யேமன்: மத்திய கிழக்கில் மற்றொரு உலகமறுபங்கீட்டு போர்க்களம்!

WAR & CONFLICT
Iran warns of bloodshed as Saudi-led forces bomb Yemen

At least 18 people reported killed in air strikes in Sanaa, as Iran warns violence could spread across the region.

26 Mar 2015 13:56 GMT | War & Conflict

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Saudi-led air strikes hit Houthi targets in Sanaa and Aden
18 civilians killed in Sanaa during overnight attacks, civil defence sources say Coalition of 10 countries including GCC nations involved in operation, Saudi says Egypt and Jordan confirm their PARTICIPATION in Saudi-led coalition

Saudi air strikes on Shia rebels in Yemen have triggered a furious reaction from regional rival Iran, with top officials warning that military action could spill into other countries.

Saudi Arabia said that a coalition consisting of 10 countries, including members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), had begun air strikes at 2am local time on Thursday, targeting Houthi positions in the capital, Sanaa.

According to Al Jazeera sources, the strikes carried out by 100 jets from Saudi and its coalition, have destroyed Iranian-made missile launchers in the capital Sanaa.

Houthi military barracks and air bases controlled by the rebels were also reportedly destroyed, Fayez al-Duweiri, a retired Jordanian general and defence analyst, told Al Jazeera.

The Houthi-run health ministry in Sanaa said that at least 18 civilians were killed and 24 others were wounded in the Saudi-led attacks on the capital.

The bombing of the Houthis, who are said to be backed by Iran - a charge Tehran denies - came after several weeks of warnings that Yemen was descending into civil war.

Saudi Arabia said it had launched the bombing raids to reinstate what it called the legitimate government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has been holed up in the main southern city of Aden since fleeing rebel-controlled Sanaa.

ENB File Photo Yemen Regions

The Houthis and their allies within the armed forces had been closing in on Hadi's last bastion, Aden.

Houthi TV aired pictures showing the aftermath of the air strikes in Sanaa

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the air strikes would lead only to greater loss of life.

"Military action from outside of Yemen against its territorial integrity and its people will have no other result than more bloodshed and more deaths," he told the Iranian-owned Al-Alam television channel.

"We have always warned countries from the region and the West to be careful and not enter shortsighted GAMESand not go in the same direction as al-Qaeda and Daesh," he added, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

He also called for an "urgent dialogue" among the Yemeni factions "without external interference".

The comments from Zarif, who is in the Swiss city Lausanne for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Iran's CONTESTED nuclear programme, echoed condemnation of the Saudi-led strikes by officials in Tehran.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Sanaa, Houthi spokesman Mohammed al-Bukhaiti called the military action a declaration of war on Yemen, adding that reports alleging a Houthi leader, Mohamed Ali al-Houthi, had been injured were false.

Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Houthi protesters gathered in Sanaa on Thursday to condemn the Saudi-led air strikes. In the city of Taiz, supporters of President Hadi organised a rival protest.

Sanaa targeted

Huge explosions were heard in Sanaa as strikes hit an air base at the capital's airport and other locations in the city, an AFP correspondent reported.

Strikes were also reported on targets in the Malaheez and Hafr Sufyan regions of Saada province, a main Houthi stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia.

Citing Saudi military sources, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV channel reported that 100 Saudi war planes were involved in the operation, dubbed "Decisive Storm".

ENB File photo: Oil field in Yemen and Regional map

The United Arab Emirates is participating with 30 jets, Bahrain with 15, Qatar with 10, Morocco and Jordan both with six, while Sudan offered three planes, officials said.

An Egyptian official told the AFP news agency that Egypt would also take part. Saudi Arabia said that another four Muslim countries including Pakistan wanted to PARTICIPATE in the Saudi-led military coalition.

Kuwait's defence ministry announced it was sending three squadrons of its F-18 Super Hornet aircraft to Saudi's King Abdulaziz airbase in Dhahran to take part in the offensive.

Four Egyptian warships also entered the Suez Canal on Thursday en route to the Gulf of Aden after Cairo pledged military support for the campaign, canal officials said.

The officials said the ships will take part in operations "to secure" the strategic waters that control southern access to the Suez Canal.

Pakistan, which has longstanding ties to Saudi Arabia, was examining a request from Riyadh to join the coalition, Islamabad said.

"I can confirm we have been contacted by Saudi Arabia in this regard. The matter is being examined," foreign office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

US delegation happy with Lanka

US delegation happy with Lanka

March 21, 2015 07:21 Eric P. Schwartz

A US delegation, which visited Sri Lanka to assess the climate for religious freedom, other human rights, and tolerance, have noted progress on the issues in Sri Lanka since the country’s 2015 election.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that it was encouraged by statements made by officials with whom they met, and in particular welcome
comments in support of national reconciliation among all Sri Lanka’s religious and ethnic communities.

USCIRF Commissioner Eric P. Schwartz said that during their recent three day visit, USCIRF had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Foreign Affaris, Mangala Samaraweera, Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksa, Minister of Buddha Sasana Karu Jayasuriya, and Minister of Muslim Religious Affairs Abdel Halim Mohamed Hasheem, as well as representatives from Sri Lanka’s diverse religious communities, among others.

“We are encouraged by statements made by officials with whom we met.  In particular, we welcome comments in support of national reconciliation among all Sri Lanka’s religious and ethnic communities.  After a devastating war and reports that religious minority communities were increasingly subjected to attacks in recent years, the new government’s engagement with religious minorities is an important step forward in the effort to promote national unity and increased space for all religious groups,” he said in a statement.

USCIRF welcomed other measures by the government, in the areas of freedom of expression and association in particular, which tend to create a climate conducive to religious freedom.

“We are very pleased to hear that reports of abuses perpetrated against minority religious communities have diminished over the last few months.  We encourage the government to hold
perpetrators of such crimes accountable.  We believe accountability will encourage a critical sense of security and well-being among affected communities,” Schwartz added.

While welcoming recent government measures, Schwartz called on the authorities to ensure the ability of religious communities to practice their chosen faiths without restriction.  This
includes the ability to build houses of worship and to be free of any acts of intimidation or harassment.

Schwartz said his delegation left Sri Lanka with a sense of great encouragement, and look forward to further progress on critically important issues. (Colombo Gazette)

Lanka a model for others says UN

Lanka a model for others says UN
March 23, 2015 18:45

The United Nations (UN) says Sri Lanka has served as an important model for other countries in terms of demonstrating the importance of policies such as free-education and free-health  for promoting human development.

Subinay Nandy, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Sri Lanka said

 that Sri Lanka’s recent renewed emphasis on upholding human rights and the rule of law, whilst addressing lingering inequalities and promoting peace, mean that the newly proposed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – which explicitly address these issues – fit well with local priorities, and Sri Lanka’s aspirations and unfolding development vision.

Nandy was speaking at the launch of the Millennium Development Goals Country Report 2014 for Sri Lanka at an event graced by Deputy Minister of Policy Planning and Economic Affairs, Dr. Harsha De Silva, this morning.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of eight goals agreed by world leaders in 2000 to be achieved before the end date in 2015. The eight MDGs range from halving

extreme poverty rates to promoting gender equality and providing universal primary education. As countries near the end target date in September 2015, governments around the world are reviewing their progress towards achieving the MDGs in the last 15 years.

The MDG Country Report is the third MDG review report produced by Sri Lanka. It is also the first report that covers the entire country, allowing comparison across the 25 districts and providing policy makers with information to identify and support regions lagging behind. It also analyses achievements and thematic areas requiring further attention.

Speaking at the launch event, Dr. Harsha De Silva said: “The government of Sri Lanka understands the need in building bridges, in integrating our society, and in Sri Lanka being a country of Sri Lankans. I hope that we can make further progress in integrating the differences within communities. We have to ensure that in our market framework there is social goodwill and economic justice. That is what we mean by a social market economy.”

The Report, which was prepared by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, is a joint publication by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations in Sri Lanka. Its findings show that Sri Lanka has performed well against the MDGs overall, having already achieved or being on-track to achieve the majority of the goals and indicators.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s MDG performance, Nandy, stated, “The findings in the report make a strong case for Sri Lanka to be a leading and credible actor in the global deliberations around the development agenda for post-2015. Sri Lanka’s long history of INVESTMENT in health, education and poverty alleviation programmes, has translated into robust performance against the MDGs, and Sri Lanka has many lessons to SHARE”.

Ms. Shanthi Sachithanandam – CEO, Viluthu.

Looking to the future, the report also highlights certain areas that require additional focus such as Women’s Empowerment, Nutrition, Climate Change and Regional Disparities and these were discussed during a panel discussion on ‘Priorities Moving Forward’. The panel discussion took place with the PARTICIPATION of Alain Sibenaler – UNFPA Representative, Dr. Suren Batagoda – Secretary of the Ministry of Power and Energy, Ms. Una McCauley – UNICEF Representative, Dr. Shanthi Goonewardena – Director, Nutrition Coordination Division, Ministry of Health, and Ms. Shanthi Sachithanandam – CEO, Viluthu. (Colombo Gazette)

Sri Lanka's new leader heads to China after winding back ties

Sri Lanka's new leader heads to China after winding back ties
AFP By Amal Jayasinghe

Sri Lanka's new president heads to Beijing this week for talks with China's leadership, seeking to smooth ruffled feathers after scuttling Chinese-funded projects and seeking stronger ties with regional rival India.

Maithripala Sirisena swept to power in January, ending a decade of rule by Mahinda Rajapakse, whose close alliance with Beijing had irked the island's traditional close ally India.

Sirisena has moved to wind back Beijing's influence, which became the strategically located island's biggest foreign financier and enjoyed significant political and even military influence under Rajapakse.

Sirisena has unnerved China by suspending a $1.4 billion "port city" project in Colombo that India considered a security risk, and ordering a review of other Beijing-financed projects and loans amid allegations of corruption.

Experts say the president will be seeking a divorce of sorts from China during the three-day state visit starting Wednesday, while trying not to upset the economic giant.

Sirisena will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping along with other members of the leadership, Colombo said.

"The former government allowed China a free run in Sri Lanka," Sri Lankan political commentator Victor Ivan told AFP. "President Sirisena wants to maintain a normal relationship that will not irritate India."

The visit is about "bringing balance in Sri Lanka's engagement with two Asian rivals", P. Sahadevan, professor of South Asian studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, told AFP.

Shifting influence 

Sirisena made India -- rather than China -- his first foreign trip after winning the January elections, seeking to rebuild ties with Delhi damaged by tensions over Beijing's influence on the island.

Delhi was reportedly furious after Chinese submarines were allowed to dock at Colombo port last year when Rajapakse was still in power.

Beijing has been accused of seeking to develop facilities around the Indian Ocean in a "string of pearls" strategy to counter the rise of rival India and secure its own economic interests.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka and other Indian Ocean nations in March in a bid to counter that influence, and reassert Delhi's traditional role in the region.

Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who visited Beijing a month after Sirisena came to power, has said the new administration will not allow Chinese submarines in Colombo.

Colombo is also seeking to renegotiate huge loans given by China for projects at rates as high as 8 percent, Sri Lanka Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told reporters recently.

China had emerged as Sri Lanka's biggest single financier, accounting for about 40 percent of some $2.03 billion in foreign money spent on infrastructure projects in 2013, according to the latest Central Bank of Sri Lanka report.

China was also one of the few countries to defend Sri Lanka's human rights record under Rajapakse, who angered Western nations for refusing to cooperate with an international probe into allegations of war crimes on the island.

In contrast, the new government has won support from the West for its attempts at reconciliation between ethnic minority Tamils and majority Sinhalese, as well as moves to ensure accountability for crimes committed during the separatist war.

With Western backing and support from Delhi, the government has secured more time to address allegations that troops under Rajapakse's command killed up to 40,000 Tamil civilians while defeating Tamil rebels in the finale of the war that ended in 2009.

Sri Lanka strengthens laws against terrorist financing

Sri Lanka strengthens laws against terrorist financing
Mar 18, 2015 17:19 PM GMT+0530 | 0 Comment(s)

COLOMBO (EconomyNext) - Sri Lanka's foreign minister Wednesday sought parliamentary approval to strengthen laws against terrorist FINANCING and said a local inquiry into alleged
human rights abuses would help create better conditions for foreign INVESTMENT.


Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the amendments, giving effect to United Nations regulations on terrorist FINANCING, were in line with the country's international obligations.

The amendments include widened coverage of freezing orders, expanded provisions for handling foreign requests, reporting of attempted transactions and redress for persons
inadvertently affected.

"The amendments are aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s domestic legislative framework to comply with UN Security Council Resolutions on terrorist financing and MONEY laundering,"
Samaraweera said.

"The amendments will strengthen the capacity of the law enforcement and judicial authorities responsible for investigating MONEY laundering and terrorist financing."

Samaraweera also said government action to probe allegations of hman rights abuses in its war against Tamil separatists would strengthen its international credibility and create better
conditions for foreign INVESTMENT.

"Sovereignty carries with it great responsibility which involves duties towards one’s own citizens.

"When a government fails to discharge such duties, external intervention of an unwelcome nature is difficult to prevent," he said, referring to a UN human rights probe launched during the
ousted Rajapaksa regime.

The new government managed to get the UN Human Rights Council report on the allegations, to have been presented in March, deferred till September after promising a domestic inquiry
more robust than one Rajapaksa had done.

Samaraweera said Rajapaksa had "alienated communities within the country as well as Sri Lanka’s international partners" by refusing to address issues of concern locally.

"Taking action locally as a responsible nation that is accountable to all sections of our population, upholding the rule of law, good governance and democracy while working in cooperation with the international community is the only way to project ourselves as a country that is at peace with itself.

"This is the only way to enable a secure atmosphere that is essential for foreign investment that is required for the long-term economic development of our nation," Samaraweera said.

"It is our objective to ensure that the international recognition of our armed forces personnel is further strengthened by taking action against any misdemeanours that some individuals may have committed and tarnished the image of our forces." 

தமிழ் விவசாயிகளின் நிலப்பிரச்சனை: ``எந்த அறிவும் இல்லாத`` நீதியரசர்!

Sarath Fonseka promoted to rank of Field Marshal

Sarath Fonseka promoted to rank of Field Marshal (Watch Report)

 Mar 22, 2015  

The investiture ceremony was held at the premises of the Ministry of Defence under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Sarath Fonseka is Sri Lanka’s first Field Marshal. The rank of Field Marshal, which never retires, is equivalent to the position of a cabinet minister and is the highest rank in the three armed forces of the world.

All Field Marshals carry a baton in their left hand, a symbol of their high position.

Fonseka joined the Ceylon Army on February 5th, 1970 as a cadet officer and after completing his officer training at the Army Training Centre was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Ceylon Sinha Regiment.

He went on to hold several commands and staff appointments.

Sarath Fonseka served as a Battalion Commander; Brigade Commander; General Officer Commanding of the 57th Division; Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna and Chief 

of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army before he was appointed Commander of the Army on the 6th of December 2005.

Following his appointment as the Commander of the Army, then Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka went on to implement many reforms.

On the 25th of April 2006, Fonseka was targeted by an LTTE suicide bomber. Although seriously injured in the explosion, Fonseka, who was no stranger to battle wounds, returned to active service following a quick recovery.

As the Army Commander, he took the fore in cornering the LTTE from Mavilaru to Nanthikadal, and eventually accomplished the end goal with a complete victory.

Following the war victory, the commander who was among the heroes who made immense sacrifices to liberate the nation from the clutches of terrorism, was elevated to the rank of General.

He was then appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff.

An active PARTICIPANT in military operations including Balavegaya, Jayasikuru and Riviresa, Fonseka received many medals in appreciation of his unwavering service.

He is a recipient of the prestigious Rana Wickrama Padakkama, the Rana Shura Padakkama, the Vishishta Seva Vibushana, the Utthama Seva Padakkama and the Desha Puthra Padakkama.

After a military career spanning more than 30 years, Fonseka retired from military service, having ridden the country of the terrorism which had afflicted it throughout almost his entire career.

Today, he embarks on a new journey of service to the nation as Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka.

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

General Fonseka Made Field Marshal

By P.K.Balachandran Published: 22nd March 2015

COLOMBO:  Gen.Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lanka’s army chief during the 2006-2009 Eelam War IV, has been made Field Marshal in recognition of the pivotal role he played in defeating the dreaded Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). President Maithripala Sirsena conferred the title on him at a ceremony here on Sunday.

Fonseka is the fourth South Asian General to be made Field Marshal, the others being General Sam Maneckshaw and K.M.Cariappa of India, and Gen.Mohd.Ayub Khan of Pakistan.

Rendering justice to  Fonseka was Sirisena’s electoral promise because the General had been dismissed, arrested, tried and sentenced by Courts Martial on trumped up charges, at the instance of the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Fonseka had won laurels for the way he conducted the war against the Tamil Tigers. He abandoned conventional ways, matched the ingenious tactics and strategies of the LTTE, fully utilized the superior numerical strength and fire power of the armed forces, and kept up pressure on the enemy. He broke tradition by insisting on the full deployment of naval and air power to aid the war on land.

Fonseka broke army units into small groups of eight, and made these highly trained and motivated men infiltrate Tiger-held areas, track down the fighting cadres of the LTTE and eliminate them. He transformed the Lankan army from a defensive outfit to an offense force.   

However, President Rajapaksa suspected that Fonseka was harboring political ambitions and was planning a coup. He was arrested, tried, sentenced and deprived of his rank, medals and pension. But  thanks to international pressure, he was let off before he completed his sentence. He unsuccessfully CONTESTED for the Presidency against Rajapaksa in 2010. He entered parliament, but only to vacate his seat on being sentenced. As leader of the Democratic Party, he supported Sirisena in the last Presidential election.

Not all Lankans approve of the decision to make Fonseka Field Marshal. He was not popular in the army. And supporters of Rajapaksa say that other service commanders and former Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa should also have been given equivalent titles.

PFLP: Results of Zionist elections simply reflect racist nature of the state

PFLP: Results of Zionist elections simply reflect racist nature of the state
Mar 18 2015

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine stated that the results of the Israeli election simply reflect the nature and structure of the racist, fascist Zionist society that produced these results and elected the Likud Party and its right-wing allies, who engaged in the most open and extreme anti-Palestinian attacks on our people and their rights throughout the campaign.

The growth of overt extremism and racism in the Zionist society and the climate of fascism is only fueled by the failure of Palestinian and Arab officialdom to confront the occupation state, as well as the international imperialist powers who provide cover for its crimes and rampant violations of international law and preserve its immunity and impunity from accountability or prosecution.

The Front emphasized that confronting Zionist extremism and responding to these elections requires a clear and decisive Palestinian policy that casts aside the illusions of reliance on futile negotiations, and instead builds a unified national strategy to confront the enemy and struggle for the full rights of our people, based on our strategic path of resistance to build on all achievements.

The Front demanded the immediate implementation of the Palestinian Central Council resolutions passed at its last session, to disengage with the occupation state and its officials, first and foremost, ending security coordination and rejecting the path of the Oslo Accords which have been so destructive for the Palestinian people, and to end the Palestinian internal division through a serious project of national unity based on a unified program and the rebuilding of the PLO through elected, democratic institutions embracing all Palestinian forces, and following up to seek prosecution of the leaders of the Zionist state in the International Criminal Court.

இனப்பிரச்சினைத் தீர்வு போன்ற சிக்கலான விடயங்கள் தற்பொழுது பரிசீலனைக்கு எடுத்துக்கொள்ளப்படமாட்டாது. மைத்திரி

பொதுத் தேர்தலின் பின்னரே இனப் பிரச்சினைக்குத் தீர்வு - மைத்திரி திட்டவட்டம்

இனப்பிரச்சினைத் தீர்வு போன்ற சிக்கலான விடயங்கள் தற்பொழுது பரிசீலனைக்கு எடுத்துக்கொள்ளப்படமாட்டாது.

பொதுத் தேர்தலின் பின்னர் அமைக்கப்படும் தேசிய அரசே 13ஆவது அரசமைப்புத் திருத்தம், இனப்பிரச்சினைத்தீர்வு மற்றும் பிரதான பிரச்சினைகள் குறித்து பரிசீலனை செய்யும்.

அதற்கு அனைத்துக் கட்சிகளும் ஒத்துழைப்பு வழங்கவேண்டும்.

  

ஊடகங்களின் ஆசிரியர்கள் மற்றும் முகாமையாளர்களை நேற்றுக் காலை சந்தித்துப் பேசிய போதே அவர் இவ்வாறு குறிப்பிட்டார். 

Mangala- Local inquiry create better conditions for FOREIGN INVESTMENT!

Sri Lanka strengthens laws against terrorist financing
Mar 18, 2015 17:19 PM GMT+0530

COLOMBO (Economy Next) -

Sri Lanka's foreign minister Wednesday sought parliamentary approval to strengthen laws against terrorist FINANCING and said'...........................................;

A local inquiry into alleged abuses would help create better conditions for  FOREIGN  INVESTMENT. 

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera said the amendments, giving effect to United Nations regulations on terrorist FINANCING, were in line with the country's international obligations.

The amendments include widened coverage of freezing orders, expanded provisions for handling foreign requests, reporting of attempted transactions and redress for persons
inadvertently affected.

"The amendments are aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s domestic legislative framework to comply with UN Security Council Resolutions on terrorist financing and MONEY laundering,"
Samaraweera said.

"The amendments will strengthen the capacity of the law enforcement and judicial authorities responsible for investigating MONEY laundering and terrorist financing."

Samaraweera also said government action to probe allegations of human rights abuses in its war against Tamil separatists would strengthen its international credibility and create better
conditions for foreign INVESTMENT.

"Sovereignty carries with it great responsibility which involves duties towards one’s own citizens.

"When a government fails to discharge such duties, external intervention of an unwelcome nature is difficult to prevent," he said, referring to a UN human rights probe launched during the ousted Rajapaksa regime.

The new government managed to get the UN Human Rights Council report on the allegations, to have been presented in March, deferred till September after promising a domestic inquiry more robust than one Rajapaksa had done.

Samaraweera said Rajapaksa had "alienated communities within the country as well as Sri Lanka’s international partners" by refusing to address issues of concern locally.

"Taking action locally as a responsible nation that is accountable to all sections of our population, upholding the rule of law, good governance and democracy while working in cooperation with the international community is the only way to project ourselves as a country that is at peace with itself.

"This is the only way to enable a secure atmosphere that is essential for foreign investment that is required for the long-term economic development of our nation," Samaraweera said.

"It is our objective to ensure that the international recognition of our armed forces personnel is further strengthened by taking action against any misdemeanours that some individuals may have committed and tarnished the image of our forces."