Outgoing Singh under pressure to deliver on reform pledge

India’s reform agenda:

What Singh could tackle before the election

● Reduce wasteful fuel subsidies so as to cut the fiscal deficit, without reducing productive capital expenditure.
● Introduce a nationwide goods and service tax (a value added tax) to replace the complicated different indirect taxes that vary dramatically from state to state.
● Clear roadblocks to domestic coal mining, and develop cost-effective transportation infrastructure so as to reduce dependence on imported coal.
● Reform India’s labour laws to make it easier for companies to lay off workers and encourage companies to take on long-term employees.
● Cut red tape to make it easier for companies to do business.

January 8, 2014 7:20 am
Outgoing Singh under pressure to deliver on reform pledge
By Amy Kazmin in New Delhi

Announcing his plans to leave the public stage after India’s imminent parliamentary elections, Manmohan Singh, the 81-year-old prime minister, insisted he would use the final few months of his tenure to push the country’s stalled economic reform agenda as best he could.

“Reform is not an event, it is a process,” he said on Friday. “So long as we are in power, we will continue to push the cause of reform wherever there is scope for it, and if circumstances permit us to go forward.”

Many Indians dismiss such talk as little more than wishful thinking, saying the premier has no political capital, or energy, left – and that the system will now be bogged down in inertia, as the bureaucracy awaits its new political masters after an election that must take place by May at the latest.

“It’s a dead end situation for the government, and it’s been that way for some time,” said one New Delhi-based economist, who asked not to be identified. “His stock is extremely low, and his ability to push any initiative right now is truly limited.”

But others insist that Mr Singh, and the Congress-led government, could still use their final months in power to take tough decisions that would stabilise precarious public finances, and help revive confidence – and restart the stalled investment cycle.

“In some senses, the prime minister is now liberated,” said Sanjaya Baru, who served as Mr Singh’s media adviser during his first term. “He said he is not going to seek another term, and the party is unlikely to win the next election. This gives him some space to act.

“It’s like a dying man suddenly becomes energetic before death.”

But many Indians have already written off Mr Singh’s decade-long tenure in office as a lost opportunity to push economic and governance reforms that could make it easier to do business, encourage domestic and foreign investment, and put India on a trajectory of higher economic growth.

In recent years, India’s investor sentiment has soured and growth has slowed – the result of slow decision-making, overlapping and conflicting regulations, and confused policies.

At the start of 2013, about $285bn worth of proposed investments in crucial infrastructure projects like power, coal mining, natural gas and roads were all stalled due the government’s institutional gridlock.

In June, New Delhi established an urgent task force to assess large-scale projects – involving investments of $170m and above – and obtain the necessary clearances for them to proceed. As of mid-December, the task force said it had approved 122 projects worth about $65bn.

Industry groups, and investors, expect Mr Singh’s administration to keep pushing on project clearances until the end. “It’s a small step forward,” said Rohini Malkani, chief economist of Citigroup. “It’s not going to result in growth recovering sharply, but at least it’s a step in the right direction.”

In another sign that it had not yet given up the ghost, the government in December abruptly removed the environment minister, Jayanthi Natarajan, who was seen as a major obstacle to large-scale investments, due to her reluctance to make decisions on controversial projects. Her replacement, Veerapa Moily,
promptly vowed to expedite decision-making in the ministry.

India’s reform agenda: What Singh could tackle before the election

● Reduce wasteful fuel subsidies so as to cut the fiscal deficit, without reducing productive capital expenditure.
● Introduce a nationwide goods and service tax (a value added tax) to replace the complicated different indirect taxes that vary dramatically from state to state.
● Clear roadblocks to domestic coal mining, and develop cost-effective transportation infrastructure so as to reduce dependence on imported coal.
● Reform India’s labour laws to make it easier for companies to lay off workers and encourage companies to take on long-term employees.
● Cut red tape to make it easier for companies to do business.

“There has been quite a bit of movement and that gives us a lot of hope,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, director-general of the Confederation of Indian Industry, which has asked that the investment threshold for projects to be referred to the special task force be reduced by half – to $85m.

“You cannot expect major legislative reforms to happen in this period, but it would be important if they can push forward on the clearance of projects which has started happening.”

He said the administration was also now drafting the “implementing regulations” of two crucial new laws, the new companies act, and the land acquisition act, already passed by parliament. The nitty-gritty details of these rules are likely to have a major impact on business and sentiment.

“It would be very important to ensure that these rules are in keeping with the best interests of industry and investors,” Mr Banerjee said. “This can easily be done.”

Among India’s pending legislative agenda is a major overhaul of the archaic tax system, including the adoption of a new value added tax, but there is little optimism that tax reform – which requires opposition consent – will be rolled out before the election.

Other crucial challenges include the need to reduce fuel subsidies to stabilise the government’s precarious finances, without curbing capital expenditure. Most believe Mr Singh will be constrained by the Congress party, now increasingly being directed by 43-year-old Rahul Gandhi, as he prepares to lead the party in
a bitter electoral battle.

“If there is any change to be made, or action to be taken, its coming from Rahul’s side,” said the New Delhi-based economist. “The PM has not been in a decision-making role for a long, long time.”

Yet India’s big business groups insist they have not lost hope that Mr Singh will use whatever time he has left to take tough decisions that would help strengthen India’s macroeconomic foundations.

“If this government is still in the business of governing, they would take decisions,” said YK Modi, a past president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. “Mr Singh is still the prime minister until May or June. He can do wonders in the next four months.”

Mahinda Rajapaska visits President Peres in Jerusalem to offer his help in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Sri Lankan president makes first-ever visit to Israel 
By GREER FAY CASHMAN
01/09/2014 12:37

President Shimon Peres greets Sri Lankan President
Mahinda Rajapaska in
Jerusalem Photo: Mark Neiman/GPO

  Mahinda Rajapaska visits President Peres in Jerusalem to offer his help in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Shimon Peres greets Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaska in Jerusalem

 In the past, Nelson Mandela, the former and recently deceased president of South Africa, wanted to help Israel and the Palestinians to resolve their conflict. Now, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaska wants to help in that direction as well.

Rajapaska, who is on an official visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority, is his country’s first head of state to come to Israel even though diplomatic and other ties between the two countries have existed almost as long as their independence, which in each case was gained in 1948.

In welcoming his Sri Lankan counterpart to his residence on Thursday, President Shimon Peres hailed him as a great leader who was successful in bringing peace, reconciliation and restoration to his people “which is not a small achievement.”

Acknowledging that his guest was well aware of the difficulties of bringing peace to people who have long experienced hostility and violence, Peres told Rajapaska that Israel follows his achievements with great admiration.

“You have come here as a leader with an impressive record. You have invested your heart and mind and days and nights in peace, and you are seeing the fruits. You have come to a region still in search of peace and reconciliation. Israel is determined to make peace.”

Reviewing the seven wars in which Israel had triumphed and noting the peace agreements that Israel had reached with Egypt and Jordan, Peres conceded that while the peace is not perfect, “we prefer an imperfect peace to a perfect war.”

Israel has to conclude the first chapter of peace by concluding an agreement with the Palestinians, before it can hope for peace all over the Middle East, he said, adding that Israel wants to use the potential of peace and of a modern economy and science to help not only its own people, but also the Palestinians.

Peres noted that despite having limited territory, Israel had built up a flourishing economy which answers the needs of the Israeli population, and also enables Israel to help others. “We did not gain land, but we gained knowledge,” he said.

Peres also related to Israel’s sometimes rocky relationship with Sri Lanka, which he said, had its ups and downs, and commented that it was better to forget the downs and remember the ups.

Responding to president’s remarks, Rajapaska said that his country supports peace for all people. Sri Lanka had suffered thirty years of war with terrorists and had enjoyed peace only in the last four years, he said.

In that brief period, it has succeeded in eradicating terrorism and developing economically. It released 14,000 former combatants from prison, some who had been child soldiers, and sent them back to society, he said.

Moreover, 300,000 displaced people had been resettled, minefields had been neutralized, railway lines, roads, hospitals and schools had been built, electricity had been installed and the people in the new areas had been given water. The cost factor had been US$400 billion. In addition people from the army had
been recruited for the police force.

Mahinda Rajapaska’s visit to Israel is characterized as official rather than state. For this reason there were no Sri Lankan flags in the streets on the route leading from his hotel to the President’s Residence; there was no honor guard and no army or police band to play the national anthems of both countries. There was

however, the usual police motor cycle escort. There was also the red carpet, with Peres waiting at the edge to greet the smiling Rajapaska as he literally leapt from the car to meet him.

Rajapaska did not always entertain a warm attitude towards Israel according to an article by Upul Joseph Fernando which was published on Wednesday in The Sri Lanka Guardian.

Referring to a period in 1970 in which Sri Lanka had severed its ties with Israel, Fernando quoted Rajapaska as saying in a speech at that time: “The establishment of diplomatic relations with German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Provincial Revolutionary Government of Vietnam, and also abrogation of diplomatic ties with Israel are encouraging signs that the government is committed to a non-aligned foreign policy, which is the aspiration of the people."

More importantly, Fernando continued, “When the Palestine Friendship Association was established in 1975 Mahinda became its first President. In this capacity, Mahinda worked assiduously to raise awareness about the Palestinian problem among the people of this country and mobilize support and sympathy for their
cause”

Even though the government closed the Israeli embassy he wrote, the government was buying weapons from Israel through an Israeli agent, who curiously was selling the same kind of equipment to the LTTE.

Future efforts to reopen the Israel Embassy, he added, were opposed by Rajapaska.

The article also mentions help that Sri Lanka received from Mossad, even during those periods in which diplomatic relations had been cut.

For the time being, Sri Lanka has mended its fences with Israel and the two countries have a very good relationship, particularly on matters of defense.

Rajapaska met on Wednesday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the two agreed to expand bilateral relations, especially in agriculture and water technology.

Unlike most official visitors to Israel, Rajapaska met with Palestinian Authority leaders before calling on Netanyahu and Peres.

There are some 7,000 Sri Lankans working in Israel, primarily as caregivers.

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Sri-Lankan-president-makes-first-ever-visit-to-Israel-337608

Retailers hit by Christmas slowdown

Retailers hit by Christmas slowdown
By Andrea Felsted, Senior Retail Correspondent
Last updated: January 9, 2014 FTimes

A trio of Britain’s biggest retailers underlined the challenges on the high street with Wm Morrison, Marks and Spencer and Tesco all reporting disappointing Christmas trading.

In an unexpected update, Wm Morrison reported terrible Christmas trading, with like-for-like sales down by 5.6 per cent in the six weeks to January 5, and cautioned that full-year profits would be towards the bottom of the range, putting pressure on Dalton Philips, chief executive.

Mr Philips had said he expected positive trading over Christmas, after more than a year of underlying sales declines.

The update sent shares in Morrison down 5.7 per cent to 239p as shares across the supermarket sector fell. Tesco, which also reported a fall in like-for-like sales, fell 3 per cent to 318p and J Sainsbury, which reported a small rise in like-for-like Christmas sales on Wednesday, was down 2.3 per cent.
Marks and Spencer also announced a worse than expected 2.1 per cent fall in sales of clothing and homewares in its third quarter.

The performance compares with analysts’ forecasts that ranged from flat sales of general merchandise from stores open at least a year, to a decline of 1.5 per cent.
It also follows a decline of 3.8 per cent in the third quarter of the 2012-13.

Marc Bolland, chief executive, blamed an “exceptional, unusual and unseasonable” October together with heavy discounting on the high street.

He insisted that M&S had held its nerve, but had promoted in response to the market, despite the retailer running a series of promotions throughout the autumn.

“We were not the one that stirred the pot. We were the ones that clearly responded,” he said.

The third quarter decline represents the 10th consecutive quarter of underlying clothing falls, despite M&S revamping its womenswear ranges in an efforts to revive its fortunes.

However, Mr Bolland, responding to questions about his own future, said: “It’s all about the business for me, and, and I think the business is taking the right steps.”

However, M&S said like-for-like general merchandise sales rose 0.5 per cent in the eight weeks to December 24, after it promoted heavily.

Concern has been rising over clothing trade at M&S after the retailer began discounting heavily before Christmas.

It also comes after Mr Bolland was upbeat when M&S reported interim results in November, sending the shares up 5 per cent on the day. On Thursday its shares rose 2 per cent to 454p.
Like-for-like food sales rose 1.6 per cent in the third quarter, below the consensus of analysts’ forecasts of a 2 per cent rise.

However, Mr Bolland insisted the food performance was “stellar”.

Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer which has been battling to turn round its UK business, also said UK like-for-like sales fell 2.4 per cent in the six weeks to January 4.

Brokers to Tesco had forecast a 2 per cent decrease in like-for-like sales.Philip Clarke, chief executive described the performance as “disappointing”.Tesco said profit for the year would be in line with “current market expectations” but said the range had been lowered to between £3.16bn and £3.42bn.
“With hindsight, we were a little to optimistic,” said Laurie McIlwee, finance director.The reduction in guidance will put further pressure on Mr Ilwee, who has become a lightning rod for some investors, concerned that the group does not have a good enough handle on its forecasts.

Some senior investors have been concerned that Tesco will be forced to cut prices aggressively to counter the rise of the so-called hard discounters, Aldi and Lidl, who are making rapid inroads into the UK grocery market. This could lead to a further reduction in the operating margin, from the current 5.2 per cent,
already lowered in a profit warning two years ago from its historic level of 6 per cent. Mr Clarke, said: “The margin doesn’t have to be 5.2 per cent forever.”

Rajapaksa seeks more time to address Tamil issue

INTERNATIONAL » SOUTH ASIA
JERUSALEM, January 9, 2014 Updated: January 9, 2014 18:23 IST
Rajapaksa seeks more time to address Tamil issue

Under international spotlight over alleged rights violations during the last phase of war with the LTTE, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday sought more time to deal with the Tamil issue.

Defending his government’s efforts in rehabilitating the Tamil-dominated northern region, Mr. Rajapaksa said, “We always support peace... and we will keep supporting peace for all people.”

“In Sri Lanka we also fought thirty years of war against terrorists. So the whole development process, the economy went down. We suffered for thirty years but now we have peace for the last four years. In 2009 we managed to eradicate terrorism,” he said.

“Though we have eradicated terrorism, now we have to face the international community, which is pressurising us,” the Sri Lankan leader told his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres.

Ruing the continuous condemnation of his country’s human rights record at international forums, Mr. Rajapaksa said that his country would need some time to deal with their demands.

“Now our issue is that some of the countries are criticising though there are no bombs blasting in our country.

Every March or every six months in Geneva we are facing a confrontation with these countries. Some of the Western countries are bringing resolutions in the Human Rights Commission,” he said in reference to resolutions brought in the UNHCR.

“What we say is that we want time because in three to four years these issues cannot be sorted out,” Mr. Rajapaksa argued.

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in March had adopted a US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka over its rights record, with 25 countries including India voting in favour of the document.

The resolution had urged Sri Lanka to reconcile with the Tamils and address outstanding issues of rights accountability.

Elaborating on steps taken by his government to develop the northern peninsula region and to integrate Tamils into the mainstream, the Sri Lankan President said that his government has spent almost USD 400 million in developing the region.

“Within these four years, we have developed the north economically and we have released 14,000 prisoners, rehabilitated them, sent them back to the society. We believe that the society can rehabilitate people more than the government,” Mr. Rajapaksa stressed.“We took that risk and released all the combatants.

There were child soldiers. We released them within three months. There were nearly 3,00,000 displaced people. We have settled them now. There were mines so we had to de-mine the places,” he pointed out as confidence building measures undertaken by his government.

“You were really successful in bringing reconciliation to your people...it is not a small achievement...we followed your example with great admiration. It was an extraordinary lesson in history,”  Mr.Shimon Peres 

“We have built railway lines, roads, gave them electricity, water, drinking water, new hospitals, schools, so I think 400 million US dollars have been spent to develop north,” the Sri Lankan President emphasised.

In order to integrate the minority Tamil population into the political mainstream, Mr. Rajapaksa said that there were local government elections in the region and that the Tamils also participated in the Presidential elections.

He even hinted at reshuffling his Cabinet to accommodate the minority population.

“So we have done lots of development in those areas for people and we have recruited from the youth to the Sri Lankan army and in the police. We believe in one country and peace for all the people in Sri Lanka”, Mr. Rajapaksa asserted.

 Mr. Peres, speaking before Mr. Rajapaksa at the meeting, lauded Sri Lanka’s efforts in overcoming internal challenges.

“Your country faced so many difficulties but you were able to overcome them,” the Israeli President said.

“You were really successful in bringing reconciliation to your people...it is not a small achievement...we followed your example with great admiration. It was an extraordinary lesson in history,” he added.
====================

Sri Lanka : President Rajapaksa Meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Thu, 2014-01-09 08:09 — editor
 Jerusalem, 09 January, (Asiantribune.com):

During the bilateral talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon (Jan. 08) at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, Sri Lanka and Israel agreed.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held bi-lateral discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem Wednesday (Jan. 08). President Rajapaksa arrived in Jerusalem today as the final stop on his Middle East visit.

President Rajapaksa arrived in Jerusalem from Bethlehem Wednesday morning together with First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa for the final stop in their visit to three Middle Eastern countries. President Rajapaksa is the first Sri Lankan head of State to visit Israel since its inception.

In the area of agriculture, Israel agreed to provide technological assistance, including support to expand the scope of utilizing the drip irrigation system in Sri Lanka. Israel is known for the drip irrigation technology that it invented for the agricultural sector to cope with the water crisis in the region. Another water-related

technology that was discussed was desalination, a process through which potable water is produced from sea water.

Information technology and employment were other areas identified for strengthening cooperation between the two countries. Currently, there are approximately 7,000 Sri Lankans working in Israel as caregivers. The two leaders agreed to work towards increasing employment in this sector as well as seasonal

employment in agriculture. Israel pointed out that Israeli farmers are quite satisfied with quality of Sri Lankan employees working in the country.

Before the conclusion of the meeting, President Rajapaksa also thanked Israel for the tsunami assistance it provided.

"Thank you for the humanitarian assistance provided to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami,” President Rajapaksa said.

Israel made financial donations and provided relief goods, food and clothing, field kitchens and a mobile medicine clinic for the Sri Lankan tsunami survivors.

Israeli National Security Advisor Mr. Yossi Cohen, Chief of National Information Directorate Mr. Liran Dan, Israel’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka in New Delhi Mr. Alon Ushpiz and Ambassador of Israel to the United States Mr. Ron Dermer were present at the discussion.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised of Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Mr. Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Parliamentarian Mr. Roshan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Mr. Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Israel Mr. Sarath Wijesinghe.

- Asian Tribune –

அபாஸ் ஈழத்துக்கு மட்டுமல்ல பாலஸ்தீனத்துக்கும் துரோகியே!

MR conferred with “Star of Palestine” award
MONDAY, 06 JANUARY 2014

The Government of Palestine today conferred President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the “Star of Palestine” – the highest award of the State of Palestine.

“The relations between Sri Lanka and the State of Palestine are exceptional and we remain committed to extending our fullest support to the State of Palestine and the friendly people of Palestine,” President Rajapaksa said during the conferment ceremony.

President Rajapaksa, on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, conferred the “Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana” awards on former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and current President Mahmoud Abbas.

The President, First Lady Shiranthi Wickremasinghe Rajapaksa and a Sri Lankan delegation are currently visiting the Middle East engaging in state visits to Jordan, Palestine and Israel.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Monitoring MP of the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Parliamentarians Kamala Ranatunga and Roshan Ranasinghe, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in  Jordan Gamini Rajapakse were among the Sri Lankan delegation.

கோத்தாவின் கிழக்கு மாகாண வாகரை யுத்த மாதிரிக்கு அமெரிக்கா புகழாரம்!

Wiki Leaks: US Commended Gota For Conducting A Successful Battle With Low Civilian Causalities

¶2.  (C) Ambassador, DATT and PolMilOff met Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) Defense Secretary (and brother to the President) 

Gothabaya Rajapaksa on February 5.  Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces' January victory in Vakarai and explained the GSL's current military 

strategy.   Ambassador commended the Secretary for conducting a successful battle with such low civilian causalities, after the initial shelling incident.  Gotabaya claimed that no civilians had been killed and only 40 soldiers had been killed in action in the two and a half month fight for Vakarai.  He emphasized that the military had been able to minimize civilian and troop causalities by surrounding Vakarai with small Special Forces teams rather than large battalions and moving without a "logistical tail" open to Tiger (LTTE) ambush. 

 US Ambassador to Colombo Robert O. Blake on February 05, 2007.

Wiki Leaks: US Commended Gota For Conducting A Successful Battle With Low Civilian Causalities

January 7, 2014 | Colombo Telegraph

“Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces’ January victory in Vakarai to Ambassador and DATT on February 5 and explained the government’s current military strategy. Gothabaya noted that the security forces encountered predominantly younger, less
committed Tiger cadres in Vakarai. The GSL’s redevelopment efforts in the east, he theorized, would head off any re-infiltration by the Tigers and allow the security forces to “devote their full forces” elsewhere. In particular, the military would seek to neutralize the LTTE’s navy, the “Sea Tigers.” Gothabaya was silent on
whether the Army would attempt a major offensive in the North.” the US Embassy Colombo informed Washington.

The Colombo Telegraph found the related leaked cable from the WikiLeaks database. The classified diplomatic cable details a meeting the US ambassador had with Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The “Confidential” is cable signed by the US Ambassador to Colombo Robert O. Blake on February 05, 2007.

The ambassador wrote; “Ambassador, DATT and PolMilOff met Government of Sri Lanka (GSL) Defense Secretary (and brother to the President) Gothabaya Rajapaksa on February 5. Rajapaksa offered his interpretation of the government security forces’ January victory in Vakarai and explained the GSL’s current
military strategy. Ambassador commended the Secretary for conducting a successful battle with such low civilian causalities, after the initial shelling incident. Gotabaya claimed that no civilians had been killed and only 40 soldiers had been killed in action in the two and a half month fight for Vakarai. He emphasized that
the military had been able to minimize civilian and troop causalities by surrounding Vakarai with small Special Forces teams rather than large battalions and moving without a “logistical tail” open to Tiger (LTTE) ambush.”

              Robert Blake 

“According to the Defense Secretary, the security forces encountered predominantly younger Tiger cadres in Vakarai, at least 40 percent under the age of 18, and noticeably less well-trained. These cadres also appeared to be less committed to fighting for the LTTE, he said, indicating why they were willing to flee in the end. Many more of these cadres underwent forced recruitment than in previous years, claimed Gothabaya: “We can see that the lower-ranked cadres have not come out willingly. They have little motivation to fight. They aren’t committed, and in fact try to escape. We have intelligence that elsewhere in Batticaloa district LTTE cadres are waiting for a battle in which they can surrender.” The security forces captured a number of Tiger cadres in Vakarai. On the other hand, very few made use of the cyanide capsule all wear around their necks for that eventuality, according to the Secretary.” he further wrote.

Placing a comment Blake wrote; “Gothabaya assured us that the President remains committed to the peace process “without delay, and without respect to the military.” We understand that the security forces will try to consolidate the GSL’s hold on the east, and that the military will also pursue Sea Tiger and artillery targets in the east and in the Tiger’s northern Vanni stronghold. Gothabaya was silent on whether the Army would attempt a full-scale invasion of the north, as earlier GSL statements had suggested. The Defense Secretary appears to have realized, however, that winning Tamil hearts and minds will be crucial to the  GSL’s consolidation of its new hold on the east.”

Read the cable below for further details;

VZCZCXRO7914
OO RUEHBI RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLM #0214/01 0361312
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 051312Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5314
INFO RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0174
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 9859
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 6803
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 4871
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 3501
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0579
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 3593
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2670
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 7372
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5103
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1770
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000214

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY, E BURKE
AND F REID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: DEFENSE SECRETARY RECKONS TIGER GROUND
FORCES WEAKENED, BUT SEA TIGERS STILL FIERCE

REF: A. COLOMBO 189
     ¶B. COLOMBO 158

Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 

¶1.  (C) Summary:  Defense Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa 

offered his interpretation of the government security forces' 

January victory in Vakarai to Ambassador and DATT on February 

5 and explained the government's current military strategy. 

Gothabaya noted that the security forces encountered 

predominantly younger, less committed Tiger cadres in 

Vakarai.  The GSL's redevelopment efforts in the east, he 

theorized, would head off any re-infiltration by the Tigers 

and allow the security forces to "devote their full forces" 

elsewhere.  In particular, the military would seek to 

neutralize the LTTE's navy, the "Sea Tigers."  Gothabaya was 

silent on whether the Army would attempt a major offensive in 

the North.  End summary. 

Cadres Forego Cyanide 

-------------------- 

¶2.  (C) Ambassador, DATT and PolMilOff met Government of Sri 

Lanka (GSL) Defense Secretary (and brother to the President) 

Gothabaya Rajapaksa on February 5.  Rajapaksa offered his 

interpretation of the government security forces' January 

victory in Vakarai and explained the GSL's current military 

strategy.   Ambassador commended the Secretary for conducting 

a successful battle with such low civilian causalities, after 

the initial shelling incident.  Gotabaya claimed that no 

civilians had been killed and only 40 soldiers had been 

killed in action in the two and a half month fight for 

Vakarai.  He emphasized that the military had been able to 

minimize civilian and troop causalities by surrounding 

Vakarai with small Special Forces teams rather than large 

battalions and moving without a "logistical tail" open to 

Tiger (LTTE) ambush. 

¶3.  (C) According to the Defense Secretary, the security 

forces encountered predominantly younger Tiger cadres in 

Vakarai, at least 40 percent under the age of 18, and 

noticeably less well-trained.  These cadres also appeared to 

be less committed to fighting for the LTTE, he said, 

indicating why they were willing to flee in the end.  Many 

more of these cadres underwent forced recruitment than in 

previous years, claimed Gothabaya: "We can see that the 

lower-ranked cadres have not come out willingly.   They have 

little motivation to fight.  They aren't committed, and in 

fact try to escape.  We have intelligence that elsewhere in 

Batticaloa district LTTE cadres are waiting for a battle in 

which they can surrender."  The security forces captured a 

number of Tiger cadres in Vakarai.  On the other hand, very 

few made use of the cyanide capsule all wear around their 

necks for that eventuality, according to the Secretary. 

Resettlement and Development 

---------------------------- 

¶4.  (C) As the conflict has dragged on, noted the Defense 

Secretary, "families have not been willing to contribute 

SIPDIS 

their children.  Their motivating factor was an independent 

state.  They thought they didn't get enough from Sinhalese 

governments.  Now we are making an effort to provide basic 

requirements -- electricity, education, roads, houses -- and 

the people see the difference."  Ambassador revised reports 

that the GSL planned to resettle retired Sinhalese military 

officers in Tamil areas.  Gothabaya denied this and other 

speculation by the pro-LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and 

others that the GSL is pursuing a "Sinhalization" program in 

the east, adding that the Sinhalese population in Trincomalee 

district has decreased from 31 percent to 21 percent since 

¶1981.  Presidential Advisor (and brother) Basil Rajapaska was 

COLOMBO 00000214  002 OF 002 

overseeing the Resettlement Ministry's early work to resettle 

Tamil civilians in Vakarai, Gothabaya said, where the GSL 

hoped to provide electricity within ten days. 

¶5.  (C) Gothabaya said the GSL would use "minimum police 

force" to maintain GSL control of Vakarai and other 

"liberated" areas in the east, such as Sampur, "so we can 

concentrate our full forces on other things."  He affirmed 

that the GSL would implement development projects soon to 

minimize the threat of re-infiltration by the LTTE.  "There 

must be a reaction from normal civilians to reject the LTTE," 

he said, adding that the International Labor Organization 

(ILO) is considering a livelihoods project in Vakarai, while 

the French government may be willing to rebuild the A15 

highway. 

Sea Tigers Strong 

----------------- 

¶6.  (C) While the LTTE's ground forces are clearly weaker 

following the security forces' victories in the east, 

Gothabaya said, the LTTE's navy, the "Sea Tigers," remain 

strong.  The Sea Tiger attack on a GSL food convoy at Point 

Pedro, Jaffna in January emboldened the LTTE by their sinking 

of two dvora "fast boats" and made the Sri Lankan Navy timid, 

he thought.  "The Navy is no longer as aggressive.  It wants 

to protect its assets, so the Sea Tigers have more leeway. 

We must neutralize the Sea Tigers.  We must give the Navy 

some help by finding and destroying more Sea Tiger bases and 

assets."   In the Defense Secretary's view, the January 27 

Sea Tiger attack attempt on Colombo's port targeted a naval 

ship donated by India, rather than commercial vessels. 

Nevertheless, the LTTE would continue to seek soft targets in 

Colombo and the south as "part of their demoralization plan." 

Overall Strategy 

---------------- 

¶7.  (C) Comment:  Gothabaya assured us that the President 

remains committed to the peace process "without delay, and 

without respect to the military."  We understand that the 

security forces will try to consolidate the GSL's hold on the 

east, and that the military will also pursue Sea Tiger and 

artillery targets in the east and in the Tiger's northern 

Vanni stronghold.  Gothabaya was silent on whether the Army 

would attempt a full-scale invasion of the north, as earlier 

GSL statements had suggested.  The Defense Secretary appears 

to have realized, however, that winning Tamil hearts and 

minds will be crucial to the GSL's consolidation of its new 

hold on the east. 

BLAKE

``தேசபக்த`` காங்கிரசின் பொருளாதாரத் திட்டம்

பள்ளித் தாக்குதல்கள்!

பள்ளிவாயல்கள் சம்மேளனத்திற்குரிய காணியின் வேலி இனம்தெரியாதோரால் சேதமாக்கல்
Submitted by ceditor on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 16:46(பழுலுல்லாஹ் பர்ஹான்)

மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தில் காத்தான்குடி பொலிஸ் பிரிவின் ஆரையம்பதி பிரதேசத்திலுள்ள சிகரம் கிராமத்தில் பள்ளிவாயல்கள் சம்மேளனத்திற்கு சொந்தமான காணியின் சுற்று வேலி மற்றும் தற்காலிக வீடு என்பன இன்று புதன்கிழமை அதிகாலை இனம்தெரியாத நபர்களினால் சேதமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.


மேற்படி கிராமத்தில் காத்தான்குடி பள்ளிவாயல்கள் முஸ்லிம் நிறுவனங்கள் சம்மேளனத்திற்கு சொந்தமான காணிக்குள் இன்று அதிகாலை நுழைந்த சிலர் அங்கு நிர்மாணிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த தற்காலிக வீடு மற்றும் அக் காணியின் சுற்று வேலி என்பவற்றை உடைத்து சேதப்படுத்தியுள்ளனர்.

இதன்போது அங்கு தங்கியிருந்தவர்கள் பொலிசாருக்கு அறிவித்ததையடுத்து பொலிசார் அங்கு விரைந்து நிலைமைகளை பார்வையிட்டதுடன் சந்தேகத்தின் பேரில் ஒருவரை கைது செய்துள்ளதாகவும் காத்தான்குடி பொலிசார் தெரிவித்தனர்.

இந்தச் சம்பவம் தொடர்பாக காத்தான்குடி பொலிஸ் நிலையத்தில் காத்தான்குடி பள்ளிவாயல்கள் முஸ்லிம் நிறுவனங்கள் சம்மேளனத்தினால் முறைப்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதுடன் இந்த சம்பவம் தொடர்பாக காத்தான்குடி பொலிசார் விசாரணைகளை மேற்கொண்டுவருவதாகவும் காத்தான்குடி பொலிசார் மேலும் தெரிவித்தனர்.

இந்த சம்பவத்தையடுத்து அங்கு சென்ற கிழக்கு மாகாண சபை உறுப்பினர் சிப்லி பாறூக் சேதப்படுத்தப்பட்ட பகுதியினை  பார்வையிட்டதுடன் சிகரம் கிராம மக்களுடனும் கலந்துரையாடினார்.

இது தொடர்பாக சட்ட நடவடிக்கையினை எடுக்குமாறு பொலிசாருடன் பேசியுள்ளதாகவும் கிழக்கு மாகாண சபை உறுப்பினர் சிப்லி பாறூக் தெரிவித்தார்.
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அக்குறணை பள்ளிவாசல் மீது செவ்வாய் இரவு தாக்குதல்
2014-01-01 15:16:48 | General
கலஹா நிருபர்

அக்குறணை வெலேகட மஸ்ஜிதுல் பலாஸ் பள்ளிவாசல் மீது நேற்று இரவு இனந்தெரியாத குழுவினர் தாக்குதல் நடத்தியுள்ளனர்.

இந்தத் தாக்குதலில் பள்ளிவாசல் கண்ணாடிகள் பலத்த சேதமடைந்துள்ளன. முச்சக்கரவண்டிகள் மற்றும் வான்களில் வந்திறங்கிய சுமார் 20 இற்கும் மேற்பட்ட நபர்களே  பள்ளிவாசல் மீது தாக்குதல் நடத்தி விட்டு தப்பிச் சென்றுள்ளனர்.

தாக்குதல் நடத்தியவர்கள் அங்கிருந்து தப்பிச் சென்றதால் அவர்களை கைது செய்ய முடியாமல்  போய்விட்டதாக பொலிஸார்   தெரிவித்தனர்.

பிரதியமைச்சர் அப்துல்  காதர்,  ஹாரிஸ்பத்துவ பிரதேச செயலாளர் மற்றும் பௌத்த  பிக்குகள் சம்பவ இடத்திற்கு  நேற்று  வருகைதந்து பார்வையிட்டனர்.

இத் தாக்குதல் சம்பவத்துடன் தொடர்புடையவர்களை கைது செய்வதற்கான நடவடிக்கைகளை கட்டுகஸ்தோட்டை  பொலிஸார்  மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றனர்.

- See more at: http://www.thinakkural.lk/article.php?local/euvwqyumkz9220e4d09d3f57210560gikxc2c971c8b2bf8efb416a0awbnaq#sthash.rGIWAbKD.dpuf
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பேரினவாதக் கும்பலால் புத்தாண்டில் பள்ளிவாசல் மீது தாக்குதல்கள்!

இலங்கையின் கண்டி மாவட்டத்தின் பூஜாப்பிட்டிய என்ற ஊரிலுள்ள மஸ்ஜிதுல் பலாஹ் என்ற பள்ளிவாசலை, 2014ம் ஆண்டு புதுவருடம் பிறப்பதற்கு ஓரிரு மணித்தியாலங்கள் முன்பு பேரினவாதக் கும்பல் ஒன்று தாக்கியுள்ளது. கடந்த 31ம் திகதி இரவு 10 மணியளவில் குறிப்பிட்ட பள்ளிவாசலின் ஜன்னல்களுக்குக் கல்லெறிந்து அவற்றைச் சேதப்படுத்தியதோடு, கதவை உடைத்து, பள்ளிவாசலினுட் புகுந்து இந்த இனத் துவேஷ காடையர் கூட்டம் வெறியாட்டம் ஆடியிருக்கிறது.

அண்மைக் காலங்களில் பௌத்தமல்லாத மதஸ்தலங்களின்  மீதான தாக்குதல்கள் இலங்கையில் மிகவும் திட்டமிட்ட வகையில் அரங்கேற்றப்பட்டுக் கொண்டிருப்பது கவலை தருகிறது. மேலும், உள்ளூர் மற்றும் சர்வதேசத்தின் கண்டனங்களைக் கிஞ்சித்தேனும் பொருட்படுத்தாது நிகழ்த்தப்படும் இத்தகைய மிலேச்சத்தனமான தாக்குதல்களைத் தடுத்து நிறுத்துவதற்கான எந்தவொரு ஆக்கபூர்வ நடவடிக்கைகளும் அரசாங்கத்தினால் எடுக்கப்படாமல் இருப்பதானது மக்கள் மத்தியில் பலத்த சந்தேகங்களையும் அச்சத்தையும் உருவாக்கியுள்ளது.

சமீப காலத்தில் தாக்குதலுக்குள்ளாக்கப்பட்ட 27 வது பள்ளிவாசல் இதுவாகும். தலைநகரம் தொடக்கம் கிராமங்கள் வரையிலான இத்தனை பள்ளிவாசல்கள் தாக்கப்பட்டும், அதற்குக் காரணமானவர்களென இதுவரை எவருமே கைது செய்யப்படவில்லை என்பது, இவ்வாறான சம்பவங்களின் பின்னால் அரசாங்கத்தின் உயர்மட்டத்திலுள்ள சிலருக்கு இருப்பதாகக் கூறப்படும் தொடர்பு பற்றிய சந்தேகங்களையும் ஊகங்களையும் மேலும் வலுவாக்குகிறது.

இனங்களுக்கிடையிலான உறவுகளில் விரிசல்களை ஏற்படுத்துவதன் மூலம் தமது அரசியல் வியாபாரத்தை இலாபகரமாக நீண்ட காலங்களுக்கு நடத்த முடியுமென்ற கேவலமான எண்ணங்களில் மூழ்கிக் கிடப்போர், தமது எண்ணங்களை மறு பரிசீலனைக்குட்படுத்துவது அவசியமென இன உறவையும் சகோதர சக வாழ்வையும் விரும்பி நிற்கும் மக்கள் எதிர்பார்க்கின்றனர்.

Talks to ease Northern Ireland tensions break down

Talks to ease Northern Ireland tensions break down
BY IAN GRAHAM
BELFAST Tue Dec 31, 2013 11:21am GMT

No date was set for the resumption of the talks, which were a response to some of the highest levels of street violence and attacks by militant groups since a peace and power-sharing deal in 1998.

That put an end three decades of sustained sectarian violence in the province between pro-British Protestants and Catholics who generally favour unification with Ireland.

"It would have been nice to come out here tonight and say we have all five parties completely signed on to the text. We are not there," said Richard Haass, the president of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations think-tank and a former adviser to the President George W. Bush on Northern Ireland.

He said he hoped that further talks would lead to some parties signing up to the draft agreement and others would "endorse significant parts of it."

The text proposes the creation of new institutions to deal with contentious parades and the investigations of crimes committed during three decades of sectarian conflict that began in the late 1960s in which more than 3,600 people died.

Haass said the parties had failed to make any significant progress on controversy over the flying of flags in Northern Ireland.

Dozens of police were injured during weeks of rioting early this year after a decision to cut the number of days the British flag flies over Belfast city hall, with officers firing plastic bullets and water cannons.

Several bombs have been planted in central Belfast in recent months by Irish militants opposed to the 1998 peace deal, but none has caused serious injury.

Sinn Fein, the largest Irish nationalist party in Northern Ireland, said it believed the text proposed by Haass provided the basis for an agreement.

The pro-British Democratic Unionist Party, Northern Ireland's largest party, said it would also consider it, but that it "profoundly disagreed" with some of the language in Haass' text.

Haass said he would return to Washington, but held out the possibility of "a limited role" in the future.

(Editing by Conor Humphries; Editing by John Stonestreet)
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Northern Ireland talks collapse as main unionist parties reject Haass proposals
David Ford, the Alliance leader, accuses main loyalist parties of pandering to extreme elements of their constituencies
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Henry McDonald, Ireland correspondent
theguardian.com, Tuesday 31 December 2013 07.54 GMT
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Richard Haass, the chairman of cross-party talks in Northern Ireland, at a press conference after overnight talks ended in deadlock
Richard Haass, the chairman of cross-party talks in Northern Ireland, at a press conference after overnight talks ended in deadlock. Photograph: Peter Morrison/AP
Marathon all-night negotiations in Belfast to resolve outstanding peace process issues in Northern Ireland have broken up without reaching an agreement.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said it was disappointing, but the failure to reach a comprehensive agreement should not be seen as the end of the road in seeking to find a way forward on difficult and divisive issues.

Talks broke up in the early hours of Tuesday morning after discussions that had reached a climax under the chairmanship of the former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass.

The talks covered a range of issues from Northern Ireland's history including unsolved murders from the Troubles, the route of loyalist parades and the flying of national flags – all matters that have repeatedly brought violence back to the surface of life in Northern Ireland despite the Good Friday Agreement that allowed the devolution of power to the assembly at Stormont.

Haass had presented the parties with the seventh draft of a document intended to resolve outstanding controversies of the Irish peace process. Among the proposals was the establishment of a new "Implementation Reconciliation Group" that would take six months to discuss an action plan on three major issues still dogging the power sharing settlement between the two communities in Northern Ireland.

Haass had described the agreement as a "remarkable opportunity to make bold choices to address the issues that hold us back". Sources at the talks had held out hope of an agreement by the early hours of Tuesday.

After Haass announced that the negotiations had broken up, Villiers said: "I would encourage [the five parties] to maintain the momentum that their efforts, working with the Haass team, has created. For our part, the UK Government will look at how we can best facilitate this."

Northern Ireland's justice minister accused the two main unionist parties of putting their electoral fortunes above any deal that could have resolved key post-peace process issues like controversial parades and flags.

David Ford claimed the unionists had failed "to face down the extremes over flags – but parties who ducked it clearly rely on those extremes to sustain their vote. It is time that parties stopped hiding behind process and committed to product.”

The Alliance leader and justice minister singled out the unionist parties' failure to support a legally binding code of conduct on loyalist marches as one of the main reasons for failure in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The Democratic Unionists, Ulster Unionist party, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance had been locked in negotiations up until 5am at the Stormont Hotel in east Belfast.

The prime minister, David Cameron, said the failure to achieve a breakthrough was disappointing, but urged the parties to “keep going”.

“Although it is disappointing the parties have not been able to reach full agreement at this stage, these talks have achieved much common ground, providing a basis for continuing discussions,” he said.

“There is a shared commitment to making progress on these very difficult issues that continue to be a focus for tension and division across the community.

“I urge the parties to keep going. I also want to thank Dr Richard Haass and his team for their dedicated work.

“The government and the Northern Ireland parties will continue to work together to strengthen further the foundations for peace, stability and prosperity in Northern Ireland.”

Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland secretary, said it was “disappointing” but the break down of the talks was not the end of the road.

“The reality is if you look at issues of identity, some people would argue that it’s been a problem for the last 800 years. In many ways, it’s not surprising that it can’t be fixed in three months,” she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. “If there were easy solutions, then it would have been part of the Belfast Agreement agreed in 1998.”

Asked whether the UK government should be more involved, she said she has been active behind the scenes but it was important for Northern Ireland politicians to take the lead.
Villiers said there were also wider problems around segregation in Northern Ireland that need to be discussed.

“I’d urge the work to continue on these divisive issues, the importance of this broader project to see an end to sectarian division,” she said. “Flags, parades and the past are an important part of that, but we also need to see progress on more kids sharing their education, more neighbourhoods being less segregated than they are at the moment. It’s also important for the Northern Ireland executive to be working with the government on our shared objective of boosting the economy.”

In a hard-hitting assessment of the unionists' attitude to the parades and flag issues, Ford said: “On parades new structures have been proposed. But the real issue with parades was never about structures – the problem was behaviour. The desperate attempts by the unionist parties to resist an effective code of conduct for marchers and protesters showed that very clearly. So while we have a new approach to structures, it remains to be seen whether there will be any change in behaviour.

“If the attitude to flags is anything to go by, we don’t hold out much hope, because the biggest disappointment of this process has been the refusal to face up to the issue of flags."

Talks chairman Haass and his co-chair Meagan O'Sullivan were unable to persuade the parties to accept the seventh draft of a 38-page agreement on flags, marches and the past.

Commenting on the breakup of the talks, Haass said all five parties had "given it their best" and were "prepared to continue" with the process.

"It would have been nice to have come out here tonight and say we have got all five parties completely signed on to the text," he said.

The Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, said his negotiating team believed there was a "basis for a deal in the proposals put forward".

He said the team would recommend it to the party's executive, though he said the proposed deal was "not perfect".

"I'm sure there will be a lot of disappointment out there as people come to terms with the fact that there doesn't appear at this point to be an agreement," he said.

There appeared to be more agreement about issues to deal with past Troubles crimes and their legacy among the parties with the establishment of a new investigative body.

One of the most controversial issues is the legacy of the past conflict in which 3,500 people died. Around 3,000 of those killings remain unsolved and the Haass talks discussed the creation of a new police-investigative body to re-examine these cases. Thousands more suffered injuries and psychological trauma in three and a half decades of violence.