மயான காண்டம்
Sunday, February 09, 2014
Saturday, February 08, 2014
US embassy rejects EAM statement
US envoy’s visit: US embassy rejects EAM statement
By Namini Wijedasa The Sunday Times LK
The United States embassy has rejected a claim that Sri Lanka’s Ministry of External Affairs had merely asked a senior US official to reschedule her visit and not refused her a visa. Catherine Russell, US Ambassador-at-Large for Women’s Issues, was due to in Sri Lanka tomorrow and Tuesday. Her visit was “cancelled” after US authorities were reportedly informed by the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington that she would not get a visa. No new dates have been fixed.
The Ministry of External Affairs insists that Ms. Russell’s visa application was not turned down. “On the contrary, the relevant US authorities had been advised by the Ministry of External Affairs, that following consultations with the relevant agencies, the dates proposed for the visit were not convenient,” a statement from the ministry said.
But there is now confusion over what had transpired, with both the Ministry and the US Embassy holding fast to positions already taken. A US Embassy spokesman said on Friday that the embassy had received “no official change of position on Ambassador Catherine Russell’s earlier visa refusal”.“If, however, the Sri
Lankan government has changed its mind about issuing a visa to Ambassador Russell that is a positive thing,” he said. “We remain committed to advocating on behalf of gender issues across Sri Lanka.”
Ms. Russell’s visa application was handed over to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington on January 27. Three days later — on January 30 — the External Affairs Ministry had instructed Sri Lanka’s embassy in Washington to tell the US authorities that the dates indicated were not suitable. It said the Ambassador could reschedule the visit based on mutually convenient dates.
It is not immediately clear if the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington had followed instructions and informed the US authorities specifically of a need to change the dates of the visit. The Embassy is entirely manned by political appointees and has no professional diplomats on its staff. In its statement, the External Affairs
Ministry said Minister G.L. Peiris had on two occasions informed US Ambassador Michelle Sison of the inconvenience of dates and that the visit needed to be rescheduled. “Accordingly, she undertook to inform the US authorities in this regard,” the ministry said. “Rescheduling of a visit does not amount to refusal of a
visa. The position was fully and clearly explained to the US Embassy.”
But the US embassy on Friday denied it was ever told “before the visa was refused” that there were scheduling problems. Instead, it was conveyed on the morning of January 31 (evening of January 30 in Washington) that Ambassador Russell’s application had not received the requisite approval.Relations between the two countries have been fraught in recent years, not least because of two US-led resolutions on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. A third will be presented next month.
The story surrounding Ms. Russell’s visa first broke on February 3, when the US embassy publicly expressed regret at the refusal of the Government of Sri Lanka to authorise Ambassador Russell’s visit. A high-ranking official, she was once the Chief of Staff to Jill Biden, wife of US Vice President Joe Biden. She
started her career on Capitol Hill as Counsel, then Senior Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy. She also served as Staff Director to the Senate Judiciary Committee under Senator Biden.
In Sri Lanka, Ambassador Russell had planned to spend a day in Colombo and a day in Jaffna. Her agenda had included meetings with Government officials, the Women’s Parliamentary caucus and with women’s organisations in Sri Lanka. Authoritative sources said the US embassy now hoped to connect her with Sri
Lankan civil society, parliamentarians, women’s groups and other representatives via video conference. Her objective is reportedly to raise their concerns about the issues women face in Sri Lanka.
By Namini Wijedasa The Sunday Times LK
The United States embassy has rejected a claim that Sri Lanka’s Ministry of External Affairs had merely asked a senior US official to reschedule her visit and not refused her a visa. Catherine Russell, US Ambassador-at-Large for Women’s Issues, was due to in Sri Lanka tomorrow and Tuesday. Her visit was “cancelled” after US authorities were reportedly informed by the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington that she would not get a visa. No new dates have been fixed.
The Ministry of External Affairs insists that Ms. Russell’s visa application was not turned down. “On the contrary, the relevant US authorities had been advised by the Ministry of External Affairs, that following consultations with the relevant agencies, the dates proposed for the visit were not convenient,” a statement from the ministry said.
But there is now confusion over what had transpired, with both the Ministry and the US Embassy holding fast to positions already taken. A US Embassy spokesman said on Friday that the embassy had received “no official change of position on Ambassador Catherine Russell’s earlier visa refusal”.“If, however, the Sri
Lankan government has changed its mind about issuing a visa to Ambassador Russell that is a positive thing,” he said. “We remain committed to advocating on behalf of gender issues across Sri Lanka.”
Ms. Russell’s visa application was handed over to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington on January 27. Three days later — on January 30 — the External Affairs Ministry had instructed Sri Lanka’s embassy in Washington to tell the US authorities that the dates indicated were not suitable. It said the Ambassador could reschedule the visit based on mutually convenient dates.
It is not immediately clear if the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington had followed instructions and informed the US authorities specifically of a need to change the dates of the visit. The Embassy is entirely manned by political appointees and has no professional diplomats on its staff. In its statement, the External Affairs
Ministry said Minister G.L. Peiris had on two occasions informed US Ambassador Michelle Sison of the inconvenience of dates and that the visit needed to be rescheduled. “Accordingly, she undertook to inform the US authorities in this regard,” the ministry said. “Rescheduling of a visit does not amount to refusal of a
visa. The position was fully and clearly explained to the US Embassy.”
But the US embassy on Friday denied it was ever told “before the visa was refused” that there were scheduling problems. Instead, it was conveyed on the morning of January 31 (evening of January 30 in Washington) that Ambassador Russell’s application had not received the requisite approval.Relations between the two countries have been fraught in recent years, not least because of two US-led resolutions on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. A third will be presented next month.
The story surrounding Ms. Russell’s visa first broke on February 3, when the US embassy publicly expressed regret at the refusal of the Government of Sri Lanka to authorise Ambassador Russell’s visit. A high-ranking official, she was once the Chief of Staff to Jill Biden, wife of US Vice President Joe Biden. She
started her career on Capitol Hill as Counsel, then Senior Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy. She also served as Staff Director to the Senate Judiciary Committee under Senator Biden.
In Sri Lanka, Ambassador Russell had planned to spend a day in Colombo and a day in Jaffna. Her agenda had included meetings with Government officials, the Women’s Parliamentary caucus and with women’s organisations in Sri Lanka. Authoritative sources said the US embassy now hoped to connect her with Sri
Lankan civil society, parliamentarians, women’s groups and other representatives via video conference. Her objective is reportedly to raise their concerns about the issues women face in Sri Lanka.
ENB WEST: USA - As war on corruption mounts, China’s rich fl...
ENB WEST: USA - As war on corruption mounts, China’s rich fl...: USA The United States is their favored destination,for China’s rich. Global Post Benjamin Carlson February 4, 2014 00:31 As war ...
Friday, February 07, 2014
PFLP: No foreign forces accepted on Palestinian soil
PFLP: No foreign forces accepted on Palestinian soil; negotiations benefit only occupation
Feb 05 2014
Comrade Badran Jaber rejected proposals that NATO troops would be stationed in an alleged future Palestinian state, saying that accepting any such arrangement would mean “escaping from the mouse only to fall into the grasp of the lion.” He noted that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
completely rejects any foreign forces on Palestinian land and rejected any “formulas that limit or impair the rights or dignity of the Palestinian people.” He noted that any real Palestinian sovereignty means control over the airspace, water, and natural resources of the Palestinian people, and that the occupation state has
been the only beneficiary of 21 years of negotiations. He challenged the idea that there was some benefit to be gained by “debating” or “arguing” with representatives of the occupation, asking “What argument has convinced Israelis to come to their senses and stop acting as invaders, occupiers, settlers, colonizers
and racists during 21 years of arguments?”
Furthermore, Comrade Khalida Jarrar reiterated the PFLP’s complete rejection of the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s so-called framework agreement. “The Kerry plan is a new step of the notorious Oslo agreement and serves the U.S. primary goal of ending the conflict in favor of Zionism, as indicated by the frantic attempts to impose fundamentally Zionist solutions on core issues like the right of return, Palestinian sovereignty, borders and Jerusalem.”
She noted that the current stage is quite dangerous, establishes a continual status of ongoing negotiations which is fully compatible with the goals of the occupation to guarantee its security by raising the level of security coordination and cooperation with the Palestinian Authority to an even higher level. Jarrar also
condemned the role of the European Union and its attempts to pressure Palestinian officials to accept the Framework agreement, which is deeply damaging to the Palestinian cause.
jarrarJarrar commented on the media statements of opposition within the Zionist entity to the framework agreement as a disingenuous distraction, noting that the entire proposal is to the benefit of the occupying power. “Attempts are being made to portray in front of world public opinion that there is ‘Israeli opposition’ to the plan, which will be followed by efforts to ‘persuade the Israelis’ to accept it, which is in reality a means of pressure upon Palestinians to continue with the negotiations and accept this framework.”
Jarrar noted that Palestinian Authority officials are not serious in addressing political alternatives to negotiations, and noted that the Kerry formula will be presented in an attempt to mislead even Palestinian public opinion by portraying it as fulfilling certain Palestinian goals, while in fact remaining entirely illusory. She said that statements of some PA officials regarding withdrawing from the negotiations do not constitute real pressure on the PA leadership, but mere deceptive talk in the media. This is happening, she said, while “there are statements from PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Zionist TV openly praising the security
cooperation” and pledging ongoing action against Palestinain resistance, which is quite dangerous.
She said that the negotiations are useless and it is the responsibility of the international community to implement United Nations resolutions of international legtitimacy to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people and to protect the Palestinian people. Furthermore, she denounced Abbas’ comments about a so-called
demilitarized state, noting that this directly violates the fundamental principles of sovereignty and noting that this raises concerns about officials’ acceptance of the Kerry plan. Jarrar said that “Palestinian national consensus rejects the continuation of negotiations,” saying that the occupation exploits the negotiations,
systematically building settlements, Judaizing Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque, and that the Kerry plan and negotiations will produce nothing except concessions of Palestinian rights.
Feb 05 2014
Comrade Badran Jaber rejected proposals that NATO troops would be stationed in an alleged future Palestinian state, saying that accepting any such arrangement would mean “escaping from the mouse only to fall into the grasp of the lion.” He noted that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
completely rejects any foreign forces on Palestinian land and rejected any “formulas that limit or impair the rights or dignity of the Palestinian people.” He noted that any real Palestinian sovereignty means control over the airspace, water, and natural resources of the Palestinian people, and that the occupation state has
been the only beneficiary of 21 years of negotiations. He challenged the idea that there was some benefit to be gained by “debating” or “arguing” with representatives of the occupation, asking “What argument has convinced Israelis to come to their senses and stop acting as invaders, occupiers, settlers, colonizers
and racists during 21 years of arguments?”
 |
| Comrade Khalida Jarrar |
She noted that the current stage is quite dangerous, establishes a continual status of ongoing negotiations which is fully compatible with the goals of the occupation to guarantee its security by raising the level of security coordination and cooperation with the Palestinian Authority to an even higher level. Jarrar also
condemned the role of the European Union and its attempts to pressure Palestinian officials to accept the Framework agreement, which is deeply damaging to the Palestinian cause.
jarrarJarrar commented on the media statements of opposition within the Zionist entity to the framework agreement as a disingenuous distraction, noting that the entire proposal is to the benefit of the occupying power. “Attempts are being made to portray in front of world public opinion that there is ‘Israeli opposition’ to the plan, which will be followed by efforts to ‘persuade the Israelis’ to accept it, which is in reality a means of pressure upon Palestinians to continue with the negotiations and accept this framework.”
Jarrar noted that Palestinian Authority officials are not serious in addressing political alternatives to negotiations, and noted that the Kerry formula will be presented in an attempt to mislead even Palestinian public opinion by portraying it as fulfilling certain Palestinian goals, while in fact remaining entirely illusory. She said that statements of some PA officials regarding withdrawing from the negotiations do not constitute real pressure on the PA leadership, but mere deceptive talk in the media. This is happening, she said, while “there are statements from PA President Mahmoud Abbas on Zionist TV openly praising the security
cooperation” and pledging ongoing action against Palestinain resistance, which is quite dangerous.
She said that the negotiations are useless and it is the responsibility of the international community to implement United Nations resolutions of international legtitimacy to ensure the rights of the Palestinian people and to protect the Palestinian people. Furthermore, she denounced Abbas’ comments about a so-called
demilitarized state, noting that this directly violates the fundamental principles of sovereignty and noting that this raises concerns about officials’ acceptance of the Kerry plan. Jarrar said that “Palestinian national consensus rejects the continuation of negotiations,” saying that the occupation exploits the negotiations,
systematically building settlements, Judaizing Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque, and that the Kerry plan and negotiations will produce nothing except concessions of Palestinian rights.
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ENB WEST: பொஸ்னியாவில் வேலையற்றோர் 40%!!: Bosnia rocked by spreading anti-government unrest BY DADO RUVIC AND MAJA ZUVELA TUZLA/SARAJEVO, Bosnia Fri Feb 7, 2014 CREDIT: REUT...
அற்புதம் அம்மா: `அடைபட்ட கதவுகளின் முன்னால்’.
எனக்காக நீங்கள் அனைவரும் ஒரேயொரு புத்தகம் படிக்க வேண்டும்!
குறைந்த பட்சம் ஒரு 5 பேருக்கு புத்தகத்தை (விலைக்கு ) வாங்கி படிக்க கொடுக்க வேண்டும்!!கார்ட்டூனிஸ்ட் பாலா
கார்ட்டூனிஸ்ட் பாலாவாகிய நான் இதுவரை ஃபேஸ்புக்கில் ஆதரவற்ற குழந்தைகளின் படிப்புக்காக உதவி கேட்டதில் தொடங்கி பலரின் உயிர் காக்க ரத்தம் கேட்டது வரை முகம் தெரியாத யார் யாருக்காகவோ எல்லாம் உதவி கேட்டிருக்கிறேன். நண்பர்கள் பலரும் என் மீது நம்பிக்கை வைத்து உதவி செய்திருக்கிறீர்கள்.
ஆனால் முதல்முறையாக உங்களிடம் எனக்காக ஒரு உதவி கேட்டு வந்திருக்கிறேன்..
நிச்சயமாக அது பண உதவி அல்ல.. எனக்காக நீங்கள் அனைவரும் ஒரேயொரு புத்தகம் படிக்க வேண்டும்..
அந்த புத்தகத்தின் பெயர் `அடைபட்ட கதவுகளின் முன்னால்’.
புத்தகக் காட்சியில் அற்புதம் அம்மாவிடம் கையெழுத்து வாங்கி வந்த புத்தகத்தை கடந்த வாரம் தான் ஒரு இரவு படிக்க ஆரம்பித்தேன். முடித்தபோது நெஞ்சடைத்துப் போய்விட்டது. அந்த அமைதியான நள்ளிரவில் என்னை மீறி அழ வேண்டும்போலிருந்தது.
23 ஆண்டுகளாக செய்யாத குற்றத்திற்காக சிறையில் அடைபட்டிருக்கும் தன் மகனை மீட்க ஒரு அம்மா சிறைக்கும் கோர்ட்டுக்கும் நடையாய் நடந்த கதை அது.
படிக்க படிக்க இப்படியெல்லாம் ஒருவர் வாழ்வில் நடக்குமா என்று அதிர்ச்சியாக இருக்கிறது.
அற்புதம் அம்மா ஒரு இடத்தில் சொல்கிறார்.. `` நீதி மறுக்கப்படும் ஒவ்வொரு முகத்திலும் நான் தங்கமான என் மகனின் முகத்தைக் காண்கிறேன்..”
எவ்வளவு வலி நிறைந்த வார்த்தைகள்.
வேறு எந்த புத்தகத்திற்குமில்லாத பரிந்துரையை இதற்கு ஏன் செய்கிறேன் என்றால் மறுக்கப்பட்ட நீதி தூக்கு கயிற்றில் தொங்கவிட தயாராக நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. பேரறிவாளன் உங்களிடம் எதிர்பார்பப்து கருணையோ உயிர் பிச்சையோ அல்ல..
நீதி கேட்கிறார்.
ஆனால் இந்திய கூட்டு மனசாட்சியோ எப்படியேனும் அவரை பலி கொடுக்க துடிக்கிறது.
தமிழில் எவ்வளவு அப்பாடக்கர் எழுத்தாளர்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள்.. ஒருத்தருக்கும் கூட ஒரு அம்மா ஜோல்னா பையும் ரப்பர் செருப்புமாக சிறைக்கும் நீதிமன்றத்திற்கும் 23 ஆண்டுகளாக அலைந்து கொண்டிருக்கும் கதையை எழுத வேண்டும் என்று தோன்றவில்லை..
ஆனால் மலையாளத்திலிருந்து தமிழகம் வந்த `மாத்யமம்’ என்ற பத்திரிகையின் நிருபர் அனுசிரி என்பவர் அந்த வரலாற்று பணியை செய்திருக்கிறார். (சகோதரி.. நீங்கள் யார் என்று தெரியவில்லை.. ஆனால் எங்கள் குலசாமிகளில் ஒருத்திம்மா நீ.. )
மலையாளத்தில் வெளியாகிய புத்தகத்தை தமிழுக்கு மொழிப்பெயர்ப்பு செய்து பெரும் கடமையை செய்திருக்கிறார் யூமா வாசுகி.
இந்த புத்தகத்தை நீங்கள் ஒருவர் மட்டும் படிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதல்ல என் கோரிக்கை.. குறைந்த பட்சம் ஒரு 5 பேருக்கு புத்தகத்தை வாங்கி படிக்க கொடுங்கள்..
மகனை மீட்க போராடும் அற்புதமான அம்மாவின் நீதிக்கான பயணத்தில் நீங்களும் கை கோர்ப்பீர்கள் என்ற நம்பிக்கையுடன்..
-கார்ட்டூனிஸ்ட் பாலா
5-2-14
https://www.facebook.com/cartoonistbala
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புத்தகம் வாங்க தொடர்பு கொள்ளவும்:
Raghuvaran Ganesan, Karthi Keyan and Samuel Raja.
00919443058565/ 00919884021741
விலை : 60 ரூபாய்.
டிஸ்கவரி புக் பேலஸ்,
எண் 6, மஹாவீர் காம்பளக்ஸ், முதல்தளம்,
முனுசாமி சாலை, மேற்கு கே.கே நகர்,
சென்னை - 600078. தமிழ்நாடு. இந்தியா
(பாண்டிச்சேரி விருந்தினர் மாளிகை அருகில்)
— with Raghuvaran Ganesan, Karthi Keyan and Samuel Raja.
Sri Lanka's comments on PIAC report
Sri Lankan MP responds to PIAC report on war crimes
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ஈழப் படுகொலைப் பாசிச மோடியே திரும்பிப் போ!
ஆனந்தபுரத்துக்கு திட்டம் வகுத்த ஈழப்படுகொலைப் பாசிச மோடியே திரும்பிப் போ! சொல்லில் சோசலிசமும் செயலில் பாசிசமுமான, சமூக பாசிச அனுரா ஆட்சிய...
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சமரன்: தோழர்கள் மீது எடப்பாடி கொலை வெறித்தாக்குதல், கழகம்...
