Posts Categorized: International

The Three-State Solution

by Leslie H. Gelb, The New York Times, November 25, 2003 President Bush’s new strategy of transferring power quickly to Iraqis, and his critics’ alternatives, share a fundamental flaw: all commit the United States to a unified Iraq, artificially and fatefully made whole from three distinct ethnic and sectarian communities. That has been possible in the past only… Read more »

Observations of the UN HRC re Sri Lanka

originally published November 17, 2003 This report comes to us thanks to the Tamil Centre for Human Rights http://www.tchr.net. Note in particular reference to impunity, disappearances, torture, and the PTA. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE(CPR/CO/79/LKA/Future) 79th session CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 40 OF THE COVENANT Concluding observations of the Human Rights Committee SRI… 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 »

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 »

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 »

What Future the UN?

originally published October 15, 2003 Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey November 14, 2003 Location: Seton Hall University School of Law, one block from Penn Station Newark at McCarter H’way and Raymond Blvd, 15 minute train from NYC Seating can be assured only to those who register in advance. Information: hotels, transportation,… Read more »

How War on Terror Hits Charity

by William P. Fuller and Barnett F. Baron; The Christian Science Monitor, Boston, MA, July 29, 2003, originally published October 12, 2003 WASHINGTON – In the aftermath of the Iraq war, American foundations and humanitarian organizations are beginning to play their traditional role of providing relief and assistance to distressed populations, just as they are doing… Read more »

Shared Sovereignty May Be Answer to Kashmir Problem

by India Abroad; October 10, 2003, originally published October 12, 2003 Though marked by terrorism, Kashmir is not just a terrorist problem, South Asia specialist Teresita C. Shaffer said. The former State Department official who is now director of the South Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a leading Washington think tank,… Read more »

Cole, Chang Lead US Patriot Act Challenge by Tamils

by TamilNet, 5 October, 2003, originally published October 5, 2003 Professor David Cole of Georgetown University and Nancy Chang, Senior attorney at Center for Constitutional Rights, New York, will lead the legal challenge against the provision of the USA Patriot Act that criminalizes the provision of “expert advice and assistance” to proscribed organizations. Plaintiffs in… Read more »