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“I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
-Voltaire
ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. XX N0. 8 15 AUGUST 2001
Published by: TAMIL TIMES LTD PO Box 121, Sutton, Surrey SM13TD United Kingdom Phone: 020 - 8644 0972 Fax: 020 - 8241 4557 Email: prajan(agn.apc.org editor(a)tamiltimes.org admin(a)tamiltimes.org
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Whither PA-UNPTalkS O3 NeWS Track 04 News in FOCUS 09 Playing Political Chess 16 Away from Confrontation 18 Case for Assertive Civil Society 22 Neelan Tiruchelvam 25 Sanctified Vandalism 26 Sivaji Ganeshan 28 Classified 30
The governmen ment that was proro currentimpasse con ment will certainly fa Party and supported Fora time, it See which has 10 seats it and limited to a "prol many felt that it woulc erable opposition bot to the government st the JVP that its Cond in the meantime sure from various qu form what is describ Confirmed its efforts i Lanka, has been Con prospects for peace : It would seem th invitation to the UNP "twomain political par a bid to salvage the C. tors to Conduct the tal Whether the talk which they are prepar the past two months "excessive demands" cluded that he beapp. and that important Ca manding to become | Gaullist system unde isteras operated in Fı Many believe tha tionally untenable. Th including the defence the People". The elec ecutive power of the transfer in practice th Even in terms of ( was defeated at the la the people for a term general election held other hand, while the majority in parliament a UNP-led alternative he is appointed exeCU the UNP can be deSC If the proposed ta government of nation extravagant expectat mutually Contradictory ment may be an easy that WOuld not result it ance of the Country, a tation of the peace pri Any proposedar not be limited to a po like-minded parties,g flict, restoration of pe and democratic rights
 
 

TAMILTIMES 3
ther PA-UNPTalkSP
| Crisis facing Sri Lanka continues without any sign of resolution. The Parlialed by the President is expected to be in session by 7 September. And if the nues, the governing Peoples Alliance (PA) having lost its majority in Parliadefeat Onano-confidence motion sponsored mainly by the United National y other opposition parties, ned possible that the government would survive with the support of the JVP. Parliament. However, that support was offered subject to several conditions ationary period of One year. Had the government accepted the JVP's offer, have held the government to ransom at every tern. In fact, there was considwithin the governing party and many sections of the political establishment, king a deal with the JVP. President Kumaratunga has now formally informed ions are unacceptable. Ooth the governing party and the UNPhave come under considerable presrters, including some foreign diplomatic circles, to reach an arrangement to d as a government of national reconciliation. The US Embassy officially this regard because the United States, along with many other friends of Sri 2erned about the island's political uncertainty and its possible impact On the nd economic growth in the COuntry. at serious talks between the PA and the UNP are now probable following an leader from Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake suggesting that the ties should open political talks to formanational reconciliation government in untry from the present Crisis," Both parties have appointed teams of negotiakS. s between these parties would succeed or not will depend on the extent to ed to compromise on their earlier stated positions. Previous attempts during failed because of what the President and the governing party Consider as from the UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. It is said that his demands inbinted Prime Minister with executive powers presently vested in the President binet portfolios like Finance should be allocated to UNP nominees. In dePrime Minister with executive powers, he wants introduced in practice the r which executive powers are shared between the President and Prime MinanCe, the UNP leader's demand to become "Executive Prime Minister" is Constitue Constitution specifically states that "the executive power of the People, of Sri Lanka, shall be exercised by the President of the Republic elected by ed President will be abdicating her constitutional function of exercising 'exPeople" if she, as a price for securing UNP support in Parliament, were to it function to any other person not so elected by the People. emocratic principles, the demand of the UNP leader seems unjustifiable. He st presidential election at which Mrs Kumaratunga was elected President by of six years. The Peoples Alliance secured the most number seats at the n October last year and still remains the largest party in parliament. On the government may have lost its majority, the UNP also does not commanda and there is no guarantee that all the other opposition parties would support Jovernment. In this background, the price demanded by the UNP leader that ive Prime Minister and that more important cabinet portfolios be allocated to bed as gravely offending the basic principles of democracy. ks between the PA and the UNP are to succeed leading to the formation a reConciliation, then the UNP leader should moderate and Scale down his ns. Ganging up with an assortment of opposition political parties holding and even irreconcilable policies for the purpose of bringing down the governption to aim for and achieve in the present parliamentary Context. However, the formation a government Capable of tackling the Crisis facing the governimore importantly addressing the absolutely essential need for the resusciess by recommencing negotiations with the LTTE. ngement for the setting up of a government of national reconciliation should ical partnership between the PA and the UNP. It should also include those ups and individuals who are Committed to the resolution of the ethnic Conce and undertaking Constitutional reform that guarantees the fundamental fall the people inhabiting the island.

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4 TAMITMES
Fractured Paradise: Aug 2 - British photojournalist Paul Harris launched his book "Fractured Paradise' at the Galle Face hotel on 2 August evening. He presented the first copy of his book to Bradman Weerakoon former advisor on International Relations to two Sri Lankan Presidents. In his latest book Harris, who is the author of over 30 books on areas of conflict notably the book, "Cry Bosnia', weeps for Lanka, truly describing the island as a fractured paradise now. His pictures are bloody but newsy and tell the world the agony of Lanka. Many of the pictures in his photo book are far removed from those found in the conventional photobooks, ranging from the bloody attacks by suicide bombers and war-damaged Jaffna to images from the Eastern province and even election campaigns.
Paul Harris is a specialist contributor on insurgency and terrorism for Jane's Intelligence Review. He has made eighteen visits to Sri Lanka before the publication of this book. Speaking at his book launch Harris said that Sri Lanka is facing its sternest test now and is set to face the ultimate test whether it will survive as a sovereign State.
Restrictions on journalists reimposed: Aug3 - The Sri Lankan government has reimposed restrictions on journalists covering the war in the northern areas held by the Tamil Tigers. The move comes just three months after withdrawing the tough regulations. Jour-nalists travelling to the war front will now be required to get written permission.
End of the road for Weekend Express: Aug 3--"Weekend Express' newspaper, the English publication of Express Newspapers and the publishers of the Tamil daily Virakesari, ceased publication from 5 August after its final edition. Management of the newspaper has said that they have made the decision to close down the paper due cost of production, economic conditions and rising cost of raw material. However a senior journalist attached to the newspaper said that no prior notice was given to them and the management of the newspaper has shown the road to them. He questioned, "The owners say that they will give us six months salary as compensation. But, what can we do
with just six months Express, a popular S first came to the new ber 1995
Airport defense to be - Sri Lanka authoritie set up a high-level c see new security me national air- port : airbase following la tating guerrilla attac will include top-rank the armed forces an defense, aviation an ernment Statement S. plan was discussed fo International Airpo would include str defense, the use of e and double fencing.
Colombo port deal Aug 3 - Colombo's port suffered a doub surcharges were imp ing at the port follo attack at the airport tion crippled work second consecutive main container tern against a new work meant to improve e Ports Authority ( Samarasekara, said cided to seek the su workers who have dle East and retired opera- tions at the will be announcing enced workers will in interviews,' he
PA in fix over CW - The Ceylon \ (CWC), a major co People's Alliance, the President’s rei mands that "that S be granted to fou Tamils in the isla
 

15 AUGUST 2001
alary?”Weekend urday newspaper stands in Decem
verhauled: Aug 3 said that they had }mmittee to oversures at its internd an adjoining „t monthos devask. The committee ing officials from the ministries of i tourism. A govaid a new security r the Bandaranaike »rt and measures onger perimeter lec- tronic devices
t crippling blow: main international e blow when hefty osed on ships callwing last month's as trade union acat the port for the day. Workers of a inal are protesting schedule, which is ficiency. Sri Lanka hairman, Mohan uthorities have deport of experienced eturned from Midworkers to carry on olombo Port. "We onight that experierecruited in walkid.
demands: Aug 3 orkers Congress stituent party of the aid it was awaiting onse to its two deLankan citizenship hundred thousand 's plantation sector
and that sixteen electorates should be carved out for them". The party's leader Mr. Arumugam Thondaman said that the CWC would not support the referendum if the PA does not meet its demands.
GMOA wants 100 per cent salary increase: Aug. 4 - The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) yesterday called on the government to grant a 100 per cent salary increase to all public servants to help meet the rising cost of living. A GMOA spokesman said that the present salary of a graded doctor inclusive of all allowances is Rs. 17,000. This is equivalent to 372 dollars in 1994 and at present equivalant to 172 dollars. This denotes that the real value of the salary has decreased by 50%.
World Teachers urge peace talks: The World Teachers” Conference held under the auspices of the Education International (EI) at Jimstil City in Thailand, unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the Sri Lankan President to “expedite the Norwegian brokered peace process to find a lasting political solution to the ethnic problem.” Over 2000 delegates from 150 countries representing 310 teachers' trade unions in the world attended the conference, according to Mr.T.Mahasivam, General Secretary of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) who returned home from Thailand.
PA to expel SLMC rebel MPs: Aug5 - The ruling People's Alliance has initiated disciplinary inquiry against three Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarians for joining the opposition in parliament. The Secretary General of the People's Alliance Mr.D.M. Jayaratne has issued show cause notices on Mr.A.L.A.Athulallah, Mr.M.S.M. Thouweek and Mr.Risvie Sinnalebbe "why they should not be expelled from parliament for the defection from government group."
Referendum Postponed: Aug 7 - Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge in a proclamation issued on 7 Aaugust postponed for October 18 the referendum which has been scheduled to be held on August 21.
"Giving serious considerations to the recommendations and views ex

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15 AUGUST 2001
pressed by Venerable Mahanayake Theras, members of Maha Sangha, religious dignitaries, religious organisations, political parties, civil groups, trade unions the referendum scheduled to be held on August 21 is postponed to October 18,” said the proclamation issued by President Chandrika Kumaratunge.
"I am pleased to observe that consensus has been emerging among the peace loving people of Sri Lanka that there should be constitutional reforms which would enable the establishment more democratic forms of governance and more representative parliament to facilitate the smooth implementation of the executive and legislature of the state', President Kumaratunge said in her statement in this regard.
President further said: "It is significant that since the proclamation of the referendum political parties supporting the Peoples Alliance and the opposition have agreed to support the government to introduce the most urgent amendments to the constitution to achieve the wishes of the President even without the referendum.
"However if the political parties failed to reach an agreement under the provision amending the constitution, the President will not hesitate to proceed consult the people directly through the referendum scheduled to be held on October 18.'
The proclamation to hold referendum on August 2 l was issued by President Kumaratunge on 10th of July.
Anura denies rumours: Aug 9 - The Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Anura Bandaranaike said that a false and malicious rumour has been deliberately spread through certain mass media that he is to resign from the of fice of Speaker of Parliament. "This is totally untrue and baseless. The public is aware of the fact that I was elected unanimously as Speaker, jointly by the Government and the Opposition, after the General Election of year 2000. There is absolutely no reason for me to resign from the office of Speaker," he said.
5 airports identified ultra-hypersensitive : Aug 9 -The Indian ministry of civil aviation has identified the Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Jammu and Srinagar air-ports as Coimbatore and
Tiruvanathapuram in the wake of las airport blasts carri that damaged near cular to this effect
ties of airports id threat perception
Union Cabinet at it cided to beef up th ministries of Civil
Affairs and the Bu tion Security (BCA rate circulars to all the threat perceptic
11 officers suspel attack: Aug 9 - Sri have suspended 1 responsible for gua only international tary base for Supe LTTE attacks on The men had earlier of their posts and th were issued Wedne gations got underW. try spokesman said
TULF urges Presi with LTTE: Aug 9 Liberation Front (TI urged Sri Lanka’s F Kumaratunge to pu peace initiative and tions with the Libel framing a new col statement issued b meeting the Presid said that the party h dent to "reconvene not to proceed with
A press release said "A delegation prising Mr. R. Sam General, Senior Vic liamentarian Mr. V Parliamentarians M singham, Mr. Ma Mr.P.Selvarasa and and Jaffna Mayor President Chandrik the latter at the Pre: “President Cha the TULF delegatio cumstances, which the referendum on a stitution, originally The TULF delegati the President the de mously at its centri

is sensitive airports month's Colombo d out by the LTTE 14 aircraft. A cirwas sent to authoriantified as having our days ago.The recent meeting desecurity while the Aviation and Home reau of Civil AviaS) has issued sepaairports in view of
S.
ided after airport Lankan authorities air-force officers rding the country's irport and the mili'sonic aircraft after both, officials said. been transferred out e suspension orders sday as two investiay, a defence minis
dent to start talks - The Tamil United ULF) on 9 August "resident Chandrika rsue the Norwegian commence negotiaation Tigers before nstitution. A press y the TULF, after 2nt on Wednesday, ad urged the PresiParliament and also the referendum.' ssued by the TULF of the TULF companthan, Secretary e President and Par...Anandasangaree, r.Joseph Pararajavai Senathirajah, Mr.S.Sivamaharasa Mr.N. Raviraj met at the invitation of ident's House. drika explained to n the events and cired to the calling of proposed new conixed for August 21. n then explained to isions made unaniworking commit
AML TIMES 5
tee meeting held on August 5 and handed over to her a copy of the resolution.
"The TULF delegation emphasized the importance and need to pursue the Norwegian initiative and commence negotiations with the LTTE prior to the framing of a new constitution.
"The TULF urged that since some progress had already been made through the efforts of Norway towards the commencement of negotiations between the Government and the LTTE, the outstanding issues should be resolved through further negotiations, and that the issues which remained unresolved were not insurmountable.
“The TULF also emphasized the imperative need to bring the war to an end through an acceptable negotiated political settlement so that the Tamil people would be relieved from the immense suffering to which they are subjected by the continuance of the war.”The President explained that the Government remains committed to the peace process, and the continuance of the Norwegian initiative.
"The TULF delegation also urged the President to reconvene Parliament and also not to proceed with the Referendum as presently contemplated."
Over 100 arrested in combined search: Aug 9 - More than one hundred Tamil persons were arrested during a major cordon and search operation in Kochchikade near Negombo, about 50 km. north of Colombo 9 August morning. More than one thousand Army and Police personnel were deployed during
the operation, police said. Police in
Negombo said 140 Tamils who were arrested during the operation are being questioned at the local police station. Fifty-seven of them are residents of the northern and eastern provinces, and the rest from the hill-country areas, the police said.
"All are being interrogated by special investigators as they are unable to provide necessary documents for the stay in Negombo,” a spokesman for the Negombo police said. Human rights sources said that about one hundred Tamils arrested following the attack on Katunayake airbase and airport last month in the adjoining areas are still being detained at the Negombo police station and other detention centres elsewhere.

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6 TAMLTIMES
JVP's Proposals to President: Aug 10 - President Chandrika Kumaratunge agreed to discuss the Marxist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna's political proposals with the leaders of constituent parties in the ruling People's Alliance. Following discussions JVP leaders had with President Chandrika about the political crisis in the country for about two hours, the JVP's parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawanse said, “the President has agreed to a number of proposals in our program. She wanted more time to discuss with her political allies about the proposal to form a probation government.”
Mr. Weerawanse said, "the President informed us that she needed more time to study our proposals that included general election under a caretaker government and the establishment of independent commissions for police, judiciary, media and public service, with the constituent political parties in the ruling People's Alliance.”
According to Mr. Weerawanse, the President assured the JVP delegation that a decision on the formation of a probation government would be made available to them shortly in writing. The JVP delegation informed the President that postponed referendum should be cancelled and the prorogued parliament resummoned to create a conducive situation to implement their set of proposals.
France Denies Visa Claim: Aug 10The French Foreign Ministry denied claims by the Sri Lankan information department and state media that it had denied entry to the Liberation Tigers, chief negotiator Anton Balasingham and other individuals alleged by Sri Lanka to be linked to the LTTE. A spokesman for the French government, quoted the Foreign Minister Hubert Verdrine, said “We have not banned any particular persons or members of any particular organisations from entering France.”
Speaking to the Tamil Television Network (TTN), the French spokesman denied the claims which appeared in Sri Lankan state media about a bar on entry for the London-based LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham and others. He said that visas are issued according to immigration regulations prevailing at the time, and there was no mechanism to place ablanket denial as claimed
in news reports fron
The Daily New August quoting g sources said, "Frar close the door for members, includin Anton Balasingham
The claim hadfi website of the Sri La Information Depart Media Information Government's offic semination of infor news release on A headline “The Fren hibit the hard core entering France', an ing as the persons Stanislaus BALA Anton; Arunachalal alias Shanthan, Lu ipillai alias Thanam chandran alias Rar Santhakumar alias and Kathiravelpilla
Deputy Ministerss letters: Aug 16 - T Ministers voluntee posts and Parliame play of solidarity w drika Bandaranaike Deputy Ministersh resignation letterst tunga at the Presic August.
The Deputy M ters stated that th whatever decision ( present crisis situa hope that this mo the hands of the F tempts by the UN ernment.
It has been wi UNP had been at ernment party MF position. "MPs wi rupees to cross ov best attempt to b the democraticall using wheeler de have blocked the through this mea ter Ekanayake sa influenced us to over undated res President... We po strengthen the h; he added.

15 AUGUST 2001
olombo. . n a report on 10 ernment media has decided to hardcore LTTE its theoretician
| been made in the kan government's ent. The Special entre (SMIC), the l arm for the disation declared in a gust 8 under the h authorities proTTE cadres from named the followprohibited: Anton SINGHAM alias Chrisanthakumar ien Rupert SoosaVallipuram Ramansar; Sothilingam Chinna Shanthan;
Kuhachandran.
ubmit resignation hirty eight Deputy red to resign their ntary seats, in a disith President ChanKumaratunga. The anded over undated ) President Kumaraent's House on 16
inisters in their letsy would stand by fthe President in the ion. They expressed e would strengthen resident and foil atto subvert the Gov
2ly reported that the mpting to get govto defect to the op2 offered millions of . The UNP made its the MPs to topple elected Government ers” money. Now we all' ulterior motives re,” Deputy Minis"Nobody asked or ke this step to hand nation letters to the tly did it in order to ls of the President,"
Check-point rape suspect remanded: Aug 16 - Police Constable Kamal Priyantha Prematilleke, the first suspect in the Maradana check-point rape case was on 16 August further remanded till August 29.
The second and third, Constable Jayasiri Kumar and Soldier SP Senanayake were released on bail by the Maligakanda Magistrate and Additional District Judge Ms. Sarojani Kusala Weerawardena. They were ordered to furnish cash bail of Rs. 7,500 and a bond of Rs. 100,000 with two sureties each. The other three suspects, Police constable Priyantha Sujeewalal Nanayakkara, two soldiers Wasantha Kumar and G. A. R. Upula were not identified at the parade. Earlier they were released on bail in Rs. 5,000 and a bond of Rs. 100,000 each. They were directed to appear in court on September 12.
Earlier the victim identified Police Constable, Kamal Prematilleke, as one of the persons who raped her at the identification parade held before Acting Maligakanda Magistrate Mr. Lloyd Grey.
The Judge directed the Police to consult the Attorney General and file a further report on September 12. Colombo DIG Gerard Ignatius is directing investigations conducted by Colombo Central SPD. A. de Fonseka. Chief Inspector R. A. Edirisinghe, OIC, Maradana Police with Inspector Priyanka Wijenayake, OIC, CDB, SINimal Perera and Sergeant Senevirantne are assisting in the investigations.
Shun vituperative politics: Aug 17The Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) has urged all politicians of the Government and the opposition parties to abandon vituperative politics and join hands to ensure the restoration of parliamentary democracy, peace and law and order in the country.
The association in a statement issued on 17 August said it had watched with great concern, dismay and regret the efforts made by politicians to exploit every turn of events to their own political advantage. Politicians should abandon vituperative politics which will lead the country nowhere.
The statement signed by Association President, Prof. J. N. Fernando also said: “We, the scientists of Sri Lanka

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15 AUGUST 2001
view with grave concern, sorrow and consternation the serious political, social and economic crisis facing Sri Lanka today. We have witnessed over the past many decades, increasing crime and violence, deterioration of moral standards and increasing political instability. Peace and unity have taken a severe beating everywhere in the country.
“The unstable environment has contributed to making the public including the scientific community feel very insecure and doubtful about the future, resulting in an increasing drain of scientists and professionals from the country. Those remaining are also finding it increasingly difficult to carry out their work and contribute to much needed national development as well as advancement of science.”
Air Force Mig crashes: Aug 18 - A Russian-built MIG 27 Air Force fighter jet crashed killing its Ukranian pilot in Seeduwa, while it was on a routine training mission on 18 August. The crash took place at 11.15am and the ill-fated aircraft was piloted by an Ukrainian, Military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said.
According to reports from the crash site, the aircraft had hit a house and the pilot was killed instantly. A few bystanders were also injured when the plane had crashed on to the ground. Five persons who were injured were rushed to the Negombo Hospital.
A special Air Force team along with the Negombo police are investigating into the incident.
President and Minister exchange accusations: Aug 21- A senior minister and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Mr.S.B.Dissanayake, is likely to make a decision shortly whether to continue in the government or to leave, following a letter sent to him by President Chandrika Kumaratunge, ruling party sources said. The President stated in her letter that she has lost confidence in Mr.Dissanayake as he had violated financial regulations and government's directives in running the ministry of Samurdhi (Poverty Alleviation).
President Kumaratunge in her letter blamed Minister S.B.Dissanayake for "the failure to carry out instructions of the government and contravening finan
cial regulations by lions rupees of th ment in a private b
President Char response to a fou Minister Dissanay gust accusing her" she had made in h political sources sa
In his statemer yake wanted “the P 'failures' openly in the present political must accept the made'.
Tigers overrun P. - At least twenty mi men were killed an the Liberation Tig stroyed the main P. tral Camp, on Aug sources in Ampara were reported miss sources said. Centri settlement, about 3 west of Batticaloa border with Ampar About one hun home guards were station when it c around 11 p.m. M posts during the fi tack, the sources S of the policemen an been recovered, the The Tigers rep the police station ti and withdrew afte of all weaponry. T ers came in tractors Eighteen woun been admitted to th Details of LTTE ( known. Two civil ported killed during police sources said According to r to Batticaloa tow from the western district, four boc personnel who we tack had been bro to Pattipallai. The gers also had dipl. ons captured fro tachment. Quotin Pattipallai, they si were killed and si in the attack.

lepositing 60 milSamurdhi DepartInk.” irika's reply was in page statement by ke issued on 20 Aufor several blunders r seven-year rule", ld. t Minister Dissanaesident to admit her a bid to overcome crisis.' He said, "we mistakes we have
lice camp: Aug 21 litary trained policeil 20 wounded when :rs attacked and deolice station at Cenust 21 night, police said. Seven others ng in the attack, the al Camp is a Sinhala 5 kilometers south near the district's
a. dred policemen and manning the Police ame under attack any deserted their rst phase of the ataid. Twenty bodies d home guards have y said. ortedly remained at ll around 4.30 a.m. clearing the camp ley said the attack
led policemen have e Ampara hospital. asualties were not lans were also rethe heavy fighting,
'sidents who came in the afternoon hinterland of the ies of the police re killed in the atght by the Tigers y said that the Tiyed part of weapthe overrun deLTTE sources in id that two Tigers ( others wounded
TAMILTIMES 7
Court stays PA's expulsion of SLMC MPs: Aug 22 - The Colombo District Judge issued an enjoining order restraining the ruling People's Alliance (PA) General Secretary and his disciplinary committee from taking steps to expel three Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) MPs from parliament.
The District Judge Mr.Sunil Rajapakse issued the order when the case filed by three parliamentarians Mr.M.S. M.Thowfeek (Trincomalee), Mr.A.T. Athaullah ( Ampara) and Mr. Risvie Sinnalebbe (National List) was taken up for inquiry Wednesday. They said in their petition "they are members of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. Hence the People's Alliance has no right to expel them from parliament as the SLMC is a constituent party of the ruling People's Alliance'
The Disciplinary Committee appointed by the General Secretary of the ruling PA is scheduled to meet Thursday to take a decision on the future of these three parliamentarians as the two weeks notice given to these MPs by the PA General Secretary to show cause why they should not be expelled from parliament for crossing over to opposition expires then.
The PAs position is that “these three parliamentarians contested and won the October 2000 general election under the symbol of People's Alliance. Therefore they are still members of Peoples' Alliance."
However the SLMC (Hakeem wing) argues that "though they contested in the PA ticket, they are members of the SLMC, which has signed a memorandum of understanding with the PA to contest the last general election. According to the MOU, Peoples' Alliance has no legal right to expel SLMC parliamentarians who contested under the symbol of PA.”
The stay order by the District Court has now restrained the Disciplinary Committee of the PA from taking any decision in regard to these MPs until their case is determined. Further hearing has been fixed for September 5
Last week the Court of Appeal extended its stay order on the Commissioner of Elections and the Secretary General of Parliament from accepting any letters from Ms Ferial Ashraff as President of National Unity Alliance in regard to the expulsion of these three

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8 TAMILTIMES
parliamentarians from parliament. In this case further inquiry was fixed for September 25.
Detained student to be medically examined: Aug 22 - Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court ordered that Jaffna University student Krishnasamy Thiviyan should be subjected to medical examination by the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer (JMO). A three member bench presided by Chief Justice Sarath N.Silva and comprising Justice Shiranee A. Bandaranaike and Justice P. Edussuriya issued the order when a fundamental rights application filed on behalf of Thiviyan was taken up for inquiry. Sri Lanka's Attorney General and the General Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Army, Jaffna district have been cited as the respondents in the application.
Counsel A.Vinayagamoorthy for the petitioner submitted to court that Thiviyan was subjected to severe torture after the arrest by SLA soldiers. He made an application that Colombo JMO should submit a report to court after the examination. The Supreme Court made the order accordingly and instructed the respondents to submit the medical report on the next date. Further hearing was fixed for October 30. The Sri Lankan security forces arrested Thiviyan on 2 July this year at Kondavil north of Jaffna town. He is now being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) on the orders of Jaffna Magistrate.
Following mass agitation by Tamil students in the Tamil dominated northeast region, demanding the release of Thiviyan, the SLA transferred him from their custody to the police. Thereafter Police produced Thiviyan before Jaffna Magistrate. The students had told the court that he was tortured by troops whilst in detention.
UNP ready for talks with PA: Aug 23 - The leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition party said Thursday that his United National Party (UNP) was prepared to hold discussions with the ruling People's
Alliance governi lution to the cour economic crises. discussions shou acceptance of the cies and the conc tary majority,” N masinghe stresse Lanka’s Prime N Wickremanayak has said that pro commence on 24 Mr. Wickrema in response to ar Prime Minister suggesting that t litical parties sho talks to form a na tion government the country fron sis'.
The UNP ha of representative Sions with the P the party said. Th UNP team are - riya, Deputy Le man Mr Charitl Parliamentarians ndo and Mr K.N Mr. Ranil Wic in his reply that should be compl eed time frame. “ liament, canceli establishment o' commissions foi Elections, Publi dia should be gi proposed talks.
Tigers attack oduvaai: Aug Lanka Army (S killed and 24 v Liberation Tige defence lines duvaai camp so in the north-ea: 3 a.m. On 23 Au diers have been in the attack, ari LTTE member fighting, the so The Tiger shelled Janaka the nearby Ma! region, the Sout used tanks a predawn attack

15 AUGUST 2001
ent to find a soy’s political and However, these l be based on the democratic polipts of parliamenCr. Ranill Wickrein a letter to Sri (inster, Ratnasiri The UNP leader losed talks could August. singhes reply was invitation by the Wickremanayake ne “two main pould open political tional reconciliaIn a bid to salvage the present cri
s named a group s to have discuseople's Alliance, he members of the Mr Karu Jayasuader, Party Chairna Ratwatte, and Mr Tyrone Ferna1. Choksy.
ckremasinghe said he proposed talks eted within an agrReconvening parg the referendum, five independent Police, Judiciary, c Service and Meven priority in the
LA at Kokkuth23 — Thirteen Sri LA) soldiers were ounded when the Sattacked forward if the Kokkutho|th of Mullaithivu, ern coast, around gust. Ten SLA soleported missing y sources said. Six were killed in the rces added.
simultaneously ura Army camp in al Aaru (Weli Oya) es said. The Tigers mortars in the on the SLAcamps
at Janakapura and Kokkuthoduwaai, military spokesman Brigadier Sarath Karunaratne said. He admitted two SILA bunkers at Kokkuthoduwaai vvere in the control of LTTE for about one hour.
Meanwhile the Tigers attacked the jetties at Gurunagar and Colombagam in Jaffna town, around 3 a.m. on 23 August Police in the northern town said. A large number of LTTE members participated in the attack, said Jaffna’s Senior Superintendent of Police W.Kudahetty. The police recovered the bodies of two LTTE members killed in this fighting, he said.
Further details of the fighting were not known. The Tigers have not yet commented on the fighting.
No cargo backlog at airport: Aug 23 - Sri Lankan Airlines have denied that there is a backlog of cargo at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) as a result ofdisruptions caused by the LTTE's attack on the airport on July 24.
“Although our capacity has decreased with six aircraft less, there is no backlog or insufficient capacity in our airline even now, because we were operating under-capacity even prior to the July 24 attack, due to world-wide slump in the air cargo industry,” said Mr.Naveen Gunawardene, Senior Manager Cargo in a press release. “If you consider BIA's available average tonnage per day of approximately 500 tonnes, there is no lack of capacity. Some airlines have changed the type of aircraft they are operating and therefore the per aircraft capacity on some flights may be less.
Saying that overall, there is no capacity shortage in BIA, Mr.Gunawardene stressed, “With the reentry of our seventh aircraft, a long haul Airbus A340, into the fleet from September 1, our capacity will in fact increase.' Sri Lankan Airlines have also denied the other rumour that it had asked other airlines to add a passenger insurance surcharge of USD 80 on every return ticket. The decision to add the surcharge was a commercial decision taken by individual airlines, the airlines said.

Page 9
15 AUGUST 2001
O Chilling Fear of Rape Haunts
Tamil Women in Sri Lanka Aug. 23 - Exhausted after a night's work at a busy cafe and an anxious encounter with police, Velu Arshadevi was fast asleep when the loud thumping came at the door of a house shared by the cafe's employees.
“I sat up in the bed. It was about 3 in the morning and who would come?" Arshadevi recalled asking herself.
At the door, the 28-year-old mother of two found the police officer who had stopped her on the street hours earlier. He said she would have to come with him to the station as police needed to further verify her identity because she was a Tamil.
The identity check earlier was routine, and - asalways -unnerving. Police regularly question Tamils about possible ties to the militants who have waged a civil war for 18 years to establish a separate homeland for Sri Lanka's 3.2 million minority Tamils.
But what came next scarred Arshadevi's life, and her case has come to represent the worst fears of Tamil women - being raped by members of the Sinhalese-dominated security forces who exercise control over their day-to-day lives.
While the government denies the rebels' charges that Tamils are discriminated against by the majority Sinhalese - 14 million of the 18.6 million population -Tamils point to their treatment at police checkpoints as just one example of how their lives are different.
A Sinhalese who presents his national identity card usually is allowed to go on. A Tamil in most cases will be detained if they don't also have a separate police report verifying their name, age and address. Standing outside her home after the knock on her door that night in June, Arshadevi was afraid to go with the policeman. She argued that her ID papers had already been checked and were in order.
But he insisted, and she had no choice. Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the police and military in this island nation have special powers to interrogate, arrest and indefinitely detain anyone they suspect of connections to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Arshadevi told The Associated Press in an interview that instead of being taken to the police station, she was pushed into
a narroW COncrete army camp. For thi she said, she was g out for her attacket The policemal stairway, S. Prem charges of rape alo leagues.
Arshadevi's or tests from Tamil pa human rights orgar Selvy Thirucha Education and Rese ment-funded rights are another manife born of an ancient ethnic groups, each and religion. “Thi ethnic issue, as it is said.
The London-ba tional said in a stat officer found respol abuse or other tortu or condoning them, justice.”
Women's right cases ofrape or se been reported by Ta but there have been security forces exce tim was murdered.
In March, two T by navy and police northern town of N were gang-raped b curity force. No arı Kumudini Sam Media Collective, a said in many cases report rape or abuse ther harm from po will be taken. "It state afford some k tem for those who curity forces,” she
She blamed mu
 

taircase leading to an next hour and a half, ing raped as she cried s to stop.
who led her to the athilake, now faces ng with two of his col
deal has brought proliament members and izations.
ndran of the Women's arch Center, a governgroup, said the rapes station of a civil war conflict between two with its own language S rape is as much an a gender issue,' she
sed Amnesty Internaement: “Any security sible for rape, sexual re, or for encouraging should be brought to
advocates say many cual harassment have nil women in the past, no convictions against pt one where the vic
amil women detained n the Tamil-majority lannar reported they members of the sests have been made. lel of the Women & Women's rights group, Tamil women don't because they fearfurce and doubt action imperative that the nd of protective syse detained by the seaid. h of the problem on
9 TAMELTIMES - ܫܚܢܝ
the "intense militarization' in Colombo. Between 5,000 to 10,000 security personnel are on duty at any given time in the capital, on guard against Tamil rebels who have often set off bombs and on July 24 attacked the country's only international airport outside Colombo.
Because of Arshadevi's difficult life - and her courage - her case has drawn sympathy for the cause of Tamil women in the island. Her father died when she was a child, leaving her with an invalid mother and five siblings, who soon left home. The youngest in the family, she dreamed of being a nurse or a teacher. But she had to leave school at l4 to work. She was married at 18 and widowed at 25. To support her two young daughters, she traveled to Colombo to find a job.
Arshadevi recounted how her attackers had warned her not to tell anyone what happened. But she filled out a report to police, with help from her employer, only hours after the rape. "I reported it because I don't want anyone to go through what I did," she said. (Associated Press)
O LTTE Warns
Jaffna Civilians In a statement issued by the political wing of the LTTE and published in the Uthayan newspaper, the LTTE has warned civilians in Jaffna not to co-operate with the Sri Lankan Army or the Government administration.
The statement titled, "A long letter to the people of the Jaffna peninsula” said; “Dear people of the Jaffna peninsula, You are living at a time when the Jaffna peninsula is undergoing a serious crisis. You should lead very responsible lives at a time like this. On the one hand the peninsula is subjected to aggression by Sinhala chauvinists. On the other hand traitors are active to put out the great revolutionary fire that is being created by thousands of great heroes who are shedding their blood for the cause of Eelam.”
The LTTE declared in the statement that the day will not be too far when the entire territory of Jaffna will be liberated from oppressive aggressors. On that day no traitor will be allowed to escape inevitable reprisal, the LTTE warned.
“Do not get trapped by the schemes of traitors. Co-operate with the freedom fighters to hasten the day of liberation,” the statement said.
Government officials and Samurdhi animators were among the groups that

Page 10
10 TAMILTIMES
were specially warned. A media report said that already an LTTE pistol gang had shot dead a Samurdhi worker Sinnathambi.
Since late 1995 when the Sri Lankan Army wrested control of Jaffna from the Tamil Tigers who retreated into Vanni and Mullaitivu areas, the LTTE has tried to recapture Jaffna. Last year the LTTE succeeded in over-running the Elephant Pass military base and in a series of offensives attempted to capture the city of Jaffna. But the Security forces with enhanced firepower and modern weapons provided by the Government halted the LTTE of fensive at the doorstep to Jaffna town. Subsequently, the Security Forces pushed back the LTTE, so that at present the Tigers are not in a position to make a direct attack on the city.
Following the recent attack on the Katunayake airforce base and the adjoining civilian airport by the LTTE, it is speculated that the Tamil Tigers are making preparations to launch a massive new offensive to recapture Jaffna, and it is in this context the latest warning to the people of Jaffna from the LTTE has to be understood, a military analyst said
O Checkpoint Rape Victim
Files Court Case The victim in the Maradana checkpoint rape incident on 24th June had filed a petition before the Supreme Court for a declaration that her fundamental rights had been violated and seeking relief for the trauma suffered.
Velu Arasadevi of Konagala Estate, Passara (presently housed at the Salvation Army Home) submitted that the physical violence and the mental trauma that she had been subjected to by 1st and 3rd Respondents were cruel inhuman and degrading which was in violation of Article l l of the Constitution. She had injuries on the back of her body.
Petitioner states she had been devastated by the illegal arrest and torture. She had no means to support her two daughters and aged mother who looks after her children. She has been impoverished economically as a result of what she underwent. She had asked for leave to proceed with her petition and for court to direct the Registrar of the Supreme Court to call for the medical report pertaining to the medical examination of the petitioner by the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo on the evening of June 24, 2001 when she
amb
was referred to that ( quarters Inspector ol lice.
Petitioner had all and costs asthe cour The respondents ( Priyantha Prematilak A. Jayantha Sirikumi S. B. Senanayake, Army, IGP Lucky K Commander Lt. Gen. the Attorney General
O Opposition Pa. Aug 17 - Membe longing to the oppos mously passed six re. claimed would help t racy and rescue the nomic crisis. One h members attended thi held in the Parliam August.
Two members, Choksy and JVP MP were unable to be pr sages endorsing th Beisides the UNP, M JVP, SLMC, TULF, Sihala Urumaya atte The six resolutio Parliament's powers, Confidence Motion ment, appoint a Sele quire into the condu tice, cancel the ref condemn the killing in the July 19 anti-re tion and call upon la cies not to carry out pressing peaceful ( last resolution was ti discuss and decide P allocation of time.
Opposition Le mesinghe said the P: people's view and duty to uphold the mocracy. “We all h agendas but we gat of such differences and the sovereignt he added and insi should be reconver Parliament wil determine its sessi September 7 and si decided by Parlia singhe said. Such Suspended, prorog

15 AUGUST 200
ficer by the Headthe Maradana Po
prayed for relief deems sit.
ted are A. P. Kamal RPC Fort Police H. a RPC Fort Police Private Sri Lanka bdituwakku, Army ionel Balagalle and
ties Meet
s of Parliament betion parties unaniolutions which they strengthen democcountry from ecoIndred and thirteen : meeting which was nt buildings on 17
the UNP'S K.N. Vijitha Herath who esent had sent mese decisions taken. (Ps belonging to the TELO, ACTC and nded the meeting. ns were: Strengthen proceed with the No against the Governect Committee to inict of the Chief Juserendum forthwith, of two participants erendum demonstraw enforcement agenllegal orders for supemonstrations. The meet the Speaker to arliament sittings and
der Ranil Wickrerliament reflected the t was the members constitution and deve different political ered here regardless o uphold democracy of the Parliament,” ted that Parliament d immediately.
exercise its right to ns when it meets on from time to time as ent, Mr Wickremeittings could not be :d or stopped in any
manner whatsoever other than by Parliament, he added.
JVP Parliamentary Group leader Wimal Weerawansa said: "We in the JVP believe that the progressive and democratic forces of this country should get together to have a fresh and fair election which will represent the voice of the people. The JVP is ready to contribute to such an endeavour.”
O US Behind PA-UNP Talks
The United States has acted as a mediator and a catalyst to bring together the Sri Lankan President Mrs. Chandrika Kumaratunga and the United National Party (UNP) Leader Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe who seemed to have been locked in an unresolvable conflict, according to political circles in Colombo.
Prime Minister Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake's formal letter to the UNP leader asking for official level talks between the ruling Peoples Alliance (PA) and the UNP for the formation of a Government of National Consensus and Mr. Wickremesinghe's conciliatory response, in which he had accepted the invitation and hinted at the dropping of contentious issues, could be attributed to the mediatory role played by the US Ambassador Mr.Ashley Wills.
Following a report in the local press that the US Ambassador had met President Kumaratunga and urged her to come to an understanding with the opposition United National Party (UNP) to bring peace, political stability and economic growth to Sri Lanka, the US Embassy here issued a statement 23 August saying that Mr.Wills had conveyed a message “from one party to another' on this question after consulting Washington.
The statement did not mention the names of the parties nor did it say which of the parties was the initiator of the process. But it did say, "Along with many other friends of Sri Lanka, the United States has been concerned about Sri Lanka’s political uncertainty and its possible impact on the prospects for peace and economic growth in the country. That is why the ambassador agreed to carry the message.”
O Jaffna Hospital
A Casualty of War By Frances Harrison (BBC) in Jaffna August 21 - Jaffna hospital has coped with two decades of fighting. Doctors in the northern Sri Lankan town of Jaffna

Page 11
15 AUGUST 2001
A. §oreté9
CARTON
AKD PPO) (NTT. O SIN S SRI LAKAN SK
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COLOMBO-LONDON
e-mail: infoOCarltonleisure.Com
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say patients are dying because the defence ministry will not allow enough drugs into the area - the scene of two decades of conflict with Tamil rebels. Unlike any other government hospital in Sri Lanka, defence ministry approval is required for all shipments of drugs and medical equipment to Jaffna Hospital - but doctors say they only receive a fraction of what they need.
According to the hospital director, three babies recently died in the premature baby unit for want of a drug easily available elsewhere in Sri Lanka. Doctors say there have also been several occasions when newborn babies have died because of a shortage of oxygen. Dr Kumarawerl, the secretary of the Jaffna branch of the Government Medical Officers' Association, says the hospital lacks any working incubators.
Hot water bottles "We need six incubators because we have more than five babies to be kept in incubators. “We don't have that, so we just keep them in the open cots with hot water bags. “Sometimes we burn the babies, sometimes the babies are cold. "Every half an hour the nursing of ficers have to check whether it's too hot
or cold or if it's nec hot water bottles.' to be one of the best try before the war. thing - staff, medici
Administrators drugs they need toth the defence ministry drastically - someti tenth of what they Seems to be that t might fall into rebe say the drugs are ne itself. Neglect Burea there have been tim has had no antibiot offer patients underg ing to another Jaff Thevakumar: "Most have analgesics bec did not allow us to b the opiates.
“Usually we sh tients undergoing S here we give only “Other patients we thetic agent only, S most of the patients
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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essary to change the Jaffna Hospital used hospitals in the counNow it lacks everyne and equipment. submit a list of the e government but say cuts their allocation mes only sending a sk for. The concern le medical supplies I hands, but doctors ver checked in Jaffna cratic neglect means es when the hospital cs or pain killers to ping surgery, accorda staff member, Dr of the time we don't use the government ; sent this, especially
uld give all the paIrgery analgesia but for major surgery. just give the anaesafter the operation resuffering from the
pain." The doctors joke that in the Westor for that matter in Colombo - their patients could sue them for the pain they have to undergo after surgery. Staff here have a huge crowd of patients to deal with. Te hospital serves a population of halfa million people.
War casualties The director, Dr Kanegaratnam, says the hospital itself was twice displaced by the fighting and has seen more than its share of war casualties: “I have seen bodies being brought wrapped in bags after shelling, and there are many landmine cases, victims who come in without legs and arms." It is only the dedication of the few remaining staff that keeps Jaffna hospital going. It has half the nurses it needs and only four specialists out of 32. This is a time of relative peace in Jaffna, but if fierce fighting breaks out again it is hard to imagine how the doctors would cope. They say the only good thing about periods of intense shelling is that the patients cannot reach the hospital at once. O Chemical Weapons
Controversy Reports published recently in a Sun

Page 12
12 TAMILTIMES
day newspaper in Colombo that the Sri Lankan military had acquired weapons with chemical warheads was soon been followed by a statement from the LTTE on 16 August alleging that the Sri Lankan Government purchased new infantry weapon system with chemical warheads in order to use them against the Liberation Tigers and the Thamil civilian population in the war-torn North and Eastern Sri Lanka.
But the Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne flatly denied the accusation of the LTTE on next day, and he said that the claims of Liberation Tigers was totally untrue and bogus allegation. He added that the Liberation Tigers and their apparatus have been attempting to discredit the Sri Lankan military at the International level.
The LTTE said that: “This Russian made rocket propelled "thermobaric' weapon is internationally banned for its lethal toxic effects on combatants and civilians. The acquisition of this banned Weapon by Sri Lanka marks a new and dangerous escalation of the armed conflict in the island.”
The government in a statement issued on 17 August said, "The government wishes to refute categorical reports that it has recently acquired weapons with chemical warheads. No such procurement has been made and there are no plans to obtain them. This false information has been jointly published by the tabloid - Sunday Leader as well as the official LTTE website. The government requests all mediato desist from assisting the LTTE in its attempts to spread such lies. The government would take sternest action against any institution or person who may act irresponsibly in this manner.”
However, a report published in the “EelamNation' web site on 20 August said that, "Several reports have confirmed today that Sri Lankan Government purchased the chemical weapons through a private company in Ukraine. ...Tamil political leaders confirmed the report and said that the Sri Lankan Government made the attempt several years ago. But one thousand pieces of the internationally banned weapon called R. P. O. Shmel Rocket Launcher have reached the hands of Sri Lankan Army recently with the help of British and Ukrainian Armed dealers. "The politicians pointed out that a magazine highlighted the attempt by the Sri Lankan Government in 1997. But the
Sri Lankan Governm the attempt of purch ons out of the knowl tries including the America. The Unitec port that the weapons sive damage to that weapons were not ex In the meantime Pararajasingham in a dent Kumaratunga h and dismay by ne' defense Ministry ha weapon to counter ti in the northeast, wh affect the civilian po eas.” He also has c ernment "to abandor of deadly and lethal \ Tamil people in ther their legitimate asp pursue the Norwegi create a conducive c east by declaring a c on the LTTE and co negotiations with th war.'
Defence officials to be deeply concern LTTE to whip up a opinion with claims Army had purchast weapons quoting wil “an incorrect and se port” in a Colombo Army officials s legations of corrupti chase from Russia military officials by newspaper. The Arr incendiary rock Launcher purchase sia belongs to the “c egory, although cer including the Unite deploy it. Army c Schmel Launcher i ary weapon and iss ful anti-personnel used in modern wau would be useful LTTE’S formidable assaults, they expl
The Russian also issued a der which is manufact on the global mai weapon".
Before the rep learnt that the mil

15 AUGUST 2001
it managed to keep sing illegal weapdge of other counUnited States of States said in a rewould cause extenregion even if the bloded.” TULF MP Joseph letter sent to Presiis expressed shock is report that the acquired a deadly e on going conflict ich will eventually pulation in these arilled upon the govthe use of this sort eaponry against the ortheast to suppress rations and instead an peace initiative, limate in the northeasefire, lift the ban immence immediate e LTTE to end this
in Colombo are said edover efforts by the dverse international that the Sri Lanka 'd banned chemical at the Army says is nsationalist news reSunday newspaper. renuously denied alon in a Weapons purmade against certain the 'Sunday Leader' y is denying that the et-type “ Schmel d recently from Rushemical warfare catain Western powers, States, had opted not ficials say that the a powerful incendimilar to other powerWeapons commonly are. The new weapon h beating back the "human wave' mass ned. nbassy in Colombo all that the weapon, ed by Russia and sold et, was a "chemical
t was published, it is try pokesman Briga
dier Sanath Karunaratne had addressed a written appeal to the newspaper not to publish the detailed information about the type of weapon purchased.
An angry Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle, in a letter to the “Sunday Leader' denying the corruption allegations, which was released to the media, stated: “I write with reference to the centre-spread article in The Sunday Leader of 12th August, 2001, headlined "Big stink over Schmel Launchers” by Frederica Jansz.
“Without prejudice to whatever legal remedy I may resort to, I write to strongly deny the wild allegations of corruption made against me, as Commander of the Army and against two other senior officEfS,
"It is also a matter of deep regret that despite a written request by Military Spokesman, Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne RWP RSP to Ms. Jansz, as a responsible journalist, to exercise caution when giving publicity to the military equipment in question, for the only reason that the enemy, the LTTE would become aware, she has, it appears, chosen to completely ignore it. Fears Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne RWP RSP expressed to me when he made this request to Ms. Jansz have come right.
“The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website of 16th August, where the LTTE has, as expected, responded using your reportas the only basis. They will receive a fitting reply in due course to their latest campaign for which you have so readily supplied the fuel, in the form of a malicious and mischievous report. Must I say this not only compromises the nation's national security interests but also places the lives of our troops, and even our citizens, in jeopardy.
“I have requested both the Ministry of Defence and the Permanent Commission for Bribery and Corruption to conduct investigations into the allegations your newspaper has made, however frivolous they are. If you, as you boldly state, have any evidence to prove the claims made by your newspaper, I would request you to make them available to the investigators.
"The outcome of such investigations, I am sure, will reveal to the public that your article in question is one of the many witch hunts embarked by your newspaper purely to vilify people in public life to satisfy vested interests.”

Page 13
15 AUGUST 2001
O UN Envoy Wants
CJ to Step Aside The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary has written to the Sri Lankan Government requesting that Chief Justice Sarath Silva step aside until the impeachment motion against him is disposed of while a delegation of international jurists have been prevented from visiting the country to assess the rule of law here.
The UN special rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary, Param Coomaraswamy, is reported to have written to President Chandrika Kumaratunga through Sri Lanka's ambassador in Geneva requesting her to ensure that Chief Justice Sarath Silva who is facing an impeachment motion by the combined opposition in Parliament steps down from the bench, and also refrains from constituting benches until such time the select committee probing his conduct disposes of the charges against him.
Legal sources point out that the UN special rapporteur's suggestion to the President to ask the chief justice to step aside could be construed as an interference by the Executive under Sri Lanka's constitution which has separation of powers enshrined in it. They have suggested that the UN representative writes directly to the chiefjustice instead, but UN protocol prohibits him from dealing other than with governments.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson has in the meantime also written to the Sri Lankan government requesting permission and dates for the UN Special Rapporteur to visit the country to assess the independence of the judiciary, but the government has yet to respond to her request.
Meanwhile, Lord Brennan, a former Chairman of the Bar Council of England and a ruling Labour Party peer who was to head a delegation to Colombo beginning next week on behalf of the International Bar Association (IBA) to assess the rule of law situation in the country, was refused a visa to enter the country by the High Commission in London.
Former IBA president Desmond Fernando Said that Lord Brennan had been told that he could not be given a visa because he had no confirmed appointments in Colombo. When the High Commission had been told that Justice Minister Batty Weerakoon and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had given him appoint
ments, the High Co around and said that not be given a visat ister Lakshman Kadi able for a meeting.
Lord Brennen h Mr. Kadirgamar an tunga along with the egation comprising of the Bar Council tice Malimath, a fo Karnataka state in l and Justice Malima visas, but last morn received a telephon ka's deputy high col to say that his visa w No reasons were giv Justice Malimath ingness to go to Co ing the cancellation spoken to India's H. Colombo Gopal Ga skip the visit.
A spokesman fo try in Colombo said quested a visa for L Colombo only the scheduled to leave L informed that the v posed would not be Government given notice.
“It is an accepte international organ body, wishing to un this nature should S of the Government,” The Governmen quested the IBA to posed visit for mu “The IBA delegatio Colombo on such which arrangement them to meet such Government officia able," the spokesma He said that the porteur on Freedom Hussein would be ir ally agreed dates in sions with the Gover dia freedom and othe Among the iss study during the st the President'S deci liament, the holding enshrine a new cons of amending or ena« tion through extra-p

TAMILTIMES 13
nmission had turned Lord Brennen could ecause Foreign Mingamar was not avail
ad requested to meet | President Kumararest of the IBA delMr. Kyatt, chairman of Malaysia and Jusmer chief justice of ndia. Both Mr. Kyatt th had been granted ng Justice Malimath call from Sri Lannmission in Chennai as being withdrawn. em,
had indicated a willlombo notwithstandof the visa, but had gh Commissioner in ndhi and decided to
r the Foreign Ministhat the IBA had reord Brennen to visit day before he was ondon. The IBA was sit on the days proconvenient by the the shortness of the
'd principle that any isation, even a UN dertake a mission of eek the concurrence the spokesman said. t is learnt to have rereschedule the proually agreed dates. his welcome to visit greed dates during could be made for Ministers and other ls as may be availn added.
UN’s Special Rapof Expression Abid Sri Lanka on mutuNovember for discushment leaders on mer issues in Sri Lanka. es the BA was to y in Sri Lanka was ion to prorogue Parof a referendum to itution, the question ting a new constiturliamentary methods
and the independence of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has warned diplomats and foreign funded NGOs that statements by them on the current Sri Lankan situation might amount to an interference in the country's internal affairs, The ministry in a note to members of the diplomatic corps, UN offices and specialised agencies said such public statement whether solicited or otherwise would be contrary to the well-established norms of diplomatic conduct and practice. lt has invited the attention of resident diplomatic missions to the relevant provisions of the Vienna Convention relating to the Diplomatic Relations, in particular Article 4!.
The Foreign Ministry has stated that if any diplomat or diplomatic mission wished to make any representation, it could be done through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or with its knowledge.
O LTTE Airport Attack:
Aftershocks on Economy Aug 19 - Sri Lanka's exports had dipped and growth forecasts were already in tatters when the Tigers attacked the country's only international airport, but the aftershocks are taking a heavier toll.
Nearly four weeks after the attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport where four civilian passenger jets were completely destroyed and two more damaged, the economy is reeling. Thousands of jobs are being cut.
Sri Lanka's tourism industry, which celebrated a record number of foreign holiday-makers in June this year, is now dire straits. Dozens of hotels are closing down. Scores remain empty. Thousands
of employees are being laid off.
The July 24 attack on the airport saw an immediate increase in insurance premiums on aircraft entering Sri Lanka. Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific airlines pulled out while others curtailed flights to Colombo.
The war-risk insurance slapped on aircraft was extended to ships calling at the island's only Colombo sea port recently. At least 10 international shipping lines either cut down calls to Sri Lanka or completely pulled out.
"This is no longer a port and airport issue,” said Prakrama Dissanayake, the vice president of Ceylon Association of Shipping Agents (CASA). "The entire economy will be affected by this crisis unless we do something fast,” he said

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14 TAMILTIMES
adding, "Many have still not understood the gravity of the problem."
In a bid to offset the effects of high insurance, the government has reduced oil prices for ships re-fuelling at the Colombo port to rates applicable in Singapore. The move was to encourage international liners to call at Colombo where 60 percent of its cargo capacity was eliminated when the 10 international lines decided to cut services.
The government also liberalised entry to cargo carriers at the Colombo airport where as an added incentive all aircraft bringing in more than 200 passengers will not be charged ground handling fees.
President Chandrika Kumaratunga earlier this month told business leaders that the attack on the airport was the “most horrendous against an economic target' ever carried out by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who have been battling the government for decades. She warned that the country might not be able to keep to its economic goals this year because of the airport attack and a global economic slowdown.
Even the official figures are ominous. Exports had dropped by 1.5 percent in the first half of the year to 2.4 billion dollars, according to the Central Bank's latest figԱTCS.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported last week that Sri Lanka's economic growth in the first half of this year was a dismall.0 percent, compared with an original forecast of three to four percent.
Given the rebel attack on July 24 and the fallout in tourism as well as the import-export sectors which account for more than a third of the country's GDP, Sri Lanka could be heading for more difficult times, warned the IMF.
“Notwithstanding satisfactory performance through June, indications are that the budget is likely to come under increasing pressure in the second half of 2001,” the IMF said adding “The recent airport attack has also negatively impacted on the budget and revenues from tourism and exports, as well as the general business confidence.”
However, there was a minor respite for consumers amid the gloom and doom. Prices of eggs, meat, vegetables, fish, prawns and lobsters have come down drastically due to poor demand from tourist hotels.
Sri Lankan farme bling to sell eggs anc plummets due to a sh of holiday-makers. T try Farmers Associa have fallen below th An association spoke by a third in three we below our cost of pro a struggle,” he said, a night-time power cuts problems for the foc in a soup,” he said in
O UN Body on V Ivan's Compla The Human Righ ofthe UNHuman Ri rejected the Attorne nary objections in ar it by Ravaya Editor \ ested the Sri Lankan mit within six month garding the Editor's Mr. Ivan alleged ments filed against High Court for crimi without proper asses discriminately and a sign to harass him.
The Geneva-bas Optional Protocol to Rights Covenant, has admissible for the c its and requested the ment to submit withi explanations clarifyi dicating the measu) been taken.
In its decision th that though the inc prior to Sri Lanka ac Protocol, the conseq ments continue, col tions which the cor to look into.
It rejected a cla torney General of S tor had failed to ex edies, concluding t the highest court of cation before it as e constitutes the last c edy.
On December made a complaint t the Attorney Gene cise his discretion in indictments for c against him on Jun

15 AUGUST 2001
's have been scramchicken as demand pfall in the number ne All Island Poulion said egg prices cost of production. man said prices fell æks. "Even to sell at duction has become lding that 90 minute have aggravated the d industry. “We are
exasperation.
ictor
int Es Committee(HRC) hts Commission has 7 General's prelimiappeal filed before 'ictor Ivan and requGovernment to Subsits explanation recomplaint. that the three indictnim in the Colombo nal defamation were sment, presented inrbitrarily with a de
ed HRC, under the the Political and Civil found the complaint onsideration of merSri Lankan Governn six months written ng the matter and ines if any, that have
e HRC took the view ictments were filed 'eding to the Optional lences of such indictIstituting new violamittee is competent
imposed by the Ati Lanka that the edimaust domestic remle Supreme Court is he land and an applimployed by the editor omestic judicial rem
17, 1999 the editor the UNHRC stating ll had failed to exerthe filing of the three iminal defamation 29, 1996, March 31,
1997 and September 30, 1997 thereby violating his freedom of expression and his right to equality and equal protection of the law guaranteed respectively by Article 19 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
He claimed his rights under Article 2 (3) of the Covenant had been impinged upon and an effective remedy deprived when the Supreme Court had refused Leave to Proceed with his Fundamental Rights application to suspend the indictments on the same grounds as guaranteed under Articles 14 (l) (a) and 12(1) of the Constitution.
The Attorney General said that Article 19 (3) of the Covenant carried with it special duties and responsibilities and may be subject to restrictions provided by law necessary for the respect of the rights and reputations of the others.
It was submitted that the editor had not exhausted all available domestic remedies including making representations either to the Attorney General, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration or to the Human Rights Commission. Further the Attorney General pointed out that the Editor had not established violation of any rights under the Covenant for which remedies were available under the Sri Lankan Constitution.
O Truth Commission Calls for Evidence Members of the Presidential Truth Commission on Ethnic Violence on 10 August called upon persons affected by ethnic violence during the period between 1981 and 1984 to provide evidence before an inquiry which will commence shortly.
The commission will inquire into the nature, causes and extent of violations of human rights and damage to property caused as a part of ethnic violence during the period between 1981 and 1984 with special reference to July 1983. The commission appointed by the President comprises Retired Chief Justice S. Sharvananda, Sathyaloka Sasita Sahabandu, P.C. and Mohamed Mohamed Zuhair. Public sittings will begin once preliminary representations are made, a member of the Truth Commission M. M. Zuhair said.
The commission told a press conference recently that they will receive representation-evidence of such violations from persons living in Sri Lanka and abroad orally or by written statement or

Page 15
15 AUGUST 2001
by way of photographs, video cassette recordings, sound recordings or other until October 15. They said the commission expected to complete its work by January 23, 2002. The period for submissions will be extended depending on the response.
Asked about the delay in beginning such a process after a period of about 18 years since the incidents in question and the haste in completing the inquiry within a short period of 3 months, M. M. Zuhair said they were carrying out a job handed down to them. "We agree that it is late but it is never too late to discover the truth" he said adding that it was a challenging task which required the co-operation of all citizens of the country.
Chairman of the Commission former Chief Justice S. Sharvananda said that the commission sought the truth of what happened and who was responsible and would consider necessary steps to prevent a reCTTCCC.
Answering a question as to what action would be taken against persons who are currently holding a position of authority if it is proved that they had resorted to violence during such period, Mr. Zuhair said "the aim of the commission is to ascertain the causes that led to the incidents and prevent a recurrence. The idea is not to go after and penalise such persons”.
Asked what the purpose was of spending such a lot of money on a process where punishment is not meted out to perpetrators, with the likelihood of them repeating such actions again, he said that the commission's principle task was not punishing but getting on to a dealing process. "The idea of the commission is to heal and this may hinder the healing process", Mr. Sahabandu added. He said that the South African experience with a similar commission was a success.
Answering a question as to whether
this was not an att timisation of the UN fied relates to the p members of the co merely a coincide their work was not people on a witchh they could do anyt ber said.
The commissic tise in the local pre ing locals and ex website and through the inquiry which is the request for writ sons coming forwa dence may testify it while the identity o protected, the comr
O Church Lead Multiparty N Church leaders leaders of political p est priority for the in all their delibera lease issued by the Council.
The Council has need for a new Cons stitution most inclus executive President of Commissions and of power to facilitat ethnic conflict and b to an end', the state The National Ch Lanka expresses its rent political develo and urges all politic welfare of the peop ority in all their deli The Council has need for a new const democratic space in
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‘mpt at political vicPas the period speciriod of their regime, mmission said it was hce. Asked whether going to be used by int, "we can't help it, ing with it”, a mem
n will shortly adverss while also informpatriates through a foreign embassies of coproceed shortly and en submissions. Perrd to give such evipublic or in camera, such persons will be hission stated.
ers Urge atioinal Govt
in Sri Lanka urged arties to give the highwelfare of the people tions stated press reNational Christian
always advocated the titution. The new conle the abolition of the y, the establishment maximum devolution the resolution of the bring this cruel war to ment said.
Aristian Council of Sri concern over the curpment in the country all leaders to have the le as the highest priperations and actions. always advocated the itution to enhance the the country. The new
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Constitution must include the abolition of the Executive Presidency, the establishment of commissions to ensure the absolute independence of the Police, Judiciary, Public Service, Elections and the Media, and maximum devolution of power to facilitate the resolution of the ethnic conflict and bring this cruel war to an end. However, the timing of the proposed Referendum seeking a mandate for a new constitution from the people, calls for a serious review.
The prorogation of parliament at a time when the confidence of the Government was being democratically put to the test, coupled with such a Referendum, will not serve the cardinal principles for which a new constitution is aspired for by the people. It is being interpreted as a measure to stall the voice and will of the people through their representatives and will only serve to accentuate and postpone the crisis. The need of the hour is therefore, primarily to restore democratic space by permitting the democratic process to manifest and express itself. Political strategizing for obtaining or protecting party interests runs diametrically opposite to this,' the statement added.
This is not the time for political parties to be accusing each other, for all are to be blamed for the national crisis that we experience today.
The affirmation of the welfare of the nation as the ultimate priority, accommodative and consultative politics, and an environment where all the representatives of the people, regardless of party affiliation, work clearly with a spirit of service, sacrifice and reconciliation. A national priority must be the establishment of a new political culture through which apolitical space will emerge for the strengthening of democratic institutions ushering peace and the development of the country.
With this in mind the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka calls upon the President, as a gesture of goodwill to:
(a) Review the order proroguing Parliament; and the proclamation calling for a Referendum;
(b) Liaise with the Leader of the Opposition and all other parties in Parliament to establish an Interim Multi Party National Government committed to a minimum programme on Peace, Development and Democracy.

Page 16
16 TAMITMES
Colombo Correspondent
P resident Chandrika Kumaratunga and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should equally share the blame for the current political, constitutional and socio-economic imbroglio in Sri Lanka. They have been more concerned with their parties and their future at the expense of the country and its people.
“These people have gone crazy," summed up a senior western diplomat. "They are engaged in a game of political chess while the country is burning.”
On August 14 they checkmated each other: President Kumaratunga and UNP leader Wickremesinghe asked saboteurs to leave their respective parties without causing any further damage.
At a meeting of P at the President's Kumaratunga said tl two dangerous men ir presence is a great should leave the part out naming who they ed that she had referr Ministers S.B. Dissar Peiris, Mahinda Wij Parliamentarian Ba rdene who had critici in recent press inter meetings. They have was mishandling the
Wickremesinghe UNP headquarters, ". there were anyone wil up the PA they coul
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party members ouse President re were one or the party. "Their anger and they ,' she said withwere. It is implid to persons like ayake, Prof. G.L. sekera and MEP ndula Gunawased the President fiews and public said the President present situation. at a meeting at the Sirikotha”, said if no wanted to prop ld do so publicly
15 AUGUST 2001
without having secret meetings. "Let them go and join the crumbling PA,” he said, adding that he felt no one at thisjuncture would cross over from the UNP to a sinking ship. His reference was to senior members Rukman Senanayake and Tyronne Fernando who had series of meetings with Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake.
Wickremesinghe ordered the UNP general secretary to take disciplinary action against members who violate party discipline by making contradictory statements about the party stand on the present political crisis. There were press reports over the weekend that Rukman Senanayake had extensive discussions with the Prime Minister and Tyronne Fernando with a government delegation comprising ministers Anurutha Ratwatte, Lakshman Kadirgamar and Mangala Samaraweera.
Embattled President Kumaratunga whose government lost its parliamentary majority on June 20 when seven lawmakers belonging to Sri Lanka Muslim Congress crossed over to the opposition made the first move to prorogue parliamentary sittings till Sep
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Page 17
15 AUGUST 2001
tember 7 to stave officertain defeat if the opposition no-confidence motion was debated. To distract public attention from that action she announced a referendum on the question of the need for a new constitution. Her ploy failed and united the opposition, which turned the referendum into a no-confidence vote against her.
Senior ministers S. B. Dissanayake and G. L. Peiris opposed the holding of the referendum, Dissanayake on the ground that it could not be won and Peiris on legal basis. Peiris submitted that Article 86 under which the referendum was announced was consultative in character and its approval by the people in non-binding. Amendments to the constitution are covered by Article 85, which stipulate the need for twothird majority in parliament and the approval by the people at a referendum. Realizing that she had placed herselfin a corner and sensing defeat President Kumaratunga invited Wickremesinghe for talks about power-sharing
and the formation of a national govern
ment. Talks failed because Wickremesinghe wanted to be the Prime Minister, demanded 10 portfolios in a 20member cabinet and requested the arrangement worked out in the French constitution be adopted. President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Wickramanayake were not prepared for this arrangement. Wickramanayake was not prepared to relinquish his prime ministership. President Kumaratunga was not willing to bestow on Wickremesinghe the wide powers a French prime minister enjoyed and they wished to retain majority of places in the cabinet. The move to form a national government thus floundered.
LTTE's Katunayake attack and the threat of a defeat at a referendum forced the President to adopt a two-pronged strategy to checkmate the UNP-led opposition. Wickramanayake telephoned Rukman Senanayake on July 25 and told him that the government and the opposition should get together to handle the LTTE threat. They met and mapped out a scheme to share power. The Prime Minister offered to appoint Wickremesinghe the deputy prime minister and gave a list of ministries that would be given to the UNP. Ministers Ratwatte, Kasirgamar and Samaraweera met with Tyronne Fernando and
was promised a g canvassed support formation of a na Rukman Senanaya nando told the joint Working Commit mentary Group tha and strongly urged government to sav party decided that tunga should re-su cancel the referend five independent co up the impeachm Chief Justice Sarat cussing about the tional government. The Governme an alternate strateg the opposition and jority. JVP's 10 vot portant to them. Co JVP proved benefi engaged in an imag an image of a law-al people conscious willing to talk prov it laid were fulfille were: summoning cellation of the refe of the five commiss relief to the people. were fulfilled the JV ernment that it wou ernment for one y should hold an elec postponed the refei 18 to gain more tim delegation on Augl discussion.
JVP said on Au support a probation continuing to be ir out accepting positi Wimal Weerawans retary said that his form a probation go made to President C tunga, to “save the c mic disaster and po
“Only through probation' that pea the country could b adding that no fir reached between th JVP on their prop "the establishment c missions formedia, ices, judiciary and taken up for discus

od portfolio if he om the UNP for the onal government. e and Tyronne Fermeeting of the UNP ee and the Parliamet on August 7 he party to join the : the country. The President Kumarammon parliament, m and establish the mmissions and take nt motion against n Silva before disformation of a na
ht also worked out y mainly to divide leprive it of its maes thus became imtacts made with the cial. Its leadership a building exercise, biding, responsible, organization, was ided the conditions 2d. The conditions of parliament, canrendum, setting up ions and providing If these conditions Passured the govld support the govear after which it tion. The President endum to October e and met the JVP Ist 8 for a detailed
gust 9that it would government while opposition, withons in government. , Propaganda Secbarty's proposal to vernment has been handrika Kumarauntry from econoitical anarchy.” a government on :e and stability of restored,' he said l agreement had President and the sals He reiterated independent comolice, public servlections could be ion only after re
TANIMLTEMES 17
summoning the prorogued parliament before September 7. Thereafter the JVP will extend support to a program of action agreed by all."
The JVP delegation specifically told President Kumaratunga to discontinue peace negotiations with the LTTE. The President and the Prime Minister started praising JVP leaders as disciplined men who were not interested in positions and self-advancement. This naturally aroused the suspicion of JVP leaders who realized that they are being tricked to break ranks from the common opposition. They issued a warning to the government that their conditions should be fulfilled before August end.
Prospects of a government-JVP understanding have fuelled fears among the private sector and the diplomatic community. It also created opposition inside the government. Senior ministers rejected the JVP proposals made to President Chandrika Kumaratunga as unacceptable.
Minister S. B. Dissanayake said the JVP proposal to establish a caretaker government and hold elections within one year should not be accommodated. He added that the President should not seek an alliance with an extremist party like the JVP, but should attempt to reach consensus with other political parties in order to address the crisis situation in the country. Minister Mahinda Wijeysekera also said that the JVP proposals cannot be accepted, and that the government should not give into conditional demands put forward by the JVP in order that it will support the gov
ernment on key issues
The opposition is now on a warpath. It is preparing to impeach the president. It held 70 meeting in the provinces to whip up the opposition to the government. It would meet on August 16 in a Committee Room of Parliament to pass a resolution against the Government, And on August 21 it is planning a march to Colombo similar to the one held on July 19.
The pressure now is on the President. The combined opposition, which forms a majority in the 225-member assembly, has called for the immediate restoration of parliament, which Kumaratunga shut down for two months. It has also called for her resignation. The political deadlock continues.

Page 18
18 TAMLTIMES
Away from Confront
And Unilateral Solu
Jehan Perera
he LTTE's attack on the Katunayake airforce base and the adjoining international airport makes it clear that the central problem facing the country is the war. It is destroying the country, its economy and its people. The loss of life, the burnt out shells of military and civilian aircraft, and closure of the country's only international airport constitute a shocking wake-up call to the country's leadership.
This dual military-civilian attack comes after a lull of over eight months in which the LTTE refrained from major attacks anywhere in the country. But by this attack the LTTE has escalated the war and its economic costs to all levels of society. Whatever the merits of its attack against military aircraft, the deliberate destruction of very expensive civilian aircraft belonging to Sri Lankan Airlines cannot be condoned. It is likely that this attack, and the signals it gives, will make the pursuit of a negotiated peace all the more difficult.
At the same time it is also a matter of dismay that the government is using this incident to politically attack the UNP, which is the main opposition party. The government needs to desist from confrontational politics at this critical stage and to work towards obtaining the cooperation of the opposition to overcome the present crisis. This time of crisis is not one in which the country's mainstream political parties should be battling it out with one another. Nor is it the time for mutual recriminations.
Disasters that take place in a polarized polity inevitably tend to increase those divisions. It is entirely probably that government supporters will be blaming the opposition for diverting the government's attention away from dealing effectively with the LTTE through its no-confidence motion. On the other hand, opposition supporters are likely to see a greater justification for the no-confidence motion in the government's failure to deal with the LTTE either through peace or war.
While the vast majority of people
would be looking present situation, th mass upsurge of st the other. There is c polarized and acrir blame being heape other. So far the p( the government an conducted accordi constitution.
The prorogatio President was wi leader of a political government, the Pri was within the scop tect her governmen that the main object is to obtain power taking the political liament, where the its majority, and di a double-edged sv of Parliament are : it is inevitable that to the streets. The member. When the constitution closec cratic Tamil parti hand of the Tamil ened, and the cris and higher level.
No Win-Lose S0 In a critical, i. this, logical think ity over partisan a tion needs to keep streets at a time ally within the ga sequences of terr cally, the crisis t fronted with fol Katunayake prov ship of the gove with an opportun both sides can bi ofescalating con been taking. Hop ising that they ca their own terms. In a polarizes

15 AUGUST 2001
❖❖.፡ ~ ➢x•• ...“ሓጶxx
ation
tions -
r salvation from the ere is unlikely to be a pport for one side or ly likely to be amore Ionious division with
onto one side or the
litical battle between | opposition has been g to the law and the
of Parliament by the hin the law. As the party, and head of the 'sident took action that e of her powers to prot. There is no denying ive of a political leader and to keep it. But in debate outside of Pargovernment has lost rectly to the people is word. When the doors shut to the opposition, they will have to take re is a parallel to re6th amendment to the the door to the demoes in Parliament, the hilitancy was strengthis was taken to a new
utions
not perilous time like ng needs to take priorguments. The opposiin mind that taking the hen the Tiger is literesis fraught with conble proportions. Ironiat the country is conwing the disaster at les the political leadernment and opposition y. Without losing face, k down from the path ontation that they had fully they will be realnot achieve victory on
und divided polity, par
ties cannot act unilaterally and succeed. There are no win-lose solutions to the major problems of the day that can be sustainable. In such a polity, problems cannot be solved outright and immediately, they can only be managed and accommodated to begin with. Conflict resolution calls for a negotiated settlement in a winwin spirit in which both sides gain. This holds true whether it is conflict resolution at the centre between the government and opposition, or conflict resolution in the north-east with the LTTE.
The fact is that President Chandrika Kumaratunga won a presidential election not even a year ago. She is vested with the enormous powers of the executive presidency. With those enormous powers and with her unequalled charisma, she is there to stay and cannot be wished or impeached away. The second reality is that the government has lost its majority in Parliament. While the President's action of proroguing Parliament for two months has delayed the vote of no-confidence, such maneuvers cannot lead to any permanent resolution of the problem. The mounting protests against the President's decision to prorogue Parliament and the decision to hold a referendum unlikely to cease, though the referendum has been postponed. The stakes are too high. The third reality is the power of the LTTE. From their jungle hide-outs, both in the Wanni and the urban jungle of Colombo, they can destroy the future of this country. They have to be engaged with and that engagement has to be political.
Avoiding political suicide
In a recent speech, President Kumaratungajustified her government's present course of action as the way to achieve peace. But the war is between the government and LTTE. There can be no peace in the foreseeable future without the LTTE being brought into the process. Unfortunately, it seems that the government's present course of action has ignored the LTTE. The government could have done more to encouragé the Norwegian peace initiative. For the past half year hardly any progress has been made in the peace process. Proroguing Parliament and calling for a vaguely Worded referendum on a new constitution is not the way to peace.
The democratic governance of a fragmented and multi-ethnic society that is trapped in a civil war is definitely not like a game of chess. In chess the two players

Page 19
15 AUGUST 2001
can move the pieces about at will to win the game. But governing a plural society is entirely different. It is a responsibility of the most serious proportions in which the legitimacy of institutions has to be preserved because the very lives of the people are at stake. If a step by step descent into the pit of political suicide is to be avoided, the government and opposition have no option but to negotiate with each other. They need to jointly devise a suitable political framework by which unilateral actions of grave political consequence will not be taken any more, and to jointly take steps to engage in negotiations with the LTTE, after which the people’s consent for constitutional reform may be obtained at a referendum. Only a consensual solution will be viable in the long term.
This would require negotiations between those who have been long-time political opponents or even enemies. It will require a sharing of power, giving up of a portion of power currently enjoyed and also a giving up of the dream of obtaining total power for oneself.
The Malaysian Seminar
The nation appears fragmented at every level, with the political crisis taking centre stage. But change is a law of life, though it is often resisted and sometimes ignored. The holding of an international seminar on the Sri Lankan conflict in Malaysia last month was an example. The seminar was on the theme of "Reconciliation and Nation-building in Sri Lanka.” The title the organisers had chosen for the seminar was clearly one that approached peace from a positive perspective.
But the seminar was a controversial one, though not in Sri Lanka, where it has scarcely been noted at all. The controversy began some months ago. There was a news item on Tamil Net that the Sri Lankan government was trying to prevent an international seminar from being held. This, it transpired, was the seminar in Malaysia. The question was whether the government, in particular the Foreign Ministry, should have tried to stop the seminar from being held at all. In the modern world, the freedom of intellectual exchange is a very sacred one.
The notion that a government would try to stop an intellectual exchange from taking place is damaging in itself. Perhaps the reason for the government's ef.
fort to stop the sem that the outcome v unfavourable to Sri organisers of the ev studies department University of Mala Dagmar Helmen Re main organiser. The ysian Ceylonese Co organisers of the ev the small communi Lankan origin in M
The past track re conferences organise ils has been a chequ Prof. Dagmar Rajar books that have look gle, and the LTTE i. vourable light. Ther reasonable for the Ministry to look up scepticism. But even seminar from beingh try was not a sensi exercise.
Anyone who has intellectual environm tively opposed to a g block an intellectual ercise was a biased independent minded so. This has been the organised seminars i The Malaysian se in an essentially fair LTTE representatives kers at the event, suc ran, Fr SJ Emman Schalk. But there w| rung international aca ent standing such as and Prof. Michael political analysts an Lanka such as Dr P Dr Jayampathy Wick well equip-ped to pro from a Sri Lankan pť
Need for Respite f
The Sri Lankar needs to build on the and go beyond it. W ernment came topow international image o ernment was poor, ar top of the public rela has changed over the was evident in the bit pro-LTTE speakers castigated the interna

nar was its concern ould be biased and Lanka. One of the nt was the strategic within the National sia, in which Prof. ana-yagam was the other was the Malagress. Thus the cont were members of y of Tamils of Sri |laysia.
cord of international d by expatriate Tam-red one. In the past ayagam has written dat the Tamilstrugparticular, in a fa'fore it was perhaps Sri Lankan Foreign n the seminar with so, to try to block a eld in a foreign counple public relations
matured in a liberal ent would be instincovernment effort to exercise. If that exone, those who are would know it to be fate of many LTTEn the past.
minar was organised manner. There were and pro-LTTE speah as V Rudrakumael and Prof Peter 're also several top demics ofindependProf. Partha Ghosh oberts, as well as activists from Sri Saravanamuttu and emaratne who were ide a balanced view rspective.
)m War
Foreign Ministry uccessitach-ieved, en the present gover six years ago, the the Sri Lankan govthe LTTE were on ons battle. But this past six years. This er complaints ofthe the seminar. They onal community for
TAM TIMES 19
being biased against the Tamil struggle.
But improving the image of the country and discrediting the LTTE should mot become an end in itself. The end is the achievement of peace and the creation of conditions of prosperity in the country. Unless peace is achieved soon, the positive image that the government currently enjoys internationally is likely to evaporate. The negative travel advisories given by several foreign governments to their citizens regarding travel to Sri Lanka af. ter the LTTE attack on the airport may be the harbinger of worse to come. The government has to go beyond seeking to discredit the LTTE at every turn. Unless peace is achieved the positive image that the government currently is likely to be lost. The government needs to seek to engage with the LTTE and utilise the full backing of the international community, which it can have, if it chooses the path of political negotiations. More than anything else the country needs a respite from war. In practical terms it needs a ceasefire. After the LTTE attack on Katunayake, the economy has been severely af. fected.
The livelihoods of tens of thousands are at stake. Freight and insurance rates have been jacked up tremendously. There are some indications that the government may seek to retaliate heavily against the LTTE for the blow it struck at Katunayake, with the army mobilising its forces in Jaffna. There is also air bombing that is taking place. But all of this will serve to give the LTTE another justification to attack Colombo again.
The seminar in Malaysia was evidence that there is change in the air, and that responsible sections of Tamil opinion are seeking ways out of the morass that the country and all of its people are trapped in. Perhaps they are sensing the desperate desire of the people of the northeast for peace,
The postponement of the referendum by the President was another positive indication of the workings a democracy in which those in positions of power are responsive to public opinion in the South which mobilised massively against the referendum. The political parties need to be similarly alive to the ethnic conflict and to the people's desire, both north and south, for it to end, so that they may live without fear and with a growing economy. The political parties and civil society need to demonstrate the same motivation to

Page 20
20 TAM TIMES
supporting a consensual peace process as they did to oppose the non-consensual referendum.
The seminar in Malaysia was a positive affirmation of the usefulness of meetings and dialogues in rebuilding fractured relationships among actors in civil Society. There also needs to be more dialogue and less unilateralism in political society by the government, the opposition and the LTTE.
The most appropriate starting point for a renewed peace process would be an internationally monitored cease-fire between the government and LTTE that Would create the conditions for peace talks, reconciliation and nation-building. But unfortunately the attention of the government and opposition parties appears to be riveted elsewhere. The devastating LTTE attack on the Katunayake airport and airforce base brought the ethnic. conflict back to the centre stage of politics only for a short while, not for long. Once again it appears that the War has been overshadowed by the political struggle for power at the centre. There appears to have been Some progress in the direc
tion of the formation ment. But there appe being done about re peace process.
Political Deadlock -
The country has situation in more thar done sounder the Pe. ernment led by Pri Kumaratunga. The future is reminiscent riod when death squa try, and migration t seemed to be the onl betterment. In the p worst option for the PA should continue t itself. The governme incompetent to rule t
For a brief mome government with the ble. But it appears t demanded by the JVP the government was JVP demanded that th the LTTE be suspen desire a worsening O
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15 AUGUST 200.
and its inevitable economic fall-out. For a Marxist revolutionary party like the JVP, an increase in popular despair is a fertile ground for their own advancement.
The indications at present are that the government's negotiations with the JVP are falling through. With earlier efforts to reach an accommodation with the UNP being unsuccessful, the only remaining option for the government is to rule by itself, with President Kumaratunga utilising all the presidential powers at her disposal.
In this context there is a constitutional fact that needs to be recognised. President Kumaratunga is the elected executive president of the country, and the constitution vests enormous powers in that office. By virtue of her election as president in November 1999, President Kumaratunga enjoys by right the power to wield those enormous presidential powers for a further four years. Not even the loss of her government's parliamentary majority can change the reality of President Kumaratunga's presidential powers. This is a reality that cannot be wished away. Nor is it likely to be negotiated away.
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Page 21
15 AUGUST 2001
It is a great pity that despite her great powers President Kumaratunga has not been able to demonstrate a crucially important quality for governing a fragmented and polarised society. She has been unable to bring those who represent different sections of society together. She has preferred to attack and weaken them rather than to be gracious and accommodative and share power and responsibility with them. Those members of her government who could have influenced her in that direction failed in their duty. If the government's deal with the JVP does not go through, then there is only one alternative to continued unilateral rule by the present government and further movement to national disaster. This is for the main opposition party, the UNP, to join her in a partnership and work jointly to rescue the nation from an unhappy fate. Certainly the vast majority of Sri Lankans would be very happy if such a joining of the government and UNP takes place, especially with the participation of the ethnic minority parties.
Demanding a High Price
However, despite exhortations by numerous businesses, civic and religious organisations for the formation of such a government of national unity and reconciliation, there has been no success as yet. A key reason for the failure of the government and UNP to be able to join together is the high price being demanded by the UNP from the government. The UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has demanded the powers of an executive Prime Minister so that he can appoint ministers and allocate their portfolios.
Undoubtedly, Mr Wickremesinghe is being pushed in this direction by those members of his party who smell blood and think that the PA is doomed, if not immediately, then in a matter of months or years. But what these members of the UNP are scenting is the blood of a nation, which cannot afford any more delays in resolving its conflicts,
Perhaps there is also another reason why Mr Wickremesinghe is taking a hard line on the issue of his powers in a national government. As the alternative leader of the country, he does not wish to fail in his efforts at problem-solving if he joins the government. If he too shows himself to be a failure, there will be no one else of stature that the country can look
towards. Therefore able to pick the tea confidence in to so. lems facing the co with Ranil Wickre when he asks forth tive Prime Ministe are more than wha tunga iswillingto ci not just to him. As ister he is asking fo and making her a 1 dent Kumaratunga anyone the powers Minister, she wou executive powers, v vests in her. These won legitimately nc and which the elect While President K willing to share son the UNP, it is not re; to abdicate her pow
Therefore the locked in a politic the opposition lead executive powers al prepared to concede point of view, it is f expect the person power to request or power, than to expe gitimately wields p power.
Accordingly, a proach to the prese would suggest that F should stop demand tive Prime Ministe cannot be expected try's problems with under President Ku derstandable. But th other member of his team within a gov unity and reconcili dent Kumaratunga. In other words present political di UNP leader Rani! permit his deputy, someone else, to UNP team in a nat for Mr Wickremesi not join the national ister or Prime Mini outside it as leader of sacrifice for the undoubtedly impre

he may want to be m of ministers he has ve the massive probuntry. The problem mesinghe's position powers of an execuis that those powers t President KumaraDncede to anyone, and executive Prime Minr virtually everything mere cipher. If Presiwere to agree to give of an executive Prime id be abdicating her which the constitution are powers that she |t even two years ago, orate entrusted to her. umaratunga may be ne of her powers with asonable to expect her ers in their entirety. country finds itself al deadlock in which er wants to have full nd the President is not : them. From a logical armore reasonable to who has little or no ly half or less of that ct the person who leower to surrender all
problem-solving apnt political deadlock tanill Wickremesinghe ing the post of execur. If he feels that he to resolve the counout those powers, and maratunga, that is unen hemust permitanparty to lead the UNP 'ernment of national tion headed by Presi
, one way out of the adlock would be for Wickremesinghe to Karu Jayasuriya, or emporarily lead the onal government. As nghe himself he need government as a minter, but he can remain of the UNP. This act national interest will SS the whole country
TAMILTIMES 21
favourably, and stand him in good stead in the more peaceful years that lie ahead.
A Precedent
There is a precedent for such an alliance between the government and opposition, in which the opposition sent only its "second eleven" to join the government and bail it out of trouble. In 1964, Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike invited the LSSP to join her government. The LSSP agreed and Anil Moonesinghe and Cholmondely Goonawardena joined the government. But the LSSP's top leadership, including Dr N M Perera and Dr Colvin R de Silva remained outside the government. They neither lost their leadership of the party as a result of staying out of the government nor were they tainted by the subsequent failure of the government. Accordingly UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe can permit the UNP's deputy leader Karu Jayasuriyato temporarilylead the UNP into a national government in which the UNP only gets a share of the power. Mr Jayasuriya can be entrusted with the mission of getting the national government to create the proper conditions for Sri Lanka's peace and prosperity. This would necessarily include restarting the Norwegian-facilitated peace process and negotiating a mutually acceptable cease-fire with the LTTE, along with other measures for good governance such as forming the independent commissions. The willingness of UNP leader Rani Wickremesinghe to sacrifice his position in it may be an inducement to President Kumaratunga to be agreeable to genuinely sharing her own power with the opposition. The alternative scenario is so bleak that the UNP and its leader should seriously consider this option as an enlightened one at the present time. The only hope for the country is the formation of a government of national unity and reconciliation.
When the basic conditions for peace and prosperity have been laid by anational government, Ranil Wickreme-singhe will be well positioned to contest the next elections as the leader of the UNP and win the leadership of the country. Of Sri Lanka's present crop of political leaders he has the superior analytical skills and knowledge of the workings of the entire system of government that the country would greatly benefit from in its reconstruction phase.

Page 22
22 AMLTIMES
The Strong C;
for an ASSert Civil Societ
Amrit Muttukumaru
S ri Lanka has the dubious distinction of having the highest suicide rate in the world. At the rate we are going, the prospects are bright to collect many such negative accolades. The entire country has also been declared internationally as a 'war zone' with all its dire implications. It would seem that as a people we have a powerful death wish. How else can one interpret our tacit acquiescing of the appalling nonsense that is being passed off as governance resulting in the mayhem around us. The fallout of this is amply reflected in two current examples - the aftermath of the opposition sponsored no confidence' motion and the Katunayake tragedy. If not for their extremely tragic consequences to this beleaguered nation, it could even be construed as comic.
No Confidence Motion
We have the case of the prorogation of parliament by presidential edict in the context of (a) the pending motion of no confidence against the government signed by a majority of parliamentarians and presented to the speaker and (b) a motion to impeach the chief justice for personal and official conduct allegedly unbecoming. This is not only highly undemocratic and preposterous but is also a clear case of abuse of power. As if this were not enough, again by courtesy of presidential fiat we have been foisted with a non-binding meaningless referendum which poses a question which is an affront to the intelligence of even the dimwitted. This referendum has now been postponed for October 18. The best part of this saga is the ludicrous stance of leading sections of our civil society. This includes powerful sections of the clergy, "intellectuals, professionals' and the business community. This
group have "appeale dent to rescind the p liament and the ref believe it or not - to "withdraw the no-c against the goverr words, this group is ment on a platter wh found difficultto ach democratic measure: Similar convolu hibited by our “bus response to the police ing the recent opp non-violent protest prorogation of parli erendum. It would || able to have expecte support from influ civil society to prote: on democratic norm it is outrageous that ers" led by the Ce Commerce are repo a "neutral stance'o ity which resulted ir persons injured. Ou leaders' are also re believably stated th “We can't pinp the police did on T wrong or whethert tremes. As those re taining law and ord believes what the then we have to acc ror' 21 July 2001
It is due to suci logic and nonchal sections of civil so day in this precari archy on the verge and moral collaps
The Katunayak The recent in Katunayake wher

SC Ve у
'to (a) the Presiorogation of parrendum and (b) the opposition to nfidence motion ment”. In other giving the governat the government ieve even with un
ed logic was exiness leaders' in : brutality in crushosition sponsored march against the ament and the ref. nave been reasonlat least Some tacit ential sections of st campaigns based S. On the contrary, our "business leadylon Chamber of rtedly maintaining the police brutaltwo deaths and 70 r valiant “business ported to have un
lt: oint whether what hursday is right or ey went to the exponsible for mainrifthe government bolice did is right ptit" ("Daily Mirusiness' page). servility, lopsided nce of influential iety that we are tois state of near anf social, economic
Tragedy ional tragedy at handful of LTTE
15 AUGUST 2001
cadres reportedly numbering just over a dozen caused destruction in monetary terms amounting to almost a Billion Dollars has not evoked in our collective psyche the demand for the much needed responsibility and accountability. This facility should have been among the most secure locations in the entire country. In terms of physical numbers, the attack completely destroyed 8 aircraft of the Air Force and 4 aircraft of the national carrier. A number of aircraft in both categories were also damaged in various degrees. In non-monetary terms, the damage to the national psyche and economy cannot be quantified. The entire country has now been internationally classified as a “war zone" with all its implications which include severe constraints to the functioning of the two major openings to the outside worldour only international airport and ports. Nowhere in the world will one find in the contextofa ferocious military conflict, a major Air Force base being sited adjacent to the country's only international airport, leave alone sharing the same runway
The absence of accountability is the very core of our national tragedy in the context of a seemingly servile and indifferent civil society. When will our influential sections ever assert themselves? Just across the Palk Straitsin India, cabinet ministers have resigned even after train accidents. Even when Indira Gandhi in her moment of madness resorted to a brief period of dictatorial tendencies, civil society saw to it that it was unceremonially aborted. She lost the ensuing general elections.
Sri Lanka's Agony
The agony of Sri Lanka which is on the verge of social, economic and moral collapse leading to general anarchy is mainly due to the following
Unassertive Civil Society
The absence of vigilance by an assertive civil society - particularly the more influential sections; the steady erosion of democratic values and the resultant poor governance with almost zero accountability; the inapplicability of the rule of law in many instances; rampant corruption and crime; and the ethnic problem and the resultant war.
The absence of an assertive civil

Page 23
5 AUGUST 2001
society and the steady erosion of democratic values are the major reasons for our crisis. For the past two years, this writer has been repeatedly calling for the decisive intervention of civil society, particularly the organized business and professional community to extricate this country from imminent anarchy. It was stressed that in the context of the private sector being assigned the role of engine of growth, it is only this section of civil society that has the countervailing clout and moral obligation to cry halt to the utter nonsense that is being passed off as governance by successive governments. Several pleas for "civil society to wake-up” in spite of suggested specific plans of action, have sadly to date not resulted in any meaningful movement in this direction. On the contrary, we are witnessing a shocking response which can be construed as tacit acquiescing and serville.
After all it is the vigilance of an assertive civil society that not only oils the wheels of a vibrant democracy but also is the very basis of human progress. It is the absence of this that has resulted in our pathetic condition where we are today on the brink of anarchy. Just one glaring example will highlight this state. The recent forcible occupation by students of the aesthetic institute of the residence of the Colombo municipal commissioner and the inaction of the police in spite of an of ficial complaint by the municipality is symptomatic of the rot in this country. The reason for the “occupation is the stated lack of facilities. It is the duty of the state to provide this. But this in no way can justify the forced occupation of another's property. If this can be seemingly countenanced by the state itself, need we say more about the anarchy in this country?
So far we have not had any meaningful protest from civil society, although the sanctity of private property is the very basis of progress in a liberal private sector driven economic system. Under the circumstances, what chance have we for any serious investments be it foreign or local?
An Agenda for Good Governance
The dismantling of democratic values by successive governments aided by the irresponsible indifference and to
SOne extent even influential section at the core of the of this country. To ing a disgraceful p the name of the g any cost. The wel does not seem to e oning. In spite ofth on us by successi still seem to be fo hopes on our largel self serving politic government or op society that must b for democratic ref ble solution of the
The democratic mum to be imple three months with mentary majority m ing features:
Seven Indepen with the necessary tions, police, judici anti-corruption, hu media. To make thi special attention m independence and agency making app commissions as we the period of tenur also be the appointi sensitive appointm Chief.Justice and ju court, President and of Appeal, Attorney General, IGP, Electi Heads of the Publi ruption, human rig missions respectiv Ombudsman.
The "Banglades cal caretaker admi by the JVP to ove tions; the executive countable to parliau president to be sub the land; fundament to be inviolate, jud islation; the consc possibility of cross tarians without los supremacy of the c holding of general of the 3 month peric reforms.
Ethnic Crisis
It has become a

he tacit approval of of civil society is recarious condition lay we are witnesslitical circus where me is raw power at are of the country ven enter into reckcatastrophe foisted e governments, we blishly placing our power hungry and ians be they in the position. It is civil setting the agenda orms and the dura2thnic crisis.
reforms as a minimented within (3) the required parliaust have the follow
dent Commissions resources for elecary, public service, man rights and the struly meaningful, ust be given to the competence of the pointments to these ll as issues such as 2. This agency will ng authority for key nts inclusive of the dges of the supreme judges of the Court '-General, Solicitor ons Commissioner, : Service, anti-corits and media comely as well as the
h” type non-politiistration proposed seer national elecpresident to be acnent; the executive ject to the laws of ul and human rights cial review of legence vote and the over of parliamenng their seats, the institution; and the lections at the end i subsequent to the
nost fashionable to
TAMILTIMES 23
flippantly extol the mechanism of a "negotiated settlement" as the mantra that will resolve the complex ethnic problem and the resultant war. Those advocating such a viewpoint are dead right to the extent that it is the only viable way to have a durable solution. But on the other hand, the crucial question is, to what extent is the country willing to meaningfully devolve power apart from the unit of devolution not even decided upon. The irony of it all is that there is even some semblance of unsolicited devolution in all the provinces while in the north-east where meaningful devolution is necessary, there is none. If we are honest with ourselves, it will be clear that at the present moment we just cannot afford the luxury of devolution symmetrical or otherwise to the provinces outside the north-east. It is extremely difficult to even cnvisage a reasonably early solution to this crisis. Even a medium term solution seems difficult unless there is a paradigm shift in our collective mindset to permit the required devolution and other necessary measures. The much touted 'package' has undergone such radical mutilation each time it was exposed that the latest August 2000 version is a mere shadow of the original 1995 package' reportedly crafted by the G. L. Pieris- Neelan Tiruchełvam duo. To some influential sections even the much diluted August 2000 version seems too much. Even the “equal opportunity bill' which was presented in parliament two years was hastily withdrawn without any protest from any section.
Under these circumstances, what are we really going to discuss at any future negotiations. The Norwegian peace initiative too has been relegated to limbo. Our civil society particularly the influential sections even at this stage seem to be "fiddling while "Sri Lanka' is burning". On the other hand, the concerns of the majority community too must be addressed in a responsible manner to allay their fears that a separate state under no circumstances will be an option. This must be guaranteed by the international community.
Conclusion
The economy which in any event was already on its knees has been vir
tually incapacitated by the fallout of the

Page 24
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15 AUGUST 200
Katunayake tragedy. The entire country being declared a war zone will have a crippling effect not only on the economy but also on the national psyche. Guarantees by the government from whatever level regarding the efficacy of national security will if at all, have only amarginal impact. The country has little credibility left. The only real remedy is an immediate durable negotiated solution of the ethnic crisis and the implementation of the proposed prodemocracy measures to ensure good governance. We must collectively ensure that the next national elections are conducted after the installation of the pro-democracy proposals. Failure to do so will in all probability result in a replay of Wayamba and the October 2000 general elections.
lf we do not wake up even at this late stage and assert ourselves decisively through all possible democratic means of protest available, we will certainly deserve the misfortune that will surely follow. But do our children and the unborn generations deserve this? There is a strong case today as never before for "people power centred direct action based on the “Gandhian” principle of non- violence. Some of the measures that can be adopted include judicious civil disobedience, non-cooperation, mass protests and the use of economic, intellectual and moral power. The strength of such a strategy if threatened with violence is the sympathy of the local and international community due to the moral high ground it assures the protesters.
The lead for such an enterprise can only be given by the more influential sections of civil society particularly the organised business and professional community. For this to succeed, they will have to bringto the fore qualities such as genuine commitment for the country as a whole, a high degree of professionalism, creativity as well as most critically courage and sacrifice which have hitherto been woefully absent. Only such a miraculous metamorphosis can give this hapless country a fighting chance for a decent future.
Their track record to date in effectively responding to social issues is a disgrace. Nevertheless, whenever there is a negative fallout due also to their own folly as in the Katunayake tragedy, the business community is quick to run to the government for handouts. This is a major reason why our politicians do not take them seriously.
"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves therefore are its only safe
depositories.”
- Thomas Jefferson
Neel of Post
(The second dea year, and the Inte at the time of hi ebrate his life a Ashis Nandy fro)
One person whi write my obituary chelvam, the gifte intellectual, insti practical idealist.
He was a few me and certainly lo and fitter. I often u ter my death, my e to confront a more of like-minded in Neelan was one of mind.
Time and realit verting our dream write his obituary. old Roman-or is it of the tragedy of wa rses the normal ord of the young bury bury the young. P Asia will have to of living in a state the new century.
Neelan and m in the late 1960s : then still a student sure researcher. W ately struck up a fi more than 30 years his life was cut bomber in the quie Colombo. Approp was killed by som community.The ki remote-controlled lieved - like Nathu and James Earl R. Mohandas Karam Martin Luther Kin the ideas and their victim represented ished from public
Fanatics never cannot be assassin further empowers papers in India an

anTiruchehamaMan
AMLTES 25
-nationalist Universality
Prof Ashis Nandy
th anniversary of Neelan Tiruchelvam, fell on 29 July this 'rnational Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICES), which he headed is assassination, held a seminar and other events to celna work. Published here are extracts of a tribute by Prof
'n India)
o I had hoped would " was Neelan Tirud Sri Lankan public tution-builder and
years younger than oked more energetic sed to brag that, af. 'nemies would have formidable phalanx tellectual-activists. the persons I had in
y have a way of subs. Today, I have to It reminds me of the Greek? - definition r. War, it says, reveer ofthings: instead ing the old, the old rhaps, we in South get used to the idea of perpetual war in
net for the first time at Chicago. He was and I a young, unVe almost immediiendship that lasted until, two years ago, short by a suicide it, smiling streets of briately enough, he leone from his own iller and those who him evidently beram Vinayak Godse ay, the assassins of chand Gandhi and g, respectively - that political forces their could be thus banlife. recognise that ideas lated; violence only them. All the newsd abroad that I saw
after the assassination described Neelan as a moderate Tamil politician. This is conventionality pushed to absurdity. Neelan was not a moderate politician, gingerly espousing a sectarian cause. He was much more radical in his vision, ideology and intellectual framework than those who killed him in the name of an ideology precariously perched on nineteenth-century concepts of nation-state, nationalism and revolutionary violence.
The federal, decentralised polity that he fought for in Sri Lanka was part of a larger vision that encompassed the whole of South Asia, still ruled by a culture of politics that was essentially a creation of the first generation of postindependence leaders, inspired by their exposure to-and admiration for-European imperial states.
This culture of politics depended heavily upon bureaucracies that were illegitimate progenies of colonialism and the wog imperium it left behind. In Such a culture, a centralised, all-powerful nation-state, modelled on colonial regimes, was one of the axioms of public life. To question it was to question sanity and reason, apart from patriotism. Not merely many of his friends, but even his assassins must have loathed that part of Neelan's vision.
Neelan was also one of the few scholars in South Asia who worked in the critical area of law and society and established it during the 1970s and 1980s as a crucial area of social knowledge in the region. Neelan was a practising lawyer in addition to being a practising social scientist and politician. Indeed, his vision mediated between his intellectual and his public life. They were means of establishing a dialogue between vision, institutions and scholarship. I sometimes suspect that it was his exposure to politics that

Page 26
26 TAMILTIMES
gave the touch of generosity and tolerance to Neelan's endeavours.
Many, who talk of his moderation, have in mind actually his inclusiveness and his capacity to work with immense diversities. Yet, paradoxically, both these traits transcended his politics. They had something to do with his ethical self.
Among the dozens of obituaries of Neelan have read, one of the few that have moved me deeply is by Veena Das. In it she recognises that his compassion would have even included in its scope the young suicide-bomber who took his life, fired by ideologies of violence, hatred and self-destruction that were designed to give meaning to an otherwise empty life. He would have sensed that the killer did not have much control over his own life and actions in any case. Neelan Tiruchelvam was one of the great South Asians I have had the privilege to know. His postnationalist universality had deep roots in Sri Lankan politics and culture and reflected his capacity to embody that embattled, threatened species: the Sri Lankan Tamil, proudly Sri Lankan and proudly Tamil.
Of those thus sacrificed at the altar of chauvinism and bloodthirstiness, Neelan was one of the most irreplaceable. He had to be
killed, probably because he could so
confidently and gracefully cross the
and nationalities, both within Sri Lanka and outside. His life itself must have looked like a protest against all forms of chauvinism and ethno-religious nationalism. By being himself, he could be, as I have already pointed out, a formidable enemy.
The space for South Asia as an intellectual, political and cultural entity has shrunk with Neelan Tiruchelvam's senseless death. I feel old and tired.
he recent destru old mosque if Rajasthan and the col in its place points to India history - the use ism as a political tool since the campaign Masjid was launche with constant propag tion of places of wors Muslims, fired with a clastic zeal, had mas cent Rajasthani case others have been, and of the sin as well.
It is true that, as show, that some Mus destroy Hindu temple themselves would har ing the historical rec precautions are nec tantly, a distinction in Islamic commandme and the acts of indiv other. The Quran in destruction of the pla ple of other faiths. F lims have abided by that “there is no com Thus, for instar bin Qasim, leading to India, had subdue
freedom and guarar their shrines. Or, for tan Sikander ofKas Brahmin Prime Mi about pulling downt the leading Kashmi Nuruddin Nurani, b ing that Islam did opinion was shared
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tion of a centuriesa small town in struction of a temple a recurring theme in of sanctified vandalIn recent years, ever o destroy the Babri l, we have been fed Lnda that the destruchip was a fine art that n irrepressible iconotered. Yet, as the reSo clearly suggests, continue to be, guilty
the historical records lim kings did indeed :s. This even Muslims dly dispute. In assessord, however, certain essary. Most imporust be made between nts, on the one hand, idual Muslims on the no way sanctions the ces of worship ofpeoor the most part, Mushe Quranic injunction pulsion in religion'. ce, after Muhammad he first Muslim army d Sind, he granted the Iddhists full religious eed the protection of that matter, when Sulhmir, egged on by his ister, Suha Bhat, set mples on a large scale, Muslim Sufi, Hazrat tterly protested, arguot sanction this. This by several other Mus
lim ‘ulama and Sufis as well. Thus, the Tabaqat-e-Akbari tells us that when they heard that Sultan Sikander Lodi (r. 14891517) was planning to destroy some temples, a group of high-ranking “ulama protested, saying that, "It is not lawful to lay waste ancient idol temples'.
Caution must be exercised in accepting the narratives provided by medieval writers about the exploits of kings, including their feats' oftemple destruction. Most historians were employees of the royal courts, and they tended to exaggerate the "exploits' of the kings in order to present themas great champions of Islam, an image that hardly fits the facts that we know about them.
Thus, for instance, the author of the late eighteenth century “Riyaz-ul Salatin” claimed that Muhammad Bakhtiyar demolished several temples in Bengal when he captured the province in 1204, although there is no evidence to suggest that this had indeed be the case.
In his recent book, "Essays on Islam and Indian History”, the well-known historian Richard Eaton points out that of the sixty thousand-odd cases of temple destruction by Muslim rulers cited by contemporary Hindutva sources one may identify only eighty instances whose historicity appears to be reasonably certain'. Eaton clearly shows that cases of destruction of places of worship were not restricted to Muslim rulers alone. He recounts numerous instances of Hindu kings having torn down Hindu temples, in addition to Jaina and Buddhist shrines. He says that these must be seen as, above all, powerful politically symbolic acts.
Typically, cases of shrine destruction are reported in the wake of the overthrow
ONLY)))) -SRI LANKA 676 360
SOUTH INDIA -SINGAPORE

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15 AUGUST 2001
of a powerful enemy and the annexation of his territory. The royal temple of the enemy was often pulled down to symbolise the enemy's defeat. Thus, for instance, the historical records speak of the seventh century Hindu Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who looted an idol of Ganesha from the Chalukyan capital of Vatapi.
Fifty years later, the Hindu Chalukyan army brought back with them idols of Ganga and Jamuna, looted from temples of their fellow Hindu enemies to the north. In the eighth century, a Bengali Hindu army is said to have destroyed an idol of Vishnu belonging to their imperial foe, the Hindu king Lalitaditya of Kashmir. In the tenth century, the Hindu Pratihara king Herambapala defeated the Hindu Shahi king of Kangra and looted a solid gold idol of Vishnu from the Kangra royal temple. In the eleventh century, the Chola ruler Rajendra I furnished his capital with idols of Hindu deities that he had captured from his enemies, the Chalukyas, the Palas and the Kalingas.
The sixteenth century Vijaynagara ruler, Krishna Deva Raya, is reported to have looted an idol of Krishna from Udaygiri after inflicting on it a crushing defeat. He is also said to have looted a Vittala idol from the famous Pandharpur temple. Besides looting idols from the temples of their fellow Hindu enemies, several Hindu kings are reported to have destroyed the royal temples of their vanquished foes to signal their victory.
Thus, the tenth century Rashtrakuta king Indra III destroyed the temple of Kalapriya at Kalpa, after defeating his dreaded enemies, the Rashtrakutas. Likewise, Kapilendra, the founder of the Suryavanshi Gajapatidynasty in Orissa is said to have sacked several Hindu temples in the course of his military campaigns in the Tamil country.
These are instances of Hindu kings looting Hindu idols and destroying Hindu temples for political purposes. The number of Jain and Buddhist shrines destroyed by Hindu kings must certainly be much greater, Because royal temples served as powerful political symbols and centres - where of ten kings were worshipped as forms of the deities - they seem to have been the particular object of attack by invaders, irrespective of religion.
As Eaton remarks, "It is clear that temples had been the natural sites for the contestation of kingly authority well before the coming of Muslim Turks to India. Not surprisingly, Turkish invaders, when attempting to plant their own rule in early medi
eval India, followe lished patterns'. He tever form they to ecration were neve: but at the enemy k incarnated and dis Like in the case of temples, Eaton sa stances of Muslim shrines were recorc capture ofenemy te ritories were fully i minions, few templ This itself clear were motivated, abc cerns and not by a r tirpate idolatry. The opposed to religiou of these acts is clea tails that the histori Thus, for instan of the Golconda Mu Marathi Hindu Brah Rao, which conque territory up to the K to have sacked the ple, and looted its ru he presented to the Likewise, we are tol Karrani of Bengal ( Orissa against the F punish him for enter enemies of the Sulta Akbar and the Patl army, after defeati about looting the J main royal shrine. A usually the large ro targeted, for not onl political power, but dowed with jewels, metals.
In the wake oft power, ordinary pe geted. Thus, for ins army attacked Kuch gal and destroyed th ity of Raja Bhim Nar qazi of Bengal, Say issued an order to th “nobody should tou erty of the people', who infringed this ( hands, ears or noses If the destruct above all, powerful were instances of temples by rulers. Hindu rulers, many temples with large la century Sanskrit in thirteen years after

and continued estaburther adds that “Whax, acts of temple desdirected at the people, ng and the image that layed his state-deity. indu rulers' attacks on 's that almost all inulers destroying Hindu d in the wake of their "ritory. Once these tertegrated into their do's were targeted. y shows that these acts ve all, bypolitical con:ligious impulse to exessentially political, as or communal, nature ly suggested in the decal chronicles provide. :e, we hear of the army slim Sultans, led by the min general, Murahari red a large swathe of ishna river. Rao is said amous Ahobilam temby-studded idol, which Sultan as a war trophy. d that Sultan Sulaiman lispatched an army to lindu Gajapati Raja to ing into a pact with the n, the Mughal Emperor han Ibrahim Sur. The ng the Raja, then set agannath temple, the as Eaton shows, it was yal temples that were were they symbols of
were also richly enold and other precious
nese attacks on enemy ople were rarely tarance, when a Mughal Bihar in northern Bene idol of the state-deyan, the chief Mughal ed Muhammad Sadiq, : Mughal soldiers that, h the cash and propaying down that those rder would have their lopped off.
pn of temples were, political acts, so too atronage extended to Thus, in addition to suslim kings endowed d grants. A fourteenth cription records that his annexation of the
TANTES 27
northern Deccan, Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq appointed a Muslim official to repair a Shiva temple at Kalyana. The muchmaligned Aurangzeb, who is said to have destroyed some Hindu temples, is alsc known to have made extensive grants to other Hindu shrines.
Thus, in 1659 in a royal order issued to his officers in Benaras, he wrote: "In these days, information has reached our court that several people have, out of spite and rancour, harassed the Hindu residents of Benaras and nearby places, including a group of Brahmans who are in charge of ancient temples there. These people want to remove those Brahmans from their charge of temple-keeping, which has caused them considerable distress. Therefore, upon receiving this order, you must see that nobody unlawfully disturbs the Brahmans or other Hindus of that region, so that they might remain in their traditional place and pray for the continuance of the Empire” Aurangzeb further added that, “According to the Holy law shari’at) and the exalted creed, it has been established that ancient temples should not be torn down'. Eaton, after closely examining the historical record, shows that the temples whose destruction Aurangzeb had ordered had been associated with his political rivals. If temples belonging to Hindu political rivals were targetted by Muslim kings, they did not desist from similarly brutally attacking their fellow Muslim foes and rebels.
The history of Muslim rule in India is replete with stories of Muslim kings fighting among themselves. Muslim rebels were treated with equal severity as their Hindu counterparts. Thus, Isami writes in his “Futuh us Salatin” that when the Muslim
general Bahauddin Gurhasp joined hands
with the Hindu Raja of Kampila and rose in revolt against Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq, his own first cousin, he was flayed alive, after which his skin was stuffed with straw and paraded through the streets, af. ter which his body was filled with rice and fed to the royal elephants.
Hindus and Muslims alike, then, have been equally guilty of destroying places of worship, and, in this regard, as in any other, neither has a monopoly of virtue or vice. The destruction of the mosque in Rajasthan and building a temple in its place, like the tearing down of the Babri Masjid by Hindutva zealots or the vandalism of the Bamiyan Buddhas by the Taliban, shows how sanctified vandalism and medieval notions of the politics of revenge are still alive and thriving in our part of the world. O

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28 AMITMES
Sivaji Ganesan, P int0 the Legen
T.N.Gopalan
N adigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan has now literally passed into the legends. He died on the night of June 22 in a private hospital in Chennai, leaving the Tamil film world hopelessly impoverished.
What was amazing was the huge crowds that turned out to see him off during his last journey. The septuagenarian actor had in fact been consigned to the margins years ago. The bubbly young heroes like Vijay and Ajith dominate the show these days. The later arrivals to the film-world like Kamalahasan and Rajnikanth could still keep rake in huge collections, but their appearances have become progressively rarer.
In the circumstances the crowd turnout for Sivaji's funeral was indeed over
was kept for public viewing, and the masses jostled against each other to get one last glimpse of their favourite actor.
How much of a favourite was he is really a mootpoint. For unlike MGR, alias Minimum Guarantee Ramachandran, Sivaji was not necessarily a sure bet with the financiers. It was always a case of hit and miss. Whatever the quality of his films, however powerful his portrayal might be, one could never be sure of their success at the box-office.
The climate of politics in Tamil Nadu had something to do with his popularity or lack of it. His emergence as a big-time actor coincided with the period during which the DMK and later the AIADMK had become dominant political forces in the State and Sivagi's failure to align with either of these parties certainly had an impact. Having remained politically unaligned, he entered the battleground of politics under the Congress-banner. But he reached a dead-end time and again before he gave up. The rise of Jayalalitha further compounded his miseries, the wild ways of her disowned foster son V.N. Sudhagaran, married to Sivaji's granddaughter, serving only to turn his last years into a very unhappy saga.
There was a definite threat of his dy
ing unfelt, unsung an the entire Tamil Nac the death ofone oft man who successfully tations and establish all time greats of the Men and wome: thronged his reside satellite TV channel from his films, new special editions top: two full days at leas famous Sivajimagic And he was crematec ours. It was indeed a in his death what per while alive - comma entire Tamil society, The thespian ha to die in harness, wi It was not to be. He any secret of his pic fate.
"Here I am, so a satile, willing to do me, to the satisfactio there are no takers... millions through my turn their attentior audience seem to ha ten me... How very all...,' he is knowr anyone who was wi shoulders.
He continued t appearances to his l nothing much to sp day, but he would brutal realities. It ing to be kicked a quential agit-prop. But why? He money, bagged en ally and internatio he want out of life' had a very unhapp tually said as muc only solace is cin been a cup of wo else can I do exce cameras in ordert
 
 
 

unwept. But almost seemed to mourn 2ir greatest Sons, a rose above his limiimself as one of the selluloid world.
in large numbers
kept flashing clips papers brought out y their homage, for it looked as if the ad been resurrected. with full state honn irony he achieved haps he had failed to nd the respect of the
i once said, "I Want th my make-up on.” himself never made que over the unkind
anything assigned to n of the director. Still Even those who made films do not care to to me...The Tamil ve completely forgotungrateful of them to have lamented to ing to lend his or her
make some cameo st days, but they were ak of. He had had his it seem to accept the ked like he was crypund as an inconse
had made enough gh honours, nationlly... What more did Vell, possibly he had domestic life. He acn an interview: “My na...otherwise it has overflowing...What look longingly at the scape the gloom sur
15 AUGUST 2001
rounding me?”
Besides he also seemed to have enjoyed adulation, he was never tired of it till the very end. Lusty clapping inside the theatres, any kind of title conferred on him, cover stories on him, it all gave him a lot of ego-kick, he seemed to want more and more of it.
Reminiscing on one of his visits to the USA, he told an interviewer, “I felt very happy...The first impression of wonder was with the sights...I was then uncomfortable because I felt I was just another face in the crowd. Having got used to the attention of my people back home, it was a strange embarrassment to walk in crowded streets without anyone taking a second look at me...” It was this urge to be recognized and idolized that made him keep harking back to the film world, never mind the rude rebuffs in the latter days.
Such was his imposing screen presence that others who co-starred with him looked Lilliputian till about the mid-seventies. Even a solitary scene appearance by Sivajihad an electrifying impact. Even the hero would look insignificant at that time.
Subsequently, though, he became irrelevant, was roped in only to boost the image of the hero, whether it be a Kamal or Rajni, and finally it came down to such a wooden actor like Vijay too.
Never mind such cruel tricks of the Gods, Villupuram Chinnaiah Pillai Ganesan was a marvel the Tamils could be justly proud of for all time to come. The sheer range of roles he handled during his long career spanning four decades is so literally breath-taking that one can only retreat in awe, feeling oneself unequal to the task,
As a king, as a commoner, as a lunatic, as an intimidating villain, as a bumbling cop, as a cavorting young man, as an octogenerian Saivite devotee, as the fire-spitting Lord Shiva himself...you name it, he had done it all in a masterly fashion, with unparalleled panache.
For Sivaji acting was an all-consuming passion, and he wanted to keep scaling new heights all the time, unfazed by the changing taste of the Tamil audience or his own failing health.
His dedication and commitment have been commented upon endlessly by those who have had the good fortune of co-starring with him or directing him. "He would never come out of the sets once he steps in," recalls Rajesh, another talented actor

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15 AUGUST 2001
who failed to realize his full potential thanks to the vagaries of the box-office, "He would closely watch the shooting even if he did not appear in that particular scene... He would remove his makeup only in the green-room and not on the sets...He would keep asking the director whether his performance was satisfactory and say he would do it all over again, if necessary... no ego-hassle there...'I'm here to deliver what you want...am at your disposal, don't hesitate, such was his devotion...”
Barely seven, he ran away from life in a poor hutment to stage, to bright lights and pancakes. At 24, with his debut film, Parasakthi, he swept his audience off their feet, the trenchant script penned by Kalaignar Karunanidhi, adding to the film's rather unique flavour.
It is still seen as a watershed in the history of Tamil films, marking as it did the transition from the song-laden and histrionics-free mythologicals and (a) historicals of the forties. "It was all a new thing when I started that way...One of the sound engineers once turned to my director Krishnan Panju and wondered, “What's your boy up to, opening his mouth
like a fish and nev be right for ciner was much more si tunately I made it.
He was alwa experience: "... a dation, people wi learn drama, musi few left... I’m bas ter actor.Only thc roles can be genui fortunately, thoug tre, perhaps the ot
In a way that someone succinc world class actorv star..." His impec voice, emoting ra seen exemplifi Kattabomman, to of the greats - to remembered for t other relatively re Kappalottiya Thai
The stylization but the problem w; there were many c ing and that thre through much mc
2OOOpർu
LEARNABOU
CULTURA The Bharatiy runs regular classes in
MUSIC: Karnatic and Hindustani Vocal with Hart Flute, Mridangam, Karnatic Violin,
DANCE: Bhar, also Languages, Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, Benga Arch
The Bhavan is the largest Institute in fine perfomances and VISITTEERAN'S BOOKSHOPIN
Classes commence on Admissions accepted for dipl Open classes admissions Classes are also held at Alperton Community Scho on Mondays 5-7pm. Class For more de
The Bhavan Centri West Kensingtor Te: O2O7
Fax: 02
Website - WWW.bhavan.
 

ir closing it...this won't na..." But my director Ipportive, any way for"he was to recall later. 's proud of his theatre tors with a solid founto learn under a guru, c, dance, there are very ically a female characse who have done such ne all-rounders...” Un, he never left the theaher way round too. stunted his growth. As tly put it, "He was a horemained a regional able diction, stentorian nge, grand gestures, all ed in Veerapandiya bk him to the pantheon this day he would be his role more than any alistic portrayal like in mizhan.
has its charms after all, as he never realized that ther dimensions to actpugh understatement, re restrained perform
TAMILTIMES 29
ance, he could win international accolades which eluded him right through his career, despitę his indisputable genius.
It was only in 1985 when Bharati Raja, who introduced genuine rural milieu to the Tamil film world, cast Sivaji as a loyal servant of a feudal household and as a noble husband suffering in silence, he demonstrated that he did not have to indulge in hysterics in order to carry conviction with the audience. Alas, an experiment that came too late in his career. Still Mudhal Mariyadhai would remain an eloquent testimony to his unrealized potentials,
There was a galaxy of very talented actors who shared the limelight along with him, V.K.Ramasamy, V.S.Raghavan, S.V. Subbiah, Balaiah, Nagaiah, S.V.Sahasranamam, Nagesh, andactresses like Savithri, Bhanumathi and Sarojadevi, Padmini, not to mention the inimitable Manorama. Some of them are no more, and others over the hill. Barring Kamal Hasan there is no one else around who could be placed in the Hall of Fame.
With due apologies to Shakespeare, How many ages hence/Shall this our lofty thespian be imitated in vain... O
T INDIAS RICH
LHERITAGE a Vidya Bhavan
Indian Music and Dance:
monium, Hindustani Flute, Sitar, Tabla, Vina, Karnatic Bengali Music, Karnatic Music Theory
atanatyam, Kathak
li, Tamil, Malalayam, Drama, Yoga and Indian Art and
haeology
the UK for Indian Arts and Culture. Many exhibitions are presented. HE BHAVAN FOR CDS, BOOKS ETC. Saturday 15th September oma classes until end of October accepted throughout the year
ol Stanley Avenue, of Ealing Road., Alperton, Wembley es will begin on 24th September
rails ring/write to:
2, 4a Castletown Road LONDON W149HQ
381 308.6/4608 ) 7381 8758
het e-mail: info Gebhavan.net

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30 TAM TIMES
CLASSIFIED ADS
The Advertisement Manager, i Tani Times Ltd, PO Box 121
Sutton, Surrey SM13TD 20-3644 0972 FAX: 020-324 E.mail admin Gltamilitimes.org
MATRMONIAL
Jaffna Hindu sister seeks professional bride for brother, 33, medical doctor in UK. Send horoscope, details. M 1255 C/o Tamil Times. Jaffna Hindu parents seek professional bride for son, 30, 53" British citizen, postgraduate qualifications in investment Management and working for American Investment Bank. Send horoscope, details. M 1256 C/o Tamil Times.
WEDDING BELLS
We congratulate the following couples on their recent weddings. Muralitharan, son of Prof. & Mrs Balasundarampillai of 117/7 Ambala varnar Road, Athiady, Jafna and Chamila, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Gunabalasingham of 29 Gamer Road, Walthamstow, London Ef 74HE on 24th June 2001 at Heathcote High School Hall, Chingford, London E4 6ES. Stephen, son of Mr. & Mrs. Fear of 25 Carnoustie, Norwick, Norfolk NR4 6AY and Vijitha, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Kandiah of 48 Connaught Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3PQ on 7th July 2001 at Addington Palace, Gravel Hill, Croydon. Ganarajan, son of Mr. & Mrs. Paskaradevan of 18 Inner Fairline Road, Dehiwela, Sri Lanka and Shiyamala, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Kathiravelu of 11/9 Galpotta Street, Colombo 13, Sri Lanka on 23rd August 2001 at Sri Varatharaj Vinayagar Kovil, Kotahena, Sri Lanka.
Domestic Help
A Tamil speaking, preferably elderly, lady required to help mother and two childen especially in COOking. Food and accommodation will be provided. Good rates of pay.
Telephone:
O1708 865 080
OBTUARIES
&: * Mr. Ramanathan Nagesan (retired planter, Hayes Group, Deniyaya, Sri Lanka) passed away on 15th June 2001 and was Crennated on 21 June at the Golders Green Crematori
LዘTገ.
Mrs Thirumalar (Leela, Nagesan and children Subo Rukshi, Ram and members o the family thank all those whic attended the funeral, sent flo ral tributes and messages o sympathy and also assiste them in various ways, bot during his illness and later with the funeral arrangements They regret their inability t thank them individually - 17 Elmstead Avenue, Wemble Middlesex HA9 8NZ, UK.
Mr. M. "Palm Grove' The garajah (b. 21.02. 1909), s of late Mr. and Mrs. S. M
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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15 AUGUST 2001
IN MEMORAM ctd
In ever-loving memory of Mrs. Sinnamah Velautham of 'Annai llam, Urumpirai East, Sri Lanka on the first anniversary of her passing away on 14.08.2OOO.
Remembered with love and affection by her children, daughter-in-law, sons-in-law and grandchilden. - 28 Princes Avenue, Roath, Cardiff CF24 3SN.
Eleventh Death Anniversary
in loving memory of Mr. Apputhurai Gunaratnam, formerly Divisional Superintendent of Post Offices, Sri Lanka; of Point Pedro on the eleventh anniversary of his passing away on 28th August 1990.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Rani, children Thirukumar (Australia), Vasuki (Sri Lanka), Devaki (Australia), Sutharsan (UK), Saratha Devi (Australia), sons-in-law Ravindran, Radhakrishnan and Sashikanth, daughter-in-law Vasanthii grandchildren Ashvini, Yathurshini, Prushoth, Mayurikka and Mayuran. — 67B St. Ann's Road, London N156NJ. Tel: 0208802,5601.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Sep 1 South London Tamil Welfare Group (SLTWG) Drop
r. 9: O2O 8542 32835. Sep 2 Full Moon. Sep 3 Feast of St. Gregory the Great. Sep 6 San k a da h a ra Sathuirthi. Sep 8 Karthigai, Feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, SLTWG Welfare Trip to Brighton. Tel: O2085423285. Sep 9 Krishna Jayanthi. Sep 13 Krishna Eekathasi. Sep 14 Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Sep 15 Pirathosam, Feast of the Lady of Sorrows. Sep 16 Amavasai; Feast of St. Cornelius. Sep 17 Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine. Sep 19 Feast of St. JanuarlLIS.
Sep 20 Sathurthi. Sep 21 Feast of St. Mathew, Sep 22 Shashti; Puraddaathi first Saturday. Sep 23 6pm Tamil Orphans Trust presents a Carnatic Violin Concert by Bhayiravi Ganeswaran and Bharathanatyam by Sivakami Sivakumar at Beck Theatre, Hayes, Middx. For tickets call
O20 8908 1101/8482 7745/8949 3012. Sep 28 Sukkila Eekathasi;
Feast of St. Wenceslaus.
Sep 29 Sani Pirathosam, Puraddaathi second Saturday.
Sep 30 Feast of St. Jerome.
Private Tuition English teacher - Native speaker and CELTA certified. Will teach private or group lessons. Tooting and Winbledon areas. call Doyle 0209 488 0370.
 
 

TAMITMES 3
Fifth Death Anniversary
In ever loving memory of Mr. Selvarajah Kiritharan, Engineer, London on the fifth anniversary of his passing away on 22nd August 1996, that falls on 22nd August 2001.
“Five years have since gone, but you will be remembered'. Affectionately remembered by his loving parents Mr. Naganathan Selvarajah and Mrs. Kamalakunnari Selvarajah of Wembley, UK; loving brother Muraleedaran and sister-in-law Dr. (Mrs) Sukaniya (Australia); loving sisters and brothers-in-law Dr. (Mrs) Subathini Ramesh and Mr. K. Ramesh, University of Jaffna, Mrs Shantini Shanmuganathan and Mr. Sundramoorthy Shanmuganathan of Greenford, UK; loving sister Miss. Shamini, Law Faculty, University of Colombo, uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. - 28 Bridgewater Road, Alperton, Wembley Middx., HAO 1A.J. Tel: 0208422.4627/020
89223681.
AUSTRALIAN NEWSLETTER
The Tamil Senior Citizens' Association of Sydney celebrated its tenth anniversary on July 28th 2001. The day's proceedings commenced at 10.30 a.m. with a meeting at which the Hon. John Murphy, Federal M.P. and the Deputy Mayor of Stratfield Council Mr. Abi Saab were the Chief Guests.
The President of the ASSOCiation, Mr. Samy Pasupathy welcomed the distinguished guests and members. He recounted the past activities of the Association and Congratulated the founder members On their courage and foresight in setting up the organisation in 1991. He also thanked Mr. John Murphy and Mrs Murphy for gracing the occasion in spite of their tight schedule. He pointed out that Mr. John Murphy has been a friend of the Tamil Community and helped numerous Tamil constituents with their problems.
Mr. John Murphy in his speech congratulated the
Association. On their Various activities and achievements. He stressed that the Tamil community had made an enormous COntribution to the multiCultural ethos of the area. He also said that he had campaigned for the rights of Sri Lankan Tannis in the land Of their birth through his speeches in the Federal Parliament of Australia.
The founder members of the Association Were honoured with certificates distributed by Mrs Murphy. An impressive birthday cake was cut by the first President, Mr. P.S. Segaram and the first Secretary Mr. S. Senathiraja. This was followed, by several musical performances and the reading of his own poetry by a Senior citizen, Mr. T. Kanagarajah. The proceedings ended after a sumptuous lunch and further entertainment. The Senior Citizens and their guests went home with the satisfaction that what was a small organisation in 1991 had grown rapidly and passed an important milestone.

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32 TAMILTIMES
Rev Sr. Josephine Tynan An Appreciation
"When I go hence, let this be my parting word, that what I have seen is unsurpassable.” - Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali.
On a sunny Saturday morning in June 1970, 1 rushed to the Jaffna railway station from Duraiyappa's Lane at Eachchamottai Road to Say Good-bye to our very special school principal whom we called "Mother Josephine'.
Mother Josephine was fifty years old, vibrant and active, committed to her vocation and most of all to her children, we the girls of Holy Family Convent Jaffna. She had no choice but to leave the Country. She had to leave behind her Childen and the beloved institution, the Holy Family Convent that she had been part of for almost three decades. Our government had decided that she had overstayed her welcome.
Nineteen seventy was the year of 'Swabasha', English language ceased to be the medium of instruction. The music we heard, the songs we sang, the dances we danced came to an abrupt end. The curtains were permanently drawn on the Shakespeare's plays we fondly acted. This is how I remember the departure of our Mother Josephine.
At the station, Mother Josephine stood in the midst of teachers and students. I heard the whistle of the Yard Devi, approaching the platform. As always, I was running late. | ran as fast as I could. The majestic train l had often marvelled, approached the platform, but this time it appeared like a monster lt had Come to take away our gentie F7AI).
For years she had tried to coach me to be punctual. Countless number of times she had told me 'Agnes, living far from school is not an excuse for you to come late to school. You are not at all taking any effort to get up early from bed." Here I am, late again, to bid good-bye to my principal during her very last moment on Jaffna soil. I ran into her arms. "Write to me Agnes' she said.
I began writing to Mother Josephine. I wrote about her children, the convent, and
then I Continued to Wr violence that gripped She Wrote back from later from Northern Ire thirty-one years, l ha towns in three Cour. stopped correspondin of us, girls from th indebted to this worm, She shaped and mol. What ever we have be something to do with the Holy Family she will be there for ever. in that war ravaged Mother Josephine wr cle on the beginning the Old Girls' ASSOC, Convent Jaffna.
"Our founder, Fr. F to collaborate with Immaculate, who ha sion stations in the ber 1862 a little ban fers sailed from May — the very first nun, island. They reached Day and received come from the pec Mrs. Flanafan, whic husband was in the been conducting a for the education newly arrived miss this establishment. unpretentious hou House in Main Stre charge of an orpha years later in 1864 blessed the corner, Holy Family Conv seven years to fini imposing buildin opened by Bishop 1869. The sisters give English Educa the upper class as vernacular educati various charitable Parents from all began sending thei educated and to a accommodations Primary schools - years old, as well í tion grew and gre New buildings to and Crafts Departn girls would get an and reach the req dards.
Girls were prep examinations and jects. In the early Junior and Senior matriculations and exams for admis and Training Col There was also Department and There Were alwa teaching staff loy
 
 

15 AUGUST 2001
about the spiral of e Jaffna peninsula. eeds, England and ind. During the past e moved to twelve ies, but We never . Three generations Jaffna town, are n's life-long service. ded our values. For 'ome today, she had if. The iStitution of eft behind in Jaffna is a symbol of hope town. In May 1999 te the following artiof H.F.C. Jaffna to ation of Holy family
B. Noailles, wished he oblates of Mary d established misar East. In Septemd of six French sisseilles to Sri Lanka to set foot on the 'Jaffna on AllSouls a tremendous wellple. A lay woman, was irish (whose British Army), had "Female Seminary' of Tamil girls. The 'ionaries took over They lived in an se near the Resf 2et. They also took nage for girls. Two Bishop J.S. Semeria stone of the present ent, Jaffna. It took sh but the spacious g was solemnly Bonjean on Nov. 9th started a school to tion fo children of well as catering for on, and engaging in works in the area. ver the island soon girls to H.F.C. to be rail of the Boarding rovided. Infant ahd aking boys up to ten s the collegiate secy over the century. ater for the Science ents - so that Jaffna all round education ired Academic stan
red for the public had a choice of subears exams like the Cambridge - London Inter Arts & Science ion to Universities ges were on offer.
flourishing Music on mercial classes. 's a well qualified and dedicated and
pupils well behaved, easy to teach and anxious to learn. Parents and people were most supportive. Hindus and Muslims were also admitted and by the 1970s numbers were up to a thousand. It was the Lord's Work.'
"Unless the lord builds the house in Vait, do the builders toil' - Psalm 27.
In May 2001, Sr. Josephine was diagnosed with Cancer. Pain and anguish was masked by vitality and life. She quoted Rabindranath Tagore: 'Let your life gently dance on the edges of time - like dew on the top of a leaf.
Sr. Josephine Tynan pased away on July 30th in Northern Ireland. She was eightyone. An upright former Jaffna School Principal, a disciplinarian and a symba of honesty, will continue to live in the hearts of тату
Agnes Pathmini Francis Thambynayagam,
August 2001.
Senior Citizens Stage “Kannagi”
I had the rare opportunity of witnessing the age old Tamil story Kannagi' in Silapathikaram staged by the Senior Citizens of the Tamil Centre, Wembley on 22nd July 2001 at the Wembley High School Hall. It is noteworthy that the entire cast consisted of Senior Citizens belonging to the centre.
Without elaborating on all aspects of the well produced drama, I wish to express my profound appreciation of the performance of Mrs. Rajamani Sivalloganathan who acted the part of Kannagi' admirably and appears on the extreme right of the above picture. The audience was spellbound, enthralled and emotionally taken up by her brilliant acting bringing back Kannagi to life that day. The audience would have been glued to their seats by her eloquent rendering of the section where she challenges the King and Queen to prove that her husband had robbed an anklet belonging to the Queen. She not only proved the horesty of her husband, but also her honesty and chastity and seemed to have a spirituall quality.
Congratulations should be extended to all the Seniors for their excellent perfor
continued on page 33

Page 33
15 AUGUST 2001
continued from page 32
nance. More such dramas Should be staged for the benefit of our younger generation, who are ignorant of our ancient stories like Silapathikaram.
C. Kannuthurai. President, Sri Lanka Railway Past Employees Welfare Assoc. UK
First Carnatic Vocal Arangetram in Canada
Sri Lankan Tamils displaced from their homeland and living in the western countries have been practicing their indigenous Cultural and religious activities in those countries. In a multi-cultural society of Canada too they are keen to educate their Children in the fine arts of Carnatic music and Bharatha Naatyam. Quite a number of fine arts teachers in Canada, particularly in Toronto, have established their own schools of music and dancing and a number of our youngsters have already progressed in these arts to the level of performing in Arangetrams. Every year about six students appear for the different grades of examination in Carnatic music conducted by the Tami sai Kalaa Manram. Leading musicians from India are arranged to perform in Bharathi Kalaa Manram for the past twenty-five years. All these activities have raised the level of musical literacy among the Tamil population.
Arangetrams have already been held in the fields of Bharatha Naatyam and Mridhangam. But the first Arangetram in Carnatic vocal music by two sisters, namely Tharmathai and Bhamini, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Rananan of Toronto, was held on July 22nd at the Markham Theatre of Performing Arts. They had their training for
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more than 7 years Vivekananthan, a p. and performer in singers, Tharmatha! our congratulations high level of perform in spite of their upb Cultural environmet guru deserve due agement and perse tWO Sisters.
The chief guest fo Smt. Bhushany K prominent Sri Lank recently awarded th South India. Being vocalist late Thanja She is now settled accompaniments fo vided by Smt. Kalp lin, Sri Gowrishanka Miridhangam, Sri f on the ghatam Pararasasegaram Kalpana is a popul now Settled down ir prime disciple of Kal mani. She has acco artists like Nithyasr M. Balamuralikrish Gowrishankar is th hangist among Ca musicians. He had well-known guru S India. He has acCO hangam for world K.J. Jesudas and ghatam was Ravi plished artist on th tioned in the U.S.A. V. SureSh in Chenn artist and is a discip, has also accompani
The program for Went Or) for about th a variety of kritis , Started With a Varna ended With a Thill. highlights of the p Charatina kriti of Se ragam, a Ragam-Th mugapriya followed ragamalika. The m Shithar kriti in Kanmi chaapu thaalam, fo and Ravi played percussion instrum Bharnini have to be successfully attemp Kanda Triputa thaal, ka swarams. Any filé dering aalapana a. were compensated ding on the violin by audience of over fiv satisfied by the ovel ever, it should be inc in raga-aalaapanai an art Which has to t practice and experié a long way to go ir this.
 

AMILTIMES 33
under Mrs. Kulanayaki rominent VOCal teacher Toronto. The duet and Bharnini, deserve for having reached a lance in a short period, singing in a totally alien it. Their parents and credit for their encouraverance given to the
r this Arangetram was alyanaraman, a most an VOCalist, who was e Kalai Maanani title in the wife of an eminent Vur S. Kalyanaraman, down in Chennai. The r the recital were proana Venkat On the viotr Balachandran. On the Ravi Balasubramanian and Sri Gajajeyan on the morsing. lar violinist from India, the U.S.A. She is the ainmannani Smit. T. Rukmpanied many leading ee Mahadevan, Sri Dr. na and many more. e most popular mridradian and American his training under a Sri Bakthavatsalam in impanied on the mridfamous vocalists like Seshagopalan. On the Who is a Well-acCone ghatam is now staHe is the disciple of Sri ai, Gajajeyan is a rising le Of GOWrishankar. He ed many artists.
the Arangetram that ree hours Consisted of in different raagas. It am in Naatakurinii and ana in Hindolun. The rogram were a Panint Thiyagaraja in Sri anan-Pallavi in Shanby kalpana SWaras in lain item was a Dik)oji raagam and misra r which Gowrishankar hani aa vathanam' On 9nts. Tharrnathai and Commended for having ited to sing pallavi in am and the raga maliwsparticulary in rennd kalpana Swarams by the neticulous han/ Kalpana Venkat. The e hundred were highly all performance. Howpted that improvisation and swaram singing is he cultivated by intense ence. The Sisters have becoming experts in
The Chief guest Mrs. Bhushany Kalyanaraman and the guest-speakers Sangeetha Bhooshanam Rajalingam, Mr. Sreepathy on behalf of Tamil Isai Kalaa Manran and Mr. Venkatarannan on behalf of Bharathi Kalaa Manram spoke and congratulated Tharmathai and Bhamini sisters. On this occasion a CD by the two sisters of Toronto named "Ganamutham' was released. A better performance particularly in the Songs in raagams like Poorvikalyani, Abheri and Mathyamavathi were pleasing to listen to. A notable feature of the CD is that the mridhangam accompaniment in it was given by Janahan Ramanan, an eleven year young budding artist now under tutelage with Gowrishankar. Let us give our best wishes to the Toronto sisters and their younger brother Janahan for a bright future in their endeavor in our fine arf S.
Prof. S. Muthulingam.
Dharsharn's Vocal Arangetram
The vocal Arangetram of 13 years old Dharshana, disciple of Gana Bhushanam Smt Ambika Thanotheran and student of West London Tamil School took place at Beck Theatre, Hayes, UK on 4th August 2001. She is daughter of Navendran and Kalachelvi from Edgware, Middlesex and grand daughter of Late Mr. E. Sabalingam, Emeritus Principle, Jaffna Hindu College.
The special Guest of the Arangetram was Sangeetha Kalanithi Dr. N. Ramani, from Chennai And a Musician Legend. Dr. Ramani praised young Dharshana and her illustrious Guru. The Ragam Thanam Palawi in Shanumugapriya ragam needs special mention. She was ably supported by Sri Balachander — Mridangam, Sri Sivaganesh — Violin, Sri Prakash - Gadam, Sri Sithamparanathan - Morsing and Selvi Bairawi Ganeshwaran -Thanbura.
The compering by Dr. Kanchana Sivalingam in English and Tamil enlivened the evening's programme.
Deepa.
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