Stop Balkanizing Sri Lanka – Repeal 13 amendment – The May 2013 Melbourne Resolution
Posted on June 7th, 2013
RANJITH SOYSA Spokes Person SPUR ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc)
The Society for Peace Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka (SPUR) is a 17 year old human rights organisation operating in Australia dedicated to protecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unitary stratus of Sri Lanka. SPUR has urged successive Sri Lankan Governments, including that of President Rajapaksa to repeal the 13th Amendment to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s constitution, the Trojan horse of separatism forced in 1987 on Sri Lanka by the then hostile Indian Government.
Holding of the Northern Provincial Council elections threatens to Balkanize Sri Lanka by providing racist Tamil political parties such as the TNA and national and international entities relentlessly prosecuting a regime change in Sri Lanka with a platform for launching a fresh bid for separatism in Sri Lanka.
Over 30,000 law abiding citizens including defense force personal either sacrificed their lives or were permanently disabled protecting the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. This hard won freedom and liberation has to be protected at all cost. The priority for the nation and its citizens is to sustain and secure the hard won terror free operating environment. We owe it to those who sacrificed life and limb to liberate Sri Lanka on 19th May 2009 from the scourge of Tamil Tiger Terrorism. We contest that holding the Northern Provincial Council elections and the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution including the granting of land and police powers to Provincial Councils will usurp the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.
Factors underpinning our thesis include but not limited to:
- Unnecessary Indian interference ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in Sri Lanka evidenced by its role in crafting the March 2013 UN resolution on Human RightsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”violationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in Sri Lanka and pandering to racist Tamil Nadu politicians in South India.
- Disproportionate attention paid to the last phase of the war in Sri Lanka by US maneuvers at UNHCR and the blatant interference in Sri Lankan domestic politics by USA evidenced by the unprecedented bi-lateral agreement entered in to with the Tamil dominated Trincomalee Urban Development Council establishing the so called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-American CornerƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The breathtaking arrogance of USA is evident by its wonton bypassing of Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s External Affairs Ministry in seeking authorization for establishing such an agreement.
- American efforts to establish a naval presence in the Maldives evidenced by the signing of the Status of Forces Agreement which can affect the geopolitics in S.Asia.
- Separatist agenda and aspirations beyond the 13th Amendment parroted by the TNA evidenced by the 2012 Sambanthan speech in BatticaloaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where the establishment of a unitary Tamil State and achieving political, economical and cultural freedom of the Tamil speaking community was given prominence.
- Separatist statements made by TNA MP Suresh Premachandra and the Bishop of Mannar, well known LTTE sympathiser Rev Rayappu Joseph requesting support from visiting Indian politicians to support post NPC elections, re-establishment of the merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces and the establishment ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a Self Governing Authority for the Tamil people in the merged provinces, the final steep prior to a Varatharaja Perumal type unilateral declaration of independence for the said provinces.
- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚·ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fully funded and coordinated efforts launched by INGOƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s in partnership with local Sri Lankan anarchists and the UNP politicians to prosecute regime change evidenced by the actions of the Friedrich Naumann FoundationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s alliance with the UNP and holding of the workshop on ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”how to topple the Rajapaksa GovernmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ in CMC Mayor MuzammilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s residence
Whist reiterating the need for giving primacy for to above or any other factor, including economic development to maintaining National Security, SPUR members and well wishers at the AGM held on 26 May 2013 unanimously adopted the following resolution.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ May 2013 Melbourne ResolutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
In this week dedicated to Reconciliation in Australia, acknowledging that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ we the members and well wishers of SPUR, with respect and humility, request the President and the Government of Sri Lanka to:
- Postpone the Northern Provincial Council Election until the Sinhalese and Muslim civilians ethnically cleansed from Jaffna and other areas in the Northern ProvinceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from 1987 onwards are resettled back in their original abodes or at nearby suitable locations mutually agreed to by the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim victims of LTTEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ethnic cleansing and the democratically elected Sri Lankan Government,
- Direct the Parliament to refer the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Supreme Court to assess the legality of the amendment with respect to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s constitution and the judicial and parliamentary process followed when adopting the 13th Amendment,
- Establish a mechanism including timelines to engage the citizens at the grass root level to develop indigenous options for decentralizing power, with the preferred model subject to a referendum by 1 July 2014
- Seek public allegiance to Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s constitution from all sitting parliamentarians ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by swearing to protect the unitary status and the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka in accordance with Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s constitution.
Attributes worthy of examining when developing the decentralized alternative governance arrangements include but not limited to:
- Protecting Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sovereignty, unitary status and territorial integrity
- Empowering the people at the grass-root-level
- Giving preeminence to social, economic and environmental development of Sri Lanka with special attention paid to non-urban, rural development including the uplifting of the social and economic standing of the rural poor
- Acknowledging the dearth of professionals to efficiently and effectively provide essential services working with many tiers of government; and
- Recognizing the current high cost of governance paying bureaucrats and politicians working in 3 plus tiers of government.
We urge the President and the Government of Sri Lanka to act decisively at this important moment in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
RANJITH SOYSA
Spokes Person
SPUR ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc)
Reg: A003 0777 M
P.O. Box 4066, Mulgrave VIC 3170, Australia
Phone: (+613) 9795 7143ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Fax:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ (+613) 9795 7142
June 7th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
May 2013 Melbourne Resolution
Excellent!!!
This should be REPEATED over and over again. Then people will USE this as a template to counter Tamil dirt.
June 7th, 2013 at 6:11 pm
just a reminder to all – while saluting this resolution. when spur was not even inside the womb, sluna in Toronto canada ably headed by people like daya h, maninda g, ira etc. did a yeoman service to counteract the sakkily tiger propaganda and they instigated the challenge the legality of 13a in supreme court along with other 20 odd parties. anyway all organisations in especially north America and Australia need to form a world federation of expats and fight to the end to repeal the 13a.
June 7th, 2013 at 7:30 pm
The 13th AMENDMENT contains Many POISON PILLS that THREATEN the INTEGRITY of Sri Lanka and the SAFETY of its PEOPLE.
Among them:
1. Devolution of Land and Police Powers that will enable SEPARATIST Tamils to EXCLUDE other communities from the North and East, to BUILD UP their SEPARATIST forces ONCE AGAIN beyond the view and control of the National Government, and to import an unending STREAM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS from Tamil Nadu.
2. The de-facto VETO power of Provincial Councils over NATIONAL BILLS which requires UNANIMOUS CONSENT of ALL PCs for passage of National Bills. Under this law, the GOSL would be UNABLE to act against SEPARATIST Provincial Councils in any way.
3. The Provision for the MERGER of the Northern and Eastern Provincial Councils, that would resurrect the long held dream of Eelamists to impose their majority in the Northern Province on the Eastern Province, and capture it as well. What the SunGod sought to Win by MURDEROUS WAR would be gifted to the TNA in ABJECT PEACE!
It would be an ABSOLUTE FOLLY to hand over the North and East to UNREPENTANT SEPARATISTS ENABLING them to SECEDE and join Tamil Nadu!
The LIVES of UNTOLD GENERATIONS OF Sri Lankan Citizens would be placed at RISK by opening this DOOR TO HELL!
Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls; it Tolls for Thee!
Rise Up! …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. REPEAL the 13th Amendment, DEMOLISH the Provincial Council System, and HALT the upcoming Provincial Council Elections, DEMAND a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to END the 13th Amendment!
June 9th, 2013 at 9:34 am
The TNA fondly ASSUMES that the GOSL has to hold the Provincial Council Elections because of the UPCOMING CHOGM and UN Human Rights Council meetings.
Let the GOSL CONFOUND THE TNA by holding a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE ALL Provincial Councils and them use that as the DEMOCRATICALLY EXPRESSED WILL of ALL PEOPLE of Sri Lanka to NOT Hold Provincial Council Elections at ALL.
Let NO COMMUNITY have separate powers defined by Communal Attributes of Race, REligion, Language, Caste or Sex. To do so would be to pit these communities against each other FOREVER for SPECIAL RIGHTS as in India. India has been destroyed beyond repair by allowing Communal Special Rights sanctioned by law to reign; PLEASE DO NOT make the same mistake in Mother Lanka.
Furthermore,
NEVER devolve LAND and POLICE powers to UNREPENTANT SEPARATISTS.
NEVER devolve VETO rights over National Legislation to UNREPENTANT SEPARATISTS.
NEVER devolve TAXATION rights to UNREPENTANT RACISTS; Only the National Government should levy tax and then remit a portion to local governments …. as appropriate.
EVERY DAY we see the TNA showing its TRUE SEPARATIST COLORS demanding powers that only SEPARATISTS would demand.
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE the PROVINCIAL COUNCILS.
Rise Up … O Patriots of Mother Lanka … DEMAND a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DISSOLVE the Provincial Councils.
Our Craven Politicians cower in fear of foreigners; You must take up this challenge to PROTECT & DEFEND Mother Lanka NOW!
O Patriots of Mother Lanka … Ask Not For Whom the Bell Tolls for It Tolls for Thee!
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Sri Lanka Tamil party sees no use of holding Northern PC poll after reducing powers to provinces
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka’s major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says it would be useless to hold elections to the Northern Provincial Council after amending the 13th Amendment and reducing powers vested with the provinces.
TNA parliamentarian Suresh Premachandran says the government however is compelled to hold the Northern Provincial Council elections.
“The current President and the government are going against this (implementing the 13th Amendment and going beyond),” he said.
“We want to go beyond the 13th Amendment. Provincial Councils need more powers on land, police and taxation. There are also issues in relation to the Governor. It is important to go beyond the current system. Only then can people in each province look after themselves. We are not satisfied with the current system and we must go beyond,” he added.
According to Premachandran, he does not have faith in the government to hold the Northern Provincial Council election, but understands that the government is compelled to hold the election because of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the resolution adopted at the UN Human Rights Council.
“The government has to therefore show the world that it is democratic and holds elections. The government has to face accountability issues before the international community and there is a lot of pressure, so they would have to hold elections in the North. It is not that the government wants to hold elections, but it is compelled to do so,” he has said.
June 9th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
Ananda-
You ought to read the archives to find out who pledged and gave undertakings to all and sundry to hold the NPC
June 9th, 2013 at 4:09 pm
The statement ‘…. Sri Lanka’s major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says it would be useless to hold elections to the Northern Provincial Council after amending the 13th Amendment and reducing powers vested with the provinces” – In the first place TNA is not a registered political party. It is at present an organisation of Tamil politicians. These Tamil politicians do not have iota feeling for the Sri Lankan Nation, it seems, though they collect their pay, perks, travel abroad, pensions, etc. at Sri Lanka taxpayer cost. In any other Democratic country, these MPs would be stripped of their MP title, but in over tolerant Sri Lanka, they carry on as though they OWN parts of the country. What a shame !
All MPs of the Parliament ought to be held accountable for the Oath they take to uphold the Constitution of the country and strong Disciplinary measures taken when they break with the Oath.
June 9th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
“Sri Lanka Tamil party sees no use of holding Northern PC poll after reducing powers to provinces”
FANTASTIC!
Way to go. Let them BOYCOTT the election so that UPFA and UNP can win MOST seats.
Then govt. can tell UNHRC, al last we held the north PC election.
June 9th, 2013 at 4:24 pm
Fran,
TNA always contest under ITAK.
TNA is the NEW English name for ITAK. The OLD English name for ITAK was federal party.
The problem is NOT TNA but ITAK VOTERS.
If not for these voters TNA (ITAK) would be no where to be found.
June 9th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
On May 19th, 2009 the Patriotic Forces of Sri Lanka completed the FIRST STEP of regaining its Sovereign Crown.
Let the SECOND STEP of that Heroic Struggle to Wrest our Crown Free of Foreign Domination be completed in 2013 by REPEALING the 13th Amendment and UPROOTING the Provincial Council System COMPLETELY from the Hallowed Soil of our Resplendent Motherland.
In UNITY lies our strength; UNITED we can MOVE MOUNTAINS! Hold Fast …. and FORGE AHEAD with CONFIDENCE in the NOBILITY of OUR PURPOSE … to build a peaceful and secure future for ALL Sri Lankans, irrespective of community. To this end, REJECT the creation of a Patchwork Quilt of Racist Aparthied Bantustans in Sri Lanka under the 13th Amendment!
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka … Rise Up as ONE PEOPLE, and Cry out in ONE VOICE that we WILL NOT TOLERATE ANYMORE the Foreign Chains that Yoke our Motherland to a Foreign Agenda designed to DIVIDE and WEAKEN our Motherland FOREVER!
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Sinhala Buddhist organizations rally to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 09, Colombo: A number of Sinhala Buddhist organizations in Sri Lanka have rallied to abolish the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Accordingly, a general assembly has been planned to be held in Colombo with the participation of a wide range of political movements.
The rally will be held in Colombo Hyde Park on June 28.
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), National Buddhist Monks’ Federation, Sinhala Ravaya National Organization, Bodu Bala Sena, All Lanka Buddhist Federation, All Lanka Buddhist Women’s Federation, Dharmavijaya Foundation, Swarna Hansa Foundation, Sinhala Weera Vidahana, Chinthana Parshadaya and Jayagrahanaya are the movements that have joined to hold the rally.
National Freedom Front led by Minister Wimal Weerawansa and other Sinhala nationalist parties that are with the government except the monk party JHU have not yet confirmed the participation in the rally.
June 10th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
It is VERY SAD, but the Catholic Bishops of Sri Lanka have joined the SEPARATISTS of the TNA, the would-be Future Separatists of the SLMC, the Communist Party (CP), the foreign-funded NGOs and other assorted Anti-National Elements to OPPOSE REPEAL of the 13th Amendment.
So what is new? The THESE ARE THE VERY SAME PEOPLE who covertly and overtly supported the LTTE led by its SunGod, are now fighting the same battle on a different stage to DIVIDE and GIFT the LIMBS of Mother Sri Lanka to SEPARATISTS.
The Nation is dividing into TWO CAMPS on this issue: TRAITORS and PATRIOTS. We must NEVER FORGET who the TRAITORS were!
Rise Up …. O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. in your TENS of MILLIONS to SECURE PEACE & SECURITY for yourselves and UNTOLD FUTURE GENERATIONS by REPEAL the 13th Amendment and DEMOLISHING the Provincial Councils! DEMAND a NATIONWIDE REFERENDUM to REPEAL these FOREIGN SHACKLES that BIND and ENSLAVE Mother Lanka to Communal Discord! Your NOBLE PURPOSE is to DEMOLISH FOREVER all SPECIAL PRIVILEGES to Communal Groups …. assigned on the basis of Race, Religion, Language, Caste and Sex.
Rise Up … O Patriots of Mother Lanka …. Your Country Needs you NOW!
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Catholic bishops ask Sri Lankan government not to change 13th Amendment to Constitution
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
June 10, Colombo: The Catholic bishops of Sri Lanka have requested the government not to proceed with amending the 13th Amendment to the Constitution although the amendment may not be perfect.
In a statement the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka today requested the government not to proceed with amending the 13th Amendment or totally repeal it but to discuss with all relevant parties on drawing up a totally new Constitution which is fair by all communities.
“The 13thAmendment of the National Constitution is a system that by large allows the greater participation of the people in the matter of governance,” the statement signed by the Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith on behalf of the organization said.
It said that although the 13th Amendment may not be perfect, pondering on this constitutional provision may lead to over centralization of authority and to international meddling in the internal affairs of this country at a time when Sri Lanka is striving to make permanent the hard won peace.
Stating that the problem in the North is a national question, for which the solution is to be found by the local political leadership of both Sinhala and Tamil communities, the bishops advised the government not to proceed with the proposed revision to the 13th Amendment or to its total repeal.
The bishops advised the government to discuss the 13th Amendment through a Parliamentary Select Committee and consider a totally new Constitution which would guarantee “justice, peace and prosperity for all citizens of the country regardless of their ethnic, religious or social differences.”