The only concrete action that the Government of Sri Lanka relied on during its statement to the United Nations Human Rights Council at its 37th session yesterday (21st March 2018) in Geneva was that Sri Lanka’s globally praised Right to Information Act was in full implementation mode and that the Right to Information Commission was functioning effectively and ‘disposing of a large number of appeals’!
Marapana
Reading out the Statement, Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana otherwise, only pointed to a long list of “promises”, hopeful assurances that the recently established Office of Missing Persons will “discharge its mandate effectively.”
Minister Marapana also repeated that Legislation to give effect to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was passed by the Parliament on 7 March. Activists currently participating in the Geneva sessions have however pointed out that the Act on Enforced Disappearances had been severely diluted and have raised questions as to how effective it will be in its current form in actually acting as a practical deterrent.
Unlike the Enforced Disappearances Act, the Right to Information Act was not toned down mainly because powerful lobbying bodies such as the Editors Guild of Sri Lanka informed the Government that it would not agree to any compromises in that respect. Facing combined English, Sinhala and Tamil media pressure, the Government backed down and allowed a strong law to be passed in 2016. It however deprived the RTI Commission of independent funding during its first year in office, leaving the Commission to its own efforts and to virtually ‘sink or swim.’
‘The Government boasts of the Commission now but this succeeded only because Commission members worked with no funds during the first make-or-break year of its functioning.’ said a consultant working with the Foreign Affairs Ministry on its Geneva performance who did not wish to be identified. ‘Impartial Commissioners were not brought in by the Government but were nominated by independent groups including the media and civil society. But proving the effectiveness of the OMP which has a Chair who is the President’s lawyer and was ‘parachuted’ over the head of the Constitutional Council will be a different problem’ he criticized.
Minister Marapana also informed the Council that the Prevention of Terrorism Act is proposed to be repealed and replaced with a counter-terrorism law that conforms to human rights safeguards and other international standards. ‘In terms of our Constitution and legal processes, this legislation will be finalized after due parliamentary procedures are followed.’ he said.
However the draft counter-terrorism law has not yet been provided to the Sri Lankan public despite several calls by activists to make its contents known.
Ad / March 22, 2018
Just bullshit talks and promises. UN should request an affidavit from the participants that they shoulf submit an affidavit to affirm that they do not have a history of involvement in any form of crimes and frauds before speaking in any UN forums.
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Emil van der Poorten / March 23, 2018
Ad:
Great idea. However, the problem is that those guilty of crimes and frauds will be the last ones to ever admit to them because they are criminals and fraudsters to begin with!
The political landscape in Sri Lanka continues to be delightful!
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Kumarathasan Rasingam / March 22, 2018
The Sri Lankan government is sending experienced Boasters and his goons to UNHRC to protect them from any sanctions and drastic action by the UNHRC members and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The following links will show how Sri Lanka is hoodwinking the UN, US, EU and the world to escape from Genocide of 147,000 Tamils.
https://www.academia.edu/30862240/UN_SYSTEM_OWES_SRI_LANKAN_TAMILS_REMEDIAL_JUSTICE
https://www.academia.edu/34151481/SRI_LANKAS_CREDIBILITY_AND_UNS_RESPONSIBILITIES
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Eagle Eye / March 23, 2018
Wow! The number has suddenly increased from 40,000 to 147,000. Demalu are very good in cooking up numbers.
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Real Revolutionist / March 23, 2018
Kumarathasan Rasingam
Not SL govt.. It’s self made Tamil asylum seekers through self made genocide that hoodwink international community.
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Jim softy / March 23, 2018
Tamil Struggle miserably fzailed. that is what you all say. Japan says no need of foreign judges.
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Ceylonee / March 22, 2018
A well organized presentation has been placed before UN Officials by showing video footage of Sin kele Budda Terrorists attacking Muslims . Also a Video was revealed in which some STF – Sin kele Terror Force ,linked to BoduBalusena Terror organaization , attacking Muslims while they were coming out from a Moskue..
Anti Muslim violence unleashed by Sin Keala mobs in Kandy Sri Lanka started on 4th March. The video footage obtained by JDS – Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka
shows Special Task Force Now its called as SIN KELA TERROR FORCE , members in uniform assaulting two Muslim men with clubs. watch video…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=_75bOIVFbfc
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Estate Labourer / March 22, 2018
Promises, promises and assurances, assurances! All words and no deeds. Very little has been done to date to address and redress the grievances of the Tamil people.
One thing can be said for the past and present Sri Lankan governments: they can fool all of the people all of the time! You only have to look at the record.
Because the International Community keeps swallowing everything the government says, Sri Lanka will keep fooling them indefinitely. This has become a game. The only thing missing is a cheering squad. Every time we fool them, the cheerleaders can do their part.
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Real Revolutionist / March 23, 2018
Estate labourer
Tell the Indian govt. to take you back if you’re unhappy here without giving troubles to us.
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Jim softy / March 23, 2018
Exactly, I can not understand why Tamils are suffering here instead of going to Back to South India. Just take the Orumiththa govt as the example as how it will survive. Even TNA, Sumanthiran, Wigneswaran know that these talkative Tamils are STUPID. Some
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Thengai Srinivasan / March 22, 2018
if International Judges can be appointed to look into Srilanka’s human rights abuses of its minorities will be greatly appreciated.
We saw some sinkala thugs at UNHRC side show.
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Eagle Eye / March 23, 2018
Thengai,
There were Tamil Diaspora thugs too at UNHRC side show. Tamil Diaspora thugs are now losing grounds because Sinhala Thugs are giving the true picture and shattering cooked up stories of Tamil Diaspora. International community is not that foolish to keep on buying fabricated stories of Tamil Diaspora.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
Yesterday, one man said that Maithripala sirisena had imported 40 trucks as havey busses and 13 are perating are in polonnaruwa. When traqced it was found there are SEVEN tripper tricks for soil, sand and cattle (hora harak) transporting in KILINOCHCHCI and in COLOMBO cleared by one “VIGANAKAPATHI” current account. IT was traced back to SLBC’c Buddhi PAthirana which was retraced to future president NAMAL Rajapakse. Written evidecne is available in SLBC. the money had come from a side job carried out in TIBET I heard. The govt did not know that MPs are working else where.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
The same sexy yo8ng MP ws training about ssomething relatd to how to treat women and then again to teach rugby to girls in Afghanisthan (NO, the trip had been to TIBET, I HEARD). Anyway, he was photographed on Kurunegala inside nice NEw POrsche with the cutie chick inside. Kohomada weda. IT says, even last month went MEDICAL after the wedding. HE had said his knew Porschse is is pocket money. Ask the journalsit for more. and he said Father gave me from savings used to build ANICUTS.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
Wow another UNHCR to cover the bond scam. Why they didnot report that rice and coconut are now imported Food. In another related news, the new bride groom had said I will Tell father to ,look after the guy who reported it. and this is how the country sabotage the journney to democracy. and that is sad.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
sorry CT, The future president had got married from Andi Ambalama. and the dowry was 100 million (KOti 100).
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chiv / March 22, 2018
RTI ????? my foot, The other day some one asked me whether Cambridge Analytica is in play in Lanka. My answer is these are pirated versions of technology because this was originally invented years ago by MR and team.Looking at some of the comments in these forums it is still very active and running at full speed.!!!!!
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
Mahinda Rjapakse says, mage is thin like a paradela and he is going to get married net year and the Guilanpasa is a car and a 100 to 300 million. The future Dad had said “nodakin, I said him it si three billion, now he ays his daughter to give the hopes. the yoinng MP who starts with Pinwathune had run away from the parliament from hearing the news. He has Tripper trucks een in Melsiripura, Maithripala sirisena’s village. Fther – in law to be had scolded don’t talk to me, future son in law is a idiot and and thirisana. Net month he is suposed to be admitted to a medical college or to a hospital for internship in Anamaduwa.
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Lion / March 22, 2018
Never seen or heard people lie in this fashion…it is very depressive..
MR the ‘king of lies ‘ dressed the UN General Secretary Ban ki Moon in 2009 to a joker on setting up an International Tribunal to investigate war crimes in Sri Lanka..
Now this Govt is playing the role of former…
-The damn RTI itself is a farce…no one has benefitted so far..
-70% land given back to owners in North is a farce..
-OMP is a farce….justice will never be done as security forces are involved
-Zero tolerance policy is a farce..people still die in Police custody…
-Reparation cannot be implemented for reasons
-PTA will never be repealed…
-The Elections under New Local Authority Act is in a mess…
-TRC & HR will never bloom..
So the President is now in Pakistan having begged India…Japan.. for support against possible UN adoptions that would adversely affect the SL Politicians.
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Dharshana W, PhD. / March 22, 2018
I am sot sure what Thilak Marapana lamented about the “Right of Information” act which still by far is not executable across all sections of the public sector which matters most, but the proper escalation process for the RoI is marred with official bureaucracy.
We still live in a state of Suppression, with no closer to democratic freedom that we were used to be in the late 1970’s. (since those were the days that I remember as an adolescent trying to figure out right from wrong in society.
I was fortunate enough to be in the Hostel of St Thomas’ college then, and the guidance from our dorm masters as well as our day scholar teachers helped us to align our social and political ideologies in direction that was by-and-large in harmony with the mainstream. That said, we also had the radical fraction. who thought of nothing but rebellion as the main form of social justice.
Back to the realities of life now, It all seems odd that Thilak Marapana is representing Sri Lanka to defend it’s sovereignty and integrity @ the UN Council.
It is good to note that the same Thilak Marapana, opted to represent the accused party in the “Avant-garde” case, wherein after, he was forced to resign his portfolio citing a “conflict of interest”.
As usual in Sri Lankan politics , Thilak Marapana has been re-appointed as the minister of foreign affairs in the first cabinet reshuffle.
What a shame RW, and what a shame on the ministers of the UNP.
I urge you all to live a life of your OWN rater than sucking up to RW, in anyways you can. How can such people without a backbone be diligent Ministers, directing national policy for a five year term.
My conclusion is: RW is manipulating you with all his might, but the longest that such an effort would be eefective IS only until the next elections.
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justice / March 22, 2018
Under the RTI, those who bare assets beyond their means, should be prosecuted.
This happens in India, where a chief minister was jailed.
Those jailed under PTA are still in jail, for up to ten to twenty years as there is no evidence against them. Now these cases are slowly being transferred to southern courts, where judges can “accept” confessions made under torture, and lawyers & families would be unable to attend.
Even now, people occasionally ‘disappear’.
The chief enforcer of PTA – Gotabaya R – now wants to become president though he is a citizen of USA.
This may happen only in this Dharmadwipa.
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Eagle Eye / March 23, 2018
Justice,
In this Dharmadvipa thousands of LTTE terrorists were rehabilitated and released while Gotabhaya was the Defense Secretary.
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justice / March 23, 2018
Eagle Eye,
“Rehabilitation” was used only as a punishment for those who protested against army excesses and land grabs. It was invented by Gota.
How do you explain the nearly 200 still in jail without being charged in courts?
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Anpu / March 22, 2018
Srilanka is not a Buddhist country. Majority of them do not follow Buddhism.
The performance of the Government of Sri Lanka at the UNHRC Sessions this year is no different from what they had done in previous years. Words, Words and promises with a copious sprinkling of lies and deceptions. They are adept in such matters.
RTI cannot order confidential matters to be divulged ? That means the list of perpetrators of hr violations and disappearances identified by Commissions of Inquiries can never be accessed.
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Eagle Eye / March 23, 2018
Anpu,
“Srilanka is not a Buddhist country. Majority of them do not follow Buddhism.”
Do the Christians follow Christianity. Say love thy neighbor and keep on killing innocent people all over the world. Muslims of course follow Quaran and kill the infidels. Hindus keep on killing Muslims everyday in India.
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Thondamany / March 22, 2018
That statement was written by Atul to be read out in Geneva.
What else could former Solicitor General do when Mongala had co-sponsored the resolution 30/1 on his own with no approval from the yahapalanaya parliament.
Forced Sri Lanka to commit hara-kiri.
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Anpu / March 22, 2018
The Sri Lankan military’s continued occupation of land in the Vanni is threatening traditional livelihoods in local communities
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
Two Buddhist bhikkus, one in Nedimala and another in Getambe know many details about NAMAL’s pinsara qualities. HE goes to the temple and doe snot light even a lamp. Yet he wants bank some money inthose temples. HE simply begs. Looks an opportunist to the fulelst and should be a SPY. IT looks some foreign country in colombo uses him to expose other politicians and to protect Ranil. Ranil as he knows this, says their wish that. He was with some bhikkus when what ever what happened in Bangkhok. Ranil love this kind of chances if some one asks questions from him. Ranil earlier started with Pnwathune, Now he starts with hum dono, dilki bhat.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
One Mike also has so much information about him when he was vomiting -lik that stage (kiri wamane daana kaale). He had some idea of lowering a plane (LTTE blew it for him) inside the Parakum Samudraya and set up a tourist hotel.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
Ferrari owner Saali Mohommad had given the car “sir than puthata Onatharam Kelloth ekka natanda puluwan”. He may be one Ashroff. the suspicion is one who became rich by doing contracts to Mahaweli, all the trucks were in Kegalle and in Kelaniya and he may donated the car. That MP who behaves like an arahanrt monk, had removed parts the train that had been arranged for the british Queen and that money gone to buy the car.—more than ruours, I heard. HE says, I did not take those tusks. Only Namal Know it. Father says, mata hithenne mage hurathal putha, samiddhi stole it. So, Namal has a nick name too (just one).. but he says, he treats young and adult the same way equally. He used to Sir his fahter and now says “Hey man”., so the father is unhappy and he had told it in enderamulla, HE was wedded to a tamil girl in Puwarsun kulam agricultural community. No one got it from father.
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
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Tom Pachaya / March 22, 2018
How can RTI be considered “concrete action” of accomplishment? It’s time the UNHCR calls RTI another CON by this YAKKA-palanaya government. When information was demanded under RTI from the Army, Navy and other services by NGO, media organizations and investigative journalists on the internal inquiries and the charges that our servicemen were involved in extra judicial killings, rape, murder, torture, kidnapping, disappearances, sexual harassment, as well as information associated with on-going criminal investigations relating to homicides, the Army did not even honor the RTI requests. They even denied court subpoena involving criminal cases and even the CID and other law-enforcement offices were denied this information. The excuse of the Army was that information in its own investigations and inquiries are classified and revealing them would be breach on national defense. What BS is this and how has the RTI served us? minister Marapana should be performing the snake dance in front of the whole world as his name is ideal for this act: “Mara Penne pimmbuwa, dan natapalla”!
here are our accomplishments since lying to the International community.
1. Failed to investigate missing persons in the North and East.
2. Imprison thousands without even a trial or giving access to those imprison their right to counsel
3. Unleashed terror among minorities and further politicize and devide the nation.
4. Protect Buddhist FASCISTS PIGS hiding behind robes against MURDER or felonies
5. Mobilize servicemen to attack minorities
6. Impose curfew and emergency law while Buddhist fascists and extremists run riot by looting and burning property and the life blood of the people.
7. Have made ZERO progress on national reconciliation
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sach / March 22, 2018
Sri Lanka is giving too much importance to UNHRC. Just get out of this Mangala mentality of giving into UN and LTTE rump
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Jim softy / March 22, 2018
So how many peole left to inform this to UNHCR and what was the coast and how long the hotel stay ? Is it all provided by UNHCR ?.
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Manicka Vasagar / March 22, 2018
Is it not shameful and embarrassment for the Sri Lankan Ministers to sit in Council and listen to the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights.
She expressed with much regret on the slow progress on the implementation of transitional justice mechanism on the resolution co-sponsored by Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has failed its mid – term assessment deliberately.
She is highly doubtful that the resolution will be implemented by March 2019, and GoSL is yet to demonstrate how it will address impunity.
She emphasised that an establishment of a special court with international practitioners be seriously considered.
The Tamils should collectively demand that justice and accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide that took place in Sri Lanka, be referred to the ICC / UNSC or to a special tribunal.
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Eagle Eye / March 23, 2018
Manicka Vasagar,
“The Tamils should collectively demand that justice and accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide that took place in Sri Lanka, be referred to the ICC / UNSC or to a special tribunal.”
In the same token, Sinhalayo should collectively demand justice for war crimes, crimes against humanity committed by Prabhakaran and LTTE terrorists. All the LTTE terrorists who were pardoned and rehabilitated should be put behind bars.
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Manicka Vasagar / March 26, 2018
As per the UN HRC resolution, an international investigation with foreign judges, prosecutors and lawyers, will explain how, why and by whom war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide were committed.
Why do you fear to allow the investigation and to hear the truth. This is the only way that Sri Lanka can bring this to a closure and to move forward.
Or is it not better to divorce and keep moving separately?
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K A Sumanasekera / March 23, 2018
Mangi signed this UN Resolution with the US, under instructions from Dr Ranil.
Dr Ranil also has signed a separate MOU with the Vellala Party boss Mr Sambandan and the GTF boss Mr Surendran to go with this Resolution..
Now Dr Ranil is on Life Support. politically of course.
But the two heavy weights of the Yahapalana Cabinet . Dr Rajitha and Mr Champaka came out swinging, to say that they are going to fullfil the 2015 People’s Mandate to Dr Ranil and Mr Sira.
This was at the last Cabinet Meet where Dr Ranil was not feeling well.
These , Yahapalana Heavy duo emphasized that the Mandate is to Round Up Rajapakasas and put them behind Bars..
There was no mention of this Resolution to
* Find dead Tigers and their associates and pay Compo,
* Bring in the Foreign Judges from the Diaspora to sit in Hybrid Courts in Colombo
* Jail the war Heroes who killed Pirahapran
And of course give the Homeland to Mr sambandan , through Dr Ranil’s New Constitution.
I know the West, and the Diaspora , the latter in particular will be happy to see Rajapkasas behind Bars.
Which only constitutes a sub section perhaps, under the main clause ie Punishing War Heroes.
Will that alone satisfy the UN?.
Dr Rajitha of course is no problem
But will Mr Chamapaka try the War Heroes and give Mr Sambanadan the Homeland while the Rajapaksas are languishing in Bogamabara?.
Will Dr Rajapaksa have the good company of Dr Ranil’s mate Dr Mahendran , his SIL and Palisena there?.
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Buddhist / March 23, 2018
Why are we so scared to conduct an investigation. UN wants foreign participation, let the foreign judges be observers and Sri Lankan judges sit in judgement. What is wrong with this model. We keep on saying we did not kill 40,000 and no human rights violations happened, in that case what is better than having a court to thrash this out. When cases are filed both against the Govt and LTTE should be investigated. If SL Government requests from Sri Lankans living abroad they will be able to provide names of those tiger fighters who are living abroad now and who committed crimes as well. Let those foreign countries send those LTTE leaders and fighters to face charges. Similarly let those who got affected file cases against the government. If the foreign countries do not send those LTTE fighters that alone will stop UN pushing SL. Alternatively foreign judges could be asked to investigate those LTTE and Government soldiers who are living abroad in those countries as well. There should be a decision soon on this or else we are going to face more trouble from the international community.
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DevarMagan / March 23, 2018
Sumanthiran was supposed to represent TNA this time, since he knew what is in store for him in Geneva (from Tamil groups) he backed out to save his skin, Sritharan was given a chance to enjoy an unexpected all paid holiday (with mouth watering vodka & johnny walker as complement), afterwards he uttered something to the media in Tamil.
Marapana as usual did his part of the gibberish while Sarath Amunugama (may be, after a sip or two , stayed put) as if he were serving on the panel to select the best speaker at the occasion.
later during tea break Marapana had secretly asked Sarath “machang kohomada mage talk eka nondiyak/avulak nae nae! – this is what is happening at the Human Rights sessions now and in the future too.
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chiv / March 23, 2018
Retarded Lankans may believe in government officials getting tied to trees voluntarily, and school teachers slipping and falling into ministers legs, and military going to war with constitution in one hand and a gun in the other, a 30 year war ending in ZERO casualty and so many miracles of same nature.But international diplomats?????? I think too much of tele drama and movies have blunted Lankas ability to think.What about Namal trying to go to US from Russia, that too after monitoring Putin,s staged elections???( as good as Wimal trying to go US with a fake passport by the name of Bin Ladan) Now I can understand how unfortunate to be mentally challenged but dont people look and hear to what is happening around in the globe. I guess if any one stays in Lanka for too long intellectual and cognitive regression is a true possibility. Good Luck to fellow citizens.
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