India will be isolated if it boycotts CHOGM: Sri Lanka

[Ray]

Secondly if India is so keen on the well being on Tamils in Sri Lanka India can take them all. Why hesitate?

That would suit you perfectly so that you can take over their land, right?

 

[Ray]

Raped or not this is a terrorist. .

So as terrorist can be raped?

BTW in a war bad things happen. That is because it is war. But calling it a genocide is totally baseless allegations. Why on earth Sinhalese wanted to get rid of Tamils in god forsaken jungle? It can be accepted if the Tamils were killed in Colombo or in Jaffna. But in a thick jungle? and killing a fraction of a population? What for? Is it logical?

Comments just based on the above quote.

It was aimed to wipe out the Tamils and so a genocide.

If the Tamils are in a jungle, where do you think the SL Army would strike?

Arc De Triomphe de l'Étoile on Avenue des Champs-Élysées?

 

[nirranj]

Because do you seriously believe that any publicly elected government in the world can accept a video records released by a media channel?

BTW in a war bad things happen. That is because it is war. But calling it a genocide is totally baseless allegations. Why on earth Sinhalese wanted to get rid of Tamils in god forsaken jungle? It can be accepted if the Tamils were killed in Colombo or in Jaffna. But in a thick jungle? and killing a fraction of a population? What for? Is it logical?



How about the IPKF action in Jaffna? Do you need any more reference.

Did You conveniently forget the 1983 Holocaust in Colombu and Jaffna???

Or did You forget all those Anti Tamil Riots in 1956, 1958, 1977???

Did they happen in the jungles???

I will not speak of this Again, If a Referundum happens and If Tamils vote for a United Sri Lanka.

Is Sri Lanka ready for that???

 

[nirranj]

@HeinzGud Why is SL not ready for Implementing 13th amendment??

 

[Ray]

Where I think India has made a real boo boo, is that it has dithered and shifted aimlessly leaving the decision to attend or not attended hanging too long in a limbo.

Attending in the CHOGM is an indirect acceptance of the Genocide, or whatever one wants to call it.

By not attending, it is indicative of a weak Federal Govt where it has been crushed under State pressure, in the same way as it was crushed by Mamata Bannerjee over the Teesta waters.

Either way the Govt has made a fool of itself once again adding to the ignominy of a cock-eyed Foreign Policy that has not ended from that time of Sharm al Sheik.

But then, Manmohan was never a known to be a man of decisions and with a chump for a Foreign Minister, he hardly had any proper counsel to assuage his apparently tremulous state of mind when forced to make decisions.

It would have been more statesmanlike and like a Nation in control of its policies, to have clearly enunciating its view well in time giving reasons why the PM is unable to attend.

It would not have been the first time that and Indian PM has skipped the CHOGM!

 

[nirranj]

Raped or not this is a terrorist. I do not think BBC would give any room for Al-Qaida facilitators.

I have Already replied in some other thread for a post by you, Please come for discussions without a racial attitude.

If She is a Terrorist, It is people with Racist Attitude Like You Who made her a terrorist and finally molested her for satisfying Your Racism.

 

[Ray]

Australian, New Zealand legislators leave Sri Lanka following detention ahead of Commonwealth summit

Melbourne: An Australian Senator and a New Zealand MP on a fact-finding mission into reported human rights abuses in Sri Lanka, have reportedly left the country after being detained in Colombo, a media report said in Melbourne.

Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon was visiting Sri Lanka on a human rights fact-finding visit with New Zealand Greens MP Jan Logie ahead of this week's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Rhiannon was quoted as saying that they had their passports confiscated and were questioned for several hours by Sri Lankan authorities yesterday before being allowed to leave the country.

Rhiannon's office confirmed she had boarded a flight back to Australia, ABC reported today.

Rhiannon said the harassment of an Australian politician was another reason why Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott should not attend CHOGM summit.

Both Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key are to attend the summit.

She told the ABC that immigration officials raided the meeting and took her and Logie back to their hotel.

In a joint statement with Logie, she said human rights abuses in Sri Lanka are so serious that the CHOGM meeting should be scrapped.

"Elected officials and members of civil society in Sri Lanka have provided us with examples of massive illegal land confiscation by the armed forces; people being jailed and detained with regular disregard for legal rights; violence, often involving rape, of women and children with no police investigation of these crimes; and ongoing intimidation of media workers," the statement said.

Sri Lanka faced censure at the UN Human Rights Council over its failure to probe allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed by its troops in the final months of the battle with Tamil rebels in 2009, charges the country has denied.

Australian, New Zealand legislators leave Sri Lanka following detention ahead of Commonwealth summit | NDTV.com

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There are good reasons for the Australian and the NA PMs not to attend, not only because their elected representatives have been hassled when on a SL cleared visit, but also because of what they have had to say of the SL atrocities

They said:

She told the ABC that immigration officials raided the meeting and took her and Logie back to their hotel.

In a joint statement with Logie, she said human rights abuses in Sri Lanka are so serious that the CHOGM meeting should be scrapped.

"Elected officials and members of civil society in Sri Lanka have provided us with examples of massive illegal land confiscation by the armed forces; people being jailed and detained with regular disregard for legal rights; violence, often involving rape, of women and children with no police investigation of these crimes; and ongoing intimidation of media workers," the statement said.

Sri Lanka faced censure at the UN Human Rights Council over its failure to probe allegations that up to 40,000 civilians were killed by its troops in the final months of the battle with Tamil rebels in 2009, charges the country has denied.

 

[ladder]

Sri Lanka refuses to sign oil tank farm deal with Indian Oil Company

Nov 10, Colombo: Sri Lanka has hardened its stance and refused to sign an agreement to lease the Trincomalee strategic oil storages to a unit of Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and is blocking the Indian firm's plans to set up a bitumen plant in the country, an Indian media report said.

The Sri Lankan government has decided to take over the petroleum storage tank complex in Eastern Sri Lanka that was given to an Indian oil company on a long lease, sources at the Ministry of Petroleum Industry said.

The China Bay petroleum storage tank complex was handed over to India's state-run Indian Oil Corporation in 2002 by the United National Party (UNP) government which was in power between 2002 and 2004.

In 2003, Lanka IOC - a subsidiary of state-owned IOC - bought one-third share in Ceylon Petroleum Storage Terminals Ltd which operates the China Bay tank farm. Ceylon Petroleum Corp (CPC) and Colombo entered into a MoU with Lanka IOC to grant a long-term lease to the Indian firm for operating the 99 storage tanks at Trincomalee for 35 years for an annual fee of $100,000.

The government says that the hand over was not in line with the government standards.

Since commencing operations, Lanka IOC has invested close to US$15 million at regular intervals to add more facilities like additional storage tanks, lube blending facilities and refurbishing of jetty, India's PTI reported.

Lanka IOC wants to invest another US$17 million to establish bitumen handling facilities at the tank farm and had applied to the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka. The BOI has said that approval can be given only after settlement of the lease issue with the Petroleum authority.

However, sources say the Sri Lankan government now expects to convert the petroleum storage tanks to a profitable venture with foreign investment.

Lanka IOC officials have expressed concern that Sri Lanka might take a tough stance on the lease agreement especially now, after India downgraded its level of participation at the Commonwealth meeting in Colombo.

The tank farm in 850 acres of land has 99 tanks each with the capacity to hold 12,100 metric tons of oil.

Under privatization, the government gave Lanka IOC 99 storage tanks, of which 15 are being used and two more are being refurbished at a cost of US$17 million.

The China Bay tank farm that connects to the Trincomalee harbor is of historic and strategic significance and it is the largest tank farm located between the Middle East and Singapore. It was built by the British in 1930s to supply fuel to Royal Navy ships.

Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka refuses to sign oil tank farm deal with Indian Oil Company

 

[Ray]

This is the SL vuew on India's non full fledged participation.


Diplomatic error

Nov 11 (DH) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to keep away from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo this week is a serious diplomatic error.

After much dithering the government has decided that external affairs minister Salman Khurshid will lead the Indian delegation for the meet. This is against national interest and the best principles of foreign policy practised by governments in the past. The UPA government has been known as decision-shy or prone to wrong decisions during much of its recent tenure. The decision on the CHOGM summit shows this tellingly, and it will have a very negative impact on India's relations with Lanka. The government has, as in the case of a number of other issues relating to economic, political or public policies, shown itself as lacking in authority, unsure of itself and vulnerable even to empty pressure.

The Tamil Nadu government, the state assembly and all political parties had demanded a complete boycott of the Commonwealth meet by India. Union ministers from the state also demanded that the Prime Minister stay away from the meet. It was inappropriate that they made the demand in public. If they felt strongly about the matter they could have written to the Prime Minister about it. Ironically, all the show of concern over the rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka is sham. The postures are only meant for the elections. But they will not help too. Boycott or no boycott, the Congress cannot win a seat in Tamil Nadu without help. The DMK also will find the going tough however much it pleads the Sri Lankan Tamil cause.

That cause has in fact been badly served by the government's decision. Continued full engagement with the Sri Lankan government would have given India the leverage to persuade Colombo to protect and promote the interests of Tamils. There is much more to be done through devolution of powers to the Tamil-dominated areas. India will now have less of such leverage with a Sri Lankan government unhappy with its decision. An estrangement with India will push it closer to China which is trying to increase its presence and influence in the island. This is not in the strategic interests of India. It is very wrong to allow the country's foreign policy to be held hostage to the narrow political and electoral considerations of regional parties. A weak government is setting a bad precedent for future, and no one gains from it too.

Sri Lanka : Diplomatic error

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There is o doubt that India should have made up its mind long time back and given a stern message to Sri Lanka so that they are clear that while India is keen to have friendly relationship, it cannot brook the inustices done to the Tamil or the tardy progress in devolution of powers to the elected Govt in the North.

Actually the UPA has nothing to lose, notwithstanding the contention raised in the article.

UPA ha consistently shown that it lacks strategic vision and has no firm direction where the foreign policy should head or the will to do so.

It has always been a rudderless ship ever since Sharm al Sheik and has progressively shown total been moribund in implementation of whatever little that they could imagine to be a vision or a policy!

The repeated succumbing to the States, be it Bengal or Tamilandu in charting out & implementing the foreign policy does not behove that of a Govt capable of giving direction to the country. This dithering and lack of political will and lack of firm grip over events has made India vulnerable to the capricious and mercurial activities of our neighbours, big and small.

There is nothing lost since the Indian foreign policy has already lost the neighbours long back and so SL's whine and loss of face by India rejecting to attend protocol correct, is not material to the realpolitik.

 

[Ray]

Sri Lanka's Defense Secretary invites CHOGM leaders to travel to the North

Nov 10, Colombo: Defense Secretary of Sri Lanka Gotabhaya Rajapaksa invited the world leaders who attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week to travel to the Northern Province to see firsthand the work carried out by the government following the end of the war.

He told the local media that the CHOGM leaders would be able to see the development in the area and the human rights issues addressed by the government.

Defense Secretary called on the international community not to make decisions based on what the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) says.

According to Rajapaksa, it would be good for the government if the CHOGM leaders visit the North and see the former war torn areas and would be interesting to see the rehabilitation work carried out by the government with the former LTTE carders and child soldiers.

Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka\'s Defense Secretary invites CHOGM leaders to travel to the North

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One wonder why a low rung administrator has to invite the PMs of the Commonwealth to visit the North.

What is his locus standi, given that Sri Lanka invited the Heads of Govt with an invite from Rajapakshe. Surely, he still heads the Govt and not this low rung administrator.

And what will they show to the Heads of Govt?

What India has done in the North for rehabilitation?

 

[ladder]

The UK's Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander called on PM David Cameron to push for a review of whether Mahinda Rajapaksa should be granted the position of the chair of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Group when he meets fellow leaders this week, reported the Belfast Telegraph. That article pointed out that any engagement with the regime – which has failed to meet international demands for an independent inquiry into events at the end of a bloody civil war in 2009 – amounts to "collaboration". The Shadow Foreign Secretary's letter also revealed that Cameron is willing to heed Labour's call to review
"the automatic passing of the Commonwealth's Chairperson-in-Office to President Rajapaksa following the summit".
His letter added,
"Serious questions will be raised by the prospect of President Rajapaksa representing the Commonwealth on an international stage. Failure to address this would run the risk that upcoming events such as the Commonwealth Games – which will be a proud moment for Scotland and a celebration of world-class sporting achievement – risk being a time of sustained questions about President Rajapaksa's Commonwealth role and human rights record of his government."

As the pressure mounted Cameron himself, reported The Guardian, who had previously said Sri Lanka's controversial government needs to hold an independent investigation, "now turned up the rhetoric by calling for an inquiry with international oversight if the country does not order its own review."

Detailed article.
Sri Lanka Guardian: Commonwealth Boycott

 

[ladder]

Sri Lanka's view on deportation of Aus and NZ MPs.

Bid to brief media: Aussie NZ, politicians deported
Sumanthiran accuses govt. of being paranoid

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday prevented two visiting parliamentarians from Australia and New Zealand from having a media briefing at the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) office, at No 32 A Retreat Road, Bambalapitiya, to discuss the situation in the Northern Province.

New Zealand Greens Party MP Jan Logie and Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon, also representing the Greens Party, were asked to leave the country. They arrived in Colombo following a tour of the Northern Province under the auspices of the TNA.

Sources based in Vavuniya told The Island that the visitors met representatives of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi, TELO, PLOTE and EPRLF.Talks centered on the government taking over land, disappearances, those in detention for long periods, war time atrocities and the post-Provincial Council situation, sources said.

Authoritative government sources told The Island that the MPs had been here on a mission funded by the UK based Tamil Diaspora.

"We believe the Global Tamil Forum was behind the latest propaganda project," a senior official said, accusing Logie and Rhiannon of pursuing an anti-Sri Lanka agenda for their personal gain. Their media briefing was meant to embarrass the government in the run-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) over the next weekend, the official said.

The Immigration and Emigration Department confiscated the two foreign politicians' passports and moved to deport them. A senior official said they were here on tourist visas. Therefore, they had no right to engage the media.

TNA National List MP M.A. Sumanthiran told The Island that the MPs, during their visit to the Northern Province, had had an opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground with TNA representatives. Having closely examined the situation there, they had felt the need to brief the media before they left the country, attorney-at-law Sumanthiran said. "As they wanted space to meet the media in Colombo, we offered our office down Retreat Road, Bambalapitiya. The state-run media should have come there and challenged them. Instead, the government forced the MPs to cancel the briefing."

Sumanthiran said that there was absolutely no need to deport them as they were scheduled to leave the country yesterday. The MP urged the government not to suppress the media taking cover under various regulations. He accused the government of being paranoid in view of the presence of over 200 journalists from Commonwealth countries.

The Island

 

[ladder]

No visas to meet VIP's or for conferneces during CHOGM

The Government will not provide visas to any foreigner to attend conferences or meetings with Government officials in November except to those attending the scheduled events of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The decision was communicated to all Lankan missions and to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, the Ministry said.

Ministry Secretary Karunathilake Amunugama told the Daily Mirror that it was in this context that entry to Sri Lanka was denied to participants of an International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) high-level delegation which includes the United Nations (UN) Gabriela Knaulthe Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and Param Cumaraswami the first UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers.

He said the Ministry had not been notified regarding the organising of the event.

"It is the general practice to inform the External Affairs Ministry of the host country's conference division about the plans to host such an event and I don't think that was done with regard to this event" he said.(HafeelFarisz)

No visas to meet VIP's or for conferneces during CHOGM | Breaking News

 

[Free Karma]

The government says that the hand over was not in line with the government standards.

The same should be applied to katcha theevu

 

[Ray]

No visas to meet VIP's or for conferneces during CHOGM | Breaking News

Indicates the dread the Sri Lankan Govt is swamped with so that none can uncovered the atrocities perpetrated by the Sri Lankan Army on the Tamil, under direct orders of Rajapakshe.

May be on the advice of their friends the Chinese!

 

[ladder]

Indicates the dread the Sri Lankan Govt is swamped with so that none can uncovered the atrocities perpetrated by the Sri Lankan Army on the Tamil, under direct orders of Rajapakshe.

May be on the advice of their friends the Chinese!

Now that Australia, New Zealand might be miffed with what has happened to their MP's and British PM tweeting to take a strong stand, It will be interesting to note the reaction of Sri Lankan govt. if they vote against automatic transfer of Commonwealth chairmanship to Sri Lanka.

If that happens, Sri Lanka would tilt further towards Chinese.

Added later:

Amnesty International calls for New Zealand to take a stand against Sri Lanka chairing the Commonwealth

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO13...d-against-sri-lanka-chairing-commonwealth.htm

 

[Ray]

Sri Lanka opposition to boycott CHOGM, Opposition Leader to participate in inauguration

Nov 09, Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) has decided not to take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CCHOGM) that will be held from November 15-17 in Colombo....


Most of the opposition parties of Sri Lanka have decided to boycott CHOGM.

Parliamentarians of Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna would boycott the event since it is an extravagance and burden to people, MP Vijitha Herath said.

The major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance has also decided to boycott the CHOGM while the Chief Minister of Northern Province C.V. Vigneswaran has rejected TNA's call and even asked the Indian leaders not to boycott the event and attend the CHOGM to express their concerns over the Tamil cause and other issues.

Democratic Party led by Sarath Fonseka also announced that the party would boycott the event.

Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka opposition to boycott CHOGM, Opposition Leader to participate in inauguration

 

[HeinzGud]

That would suit you perfectly so that you can take over their land, right?

It wasn't there land. It is our land always. if you want proof you can go to Kandarodai or Colombo Museum.

 

[HeinzGud]

If She is a Terrorist, It is people with Racist Attitude Like You Who made her a terrorist and finally molested her for satisfying Your Racism.

What a fantastic statement. Then why hanged Kasab? He can say the same thing about India you know.

Mate, terrorist is a terrorist. I do not know what has happened to her. If she got raped then that's bad but terrorist is a terrorist always.

 

[Free Karma]

What a fantastic statement. Then why hanged Kasab? He can say the same thing about India you know.

Mate, terrorist is a terrorist. I do not know what has happened to her. If she got raped then that's bad but terrorist is a terrorist always.

. If you had treated them like Kasab, this thread wouldnt exist.

Why not just execute them if they are terrorists?..or do you see the need for torture,rape and mutilation since you see to be defending it?