Posts Categorized: Politics

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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 »

War or Recognition of Realities on the Ground?

by Wakeley Paul; originally published February 5, 2004 WHAT’S NEXT ? WAR OR RECOGNITION OF REALITIES ON THE GROUND The question that confronts everyone, Tamils, Sinhalese and the international community is, how long are the Sinhalese parties in parliament intending to maintain the current stalemate? While nothing happens, who suffers more than the Sinhalese people? The… Read more »

Open Letter to US Secretary of State

by Appuacci; originally published February 5, 2004 Dear Mr. Secretary, Today is February 4, 2004; the day Britain handed over the reins of government to the people of Sri Lanka (the former Ceylon). Lord Soulbury, in a Foreword to the book A Divided Nation by B. H. Farmer, showed his bitter disappointment at the direction Ceylon took during… Read more »

Is She Truly Sovereign?

by Taraki; Daily Mirror, Colombo, originally published February 4, 2004 Sri Lanka is not a sovereign state. Firstly it does not enjoy sovereignty over its external affairs. Secondly, it cannot exercise its sovereignty over the full extent of territory over which it claims a sovereign right. Thirdly, a section of the people in whom, according to… Read more »

Britain Puts UN Child Soldier Plan on Hold

by Reuters; London, February 1, 2004 UNITED NATIONS: Britain, angered that Northern Ireland appears on a UN list of countries where youths are recruited as soldiers in “armed conflicts,” has put on hold UN plans to crack down on the use of child warriors, diplomats said on Wednesday. Britain has asked Olara Otunnu, the UN special… Read more »

Thinakural Cartoon

by Thinakural, Colombo, January 30, 2004 First Man: Why are you in such a hurry to make a defense pact with India? Second Man: When the international community is seeking to find a just solution for the minorities, the only country that can help us to sabotage this is India! Originally published February 1, 2004

An Ayodhya in the Making in Lanka

by Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda; Daily Mirror, Colombo, January 30, 2004 PA and the UNF are not taking adequate political action to counter politics of militant Sinhalese nationalism One of the most disturbing developments occurred during the past few weeks has been the acceleration of attacks on Catholic and Christian churches as well as places of worship…. Read more »

Lessons to be Learnt from the LTTE

by Rajkumar Sivapatham; TamilCanadian, January 30, 2004 Lessons to be learnt from LTTE by Tamils For years, the Tamils (no matter whether they are from India, Sri Lanka or any other part of the world) have been longing for a leadership that make them proud. There has not been any such organisation which made an impact… Read more »

A Reply to ‘India’s Interest in a JVP Sri Lanka’

by Arvalan; originally published January 28, 2004 “Falling in love is awfully simple. Falling out of love is simply awful” This is a response to “India’s interest in a JVP Sri Lanka” contributed by Thileelar in the Sangam website on the 22nd January 2004. With all due respect to him, I find Mr. Thileelar’s article contains… Read more »

Parity of Military Status

by Taraki; Daily Mirror, Colombo, January 28,  2004 The LTTE will negotiate only with parity of military status Mr. Anton Balasingham says that the India Sri Lanka Defence Co-operation Agreement (DCA) will “upset the balance of forces to the disadvantage of the LTTE”. The Tigers have accused Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of trying to tilt the… Read more »

Judge Voids Part of Anti-Terror Act

by Eric Lichtblau, New York Times, January 26, 2004 Citing Free Speech, Judge Voids Part of Antiterror Act WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 — For the first time, a federal judge has struck down part of the sweeping antiterrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act, joining other courts that have challenged integral parts of the Bush… Read more »

Caste in Transition

by V. G. Julie Rajan; Hinduism Today, Hawaii, April/May/June 2003 issue http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2003/4-6/30-35_caste.shtml Caste in Transition Education, economics and protest drive changes and reform to India’s ancient societal divisions Caste is not a pleasant topic for Hindus, and in the international arena today, it has elicited a shame upon the Hindu religion. I have written this article… Read more »

India’s Interest in a JVP Sri Lanka

by Thileelar; originally published January 22, 2004 While there have been many articles written about the military importance of Srilanka to India, many have overlooked the role of Srilanka in India’s long term economic vision. It is obvious that India has been aspiring to be an economic powerhouse and seeks to organize the south Asian countries… Read more »