Full text: PM Modi's address in Sri Lanka Parliament
March 13, 2015 19:05 IST
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Sri Lanka Parliament. He strongly pitched for enhanced cooperation in key areas of maritime security and counter-terrorism.
Below is the PM’s speech verbatim:
Honourable Speaker of Parliament, Mr Chamal Rajapaksa ji, Honourable Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Shrimaan Ranil Wickremesinghe ji, Honourable Leader of the Opposition, Mr Nimal Siripala De Silva, Honourable Members of Parliament, Distinguished guests, I am truly delighted to visit Sri Lanka - a land of beauty, culture and friendship. I am deeply honoured to be in this Parliament. I am conscious of its rich history. This Parliament represents one of Asia`s oldest democracies; and, one of its most vibrant. Long before many others in the world, Sri Lanka gave every individual a vote and voice. To the people of Sri Lanka, ayubuvan, Vanakkam. I bring the greetings of 1.25 billion friends; and millions of fans of Sri Lankan cricket. I bring the blessings from the land of Bodh Gaya to the land of Anuradhapura. I stand here in respect for our shared heritage; and, in commitment to our shared future. Last May, when I took the oath of office, I was honoured by the presence of South Asian leaders at the ceremony. Their presence was a celebration of democracy`s march in our region. It was also recognition of our common destiny. I am convinced that the future of any country is influenced by the state of its neighbourhood. The future that I dream for India is also the future that I wish for our neighbours. We in this region are on the same journey: to transform the lives of our people. Our path will be easier, the journey quicker and destination nearer when we walk step in step. As I stand here in Colombo and look north towards the Himalaya, I marvel at our region`s uniqueness – of our rich diversity and our common civilisational links. We have been formed from the same elements; and, from our interconnected histories. Today, we stand together as proud independent nations – sovereign and equal. India and Sri Lanka do not have a land boundary, but we are the closest neighbours in every sense. No matter where you look in India or Sri Lanka, the many strands of our links - religion, language, culture, food, customs, traditions and epics - come together into a deep and strong bond of familiarity and friendship. Ours is a relationship that is beautifully defined by the journey of Mahindra and Sanghamitra. They carried the message of peace, tolerance and friendship more than two millenniums ago. It is evoked by Kannagi, the central character of the great Tamil epic Silapathikaram, who is worshipped as goddess the Pattini in Sri Lanka. It lives in the Ramayan trail in Sri Lanka. It expresses itself in devotion at the dargah of the Nagore Andavar and the Christian shrine of Velankanni. It is reflected in the friendship of Swami Vivekananda and Anagarika Dharmapala, the founder of the Maha Bodhi Society in Sri Lanka and India. It lives in the work of Mahatma Gandhi`s followers in India and Sri Lanka. Above all, our relationship thrives through the inter-woven lives of ordinary Indians and Sri Lankans. Our independent life began at about the same time. Sri Lanka has made remarkable progress since then. The nation is an inspiration for our region in human development. Sri Lanka is home to enterprise and skill; and extraordinary intellectual heritage. There are businesses of global class here. Sri Lanka is a leader in advancing cooperation in South Asia. And, it is important for the future of the Indian Ocean Region. Sri Lanka`s progress and prosperity is also a source of strength for India. So, Sri Lanka`s success is of great significance to India. And, as a friend, our good wishes, and our support and solidarity have always been with Sri Lanka. And, it will always be there for you. For all of us in our region, our success depends on how we define ourselves as a nation. All of us in this region, indeed every nation of diversity, have dealt with the issues of identities and inclusion, of rights and claims, of dignity and opportunity for different sections of our societies. We have all seen its diverse expressions. We have faced tragic violence. We have encountered brutal terrorism. We have also seen successful examples of peaceful settlements. Each of us has sought to address these complex issues in our own ways. However we choose to reconcile them, to me something is obvious: Diversity can be a source of strength for nations. When we accommodate the aspirations of all sections of our society, the nation gets the strength of every individual. And, when we empower states, districts and villages, we make our country stronger and stronger. You can call this my bias. I have been a Chief Minister for 13 years; a Prime Minister for less than a year! Today, my top priority is to make the states in India stronger. I am a firm believer in cooperative federalism. So, we are devolving more power and more resources to the states. And, we are making them formal partners in national decision making processes. Sri Lanka has lived through decades of tragic violence and conflict. You have successfully defeated terrorism and brought the conflict to an end. You now stand at a moment of historic opportunity to win the hearts and heal the wounds across all sections of society. Recent elections in Sri Lanka have reflected the collective voice of the nation – the hope for change, reconciliation and unity. The steps that you have taken in recent times are bold and admirable. They represent a new beginning. I am confident of a future of Sri Lanka, defined by unity and integrity; peace and harmony; and, opportunity and dignity for everyone. I believe in Sri Lanka`s ability to achieve it. It is rooted in our common civilisational heritage. The path ahead is a choice that Sri Lanka has to make. And, it is a collective responsibility of all sections of the society; and, of all political streams in the country. But, I can assure you of this: For India, the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka are paramount. It is rooted in our interest. It stems from our own fundamental beliefs in this principle. Hon`ble Speaker and Distinguished Members, My vision of an ideal neighbourhood is one in which trade, investments, technology, ideas and people flow easily across borders; when partnerships in the region are formed with the ease of routine. In India, the growth momentum has been restored. India has become the fastest growing major economy in the world. The world sees India as the new frontier of economic opportunity. But, our neighbours should have the first claim on India. And I again repeat, the first claim on India is of our neighbours – of Sri Lanka. I will be happy if India serves a catalyst in the progress of our neighbours. In our region, Sri Lanka has the potential to be our strongest economic partner. We will work with you to boost trade and make it more balanced. India`s trade environment is becoming more open. Sri Lanka should not fall behind others in this competitive world. That is why we should conclude an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. India can also be a natural source of investments – for exports to India and elsewhere; and to build your infrastructure. We have made good progress today. Let us get together to harness the vast potential of the Ocean Economy. Our two nations must also take the lead in increasing cooperation in the South Asian Region and the linked BIMSTEC Region. Connecting this vast region by land and sea, our two countries can become engines of regional prosperity. I also assure you of India`s full commitment to development partnership with Sri Lanka. We see this as a responsibility of a friend and neighbour. India has committed 1.6 billion U.S. dollars in development assistance. Today, we have committed further assistance of up to 318 million dollars to the railway sector. We will continue our development partnership. We will be guided by your Government. And, we will do so with the same level of transparency that we expect in our own country. Last month we signed the agreement on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. More than anywhere else in the region, I see enormous potential to expand cooperation with Sri Lanka in areas like agriculture, education, health, science and technology, and space. Indeed, we are limited only by our imagination. We hope that Sri Lanka will take full benefit of India`s satellite for the SAARC Region. This should be in Space by December 2016. People are at the heart of our relationship. When we connect people, bonds between nations become stronger. That is why we have decided to extend the visa-on-arrival facility to Sri Lankan citizens. We will also increase connectivity between our countries. We will strengthen ties of culture and religion. Last month we announced reduction in fees for Sri Lankan nationals visiting National Museum in Delhi to see the Kapilavastu Relics. We will bring our shared Buddhist heritage closer to you through an exhibition. Together, we will develop our Buddhist and Ramayana Trails. My birth place Varnagarh was an international centre of Buddhist learning in ancient times. Excavations have revealed a hostel for 2000 students and in plans to redevelop the centre. Mr Speaker, A future of prosperity requires a strong foundation of security for our countries and peace and stability in the region. The security of our two countries is indivisible. Equally, our shared responsibility for our maritime neighbourhood is clear. India and Sri Lanka are too close to look away from each other. Nor can we be insulated from one another. Our recent histories have shown that we suffer together; and we are more effective when we work with each other. Our cooperation helped deal with the devastation of Tsunami in 2004. As a Chief Minister, I was pleased to share our experience in reconstruction after the Bhuj earthquake in 2001. Our cooperation is also integral to our success in combating terrorism and extremism. For both of us, local threats remain. But, we see threats arising in new forms and from new sources. We are witnessing globalisation of terrorism. The need for our cooperation has never been stronger than today. The Indian Ocean is critical to the security and prosperity of our two countries. And, we can be more successful in achieving these goals if we work together; build a climate of trust and confidence; and we remain sensitive to each other`s interest. We deeply value our security cooperation with Sri Lanka. We should expand the maritime security cooperation between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to include others in the Indian Ocean area. I often say that the course of the 21st century would be determined by the currents of the Indian Ocean. Shaping its direction is a responsibility for the countries in the region. We are two countries at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean. Your leadership and our partnership will be vital for building a peaceful, secure, stable and prosperous maritime neighbourhood. In our deeply interconnected lives, it is natural to have differences. Sometimes, it touches the lives of ordinary people. We have the openness in our dialogue, the strength of our human values and, the goodwill in our relationship to resolve them. Mr.Speaker, Sri Lanka and India are at a moment of a great opportunity and responsibility – for realising the dreams of our people. This is also a time for renewal in our relationship; for a new beginning and new vigour in our partnership. We have to ensure that our proximity always translates into closeness. We were honoured that President Sirisena chose India as his first destination last month. I am honoured to be his first guest here. This is how it should be between neighbours. Tomorrow I will go to Talaimannar to flag off the train to Madhu Road. This is part of the old India –Lanka rail link. I recall the lines of a famous song ‘Sindu Nadiyin Misai’ composed by the great nationalist poet Subramanian Bharati in the early 20th century: ‘Singalatheevukkinor paalam ameippom’(we shall construct a bridge to Sri Lanka) I have come with the hope of building this bridge – a bridge that rests on strong pillars of our shared inheritance; of shared values and vision; of mutual support and solidarity; of friendly exchanges and productive cooperation; and, above all, belief in each other and our shared destiny. Thank you once again for the honour to be with you. Thank you very much
Rise of Sri Lanka’s luxury tourist resorts ‘fuels round of human rights abuses’ British-based TRAVEL AGENCIES among those named in report as hotel complexes hit traditional way of life
Mark Townsend
British-based travel agencies are among the European holiday firms criticised in a report that alleges tourism development in Sri Lanka is prompting new human rights abuses.
Large-scale tourism developments since the end of the civil war six years ago have had disastrous effects on local communities, including cases of fishermen losing their access to the sea and allegations of land grabbing by the military, says the report.
Among the TRAVEL AGENCIES criticised is Swiss-based Kuoni, which for nearly 50 years has run tours from the UK through 35 branded shops, although it recently unveiled plans to sell its British operation.
The report, Dark Clouds over the Sunshine Paradise, by human rights organisation the Society for Threatened Peoples, urges travel agents to be vigilant about human rights issues.
Sri Lanka is one of the world’s leading holiday destinations – in 2013 it was Lonely Planet’s top pick of countries to visit. More than 1.5 million tourists went there last year, with Britons making up the largest contingent from western Europe, with 144,168 visitors.
The Sri Lankan government has cultivated the image of a country back to normal after a 26-year war that killed an estimated 80,000-100,000 people, with claims that 40,000 Tamil civilians
died in the final weeks of the conflict, but the report says the reality is more complicated.
Campaigners examined three new tourist developments – at Kuchchaveli, Passikudah and Kalpitiya, in the north and east of the island, where much of the civil war fighting took place –
identifying hotels that they allege undermined the livelihoods of nearby families. They said they had identified 1,200 families that had been adversely affected by the construction of tourist complexes.
The scale of the developments is huge. The project at Kalpitiya aims to establish 10,000 beds in 17 LUXURY HOTELS although, the report alleges, “fishermen were denied access to the sea and other lucrative fishing areas” and acres of mangrove were “destroyed where previously women and children had caught prawns and shrimp”.
Researchers also found that land had been taken from locals without prior consultation, with one resident describing how construction work for a luxury hotel began on her land without her being informed.
Despite the claims of human rights infringements, at least 49 German and 21 Swiss TRAVEL AGENCIES and a few British subsidiaries offer hotels in the three areas, according to the report.
The Sri Lankan government has considerable ambitions for the tourism trade, drawing up a five-point plan that seeks to attract 2.5 million visitors in 2016, although campaigners say the local population will hardly PROFIT from them.
A Kuoni spokesman said the company was committed to “human rights due diligence” and had conducted impact assessments in a range of destinations. A spokeswoman added: “We
welcome the findings from the report and will CONTINUE to engage with partners in Sri Lanka to discuss issues and solutions.”
Even though the conflict is over, concerns have been raised over the situation in Sri Lanka, with the then United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, claiming in August 2013 that the country was displaying “signs of heading in an increasingly authoritarian direction”.
Other sources claim that Tamils detained by Sri Lankan authorities following the end of the conflict suffered sexual and physical abuse, including forced oral sex, anal rape and water torture. The Sri Lankan government revealed recently that it was planning an investigation into accusations of human rights abuses in the late stages of the war.
Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was ousted as president in January, had refused to cooperate with any UN investigation into army atrocities.
International Women’s Day: Statement from the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees
Mar 11 2015
On March 8, International Women’s Day, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees extend our solidarity and commitment to joint struggle to all activists and campaigners for freedom around the world who are confronting the forces of colonialism, exploitation, occupation, discrimination and racism and struggling for freedom, equality, justice and dignity; to those who defend self-determination of peoples, sovereignty over their resources and capabilities, and liberation from all forms of oppression; and to those who seek true peace with justice.
On this International Women’s Day, the rights of women around the world are violated in numerous ways: through wars and armed conflicts, through the power and oppression of racism; through reactionary forces in many regions, including in the Arab world, where such forces carry the support of imperalism to benefit its clear colonial objectives for control of peoples and their resources. Imperialism in our region has resulted in an increasing number of victims of its policies and ever more risk to the lives of people, especially women and children.
In Palestine, which is still under the yoke of Zionist settler colonialism, the Zionist movement seeks to proclaim its “democracy” and “progressiveness,” but in reality is committed to a mission of racism, murder, destruction and criminality. Palestinian women are struggling for the freedom of their people, and their message is one of insistence on freedom and refusal to compromise our rights, whether national or social, and thus continue their legitimate struggle for the inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, the right of return of Palestinian refugees, the right of self-determination, of full sovereignty, and the right to Jerusalem as capital of an independent Palestinian state. At the same time, Palestinian women struggle for full equality in all economic and social fields, ending all forms of discrimination against them in the legal and social fields and the development of laws in line with international conventions upholding the rights of women.
March 8, 2015 comes not long after months of barbaric aggression launched by “Israel” in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 2260 martyrs including many women and children, destroying tens of thousands of homes and displacing hundreds of thousands. Nearly 100,000 are still living without proper shelter, while the siege on Gaza has tightened, leading to further aggravation of the health, social and economic conditions of our people. In the West Bank, the occupation practices its strategy for control over all of Palestine through the brutal repression of our people, through ongoing land confiscation, home demolitions, military invasions, the targeting of our people for arrest, killing and wounding. The number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails has increased to 6500, including 22 women and about 200 children, suffering from harsh conditions of detention and many abuses committed against prisoners, especially as Israel refuses to recognize them as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. Simultaneously, the project to Judaize Jerusalem continues, as do the racist assaults on our people in the occupied lands of 1948 and the intensification of discrimination and oppression, and the apartheid wall continues to be built, intensifying racism and apartheid in Palestine.
In Diaspora, more than half of the Palestinian people are suffering as refugees, especially those displaced from the camps in Syria and especially the besieged Yarmouk camp. Palestinian
refugees in Lebanon are facing extremely difficult conditions that have only become more severe after tens of thousands of Palestinians and Syrians fleeing Syria have come to the overcrowded camps in Lebanon.
All of the above only confirms that the Palestinian people are confronting a criminal strategy of colonialism and demand that the world act to stop these crimes, applying international law and holding the Zionist state and its war criminals accountable for their crimes against the Palestinian people.
The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees salutes March 8 this year and emphasizes the following:
* The continuation of the struggle of Palestinian women for freedom and self-determination until we achieve our national rights; * The need to confront all crimes and violations by the occupation forces against Palestinian women; The escalation of the boycott of Israel, divestment, and sanctions; * The struggle for unity with a real national strategy to confront the occupation and support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people; * The urgency of lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip and of reconstruction; * The necessity to release Palestinian prisoners and force Israel to apply international conventions to their treatment, in particular the Geneva Conventions; * The importance of developing the Palestinian social and economic structures to protect the rights of women and children and defend the equality of women, in line with international conventions signed by Palestinian officials, and to end all forms of discrimination against women; * The need to confront the reactionary forces that practice terror against the people, especially women, through the use of religion, and the promotion of the progressive, democratic political trend.
PFLP stands in solidarity with Venezuela against US sanctions and threats.
Mar 11 2015
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - PFLP- expressed its full solidarity with Venezuela in confronting US sanctions aimed at overthrowing the democratic Bolivarian government of Venezuela and undermining the will of its people, who have continually resisted US capitalism and imperialism. The US is making clear its ongoing and continuous policy seeking to return Venezuela under the boot of US imperialism and the dictates of US policy, as was the case in the past before the Bolivarian Revolution and the election of the late President Hugo Chavez. The Front expressed its solidarity with the people of Venezuela, the government and the President, Nicolas Maduro, in continuing to resist such attempts to undermine the future of Venezuela’s popular development. Comrade Kayed al-Ghoul, member of the Political Bureau of the PFLP, urged all progressive and democratic movements in the world to stand with Venezuela, noting the mass support of the people – and governments – of Latin America for Venezuela’s self-determination and sovereignty, rejecting and resisting the US attempt to isolate the Bolivarian Republic for its leading role in Latin America and the world in rejecting US imperialism. Al-Ghoul added that the Front is confident that Venezuela will continue to be a thorn in the side of US capitalism and global hegemony, and a country and people who consistently stand by the side of the Palestinian people and all peoples who stand for liberation and resistance to US imperialism, which pursues global policies of plunder, exploitation, underdevelopment, occupation, war and subjugation against the peoples and oppressed nations of the world in order to further its interests.
U.S. declares Venezuela a national security threat, sanctions top officials
BY JEFF MASON AND ROBERTA RAMPTON
WASHINGTON Mon Mar 9, 2015 5:43pm EDT
(Reuters) - The United States on Monday declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral
diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.
U.S. President Barack Obama issued and signed the executive order, which senior administration officials said did not target Venezuela's energy sector or broader economy. But the move
stokes tensions between Washington and Caracas just as U.S. relations with Cuba, a longtime U.S. foe in Latin America and key ally to Venezuela, are set to be normalized.
Declaring any country a threat to national security is the first step in starting a U.S. sanctions program. The same process has been followed with countries such as Iran and Syria, U.S.
officials said.
The White House said the order targeted people whose actions undermined democratic processes or institutions, had committed acts of violence or abuse of human rights, were involved
in prohibiting or penalizing freedom of expression, or were government officials involved in public corruption.
"Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption will not be welcome here, and we now have the tools to
block their assets and their use of U.S. financial systems," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.
"We are deeply concerned by the Venezuelan government's efforts to escalate intimidation of its political opponents. Venezuela's problems cannot be solved by criminalizing dissent," he
added.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez told reporters that Caracas would respond to the U.S. move soon and later tweeted that Venezuela was calling home its charge d'affaires in Washington for consultations.
The two countries have not had full diplomatic representation since 2008, when late socialist leader Hugo Chavez expelled then-U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy. Washington at the time responded by expelling Venezuelan envoy Bernardo Alvarez.
The list of sanctioned individuals includes: Gustavo Gonzalez, head of state intelligence service Sebin; Manuel Perez, director of the national police; and Justo Noguero, a former National Guard commander who now runs state mining firm CVG. It also includes three other military officers and a state prosecutor.
The individuals' would have their property and interests in the United States blocked or frozen and would be denied entry into the United States. U.S. citizens and permanent residents would be prohibited from doing business with them.
BLAME GAME
The White House also called on Venezuela to release all political prisoners, including "dozens of students," and warned against blaming Washington for its problems.
"We've seen many times that the Venezuelan government tries to distract from its own actions by blaming the United States or other members of the international community for events inside Venezuela," Earnest said in the statement. "These efforts reflect a lack of seriousness on the part of the Venezuelan government to deal with the grave situation it faces."
U.S. officials told reporters in a conference call that the executive order did not target the Venezuelan people or economy and stressed that upcoming legislative elections should be held without intimidation of the government's opponents.
The sanctions effectively confirm Venezuela as the United States' primary adversary in Latin America, a label that was for decades applied to Communist-run Cuba until Washington and
Havana announced a diplomatic breakthrough in December.
Washington said last week it would respond through diplomatic channels to Venezuela's demand for it cut the U.S. Embassy's staff in Caracas after the government called for a plan within
15 days to reduce staff to 17 from 100 at the American facility.
Commercial ties between Venezuela and the United States have largely been unaffected by diplomatic flare-ups, which were common during the 14-year-rule of Chavez.
The United States is Venezuela's top trading partner, and the OPEC member in 2014 remained the fourth-largest supplier of crude to the United States at an average of 733,000 barrels per day - despite a decade-long effort by Caracas to diversify its oil shipments to China and India.
Opposition leader and twice-presidential candidate Henrique Capriles told Reuters the sanctions were a problem for a corrupt elite in the Maduro government, but not ordinary Venezuelans.
"It's not a problem with Venezuela or with Venezuelans; it's a problem for the corrupt ones. It doesn't affect we Venezuelans."
(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton, additional reporting by Brian Ellsworth and Andrew Cawthorne in Caracas; editing by G Crosse)
===============================================
*Gandhi's religious references worked to divide the Indian people, strengthening British rule. * Gandhi deliberately tried to drive a wedge between the country's Hindu and Muslim populations, helping the British to divide and rule. * Gandhi peppered his speeches with Hindu phrases and terms pressed Indian Muslims into creating their own separate state, Pakistan. *Gandhi's speeches and writings, 'These are only some of the stupid, feudal ideas this "Father of our nation" had'.
Mr Katju, 68, wrote on his personal blog:
'I submit that Gandhi was objectively a British agent who did great harm to India.`
Justice Markandey Ketju
Mr Katju, former chairman of the Press Council of India, has a large online presence - his Facebook page has been liked nearly 100,000 times, and his blog was shared by thousands of people.
Gandhi was a British spy, claims one of India's top judges:
Justice provokes fury after claiming Father of the Nation drove wedge between Hindus and Muslims Judge claimed Gandhi used Hindu religion in speeches to divide IndiaSaid spiritual leader's rhetoric helped British policy of divide and ruleJustice Markandey Ketju has a history of outspoken political comments
By CHRIS PLEASANCE FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:25, 11 March 2015 | UPDATED: 11:37, 11 March 2015
Justice Markandey Ketju said Gandhi's religious references worked to divide the Indian people, strengthening British rule
Mahatma Gandhi, the leader who helped lead India to independence over British rule, was actually an agent for the colonists, a top India judge has claimed.
Justice Markandey Ketju said Gandhi deliberately tried to drive a wedge between the country's Hindu and Muslim populations, helping the British to divide and rule.
The judge, who is known for making controversial statements, made his comments ahead of the unveiling of a statue of Gandhi in Parliament Square, London.
They also came as Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond flies to Delhi for his first official visit, meeting with finance minister Arun Jaitley, who will come to London to see the statue unveiled.
Mr Katju, 68, wrote on his personal blog: 'I submit that Gandhi was objectively a British agent who did great harm to India.
ENB File Photo: அகிம்சை நடனம்!
'By constantly injecting religion into politics continuously for several decades, Gandhi furthered the British policy of divide and rule.'
In a separate post on the same topic, he asks: 'Does such a man, who constantly injected religion into politics, and thereby furthered the British policy of divide and rule, deserve to be called the Father of the Nation?
He says the fact that Gandhi peppered his speeches with Hindu phrases and terms pressed Indian Muslims into creating their own separate state, Pakistan, which was founded less than a year before Gandhi was shot dead.
Mr Ketju, who has a reputation for making controversial remarks, also quoted from Gandhi's speeches and writings, before concluding: 'These are only some of the stupid, feudal ideas this "Father of our nation" had'
Mr Ketju, who has a reputation for making controversial remarks, also quoted from Gandhi's speeches and writings, before concluding: 'These are only some of the stupid, feudal ideas this "Father of our nation" had'.
Mr Katju, former chairman of the Press Council of India, has a large online presence - his Facebook page has been liked nearly 100,000 times, and his blog was shared by thousands of people.
Mr Katju's father was deeply immersed in the Indian freedom movement, and he has made controversial statements on the topic in the past.
According to The Times, he once said '90 per cent of Indians are idiots' because they vote in elections based on their religion and caste, rather than on political merit.
Blames Rajapaksa for playing China card against India Sri Lanka will handle its relations with India and China “separately” from each other, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe told a Tamil TV Channel.
In an interview ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, Mr. Wickramasinghe blamed the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for “playing the China card against India and India
card against China,” adding that Mr. Modi’s visit was a “goodwill one to restore the ties between the two countries.”
But in remarks that will raise eyebrows in Delhi, Mr. Wickramasinghe told Thanthi TV that Indian politicians might have developed “amnesia” over the fact that India had assisted Mr. Rajapaksa in the LTTE war of 2009.
“Without the help of India, President Rajapaksa could not have wiped out the LTTE. He got that help and he agreed to give concessions even beyond the 13th amendment ... But he did not do so ...,” the Sri Lankan Prime Minister said. Asked specifically about the UPA’s denials of help to Sri Lanka, especially because of opposition from its alliance partner the DMK, he said, “Amnesia, you know is very common among politicians.”
In other potentially controversial comments, Mr. Wickramasinghe accused the TNA government in the Northern Province and Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran of being “irresponsible” in passing a resolution for an international genocide investigation to look into allegations dating back to the 1970s. The Prime Minister said that in that case, not only would the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE had to be charged with killings, but so would the Indian Peace Keeping Force that went in to assist in the late 1980s.
“Casualties took place under the Sri Lankan SECURITY forces, the IPKF and also by the LTTE ... But to say that it was only the Government of Sri Lanka [is wrong].” Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe
Mr. Wickramasinghe also referred to the fishermen issue, which is likely to come up during Mr. Modi’s visit, even as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is discussing the next round of negotiations over fishing rights,and the arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lanka in Colombo this weekend.
Accusing India of double standards over friction with the Sri Lankan government, while sticking to its position on Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen, he said, “Why do
you all pick up the Italian sailors ...? You say you are friendly with Italy, show that same magnanimity to Italy that you want us to show.”
(For full interview visit: http://thne.ws/SLRanil)
போல்சிவிக்ஷம், ருக்ஷ்யாவின் அக்டோபர் புரட்சியின் சாராம்சம் முதலாளித்துவத்தின் கீழ் யார் மிகவும் அதிகமாக ஒடுக்கப்பட்டார்களோ, அந்த மக்களை அரசியலுக்கு இழுத்துக் கொண்டு வருவதே, முடியாட்சி, முதலாளித்துவ ஜனநாயகக் குடியரசுகள்இரண்டிலுமே முதலாளிகள் அவர்களை கீழே போட்டு மிதித்து, ஏமாற்றித் திருடிக் கொண்டிருந்தார்கள். நிலமும் தொழிற்சாலைகளும் தனிப்பட்டவர்களுடைய உடைமையாக இருந்த வரை, இத்தகைய ஒடுக்குமுறை, இத்தகைய மோசடி, மக்களின் உழைப்பை முதலாளிகள் இப்படி கொள்ளையடிப்பது தவிர்க்க முடியாததாக இருந்தது முதலாளித்துவ ஜனநாயகத்தின் பொய்மையையும் பாசாங்குத்தனத்தையும் அம்பலப்படுத்தி, நிலத்திலும் தொழிற்சாலைகளிலும் தனிச்சொத்துரிமையை ஒழித்து, உழைக்கும் மக்களிடம், சுரண்டப்படும் மக்களிடம் எல்லா அரசு அதிகாரத்தையும் குவிப்பதே போல்சிவிக்ஷம், சோவியத் ஆட்சியின் சாரம்சமாகும். அவர்கள், இந்த வெகுஜனங்கள், அரசியலைக் கையிலெடுக்கிறார்கள், அதாவது புதிய சமூகத்தை நிர்மாணிக்கின்ற பணியைத் தொடங்குகிறார்கள். இது சுலபமான காரியமல்ல; முதலாளித்துவம் வெகுஜனங்களைக் கீழே போட்டு மிதித்து ஒடுக்கிக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. ஆனால் கூலி அடிமைத்தனத்தை, முதலாளித்துவ அடிமைத்தனத்தை விட்டு வெளியே வருவதற்கு இதைத் தவிர வேறு வழியில்லை; வேறு வழி இருக்கவும் முடியாது.
ஆனால் வெகுஜனங்களை அரசியலுக்குக் கொண்டுவருவது -----பெண்களையும் அதே மாதிரியாகக் கொண்டுவராமல்---- முடியாது. ஏனென்றால் முதலாளித்துவத்தின் கீழ் மனிதகுலத்தின் பாதியளவிலிருக்கும் பெண்குலம் இரு மடங்கு ஒடுக்கப்படுகிறது. உழைக்கும் பெண்களும் விவசாயிப் பெண்களும் மூலதனத்தால் ஒடுக்கப்படுகிறார்கள் ஆனால் அதற்கும் மேலாக, முதலாளித்துவக் குடியரசுகளில்மிகவும் அதிகமான ஜனநாயகம் நிலவுகின்றவற்றில் கூட, முதலாவதாக, சட்டம் அவர்களுக்கு ஆண்களோடு சமத்துவம் கொடுக்கவில்லை என்பதால், அவர்களுக்குச் சில உரிமைகள் மறுக்கப்படுகின்றன. இரண்டாவதாக---- இது மிகவும் முக்கியமானதாகும் -----அவர்கள் ”வீட்டுவேலை என்ற அடிமைத்தனத்தில்” .சிக்கியிருக்கிறார்கள். ஏனெனில் சமையலறையிலும் வீட்டிலும் அற்பமான, அழுக்குப் படிந்த, முதுகெலும்பை உடைக்க கூடிய, அறிவை மந்தப்படுத்துகின்ற உழைப்பு என்ற அடிமை வேலையை அவர்கள் அளவுக்கு மீறிச் செய்ய வேண்டியிருக்கிறது.
பெண்களுக்குச் சமத்துவம் மறுக்கப்பட்டு அவர்கள் ஒடுக்கப்படுவதன் மூலவேர்களை சோவியத் புரட்சி, போல்க்ஷிவிக் புரட்சி, பிடுங்கியதைப் போல உலகத்தின் வேறு எந்தக் கட்சியும், புரட்சியும் எந்தக் காலத்திலும் கனவில் கூட நினைத்தது கிடையாது. இங்கே சோவியத் ருக்ஷ்சியாவில், ஆண்களுக்கும் பெண்களுக்கும் சமத்துவம் இல்லாத நிலைமையில் சுவடு கூட சட்டத்தில் விட்டுவைக்கப்படவில்லை. சோவியத் ஆட்சி விக்ஷேசமாகத் திருமணம், குடும்பம் பற்றிய சட்டங்களிலே இருந்த அருவருப்பூட்டும் கேவலமான, பாசாங்குத்தனமான சமத்துவமற்ற நிலையையும், குழந்தைகளுக்கிடையே கூட சமமான அந்தஸ்து இல்லாத நிலையையும் அகற்றிவிட்டது.
பெண்கள் விடுதலையில் இது முதல் நடவடிக்கை மட்டுமே; ஆனால் முதலாளித்துவ குடியரசுகளில்---- அவற்றில் அதிக ஜனநாயகம் உள்ளவற்றையும் சேர்த்துக் கொண்டு----ஒன்றுலாவது இந்த முதல் முயற்சியைச் செய்வதற்குக் கூட துணிவு வரவில்லை.”புனிதமான தனிச் சொத்துரிமையைக்” கண்டு ஏற்படுகின்ற பயம்தான் இதற்கு காரணம்.
இரண்டாவதும், மிக முக்கியமானதுமான நடவடிக்கை நிலத்திலும் தொழிற்சாலைகளிலும் தனிச் சொத்துரிமையை ஒழிப்பதாகும். இந்த நடவடிக்கை------இது மட்டுமே----- தனித் தனியாக வீடுகளை நிர்வகிப்பதிலிருந்து விரிந்த அளவிலான சமூகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட குடும்ப சேவைகளுக்கு மாற்றுவதன் மூலம் “ வீட்டு அடிமைத் தனத்திலிருந்து” பெண்களை விடுதலை செய்து, அவர்களுடைய முழுமையான விடுதலைக்கு, உண்மையான விடுதலைக்கு வழி வகுக்கும்.
இந்த மாற்றம் கடினமானதே; ஏனென்றால் இதில் மிக ஆழமாக வேரூன்றிவிட்ட, உறுதியான, மரத்துப்போன, இறுக்கமான “ஒழுங்கமைப்பை” (அருவருப்பான, காட்டுமிராண்டித்தனமான முறை என்று சொல்வது உண்மையாகப் பொருத்தமாக இருக்கும்.) திருத்தியமைப்பது சம்பத்தப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. ஆனால் மாற்றம் ஆரம்பமாகிவிட்டது; இதற்கு விசை கொடுத்துச் செலுத்தி விட்டோம்; புதிய பாதையில் நாம் புறப்பட்டு விட்டோம்.
இப்படிப்பட்ட இணையற்ற,நம்ப முடியாத அளவுக்குக் கடினமான ஆனால் மாபெரும் கடமையை உலகத்திலே மகத்தானதும் உண்மையிலேயே விடுதலையை ஏற்படுத்துவதுமான இந்தக் கடமையை முதல் முதலாகச் செய்கின்ற சோவியத் ருக்ஷ்சியாவுக்கு, இந்த சர்வதேச உழைக்கும் பெண்கள் தினத்தன்று, உலகத்தின் எல்லா நாடுகளிலுமுள்ள உழைக்கும் பெண்கள் எண்ணற்ற பொதுக் கூட்டங்களில் வாழ்த்துக்களை அனுப்புவார்கள். மூர்க்கத்தனமான,---அடிக்கடி காட்டுமிராண்டித்த னமாகவும் மாறுகின்ற--- முதலாளித்துவ பிற்போக்குக்கு முன்னால் உறுதியிழக்க வேண்டாம் என்று உத்வேகமூட்டக்கூடிய அறைகூவல்கள் வரும். ஒரு முதலாளித்துவ நாடு எந்த அளவுக்குச் “சுதந்திரமானதாகவும்” “அதிக ஜனநாயகம்” உடையதாகவும் இருக்கின்றதோ அந்த அளவுக்கு அங்கேயுள்ள முதலாளித்துவக் கும்பல் அதிகக் காட்டுத்தனமாகத் தொழிலாளர் புரட்சியைத் தாக்கும். வட அமெரிக்க ஐக்கிய நாடுகள் என்ற ஜனநாயகக் குடியரசு இதற்கு உதாரணமாகும். ஆனால் தொழிலாளிகளில் பெரும்பான்மையினர் ஏற்கனவே விழிப்படைந்து விட்டார்கள். ஆசியாவிலும் கூட செயலற்ற, மந்தமான, தூக்க மயக்கமுடைய மக்கள் திரளினர் ஏகாதிபத்திய யுத்தத்தினால் முற்றிலும் விழித்துக் கொண்டு விட்டனர்.
உலகத்தின் ஒவ்வொரு மூலையிலும் தேக்க நிலை உடைக்கப்பட்டு விட்டது. ஏகாதிபத்திய நுகத்தடியிலிருந்து மக்களினங்களுடைய விடுதலை, மூலதனம் என்ற நுகத்தடியிலிருந்து உழைக்கும் ஆண்கள் பெண்களுடைய விடுதலை என்ற பேரெழுச்சியை எதுவும் தடுத்து நிறுத்த முடியாது. நகரங்களிலும் கிராமப்புறங்களிலும் லட்சக்கணக்கான ஆண்களும் பெண்களும் இந்த இலட்சியத்தைத் தாங்கி முன்னேறிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றார்கள். மூலதனம் என்ற நுகத்தடியிலிருந்து உழைப்பின் விடுதலை என்ற இந்த இலட்சியம் உலகமுழுவதிலும் வெற்றி பெறப் போகும் காரணம் இதுவே.
1921, மார்ச் 4 நூல் திரட்டு தொகுதி 42, பக்கங்கள் 368-370 சோவியத் ஆட்சியும் சமுதாயத்தில் பெண்கள் நிலையும்
பக்கங்கள் 26 -29
Sri Lanka's political parties are united on the need for restoration of democracy in Sri Lanka, removing the executive presidency and national reconciliation, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe.
THANTHI TV: Thank you very much Mr. Prime Minister for agreeing to talk to us. Let me start asking about the working of the New National Govt. There is an SLFP President, UNP Prime Minister. Ministers from parties that have been opposing each other in elections consecutively. How does this actually work?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We were all united on few issues... Restoration of democracy in Sri Lanka, end of the Rajapaksa regime, the need to remove the executive presidency & finally need to have a national reconciliation. So we got together. The fact is that Rajapaksa was crowding the democratic space in Sri Lanka. One of the the smaller parties that has always opposed the UNP consistently said, "Look, fish need water, we need space... He is not giving us the space...let’s all get together, create a democratic system, strengthen it & then we can all go back to the party politics that we knew”. It is like Political parties getting together in a National crisis, it's generally a war, an invasion which brings them together... But here it was a major Political crisis which decided... Will this country be a Multi party democracy or will it be the Rajapaksa regime... It affected the SLFP itself...Because the SLFP was being replaced, the cadres, the Members were being replaced by the henchmen of Rajapaksa regime. This is why the General Secretary of the SLFP became the Common candidate, today, he is the President of the Country.
THANTHI TV: But can this set up go on after the Parliamentary elections...Can this go beyond the ensuing Parliamentary elections?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes, we have decided that we will work together at least for two years & we could assess the situation, can we stay on or should we separate. I like all the parties to get together. As I said in Sinhalese, I want to make the whole Parliament a Government. One Group will be The Ministers & Deputy Ministers, the rest of them will become over sight Committee. Like the European Parliament or the American congress, exercising powers of oversight over the Government, therefore the chairman of the Oversight committee will also be a Powerful Political figure
THANTHI TV: But is it, practically feasible to go on for that long?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes. We can go for 2 years...We can manage for 2 years
THANTHI TV: On President Sirisena's visit to India... He is back after after his first State visit to India... Are you happy about the outcome of his visit?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: yes... I’m quite happy. First being President Sirisena's visit to Delhi, Next month will be Prime Minister Modi's visit to Sri Lanka... This shows we are re-establishing links, repairing the damage, getting ahead.
THANTHI TV: That’s true... The engagements are happening more often than before. My question is on Prime Minister Modi's visit. This is very significant because this is a bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister that happens after 28 long years. If Modi wishes to visit the North of Sri Lanka, the Tamil Province, Would you facilitate & encourage such a visit?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: He is welcome to visit to Jaffna... We have invited him for him to visit Jaffna; He is requested to visit Jaffna. And that visit will take place. He also has to decide what are the other places he would like to visit during his stay in Sri Lanka.
THANTHI TV: Could it be in the upcountry?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Well he may visit Kandy, which is the old capital. But I think the focus will mainly be on some of our religious places & the North.
THANTHI TV: The Prime Minister will also be visiting Kandy where substantial number of Indian origin Tamils live?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Kandy is possible on the places that he may like to visit...Then he could visit the temple of the tooth & pay homage to the tooth relic. But his meeting with the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka will mainly be in & around Jaffna. Remember there are enough of Tamils of recent Indian origin in Colombo... He need not go anywhere else; he can meet them all in Colombo.
THANTHI TV: The previous regime was not very cozy about the Foreign Heads of Government, visiting the North of Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa regime expressed displeasure over the British Prime Minister visiting north... You have no problem about our Prime Minister visiting north?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: No, Once we have a visit by a Foreign head of Govt., in addition to Colombo, he must be allowed to choose where he likes to visit
THANTHI TV: When are you visiting India, Mr. Prime Minister?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Well, I have been visiting India on & off... But I don’t think I will come to India till after the Parliamentary elections are over.
THANTHI TV: Where does China factor today stand in the Indo- Sri Lankan Relations? The Previous regime was perceived largely pro-china
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We keep the Indo- Sri Lanka relations separate from Sino- Sri Lanka relations... Both are important for us. With India there is historic link. Under the Indo- Lanka agreement, both countries have agreed that they will not take any measures that will harm the SECURITY of the other country. So in conducting our relations with China or with other country, we keep this in mind. With this way, we are able to handle the Indo-Sri Lanka relationship separately from the Sino- Lanka relations. What we did not like was the attempt at the time of Rajapaksa regime to play India off against China. Play China card with India, India card with China. That is not a wise policy. India also helped us. Without the help of India, President Rajapaksa could have not wiped out the LTTE . He got that help & he agreed to give concessions even beyond the 13th amendment...But he did not do so...
THANTHI TV: India helped Sri Lanka in the war?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes... certainly
THANTHI TV: India has been categorically denying that.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Amnesia, you know is very common among politicians.
THANTHI TV: There was a perception that the previous regime was largely in tilt towards China. Is the era of Pro- China tilt over today?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: As I told you, we have no Pro china tilt; we have No Pro India tilt.
THANTHI TV: I’m asking about the Previous Govt. There was a perception that the previous regime had a pro-china tilt.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Because they had a strained relations with the west. They relied on china for all the economic assistance .But in our case, while we welcome Chinese INVESTMENT & assistance, we will also be getting investment assistance from other countries. There won’t be a tilt as far as UNP is concerned, President Sirisena is concerned & other parties in the National Govt. are concerned... As a result of how they conducted their foreign policy, there is a general feeling that Rajapaksa regime had tilted towards China.
THANTHI TV: Your Position on the Port city project has now triggered some doubts.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: No doubt. I'm the first person to raise the Port city in the Parliament... I asked for the reports. Now we have appointed a committee to go into the port city & to make a report. Depending on the outcome of the report, we will decide what our measures are going to be. But once we get the report, we will also give a copy of it to the Chinese Govt. & then commence discussion
THANTHI TV: You had spoken about the scrapping of the project. , but now....
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I still think if the report is adverse, then the project should be scrapped.
THANTHI TV: If the report is adverse, the port city project should be scrapped?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: if the report is adverse, we have to scrap it. But then, we want to hear all parties. My contention on the report has not been tabled... Hear all the parties & take a decision.
THANTHI TV: While bilateral consultations with regards to voluntary repatriation of refugees from India to Sri Lanka have begun, The Tamil Nadu Govt. has raised certain doubts. It believes the situation & atmosphere is still not congenial & your govt. has not taken constructive steps. Do you say all is well for the refugees to return to Sri Lanka?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We have an environment for the refugees to return to Sri Lanka. If they have doubts & they want a longer time, just give them some more time. As the situation keep getting back to normal & improving, people in Tamil Nadu will say, why don’t they go back to Sri Lanka. We don’t want to force the issue, as the events develop, they will have to return to Sri Lanka.
THANTHI TV: These criticisms come at the back ground that the resettlement of the internally displaced Tamils hasn’t happened in entirety
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Of the 11,000 acres, now only about 5000 acres are in army's control. We have identified some other places to be returned. Some of the refugees may be from these areas, or they may be from areas where life is back to normal. In any case, if they have fear, they should be given some more time to return.
THANTHI TV: Tamil Nadu has played a very significant or a powerful part in the Indo- Sri Lankan relations... The complaint is that Governments in Colombo & also in Delhi have not taken this special factor into consideration which in turn has only complicated relations between the 2 countries. Now that there is a regime change, would you take Tamil Nadu's views on board, would you like to engage with Tamil Nadu while dealing with India?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: When I was Prime Minister (earlier), I always engaged with Tamil Nadu, kept them informed. Of course we have to deal with the Govt. of India. We know Chennai, we go there regularly, we have friends there. Some go for shopping, some go for religious purposes . Tamil Nadu is not an unknown place.
THANTHI TV: But would you like to engage with Tamil Nadu?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: On bilateral relations, we deal with the Govt. of India. When we go to Tamil Nadu, we keep them informed. We like that to CONTINUE.
THANTHI TV: Your Manifesto says, your policy will take diversity of India into concern...Does that mean Tamil Nadu?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes...certainly... Southern part of the sub-continent is closer to each other.
THANTHI TV: When the Tamil Nadu issue was raised, the attitude of the previous Govt. was that we deal with the Govt. in Delhi, not Chennai. Chennai is not our concern... Will there now be change in attitude?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We have always said, Govt. to Govt. in Delhi... We have always wanted Good relations with States in Southern India, Chennai( TN) , Kerala- Large number of Sinhalese have supposed connections with Kerala , Karnataka, & of course Andhra which is now in 2 places .. Telengana & Andhra... All that has been traditional parts of our relations. Do you know that Narasimha Varman, The king of Pallavas, he was able to defeat the Chalukyan king because his command was a Prince from Sri Lanka called Manavamma. Then King gave his army to Manavamma to return to Sri Lanka & re-establish himself on the throne of Anuradhapura. Pallava & the Anuradhapura kings had very very close relations, Pandians too had... The final line up was Sri Lanka, Pallava, Pandiyas & Sri Vijaya against Cholas... Of course Chola defeated all of us. Kerala & Sri Lanka are the only two areas in the Indian subcontinent that use coconut oil for cooking.
THANTHI TV: Can I understand that you would prioritize strengthening relations with South India?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We will...We will always.
THANTHI TV: I must definitely ask you about the resolution that the Northern Provincial council of Sri Lanka has now passed. The allegation is that the successive Governments of Sri Lanka have been committing genocide against the Tamils. What is your response?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Very very irresponsible statement by the Chief Minister. I don’t agree with it. Makes it difficult for us to communicate with the Chief Minister when he passes resolutions like this. This will be the same position in India, if a Chief Minister passed resolution accusing Delhi of committing Genocide. I have been dealing with Mr. Sammanthan &the members of the TNA resolving the issue. Yes, there was a war, people were killed but on all sides. Remember just as much as Tamils got killed. There were Muslims & Sinhalese were killed.
THANTHI TV: But the Magnitude was high on the Tamil side
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes... Muslims were killed in the east...they were Tamil speakers, not Sinhala speakers.
THANTHI TV: But the Magnitude sir. ! The numbers?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Magnitude high...Yes... But remember some of the Tamils were killed by the LTTE... LTTE wiped out the Political leadership of Jaffna. All the TULF & other members were killed by the LTTE. No Tamil politicians were killed by the SECURITY forces of Sri Lanka. Many of the Jaffna's leadership were killed by the LTTE. You ask the people of Jaffna
THANTHI TV: Going by the UN Report, the large number of the killing were done by the Sri Lankan forces.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: UN report talks of the last phase of the war, where large numbers of people were killed. The numbers are in dispute. UN report says 40,000...Some of the official reports say 5000...
THANTHI TV: The diaspora says, it could be closer to a lakh or so.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: No... I would not say... I don’t think it would come even up to 40,000... We are willing to verify it. Sri Lanka had to fight a war...LTTE used the civilians as a shield... Then what happened there, is what we have to inquire into... Was it that they were used as a shield & you couldn’t avoid the casualties or was it that you could avoid some casualties & you dint do so. We are not trying to cover any thing up. We have got the UN; we are dealing with the UN
THANTHI TV: So, You deny the charge that there has been genocide against the Tamils. ?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I would say large number of people of Sri Lanka, including a large number of Tamils have been killed in the conflict. Some of them are casualties of war. Some are killed for no reasons at all. Deaths have been partly due to the operations of the Sri Lankan Army, SECURITYforces, partly due to the operations of the IPKF, partly due to the operations of the LTTE...
THANTHI TV: You would blame the IPKF also?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: People were killed by all these... casualties took place under Sri Lankan SECURITY forces, IPKF and also by LTTE... We are in no way denying it. We are not going to say that the actions of the Sri Lankan security forces did not result in deaths of Tamils, may be in large numbers. Some in fighting & some in other circumstances, which we are willing to look at. But to say that it was only that it was only the Government of Sri Lanka? When Mr. Wigneswaran knows that he would not have been taken from Colombo & made the Chief Minister if there was a Political leadership left in Jaffna by the LTTE. What happened in 2005? In 2005 if people of Jaffna were allowed to vote, I could have prevented what took place in 2009. Who made Mahinda Rajapaksa the President? Not the people in the south... By preventing 300 to 400 thousand Tamils from voting, there was a deal between Mahinda Rajapaksa & LTTE. Mahinda Rajapaksa paid money to the LTTE. One of them who took the money to LTTE Amirkanthan is still there somewhere in the Middle East. That’s well known.
THANTHI TV: You accuse Rajapaksa of paying money to the LTTE?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: That is a fact even Rajapaksa has not denied... Prabhakaran took money...
THANTHI TV: Had you become the President, things would have been otherwise?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We would have come towards a resolution... Because many in the LTTE were willing to do a deal. Prabhakaran wasn’t (ready). Finally he fell out with Balasingham...Why was Balasingham excluded? Balasingham knew the reality .The reality was the International Community wanted a deal. Prabhakaran thought I can't finish him off physically, I will finish off politically. He could finish off Premadasa physically; He failed to finish off President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was for peace, who still stands for peace. He dint want a peace settlement because after 5 -6 years, his leadership could have been challenged... We were all discussing one of the biggest issues that we have in a peace settlement was the threat to Prabhakaran from the people of Jaffna. Remember he had killed enough of them that someone was going to take revenge. As far as the Sinhalese, Muslims were concerned, they would have said it is all part of the war & it is over. One of the biggest concerned we have had was what is the security of Prabhakaran after the Peace settlement, because he would have been a TARGET of people from the North who wanted to settle scores with him. How many Tamil leaders were killed...His own Mathaya was put into a cage & shot. Why did some of the others break away & come, because they knew Prabhakaran would kill them. Finally Prabhakaran's desire for glory was such that he nearly wiped out the whole Tamil race.
THANTHI TV: You blame Prabhakaran for Genocide?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I blame him for having destroyed, decimated the Tamil Political leadership.
THANTHI TV: There are allegations on both sides
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We have said, we are willing to have an Inquiry. We have no problem
THANTHI TV: Why not an International enquiry sir?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Because, Sri Lanka like India is not a party to Statute of Rome, therefore Jurisdiction lies with the Domestic courts. There was problem with the Domestic courts, as to whether the courts are Independent, when the Chief Justice was moved out. We now have the same standards like India. India would say the same stand as us... We are willing to have an Inquiry, if they want to have foreign observers; we have no problems with it at all.
THANTHI TV: Are you & Rajapaksa are not on the same page?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I’m not on the same page with Rajapaksa
THANTHI TV: On the International enquiry? He also spoke of a Domestic process credible to the International community
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I’m on the same line with the Government of India. As far as Jurisdiction in criminal & legal matters is concerned it lies with the Republic of India & with Republic of Sri Lanka as neither of us has signed the Statute of Rome... I'm the one who refused to sign the statute of Rome. But I'm prepared to have any amount of trials in Sri Lanka. We have to ensure that Judiciary is Independent... If anyone wants to come in, Human Rights Watch or any one, they are completely free to come into Sri Lanka, which was not allowed by Rajapaksa. If there is a request for an enquiry in Sri Lanka, We can talk over it with the Human Rights council. Let's see what their final report...We are willing to discuss with them... All we are saying is Jurisdiction for trials lies with the Government of Sri Lanka just as much as in India it lies with India, in America it lies with the USA. Remember that these are all Governments that did not sign the Statute of Rome. Therefore, if Human Rights Watch wants to come tomorrow they are free to come. I will say yes. As far as UN is concerned, if they make recommendations, certainly we have to consider & talk to them... We have invited the High Commissioner. If someone else makes a request... No....When we had problems in the South in the 1989 & 90, they asked for International enquiry... I said No; the person who asked for International enquiry was a person by the name of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
THANTHI TV: He was wrong?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I said No International Enquiry. If the UN Human rights commission wants an inquiry, I'm willing to talk to them. But I invited Human rights watch & others to come to Sri Lanka... (After the uprisings in 1989&90)They all came to Sri Lanka. The Congressional staff came to Sri Lanka... We have nothing to hide. We know terrible incidents have taken place...More than 100 Thousand people have been killed. There were uprisings in the North & in the South... I don’t think any country had gone through that. At one stage our Jurisdiction was limited to a few cities where uprising in the North & South had taken place same time. We just wanted to put it behind us. Any Inquiry that helps us to put it behind us, YES. The Only people who can talk to us about an Inquiry are the UN council on Human rights...
THANTHI TV: That’s right...But the Office of the High commission has recommended an International enquiry... Office of the Human rights commissioner wants it.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yes. President Rajapaksa turned it down. But When Ms. Pillay came to Sri Lanka; I met her & I said, make your recommendations... If we are in The Government we will consider it. But again I told her Domestic jurisdiction is different. You've got to draw a line between what is domestic jurisdiction & what is the enquiry...In the case the enquiry , It is a body like UN That can ask you for an enquiry & the Govt. can respond by saying 'No' we are not going to have an Inquiry or say Yes, we are willing to talk to you on that. If the UN report says so, we are willing to do that.
THANTHI TV: If the High commissioner insists, you would consider?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We want an Inquiry. As far as Jurisdiction is concerned, Jurisdiction is a matter for Sri Lanka. As far as the Inquiry is concerned, it is not me; it is President Rajapaksa who agreed with the Secretary General of the UN that there shall be an Inquiry that meets the International standards. It is the same resolution which he got the member states to move in the UN Human rights council. Whatever commitments President Rajapaksa gave in writing to the UN secretary General & UN Human rights council, we will honor... I have no problems about that.
THANTHI TV: Do you think he has not honoured the promise?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: He did not allow an inquiry.
THANTHI TV: The domestic process that Rajapaksa was talking about doesn’t seem credible to the International community. You say will bring an Inquiry that is credible to the International community?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: As far as the domestic commission he has appointed a commission called Maxwell - Paranagama -commission. They have asked for six months more...we have given six months, when that is over the report will be made available for the UN council to make their decision…they can make whether it is credible or not. I don't want to pass any judgment now. In addition the commission has appointed a committee chaired by Sir Desmond Desilva, British Queen council of Sri Lankan origin to make recommendation about the judicial procedures, so that report will also be made available to them and we are talking with the South African government in regard to establishing a truth commission, that will also be made available …so we are doing a lot.
THANTHI TV: Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran largely blames you for decision to retain the army in the North. He says you are playing obsolete political tactics for electoral reasons … Do you deny the charge?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Army is in all parts of Sri Lanka. I don't find any reason why the army should go out of any district in Sri Lanka, there are district head quarters in every part of Sri Lanka, and actually their structure is based on the India one.
THANTHI TV: But the army civilian ratio in the North is appalling
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I know that...what we have said is - as far as we are concerned we are not pulling the security forces out of any place unless we see improvements ..But at the same time there is lots of land that can be released to the people in different parts of the country. We have started with the thousand acres now the TNA said there has been an agreement in court over another two thousand acres, I just handed over to the attorney general .They have raised the issue of people in Mannar, we will go into it and Killinochi. We said lot of land has been utilized for other purposes. In Sampur we have handed the re-settlement to the people in Sampur...then in Panama we have resettled that issue that’s for Sinhala farmers whose lands were taken away so that they could build VIP chalets e. We are starting the process but remember this cannot be done overnight...it will take some time
THANTHI TV: But he blames the slow pace
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I told you that I disagree with him. He is irresponsible and he will have to explain himself for the Tamil speaking people. Lots of Tamils are today criticizing him. I am dealing here with the TNA members of parliament, if it is at slow pace they need not come weekly
THANTHI TV: This is not the TNA's demand alone the UN high commissioner has also been demanding this... international community has been demanding this
Ranil Wickramasinghe: UN high commissioner wants the lands restored .They say immediately and I have asked him to come, it has to be gradual. First we have to be satisfied with the security situation secondly we have to decide what happens in the rest of the country, but it was not a question, we never said in the 100 days manifesto which everyone voted for about pulling troops out .It was a security decision, we said about restoring lands to the people in all parts of Si Lanka
THANTHI TV: But what stops you from doing that
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Nothing to prevent us. All the land that is not required will be done
THANTHI TV: But the ratio? Army civilian ratio in the North is not proportionate to the other parts of the country.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Army civilian ratio will be adjusted as time goes on. No one has said it is going to be that high all the time. Isn't Vigneshwaran playing politics? It is utter irresponsible statement of a Chief Minister.
THANTHI TV: He has a line of two in praise of the president why do you think he blames you.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: He never even spoke to me on anything. Today you ask him again to repeat it. I’ll be going to Jaffna
THANTHI TV: He said you had told him that you had told the (Mahanayakas) Buddhist monks that you are not going to demilitarize the North
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I never told him anything. Wigneshwaran never dealt with me. He has never dealt with me.
THANTHI TV: He gives minute details, you smiled and said...
Ranil Wickramasinghe: He came only once when I was in the opposition. I have not dealt with him. I have no dealings with Wigneshwaran. He is a liar!
THANTHI TV: There was no meeting between you and Wigneshwaran recently?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Wigneswaran sent me a letter
THANTHI TV: The content of his speech was....
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I have not spoken to Wigneshwaran. I don't discuss Jaffna with Wigneshwaran. I discuss it with TNA in the parliament
THANTHI TV: You did not smile?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I would have smiled at him. He was a man who went and grabbed Rajapaksa here; he was willing to do a deal with Rajapaksa. I have not dealt with him. I have never had dealings with him.
THANTHI TV: As chief Minister he has to deal with the president
Ranil Wickramasinghe: No he has never come even otherwise as Chief Minister he never dealt with me as opposition. Wigneswaran has had no dealing. If he said so he is a liar. Next time I go to Jaffna, I will not meet him... I am going in the March.
THANTHI TV: You are not going to meet him
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I will not meet him unless he withdraws that …I will not meet him
THANTHI TV: You had not told him that you had told the Mahanayakas that there will be no de-militarization
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I have not spoken to all Mahanayakas... To begin with, my discussions on Jaffna have only been with two Mahanayakas... Maalvartha and the Mahanayaka Ramanya. Ramanya Mahanayaka is also the chair of the council of the religions, he was talking about the need to release the land and how we can do it while looking after the SECURITY...Mahanayaka Malwatta said certainly the land should be returned but we should not put the security at peril .that’s all they have said. I never spoke to him (Wigneswaran), he came to me once and I have no dealings
THANTHI TV: Your refusal to deal with him... will this not complicate matters further?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It won't complicate matters for me...It will complicate matters for him.
THANTHI TV: For the people?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: I deal with the people & with the members of the parliament
THANTHI TV: He is the representative of the Northern provincial council
Ranil Wickramasinghe: He is the Chief Minister of the provincial council... I deal with the members of the parliament just as much as I deal with the members of parliament in Kandy, I don’t deal the Chief Minister
THANTHI TV: Not the provincial government?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: if the provincial government wants to deal with me... yes! I have a Chief Minister in Badulla, I don't deal with him. In this, it is a conscious decision not to deal with Wigneshwaran,
THANTHI TV: Because of his remarks?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Because of his remarks and he lied. I can say that because I can directly deal with the people of Jaffna. I have no problem. I don't need Wigneshwaran to go there.
THANTHI TV: On the autonomy issue & the full implementation of the 13th amendment, how do you propose to go about it further?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We are implementing it, we are looking at how it is going to function in regard to independent commission and a concern which has been raised by a lot of people about the politicization of the police and whether the independent police commission is sufficient to depoliticize the police and whether we should take other steps to depoliticize the police. The fear is that the police will become private armies with the chief ministers. We haven't got the precedent of India. Politicization of the police at the center by president Rajapaksa has given that fear.
THANTHI TV: It works well in the countries like India
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It works with India. I said we don't have the precedence of India. It hasn’t worked here. We had it earlier. We haven't got it now. Fortunately Inspector General of police said look I will carry out what is expected of me under the law for the election. As a result he brought in former Inspector General of police and made him the secretary of the minister of Public order who tried to overrule this. The country has agreed that there should be no politicization of police. How we achieve is the matter that the whole parliament has to discuss. There is the fear that if there is politicization of the police that will lead to central government having one may be with the Prime minister after the amendment, one under the chief ministers so there are 10 police forces. We brought in independent police service commission in 2001 when the police was not politicized in this way. Now the parties have to talk to each other to see that there are more steps to depoliticize the police force and what is the relationship between head of government and police and the Chief Ministers and the police.
THANTHI TV: The other concern is about the merger...Would you consider the merger of the north and the east?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: The constitution of Sri Lanka provided for 9 provinces and that any mergers requires a referendum in both those provinces
THANTHI TV: But it is an integral part of the accord
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It is not a part of the accord. It only acknowledged merger for 1 year… temporary merger for 1 year and in 2005 Rajapaksa said I will not have a merger and Prabakaran supported him.
THANTHI TV: That is a conspiracy theory
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Whatever it is... it prevented the Tamils from voting. If you want a merger of any two provinces or more 13th amendment provides the way. You can have a merger. That is the provincial councils must vote in favor of the merger and must be supported by the majority of the people.
THANTHI TV: You talk about the full implementation of 13th amendment without the merger, without the police powers....
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Merger is not a part of the 13th amendment as the way you say. No one said North and east are going to be one province; it was a temporary merger for 1 year under the Indo-Lanka accord and any merger there-after will have to be by a referendum. President Jayewardene said I am going to hold a referendum and I will campaign against it. The day he was with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi he said it...
THANTHI TV: Are you for referendum now?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: If the two provincial councils want a referendum, then we will hold a referendum
THANTHI TV: you are okay?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: If the two provincial councils... Not only there, if two provinces anywhere want to merge and the pass it then we have to agree.
THANTHI TV: If there is a resolution passed by North and Eastern provincial council pass a resolution in demand of a referendum, the central government is okay?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Then the central government must hold a referendum. If the western and the North western province want to merge, we will have to hold the referendum. You can’t pass constitution amendments. There are supreme court judgments so if they have the majority, let them get the majority and do that and I didn’t say no police powers I said relationship of the head of the government to the police and the chief Minister to the police have to be reconsidered in the light of the need to depoliticize the police. I didn’t say it is only Chief Minister I said the head of government also.
THANTHI TV: On the fishermen issue...This is a long standing issue between India & Sri Lanka...How do you propose to solve this issue.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It's an issue between Tamil Nadu fishermen & Sri Lankan fishermen... They have got to sit down & we have to work this out. There can be No bottom trawling. There can be no solution that permits the Indian fishermen to do bottom trawling. This is basically Sri Lanka Waters... What would you have done if all our fishermen went into the Indian waters & started fishing there...? Now what you are claiming is, we want to come there, we want to fish in your water & we want to bottom trawl in your waters.
THANTHI TV: They say it is their traditional fishing right
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We are ready to consider the boats of the type that were used when Katchatheevu issue was resolved, you use the boats of that type...we will consider.
THANTHI TV: Our fishermen are on record saying that they are ready to give up bottom trawling.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Tell them to give up bottom trawling. Look, between you & me, these are relations...They are intermarried... They have to sit down & sort it out. As far as the Northern fishermen of Sri Lanka are concerned, it is their Track grounds. If you have the type of boats that were used when Katchatheevu has handed over, If you are using same number of boats that were there when the agreement was done, we are willing to talk on that.
THANTHI TV: You are willing to give them their traditional fishing right. ?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: We are willing to talk on that if it is restricted to the type of boats that were used when the Katchatheevu accord was done & the number of boats is equal to the number of boats that were there during the Katchatheevu accord.
THANTHI TV: You raised the Katchatheevu issue... Tamil Nadu largely believes the retrieval of Katchatheevu is the only solution for this issue... Would you consider ceding the island?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Look...Look. Katchatheevu is a Part of Sri Lanka... Delhi thinks it is a part of Sri Lanka, I know it is a part of Tamil Nadu Politics...I know all of them... On the issue of fishing, this is what we say...These are traditional waters... People who fish in it are the Fishermen in the North, even in the Fishermen in the south find some of the Indian trawlers coming to the southern areas also, like near Puttalam. It is a big issue for us... It is their livelihood. We prevented these (Sri Lankan) fishermen from fishing earlier because of the war, Otherwise they would have been fishing... At one stage LTTE armed some of the fishermen to shoot the fishermen coming from India. We are not doing that
THANTHI TV: But there are allegations of Sri Lankan Navy shooting fishermen...Around 600 Indian fishermen were killed in the last many years.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: No ...Not recently.
THANTHI TV: Until 2011.The last was in 2011.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: yeah. In 2011.Part of that earlier was during the time of war they felt some of them actually were involved in supplying of arms. Remember this, that as far as we are concerned, even today The Northern Fishermen are shouting why the Navy isn’t defending us... There were fishermen who have written letters why aren’t you using the Navy to shoot them. It is from the fishermen of the North... We have a job explaining to them, Look these are territorial waters, but we still have to go & talk to India & sort it out.
THANTHI TV: May be there are such requests... But do you deny the allegation that the Sri Lankan Navy has carried out Human right violations against Indian fishermen.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Sri Lankan Navy had to patrol it & at some stages there were shooting of Fishermen at the height when we asked fishermen to stop to prevent flow of arms between India & Sri Lanka.
THANTHI TV: Is that justified sir? Shooting fishermen of the neighboring country, a friendly neighbor.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It’s not a question of that. At that time, LTTE was running arms. . Whether Sri Lankan Fishermen or Indian fishermen, they had to stop, when the Navy asks them to stop. There also have been instances of the Sri Lankan Navy shooting innocent fishermen. We have not said No to it.
THANTHI TV: So, that has happened?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Yeah... The fact that they have been running arms... In some instance they have to shoot because they were poaching on Sri Lankan Waters.
THANTHI TV: Poaching waters? Can this be punished with shooting...? Human rights violations?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Why are you coming into our waters? Why are you fishing in our waters...? Stay on the Indian side... There will be no issue...No one will shoot anyone else...You stay on the Indian side, Let our fishermen stay on the Sri Lankan side... Otherwise don’t make accusations of Human rights violation by the Navy. You came in there.
THANTHI TV: Lot of friendly neighbors have fishing agreements.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: You be on to that side, we be on that side. Why do you all pick up the Italian sailors...? You say you are friendly with Italy, show that same magnanimity to Italy that you want us to show.
THANTHI TV: They killed our fishermen...We are still following the course of law
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Look... If you want us to show that magnanimity to your fishermen. India should show the same magnanimity to Italian sailors.
THANTHI TV: attack was on the Indian fishermen... Italian marines shot our Indian fishermen.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Look, you are taking away the livelihood for our Northern fishermen.
THANTHI TV: That can’t justify taking away lives sir.
Ranil Wickramasinghe: if someone tries to break into my house, I can shoot. If he gets killed...Law allows me to do that... On the fishermen issue, As far as I'm concerned, I have very very strong lines. This is our waters...Fishermen of Jaffna should be allowed to fish. We stopped them from fishing , That's Why the Indian fishermen came in,, They are willing to have a deal...Let's have a reasonable deal..But not at the expense of the income of the Northern Fishermen...No...
THANTHI TV: There were proposals of Fishermen fishing on both sides without
having any territorial restrictions
Ranil Wickramasinghe: you have no fish... it's not worth fishing there... Fishes are here...
THANTHI TV: On Retrieval of Katchatheevu, If India raises this issue... Would you consider ceding, if not ceding, leasing the Island in perpetuity?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: Look...We are not ceding, we are not leasing, India is not raising it... Let’s be quite firm about that... India is not going to raise it... These are hypothetical issues.
THANTHI TV: We are talking a lot on Political relations... India & Sri Lanka share strong cultural ties. Now that things are getting normalized...How do you propose to strengthen the cultural ties in terms of Arts, literature?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It's a people to people relationship...let it flow... it will happen. There was no Govt. involved in strengthening the relationship for so long... It will go on...Brahmi script, the Sinhala script, the Tamil scripts all had no Govts involved. It will take place.
THANTHI TV: But if the Govts facilitate, it can happen faster
Ranil Wickramasinghe: That’s true... Emperor Ashoka facilitated Mahinda coming to Sri Lanka...We can facilitate...It’s a normal process...it will keep growing
THANTHI TV: What to expect of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Sri Lanka?
Ranil Wickramasinghe: It's a goodwill one to restore the ties between the two countries
THANTHI TV: Thank you very much...A pleasure talking to you.
