by Sachi Sri Kantha; originally published February 24, 2004 [an up-dated version of what originally appeared in the Tamil Nation website, 24 January 2001] I have a message to posterity in Sri Lanka. If 100 years from now, someone wants to know what was the situation in Sri Lanka at the beginning of the 21st century,… Read more »
The “New World Order” and Tamils – a Comment
by Rajkumar Sivapathan; February 12, 2004 The events in the past couple of years have changed the life style and attitude of most people in the world. The attack on WTC and the events followed affected many people. The main thing that affected the Tamils was the hurried inclusion of the LTTE, the only organisation that struggles… Read more »
Open Letter to President & PM
by Dr. Victor Rajakulendran; originally published February 24, 2004 An open letter to Sri Lankan President and the Prime Minister February 12, 2004 Her Excellency, Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumarathunga The President of Sri Lanka His Excellency, Ranil Wickramasinghe The Caretaker Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Your Excellencies Re: The current political crisis Your Excellency the President, you… Read more »
Call to Increased Action for War-Affected Children
by UNICEF; originally published February 24, 2004 SECURITY COUNCIL: Plight of Children in Armed Conflict Reaches Watershed Stage [press release] [NEW YORK, 20 January 2004] – The battle to uphold the rights and well-being of children exposed to armed conflict “has reached a watershed moment,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on the issue told the Security Council today…. Read more »
Some Reflections on Terrorism
by Wakeley Paul; originally published February 23, 2004 SOME REFLECTIONS ON TERRORISM Terrorism and Rebellion Distinguishable like Theocracy is from Democracy The common concept of terrorism is one of ruthless civilians who attack helpless unsuspecting civilians for political gain. Is that the only definition there is? If the first narrow definition was the only way to… Read more »
Tamils Health Organization-USA AGM May 1
originally published February 23, 2004 It’s peacetime in the North-East of Sri Lanka THO-USA is a non–political, non-profit organization Our goal is to help rebuild the Healthcare infrastructure of the North-East of Sri Lanka We need your help and support Now, is the time for you to help and support! Event : Annual General Meeting of… Read more »
Sinhala Buddhist Vote
by Sarath Bulathsinghala; Lankaweb, February 18, 2004 From a Sangam member: You might think of publishing this as the latest example of Sinhala Buddhist determination to exclude and discriminate- first it was ethnic, now it is religious as well. Where will this end? It reminds me of the cartoon of two roaring galloping lions chasing a… Read more »
Blood Bank of Jaffna Hospital
originally published February 22, 2004 Dear fellow friends, family, and community members, I hope you are all well and enjoying the new year. As you well know, the situation in Sri Lanka is tenuous at best and the recent political upheaval lends very little hope for such a dire situation. And yet the Tamil population… Read more »
A Sri Lankan’s Role in the Leak of Nuclear Secrets
by Sachi Sri Kantha; originally published February 22, 2004 On February 11, 2004, President George W.Bush delivered an address on Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation at the National Defense University, Washington DC. His revelation on the activities of a high-profile Sri Lankan Muslim middleman tied to the leak of nuclear secrets by the Pakistan nuclear scientist… Read more »
Tigers’ Bloodless Coup
by Vasantha Raja; TamilCanadian, February 20, 2004 The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) seem to be outsmarting the Sri Lankan state in its global propaganda battle. The dragging political crisis in the Sinhala establishment, the rise of militant Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalism, president Kumaratunga’s moves to undermine the peace process and give leadership to the overtly chauvinist… Read more »
Letter to Jehan Perera
by Rajan Sriskandarajah; originally published February 11, 2004 Jehan Perera Media Director National Peace Council Sri Lanka. Dear Jehan, I read your latest Press Release in the Tamil Circle. This is a good analysis. However, I beg to disagree with your statement that, “… the LTTE’s own proposals for an interim self governing authority exceed those… Read more »
Sri Lanka Scene: Election Jockeying
by T. Sabaratnam, originally posted February 17, 2004 Weekly Review, 16 February 2004 Nomination week for the April 2 parliamentary election begins on Tuesday February 17 and the events of the last few days point to an intensely violent and confrontational campaign. Two incidents of election violence have been reported from the Puttalam district on… Read more »
Pirapaharan, Chapter 30: LTTE Guerrillas in Action
by T. Sabaratnam; originally published February 11, 2004 30. LTTE Guerrillas in Action Nelliady Ambush Pirapaharan’s wish to raise an LTTE army on the lines of Subash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army was natural because he had already gathered a group of active and committed cadres. He had trained over 25 youths and a few of… Read more »
Looking for the Pony
by Roy Ratnavel; originally published February 11, 2004 “Will someone tell me what the hell this is about?” — Rock Hudson at the Los Angeles premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey There is no denying that the political arena in Sri Lanka has been filled with unpleasant aromas recently. In addition to manufactured geopolitical fears, Tamils… Read more »
Tamil Parties Cannot Play Coy in a Corner
by Taraki; Daily Mirror, Colombo, February 11, 2004 The Tamil National Alliance has been made out to be more than what it actually is. If not for a variety of external pressures, it would have imploded at inception. Contrary to the chief myth about the TNA – that it is managed by the Liberation Tigers –… Read more »
Sri Lanka Scene: An Opportunity Tamils Should Not Miss
by T. Sabaratnam; originally published February 10, 2004 Weekly Review An Opportunity Tamils Should Not Miss Tamil politicians and analysts view the April 2 parliamentary election as a golden opportunity Sinhala chauvinism has bestowed on the Tamils. They are pleased that the LTTE has already seized the opportunity and won the international community’s acclaim by declaring… Read more »
Getting the Education & Credentials to Advance Your Career in the US
Asylees, Refugees and Asylum-seekers, You are invited to attend… The Action Network for Refugees and Asylum-Seekers Informational Meeting “ADVANCE YOUR CAREER! Getting the Education and Credentials to Work in Your Field in the US” (Plus updates on the “We Want Green Cards Campaign”.) SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 1:30pm Guest Speaker Catherine Casey will discuss the EMPLOYMENT… Read more »
The Enduring Power of Traditional Art
by Janadas Devan; The Straits Times, February 1, 2004 SHIVA-NATARAJA, the Lord of the Dance, is a metaphysic in stone – or bronze or copper or whatever material it happens to be made from, the material being immaterial to its meaning. Janadas Devan The features of Shiva-Nataraja have symbolic signifiance but sadly, many Hindus have forgotten… Read more »
The People’s Sovereignty
by George Soros; Foreign Policy, New York, January/February 2004 The People’s Sovereignty How a new twist on an old idea can protect the world’s most vulnerable populations George Soros is a financier and philanthropist. Sovereignty is an anachronistic concept originating in bygone times when society consisted of rulers and subjects, not citizens. It became the cornerstone… Read more »
Projects Needed for Vanni Tech Graduates
originally published February 5, 2004 Greetings from VanniTech, As you may know, our students will be finishing up their studies on February 13, 2004. As we prepare them for real life, we would like to get projects that would create employment for them. We already have some website projects from Canada. We are working on… Read more »