EELAM NEWS 220607
sourcekirukal.com
SLMM rulings suspended
By Sunil Jayasiri
Ceasefire monitors on Wednesday announced they had ‘temporarily’ suspended issuing rulings on ceasefire violations claiming the 2002 truce is no longer respected by either party.“The decision was taken simply because of the continuation of hostile incidents and violations of the CFA, but we keep on monitoring and reporting in a different way,” SLMM Spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson told the Daily Mirror yesterday.
By Sunil Jayasiri
Ceasefire monitors on Wednesday announced they had ‘temporarily’ suspended issuing rulings on ceasefire violations claiming the 2002 truce is no longer respected by either party.“The decision was taken simply because of the continuation of hostile incidents and violations of the CFA, but we keep on monitoring and reporting in a different way,” SLMM Spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson told the Daily Mirror yesterday.
He also said that it is impossible to keep reporting every single incident, as there are a large number of incidents taking place. However he said that they would give rulings if there are any major incidents, but not every single violation.
He said that both the Government and the LTTE had been informed about the mission’s latest decision.
The spokesman giving another reasons for the decision, said “we have a problem of gaining access to some areas namely Thoppigala, Muhamalai and Madhu where most of the serious incidents are taking place. So we cannot give any ruling as long as we are being prevented from going into these areas.”
He also said that the mission will maintain its latest decision until “the hostilities between concerned parties come to an end”.
Omarsson also stressed that like previously, the mission will continue to monitor the overall situation and will issue regular statements such as weekly reports.
On Wednesday, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the media that the government had been informed about the latest decision taken by the SLMM.
“The government had been informed that the SLMM is no longer prepared to give determinations but will entertain complaints,” the minister told the media.
Meanwhile, the Government Peace Secretariat and the SLMM had agreed to issue joint press releases following each meeting between the two sides on issues relating to the peace process.
The Government Peace Secretariat said that the decision was taken following a meeting between Peace Secretariat, Secretary General, Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha and Head of the SLMM, Major General Lars Solvberg on Tuesday evening in Colombo.
“Our main task currently is to promote confidence in the peace process, and it is therefore important to keep the people informed on our discussions to this end,” the Peace Secretariat commented quoting Dr. Wijesinha.
Govt to invite peace proposals from private sector
By Yohan Perera
SLFP General Secretary and Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that government would invite the business community to submit their proposals to solve the national problem of this country.
He made this point at the Business for Peace Forum organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka yesterday.
Responding to a suggestion made by the business community at the forum whether they can come up with a proposal in the aftermath of political parties fail to come to an agreement to devolve power, he said the political parties and the APC will try to rectify their shortcomings while inviting the business community to submit a proposal for devolution of power.
He was of the opinion that the biggest obstacle for peace is the political cruelty of parties and lack on consensus
Mr. Sirisena went on explain that SLFP is for maximum devolution of power and not for a military solution. “Guns and multi barrel attacks can not give peace to a country,” he said.
He reminded the business community that SLFP did make an effort to solve the national issue through Banda Chelva pact but the then Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike had to abolish the pact as some opposed it. “Same thing happened in the year 2000 when the Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga presented a new constitution with extensive devolution of power.
Minister explained that the SLFP proposals which, have been already handed over to the APC also gives maximum power devolution though the party had proposed smaller units.
He was also of the opinion that the electoral system is another obstacle for peace to bring about a balance in peace and economic growth. “When ever an election is announced, the stock market goes down as the business community gets worried as the electoral system creates violence and we need to change this,” he said.
Responding to a question raised by the business community as to why the MOU between the UNP and SLFP came to an end in such a short space of time he said President Rajapasa was compelled to invite 17 members of the UNP to stop a conspirsay which was brewing at that time. “ If he did not do it the UPFA would not be in power by now,” he pointed out.
India reiterates need for dialogue in Lanka
By Easwaran Rutnam from Singapore
India has once again reiterated the need for political dialogue in Sri Lanka as a solution to the ongoing conflict while ruling out any support for the LTTE.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who was in Singapore on a two-day official visit, during which he met senior leaders and ministers, has also said that the Indian government was trying to liberalise visa rules for Sri Lanka but had to be careful at the same time.
"We are opposed to violence, no support should be given to the LTTE and we are opposed to helping any terrorist outfit anywhere," the Indian Minister was qouted as saying at a public lecture organised by Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the Institute of South Asian Studies on Wednesday.
He said Sri Lanka should maintain its territorial integrity and try and resolve the ethnic Tamil issue through dialogue. In Singapore Mr. Mukherjee met President Sellapan Rama Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar and his Singapore counterpart George Yong-Boon Yeo.
"The recent developments in Sri Lanka, the violence, have been a cause of concern to all," he said adding, the attacks by an outlawed terrorist outfit are a matter of grave concern to all those who want to fight terrorism. Singapore is a second home for many Indians and Sri Lankan's alike who have sought employment in the South East Asian country. Speaking to the Daily Mirror several ordinary Singaporeans said they were under the impression the conflict in Sri Lanka was between ordinary Tamils and Sinhalese. "It is good to see that ordinary Tamils and Singhalese are getting along well. I didnt know that was the case," said one cab driver while another said "If only the politicians in your country and the Tigers can do the same your country can develop like ours."
SOURCE: DAILY MIRROR LK
Sri Lanka under fire over Internet censorship
Thu Jun 21, 2:00 PM ET
Media rights groups attacked Sri Lanka's government Thursday for blocking domestic access to a website favouring the Tamil Tiger rebels and for saying it would like hackers to disable the site.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Colombo should immediately unblock the Tamilnet.com website.
"Sri Lanka's Internet service providers have been blocking access to the website on the government's orders since June 15," RSF said. "The government must put a stop to this censorship and restore access to the site at once."
A local rights group, the Free Media Movement (FMM), also criticised government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella over comments in which he said he would "love" to hire hackers to pull down Tamilnet.
The FMM said Rambukwellas statement was "tantamount to government sanctioned cyber-terrorism against websites that do not toe its line."
"The FMM seeks urgent clarification from the government as to whether Minister Rambukwellas comments are indicative of official government policy to shutdown, disrupt or censor content and websites on the Internet."
But Sri Lanka's Media Minister Anura Yapa insisted his ministry had nothing to do with preventing users of Sri Lanka Telecom, the country's main Internet service provider, accessing Tamilnet.
"It is unreasonable to level charges against the government," Yapa told reporters here. "We have nothing to do with this."
Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said the security forces had not ordered the blocking of Tamilnet either.
"Security forces have not asked the Tamilnet to be blocked," Samarasinghe said.
Despite the denials, Sri Lanka Telecom's Internet service help desk told callers that the "government has asked to block Tamilnet."
"You can access any other site, but you can't access Tamilnet," callers are being told.
The government owns just under 50 percent of Sri Lanka Telecom, which is run by NTT of Japan.
A Colombo-based editor of Tamilnet, Dharmaratnam Sivaram, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in April 2005. The killing remains unresolved.
Some Internet service providers, who have their main offices abroad, still allow access to the website.
Tamilnet is an influential source of Tamil views on the island's separatist conflict, which has claimed more than 60,000 lives in a 35-year campaign by rebels for a separate homeland for minority Tamils.
He said that both the Government and the LTTE had been informed about the mission’s latest decision.
The spokesman giving another reasons for the decision, said “we have a problem of gaining access to some areas namely Thoppigala, Muhamalai and Madhu where most of the serious incidents are taking place. So we cannot give any ruling as long as we are being prevented from going into these areas.”
He also said that the mission will maintain its latest decision until “the hostilities between concerned parties come to an end”.
Omarsson also stressed that like previously, the mission will continue to monitor the overall situation and will issue regular statements such as weekly reports.
On Wednesday, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the media that the government had been informed about the latest decision taken by the SLMM.
“The government had been informed that the SLMM is no longer prepared to give determinations but will entertain complaints,” the minister told the media.
Meanwhile, the Government Peace Secretariat and the SLMM had agreed to issue joint press releases following each meeting between the two sides on issues relating to the peace process.
The Government Peace Secretariat said that the decision was taken following a meeting between Peace Secretariat, Secretary General, Dr. Rajiva Wijesinha and Head of the SLMM, Major General Lars Solvberg on Tuesday evening in Colombo.
“Our main task currently is to promote confidence in the peace process, and it is therefore important to keep the people informed on our discussions to this end,” the Peace Secretariat commented quoting Dr. Wijesinha.
Govt to invite peace proposals from private sector
By Yohan Perera
SLFP General Secretary and Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that government would invite the business community to submit their proposals to solve the national problem of this country.
He made this point at the Business for Peace Forum organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sri Lanka yesterday.
Responding to a suggestion made by the business community at the forum whether they can come up with a proposal in the aftermath of political parties fail to come to an agreement to devolve power, he said the political parties and the APC will try to rectify their shortcomings while inviting the business community to submit a proposal for devolution of power.
He was of the opinion that the biggest obstacle for peace is the political cruelty of parties and lack on consensus
Mr. Sirisena went on explain that SLFP is for maximum devolution of power and not for a military solution. “Guns and multi barrel attacks can not give peace to a country,” he said.
He reminded the business community that SLFP did make an effort to solve the national issue through Banda Chelva pact but the then Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike had to abolish the pact as some opposed it. “Same thing happened in the year 2000 when the Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga presented a new constitution with extensive devolution of power.
Minister explained that the SLFP proposals which, have been already handed over to the APC also gives maximum power devolution though the party had proposed smaller units.
He was also of the opinion that the electoral system is another obstacle for peace to bring about a balance in peace and economic growth. “When ever an election is announced, the stock market goes down as the business community gets worried as the electoral system creates violence and we need to change this,” he said.
Responding to a question raised by the business community as to why the MOU between the UNP and SLFP came to an end in such a short space of time he said President Rajapasa was compelled to invite 17 members of the UNP to stop a conspirsay which was brewing at that time. “ If he did not do it the UPFA would not be in power by now,” he pointed out.
India reiterates need for dialogue in Lanka
By Easwaran Rutnam from Singapore
India has once again reiterated the need for political dialogue in Sri Lanka as a solution to the ongoing conflict while ruling out any support for the LTTE.
Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee who was in Singapore on a two-day official visit, during which he met senior leaders and ministers, has also said that the Indian government was trying to liberalise visa rules for Sri Lanka but had to be careful at the same time.
"We are opposed to violence, no support should be given to the LTTE and we are opposed to helping any terrorist outfit anywhere," the Indian Minister was qouted as saying at a public lecture organised by Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the Institute of South Asian Studies on Wednesday.
He said Sri Lanka should maintain its territorial integrity and try and resolve the ethnic Tamil issue through dialogue. In Singapore Mr. Mukherjee met President Sellapan Rama Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar and his Singapore counterpart George Yong-Boon Yeo.
"The recent developments in Sri Lanka, the violence, have been a cause of concern to all," he said adding, the attacks by an outlawed terrorist outfit are a matter of grave concern to all those who want to fight terrorism. Singapore is a second home for many Indians and Sri Lankan's alike who have sought employment in the South East Asian country. Speaking to the Daily Mirror several ordinary Singaporeans said they were under the impression the conflict in Sri Lanka was between ordinary Tamils and Sinhalese. "It is good to see that ordinary Tamils and Singhalese are getting along well. I didnt know that was the case," said one cab driver while another said "If only the politicians in your country and the Tigers can do the same your country can develop like ours."
SOURCE: DAILY MIRROR LK
Sri Lanka under fire over Internet censorship
Thu Jun 21, 2:00 PM ET
Media rights groups attacked Sri Lanka's government Thursday for blocking domestic access to a website favouring the Tamil Tiger rebels and for saying it would like hackers to disable the site.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said Colombo should immediately unblock the Tamilnet.com website.
"Sri Lanka's Internet service providers have been blocking access to the website on the government's orders since June 15," RSF said. "The government must put a stop to this censorship and restore access to the site at once."
A local rights group, the Free Media Movement (FMM), also criticised government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella over comments in which he said he would "love" to hire hackers to pull down Tamilnet.
The FMM said Rambukwellas statement was "tantamount to government sanctioned cyber-terrorism against websites that do not toe its line."
"The FMM seeks urgent clarification from the government as to whether Minister Rambukwellas comments are indicative of official government policy to shutdown, disrupt or censor content and websites on the Internet."
But Sri Lanka's Media Minister Anura Yapa insisted his ministry had nothing to do with preventing users of Sri Lanka Telecom, the country's main Internet service provider, accessing Tamilnet.
"It is unreasonable to level charges against the government," Yapa told reporters here. "We have nothing to do with this."
Military spokesman Prasad Samarasinghe said the security forces had not ordered the blocking of Tamilnet either.
"Security forces have not asked the Tamilnet to be blocked," Samarasinghe said.
Despite the denials, Sri Lanka Telecom's Internet service help desk told callers that the "government has asked to block Tamilnet."
"You can access any other site, but you can't access Tamilnet," callers are being told.
The government owns just under 50 percent of Sri Lanka Telecom, which is run by NTT of Japan.
A Colombo-based editor of Tamilnet, Dharmaratnam Sivaram, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in April 2005. The killing remains unresolved.
Some Internet service providers, who have their main offices abroad, still allow access to the website.
Tamilnet is an influential source of Tamil views on the island's separatist conflict, which has claimed more than 60,000 lives in a 35-year campaign by rebels for a separate homeland for minority Tamils.
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