Church warns of ‘foreign intervention’ in Sri Lanka
Posted on December 11th, 2013
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
COLOMBO: The Catholic church Wednesday warned Sri Lanka’s government of foreign intervention unless it worked towards reconciliation and addressed allegations of war crimes during the war against Tamil separatists.
Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, said he was urging President Mahinda Rajapakse and the main ethnic Tamil party to hammer out a political settlement or risk an international probe.
“Foreigners should not tell us what to do… We are not a pack of fools,” the cardinal said. “But if we do not resolve these issues, then we open ourselves to foreign intervention.”
Sri Lanka has resisted international calls to investigate allegations that up to 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by security forces in the final months of fighting in 2009.
At a Commonwealth summit hosted by Colombo last month, Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron warned that he would push for an international inquiry under the auspices of the UN unless Sri Lanka ensures accountability by March.
In a pastoral letter, the church warned that failure on the part of Colombo to ensure accountability for alleged war crimes could trigger international investigations that will be a “serious threat to the sovereignty of the country”.
Christians are a small minority in the mainly Buddhist country, but the Catholic church wields considerable influence over the government and Ranjith is regarded as close to Rajapakse.
Since the 37-year separatist war ended in May 2009, there have been no attacks blamed on the defeated Tamil Tiger guerrillas who fought for independence for the island’s ethnic Tamil minority.
The cardinal said the majority Sinhalese and Tamils should ensure reconciliation and politicians on both sides should be flexible and hammer out a political power sharing deal.
In its 24-page letter, the church also asked the government to ensure accountability for politically-motivated killings going back four decades.
Up to 40,000 people were said to have been killed when the then government crushed a political uprising by mainly Sinhalese Marxists rebels in 1971. A second uprising by the Marxists between 1987 and 1990 is said to have claimed up to 60,000 lives.
The UN estimates that the Tamil conflict, which is unrelated to the two Sinhalese uprisings, had cost at least 100,000 lives between 1972 and 2009.
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
December 11th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
“Dixit explained lucidly New Delhi’s decision to destabilize Sri Lanka. The outspoken diplomat said that India had no option but to take measures due to Sri Lanka’s evolving security connections with the US, Pakistan and Israel. Dixit stressed that India’s motivations as well as actions Vis-a-Vis Sri Lanka should be analysed in the context of the regional as well as global political, security and economic environment during the 1980-1984 period. Dixit went on to allege that the US and Pakistan exploited the rise of Tamil militancy to create what he called a politico-strategic pressure point against India in the island nation.”
Today India piously pontificates on the need for “Human Rights” in Sri Lanka, although India ITSELF was responsible for training and introducing Tamil Terrorists into Sri Lanka, and VIOLATING the HIGHEST Human Right of ALL people of Sri Lanka: the Right to Life!
Why is the World Community that weeps Rivers of Tears for Tamil terrorists not charging India with War Crimes against the Sovereign Nation of Sri Lanka?
Why is India not held ACCOUNTABLE for jump starting and sustaining the Eelam Holocaust that consumed the lives of over 150,000 innocent Sri Lankans?
Given these INCONTROVERTIBLE WAR CRIMES committed by India against Sri Lanka, why is the Government of Sri Lanka NOT DEMANDING that India BUTT OUT PERMANENTLY from Sri Lanka’s internal matters?
Why is the GOSL not DEMANDING the PAYMENT of WAR REPARATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE GOSL to fund Sri Lanka’s reconstruction WITHOUT direct Indian involvement on the ground WITHIN Sri Lanka?
For God’s Sake … Why?
December 11th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
If what the Catholic Church wants is an investigation, the church too must lend itself to investigation for its involvement in the Terrorist War in Sri Lanka. It aided, abetted, raised funds and carried out propaganda for the Terrorist war effort all over the world and in Sri Lanka.
The church has got close to President Mahinda Rajapakse, through his wife, for its own machinations and not for the good of the President, nor for any good for SrI Lanka. All this happens due to the weakness of the Buddhist establishment led by the two Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters.
We have not forgotten how hard the Church fought to bring about defeat for Mahinda Rajapakse and UPFA in 2005. Since then instead of open hostiltiy to the UPFA government, it has now changed its tactics to that of ” running with the hares and hunting with the hounds”.
If investigations need to be carried out, then they must cover the full period of nearly 30 years of the terrorist war. As for the Catholic Church an investigation of the whole of 500 years since 1505 should also be undertaken. The bloody history of the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka should be exposed for the whole world to know.
However all this could be just wishful thinking as even the new Pope has closed the doors of the Vatican for any investigation into its involvement in Child abuse.
As for the President and UPFA – “those who forget history are condemned to relive them”, very often at their own peril!
December 11th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
But as far as Colombo is concerned most of those lives were Tamils who are not really Sri Lankan but foreign occupiers from India.
As far as the delegates who demand an international probe let them in and then with the help of some poison never let them out.
December 11th, 2013 at 11:57 pm
Ratnapala said,
The Church ” aided, abetted, raised funds and carried out propaganda for the Terrorist war effort all over the world and in Sri Lanka.”
and
“We have not forgotten how hard the Church fought to bring about defeat for Mahinda Rajapakse and UPFA in 2005. Since then instead of open hostility to the UPFA government, it has now changed its tactics to that of ” running with the hares and hunting with the hounds”.
ABSOLUTELY! Indeed we have NOT FORGOTTEN nor We are Fooled by the “sage advice” and pious pontifications of this Church. At EVERY TURN the Church has UNDERMINED the Interests of the majority community of Sri Lanka.
A
December 12th, 2013 at 12:08 am
EVERY DAY, in EVERY WAY, the Tiger Nominated Agents of the TNA FLOUT the Laws of the Land, slowly ENCROACHING on the National Government’s Power and Authority!
How Long will the GOSL allow this to continue UNPUNISHED? HOW LONG?
The GOSL must ENFORCE the Law of the Land before the situation SPIRALS BEYOND its CONTROL!
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TNA ULTRA VIRES THE CONSTITUTION – NP Governor
Civilian or Military, a Governor has to play by the rules
By CHAMIKARA WEERASINGHE
DailyNews.lk
December 12, 2013
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has to abide by the country’s Constitution and the National Policy as members of the Northern Provincial Council, Northern province Governor G. A. Chandrasiri said yesterday. “Acting against the Constitution, the Tamil National Alliance has prepared budget proposals to initiate departments in the Northern Province at their inaugural budget,” Governor Chandrasiri charged. The Governor said he has approved the Northern Provincial Council’s appropriation budget. “I made a note that they can only establish Authorities in the Province according to the Constitution.
“I had to tell them that they are expected to uphold the Constitution and the National Policy as the councilors”. “They have attempted to set up a department of housing and a department of transport,” Governor Chandrasiri revealed.
He said they had to follow Constitutional procedures to set up departments in the Northern Province.
“There are some administrative units and structures which require the approval of the President,the governor and the Chief Minister of the Province,” he explained.
Northern Province Chief Minister C. V. Wigneswaran had presented the inaugural budget of the Northern Provincial Council on Tuesday. “I told them that they can only set up Authorities for the subject of Transport and Housing,” the Governor said. “Their main focus of the budget debate was to get a civilian governor for the Northern Province, saying that this Governor should be a person with no military background”.
“Civil or military, the Governor of the Province functions according to the Constitution,”he pointed out. “It appears they they will be pleased to have a governor who does not have any knowledge about the Provincial Council system who would say “Yes” to anything they say,” said Chandrasiri.
December 12th, 2013 at 3:26 am
Ananda,
“Why is the GOSL not DEMANDING the PAYMENT of WAR REPARATIONS DIRECTLY TO THE GOSL to fund Sri Lanka’s reconstruction WITHOUT direct Indian involvement on the ground WITHIN Sri Lanka?
For God’s Sake … Why?”
The question is not why but WHAT.
WHAT the hell are we going to CHANGE this.
Understand the current SYSTEM has NO solutions these grave problems.
Doing the same thing and hoping for a different result = insanity.
December 12th, 2013 at 6:45 am
Cold War/s & Churches run together.
December 12th, 2013 at 7:13 am
I REMEMBER IN THE 1950s the main topic in Sri Lanka was “”Catholic Action “.
Many Patriots fought hard to subdue it, victoriously.
December 12th, 2013 at 9:27 am
Cold War/s (1946-1991) gave wings to Churches & Tamil Separatists. The aftermath is still simmering ?
December 12th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Let Jayalalitha FUME acid VAPORS …. the more the merrier! If India will not CONTROL its citizens EGGED-ON by Tamil Nadu Politicians to ENGINEER a CRISIS, then Sri Lanka MUST DEFEND its Maritime Resources on its own … no matter what!
Yes, indeed … detain ALL Violators of Sri Lankan waters on a BREAD, PARIPPU & WATER diet; Acquire & Maintain INCONTROVERTIBLE video & GPS data as EVIDENTIAL PROOF of the Violations, and CONFISCATE their TRAWLERS as the bigger PENALTY!
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Tamil Nadu CM fumes over Sri Lanka Navy arresting Indian fishermen for poaching
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 12, Chennai: The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa today fumed over the arrest of 140 Indian fishermen and seizure of their 23 boats by the Sri Lankan Navy in the last 24 hours.
In a letter to the Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh, an angry Chief Minister wrote that the Prime Minister must personally take up this issue with the President of Sri Lanka without any further delay.
She demanded to summon the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi to the Ministry of External Affairs and lodge a strong protest.
Sri Lanka Navy Wednesday arrested over 300 Indian fishermen for invading Sri Lanka’s territorial waters for fishing and later released them after the intervention of officials detaining 110 along with their 15 trawlers.
The Navy arrested another 30 fishermen from Tamil Nadu this morning and seized their 8 trawlers.
Describing the arrests as mass abduction, the Chief Minister said these are the largest and most outrageous acts of mass abduction of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy and it is done with the Sri Lankan government’s “tacit” approval.
Jayalalithaa said the entire fishing community in Tamil Nadu has lost its faith in the ability of the Government of India and India’s prestige and image has suffered grievous damage.
“The Government of India should not allow this issue to fester anymore through continued inaction or through a weak-kneed and timid approach towards the Sri Lankan regime which continues to perpetrate outrage upon outrage upon innocent Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu pursuing their livelihood,” she wrote.
She told the PM that the fishermen community in Tamil Nadu is in a highly agitated mood and they expect quick and decisive action by the Indian Government to ensure that the 23 fishing boats and 140 fishermen apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past 24 hours are released immediately without detention.
In a desperate attempt to deter the Indian fishermen crossing the Interactional Maritime Boundary Line and stealing the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen, the government of Sri Lanka recently adopted a policy of detaining the Indian fishermen for lengthy terms and confiscating their trawlers.
December 12th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
We Sri Lankans suggest that Britain follows Mandela’s example of Reconciliation and RECONCILE with the Nazi’s and the Al-Quaida!
When that has been done, come back and ask Sri Lanka again to RECONCILE with UNREPENTANT Murderous Racist Separatists trying to create an Apartheid Bantustan in Sri Lanka.
Until then, Britain should really mind its own business … instead of trying to advance its Neo-Colonialist Ambitions in the developing world … dishing out advice to others it NEVER FOLLOWS itself!
BLOODY HYPOCRITES Incarnate!
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Britain suggests Sri Lanka to follow Mandela’s example for reconciliation
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec 11, London: Sri Lanka should follow Mandela’s example to bring peace and unity to the country’s people, the UK government suggests.
Paying tribute to the former South African leader, late Nelson Mandela in the House of Commons of UK parliament on Monday, the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Sri Lanka should emulate South Africa’s truth and reconciliation process.
Clegg said that Nelson Mandela laid down a “blueprint” that has made it possible for other divided communities, such as in Northern Ireland, to reject violence, overcome their differences and make a fresh beginning.
“That is why I hope, in communities where people are still struggling to replace violence and conflict with peace and stability, that the principles of forgiveness and reconciliation that Mandela embodied are followed by others too,” he said.
He noted that recently the House debated the alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.
“Surely there could be no better way for that country to heal its wounds and bring peace and unity to all its people than to follow Mandela’s example and emulate South Africa’s truth and reconciliation process,” the deputy Prime Minister of Britain said.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, already showing interest in learning more about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa and its process and the outcome, discussed the South Africa’s model with that country’s President Jacob Zuma when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo last month.
December 12th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Nazi Germany was an existential threat of the PAST to Britain, and Al-Quaida is a CURRENT continuing threat to Britain. Britain has not, and will not, “Reconcile” with either the Nazis of the PAST, or the Al-Quaida of the PRESENT.
The Tamil Separatists of Sri Lanka was an EXISTENTIAL threat to Sovereign Sri Lanka in the RECENT PAST, and is a CURRENT CONTINUING threat to SRi Lanka today.
It would be ASININE and a MONUMENTAL FOLLY for any Rational People, and their National Government, to “Reconcile” with a movement posing a IMMEDIATE and PRESENT danger to their very EXISTENCE.
There can NEVER BE “Reconciliation” with the UNREPENTANT Eelamist enemies of Sri Lanka … because their objectives are the DESTRUCTION of Sri Lanka …. until two GENERATIONS from now when the ideology deeply embedded in the minds of the brainwashed adherents of Eelam has lost support and FADED fromL MEMORY of the brainwashed and the greedy.
Until then, Sri Lankans must GIRD their LOINS, take up their ARMS, and GUARD the RAMPARTS of Sri Lanka against all enemies … within and without, overt and covert … who assail the shores of our beloved Motherland!
NO RECONCILIATION with UNREPENTANT ENEMIES of Sri Lanka, EVER, for ABJECT RECONCILIATION amounts to no more than APPEASEMENT of the TRAITORS, and CAPITULATION to Sri Lanka’s AVOWED Enemies!
Let them FIRST come to their senses, acknowledging their crimes against the Nation, committed to citizenship of Sri Lanka with EQUAL RIGHTS, not demanding one iota more than other citizens receive, committed to ONE Indivisible Nation, of ONE INseparable People, sharing ONE National Destiny, and committed to the EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY to Love, Protect and Defend our Mother Lanka against all its enemies.
Then RECONCILIATION will no longer be an issue, for it will have been achieved by transformation of the descendents of the SEparatist Racist Eelamists into Loyal non-Racist Sri Lankan citizens.
December 12th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
OH ! JAYA LOLITA SAYS, “The entire fishing community in Tamil Nadu has lost its faith in the ability of the Government of India, and India’s ~~PRESTIGE AND IMAGE HAS SUFFERED GREVIOUS DAMAGE.
Unable to STEAL Sri Lanka’s FISHING RESOURCES from the Sri Lankan Fishermen, they have lost PRESTIGE and IMAGE. What a nasty woman is this Jaya Lolita ? Tamil Nadu Hypocrisy at its best. I think she is suffering from a serious menopause syndrome and senile decay.
December 13th, 2013 at 6:57 am
Here is the latest re the Tamil Nadu fishermen :
“Sri Lanka steps up pressure on Indian poachers: 141 ‘netted’ with 23 trawlers
…alleges some trawlers moving too close to land
December 12, 2013, ISLAND.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Sri Lanka is stepping up pressure on Indian fishing fleet poaching in local waters with operations both in the northern as well as eastern seas.
“We are trying to discourage them from crossing the Indo-Lanka maritime boundary, especially in the wake of an upsurge in poaching,” a senior security official told The Island.
On the first day of the operation, the Sri Lanka Navy took 23 trawlers into its custody along with 141 fishermen in northern and eastern waters. Out of the total, the SLN netted 15 trawlers and 111 fishermen north-east of Trincomalee in the early hours of Wednesday. They were detected close to the land between Mullaitivu and Kokilai.
“We took the rest five nautical miles east of Analativu Island in the night. They were brought to Kankesanturai harbour and handed over to fisheries authorities,” the official said. The night operation involved three Fast Attack Craft (FACs), one gun boat as well as one Coast Guard vessel.
Authoritative sources told The Island that legal action would be taken against those arrested while poaching in Lankan waters. Sources alleged that the Indian fishing fleet had deprived the northern fishermen of their livelihood; hence a sustained naval operation was needed to curb poaching.
Responding to a query, sources emphasized that India had the wherewithal to easily prevent them from crossing the maritime boundary. They alleged that Indian security authorities as well as fisheries officials were turning a blind eye to what was happening as the trawlers belonged to influential persons. The operation would continue regardless of ongoing protests in Tamil Nadu.
Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne said that the Tamil Nadu administration should take tangible measures to halt illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters”.