By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
January 16, 2014
The Defence Ministry yesterday said that Northern Provincial Council member Ananthi Sasitharan was under investigation, though she had publicly distanced herself from the LTTE fighting cadre.
A
senior Defence Ministry spokesman said that the ongoing inquiry was
meant to establish her role during the conflict as well as the post-war
era. The Defence Ministry was responding to criticism of its decision
to weigh the need to rehabilitate Ms. Sasitharan.
During the conflict Ananthi Sasitharan worked at the Kilinochchi Divisional secretariat.
Ms
Sasitharan successfully contested the first Northern Provincial
Council polls last September. Representing the Illankai Tamil Arasu
Kadchi (ITAK) she polled the second highest preferential votes in the
Northern Province comprising the administrative districts of Jaffna,
Vavuniya, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
Asked
whether authorities had specific information regarding Ms.
Sasitharan’s involvement in terrorism, the official pointed out that an
attempt was being made to sanitize her on the basis that her husband,
Velayutham Sasitharan alias Elilan functioned as the political wing
leader of the Trincomalee district.
The
Defence Ministry alleged that the LTTE created a political wing
especially to infiltrate territory in Northern and Eastern Provinces,
during the Norwegian arranged Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) in early 2002.
The CFA stipulated that LTTE could establish political offices in areas
under the government control, the ministry said, adding that the
Sasitharans could have taken advantage of the CFA on many occasions.
Sri
Lanka wouldn’t give special status to those terrorists masquerading as
political activists, the Defence Ministry insisted. Referring to the
killing of LTTE political wing leader S. P. Thamilselvan in early
November 2007, the ministry stressed that the former Jaffna commander
was targeted as he was a member of a terrorist outfit.
In
fact, a US military team that examined the ground situation in late
2002 asserted that the LTTE was exploiting the CFA to its advantage. The
team from Pacific Command alleged that: "Since the signing the CFA
with the government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE has increased political
presence within military controlled territory and actively
repositioned, re-equipped and re-trained combat forces. As a result of
these activities, the LTTE has improved its ability to affect civilian
popular opinion, interdict military lines of communications and seize
control of additional territory."
The ministry
said that those who had visited Sri Lanka to examine the ground
situation ended up listening to either former terrorists or the Tamil
National Alliance (TNA) which endorsed the LTTE as the sole
representative of Tamil speaking people leading to the outbreak of eelam
war IV.
5 comments:
Bravo, Ministry of Defence!
Pursue these Tiger Wolves hiding under TNA Politician's Sheepskins from Pillar to Post!
Sri Lanka won't be safe from Separatist Terrorism if these Con Artistes who inflicted Muderder and Mayhem on innocent Sri Lankan citizens are allowed to get away scot-free with their criminal homicidal acts!
INVESTIGATE, ARREST, PROSECUTE, CONVICT and PUNISH these TREACHEROUS CRIMINALS!
Give them NO PEACE to FURTHER PLOT & UNDERMINE Sri Lanka hiding under TNA's political umbrella.
>Sri Lankan minister raises concern over resolutions passed by the Northern PC
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jan 29, Colombo: A Sri Lankan government minister has raised concerns over three resolutions adopted recently by the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) controlled Northern Provincial Council.
Leader of the government coalition party National Freedom Front (NFF) and Minister of Housing and Construction Wimal Weerawansa has said that three proposals passed at the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) recently were against the national interests of the country.
The NPC passed three resolutions on Monday calling for an international probe into the alleged war crimes, an international investigation on the Mannar mass grave and to build a monument to remember the dead during the final stages of the war in Mullivaikkal, Mullaitivu.
The resolution calling for the war crimes allegedly committed during the war was proposed by NPC member M.K. Sivajilingam of TNA while NPC Councilor representing Mullaitivu, T. Raviharan proposed the resolution to build the war memorial in Mullivaikkal.
Minister Weerawansa addressing a media briefing yesterday said the proposals were approved targeting the UN Human Rights Council session to be held in Geneva in next March and passing of the proposal is the first step of a planned programme to haul Sri Lanka to an international tribunal.
He said a resolution calling for an international investigation into the Mannar mass grave is not needed when local investigations are already underway.
The Minister noted that the Department of Census and Statistics has commenced a survey to reveal the true facts relating to those disappeared or killed during the war and the NPC is challenging these initiatives.
Weerawansa said his party opposed holding elections for the NPC as they feared that a victory for the TNA would pave the way for them to attempt the separation of the country.
The Minister also criticized the Marxist party Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake for raising doubts in the people's minds about the accuracy of the Census and Statistics Department figures. He added that the Tamil Tiger diaspora is making use of the MP's statements to push for international intervention in Sri Lanka.
Don't DENY! Instead INCREASE the Military Patrols as and when they are needed to ensure SECURITY!
The ACTIVITIES of the Tiger Nominated Agent (TNA) -led Northern Provincial Council GIVES FAIR WARNING of the resumption of separatist violence in the Northern Province.
DEFEND the COUNTRY and its PEOPLE without BACKING DOWN and offering EXCUSES!
Have we NOT LEARNED the PRICE of LAX VIGILANCE in the tens of thousands of lives lost?
Don't led the TNA kick the scurity forces out of the North so they can recreate their terrorist cells unobserved .... all over again!
...............
Sri Lanka Army denies allegations of stepping up monitoring patrols in Jaffna
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jan 28, Colombo: Sri Lanka Army Tuesday strongly denied allegations that the Army had stepped up monitoring patrols in Jaffna as "completely baseless".
Issuing a media statement, the Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said the allegations by certain political activists in Jaffna that the Army has increased patrolling Jaffna is completely baseless and represents the opposite of the actual situation.
According to the Spokesman, the Security Forces have continually reduced their presence conforming to improving security situation.
"Accordingly, within the last two weeks an important step was taken to further reduce the military presence by relocating 214 static guard positions occupied by troops within the Jaffna peninsula. Troops that were previously deployed in those localities have been redeployed in the few main camps within the peninsula," the statement said.
With the redeployment, which is aimed at further reducing the military presence in Jaffna, the number of public and private buildings released by the Security Forces since the end of conflict in 2009, including those located within the former High Security Zone in Palaly, has gone up to 8,420.
"The Security Forces carry out only essential duties for ensuring national security and providing relief in selected areas as part of its ongoing Civil Military Cooperation programs that have received acceptance of the public and appreciation of the local as well as international community," the spokesman said.
NEVER let India, or any other nation, ENCROACH on Sri Lanka's sovereign territory ON PRINCIPLE, irrespective of the extent of damage caused or the number of days of fishing.
This PREPOSTEROUS suggestion is the THIN END OF THE WEDGE of gradual degradation of Sovereign Sri Lanka's National Rights!
In fact, I strongly believe the ongoing "DISCUSSIONS" between Indian and Sri Lankan FISHERMEN to be a GRAVE MISTAKE.
This is not an issue of interest to "Fishermen" only, but a matter of NATIONAL TERRITORIAL & ECONOMIC SECURITY of INTEREST to ALL Sri Lankan Citizens.
The GOSL should FORBID participation in such talks by Sri Lankan Fishermen.
The GOSL should be the SOLE party to any such discussions, and they should only be with the Govt of India!
DONT Give away Sri Lanka's Sovereignty PIECE by PIECE!
..................
SL refuses 70 day fishing limit annually for Indian fishermen in Lankan waters
By Ridma Dissanayake
DailyNews.lk
January 30, 2014
Sri Lanka will never let Indian fishermen fish in Sri Lanka's territorial waters and use 'bottom trawling' as they did during the past, and this will be guranteed by agreement between the Indian government and a Sri Lankan NGO, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.
The Sri Lankan government and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry are the only authorities having the right to take such decisions, he added.
The second round of discussions on the Indo-Sri Lanka fishermen issue between representatives of Indian and Sri Lankan fisheries associations concluded on Monday successfully. Tamil Nadu fishermen agreed to stop 'bottom trawling' one of their main fishing methods, for a month from February 10 after discussions with Sri Lankan representatives. Dr. Senaratne said that it is a great victory secured by members of Sri Lankan fisheries associations.
Representatives of the Indian government and Tamil Nadu fisheries associations presented various conditions to Sri Lanka. They requested to fish in Sri Lankan waters for 70 days per year as they did for 30 years. But the Sri Lankan representatives did not agree to those conditions. Sri Lankan representatives have explained the current situation of the country and they have made Indian representatives agree to their requirements, he added. Accordingly, the Indian government and fisheries association agreed to stop 'bottom trawling' for a month and they asked for 14 days for discussions with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, vessel owners, fishermen and several parties attached to the fisheries sector.
"But we will not stop arresting Indian fishermen who violate Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Lines (IMBL) and using 'bottom trawling' in Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Sri Lanka Navy will arrest them as usual till the Indian authorities take a direct and clear decision," Minister Senaratne explained. The damage caused by 'bottom trawling' to the marine environment can be simply termed as a major crime. 'bottom trawling' destroys 20 kg of fish resource for netting a kilo of fish and it is a catastrophe.
Measures should be taken to ban 'bottom trawling' while having a direct and clear solution to the Indo-Sri Lanka fishermen's issue, he stated. Both parties also paid attention to create another fishing method which can be used for 'bottom trawling' as well.
Fishermen(!!) BARGAINING AWAY Sri Lanka's National Rights?!!!
Oh My God ... what IDIOCY!
..............
India, Sri Lanka fishermen reach agreements, waiting for governments to ratify
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Jan 28, Colombo: Representatives of Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen participated in the Indo-Lanka discussions to resolve the nagging issue of the fishing rights have reached several agreements during the day-long talks held in Chennai yesterday.
Fishermen from the two countries announced Monday that they have adopted several resolutions regarding the fishing in the Palk Bay but it is up to the two governments and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa to ratify the agreements. The fishermen however did not reveal the details of the agreements to the media.
The much-awaited discussions between the two sides took place Monday in Chennai. Prior to yesterday's talks at the fishermen level, ministerial level discussions were held in New Delhi on January 15 between Sri Lanka's Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Rajitha Senaratne and the Indian union Minster of Agriculture Sharad Pawar.
During that round of talks the two sides agreed to release the fishermen held in each other's jails before holding Monday's talks as a goodwill gesture to create an environment conducive for talks.
Reportedly yesterday's day-long talks have been successful and according to Sri Lanka's Deputy Fisheries Minister Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, the fishermen of both countries have jointly prepared a set of proposals that promote goodwill among them.
A fishermen delegate from Sri Lanka has told the Indian media that there was a consensus on fishing and the delegates from both sides freely exchanged ideas. He said some restrictions and bans with regard to fishing were also discussed.
The Sri Lankan delegation was led by the Director General of Sri Lanka Fisheries Department Nimal Hettiarachchi and comprised four other officials and 18 fishermen from the fisheries organizations in Northern and Eastern Provinces in the discussions.
The meeting waspresided over by Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister K.A. Jayapal and attended by Suchitra Durai, joint secretary, of Indian Ministry of External Affairs. Additionally, 24 Indian fishermen also took part in the discussions.
The Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner at Chennai Sabarullah Khan also participated in the talks.
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