards de-mining activities in the Northern Province, which was under LTTE control for years. The Indian Government also sent de-mining teams to Sri Lanka to assist the Sri Lanka Army to expedite the de-mining process.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"This will help the Government to expedite the process of resettling the displaced civilians in their villages within the shortest possible time frame as stipulated by the Government," the Governor Chandrasiri added.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Courtesy - Daily news</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-82953843473522353402009-09-07T20:48:00.001-07:002009-09-07T20:48:46.249-07:00"Lahore attack on Sri Lankan cricket team last was financed by LTTE" says Pakistan Premier<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_caption" style="word-spacing: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: 12px; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0pt; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 10px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">(By: Walter Jayawardhana)</span></b></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Pakistani investigators have discovered the attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan was financed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorist group.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Pakistani Prime Minister Yousouf Raza Gilani told reporters that the finding by the Pakistani law enforcement authorities has been already conveyed to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa when they met recently in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">He told reporters that a Pakistani team of detectives will be coming to Sri Lanka to further investigate the involvement of the LTTE terrorists and share information with the Sri Lankan government on the attack of the cricket team.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Pakistani Prime Minister told reporters detectives have now got indications to suggest that the terrorist group LTTE had financed the attack by 12 gunmen on the bus carrying Sri Lankan cricketers, March 2009, near Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In June this year a terrorist group called Tehrik-e-Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">LTTE terrorists have maintained connections with the Pakistani and Middle Eastern terrorist groups and the widely used suicide jackets by the Middle Eastern suicide missions is an invention by the LTTE, security experts say.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">In March the Sri Lankan cricketers were on their third day of the second test match when the attack occurred. The damage to the Sri Lankan cricket team would have been greater if not for the bravery of the Pakistani driver of the coach who drove through a hail of bullets by the attacking gunmen. Six members of the Sri Lankan cricket team were injured while six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The International Cricket Council cancelled Pakistan as the venue for the World Cup matches in 2011 followed by the cancellations of many scheduled visits of foreign cricket teams to the country, costing the nation millions.</span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-77995887020148048322009-09-07T20:46:00.000-07:002009-09-07T20:48:24.637-07:00Colombo University confers President and Defence Secretary with "Honorary Degrees"<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">President Mahinda Rajapaksa was conferred with the honorary degree (honoris causa) "Doctor of Law" and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa with the honorary degree "Doctor of Letters" by the University of Colombo yesterday, (06 September).</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Senate of the University of Colombo with the approval of the Council of the University resolved that these Degrees of Doctorates be conferred on President Rajapaksa and on Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa,</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The University of Colombo conferred the titles on President and Defence Secretary in recognition of their services to the country in safeguarding its territorial integrity, sovereignty and defeating the LTTE by restoring peace and harmony among all Sri Lankan communities and uplifting the image of Sri Lanka within the international community, the Senate of the Colombo University stated.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span style="font-size: 9pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The titles were conferred by the former Arch-Bishop of Colombo and present Chancellor of the Colombo University Most Rev.Oswald Gomis.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The awarding ceremony took place with the Postgraduate Convocation of the University of Colombo held at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) attended by distinguished guests and invitees.</span></p></span></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 264px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqXT6qT4kGI/AAAAAAAAMEA/8xZdpWL3RE4/s400/20090907_01p2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378938334707486818" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqXT6JMKoCI/AAAAAAAAMD4/8mL5Uw0xI9o/s400/20090907_01p1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378938325816746018" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-35796118616338251282009-09-06T20:36:00.000-07:002009-09-06T20:44:31.961-07:00Technical analyst exposes 'C- 4' gutter journalism<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqSAn_hKpoI/AAAAAAAAMDw/EfSU6iMmT6I/s1600-h/20090903_C4-Pic03.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 253px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqSAn_hKpoI/AAAAAAAAMDw/EfSU6iMmT6I/s400/20090903_C4-Pic03.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378565279541012098" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"><br /></span></b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqSAnU2XjCI/AAAAAAAAMDo/aaNIREoihQs/s1600-h/20090903_C4-Pic02.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqSAnU2XjCI/AAAAAAAAMDo/aaNIREoihQs/s400/20090903_C4-Pic02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378565268087213090" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"><br /></span></b></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqSAnEcWGfI/AAAAAAAAMDg/JVVJcDW874Q/s1600-h/20090903_C4-Pic01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dBgyBc2UwKE/SqSAnEcWGfI/AAAAAAAAMDg/JVVJcDW874Q/s400/20090903_C4-Pic01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378565263683099122" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; font-family:Verdana;"><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><i><span style="font-family:Webdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">< </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">C-4 video created from a video camera, not from a mobile phone.</span></b></span></i></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><i><span style="font-family:Webdings;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">< </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Sound dubbed: a case study for gutter journalism.</span></b></span></i></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> In video coding or broadcasting to create a final video for any occasion it is the practice to start with high quality video first while transcending with editing for a final product. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Mpeg4</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> is a compressed format.</span></b></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">If one considers the Channel- 4 video:</span></b></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">●</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> It says it came from a </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">mobile phone video</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> source. </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">There are only two formats in mobile video formats</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">. One is an old 3GPP format and the other an advanced </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Mpeg4, H-264 part 10</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> which is </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">MP4</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> format which is highly processor intensive encoding and due to this issue, mobile phones in the present markets does not produce high quality videos. Such processors are not that powerful to take good quality video that Channel- 4 claims since channel - 4 video is much high quality than existing </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Smart phones</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> can create </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">TODAY</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">.</span></b></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">● </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Within H-264 coding we also have extra component called </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">Motion Vectors (VMC)</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> which are used to predict motion on temporal and spatial domain. The Channel - 4 video have quite high quality VMC(motion Vector) and this VMC came from </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">a video camera and not from a mobile phone source</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">. Also Mobile source also tend to be blocky in nature when it come to motion.</span></b></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; font-size:12px;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">●</span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> Since original video is from</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> AVI and QuickTime format, t</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">he whole video scenario indicates that</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> ORIGINAL video is of high quality </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">that came from a </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">video camera source since mobile formats does not use AVI or Quicktime which are high quality video formats</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">.</span></b></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">● </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">If they changed the mobile format to </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">AVI or QT </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">then the </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">final video</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> will be of poor quality. In the analysis it was </span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">found that the AVI and QT formats are of very high quality</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">.</span></b></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">● </span></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> Also it is quite explicit that the</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;"> camcorder video was transferred to a computer for editing and sound was dubbed later and gun shots were not in synchronism with the video and normally audio is always way ahead of the video since video processing takes time and in this case the audio is very late INDICATING a very amateurish video and audio editing</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFCC33;">.</span></b></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-67316913525053174352009-09-06T20:34:00.000-07:002009-09-06T20:36:17.926-07:00The Channel 4 canard<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Channel 4, a British TV channel apparently engaged in a deliberate propaganda campaign against Sri Lankan citizens, has come up with its latest canard about the island nation. A video footage of very poor quality showing two persons clad in combat uniforms shooting down two others has been given a huge publicity by the Channel 4 TV claiming it to be of Sri Lankan soldiers "summarily executing Tamils".</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The channel's so-called "foreign affairs correspondent", Jonathan Miller filing another twisted story of his about Sri Lanka, almost wows that it was "Sinhalaese" soldiers killing Tamils in the video. He further goes on breaching all rules observed in professional journalism by generalizing charges against one ethnic group of a multi-ethnic country; an obvious and irresponsible attempt to incite communal hatred. Shrewdly playing with his words this journalist not only conceals the serious question about the authenticity of the video footage but also brings about unnamed sources to support his mean objective of damaging ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The following report is filed based on an analysis conducted by the defence.lk team involving specialists in the filed on the video itself and commentaries about it. </span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Professional journalism requires journalists to ensure the information he or she disseminates to be fair and accurate. Fulfilling this requires the journalist to avoid expressing comments and conjecture as actual facts.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Miller opens his story about the video calling the victory over terrorism in Sri Lanka is something to be celebrated only by the Sinhalese majority, which is certainly not the ground reality. It is interesting to know how a foreigner like Miller could make such a serious comment about the thinking of Sri Lankan people. Then he goes on saying that it has been a "brutal war" in which "unknown thousands of Tamil civilians were killed", yet fails to elaborate any source where his comments can be referred. Then comes a carefully edited video footage released by the LTTE propaganda arm during the wartime. At the end of this section Miller says, "now, we know one soldier had a mobile phone"; an obvious attempt to conceal the problem of authenticity of the video to the audience.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Then comes the scene of a man wearing an olive-green overall shooting a naked and loosely blindfolded man with his hands tied behind his back. The victim is shot at point blank range at the back of the head. Then the one with the camera turns at several other males lying on the ground apparently dead. The </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1:02.781 (minute)</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> video footage ends showing another man shooting the second blindfolded man in the same fashion as the earlier one. The only difference was the shooter was clad in a camouflaged combat uniform. Throughout the video, several men were heard shouting in Sinhalese and thundering blasts were clearly heard in the background as if the video was taken under heavy fire.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The pictures of the video footage were in very bad quality that there was no visible evidence whether the victims were actually injured in shooting. Also, the shooters were clad in combat clothes generally worn by all armies in the world. No Sri Lankan army insignias or anything such items were captured in the video to identify the shooters with the Sri Lanka army. Although the video footage seemed to have been taken with great deliberation to show what had happened at the location, the person who took it avoids directing the camera towards the shooters' faces. The voices heard in the background gives no clue about shooters or the victims. Furthermore, it is quite clear that the cameraperson was doing his work quite freely and openly without any objections from those who were committing the crime, as if they wanted him/her to carryout the work unhindered.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Irrespective of all mentioned above, Miller speculates that a "soldier" not shown in the video jumped with joy at the first shooting. Then he confirms that that a shooter was a "Sinhalese country boy". What's more, Miller says to the audience that the killing Tamils were like a game to the "Sinhalese Soldiers". It is only after speculating on all these that Miller decides to tell his audience that there is no independent authentication about the video.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, he officiously tell the audience the group that claimed have handed over the video to him is not a "Tamil liberation organization" but a group of journalists in 'exile' fighting for media freedom. Moreover, he has found an unknown independent human right expert a "Sinhalese" to confirm him that video to be genuine. The whole episode if analyzed in the rational mind is an excellent example of deceitful journalism of the first degree. Miller closed his story creating disbelief in the audience that Tamils will be able to live peacefully with the other communities in the Island.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is clear to any right minded person that it would not take much time for Sri Lankan defence officials to decide that the information in the video footage was insufficient for any further investigations. In fact, it is understandable that the aim of its originators was not to bring justice to the apparent victims shown in the video but to rekindle the dangerous ideology that gave life to the LTTE terrorists for decades. The government has rightly denied any breach of international law of war by Sri Lankan armed forces. Having painfully learnt the capacity of the LTTE propaganda arm - the only element of the terrorist outfit that still remains intact, the government has substantial evidence to prove that the video was a fake.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On the other hand, there is more than sufficient evidence that LTTE cadres masquerading in army uniforms had carried out crimes and used videos of such crimes to win international sympathy. Many LTTE cadres surrendered to the army have confessed to be involved in such crimes where they were asked to kill captives, mostly Tamils who were labeled as traitors. Civilians too have revealed seeing such videos showed by the LTTE cadres when they were held as a human shield by the LTTE. It was a commonly known tactic used by the LTTE to prevent civilians seeking refuge with the armed forces.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, Miller's reportage on the video and the commentaries of the LTTE sympathizers that followed, attempt to generalize the accusations against the government and armed forces as whole. It should be noted that Sri Lankan armed forces have given refuge to thousands of LTTE cadres including over 120 senior leaders of the outfit. The parents of the LTTE chief himself and his mother in law were also among the rescued during the final phase of the conflict. If Sri Lanka adapted summary execution of LTTE cadres as a policy, none of the LTTE cadres would be left and there would be ample videos available for media when considering the strength of the LTTE propaganda arm.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Above all, there exists serious suspicion about the integrity of the parties involved in propagating this video. The group claimed to have smuggled the video out of the Island, the so-called Journalist for Democracy (JDS) is an unheard media rights group in Sri Lanka of which no details can be found about its members. The group apparently runs an internet blog that contains propaganda material usually used by LTTE lobbyists but does not give any information about the personnel involved. However, available sources confirmed that the members of this group to be LTTE hired hands and some are even wanted terrorists under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Sri Lanka. Hence, there are valid reasons to the group to be in self-exile, allegedly leading the struggle for media freedom.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Channel 4 too has a history of broadcasting distorted and misleading news about Sri Lanka. Specially, Jonathan Miller is doing his best to settle what appears to be a personal grudge he has with Sri Lankan people at the expense of his professionalism. It is interesting to watch how Miller has filed stories about Gaza and Iraq. There are few that can be easily goggled.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even his story about Gaza after 22 days of bombing by the Israel in February was free from adjectives he often uses in his stories about Sri Lanka. He saw no "brutalism" in the bombing that many reliably claimed to have killed over thousand civilians including some 400 children, he found no "brutalized" people there. Moreover, it was not "shocking" for him to see the UN headquarters in Gaza bombed with white phosphorus. Nothing is "callous" or "sickening" about conflicts in Iraq, Gaza or in Afghanistan for Miller or for the Channel 4. This hypocrisy is of course common to many other similar media and is no longer a secret to the world.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It should be noted that it was this Miller who boastfully claimed the credit for having the first "face to face" interview with Interpol's wanted terrorist Kumaran Padmanadan alias KP few months ago. Unfortunately for Miller, the criminal that he ridiculed Sri Lankan government for being unable to nab for 25 years is now with Defence Ministry. KP is certainly spilling the beans and has given a very important place to the Channel 4 affair and Miller connection in his confessions. Though not much information on this is permitted to be revealed at this stage, it can be said with great responsibility that LTTE had made Channel 4 one of its propaganda allies.</span></span></p><p class="A_news" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Finally, the whole affair about the video indicates nothing but the dearth of genuineness on the part of the human rights activists in Sri Lanka. Jonathan Miller is certainly an unknown figure to Sri Lankans despite his pretence as an expert in Sri Lanka's affairs. Yet, the people who feed information to Miller, the so-called Sri Lankan rights activists, are well known to all discernible citizens here. Portraying these individuals as rights activists before ordinary Sri Lankan citizens is certainly a laughable matter for everyone knows that it is just a good business for them.</span></span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-89839875020037248672009-08-29T18:33:00.000-07:002009-08-29T18:34:14.374-07:00Government deeply regrets Erik Solheim's comments on SL<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Government of Sri Lanka refers to the comments made by the Minister of Environment & International Development of the Norwegian Government, Erik Solheim, published in the 'Aftenposten' newspaper website of 28 August 2009, a news release from the Foreign Ministry said today.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It added "The Sri Lanka government deeply regrets the baseless comments contained therein and is perturbed by such statements being made by the Norwegian Minister against a friendly government.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It is unbecoming of Minister Solheim to attribute blame on alleged atrocities, contained in an unsubstantiated video footage, without any recourse to an exchange of views and total disregard to the position of the Government of Sri Lanka on the issues in question.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The criticism by him of a democratically elected Head of State, who is carrying out a vibrant agenda to safeguard the rights of the people of Sri Lanka, while having eliminated the scourge of terrorism, is unacceptable. It would be recalled that Norway continued its facilitatory role in the then peace process, even after the election of His Excellency the President Mahinda Rajapakse. The utterances of Minister Solheim have led the Government of Sri Lanka to reflect on his possible partisanship in the facilitatory role.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Government of Sri Lanka hopes that a formal response would be received from the Norwegian Government with regard to the attributed comments by a Minister of that Government".</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Courtesy: Government Information Department</span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8899328386357007299.post-3554275239772060422009-08-29T18:32:00.000-07:002009-08-29T18:33:27.930-07:00'Channel 4' gets flak for exploiting journalist<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 16px; "><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">'Channel 4' UK , the news network which broadcast the false and unverified video footage on Aug 25 which allegedly showed the summary killing by Sri Lankan troops of Tamil civilians in January this year, has come in for heavy criticism from many quarters for the exploiting of a journalist to obtain a sensational news item.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">The Daily Mail, UK said 'Channel 4' "promised to stretch reality television to the limit: one man pitting his wits against the Yukon wilderness with just a camera for company. But hopes for an epic three-month contest between man and nature were dashed when adventurer Ed Wardle failed to go the distance.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Seven weeks after striding out into the rugged forests of western Canada armed with a rifle and a fishing rod, Mr. Wardle had to be airlifted back to civilization suffering from starvation".</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It reported that' Channel 4' faced criticism for allowing him to attempt the expedition unaided and apparently unprepared, to entertain viewers. During his adventure, Mr. Wardle, 34, was permitted to send out a daily posting on the Twitter website and transmit a single electronic signal confirming he was still alive.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"This is a pretty foolish enterprise. If Channel 4 is going to send people on this kind of expedition, they really must make sure they are up to it and have the skills necessary to survive," said Director of Media Watch, John Beyer.</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">"If they first of all did not check that Ed Wardle was competent, then that is the height of irresponsibility on the part of Channel 4, to do that merely to provide entertainment for us all back home to watch this man steadily deteriorate."</span></p><p class="A_news" style="font-size: 12px; text-align: justify; line-height: 15px; word-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 40px; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Courtesy: PRIU</span></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0