WELL ON THE ROAD TO RECONCILIATION -DR CHRIS NONIS TELLS BBC WORLD NEWS
Posted on June 4th, 2013
PRESSƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ RELEASE-The High Commission of Sri Lanka London
Sri Lanka’s post-conflict measures at reconciliation, rehabilitation, reintegration, and reconstruction were highlighted by High Commissioner Dr Chris Nonis during an interview on BBC World News today.
Asked by BBC presenter Mishal Husain what positive developments have occurred in the last four years since the end of the 26 year conflict, Dr Nonis said 297,000 people rescued from the clutches of the LTTE have been rehabilitated, in perhaps the largest hostage rescue operation in global history.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-After a 28 year bitter and internecine conflict with the terrorists we finally achieved peace in the country under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. There is a billion dollar programme going into the North and East, Negenahira Navodaya, and Uthura Vasanthaya which is building the lives and infrastructure of the people. Eleven thousand six hundred LTTE cadres are now being rehabilitated”, Dr Nonis told the BBC World News programme “Impact”.
“I have met these kids. They were cruelly snatched by Prabhakaran from their parents, and they were fighting but they didn’t know what they were fighting for. It is so wonderful to see them receiving vocational training, being rehabilitated and re-integrated into society,” the High Commissioner said.
On the question of an international independent process to assess progress as called for by the UN, the High Commissioner said that one needs to draw a distinction between an international process and an independent process.
He said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We respect the Sovereign rights of Britain, and of every other country, and we expect you to respect ours.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are a sovereign and an independent state and naturally we expect the same courtesy that you would expect us to apply for your country.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We do have an independent inquiry and many people who initially criticised the LLRC process changed their views when they actually saw the 388-paged document. It was modelled on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. It was set within the Principle of International Humanitarian Law, incorporating the Principle of Distinction and the Principle of Proportionality. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The Commission is moving forward and there is significant progressƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
Questioned on refugees and persecution, Dr Nonis said ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I would say there are many people who for various different reasons come and seek asylum, and I think what we have to separate, is those who seek asylum as economic refugees,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from those who seek asylum as political refugeesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” You must remember the demography of the country, the majority of Tamil people actually live in the Centre and South of Sri Lanka, if you look at Colombo, its roughly a 30-30-30 percent split between Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim. We have a huge dichotomy or disjuncture in perception between what is portrayed here and the reality of contemporary Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
Asked by Mishal Husain ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- How many yearsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ would it take to say that we are now reconciledƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, Dr Nonis pointed to South Africa and the post-apartheid period where there are still substantial issues and to Northern Ireland where, despite the “Good Friday” Agreement, there are still issues.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ “In comparison, I think we have done pretty well,” he said reiterating that it is only four years since the military defeat of the LTTE.
BBC Web Link ( Video ): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22754678
03 June 2013
June 4th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Compared to SOUTH AFRICA and IRELAND, we have done tremendously well.
June 4th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Well done Dr Nonis – that’s the style!. At last we should be proud to have a High Commisioner who knows how to shoot down the bogus critics – S de Silva – London
June 4th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
Bloody Hell! LTTE bombers of the Train in Dehiwala let off with only 10 year sentence (inaddition to 17 years they were held to date).
Reconciliation be DAMNED … Not ENOUGH PUNISHMENT, I say! These murderers should really have been put against a wall and SHOT DEAD! At least they should have received LIFE SENTENCES!
I cry in anguish that Sri Lankan LIVES are VALUED at BARGAIN BASEMENT Prices, by our own Justice System!
Many Friends and some Relatives of mine who were BLOWN TO BITS in that attack, on the alter of Tamil Eelam, must be TURNING IN THEIR GRAVES today!
What a SHAME!
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Suspects of LTTE bomb attack in Sri Lanka train 17 years ago get prison sentences
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 04, Colombo: A Sri Lankan court today sentenced three cadres of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suspected of blowing up a train in Sri Lanka 17 years ago killing 66 people.
When the case was heard today the Colombo High Court Judge Kumudini Wickremasinghe sentenced two of the suspects – Saverimuttu Loganathan and Robert Maxillan to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment while the female suspect, Siththirasenam Thirumagal alias Ramani to five years of rigorous imprisonment.
The suspects were accused of placing two bombs in two carriages of a highly crowded train and detonating it while stopped at the Dehiwala station on July 24, 1996. The attack killed 66 people and injured over 400 people.
The accused have pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiring, aiding and abetting to cause the loss of life and irreparable damage to the Sri Lanka Railway by blasting a bomb.
Since the suspects have been in remand for nearly 17 years, the counsels for the accused have asked the court for a lenient sentence. The prosecution has not objected to the request.
Two more suspects Sinnappu Suharajah and Suppiah Sudarshanan have pleaded not guilty to the charges and the judge has fixed their trial for September 11.
June 4th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
MORE INDECISIVE FIDDLING while Sri Lanka is HEADED for the CHOPPING BLOCK!
My God … if only the Rajapaksa Clan can get their ACT TOGETHER on this … as they did to Win the Eelam War DECISIVELY!
Such Opportunities to Carve Your Name in GOLD in the Annals of Sri Lanka’s Hallowed History are Gifted by the Hatarawaran Deviyo only once in a Millenium to a Select Few!
Carpe’ Diem …. Seize the Day! … this is not the time for Pusillanimous Politicians!
Rise Up! … O Patriots of Mother Lanka … REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DEMOLISH the Provincial Council System by Leaf, Branch, Trunk and Rott, NOW!
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Sri Lanka nationalist party to meet other political parties about motion to abolish PC system
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 04, Colombo: Ally of Sri Lanka’s governing party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) will meet government and opposition political parties within this week to discuss a private member’s motion presented by the party to parliament on abolishing the provincial council system in the country.
JHU Spokesperson Nishantha Sri Warnasinghe said that the JHU had informed the President in writing about the bill and the party now intends to meet every party in the coalition and discuss the issues cited in the Bill.
“Then we plan to meet the representatives of the main opposition party the UNP and the Tamil and Muslim parties within the next week. We have informed all these parties regarding our desire to hold discussions and have also sent them copies of the Bill for them to go through it,” Warnasinghe said.
The JHU motion aims primarily to repeal the 13th Amendment to the Constitution which paved way for the power devolving Provincial Council system in the island.
Warnasinghe added that the JHU also intends to hold discussions with the chief prelates of the country, and other religious leaders as well regarding the bill presented by the JHU.
The party is also hopeful of holding discussions on the motion with the business sectors and Chambers.
June 4th, 2013 at 9:36 pm
“Warnasinghe added that the JHU also intends to hold discussions with the chief prelates of the country, and other religious leaders as well regarding the bill presented by the JHU.
The party is also hopeful of holding discussions on the motion with the business sectors and Chambers.”
I tell you. This will NEVER happen!
JHU clowns are just fooling around when the nation is chopped into pieces. How can they fool people like this and get away?
A goat’s ball will crash to the ground BEFORE the JHU motion is voted in parliament. JHU should change to HUJ.
June 5th, 2013 at 1:04 am
13A should be abolished. This will pave the way for real reconciliation as everybody will be equal everywhere in the country.
June 5th, 2013 at 4:16 am
add to the above:
” there will be no majorities and minorities, only those who love the country and those who don’t”.
June 5th, 2013 at 7:01 am
NOKERENA VEDAKAMATA KONDURUTHEL HATHPATTAYAK SEVEEMA
THIS WHAT J.H.U DOING
June 5th, 2013 at 10:17 am
We applaud the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka for having the facts at hand to take on three big supporters of the separatists, who are not ashamed to peddle the untruths invented by the separatists. This is part of the unending campaign of Sri Lanka bashers now led by Canada, who wants to prove that their stance to boycott CHOGM in Sri Lanka is correct. At present Canada seems embarrassed that only the Tiger fronts are with them. I hope Canada will soon find honest politicians who care for Canadian interests rather than the interests of particular politicians and political parties that need Tamil diaspora support for survival.
June 5th, 2013 at 11:42 am
What is this INDIAN delegation doing in Sri Lanka interfering in Sri Lanka’s internal matters?
First India seeds and fertilizes Tamil terrorism in Sri Lanka, then invades to partition Sri Lanka in favor of its porteges, then fights its Tamil surrogates when they threaten India’s own integrity, they they declare victory and flee back to India with their tail between their legs leaving us with a greatly enhanced separatist problem, and now HERE THEY ARE AGAIN … turning like the Proverbial Bad Pennies … collaborating with the Separatists to Divide Sri Lanka Again and trying to solve India’s problems on our heads.
The GOSL MUST STOP this SLOW UNDERMINING of Sri Lanka’s SOVEREIGNTY, NOW!
To get the POINT ACROSS, Sri Lanka should send delegations to India on FACT FINDING MISSIONS to talk to all INDIAN SEPARATIST GROUPS (Kashmiri and Assamese terrorists come to mind).
Why stop there, talk to the Naxalites and Dalit groups protesting caste discrmination, as well!
ISSUE INTERNATIONAL REPORTS recommending DEVOLUTION OF MORE POWER to EACH of these groups, in the interest of “human rights” and “greater democracy”, of course.
Let us see how the INDIANS will like their own medicine!
NOTHING will CONVINCE these BUGGERS until WE DO UNTO THEM AS THEY UNTO US! NOTHING!
Get these BUSYBODIES OUT of Sri Lanka, PERMANENTLY!
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India’s opposition party delegation arrives in Sri Lanka to discuss 13th Amendment
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 05, Colombo: A six-member Indian delegation led by the deputy leader of Indian opposition Bharatha Janatha Party (BJP) in the Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday for a five-day visit.
During the visit organized by the New Delhi-based India Foundation and Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies in Colombo, the delegation will hold discussions with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on power devolution.
The delegates intend to discuss the issue of granting police and land powers to the provinces under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and Northern Provincial Council election with the President and Defense Secretary.
The Indian delegates will also meet senior leaders of other political parties in Sri Lanka.
In addition to the leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, Indian delegation will include Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu, senior Indian journalist Swapan Dasgupta, retired IFS officer Vivek Katju, RSS representative Ram Madhav and human right activist Monika Arora.
The delegation today left for Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka to hold discussions with the leaders of Tamil parties including the Tamil National Alliance (TNA). They will also meet the Governor of the Northern Province to discuss the Northern Provincial Council elections planned o be held in September.
The delegation includes Suresh Prabhu (Shiv Sena), Ram Madhav (RSS), journalist and political commentator Swapan Dasgupta, former IFS officer Vivek Katju and human rights activist Monika Arora.
According to The Hindu the delegation’s visit, although not government sponsored, is being watched keenly by the Indian government since the opposition-led team will be meeting all the top leaders of Sri Lanka.
This is the first discussion BJP will have with the Sri Lankan government prior to India’s general election in 2014.
June 6th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Jayawewa! …. Patriotic Forces of Mother Lanka WILL NOT ALLOW
Provincial Councils with Land and Police Powers to be Elected!
If the GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ACT to PROTECT the Nation … Let the PEOPLE of Sri Lanka ACT, and ACT NOW!
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Nationalist organizations in Sri Lanka protest Northern PC election without amending land and police powers
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jun 06, Colombo: Sinhala Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka today protested against the government for planning to hold election for Northern Provincial Council without removing the land and police powers from the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
At a press conference held today in Colombo, the secretary of the National Sangha Conference warned to mobilize the Buddhist monks of the entire country against the government and prevent holding the election for the Northern Provincial Council.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic National Movement that held a press conference separately protested the amendments proposed by the government. The Convener of the Patriotic National Movement Gunadasa Amarasekera said the amendments without the removal of police and land powers may have been proposed by the RAW agents in the cabinet.
The National Freedom Front led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa is meanwhile collecting signatures to a petition against holding the Northern Provincial Council election without amending the land and police powers.