By Colombo Telegraph –
A massive anonymous hate poster campaign against civil society launched in Colombo. The poster says; “Protect people-friendly Divineguma Bill which will uplift 1.5 million poor people from the Paikiasothy Gang that aids and abets the separation of the country.”
The Centre for Policy Alternatives and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu filed a Petition in August in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the “Divineguma Bill”. The Supreme Court’s determination on the Divineguma Bill was tabled in Parliament yesterday (18 September). A government-sponsored crowd – about 3000 were assembled in the Kalapola near Parliament – transported from various locations in about 40 buses, had been orchestrated, armed with anti Supreme Court slogans. Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardene and Bandula Gunawardene were seen among the “protestors.” The Supreme Court decided that the Bill was unconstitutional and cannot be passed by Parliament without first being submitted to the Provincial councils for the ascertainment of their views.
Senguttuvan / October 15, 2012
If there was any doubt at all the Govt has been subverted by venal savages this is it. It is not merely a crude hate-campaign against civil society whose crime appears to be asserting their democratic right of dissent, it is also an effort to promote anti-Tamil (minority) hatred. Paikiasothy is only Tamil by name. As he told me, he does not speak or understand Tamil.I doubt he can read/write the language of his grand-father.
The Govt in its ignorance is providing sufficient ammunition to UNHRC/Geneve for its own destruction. Does one call Ministers named here who walk the streets with rabb-rousers and the dregs in society as “responsible”?
Senguttuvan
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gamini / October 15, 2012
Senguttuvan, this is the last straw. The MR govt. is trying to take it on any, who stands in their way. The despotic MR govt. believes there should be no one to point the excesses and wrong doings. In short no critisism. What a Democracy we have created and the Americans and the Indians are silent. At least now do you understand the tacit support to MR by these powers?
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Bruno Umbato / October 15, 2012
Gamini,
You seemed to be sure about your opinions … and your knowledge about the world ….
What does it mean by so called “CIVIL SOCIETY”?
What do you call the people who put these posters? .. Members of the “UNCIVILIZED SOCIETY”?
What is the criteria to define this respectable ‘civil society” which many think ‘self appointed’?
Is it similar to “INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY” which is so much abused by the self appointed champions of human rights like US/west/INGOs?
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gamini / October 19, 2012
Bruno, sorry for the delay having missed out. A Civil Society is one that can resolve issues without killing each other or in short without resorting to War. However if someone put up posters as this espousing hatered or violence that will end in violence can not be Civil. In the International scene some Countries may appear Civil, but their action will lead to others waging wars to their benifit to keep them in business of the manufcture of arms.
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Navin Weeraratne / October 17, 2012
Gamini, silence doesn’t mean support. It just means not caring enough. For example if Sri Lanka had oil, you may find the situation to be different.
You also need to understand the internationally accepted principle of state sovereignty. Please note that there is no international police force (aka America/ India etc).
MR has been democratically elected, to that extent, there is little any other nation can do to change Sri Lanka. Only Sri Lankans can change Sri Lanka.
Instead of dwelling on international conspiracy theories that make Sri Lanka seem far more important on a global scale than it really is, we should concentrate on our local flaws and try and overcome those first…
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Justice / October 15, 2012
It is obvious who is behind this.
Basil cannot allow his proposed secret financial empire to crumble.
The bill is reported to have received approval by all but one of the councils.
The unelected NP governer,is reported to have given his assent on behalf of the people of the NP Council.
This is a “first” in democratic governance.
If this is approved by the Supreme Court(case filed), in future,bills will be sent to the provincial governers only,for approval.
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Senguttuvan / October 15, 2012
Gamini- The Rajapakse mob will fight, like Assad in Syria, to the very end to preserve their “familial victory” They think the people owe them a favour for beating VP and that everyone should remain silent while they do their clean-up job. They give tuppence to what happens to the country if a section of the people are to eventually rise with the army taking sides.
Again, you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. USA/India will take the side of the people when the time comes. Both countries have scant opinion of these modern day constitutional brigands.
Senguttuvan
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gamini / October 15, 2012
Senguttuvan, you seem to have immense trut and hope towards USA/India. I have my reservation on all these buggers. They are opportunists and time servers. If they are what you believe, why so far no action has been initiated? Yes I believe when MR is a spent force, they certainly will not hesitate, as what they did to Gaddaffi. But right now, MR is their man and he has to accomplish more for them. Till then!
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Senguttuvan / October 15, 2012
Elementary, dear Gamini. You voted the rot in. It is not Uncle Sam’s
and Bharath Matha’s mess. You clean it up. When it becomes impossible to bear the heat, as Mrs B found in 1971; JRJ in 1987 and MR just before the General Elections when he feared if SF won he would massacre the Rajapakses – there will be crawling before India and the US.
Senguttuvan
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Leela / October 16, 2012
Mr. Paikiasothy cannot understand Tamil? I am not amused for I often find hard to understand his English. Then again, there is no reason for him to speak Tamil or Sinhalese; he only needs English to fool his lackeys and con his pay masters. I can understand the flunky pawns but the so-called urbane clique of the IC. Surely they should know that if Paikiasothy cannot speak the language of major communities, he cannot represent interests of ordinary Sri Lankans but only Colombian WOGs.
Americans and the Indians may be silent for the time being, but their stooges like Paikiasothy are busier than ever trying to assist separatists destabilize the nation. If they are giving tactic support to MR now, then I am sure he knows it is only to look after their own interest. He’ll get Emirs of Qatar and Kuwait would do the needful.
Only silly separatists think USA/India would be their redeemers. So long as the majority by far in this country is with MR, bullies know that they cannot copy Syria here. They cannot bring Arab Winters here in the guise of so-called Arab Springs either. We should have our army ready everywhere to lop it off at the outset.
Leela
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Justice / October 16, 2012
Leela,
Please state specifically which statements/views of Paikiyasothy are incorrect.
Paikiyasothy is only one of many, disclosing to the world,what is actually happenig in sri lanka.Is this your grouse?
In 1987,Tamara Kunanayakam bared all human rights abuses in sri lanka,as a member & interventionist of the World Christian Students Federation at the UPR of the UN Human Rigts Commission.
Where were you?
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gamini / October 16, 2012
Leela you display the Sinhala inadequacy in abundant measure the intolarence of non Sinhalese. I can understand if you displayed your attitude, towards VP for the carnage he committed. But for some one like Dr. P. Saravanamuttu who is Refined, Educated and well mannered, your attempt to ridicule and run him down, you cut yourself a sorry figure lacking all decency. You and your ilk are nothing but an absolute disgrace to the entire Sinhala Race. Leave alone this bill the Rajapaksas are in an indecent hurry to pass with secracy clauses, it sounds more A ‘Divi Nasuma’ than a ‘Divi Naguma’ bill. No wonder your ilk helped him to have the 18th Amendment and for your information this is going to be his waterloo.
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eureka / October 16, 2012
Leela
Paikiasothy is dead against separation.
Some Sinhalese are not worried about the politics of a person, but only about the race of a person.
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Navin Weeraratne / October 17, 2012
Leela, can you not see that Sri Lanka is already a divided place? We are divided because we can’t live as one. We are divided because our country has double, triple, quadruple if not multi-levels of standards for different people. There is no law and order. Just corruption and oppression.
Equality, human rights and free speech are the fundamentals for living in peace. These are therefore also the foundations on which civilised societies are built on. These are as fundamental to humanity as air, water, and food, as without them, we get division, conflict and war.
We must stand up against oppression. Law and order must apply in equal measure to all in our land. Until then, there will always be separatist movements in the country. Sure, some may be corrupt and opportunistic separatists (like the LTTE), but some will also be genuine in their hope for freedom from oppression! That will include many, many Sinhalese, who want to see their country one day become a civilised and safe place for all its citizens to live in.
You may be patriotic. But patriotism alone doesn’t build great nations. Much like a good parent must remain open to seeing their children’s flaws, so that they can correct them, a true patriot must also remain open to the flaws of their country! Don’t be afraid to criticise your country and its leaders. You should demand the same level of competence and accountability from a politician as you would from a doctor or an engineer. Sure they will all make mistakes; but the level of incompetence and corruption in Sri Lankan politics, since 1948, cannot be ignored.
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Leela / October 17, 2012
gamini and Navin
As I said elsewhere, Arabs doesn’t concur with western style of democracy or civility. But our WOGs like you two think, Arabs look up to western manners, education and etc as the refined style they wanted to emulate and enjoy. May be that’s why your hero Dr. tried to copy it here.
But you all are sadly mistaken. Arabs have their own democratic style, egalitarianism and governance. That is their culture and you cannot change it my friends. Otherwise, those never ending agitations called ‘Arab spring’ should have changed all the Middle Eastern countries to super democracies of your definition by now.
For those who think Sri Lanka is divided, I do not think there is any medicine to cure that thinking other than real division. Since separatism or Bantu lands or anything that leads to it is not possible any more, such people have to live with that pain so that vast majority my live happily. Or, they could crash land in a western country.
People do not fear the government. They know there is bribery, sleaze and corruption etc. People would certainly agitate against them just like the wave of protests going on right now against various localized short comings. But they do not want anti-nationals like RanilWs’ or Sarawanamuttus’ guidance for it for they know they have different goals. Don’t you notice that? How can you; you don’t live here.
That’s what I see and I am sure Rajapakses know it s well. That is why the government never use raw police power to disperse any spontaneous agitation wave by ordinary people.
Leela
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gamini / October 18, 2012
Dr. Leela you fit perfectly to the system of MR, who has plenty PhD holders, to mention a few, Dr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Dr. Mervyn Silva et al. By the way could you help me also to obtain a PhD before I die. You were saying how you and your Examiner worked together at home. Is it in the bedroom or the hall? This reminds me what Anarkali once said when she was campaigning to become an MP, that one need not sweat running about, where as she lies down and relax and invite them in. How easy it is to become qualified and also be an MP. Scope Unlimited! Sri Lanka has truely become a PARADISE.
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Leela / October 18, 2012
gamini
Jot down and lern whatever it pleases you, but I believe my academic qualifications and status has no relevance to my views and opinion that I express here.
Leela
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gamini / October 18, 2012
Dr. Leela PhD, why not it does. Imagine your father buying a PhD for yourself in the black market then in the ’70s? God help if you are this knowledgeble with a PhD, what your knowledge would have been without. By the way from where did you get your PhD? Is it from the Central London Polytechnic?
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Lanka Muslim, UK / October 18, 2012
Anti-Nationals are those who rule the country by corrupt, communal and violent methods and leading the country to ruination; and those who speak and campaign against such negative methods are true patriots. Even if such men are not accepted by all now the day that their wisdom will reign supreme is not far.
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Navin Weeraratne / October 19, 2012
Leela
RE: ‘I believe my academic qualifications and status has no relevance to my views and opinion that I express here’
I don’t know you, and thus I’m not sure if Gamini’s comments regarding your qualification and corruptness is justified. However I do know that no educated individual will argue their qualifications to have no relevance on their views and opinions. Qualifications, in particular post-graduate qualifications, are not only a statement of intellect and knowledge, but also one’s ability to analyse and assess information. For example a PHD, no matter what the topic it may be in, requires one to have shown a level of critical analysis that would from then on govern the way a person thinks and assesses information.
Of course if you truly do possess a PHD, my concern is, is that you do not show the levels of critical analysis that one with a PHD would be expected to possess. Essentially, what you have shown with your response is a clear lack of understanding as to what a higher level (such as post-graduate) qualification is, and what it means to hold such a qualification.
To this extent, I truly hope that Gamini’s comments are indeed only accusations, and that you do not actually hold a PHD. For if you do, I would have to side with Gamini, and question exactly how you would achieve such a qualification legitimately, given the level of ignorance you display in your comments on these boards.
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Leela / October 20, 2012
Navin,
I have decided to write my comments here knowingly this journal is run and subscribed mainly by those who has opposite views and opinion to that of mine.
As long as the moderator sees my comments are useful and it takes monotonousness out of the usual comments by ‘yes sir no sir’ pack of commentators that’s is good enough for me.
You and gamini can bestow, argue and even condemn it I don’t care two hoots. You can even ponder whether I studied at the University of Timbuktu if you wish. Until of cause you find someone who knows me.
Leela
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Saman Wijesiri / October 16, 2012
I take my hat off to Dr. Pakiasothy Sarawanamuttu for his commitment to the cause of democratic governance and the courage he demonstrated when he filed a petition against the Divineguma Bill in the Supreme Court quite aware, no doubt, of the sinister forces arrayed against him and his organization. What a pity that the civil society leaders have to fight a despotic regime when the political eunuchs of the main opposition are either in a deep slumber or waiting for a chance to cross over to the government to taste the forbidden fruits of of political high office!
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Senguttuvan / October 16, 2012
I agree with Saman Wijesiri of the useful work done by NGOs like CPA, ICES, Marga and many more despite ignorant and irresponsible invective from pseudo-patriots. To some it looks like men like Paikiasothy are more courageous and nationalistic than what they are given credit fot. Like in all cases, there may be a few minuses here and then but this more the exception than the rule.
Rajapakses were the first to seek the support of the Separatists to come to power. They will align with the devil to stay there no matter what happens to the good of the country. They are
OK so long as lotus-eaters and nimcompoops make the larger number of voters so that with every election every few months the ruling clique can pat themselves on the back they have been “re-franchised” This is the cock-sure attitude they took before the last Geneve/UNHRC and when reality hit them on the face they blamed India and the USA. But the rest of the world and the more initiated within the country are a different cup of tea.
Senguttuvan
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janaka / October 16, 2012
As long as Ranil’s boy scout adventures remain covered up it will be carry on helping Hambantota for the uneducated uncultured rascals?
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Panda / October 16, 2012
This is yet another deterrent for others who dare criticize and stand up to the rajapaksa regime. Dr. Pakiasothy has been demonized for taking a stand, and trying to bring some justice for many Sri Lankans, who have been victims of the rajapaksa crimes, this is sheer intimidation and stifling of democracy.
Shame on those who are behind these posters. They are cowards who hide behind them.
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Daniel Day Lewis / October 17, 2012
Pakisothy is not equal to Civil Society ,period.
CT should get it’s facts correct
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Lanka Muslim, UK / October 18, 2012
TIC PRESS RELEASE
Date: 16 October 2012
TIC Condemns ‘Hate Campaign’ Against CPA Executive Director
We are deeply concerned about the appearance of Sinhala posters against Dr Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in many parts of the Colombo city on 15 October 2012.
The intimidating poster campaign is linked to Dr Saravanamuttu’s legal challenge of the Divineguma Bill in the Supreme Court. The proposed law intends to create a new Divineguma Department that will consume the Samurdhi poverty alleviation programme and the Southern and Hill Country Development authorities. The Bill encroaches into the functions of the Provincial Councils. The Constitution provides that a Bill in respect of any matter included in the Provincial Council List must be submitted by the President to every Provincial Council for the expression of its views before it is tabled in Parliament.
The Bill also includes shady provisions and omits provisions relating to accountability. The Bill specifically provides that the Banking Act and the Finance Business Act would not apply to banks established under the Divineguma Act. This means that banks established under the Divineguma Act will not come under the rules and supervision of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. These Divineguma banks will handle an estimated 80 billion rupees without supervision or accountability. The provision in the Samurdhi Act that the ‘Authority shall be deemed to be a scheduled institution within the meaning of the Bribery Act’ is not included in the Divineguma Bill.
In his capacity as Executive Director of the CPA, Dr Saravanamuttu petitioned the Supreme Court in the public interest and in accordance with the provisions of the Sri Lanka Constitution. In his petition, Dr Saravanamuttu pointed out that the Divineguma Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution and listed a number of substantive and procedural grounds. The Supreme Court determined that the Bill should be approved by each Provincial Council before it is brought to Parliament.
Dr Saravanamuttu has been subjected to a relentless campaign of intimidation and abuse by government supporters in the past for carrying out his duties in the public interest as a responsible citizen of Sri Lanka. We condemn the hate campaigns and threats of violence against advocates of democratic governance.
Hate campaigns have done nothing but poison the country and turn people against one another. By targeting people committed to human rights and peace, such campaigns can only stifle progress, divide the nation and push Sri Lanka further into the abyss of mayhem. Past experience has shown that this kind of prejudiced, intolerant and paranoid action can lead the dangerous levels. This virulent hate campaign must stop immediately. The Tamil Information Centre calls upon all persons and organizations with interest in Sri Lanka to condemn the hate campaign and take every appropriate and possible action to bring pressure and to ensure this is not repeated.
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Tamil Information Centre
Thulasi
Bridge End Close
Kingston Upon Thames KT2 6PZ
(United Kingdom)
Telephone: +44 (0)20 8546 1560
Fax: +44 (0)20 8546 5701
E-mail: admin.ccd@sangu.org
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Lanka Muslim, UK / October 18, 2012
A brief and clear statement on the issue which reveals the hate campaign intended against the Tamils using Dr. P’s name and the threat to peoples’ wealth and democracy manipulataed under the guise of the Divineguma Bill which might be ‘divi nasagenima’ for the whole country.
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kamal nissanka / October 21, 2012
Liberal Party of Sri Lanka condemns this “hate poster and its conspirators”. G.D.Chandrasiri is not the voice of the people of North Sri Lanka.
Let us argue the “legal issue” before SC and the country.
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