Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran has requested from visiting US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to release military held lands in the north, to grant an amnesty for political prisoners and to stop increased militarization of the province, among other issues.
During a half an hour meeting with Power, Wigneswaran has said that the present government too has not kept its promises to the Tamil people, despite them voting in their numbers to elect the incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena at the last January’s election.
Following the meeting with Power, Wigneswaran told the media that he had also raised concern over the ever increasing government budgetary allocation to boost the military despite the war ending six years back.
While noting that that the budget will remain high next year too with more than Rs. 306 billion allocated for defence, Wigneswaran said that he feels a large portion of the monies could be diverted to develop the north and bring relief to the war battered people.
Wigneswaran had told Power that the people of the north remained highly concerned over continued militarization in Northern Province which is affecting the people’s day to day life.
On the land issue he had said that despite government promises to hand back military occupied land, the military presence has not decreased and a large portion of lands have not been released.
Wigneswaran had also voiced concern over activities by some Sinhala extremist groups in the South which he described as responsible for blocking positive developments in the north.
He had also complained that the development in the war battered north was going at a snail’s space and lack of industries was hurting the employment opportunities of the people.
The Chief Minister also had urged Power to take up the political prisoners matter with the government stressing that they need a just solution.
In response Power had told Wigneswaran that she will take up the militarization and political prisoners issue with the government.
However, she had failed to give any assurance on the matter related to land occupied by the military.
Wigneswarana later accompanied Power in her visits to several locations in the city.
cholan / November 22, 2015
Tomorrow if Murderpakse & Co., come back to power by hook or crook what will USA do?
In Simple words this government is like old wine in new bottle ..
all problem remains ..all assurances gone to air
Chinese will laugh
Cheers
/
Nimal / November 23, 2015
Govt. lifts ban on several ex-LTTE front groups. They are also releasing all the LTTE prisoners in batches. They are doing things is stages. What else do you expect?
Sambandan and Sumandiran are matured and Intelligent politicians. For the last 60 odd years the Tamil politicians were always on a Confrontational course with the government of SL and the Tamil people gained nothing except beating. Now, Sambandan has realized the fact that it is better to cooperate with the govt. of SL rather than confront them.
Wigneswaran is not a politician, he has a long way to go.
/
Thiru / November 24, 2015
Nimal,
Really? Were you born yesterday?
How about all the anti-Tamil pogroms let loose by the Sinhala supremacist regimes when Tamils asked for their rights peacefully?
/
Nimal / November 24, 2015
Thiru
I am talking about the present and not the past.
/
ravivararo / November 24, 2015
[Wigneswaran is not a politician, he has a long way to go.]
He is a right judge always and well judged the situations, traitors and politicians.
/
Nimal / November 24, 2015
ravivararo
We are not talking about high court or supreme court here. Wigneswaran’s attitude as a politicians is very similar to most of those olden day Tamil politicians. With that attitude, tell me what did the Tamils gain for the last 60 odd years?
Sambandan and Sumandiran are not traitors but very clever politicians and that is why they have changed from the stupid old attitude. If the Tamils cooperate with the SL govt. they can achieve a lot but if you continue to confront, even for the next 100 years you will gain nothing.
/
Mallaiyuran / November 24, 2015
“tell me what did the Tamils gain for the last 60 odd years? “
This is what America and Ambassador Samantha power has to understand. Irrelevance of our Appe Andu’s direction of moving in the present, she has expressed the disappointment of the slow phase of the actions. The direction of present Appe Andu is, she may be observing that just like in the past 60 years’ all other Appe Andues, is taking a small step back only to for a Marathon sprinting. Yes! When, in January, the Old King wanted to quit the Temple Tree House for the safety of the shadow of Ranil Mahata, he blamed as Sec. Kerry was preparing to send the US troop to Lankawe; that is why he was leaving. Ranil Mahata, days before he become the PM, ordered to use government Helicopter to Transfer the Old King to Medamulana. So there was no proper power Transfer. A man who was going to be appointed as the PM took the power of EP and handed over to the one who appointed him as the PM in the days followed this coup.
Indian forces came to Lankawe to be fooled by JR and Premadasa and sent back to India with a massive loss. Today, after India had got Lankawe to sing the defense pack, Indo-Lanka pact, China has bought the Colombo port City from Lankawe and berthing its warships and submarines. America has to understand even if they send the US troops it will not work. If they think the Tamils’ livings rights in Lankawe has to be restored, say within, 10 or 15 or another 60 years, Lankawe has to go to the pace Myanmar and Iran went, for a 60 years until their politician release about the games they play. There is no other way. Just like America liberated Myanmar from the China – grip, if Sec. Kerry claims an early victory of he has brought Lankawe back again to democracy,, he is going take his political lessons only after he retired of State Secretary position. Lankawe is not just ready to wait for one year; it will be ready to wait another 60 years as you pointed out, Nimal. America mey, better pay attention for what you want to say.
/
Nimal / November 25, 2015
Mallaiyuran
If you think US loves the Tamils and are coming to help, you are only enjoying a temporary joy ride. They have a completely different agenda and Tamils are being used almost similar to the TN politicians who are only using the SL Tamils for their political gain. The only way the SL Tamils can move forward/progress is by cooperating with the SL govt. and that is what clever politicians like Sambadan is doing.
/
Native Vedda / November 25, 2015
Nimal
“They have a completely different agenda and Tamils are being used almost similar to the TN politicians who are only using the SL Tamils for their political gain.”
Do you have anything new to tell our fellow CT readers?
“The only way the SL Tamils can move forward/progress is by cooperating with the SL govt. and that is what clever politicians like Sambadan is doing. “
Could you list everything that come under the category of “cooperating with the SL govt”
Lets see who was not cooperating with Sri Lankan government.
Ponnambalam Ramanathan
G G Ponnambalam
Thiruchelvam & Chelvanayagam
A Amirthalingam
Thiruvengadam Vellupillai Prabhaharan &
Thiruvengadam Vellupillai Prabhaharan
Douglas Devananda
KP
Karuna
Pillayan
……..
……..
……..
Now Sambandan/Sumanthiran
I am not sure whether there is any effective treatment for selective amnesia. However let me find out and come back to you.
/
Nimal / November 25, 2015
Native Vedda
There had never been any issue with the Veddas, they had been cooperating very well. You can relax, as long as you live in the forest, no problems.
/
Plato. / November 22, 2015
Winning the War and losing the Peace is the legacy of the SriLankan Govt:since May 2009!
/
soma / November 23, 2015
Sinhalese find that winning the peace is more diificult than winning the war as the same enemy is far more formidable to tackle on this front. Anti reconciliation agenda led by Wingeshwaran/Sambandan duo is far more resourceful than the war led by Prabakaran/Sambandan duo.
Which Ealamist want true reconciliation between the Sinhalese and Tamils? That is the end of their dream. intention of the ‘genocide’ agenda of Wingeswaran is to drive a permanent wedge beween the future generations of Tamils and Sinhalese.
Soma
/
cholan / November 23, 2015
@ Soma
It all created by your great grand father…. grandfather…father ..and you …be prepared to enjoy ..
Soon growing Tamil kids in North and East are going to ask their mothers
What happened to my Father?
What happened to my Sisters?
What happened to my Brothers ?
RECONCILIATION is an impossible dream….
Cheers
/
Native Vedda / November 23, 2015
somass
Nikan ava (came for no reason) and Nikan idagana innava
(I just sit and wait) until the hard working people feed you with free rice directly imported from moon.
Other expenses can be met with remittances from middle east.
/
eusense / November 23, 2015
Winning the war by destroying the most brutal tamil terror group was a good victory for the people of SL. Why? The country is at peace and no more suicide murdering of innocent civilians which amounted to 100,000 at the end of war.
/
Tamil from the north / November 25, 2015
Nuisance, you racist mongrel. These were the creation of successive racist governments of SL. The tyranny what unleashed at the Tamils was unleashed back at the Sinhalese by the Tamil cousins of the Sinhala racists you support. You pariah will never understand what we all went through back in the 70s and 80s until we all ran away from our own homes, not your bloody racist home but ours. You SOB sit here preaching to the world about how ruthless the damn LTTE was when tyranny was introduced to this beautiful country by your racist cousins. So go and f*&k off. How do you explain what happened before the birth of the LTTE? 1957/58/77 riots? Why did your racist bastar& MR employ Karuna, Pillayan, Douglas, Iniyabarathy, Daya master, KP and ilk to the cabinet? How do you explain these facts???? Answer them you mongrel.
/
eusense / November 25, 2015
Tfn
I never said tamils should not resort to violence for what they say they underwent. I only say if they did so for any reason they should bear the consequences. I always say negotiations is the best way to go.
Cheers to you!
/
Tamil from the north / November 25, 2015
Nuisance the bloody curse, I never said tamils should not resort to violence for what they say they underwent?
I am no supporter of violence. But your statement is dumb and insensitive. For what they say they underwent? Were you blind or simply stupid that you did not see all the carnage unleashed on the minorities by the successive GOSL from Independence?
Negotiations is the best way to go? They did negotiate scoundrel for 30 years. All we got was a kick in our arse by your racist cousins.
/
Amarasiri / November 22, 2015
Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran
Govt. Fails To Keep Its Promises To Tamils: Wiggie Tells Power
“Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran has requested from visiting US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, to put pressure on the Sri Lankan government to release military held lands in the north, to grant an amnesty for political prisoners and to stop increased militarization of the province, among other issues.”
Politicians and Gov, do no keep promises.
The list is long.
When will the Northern Muslims who were Ethnically Cleansed by the LTTE be settle in their former homes? US Ambassador to the United Nations Ms. Samantha Powers, any idea?
The War was over 6 years ago.
So many Broken promises…
/
Treehorse / November 23, 2015
@Amarasiri,
It is really refreshing to see that you have taken into account side of the coin in your analysis .
It seems Vig is the Chief Minister for only Tamils and he totally ignores the plight of the Muslims and sinhalese who was oppressed by the LTTE. To this day, I have never heard a word by Vig about the northern Muslims/Sinhalese and how they need to settled in their own lands.
Sad to say, I am losing respect for Vig diurnally !
/
Point of View / November 23, 2015
I never had any respect for Vasideva’s brother-in-law ! There won’t be peace in the north until he is dead.
/
Amarasiri / November 23, 2015
Treehorse
“To this day, I have never heard a word by Vig about the northern Muslims/Sinhalese and how they need to settled in their own lands.”
Yes. He is not much different than LTTE, except that he does not have Black Tigers and the LTTe Recruits.
On this basis, we have to commend the Sri Lankan Government, that treated ALL its citizens more or less equally, even tough the Sinhala were treated more equally than the others, in the Land of Native Veddah Aethho.
/
Amarasiri / November 26, 2015
Treehorse
“It is really refreshing to see that you have taken into account side of the coin in your analysis .”
Most follow Double standard Policies, and conveniently forget or ignore, the-other issues that are not in four of their “hypothesis”.
In this case. only Tamils are victims, and only the others are the culprits, Sinhala and Muslims, and there no Victims of LTTE, whether Tamils, Sinhala or Muslims.
/
gerard mano / November 23, 2015
This man got courage and balls! Good luck.
/
Amden / November 23, 2015
We don’t know about courage, he is all balls for sure!
Samatha Power will play with them, bet your own balls.
/
tika / November 23, 2015
I do know chameleons; it’s easy.
You never knew Samatha Power the war correspondent before Yale.
If she was stale then she would have mentioned the land occupied by military which is outside her remit.
/
baludeen / November 23, 2015
[Edited out]
/
Ram / November 24, 2015
Her visit to Sri Lanka could not have served any other purpose.
/
Nathan / November 23, 2015
Nothing that was told to the US Ambassador to the United Nations, by our Chief Minister, would have been news to her.
The mission of Samantha Power was to feint that US remains committed to monitoring the progress the Government of SL is making on its promises to UNHRC.
Samantha Power knows the limitations of UN when it comes to forcing SL to do anything that the government does not want to do.
These visits and meetings are exercises in diplomacy; call it in futility if you so wish.
As commoners we should read nothing into these formalities.
/
Mallaiyuran / November 23, 2015
After the war, Ambassador Blake visited to Kilinochchi. Little by little foreign diplomats wanted to go and see Jaffna too, during their Lankawe’s visits. Secretary Kerry made a breakage on that. But many east and west official and diplomats revived and continued it. Even Chinese did went and met TNA in Jaffna.
Now the American Ambassador to UN, Samantha Power has honored that custom. She did not just visit there, but she played baseball with Osmania College girls too, in the rain. Just because there was rain she did not ask to cancel the event. She kept it to schedule. If it was a sunny day and everything was ok, one can claim that the American Ambassador to UN played it for her entertainment. But the sky condition was not one to play for entertainment. Ambassador Samantha Power played that game because she did not want her chance to meet the Osmania school girls. So she played that only, not to leave the feeling with the school girls that even though they had met the higher power American official, they could not play with her the game as it was planned. It is clear Samantha Power played the game in the rain to uplift and entertain the school girls’ spirit.
Beyond the election stage and moving forward into the crowd is a natural event in the West. But not so, always for us back in our land. Recently we show the Pictures of the New Princess’s visit to a Sinhala Village in Polonnaruwa, in CT. The Government official were summed to attend that unofficial private visit. Royal guards were placed for the Royal visit. Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg is used travel by subway to city office. An interesting comic that appeared a couple of times in TN cartoon and comic pages is one time when Obama visited a factory he went to shake hands with the workers in their working environment. But when CM Jayalalithaa was visiting to a meeting with her Ministers, they were lying down and praying her while she was getting off from her visiting helicopter which was raising the dust. Even when our past Canadian M.P Rathika used to mix up in crowds, Tamil Nadu papers used to write about her simplicity. So Samantha Power playing games with Schoolgirls is an unusual thrilling experience for them.
The Jaffna Tamils, who have seen only the rowdy Southern rulers visits, with a platoon of army parades, (like the one Ranil went to see the Old King’s Summer Palace in Keerimalai’s grabbed lands to have it converted as a five star hotel, had a tea party with Army and gave out promises to the soldiers that they would not be removed from their new comforts of North and then went to Vanni, ordered a Vanni school principal in public to shut up his mouth and sit down, like a teacher would order an unruly student) seeing Samantha would have made them feel lighter. It was not like the Sri lankan rulers’ visits to North. The most infamous one is Premadasa’s visit to Jaffna Town Council and after that the police and army putting road blocks and setting off the Jaffna Library in fire. Now they have seen a high power American Official mixing in with them, showing of friendship with them and enjoying the time out with them. They will take that event as a promise itself.They can put hope on American words as real assurances.The girls may feel they are not just in front of the Army’s guns’ barrels when there is a wedding or flowering celebration in their houses, but there is a world out there that it is aware their exsiatnce there and would like to visit them to their schools too.
/
Jim softy / November 23, 2015
UNHCR is a joke.
Next UNHCR HEad is from Saudi Arabia.
/
bo / November 23, 2015
Wiggie, what do you expect? MS has not even kept any of his promises to the majority Sinhala people, you’d better wait your turn, may be in next life if you are lucky!
/
thrishu / November 24, 2015
Maithree’s courtiers are the same gang that Mahinda had; invariably they would blurt out in unison, “Of Course, The King is wearing a lovely suit” whereas in reality, ‘The King is n’t wearing any clothes at all’.
/
kp / November 23, 2015
And you’ve done nothing for the Tamil people other than sponsoring meaningless resolutions and making speeches on the bad bad sinhala man. Pot calling the kettle black.
/
Sous Chef / November 23, 2015
Wiggie must surely realize that Tamils are not the only ones that broken promises have affected. We are all in that very same boat!
Yahapalanaya promises are like the proverbial ‘pie-crust’ – crumbling away!!
/
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 23, 2015
Did he discuss the developmental needs of the north and request US assistance to identify projects that will modernize agriculture and lay the foundations for a strong agro- industrial base? Did he discuss the unemployment and underemployment problem that is seeding many of our problems in the north? Did he discuss the water- quantity and quality- problem in the north? Did he discuss the psycho- somatic health problems confronting the war battered people and the sort of assistance that is needed? Did he request US pressure to implement the 13th amendment fully, until the pie in the sky, new constitution hopefully will provide for more effective devolution?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
/
Native Vedda / November 23, 2015
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran, Ken Roberts and other fellow truth seekers
Here is an article that my friend the Old Codger forwarded to me last night, which may be of interest to you:
Revisiting the Archaeological Historiography of South Asia
Vol – L No. 46-47, November 21, 2015
Jaya Menon
Artefacts of History: Archaeology, Historiography and Indian Pasts by Sudeshna Guha, New Delhi: Sage, 2015; pp xiii+274, Rs 995.
Jaya Menon (jayamenon2000@gmail.com) teaches archaeology at the Shiv Nadar University, Uttar Pradesh.
There is a genre of writing on archaeology where excavations take place in the archives rather than in the ground. It is this genre that also appears to be more popular in the public imagination. Archaeology in India, for a larger audience, is associated with this kind of writing rather than the works that detail the recovery of data through exploration and/or excavation. This is not entirely surprising, as most excavation reports in India are dull, unimaginative, and full of abstruse data only accessible to the initiated. One of the major drawbacks of the style of writing excavation reports is that there is no attempt to make the issues that are dealt with accessible to a larger audience. There is also little desire to people the past, in the sense that houses and artefacts are written about but remain devoid of the households and communities that lived in them and used them. Sudeshna Guha’s book is the latest in the former line of work.
Focus on Individuals
The history of archaeology in India and the writing of such histories have tended to focus on the individuals responsible for generating the data. Most of such histories have looked at colonial scholars in archaeology. Thus, we have books on Alexander Cunningham, John Marshall and R E Mortimer Wheeler and umpteen articles on other practitioners, such as Meadows-Taylor, Colin Mackenzie, as well as patrons, such as the Begums of Bhopal. This is obviously hugely attractive, precisely for the reason that the human element (their early archaeological endeavours, their travails, their issues with superiors and subordinates, the contacts between the British and the “natives”) enables us to understand the work that they did. However, focusing on the individuals behind the archaeology in India also emphasises that in many situations, we can locate these works contextually but their objective value gets reduced. This can be seen, for example, in John Marshall’s discussion of Harappan religion and how much it was fashioned by what he saw around him of the prevailing majoritarian religion in the subcontinent. In that sense, then, Artefacts of History moves away from these other histories in not focusing on a particular individual, and tries to convey “the importance of asking questions about the kinds of choices and omissions we make in recalling the past, regards the infinite ways in which we are able to historicise the practices of archaeology and explores the epistemic possibilities of the histories of archaeologies.”
Artefacts of History is also substantively different as it straddles varied fields: archaeological recovery, curation, museums, heritage issues and the politics of the appropriation of archaeology. It takes little known vignettes from the past, and embellishes them through archival research. A good example is the chapter on the exhibition of the artefacts from Nineveh as they passed through Bombay on their way to London. Bombay remained a major hub for the transportation of the results of British work in Mesopotamia to England, and became the locus for the colonised to look at those results in the form of temporary exhibitions. These artefacts, the world they inhabited, and what they meant to an audience being newly exposed to archaeological artefacts, make for a fascinating read. An error in the reference to Hammurabi, however, could have been avoided.
Towards the beginning of her book, Sudeshna Guha tries to pry apart the strands of early antiquarianism in the subcontinent. She points out that most historians of archaeology laud Alexander Cunningham as the main actor in the origin story of Indian archaeology. It is clear, though, that there were several before him, whether it was Mackenzie, or Isaac Pyke. In fact, that Georg Buhler (who is known for his search for manuscripts) conducted field surveys (p 116) is a point almost never noted. Guha finds the attitude towards field surveys as compared to text-based studies a dismissal of the latter. She also notes a dismissal of “indigenous” sources as compared to “foreign” ones, and in this chapter, laments the neglect of the texts as compared to archaeology. One tends to get the sense that the author shows a predilection to distance herself from an independent archaeology, one that tries to stand as a separate discipline. What she particularly rejects is the kind of archaeology, practised by certain archaeologists, that shows a disregard of what they call “contaminated” writings in history. The author, with this stance, tends to ignore the increasing realisation that new histories, of the ordinary and the everyday, are going to emerge not from the texts but from the ground.
‘Apolitical’ Archaeologists?
Guha is commendably brave in referring to the self-professedly “apolitical” attitudes of Indian archaeologists. These attitudes play out in one of the most polemical subjects in Indian archaeology, the Harappan culture. This is also a strong focal point in this book in the ways in which this culture has been appropriated. Much of the terrain of the debate has been well traversed before, such as the loss of Harappan sites after the partition of the country, as well as the mandate to search for anything remotely affiliated to the Harappan in India. (In this context, see Guha’s tongue-in-cheek remark (p 200) that “by the end of the 1950s, India had also acquired a Harappan ‘port’ with a ‘docking basin’ through Rao’s excavations at Lothal…”). Her contention (p 202) that Pakistani nerves were strained when Indian archaeologists began to name the civilisation after Harappa rather than the Indus, however, seems less likely, as compared to the post-1990s use by Indian archaeologists of the term Indus–Saraswati civilisation.
The early beginnings of the theoretical intertwining of the Vedic and the Harappan have been brought out by Guha (p 189) through the prevailing discourse of the time that the discoveries at Harappa and Mohenjodaro would enable a more secure dating of the Vedic corpus even while the cities were excavated as “non-Vedic” cities. What is more interesting is her historiographical critique of J M Kenoyer’s claim regarding a “Gangetic homeland” of Indian culture, that this region may well have been significant for the early kingdoms of the early historic period, but was never considered a homeland for Indian culture, a position reserved for the Sapta Sindhava, or the area of the Punjab, most of which now lies in Pakistan. Kenoyer’s claim touches on a problematic aspect of the early history of the subcontinent, the link, if any, between the Harappan and subsequent urban developments in the Gangetic region. It is this eliding over the evidence, as well as selectively choosing evidence for a particular position that Guha attacks, again later in the book with B B Lal’s continuing use of Wheeler’s Aryan invasion theory, even after Wheeler himself had discredited it. Guha (pp 195 ff) effectively shows that historiographical exercises, of following through arguments and positions even after they have changed, can provide for a nuanced debate (for example, by A Ghosh) but, when looked at in a truncated manner, can very easily be misused (for example, by Lal).
The archives expose to us the people behind the archaeological work. Guha replicates a fascinating letter from Wheeler to Stuart Piggott (p 164). Wheeler, in whose field school several retired Indian Director–Generals of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) got their initial training, shows us his not quite so objective and scientific side. In trying to entice Piggott to join him at excavating Mohenjodaro, he writes “…couldn’t we put a reasonable all-British show together and do the job? We’d be welcome and get 50% of the loot. I’ll guarantee already first class results…” It needs to be stated that the ASI continues to use Wheeler’s mindset and methods in excavating archaeological sites till date
.
Neglect of the Medieval
In the same context, the Wheeler Archives also revealed to Guha a very interesting letter sent by D D Kosambi to Wheeler. It mentions the discovery of Atranjikhera in Etah District by R C Gaur, a young colleague of Nurul Hasan. It appears that the ASI gave permission to excavate thinking that not much of interest would emerge, but after many recoveries, it appears that obstacles were raised regarding publication and field grants “on the ground that the Muslim university people ought really to do nothing more than medieval archaeology” (p 228). Guha reads in this the authority of the ASI for deciding what could be excavated and by whom, and what was considered archaeologically important. At the same time, this would also suggest the conservation of a selective heritage for post-independence India. This kind of a bias of looking for the more ancient pasts and neglecting certain other pasts was continued in an almost implicit manner in the kinds of sites that were explored and excavated. At site after site, we find, the upper, medieval layers were hastily dug, and deposits discarded in the desire to reach the lower more ancient levels. It is this unfortunate trend that resulted in the almost complete absence of excavations at medieval sites and a corresponding neglect of material (such as seeds or bones) from those layers that could have been productively studied. Unfortunately, the trajectory that archaeology took in the subcontinent, of being closely associated with only ancient history at various university departments, contributed to this trend. The blame for this, of course, cannot be laid at the door of the ASI, but the organisation stands exposed with several of its recent political acts and choices, even under the garb of being scientific. In that sense, then, the role of the ASI in Indian archaeology in Artefacts of History remains a truncated discussion.
Artefacts of History is yet valuable in providing a nuanced glimpse at the way histories of archaeology are read and written, what comprises valid evidence, and how selective is that evidence. This remains a book not centred on individuals and their archaeological practices, but the shifts in how the subcontinental past was viewed and cared for.
Revisiting the Archaeological Historiography of South Asia | Economic and Political Weekly
http://www.epw.in/book-reviews/
revisiting-archaeological-
historiography-south-asia.html
PS
sach, Jimmy, somass, Nuisance, Max Moron, KASmaalam, …………… please ignore this article as there is nothing for you to learn from Indian archaeology or would not be simple for you to understand.
/
soma / November 24, 2015
Children, they all went to war with the cynide hanging aroud their necks and the rest is history.
/
soma / November 24, 2015
“Dr.Rajasingham Narendran, Ken Roberts and other fellow truth seekers”
You forgot to add Soma
/
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 24, 2015
Dear NV,
Thanks. Lack of objectivity, tribal bias, acceptance of the fact that we do not have a panoramic view of the past and tend to view history and archeology in terms of Kings and dynasties and not the people they ruled over, distort our interpretation of our past, both recent and distant. There is better example for this than Sri Lanka. The oral tradition of passing information from generation to generation is largely ignored and the nuggets of facts there-in dismissed. Similarly, the what ever literature that survives from our past, is rarely viewed objectively and screened for the the underlying facts and weighed against facts derived from other sources. Every generation believes that they are the first to climb down from trees. The generation that is taking over from us is the worst in this regard.
I view the story of the Pushpaka Vimana Ravana flew, related in the Ramayana, as an advanced thought from an advanced civilization, even if it was not a reality. Only an advanced people could have imagine such. Thought a,ways precedes action. Even the weaponary and their use described in the Ramayana and Mahsbharatha, indicate thoughts and concepts as advanced as those of the present and equally destructive.
Dr.RN
/
soma / November 24, 2015
Dear dr RN
Respectfully, you are not looking beyond your nose.
When each and every PC has the authority over all the natural resources within that small area what about your pet projects like Mahaweli waters to the North?
Remember the Mavil Aru which triggered the last phase of war? Tamils blocked the water to Sinhala farmers. You want police poweres too. Remember how the Muslims were chased away by the Tamils? Equitable distribution of natural resources for all citizens as well as settling group quarrels based on religion, ethnicity and caste can best be achieved if the right to Natural resources and the maintenance of law and order are in the hands of the central government. You agree to this argument only when it comes to joining North and East. In Sinhala they say a kabaragoya can be considered a talagoya if one desires to eat it.
So I keep on repeating:
“IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT DEMOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF TAMIL SPEAKING PEOPLE (IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR RELIGION OR THE DATE OF ARRIVAL) IN THE ISLAND THERE IS NO CONCEIVABLE DEVOLUTION MODEL TO SATISFY POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS OF AT LEAST 90% OF THEM.”
I wish USA helped Wingeswaran financilly for development of NCP (hoping that he will be fair towards the Muslims and the low cast and Sinhalese in the border villages in using them). But USA forcing 13A on the Sinhalese is a different ball game.
From what you write I gather that you are much concerned with the suffering of the Tamil people. It looks as though “Tamil” means only the Hindu and Christian sub categories. Witingly or unwittingly you seem to be ignoring the fate other Tamil categories like those practising Islam and of recent Indian origin. I am not as wise as you. To my small mind it looks obvious that any political solution accieved by arm twisting of the rulers of the day against the will of the majority will only lead to further alienation of the Tamils reducing the 50% presently living out of NE to an uncared for despised lot. What I wish to see is one country where all are citizens of equal rights in every aspect. This cannot be acieved with separate political units based on ethnicity and religion.
Little now more later is a long torturous road to Ealam. That is probably why even after the RW-VP pact the Tamil political class of the day decided go for the final goal at whatever the cost in blood. After the ignominious defeat they all have now settled for “little now and more later” with foreign involvement. This “foreign involvement” will prove to be detrimental to all, mostly to the Tamils.
Soma
/
Dr,Rajasingham Narendran / November 25, 2015
Soma,
Wigneswaran is the CM of the Northern province and his concerns should be centered on that province and all the people who live there. Since the NP is a part of the Sri Lankan whole, and trans provincial affairs and finances are the concerns of the central government he has to directly and indirectly deal it. Water, education, development and employment should do be the primary concerns of the CM of the NP. He, however idols not seem to be concerned about these.
I was not shocked to read today that Jaffna has the highest incidence of AIDS is Jaffna, This was to be expected considering how the sexual aspect of life has come to preoccupy the minds of Tamils and has become a perversion.Our CM is not concerned about this menace and if pressed would blame the armed forces , as in the case of the drug/ narcotics menace!
My concerns regarding the north are not anything less or more than the concerns I have about Sri Lanka and other parts of her.
Dr.RN
/
The Rogue Ayer / November 25, 2015
soma,
“When each and every PC has the authority over all the natural resources within that small area what about your pet projects like Mahaweli waters to the North?”
Is this a hypothetical question?
“Equitable distribution of natural resources for all citizens as well as settling group quarrels based on religion, ethnicity and caste can best be achieved if the right to Natural resources and the maintenance of law and order are in the hands of the central government.”
Yes but the central government should do a better job and the PCs need more real power. At the same time the PCs have to be controlled more so that they follow orders from the central government and implement decisions.
/
ravivararo / November 24, 2015
it is your “beloved” government’s duty to provide those facilities and not the US government
/
Kumar R. / November 24, 2015
Rajasingham,
It is clear you are merely feigning hysteria to score a point given your vanishing credibility following the fiasco of your past canards and to also subvert the CM who you are personally opposed to.
If not, can you detail which of the questions among the ones you listed did you ask MR when you were prostrating at MR admiring the majestic rolling of his humongous golden ring as you fondly described just over a year or so ago?!
Were you not the one who dismissed complains about unemployment for the Northern youth, asserting that the Northern unemployment was voluntary resulting from the riches that the youth were receiving from their families abroad. You proposed that the Diaspora should cease remitting to friends and family directly and instead channel the funds to Gota/MR duo. Remember that?
Did you not admonish the Diaspora for seeking international intervention in the plight of the many thousands of women and children starved behind barbed wire fences. What audacity now you turn back and pontificate how the CM’s should demand intervention by foreign powers?
Your relentless effort to attract some political spotlight is pitiful.
/
The Rogue Ayer / November 25, 2015
Kumar R.,
“Were you not the one who dismissed complains about unemployment for the Northern youth, asserting that the Northern unemployment was voluntary resulting from the riches that the youth were receiving from their families abroad.”
This is mostly true and even the Chief Minister has commented on how foreign remittances destroy our youngsters. Many others agree on this point.
There are many youngsters who are unwilling or unable to study and do not accept the work that is available because it is more fun to just hang around. They have no need to work as long as money arrives from relatives abroad. Government and NGO handouts also help to create passive recipients of aid.
There are projects of rs 20-30,000 for self employment but after some months the result is all too often that all the hens or vegetables have died and there is no market for yet another seamstress in the village.
If you don’t know this I can only assume that you don’t have first hand knowledge of ground reality in rural Jaffna. If you try to find 10 men to dig holes to plant coconuts you will realize that most men with able bodies and minds have died in the war, been disabled in the war or migrated. Many of the rest do not come to dig holes because of the remittances. The men who traditionally did this are not available any more due.
I do not know who will manage to revive larger scale farming in Jaffna without workers. Land is available and more should be released by the military but I am afraid that it will not be used for anything productive. Even if workers were available traditional agriculture in Jaffna is not profitable. I don’t see any youngsters in full time farming.
It would be interesting to take a look at population statistics from the NP. What I see are elderly, disabled, women and children. 60,000 men have died. How many of the remaining men are able to work? Women, of course, can work but for agriculture they might not be strong enough.
I do not know what kind of claims Dr RN has made. What I wrote is the ground reality I see in rural Jaffna.
/
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / November 25, 2015
TRA,
I have to with apologies to the civilized readers and commentorrs in CT state that there is one individual- who many have noticed may be a he/ she/it/sh-t also comments with malintent and much malice. This personality is quite well known to me in all details. However, I shall not reveal details as indicated on an earlier occasion,
Please read my observations on the unemployment, underemployment, unemplyable, the remittance dependency, etc through a Google search under my name. The dirt this individual spews will then become apparent, I wonder why CT gives space to this despicable individual parading under many guises yet,
Dr. RN
/
Kumar R. / November 27, 2015
The R. Ayer,
The issues of unemployed youth, the fact that family remittances is a disincentive for the youth in seeking to earn a living, and that there is scarcity of labour for traditional agriculture are all indeed ground reality.
However, the concern that I have is that there are “snake-oil-salesmen” trying to hijack such critical issues with utterly selfish motives, and dangerous consequences for the community at large.
Rajsingham’s list of questions above, the subject of this discussion here, is nothing but another insincere effort at undermining the CM, camouflaged as social concerns — just another case of hijacking critical issues for self gain by Rajasingham.
Let me explain. When the unemployment issue in the North was raised two years or so after nadhikadal, Rajasingham was quick to hijack “the impact of remittance” excuse as a way to urge the Diaspora to fund MR/GOTA, asserting that MR/GOTA are fully trustworthy. He used this excuse to re-ignite his propaganda to raise Diaspora funds, having failed in his previous efforts at that cause. It was not long after that, GOTA unleashed his Rottweilers after Rajasingham, on account of Rajasingham’s to keep up to his fund raising promises. It was only then that Rajasingham thought it fit to declare in these very columns that “every body knows the Rajapaksa’s cannot be trusted!” I challenge Rajasingham to deny this.
A couple of months ago a new group calling themselves as NRTSL also attempted this same wile strategy to hijack critical issues to meet their own their ends. Pressed by internationals, the SL Government showed some willingness to address the “land of the displaced” issue. Recognizing this opportune time, this new group published a manifesto of priority items for urgent consideration, and sought support from the Diaspora for their initiative through these columns. Guess what one of the priority items was?! NRTSL wanted the Government to recognize and expand the rights of the Diaspora to reclaim their lands they had left behind decades ago. When I questioned them in these columns as to whether they were looking after the interest of the displaced still domiciled in Sri Lanka or the interests of the Diaspora, now comfortably settled abroad with substantially better life, having abandoned their lands and the country decades ago. The group went mute! Obvious snake-oil-salesmen trying to hi-jack a critical issue for their own selfish interests.
Let me point out another recent instance that had the same underpinning of hijacking opportune issues by Rajasingham. When the drinking water issue resulting from illegal oil dumping came up, Rajasingham hijacked that issue promptly, raising alarm of an imminent crisis of monumental proportions and went on to demand the immediate diversion of mainland water to a particular tank as “ The mother-of-all-urgent” tasks that the Government was obligated to do. Over a few discussions on the subject, Rajasingham finally conceded that his priority to get the tank filled up in fact was based on his personal plans to build his own El Dorado of Dates and Cactuses, now that he is retired and is back home, and that particular tank was adjacent to his property! A classical case of another attempt to “hijack critical issues with utterly wile and selfish motives .“
I will be happy to provide more details if you like.
However, more importantly I see a note by Rajasingham and would like to respond to that here.
Rajasinghams, again in rather cunning ways have made my criticisms of their ”snake-oil-salesmanship” look like a family issue (I was both surprised and disappointed that even Native Vedda who contributes substantively to these columns succumbed to Rajasingham’s masquerade).
So, in that respect, let me narrow my reaction just to one direct challenge, namely Rajasingham’s assertion that “this personality is quite well known to me in all details. However, I shall not reveal details as indicated on an earlier occasion” Sanctimonious, deceptive and a wholesale untruth, if there was one. Not surprising, coming from Rajasingham!
Let me prove that. If Rajasingham will stand by his assertion, then I give Rajasingham my whole hearted, absolute, unreserved permission (and blessings) to declare my identity! I absolve the Rajasinghams from any and all legal liability in doing so, in identifying me. I will even go as far as giving him any number of guesses he needs to identify me. I can do that only because I know for certain that he does not know me. What is more, I do not know of him personally from Adam either! Every little morsel of my information about the Rajasinghmas is what I have gained entirely through these columns.
Rajasingham – here is the easiest, simplest, most direct opportunity to substantiate your assertion and prove you are not a liar. Are you up to it? Go ahead, reveal my name!
And, here is one assertion that I can make with absolute certainty – Rajasingham will NOT respond, will not identify and will not apologize for his falsehood. Instead, he will find some usual slimy excuse to slither away in his usual style!
/
Native Vedda / November 28, 2015
Kumar R
” (I was both surprised and disappointed that even Native Vedda who contributes substantively to these columns succumbed to Rajasingham’s masquerade).”
You got the wrong end of the stick.
My point (if I have one) is that why waste time with Jeyadevan when you have other important responsibilities to attend to.
If you have time to spare, I suggest you work with Ken Roberts who is terribly interested in linguistics or help my friend the old codger who scavenges anything and everything related to South Asian History.
This old codger has recently asked me get him some information on history of navigation Technics used in Indian Ocean and Ancient ship building technology – articles, research papers, books, ola manuscripts, etc would be helpful, preferable languages Sinhala, Tamil, English, ….
Please avoid materials authored by Kamalika Pieris, Irathina Valli, Gamanpilla, Champika, Nalin, ……….. Seeman, Vaiko, ….
/
Kumar R. / November 28, 2015
NV,
I am not entirely sure if you are suggesting that even when I see and suspect deception under the cover of academic credentials that I should turn a blind eye?
Please also note that I had been a continous critic when Dayan, Rajiva and Tamara resorted to similar deception for six long years as they successfully prevented internationals from seeking war-related justice to Tamils, as we all know now.
/
Native Vedda / November 29, 2015
Kumar R.
“when Dayan, Rajiva and Tamara resorted to similar deception for six long years as they successfully prevented internationals from seeking war-related justice to Tamils, as we all know now.”
Hindians used these stupids as cover at the UNHRC to impose what they thought was good for this island and Hindia and let the stupids take all the credit for those early resolutions. If you look at the evolution of those resolution since 2009 up until this summer you will notice a pattern of drafting, discussion, redrafting, further discussions, compromise, final watered down version passed as consensus outcome.
From early 2005 up to this summer you would have noticed Hindians’ foot prints are all over this island war history and at the UNHRC.
Hindians forced Chandrika to go for all out war with LTTE. They provided training for Sri Lankan tri forces, radar, helicopters, two ships, help to destroy LTTE floating armoury, soft loans/grant amounting to $2 Billion, political and diplomatic cover, advice on strategies, electronic and satellite intelligence, non lethal weapons, on the ground military advisers, ……………….
Basically Hindia fought the war with LTTE, where tremendous support from VP was readily available, and Sri Lanka sending Sinhala youth as cannon fodder.
Did you believe Dayan, Rajiva and Tamara won the war at UNHRC themselves? If you believed that you will believe anything including the claim that MR/Gotta won the war single-handedly against formidable enemy the LTTE.
Those who keep close watch on goings and comings inside and outside the island know what most b***s carriers (VP’s as well as MR’s) are up to and their real contribution in relation to this island and to themselves.
All those b***s carriers have been exposed by themselves only by their stupid deeds and twisted mind. A very few have the honesty to own up their mistakes, beg mercy, apologize and move on. Most Sinhalese are proud Southerners and most Tamils are proud northerners hence don’t expect them to own up their mistakes, beg mercy, apologize and move on.
Take it easy, life is too short to change others.
/
Kumar R. / November 29, 2015
NV,
Hmmm…
“Take it easy, life is too short to change others.”
In the same breath you also seem it appropriate to suggest “My point is that why waste time with Jeyadevan … If you have time to spare, I suggest you work with… “
Interesting!
/
Kumar R. / November 27, 2015
The R. Ayer,
The issues of unemployed youth, the fact that family remittances is a disincentive for the youth in seeking to earn a living, and that there is scarcity of labour for traditional agriculture are all indeed ground reality.
However, the concern that I have is that there are “snake-oil-salesmen” trying to hijack such critical issues with utterly selfish motives, and dangerous consequences for the community at large.
Rajsingham’s list of questions above, the subject of this discussion here, is nothing but another insincere effort at undermining the CM, camouflaged as social concerns — just another case of hijacking critical issues for self gain by Rajasingham.
Let me explain. When the unemployment issue in the North was raised two years or so after nadhikadal, Rajasingham was quick to hijack “the impact of remittance” excuse as a way to urge the Diaspora to fund MR/GOTA, asserting that MR/GOTA are fully trustworthy. He used this excuse to re-ignite his propaganda to raise Diaspora funds, having failed in his previous efforts at that cause. It was not long after that, GOTA unleashed his Rottweilers after Rajasingham, on account of Rajasingham’s to keep up to his fund raising promises. It was only then that Rajasingham thought it fit to declare in these very columns that “every body knows the Rajapaksa’s cannot be trusted!” I challenge Rajasingham to deny this.
A couple of months ago a new group calling themselves as NRTSL also attempted this same wile strategy to hijack critical issues to meet their own their ends. Pressed by internationals, the SL Government showed some willingness to address the “land of the displaced” issue. Recognizing this opportune time, this new group published a manifesto of priority items for urgent consideration, and sought support from the Diaspora for their initiative through these columns. Guess what one of the priority items was?! NRTSL wanted the Government to recognize and expand the rights of the Diaspora to reclaim their lands they had left behind decades ago. When I questioned them in these columns as to whether they were looking after the interest of the displaced still domiciled in Sri Lanka or the interests of the Diaspora, now comfortably settled abroad with substantially better life, having abandoned their lands and the country decades ago. The group went mute! Obvious snake-oil-salesmen trying to hi-jack a critical issue for their own selfish interests.
Let me point out another recent instance that had the same underpinning of hijacking opportune issues by Rajasingham. When the drinking water issue resulting from illegal oil dumping came up, Rajasingham hijacked that issue promptly, raising alarm of an imminent crisis of monumental proportions and went on to demand the immediate diversion of mainland water to a particular tank as “ The mother-of-all-urgent” tasks that the Government was obligated to do. Over a few discussions on the subject, Rajasingham finally conceded that his priority to get the tank filled up in fact was based on his personal plans to build his own El Dorado of Dates and Cactuses, now that he is retired and is back home, and that particular tank was adjacent to his property! A classical case of another attempt to “hijack critical issues with utterly wile and selfish motives .“
I will be happy to provide more details if you like.
However, more importantly I see a note by Rajasingham and would like to respond to that here.
Rajasinghams, again in rather cunning ways have made my criticisms of their ”snake-oil-salesmanship” look like a family issue (I was both surprised and disappointed that even Native Vedda who contributes substantively to these columns succumbed to Rajasingham’s masquerade).
So, in that respect, let me narrow my reaction just to one direct challenge, namely Rajasingham’s assertion that “this personality is quite well known to me in all details. However, I shall not reveal details as indicated on an earlier occasion” Sanctimonious, deceptive and a wholesale untruth, if there was one. Not surprising, coming from Rajasingham!
Let me prove that. If Rajasingham will stand by his assertion, then I give Rajasingham my whole hearted, absolute, unreserved permission (and blessings) to declare my identity! I absolve the Rajasinghams from any and all legal liability in doing so, in identifying me. I will even go as far as giving him any number of guesses he needs to identify me. I can do that only because I know for certain that he does not know me. What is more, I do not know of him personally from Adam either! Every little morsel of my information about the Rajasinghmas is what I have gained entirely through these columns.
Rajasingham – here is the easiest, simplest, most direct opportunity to substantiate your assertion and prove you are not a liar. Are you up to it? Go ahead, reveal my name!
And, here is one assertion that I can make with absolute certainty – Rajasingham will NOT respond, will not identify and will not apologize for his falsehood. Instead, he will find some usual slimy excuse to slither away in his usual style!
/
Unreal / November 29, 2015
Are you Kumar R., Kumar R., or Kumar R? Which Kumar R U?
/
Kumar R. / November 29, 2015
Whichever one that gets your juices flowing, sweetie!
/
Das / November 23, 2015
Does Samintha Power has any authority? Idiotic CV.He can complain even to Obama,Ban Ki moon ,nothing going to happen.He has become a politician playing to the gallery.If U don’t know diplomacy, just give it to Douglas as he is good at it.CV can go and run kamban KAZAGAM as he is good at it.Just ask if has a programme at least for war widows leave alone war affected.idiot.
/
cholan / November 23, 2015
when the fight for supremacy for cursed Sri Lanka reach its peak either Greater China or USA will divide this country ……..
USA is loosing her credibility all over the World very fast …this country pretending to be the guardian of human rights and democracy is responsible for not only diluting the recent UN report but also stopped releasing the names of Sinhala murderers and rapists ….For what purpose?
Greater China has already taken Bangladesh…Maldives..Seychelles…Pakistan ..Nepal …and USA is now driving Tamils towards China ….
Tamil issue has become a regional security one …..
Poverty India has already committed Harakiri by helping Sinhala state and invited Greater China near Rameswaram also China has already surrounded poverty India …and Chinese troops can enjoy picnics inside poverty India when ever they like .
Cheers
/
Tungsan Yu / November 23, 2015
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran asks the correct questions.
The CM is a joker.
/
Sri- Krish / November 23, 2015
The Tamils must accept that all our past great leaders including Ramanathan brothers, GGP, SJV, Amir and Praba had failed miserably in their attempts to solve the Tamil Question satisfactorily.
Only the brave take resonsiblity,accepts their shortcomings and defeats and adopt alternate strategy.
The weak always come out with lame excuses and blame all others for their repeated failures and misfortunes.
Not that we do not hero worship our leaders, but adopt a realistic holistic view.
How many Tamils are ready or honest enough to admit these self evident facts. All our efforts during the last 60 years had lead us nowhere.
We repeatedly blame others for all our misfortune.
Any leadership must be able to learn lessons from the past. If you refuse to learn from history you will find history repeating itself may be first as a tragedy or secondly as a farce.
The Tamils are fortunate to have leaders like Sampanthan and Sumanthiran who are ready to think differently and capable of traversing in a new path.
They have amble wisdom to try a way out for the long pestering Tamil issue and to take a radically a new path abandoning confrontational politics.
Politics is not a criket match to have a ball by ball commentry.
Be patient.
Let us allow Sampanthan and Sumanthiran sufficient space to formulate their own strategies and lead Tamils to live with dignity and self respect as equal citizens in all parts of Sri Lanka, of course with self- government in the North and East under a de-facto federal set up.
Let us not miss this opportunity.
What we have in common with Palestanians is that we both always misses opportunities and regret later for the missed opportunities!
/
Barathan / November 24, 2015
Absolutely true. Very correctly and candidly expressed
/
soma / November 24, 2015
Sri Kish
“Let us allow Sampanthan and Sumanthiran sufficient space to formulate their own strategies and lead Tamils to live with dignity and self respect as equal citizens in all parts of Sri Lanka, of course with self- government in the North and East under a de-facto federal set up.”
“Tamils to live with dignity and self respect as equal citizens in all parts of Sri Lanka” (which is my dying wish)
is contradictory to
“self- government in the North and East under a de-facto federal set up.”
(Which I emphatically oppose)
The moment you say ” North AND East” are Tamil teritory what you are saying to me is the rest is Sinhala teritory.
To say that North AND East is for Tamils and the rest is for all of us is telling us you Sinhalese are all fools.
It can’t be.
Mr Kish, “Tamils” in the context of a “political solution” is to be understood as confined to Hindu and Christan sub categories leaving aside the Tamils who practise Islam as religion and Tamils of recent Indian origin? Please clarify. Don’t try to bluff – it is a simple straight forward question.
Soma
/
The Rogue Ayer / November 23, 2015
Samantha Power,
“In response Power had told Wigneswaran that she will take up the militarization and political prisoners issue with the government.”
Thank you for this effort.
Please note there are claims (see for instance the latest Sunday Times) that some of the political prisoners lately released on bail are common criminals. There is nothing wrong with releasing common criminals on bail but this should not be described as a release of political prisoners.
I don’t understand why different authorities and politicians happily describe them all as political prisoners.
Has corruption made it possible to classify criminals as political prisoners?
/
Dr,Rajasingham Narendran / November 26, 2015
TRA,
Unless criminals became militants and then political prisoners! The reverse, where militants became criminals and ended as political prisoners, is also true. There are many ramimifications of the ex-militant phenomenon. Is’ nt a university examination cheat, who was also strongly affiliated to the LTTE and is now hogging the political limeligh, also a criminal?
Dr. RN
/
Eusense / November 23, 2015
“Wigneswaran told the media that he had also raised concern over the ever increasing government budgetary allocation to boost the military despite the war ending six years back.”
Why on earth is he worried about this? Is he planning another terrorist war?
“Wigneswaran said that he feels a large portion of the monies could be diverted to develop the north and bring relief to the war battered people.”
Why only the North? How about the poor Sinhalese areas? This guy is a selfish racist! Even MR gov. has done so much to the North which was devastated by the terrorist group. What did the LTTE do for Tamils while they were running the region? Who made the north “war battered”? Blame the terrorist Tamils not any one else! If he is a real leader he should get the diaspora who funded the terror war to fund development.
“Wigneswaran had told Power that the people of the north remained highly concerned over continued militarization in Northern Province which is affecting the people’s day to day life.”
What day to day life is affected by the presence of the military other than that they can get on with their normal lives without being kidnapped by the terrorist or blown to pieces by those suicide bombers. Why does he not complain to the gov. of specifics of day to day problems??
“On the land issue he had said that despite government promises to hand back military occupied land, the military presence has not decreased and a large portion of lands have not been released.”
It is great that some land has been released. Nothing else should be released as those lands should be used for security and development activities. In the south people have lost thousands of acres of land to irrigation and highway projects. Are the Sinhalese to complain to Samantha Power for this?? What a joke this guy is?
“He had also complained that the development in the war battered north was going at a snail’s space and lack of industries was hurting the employment opportunities of the people.”
Yes, organize more protests, hartal, satyagraha etc. etc. and oppose every thing the gov. does. That will increase the speed of development!
Lack of employment opportunities? Thank Parabakaran for that. He trained Tamil youth to become suicide bombers and destroyed the future of a generation of youth. What steps has Wignesawaran taken to train these youth in skilled work so that they can find gainful employment? Why is he playing politics?
It is sad that Tamils are always cheated by their political leaders who miserably fail to help their cause.
/
K.A Sumanasekera / November 24, 2015
Batalanda will do what ever Samantha tells..And even more.
Batalanda gave Pirahaparan all the land, lock, stock and barrel.And no Military at all under his ISGA..
Our great majority didn’t forget it at the last Election.
Will Bodhi Sira allow Batalanda to clear the Military and give our Public Lands to Colombo based Vellalas and their Buddies in London ?.
Sira is clearing the deck to become the all powerful Executive PM no later than 2020 or even earlier if possible.
And groom Daham Sira and or Chathu Sira to continue the Dynasty.
If our Southern Buddhists can’t go to the North without a permit from Vellala Wigneswaran and if they need a translator to find Nagadeepa, will they allow Sira to become the Executive PM?.
Our Yahapalana supporters may want to vote for Sira..
But the Elite and the Anglicans ain’t going to vote for Sira for ever . Will they?..
/
Dilrook Kannangara / November 25, 2015
Absence of war in Sri Lanka has been a big problem for USA which had major plans for Tamil Tigers (LTTE) particularly for its sea wing – Sea Tigers. LTTE was one of few non-Islamic terrorist groups which made it extremely valuable for USA, much more valuable than Free Syria Army (also known as ISIS and ISIL) and Mujahidin (also known as Al Qaeda and Taliban) terrorists. Having engineered a regime change operation, the top US official will be in Sri Lanka to finance the writing of Tamil racist and separatist manuscripts against established history, push for dismemberment of the island nation, look for avenues to create a US base in Sri Lanka’s north which can replace Diego Garcia and release terrorists to reignite war. Some US presidential candidates received money from pro-LTTE groups in the lead up to the presidential campaign in 2008.
It is a well established fact USA financed Mujahidin (also known as Al Qaeda and Taliban) terrorists to disrupt Soviet operations in Afghanistan. Today USA is financing and arming the Free Syria Army (also known as ISIS and ISIL) to disrupt Syria and Russia. US hand in financing China’s Uyghur terrorists and Russia’s Chechnyan terrorists is well known.
When active, Sea Tigers attacked a Chinese vessel killing all on board (2003), hijacked ships of other countries, disrupted shipping (over 80% of Chinese sea freight passes through the Indian Ocean) and had the potential to disrupt Chinese shipping investments in Sri Lanka. Mysteriously Sea Tigers never attacked any of NATO countries and their shipping interests. They also spared Indian ships.
If Tamil Tigers were not exterminated, USA could have used it to disrupt Chinese shipping as it now tries very hard in South China Sea and elsewhere in its ‘China Containment’ strategy. Another attempt was the ‘String of Pearls’ nonsense which the US state department created for the gullible in early 2005. USA hoped its fear mongering on India would get India to counter China in the Indian Ocean. That too failed. That is why USA is very keen to destabilise Sri Lanka.
USA shared intelligence reports with Sri Lanka in 2007 to enable the Sri Lankan navy to destroy LTTE’s floating weapons warehouses. In 2003, USA sold an outdated coastguard ship to Sri Lanka. In 2008, USA donated small fast attack crafts to Sri Lanka navy’s Special Boat Squadron and Rapid Action Boat Squadron. Although these helped Sri Lanka rout Sea Tigers, the real reason for these false acts of kindness was to pre-empt China, India and Russia. Had USA not done so, Sri Lanka would have turned to China. LTTE floating warehouses were in the vicinity of US Diego Garcia base since at least 1998 (when the LTTE attacked a Sri Lanka bound Zimbabwe ship in the high seas). However, USA never thought it was useful to inform Sri Lanka for at least 9 years until 2007 when Sri Lanka was about to get Chinese weapons to destroy LTTE ships.
In 2003 Sri Lanka navy leased 2 Russian warships from India. To prevent further Russian weapons incursions into the island (which would provide inter-operability to Russians), USA sold an old coastguard ship.
Helping Tamils form their own nation within Sri Lanka achieves multiple US objectives. One of them is to re-base the US Diego Garcia base which was established through the genocide of Chagos people. The lease on the island expires next year (2016). Although it is likely renewed by Britain that occupies the island, the day is not far away when USA will have to leave the low lying islands either due to rising sea levels, public protests, rivals copying US action of occupation of islands or economic reasons from operating from a far away base. The action is close to the Asian continent, not 2,000km away from land. Billions can be saved and faster deployment also helps. It is also consistent with USA’s pivot to Asia strategy. Therefore, USA is actively looking for an alternative. There is only one alternative to Diego Garcia – Sri Lanka. However, due to India, Chinese, Russian and local pressure, USA is unable to have a base in Sri Lanka. To overcome this, USA may plan to incite Tamil separatism, get an autonomous region created in the north (and the east), re-base its military base in the north – either close to Trincomalee or Jaffna. Given the indebtedness to USA and continuing fear of Indian and Sri Lankan retaliation, the new Tamil administration will have to allow USA. Demilitarisation of the north and east at the behest of US demands was done to remove any resistance to this hegemonic move.
Conclusion
There is little Sri Lankan government can do to stop the US plan. However, other Asian nations particularly India and China will not tolerate militarisation of Sri Lanka by Tamil terrorists and US hegemonic armies turning the north and east of the island into a battle zone. USA is a waning empire on its last legs, but refusing to go down without a fight. Sri Lanka is once again entrapped into Cold War and Proxy War geopolitics which will produce a different winner to that of the last Cold War. Last time Tamils were made Indian pawns in its Cold War game which caused immense destruction to the Tamil community. Unfortunately, for Tamils, the lesson was not learnt. Becoming US pawns in the new proxy war will not bring them any good. Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans and Syrians are living examples of US’s use-and-dump policy. Even Sri Lanka was left high and dry in 1987 to face Indian aggression despite aligning with USA
/
Sri- Krish / November 25, 2015
Thanks Soma,
You have raided some valid points. I am sorry if I was not clear in my presentation.
I am sure you are aware about the zero sum game in management.
In game theory and economic theory a zero-sum game describes a situation in which gain (or loss) of each participant exactly balanced by the losses (or gains) to others.
For Example, If you cut a cake and taking a piece of cake reduces availability of cake by the amount to others, because it is a zero sum.
Whereas a non-zero-sum describes a situation in which the both parties could benefit.
The national question is not a zero sum game. If Sinhalese have certain rights, it does not means that Tamils should not or will not have that right. Both parties could gain in sharing national resources.
I hope that I have made it clear.
I am very clear in my mind what went wrong in the national question in sri lanka and How we should approach the national question.
Thanks again Soma for your response.
/
The Rogue Ayer / November 26, 2015
We voted for change, rule of law and good governance didn’t we?
http://dailynews.lk/?q=2015/11/26/local/legal-snag-delays-tamil-detainees%E2%80%99-release
”The government needs to look into issues relating to the release of Tamil detainees in a political perspective than in a legal perspective, said Humanitarian Activist Rev. Father M. Sakthivel, speaking to the Daily News.”
Never mind rule of law just release the political prisoners? First for Tamils and then all the others also?
”Meanwhile, former Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian, P. Ariyanethran speaking to the Daily News said TNA should reconsider supporting the government if they fail to take a firm decision with regard to the release of Tamil detainees in prison.”
Here is another one who doesn’t understand or care about rule of law.
”The prisoner will have to inform the courts about his desire to go for rehabilitation programmes referring to all the cases that he is alleged to be involved in, explained Minister Ganeshan. “The government has decided to release all the Tamil detainees, but, it has to be handled legally,” he emphasized.”
Thank you. I agree but please don’t release the common prisoners like the ones that already were released on bail.
/