Conversations & Comparisons

RECOLLECTIONS: Conversations & Comparisons – reading between the lines by Revd. BJA, UK “Now tell me” queried a senior Church official, “if the peace process were to be derailed who gets to be blamed, the Sinlease or the Tameel Tigers?” You actually mean, I emphasised, who is not to be blamed. The response to that I continued, is summed up in… Read more »

Shameless Somersault on the POTA Issue by The Hindu

Exposing the shameless somersault on the POTA issue by The Hindu editorialist by Sachi Sri Kantha, August 10, 2004 Why does the Hindu newspaper establishment of Chennai spew venom on Eelam Tamil nationalism since 1983?  How about the following answers? (1) By tradition, The Hindu is conservative, and places India’s interests in its head; [which means, they think supporting separatism in a… Read more »

Sangam Press Release

Date: August 9, 2004 Title: Statements attributed to the Sangam on the John Kerry Presidential Campaign are not factual. Press Release Sangam ITS August 2004

Chavakachcheri Computer Training Center

Chavakachcheri gets a Free Computer Training Center as TITA and SKTATT of London once again join hands A third joint Free Computer Training Center by TITA and SKTATT (London Sri Kanaga Thurkai Amman Temple Trust), will be opened on, Sunday, the 08th of Aug 2004, in Chavakachcheri in the Jaffna district, following their joint center… Read more »

Vanni Tech Convocation

Vanni Institute of Technology Convocation Fifty two students, who have completed a one-year course at the Vanni Institute of Technology since its inauguration in 2003, had their convocation today, 8th of August 2004, in a well-attended ceremony presided over by Siva Gobal, President of the Vanni Institute of Technology. Mr.S.P. Tamilselvan, Head of the LTTE… Read more »

Politics of Dissension and Divergence

National Day Message 2004 from Singapore’s PM Politics of Dissension and Divergence -Flying Singapore Higher- Straits Times, Singapore, August 8, 2004 [During the 1960’s, Singapore wanted to emulate the success of Sri Lanka.  Forty years have passed, and one can see the role reversal caused by contrasting leadership skills.] Excerpts: In other countries, the politicians… Read more »

Some Thoughts on Ethnic Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

by M. Thiru, September 8, 2004 In the 1930’s though there were political differences between the Sinhalese and Tamil leaders, but there was no state terrorism on Tamils. There were no atrocities by the armed forces, no riots, no looting or arsons, no rape, no shelling or bombing of Tamil areas, Tamils were not displaced… Read more »

The Americanization of Chennai

The Best Job in Town – The Americanization of Chennai by Katherine Boo, The New Yorker, July 5, 2004 Front Note by Sachi Sri Kantha ..the British practised overt colonialism. The Americans are now into covert colonialism. Doing anything in covert fashion is the American style. Overt racism is out; but covert racism is thriving…. Read more »

Sri Lanka: Election Observers Have Their Own Agenda

By Prem Sivasamy, August 2, 2004 Introduction The concept of free and fair elections had long ago become an illusion in Sri Lanka, particularly to Tamils. However, Tamils wanted to participate in the last general election only to express their legitimate political aspirations to the International Community (IC) through a democratic process once again, as… Read more »

“56-Years” of Journey To End

By Rich Markandu, August 2, 2004 Pogrom/Extermination/Genocide are synonymous to Bandaranaikes and Jayawardenes. The meaning of ‘Pogrom’ ‘Extermination’ ‘Genocide’ implies the same expression when it comes to analyse the political-historical aspects of the two belligerent group of ethnic communities, Sinhalese and Tamils of Ceylon (now, Sri Lanka). For the last four to five decades the… Read more »

Sri Lanka Scene: Norwegian Effort to Revive Peace Talks Fails

Weekly Review Sri Lanka Scene Norwegian Effort to Revive Peace Talks Fails By  T. Sabaratnam, July 29, 2004 Norway’s latest attempt to revive the government- LTTE peace talks failed but the current uneasy truce is likely to continue as both sides have pledged to uphold the ceasefire and had reiterated their commitment to the peace… Read more »

Black July – The Ghosts of Chemmani

Review – From  Pogroms to Massacres and Mass-Graves by Marwaan Macan-Markar, Sunday Leader, June 20, 1999 [Editorial comment:  Tamils have endured a multitude of atrocities under the rule of the majority in Sri Lanka. It is critical to review these historic events (massacres and mass graves)  since the latent emotions –  based on myths or… Read more »

Black July – Riots That Led to War

Twenty years on by Frances Harrison, BBC, July 23, 2003 BBC correspondent in Colombo Twenty years ago, this week, saw the outbreak of anti-Tamil riots in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo that changed the course of the nation’s history The riots, triggered by the killing of a group of soldiers in the Tamil north of… Read more »

Black July – Culture of Silence

The Accomplice in Crime The Shameful Shadows of Macabre July ’83 By Oswald B. Firth OMI, July 29, 2004 Director, Centre for Society and Religion Editor Social Justice How could a community of people, steeped in the traditional values of compassion and ‘ahimsa’, ever break loose into uncivilised behaviour? “We shall have to repent in… Read more »

Black July – The Politics of Apology

A Personal Reflection by Reverand BJA (UK), July 29, 2004 Without restorative justice there is no constructive peace. As a teenager then, I remember hearing the words of Kasi Anandan: ‘ We can’t trust the Sinhalas. They will never give us our rights. The change of government is like the snake shedding its skin. But the… Read more »

Black July – Editorials on Black July 1983

by Sachi Sri Kantha, July 27, 2004 Now, after 21 years, only one of the ten editorials [that which appeared in the Economist, August 6, 1983, under the caption ‘Not just the Tamils’] stands apart from the rest for its clarity of thoughts and time-withstanding precision. The editorialist presented four pragmatic options to solve the… Read more »

Black July – Broader Vision of the Massacred Political Detainees

[On 24 February 1983, Nadarajah Thangathurai, one of the first Tamil freedom fighters incarcerated by the Sri Lanka government, was sentenced to life imprisonment. On the first of March 1983, he made a statement from the dock of the courthouse, which to this day remains one of the best testaments to the Tamil sentiments in… Read more »

Black July – An Exodus to the Homeland

by Anonymous, July 26, 2004 People rush to their homes for security when they are threatened.  As is obvious, their homeland is the land where their home is located.  Their homeland, or country, nourishes them, providing for their economic and cultural sustenance. Is it that simple, or do we need a legal and anthropological analysis? Multiple workshops… Read more »

Black July – Eyes Of Kuttimani

A Tribute to a Brave Leader by Thanjai Nalankilli, July 25, 2004 Kuttimani (photo – center), a nominated member of Sri Lankan parliament… was forced to kneel in his (prison) cell by his assailants and ordered to pray to them. When he refused, he was taunted by his tormentors about his last wish… He had… Read more »