Rally to mobilize public support against anti-Muslim campaigns in Sri Lanka

Rally to mobilize public support against anti-Muslim campaigns in Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: ARAB NEWS
Monday 25 March 2013

Last Update 25 March 2013 12:05 am
Sri Lankan traders and business organizations will stage a peaceful protest today urging the government to take immediate actions to stop anti-Muslim campaigns, maintain law and order and promote communal harmony.

The nationwide protest is organized by Muslim Rights Organization (MRO) to mobilize public support against hate campaigns carried out by Bodu Bala Sena, an extremist Buddhist group, and Jathika Hela Urumaya, a party in the ruling coalition.

The Muslim community in Sri Lanka has appealed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to act against extremist Buddhists who have been leading campaigns to inculcate fear and hatred against Muslims.

“These extremist groups have been using the traditional media, social media, public meetings, posters, leaflets, and the circulation of rumors and misinformation insulting Muslims to inculcate a sense of fear and hatred of Muslims among Sinhalese,” said New Mexico Ameen, head of the Muslim Council of Sri Lanka.

“They are using abusive language when referring to our religious practices and publicly calling for a boycott of businesses run by Muslims,” Ameen said in a letter to the president.

Last week, Bodu Bala Sena called for the demolition of a 10th century mosque in Kuragala. The call comes shortly after the group campaigned against halal food in Sri Lanka, forcing Muslims to abandon halal logo to help ease tension with the Buddhist majority.

Muslims have urged the president to publicly condemn the hate campaign of the Buddhist extremists. They have also called for defending equal rights for all citizens in the country as well as instructing the police to take necessary action to stop incidents of harassment against minorities and their
businesses.

The Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed concerns over increasing reports of anti-Muslim violence in the island state.

In June, some 200 demonstrators led by dozens of Buddhist monks converged on a small Islamic center in Colombo’s suburb of Dehiwala.

Throwing stones and rotten meat over the center’s gate, protesters shouted slogans demanding its closure.

“We have experienced a steady drop in sales since January after Bodu Bala Sena had put up posters around the country telling people not to shop at our stores because our company is Muslim-owned. They threaten to take violent action against people who purchase things from Muslim shops,” said a
Muslim trader.

BBS: Sri Lanka is not a multiracial or multi-religious country but a Sinhala Budhist country.

BBS insists Lanka not multiracial
 March 24, 2013
The Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) says Sri Lanka is not a multiracial or multi-religious country but a Sinhala Budhist country.




Speaking at the Bodu Bala Sena convention in Panadura this evening, the venerable Medagoda Abayathissa thero urged the Sinhalese to protect the nation and not let other races or religions to take over.

The monk also urged Sinhalese families to have at least 5-6 children so that the Sinhalese  Buddhist population grows in order to protect the Sinhala race and Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena, the venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara thera said that the country should be ready to rally against Christian and Muslim extremist groups operating in the country.

He insisted that the Bodu Bala Sena does not have issues with Muslims and Tamils as a whole. However he said that Muslim women should not be allowed to wear the Niqab in Sri Lanka.

The venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara thera also said that all stores should close on Poya Days, including Muslim stores, so that all Buddhist employees working in those organisations can go to the Temple instead of work.

“We have now become the police of this nation. We must help the police arrest people bringing down heroin in Sri Lanka,” he added.

He also said that the Ministry of Defence had given an assurance that the halal issue will be resolved.

However he warned that if the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) goes against its commitments to the Ministry of Defence and the Buddhist clergy then the Bodu Bala Sena will take appropriate action.

The venerable Galaboda Aththe Gnanasara thera also insisted that the Bodu Bala Sena has not done anything wrong to call for their arrest.

He also slammed Sri Lanka’s foreign service, particularly the appointment of a former Muslim Minister as the High Commissioner to Singapore.

The venerable Medagoda Abayathissa thero, meanwhile, discouraged Sinhalese families from watching the movie ‘Sri Sidhartha’ which is currently screening in Colombo and cinemas around the country.

The monk said that the movie gives the wrong impression about Buddhism and so the Bodu Bala Sena will take measures to ban the film.

The venerable Medagoda Abayathissa thero said that Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) were behind the funding of the movie.

Another monk speaking at the convention in Panadura said that a Bodu Bala Sena ringing tone on Mobitel phones, if downloaded, will be used to fund the Bodu Bala Sena organisation. (Colombo Gazette)

Report by Easwaran Rutnam
http://colombogazette.com/2013/03/24/bbs-insists-lanka-not-multiracial/

இல்லாத வடக்கு மாகாணசபைக்கு, தேர்தல் நடத்த இயலாது: தேர்தல் ஆணையாளர்!!

இந்திய அமெரிக்க சிங்களம் காப்பு ஐ.நா.தீர்மானம்

`` Welcoming the announcement by the Government of Sri Lanka to hold elections to the Provincial Council in the Northern Province in September 2013,
 

 Welcoming and acknowledging the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka in rebuilding infrastructure, demining, resettling the majority of internally displaced persons, and noting nonetheless that considerable work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and resumption of livelihoods, and stressing the importance of the full participation of local populations, including representatives of civil society and minorities, in these efforts,

Taking note of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and its findings and recommendations, and acknowledging its possible contribution to the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka,``

======================================================================

Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya

 

இல்லாத வடக்கு மாகாணசபைக்கு, தேர்தல் நடத்த இயலாது:

தேர்தல் ஆணையாளர்!

No NPC, so no polls: Commissioner!

 

Monday, 25 March 2013 08:37

 

The Elections Department stated that elections in the Northern Province  could not be held as the Northern Provincial Council was yet to be constituted by the  President.

The Department said despite the government finalising plans to hold the Northern  Provincial Council Elections they were unable to begin the election process as the  Northern Provincial Council did not exist.

Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya said  that after the de-merger of  the North- Eastern Province in 2006, only the Eastern Provincial Council had been  gazetted when the elections for the province were to be held.

 

“The Eastern Provincial Council was gazetted and the President then ordered the  Elections Department to hold elections in the province - the same procedure should be  followed in the Northern Province but we have not received our orders as yet,” the  Elections Commissioner said. 

 

He further stated that the whole election procedure would take three months and if  elections were to be held in September they would have to receive the Presidential  order by May. 

 

Meanwhile, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) commenting on the government’s decision  to hold elections in the Northern Province said the elections for the province had  been delayed under the ruse of resettling Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s).

 

TNA MP, M. A Sumanthiran said the government had held a Presidential and General  election three years ago and he saw no reason as to why a Provincial Council election  needed to be postponed.  “Resettlement is not yet complete but if they can hold two  major elections during this time, then

why not this?” he questioned.

During an interview to the Hindu Newspaper in India last year, President Mahinda  Rajapakse stated that elections for the Northern Province were to be held in September  this year. Taking note of this statement, the recently passed US backed resolution  against Sri Lanka at the United Nations

Human Rights Council (UNHCR) had welcomed the  government’s decision to hold elections in the Northern Province. (Nabeela Hussain)

 

http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/27148-no-npc-so-no-polls-commissioner-.html

அமெரிக்காவின் ஐ.நா.தீர்மானம் ஈழத்தமிழருக்கான மாபெரும் துரோகமே! கழகம் முழக்கம்!!

Gota calls on SL’s critics to study the engineering of the invasion of Iraq

Gota calls on SL’s critics to study the engineering of the invasion of Iraq

 Defence Secretary’s take on Geneva events
 March 23, 2013, 7:26 pm

By Shamindra Ferdinando The Island LK

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday said that those wanting to haul Sri Lanka up before an international war crimes tribunal on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations propagated by the LTTE rump should examine the circumstances leading to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 by Western forces.

Western governments and major media networks constantly quoted so called credible sources based in Iraq and Iraqi Diaspora as having said that the then government was in the process of making Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Even 10 years after the invasion, Western intelligence services hadn’t been able to find Iraq’s WMDs or at least some secret facility, which may have been used by the Iraqis, the Defence Secretary said.

It was all about making a case against the leadership of a particular country, the Defence Secretary said, urging people to be wary of anti-Sri Lanka propaganda efforts.Defence Secretary Rajapaksa alleged whatever the situation in Iraq at that time, the country was a victim of a global conspiracy executed by those wanting to get rid of the Iraqi leadership. In fact, the then Sri Lankan government went to the extent of supporting the invasion of Iraq on the basis of false intelligence and media reports, the Defence Secretary, said adding the UNP-led administration’s position was revealed in the United Nations General Assembly.

Responding to a query, the Defence Secretary alleged that since the conclusion of the conflict in May 2009 Western powers and the Opposition had been working overtime discredit the government, thereby justify calls for an international investigation due to long delay in implementing the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).

Rajapaksa said that what has been achieved in less than four years after the conclusion of the conflict was remarkable. "In fact, we began tackling post-war reconciliation issues, including rehabilitation of ex-LTTE cadres even before the release of LLRC recommendations. Western powers are aware of the progress on the ground," the Defence Secretary said, adding that the situation here was definitely better than in any other country in post-war situation.

The Defence Secretary said that the world was waiting for Chilcot Inquiry report on the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He pointed out that those preoccupied with Sri Lanka today had never bothered to call for the immediate release and the implementation of the Chicot report.

It would be interesting to examine how the British had addressed the accountability issue as regards their failure to find any WMDs, though they claimed of irrefutable evidence of illegal Iraqi project in the run-up to the invasion.

The Defence Secretary was referring to Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction: the Assessment of the British Government, dubbed as the September Dossier released seven months before the invasion.

The Defence Secretary said that the Opposition and even a section media often ridiculed the government claims of Western powers’ conspiracy against President Rajapaksa’s administration. The ongoing operation at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was evidence of the Western project aimed at regime change, he said, accusing the UNP of collaborating with those conspiring against the government.

The Defence Secretary rejected UNP spokesperson, MP Lakshman Kiriella’s assertion that the second US resolution titled ‘Promoting Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka’ was directed at President Rajapaksa’s government not Sri Lanka. Senior Vice President of the UNP MP Kiriella was addressing the media in Colombo on Friday.

The Defence Secretary said that most of those who had been accusing the government of failing to counter US resolution weren’t familiar with the first and the second resolutions. Had MP Kiriella perused them, he wouldn’t have come to a wrong conclusion. The Defence Secretary said that no one should play politics with the Geneva issue. The bottom line was that Sri Lanka would never have been in the agenda of the UNHRC or other international bodies if government forces failed in on the Vanni front.

Responding to a query, he said that the international community didn’t find fault with post-war resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction process. In fact, their only issue was accountability, which they believed could drag political and military leaders before an international war crimes tribunal. The final objective remained regime change. He urged Sri Lankans not to be deceived by Western powers and their politically bankrupt local agents.

The Defence Secretary challenged the Opposition to closely examine the voting record on the US resolution. Of the 47 countries in the UNHRC, 22 governments, including those of Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, Venezuela and Qatar didn’t go with the anti-Sri Lanka move. The country was eternally grateful to those governments for standing by Sri Lanka.

According to him those who couldn’t stomach Sri Lanka’s victory over the LTTE were at the forefront of the Geneva operation. It was simple as that. It had nothing to do with the rights of Tamils speaking people in Sri Lanka, he said.

ஐ.நா.வில் அமெரிக்காவின் `இலங்கை எதிர்ப்புத்` தீர்மானம்: அமெரிக்க முண்டத்தை இந்தியா புணர்ந்த கதை!

 

 

மூலவரைபில் இந்தியா செய்த மாற்றங்களை பின்வரும் இணைப்பிலுள்ள ஆவணத்தில் வாசகர்கள் மேலும் தெளிவாகக் காணலாம்.
http://www.colombopage.com/CGImgs_obj/UNHRC_US_Resolution_V1.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final draft: US resolution on Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, March 2013

The final draft: US resolution on Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka, March 2013

The final draft of the US resolution on Promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka tabled at the Council at 6 p.m. Geneva time yesterday (18-03-2013 Monday), has 32 co-sponsors, including the United States.

The resolution;

The Human Rights Council,

Reaffirming the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations,

Guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and other relevant instruments,

Bearing in mind General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006,

Recalling Council resolutions 5/1 and 5/2 of 18 June 2007, on institution-building of the Human Rights Council,

Recalling Human Rights Council resolution 19/2 of 22 March 2012 on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka,

Reaffirming that it is the responsibility of each State to ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of its entire population,

Reaffirming also that States must ensure that any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, as applicable,

Welcoming the announcement by the Government of Sri Lanka to hold elections to the Provincial Council in the Northern Province in September 2013,

Welcoming and acknowledging the progress made by the Government of Sri Lanka in rebuilding infrastructure, demining, resettling the majority of internally displaced persons, and noting nonetheless that considerable work lies ahead in the areas of justice, reconciliation and resumption of livelihoods, and stressing the importance of the full participation of local populations, including representatives of civil society and minorities, in these efforts,

Taking note of the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of Sri Lanka and its findings and recommendations, and acknowledging its possible contribution to the process of national reconciliation in Sri Lanka,

Taking note of the National Plan of Action to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission of the Government of Sri Lanka and its commitments as set forth in response to the findings and recommendations of the Commission,

Noting that the national plan of action does not adequately address all of the findings and constructive recommendations of the Commission,

 Recalling the constructive recommendations contained in the Commission’s report, including the need to credibly investigate widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, demilitarize the north of Sri Lanka, implement impartial land dispute resolution mechanisms, re-evaluate detention policies, strengthen formerly independent civil institutions, reach a political settlement on the devolution of power to the provinces, promote and protect the right of freedom of expression for all and enact rule of law reforms,

 Noting with concern that the National Plan of Action and the Commission’s report do not adequately address serious allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,

Expressing concern at the continuing reports of violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, torture, and violations of the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, as well as intimidation of and reprisals against human rights defenders, members of civil society and journalists, threats to judicial independence and the rule of law, and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief,

Calling upon the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfil its public commitments, including on the devolution of political authority, which is integral to reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human rights by all members of its population,

Expressing appreciation for the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka in facilitating the visit of a technical mission from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and encouraging the Government to increase its dialogue and cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner,

Noting the High Commissioner’s call for an independent and credible international investigation into alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,

 1.       Welcomes the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on advice and technical assistance for the Government of Sri Lanka on promoting reconciliation and accountability in Sri Lanka[1] and the recommendations and conclusions contained therein, in particular on the establishment of a truth-seeking mechanism as an integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice;

 2.       Encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations made in the report of the Office of the High Commissioner, and also calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to conduct an independent and credible investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as applicable;

3.       Reiterates its call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to implement effectively the constructive recommendations made in the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, and to take all necessary additional steps to fulfil its relevant legal obligations and commitment to initiate credible and independent actions to ensure justice, equity and accountability, and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans;

 4.       Encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to cooperate with special procedures mandate holders and to respond formally to their outstanding requests, including by extending invitations and providing access;

5.       Encourages the Office of the High Commissioner and relevant special procedures mandate holders to provide, in consultation with and with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka, advice and technical assistance on implementing the above-mentioned steps;

 6.       Requests the Office of the High Commissioner, with input from relevant special procedures mandate holders, as appropriate, to present an oral updateto the Human Rights Council at its twenty-fourth session, and a comprehensive report  followed by a discussion at the twenty-fifth session, on the implementation of the present resolution

Co-sponsors of the resolution;
 Austria, Canada, Croatia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St Kitts and Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.
===============================

மூலவரைபில் இந்தியா செய்த மாற்றங்களை பின்வரும் இணைப்பிலுள்ள ஆவணத்தில் வாசகர்கள் காணலாம்

http://www.colombopage.com/CGImgs_obj/UNHRC_US_Resolution_V1.pdf

தமிழக மாணவர் எழுச்சி: அவசியக் குறிப்புரைகள்

 

தமிழக மாணவர் எழுச்சி: அவசியக் குறிப்புரை பகுதி (1)

இந்திய அரசுhttp://senthanal.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/1.html

 

தமிழக மாணவர் எழுச்சி: அவசியக் குறிப்புரை பகுதி (2)

தமிழக நாடாளமன்றவாத கட்சிகள்http://senthanal.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/2.html

 

தமிழக மாணவர் எழுச்சி: அவசியக் குறிப்புரை பகுதி (3)

எழுச்சியின் வீச்சும் எல்லையும் http://senthanal.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/3.html

 

தமிழக மாணவர் எழுச்சி: அவசியக் குறிப்புரை பகுதி (4)

(தொடரும்)

 

புதிய ஈழப்புரட்சியாளர்கள் ENB

தமிழக மாணவர் இயக்கம் ஒடுக்கப்படும் தமிழீழத் தேசிய இனத்துக்கு விடுதலை கோரும் ஜனநாயக இயக்கம்

தோழர்களுக்கு ஒரு அவசர வேண்டுகோள்

தோழர்களுக்கு ஒரு அவசர வேண்டுகோள்,தமிழ்நாட்டில் நடந்து வரும் மாணவர் எழுச்சி தாங்கள் அறிந்ததே,நாற்பது ஆண்டுகள் கழித்து மாணவர்கள்

தமிழின பிரச்சனைக்காக வெளியே வந்துள்ளார்கள் அவர்களை ஊக்குவித்து உதவ வேண்டியது நமது கடமை,மாணவர்களின் போராட்டங்களுக்கு

உங்கள் பங்களிப்பை நீங்களும் தரலாம்,மாணவர் எழுச்சி பெரும் அளவில் இருப்பதால் ஒருங்கிணைப்பதில் களத்தில் இருக்கும் தோழர்கள் பெரும்

சவால்களை சந்தித்து வருகிறார்கள்,அவர்களுடன் நீங்களும் கைகோருங்கள்.

௧.வெறும் நானூறு முதல் ஐநூறு ருபாய் மட்டு இருந்தால் போதும் உங்கள் அருகாமையில் நடக்கும் மாணவர் போராட்டங்களுக்கு உங்கள்
வீட்டிலேயே தேநீர் தயாரித்து கொடுக்கலாம், பிஸ்கட் போன்றவற்றை வாங்கி மாணவர்களுக்கு விநயோகிக்கலாம்.

௨.வெறும் நூறு ருபாய் இருந்தால் போதும் அவர்களுக்கு மோர்,அல்லது எலுமிச்சை ஜூஸ் போன்றவற்றை உங்கள் வீட்டிலிருந்து தயார் செய்து கொண்டு போய் கொடுக்கலாம்.

௩.நகல் எடுக்க வெறும் இருபத்தி ஐந்து பைசா போதும் இருநூற்று ஐம்பது ருபாய் மட்டும் இருந்தால் ஆயிரம் துண்டறிக்கைகள் அடித்து கொடுத்து அவர்களுக்கு உதவலாம்.

௪.அதுவும் முடியவில்லை என்பவர்கள் அவர்களுக்கு குறைந்தது பானையில் குளிர்ந்த நீரை தர ஏற்பாடு செய்து தரலாம்,அவர்களுடன் ஒன்றிணைந்து துண்டறிக்கைகள் விநயோகிக்கலாம்,

௫.குறைந்தது நீங்கள் உங்கள் அருகில் நடக்கும்,போராட்டங்களுக்கு உங்கள் குடும்பத்துடனோ அல்லது நண்பர்களுடனோ சென்று மாணவர்களை வாழ்த்தி உற்சாக படுத்தலாம்,உங்கள் நண்பர்களுக்கும் இதை தெரிய படுத்தலாம்.

வெளிநாடுகளில் வாழும் நம் தோழர்கள் தங்கள் நண்பர்கள் மூலமாக இதை செய்ய முயற்சிக்கலாம்,மாணவர்கள் அவர்களின் இனப்பற்றை காண்பித்து விட்டார்கள்,அவர்களை காலம் முழுவதும் குறை சொல்லும் நாம் நம் கடமையை இப்போதாவது சரியாக செய்வோமே,

இந்த எளிய போராட்டங்களுக்கு நம்முடைய எளிய பங்களிப்பை தரலாமே?

இதை இனப்பற்றுள்ள ஒவ்வொருவரும் அவசியம் பகிர வேண்டும் தோழர்களே,உலக தமிழர்கள் மாணவர்கள் பின் நிற்பதை உறுதி செய்யுங்கள்.

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