by T. Sabaratnam in Colombo; November 9, 2003, originally published November 17, 2003 Colombo is calm. With the daily evening showers, the weather is cool and refreshing. People are going through their normal routine life. Churches are full. Buddhist religious schools are full with little smiling children. Ramakrishna Mission is full with pavadai-clad girls. Markets are… Read more »
Kumaratunge’s Coup and the Peace Process
originally published November 6, 2003 Press Release The Sangam and the world at large are shocked at the reckless behaviour of Sri Lanka President Kumaratunge, who places her own political agenda before the needs of the people of the island. On Oct. 31, 2003 the LTTE, on behalf of the Tamil people, announced their proposal… Read more »
AFTA Media Release re ISGA
originally published November 7, 2003 Australian Federation of Tamil Associations PO Box 44, Civic Square, ACT 2608 06 November 2003 AFTA Welcomes Tamil Self Governance Proposal and calls for vigilance by the International Community The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA) welcomes the proposal released on behalf of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka by… Read more »
A Nudge for Sri Lanka Peace
by Boston Globe editorial, November 6, 2003; originally published November 6, 2003 JUST WHEN it appeared there was a chance to resolve the conflict between minority Tamils and majority Sinhalese on the island nation of Sri Lanka, President Chandrika Kumaratunga seized the occasion of a visit to the White House this week by her political rival,… Read more »
Cracks in a Strategic Jewel
by Christian Science Monitor editorial, November 6, 2003 Some conflicts in far-off lands such as Sri Lanka can’t be ignored when the country contains a strategic jewel for nations like the United States with globe-girdling navies in search of safe ports of call. Sri Lanka’s prized jewels are, first, its location in the middle of the… Read more »
Interim Self-Governing Authority Proposal
THE PROPOSAL BY THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM ON BEHALF OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE FOR AN AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH AN INTERIM SELF-GOVERNING AUTHORITY FOR THE NORTH-EAST OF THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA Consistent with the principles of the rule of law, the human rights and equality of all persons, and the right to self-determination of… Read more »
…And It Is Time for Action in Colombo
by Editorial column in ‘Liberation Tigers’; November 4, 2003, orginally published November 5, 2003 [translated from the Tamil] The Tigers have submitted their proposals for an Interim Administration, appropriately and succinctly titled, the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA). The formulation meets the basic requirements to contain within itself the powers that are necessary to administer the… Read more »
The LTTE’s Proposals for an Interim Self-Governing Authority
by M. Nadarajan; originally published November 3, 2003 The much-awaited Proposals by the LTTE have been given to the government. Though the President had at one time offered to hand over an Interim Administration to the LTTE for a period of ten years, and the Prime Minister’s party had specified in its 2001 election manifesto that… Read more »
Vanni Trip, Section IV of Part III
by K. Mylvaganam; published November 3, 2003 I have visited Vanni thrice in the course one year. My first visit in September/October 2002 lasted for only two weeks. The second trip in January/February 2003 extended for four weeks and my last trip (May to September) gave me the opportunity to be there for four months. Actually… Read more »
Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA)
Released by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, October 31, 2003 ISGA Interim Self-Governing Authority LTTE Oct 31 2003 LTTE’s proposals for an Interim Self-Governing Authority in the Northeast region of Sri Lanka THE PROPOSAL BY THE LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM ON BEHALF OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE FOR AN AGREEMENT TO ESTABLISH AN INTERIM… Read more »
Vanni Trip, Section III of Part III
by K. Mylvaganam; published October 29, 2003 When I visited Vanni for the first time in September 2002, there was only one decent place to stay overnight. And that was the A-9 Lodge as it was called then. It is now renamed as 1-9 Lodge. It is situated on the Kandy Road in Kilinochchi. When you… Read more »
Lessons from the Sudanese Experience
by Victor Rajakulendran; originally published October 29, 2003 The Sudanese Experience: A Lesson for Sri Lankan Peacemakers “We hail the response of the people’s movement (SPLM) and its leader John Garang, who was responsible for the success of the last round of talks,” President of Sudan, Hon. Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir in parliament “We have come, as… Read more »
The 1978 Jayawardene Constitution is Unconstitutional
by Wakeley Paul; originally published October 28, 2003 IT SHOULD BE CHALLENGED NOW WHY THE 1972 & 1978 CONSTITUTIONS ARE NULL AND VOID A SIMPLIFIED EXPLANATION FOR EVERYONE We are all aware that the UF government [per Dr Colvin.R.de Silva] created the ‘Constituent Assembly’ because of the limitations placed on the legislative powers of Parliament under… Read more »
Maveerar Day around the USA
originally published October 24, 2003 A day to Remember A day to Pray A day to Salute Maveerar Naal 2003 Let us come together to honor the Tamil Eelam Heroes Tamil Eelam Heroes Day 2003 Saturday, November 22 Chicago, IL Saturday, November 29 Queens, NY Saturday, December 6 Central New Jersey Saturday, December 6 Seattle,… Read more »
Sudan’s Peace Talks
by Editor; originally published October 22, 2003 Of primary interest to Tamils in the Sudanese peace talks are 1.) the agreement for an internationally supervised referendum in the rebellious southern areas on ‘unity or separation’ in 6 years and 2.) an agreement on security issues that calls for the withdrawal of the majority of government forces… Read more »
Threats & Talks, Latent Bias
Tamil Guardian editorials, London, October 22, 2003 originally published October 28, 2003 Can the LTTE be coerced into abandoning Tamil goals? Whilst the Liberation Tigers are expected to forward their proposals for an interim administration for the Northeast to the Sri Lankan government by the end of the month, Colombo has also dampened expectations of… Read more »
Expatriate Tamil Contribution to the Development of the Northeast
by G.G. Ponnambalam, M.P.; originally published October 18, 2003 (A paper presented by G.G.Ponnambalam M.P. on “Expatriate Tamil contribution to the development of the Northeast,” on the occasion of the 15th anniversary seminar/lunch of the International Tamil Foundation, on 21 September 2003) Mr. Chairman, members of the International Tamil Foundation, guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is… Read more »
Trip to Vanni, Section II of Part III
by K. Mylvaganam; published October 18, 2003 In my earlier insertion on the above subject I mentioned the development works taking place in Vanni. The worst affected areas are the roads in Vanni. All most all the roads are made of gravel except the main Kandy road that is now referred to as the A-9 road…. Read more »
Tamil Techies Master Blaster Worm
By Frances Harrison, BBC, October 17, 2003 The pioneers of a new technology centre must have thought the jungles of rebel-controlled northern Sri Lanka would be the last place to expect the powerful Blaster Worm computer virus. Overcoming a lack of electricity and telephone lines was hardship enough. Bombs, shells and mortars still are a… Read more »
Civil War and Poverty
by Muttukrishna Sarvananthan, Tamil Times, Surrey, UK, September, 2003, originally published October 15, 2003 Twenty years of civil war has left the Sri Lankan economy in general and the economy of the North&East; Province (N&E;) in particular tatters. The civil war had its impact on poverty as well, inter alia. However, the impact of the civil… Read more »