By Charles.S.Perera
Lankaweb.comNovember 22, 2011
Writing to the President of Sri Lanka Anandasangaree says, « Although both of us entered Parliament together in 1970, I am more senior to you in age and in politics. Hence I have a moral duty to tell you frankly what I feel about every one of your actions and decision. »
Although the writer did not enter Parliament with Anandasangaree, he knows that Anandasangaree was a member of the LSSP . And as the writer is of the same age as Anandasangaree he thinks he also has a moral duty to tell Anandasangaree that he is the worst Tamil racist and a hypocrite.
His membership in the LSSP had been bogus and hypocritical, because if he was a sincere member of the LSSP he cannot today speak in the language of a separatist Tamil racist. He was awarded the 2006 UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, which he did not deserve.
He calls himself a patriot, and the writer challenges his patriotism. A patriot is one who loves his country and his compatriots whatever their race, colour or religion. A patriot does not seek to divide the people, a patriot loves the unitary status of his country, and does not seek to divide it territorially or communally. But Anandasangaree divides people as Sinhala and Tamils, he does not work for the unity of the people, he wants federalism which is a sort of divisionism. Therefore he is not a patriot.
If Anandasangaree wants to be a real patriot , he should give up his call for a Federal Constitution or an Indian model. He should not treat the Tamil Community as a different entity. He should instead be a bridge to bring in the Tamil Community into the mainstream of the Sri Lankan people without allowing them to tear away from the fabric of Nationhood.
Sri Lanka could progress faster if all communities get together to give a hand . It is the Tamils who stand on the way of progress with their pseudo “ethnic problem” and show to the world outside a division within. It is the Tamil diaspora which has brought Sri Lanka to disrepute, accusing the President and the Armed Forces for military crimes when they know very well that the elimination of terrorism was a necessity for any progress and that the military operations were against the terrorists and not against the Tamil people.
If the civilians were to have died it may have been inevitable and it was a sacrifice to end thirty years of suffering, and find at last peace and security for every one. Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand symbols of human sacrifice for the greater unity and peace of the world, at least that is what the West believes.
Now that the terrorism is over the expatriate Tamils should if they want to be real patriots contribute to the work in progress in Sri Lanka, and join hands with all Communities to develop the country to make the people happy, peaceful and prosperous.
Anandasangaree should help Sri Lanka not by demanding Federalism, but by getting the Tamils to fall in line with the rest of the communities to create Communal Unity.
His statements are pungent with hypocrisy, as when he says, “ I am one who is not communal and had been always saying that I wish to have a Sinhalese family as my neighbour on one side and a Muslim family on the other. I have still not changed my views in this matter.” Is that to show that he is not communal, and is that the way to bring the Communities together ? He thinks he could fool people with that kind of trash.
Anandasangaree as an elderly Tamil politician, living in safety amoung the Sinhala people in the South, had a greater role to play for the reconciliation of the two main Communities of Sri Lanka the Tamils and the Sinhala, if he did not try to play the Tamil Nadu game of separating the Tamils from the Sinhala. He also raises the GG Ponnambalam’s out dated demand for 50-50, but in a different way.
The permanent solution to the so called ethnic problem in Sri Lanka is there before every ones eyes , but the Tamils including the UNESCO prize winning Anandasangaree do not want even to look at it. The Solution is, that the Tamils should try to forget their Tamilness and accept to be patriotic Sri Lankans à part entière and unite with the other communities to form a larger Nation of Sri Lankans, where there would be no Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims but just Sri Lankans. That is what the President Mahinda Rajapakse meant once when he said that there are no minorities and majorities.
The fear of the Tamils is that the they will be assimilated into the Majority, otherwise there is no reason for the Tamils to ask, to be treated separately with a special devolution of power. The whole of the ethnic problem stems from this failure of the Tamils to give up their fear of loosing their Tamilness.
It is typical of the Tamils, this is what DBS Jeyaraj says on his article on Nedumaran’s book on Prabhakaran which he says would be Nedumaran’s magnum opus the “ hagiography “ of Prabhakaran. DBS Jeyaraj says “……… I am very proud of being a Tamil. My pride is based on the notion so well articulated by Namakkal Ramaligampillai one time poet laureate of Tamil Nadu.” Is he a Sri Lankan or of TamilNadu ? If he is a real Sri Lankan he should have at least said I am proud to be a Sri Lankan Tamil.
This stems from an inferiority complex of the Tamils. They do not want to accept being Sri Lankans . The black African Community in America understood that accepting to be Americans is the way out of their isolation, and became a part of the larger people of America, and that is how today a black African is the 44th President of USA.
They had the intelligence to understand that they had to accept being Americans, but the Tamils in Sri Lanka and the prize winning Champion of tolerance and non-violence are unable to comprehend that simple essential unity of people of all communities to build a Nation out of them.
Sampanthan and his TNA cohorts were slaves of Prabhakaran and did what ever the Thalaivar asked of them, spying for the terrorists in the Parliament. They were therefore free from the wrath of the uncertain moods of the Thalaivar the terrorist leader.
Anandasangaree was not selected by Prabhakaran to spy for them , therefore he feared Prabhakaran, who would have eliminated him if it became necessary. Therefore he played a double game living with the Sinhala people in the south, but echoing Prabhakaran’s call for a homeland by harping on a Federal Constitution.
Anandasangaree wanted to be different from Sampanthan the proxi of Praphakaran, therefore he did not ask for a separate Homeland for the Tamils, but he thought it was better to go step by step before he could arrive at making the North and East the Tamil Homeland, therefore he opted for Federalism.
Anandasangaree is an old political fox, who thinks he could get what he wants , by pretending to be friendly ( tolerant and non-violent) with the “Sinhala modayas” and moving along with their ideas until the time is right to “jump the queue” to bag in what he wanted a Tamil Homeland, or North and East as a separate Province under a Federal Constitution.
Therefore Anandasangaree mooted the Federal theory, and when he found that the Sinhala people would not accept it, he changed it to an Indian Model. He knows how to wriggle his way out of a situation, to get back to his demand to which he sticks stubbornly, when the time is ripe.
It was the Tamils who created the so called “ethnic problem” to enable them to get a Tamil Homeland established in the North and East.
There is in fact no “ethnic problem” at all. But it was created artificially, to divide the country to have a separate Tamil Homeland. That is why all this Anti Mahavamsa theory of Narapalasingham, and the rewriting of the Tamil history insisting on the presence of Tamil settlements in the North and East prior to the advent of the Sinhala.
Anandasangaree says, “ I am yearning to see the dawn of peace in its true form in this beautiful Island of ours, in which from time immemorial the Tamils and the Sinhalese had lived in peace and harmony along with Muslims and many other ethnic groups, before the country gained its independence.”
He does not mean a word of what he says. He is vehemently opposed to any large numbers of Sinhala people taking permanent residence in the North and East. He will call it colonizing, which in fact what the Tamils have done in the South.
Anandasangaree says, “ What was going on in this country since independence in 1948 is not fully known to the present generation. They hardly know what a peaceful country Ceylon was in the good old days. I am one who had lived throughout this period and had witnessed and experienced all good and bad events that took place in our country. ”
In the good old days the south of Sri Lanka was a paradise for the Tamils from the North . The British colonialists following the divide and rule policy pampered the Tamils giving them important places in their administration pushing the Sinhala to the background.
The Jaffna Tamils came to South and opened shops and boutiques. Only the Tamil men came to the South leaving their families home, not wanting to socialize with the Sinhala. The well to do vellalas came and settled down in Colombo sending their children to best of schools to make them Doctors or Engineers.
The North and the East was left for the Tamils to live as they want, the majority of the Sinhala people were not interested, either in settling down or even to know about the Northern Provinces .
That is why Anandasangaree is nostalgic for the old times. If things would have been the same today North and East would have been their uncontested Homeland. Anadasangaree knows very well that neither North or East voted for any candidate of the LSSP the political party which stood for all communities. There was I think just one LSSP Member from the North in the House of Representative. Not seeing a future being a member of the LSSP Anandasangaree changed camps.
In a way the terrorism brought some thing good in its wake, the Sinhala people of the South became aware that the North and East are after all part of the whole of Sri Lanka and that they have an interest in those parts of the country as well.
That is what irks Anandasangaree, North and East becoming close to the South and the possibility of more Sinhala people settling down there. Hence his demand for an Indian Model so that the North and East could be kept a Tamil enclave as it was in the good old days.
If Anandasangaree wants a real reconciliation of the Communities and make Sri Lanka a peaceful place as it was , the time is ripe now. The Sinhala people are ready to make any sacrifice just to bring the Communities together. But do the Tamils want it, and would the Tamils in the North and East forget their Tamilness to create a United Nation of all Communities, stepping out of their narrow Communalism ?
This Communal integration forgetting the Tamilness does not mean that the cultural and religious values of each Community is to be devalued, but there is all the more reason that the parity of status of different Communities should be maintained in forming a multicultural Nation.
The Sinhala people have been inviting students from North and East to the South to stay with Sinhala people to understand more of each other. Do they profit from the occasion ? Has Anandasangaree gone to meet these young people who came from the North and East and spoken to them of the necessity to unite to forget their minority complex and become part of the larger community of Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people ?
No ! the UNESCO award winning tolerant and non-violent Anandasangaree would not do a thing like that. He knows that if the Sinhala people in the South were to bring the whole population of Tamils from the North and East and entertain them for even for one whole year, they will go back and become once again Tamils with their racial hatred to the Sinhala people.
Federalism or Indian Model means nothing to the ordinary Tamil people, even if every one of them in the North and East makes their daily morning Salaams or Namasthe to Tamil Nadu, what they want is to live peacefully, with daily amenities and plan a future for their children.
The Federalism and the Indian Model is the dream of the high class Tamils who want to dominate the poor low caste Tamils with ruling power in their hands with a Parliament of their own, with their own Police and land rights.
Only means for Sri Lanka to forge ahead with peace and prosperity is by being an undivided people united to coordinate with one another for an ambitious program of development as a country of a united community of people.
Anandasangaree says, « The turning point was the passage of the Citizenship Acts and the situation got aggravated with the passage of the Act making Sinhala as the only official language of the state in 1956. »
That is all nonsense, because it was necessary to make a difference in an independent Sri Lanka, where the colonialists ruled the country the way they want by denying the Sinhala people their rightful place, burning their villages , killing their people when they rebelled against these savage invaders who had continually harassed them, insulted and denigrated the culture and the religion of the Sinhala people. That necessity was understood only by SWRD Bandaranaike. He did what was necessary, to give back to the people what had been denied to them for nearly 500 years.
The Tamil people did not take part in those rebellions, whether it was against the Portuguese, the Dutch or the British, though they claim they have a long history as settlers in Sri Lanka. How many Tamils fought along side the Sinhala Soldiers against terrorism ? In the long history of Sri Lanka the Tamils have not played any role to defend the country except of course few exceptions like, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Jeyraj Fernandopulle and few other Muslims and Malays.
Anandasangaree should be happy because he is there today, free to speak out his mind because he had been with the Sinhala people in the South whose children had fought the terrorists to rid him of the fear of assassination by a wayward terrorist.
His theme of complaint through out the long article revolves round the ethnic problem and the advice to implement an Indian Model. But this ethnic problem he speaks of does not exist any more, even if did in some ways existed before.
Now with the implementation of the Mahinda Chintanaya, even the language problem has been settled and the Tamils share all rights equally with all other Communities. And the Tamils like Anandasangaree, Sampanthan etc. raise a Tamil ethnic problem knowing well that no such thing really exists now, but yet to make an issue of it merely to bring disrepute to Sri Lanka and allow interference by the foreign countries into our internal affairs, and hoping for some politically beneficial fallouts for themselves.
Anandasangaree insists, « A unitary system will not be acceptable to the minorities, the Tamils in particular. It will never serve as a permanent solution, since it can be meddled with, by some others when you and I are no more. I had been repeatedly saying that only the Indian Model will be acceptable to the minorities as the only alternative to a “Federal Model” if the term “Federal” is allergic to some. Otherwise it would be the best and the most acceptable one. »
What is special about the Tamils that a unitary system will not suit them. If it suits every one else it is democratic that the Tamils accept what is accepted by everyone else. It is people like Anandasangaree who should make them understand that simple reality and bring the communities together without holding onto a separatists ideology.
Everything is not hunky dory in India despite Anandasangaree’s eulogy of India as a Model. India which is a leading nation today claiming leadership in the South, with its own atomic bomb, preparing to send Indian men into Space, is unable to provide equality of opportunities to all the citizens of the country. The low caste untouchables have still to find their place in the Indian Society.
There is ethnic problems in Assam, Sikh and Hindu conflict in Punjab. India still has Hindu Muslim conflicts. It has very racist Tamil politicians in TamilNadu. Tamil Nadu has taken away the power of the Central Government of India which is being made to dance to the tune of the Nedumarans, Jayalalithas, Vaikos, Karunanidhis or the We Tamil Movement of Seeman. Is that the glorious Indian Model Anandasangaree dreams of for Sri Lanka ?
Anandasangaree goes on with his eulogy of India , « ..A majority Hindu country has a great Muslim Scientist as Head of the State and treat him with due honour. ….Another highly respected leader is the Prime Minister of India from an ethnic group that forms only 2% of its population and the leader of the ruling Party who is a very highly respected lady is one, not born in India. This great neighbour of ours has found unity in diversity; why can’t we have powers devolved to our regions on the Indian pattern? “
But this has been made possible by India having no divisive political parties except in TamilNadu. Sri Lanka could easily have the same possibilities if the Tamils come down from their sacrosanct Tamilness and accept to be citizens of Sri Lanka without having racist political parties for Tamils, such as the :
Tamil Eelam Liberation Army, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal,Tamil National Alliance, Tamil National Liberation Alliance, Tamil National People’s Front,Tamil United Liberation Front.
Anandasangaree should demand that these Political parties with the Tamil Label be banned and all citizens of Sri Lanka, Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and others should join the two main political parties as in America, UK or France. Then the country will select as President the leader of the political party that has won the elections. It may be a Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay or Burgher. For that to happen we need not be a country with a Federal Constitution, or a Constitution with that of India as a Model, but we should be a United Nation, without any Community demanding to be different from the rest of the Communities .
The rest of the letter need no reply as it is the repetition of the same ethnic problem, the Federalism against a Unitary system, and if allergic to Federalism requesting to opt for the Indian Model.
Mr. Anandasangaree, you will soon be eighty years of age. The future is short for you, but the past had been long. When the end is near we become more and more nostalgic about the past and forget the present and try to project the past into the future as a model for the present generation to emulate. But the present generation has more wonderful things to do than you had been doing through out that long past. Therefore, do not try to make the past a model for the future generations.
The President Mahinda Rajapakse who you knew as a young man has matured. He has shown to every right thinking man and woman that of the many Heads of State of Sri Lanka we have had from the Prime Ministers to Presidents, President Mahinda Rajapakse stands out as the man who did the most to this country of ours within the short time he was given the reins of leadership.
He had driven away the terrorists that were menacing the very existence of Sri Lanka as a Unitary State. He has reconstructed North and East as no body had ever been able to do before. He had brought the once poverty stricken South to an important centre of political and commercial activity. He had built roads and railways as none had ever dreamt of doing before. He has developed our country into a middle income State.
But all those who criticize him despite all that he has done for this country, has done nothing. It is only Mahinda Rajapakse who has shown to every one of these critics what, a President with a vision , determination and effort could do, within the shortest possible time to turn a dream into a reality.
Therefore, Mr.Anandasangaree, Mahinda Rajapakse is not a “podiyen” who dropped from the last rain, and he knows what he is doing and it is up to you to wish him well and allow him to do what he wants to do in his own way. From what he has done so far there is no reason to think that he will disappoint any one of us in the future.
All progressive work in Sri Lanka to develop it economically, culturally, and socially had been mostly the indifatigable effort of the Sinhala people . While Sampanthan and the TNA, Anandasangaree, Kumar David, Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, DBS Jeyaraj et al make a hue and cry about an ethnic problem and collect international awards, the Sinhala people are at work in the North-East South and West of Sri Lanka for the betterment of the people and development of the country.
17 comments:
Bravo Charles,
You have exposed and squarely nailed this racist demagogue Anandasangaree ... hiding among the bullrushes and singing the Siren Song of Racist Tamil Separatism .... by his ears to the wall.
Let him hang there and bleed his untruths as he professes his false Patriotism undermining Mother Lanka from within.
Russian warships entering Syrian waters to inhibit foreign invasion as opposition calls for no-fly zone
.......continued 1....
As’ad is calling for a so-called buffer zone in the north on the border between Syria and Turkey along with another in the south near the Jordanian border, supposedly “to help them bring the fight closer to Assad.”
The Arab League also proposed sending hundreds of so-called observers to Syria, but one wouldn’t be out of line in pointing out that Arab League nations helped obliterate Libya, specifically Qatar which was directing and fighting with the rebels in every major battle throughout the entirety of the uprising.
I believe that it might be a bit foolish to assume that observers are only observers and not so-called “trainers” who will help train, direct and fight with the opposition against Bashar al-Assad’s government.
As I have pointed out countless times now, all of the signs are pointing to a Libya-type scenario unfolding in Syria and all I can say is that I truly hope that I am wrong about this.
However, the Syrian government has already decried the United States’ “blatant interference” in the uprising there, and the reality of American interference is hardly arguable at this point.
Prominent U.S. politicians like John McCain, who just happens to be the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, have openly called for foreign intervention in Syria.
Earlier this month, the Syrian government accused the United States of funding terrorists in Syria, along with the clear meddling America has participated in recently.
The fact is, just like Libya, these so-called protesters, who are better characterized as a well-armed rebellion, have absolutely no interest in a peaceful resolution.
The Syrian opposition has declared that they will not hold any talks with the Assad government, and we saw this same thing with the al-Qaeda affiliated Libyan rebels.
The Russians are quite aware of this fact, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made this quite clear in talks with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe in early September.
Lavrov pointed out that the Syrian opposition’s outright refusal to hold talks with the government clearly indicates that they are seeking international backing in the vein of what the Libyan rebels received.
Lavrov further emphasized the fact that international support could well lead to “new bloodshed” in Syria.
The Syrian opposition has also established a proto-government of sorts, straight out of the Western-backed Libyan playbook.
Instead of the National Transitional Council or Transitional National Council (NTC/TNC) depending on the news source, it is the Syrian National Council (SNC).
Is anyone else a bit amazed at the fact that they would follow the Libyan blueprint after seeing Libya absolutely decimated?
This is just one of the many pieces of the puzzle indicating that this is a Western-engineered faux revolution to justify armed intervention.
Yet, unlike Libya, Russia has pledged their support to the Assad government and they are actually backing it up with military firepower.
This will undoubtedly make for a much muddier situation for the U.S.-led NATO forces with the help of Arab League nations to wade into.
Lavrov has recently pointed out that the so-called Free Syrian Army assault on an Airforce Intelligence compound on the peripheries of Damascus was “already completely similar to civil war,” and he couldn’t be more correct.
You can no longer pretend to be a peaceful pro-democracy movement when you’re using rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns to assault a military base.
Russian warships entering Syrian waters to inhibit foreign invasion as opposition calls for no-fly zone
.......continued 2....
The 10-member military council that leads the Free Syrian Army has taken full credit for this assault while also destroying an armed personnel carrier (APC) at another intelligence agency base in Aleppo, according to the spokesman, Ammar al-Wawi.
The armed assault does not end there, indeed army defectors using rocket-propelled grenades to attack the Baath Party offices in the town of Maaret al-Numan.
As’ad claims that the Free Syrian Army gains 100-200 new members every time they conduct an attack on government targets.
According to As’ad the group’s fighters are spread out amongst all of the hotbeds of conflict that have seen the most action in the eight-month uprising.
These include suburbs of the Syrian capital of Damascus, the central cities of Homs and Hama, the southern region of Daraa, the norther province of Idlib, the port city of Latakia, and the eastern town of Deir al-Zour.
Even the establishment media seems to be picking up on the fact that the Syrian uprising isn’t just a bunch of peace-loving pro-democracy protesters dancing in the streets and hugging each other while the bloodthirsty Assad heartlessly slaughters them.
As Liz Sly for The Washington Post points out, in a blog of course as this is far from front-page material for a rag like The Washington Post, “If there were any doubt that the Syrian uprising is rapidly evolving into an armed insurgency, an unverified video posted on the Internet depicting what appears to be the ambush of a military vehicle by defected soldiers seems to dispel it.”
Her inclusion of “unverified” is a bit out of order seeing as the Free Syrian Army openly brags about the attack.
The Syrian state-run SANA news agency reported a rise in military casualties which clearly indicates that there is a well-armed insurgency in Syria.
The absurd part about this whole Syria debacle is that armed insurgents are free targets for American troops and drones nearly anywhere on Earth, yet when Assad attempts to defend his own government and his military; it is suddenly a humanitarian crisis.
This kind of doublethink and moral pragmatism disgusts me, and the fact that so many Westerners can reconcile this is beyond me.
Hopefully the Russian presence in Syrian territorial waters will deter any foreign invasion, be it Turkey or the U.S.-led NATO forces that are still washing the blood of Libyan civilians off their hands.
Any situation in which foreign troops invade Syria will not be a positive one for the invaders or the people of Syria.
Just like Libya, it will undoubtedly lead to a total destruction of the infrastructure, followed by looting of the natural resources and then the gold rush that is involved in rebuilding a country they just bombed into the Stone Age.
Madison Ruppert is the Editor and Owner-Operator of the alternative news and analysis database End The Lie and has no affiliation with any NGO, political party, economic school, or other organization/ cause. If you have questions, comments, or corrections feel free to contact him at admin@EndtheLie.com
Russian FM blames West for ‘provocation’ over Syria
RT.com
November 21, 2011
Russia has accused the west of exacerbating the already tense situation in Syria. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says calls for the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime are nothing but a provocation.
“In Syria we are now seeing a situation where the Arab League is calling for a halt to violence and the beginning of dialogue, and western countries and the capitals of some countries in the region are making calls to the contrary, expressly recommending the opposition hold no talks with the Assad regime,” Lavrov announced. “It looks like a political provocation on an international scale. Yes, violence has to be stopped, but this demand has to be addressed to the authorities and armed groups in the Syrian opposition,” he argued.
The Russian government has established trustworthy relations with both Assad’s regime and armed opposition groups. Moscow is potentially the only third force capable of forcing the sides to strike a deal. But as the Russian FM warns, the position of certain foreign states is likely to prevent peaceful negotiations.
“A kind of liberation army of Syria has appeared and created a Temporary Military Council, proclaiming as its aim toppling the regime in Syria,” Sergey Lavrov says. “Some European capitals are preparing to discuss the issue at the UN Security Council, equating the military actions of Syrian renegades to the manifestation of democratic aspirations by the people.”
The Russian FM reaffirmed Moscow’s stance on Syria: Russia wants to see both sides coming together to discuss peacefully how to lead the country out of crisis.
Last week, Syria was expelled from the Arab League, a step “counterproductive to the peace process’, as Sergey Lavrov put it.
This is not the first time the Russian FM has leveled accusations at the west regarding Syria. When the Arab League made its decision to expel the country, Mr Lavrov suggested the “shadowy hand of western powers” was behind the move.
Many analysts are comparing the situation in Syria with Libya before the NATO invasion. Former allies and friends of President Assad are calling on the west to intervene in Syria.
Into its eighth month, the violence in the country has claimed an estimated 3,500 lives.
Russian FM blames West for ‘provocation’ over Syria
.....continued.....
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday the international community would do its best to turn up the heat on Syria. The statement followed President Bashar al-Assad declaring he would not bow to pressure to crack down on protesters.
"We will increase the pressure on the Assad regime. I discussed this with the Secretary of the Arab League yesterday and I believe they will wish to do so at their further meeting tomorrow," he told BBC Radio.
"The behavior of that regime is appalling and unacceptable and of course we will do what we can to support democracy in Syria in the future," Hague said.
Hague also stated the international community had "done a lot" to increase the pressure on Assad. This included imposing sanctions and stopping all of Syria's crude oil exports from entering EU waters.
"We are working this week on a further round of sanctions which I hope we can agree next week," Hague added.
Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Bashar al-Assad that his days as Syrian leader were numbered and he cannot remain in power indefinitely with the help of the military force.
"You can remain in power with tanks and cannons only up to a certain point. The day will come when you'll also leave," Erdogan said during a meeting in Istanbul.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki warned that the civil war in Syria could have a destabilizing effect on the whole region.
The PM called for implementing reforms in Syria, though he flatly denied the military intervention of other countries would be of any help to resolving the conflict between Damascus and the opposition.
Neo-Colonialist REGIME CHANGE ACTIVITIES in FULL SWING Worldwide!
..............
Libyan scenario unfolding in Syria
RT.com
November 14, 2011
The “illegitimate” decision to suspend Syria from the Arab League has received wide support from the EU and the US. Russia, however, has strongly opposed the measure, which is starting to look like another step on the road to a Libya-style scenario.
During a press conference on Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Moallem said that “Libya's scenario will not be repeated” in Syria despite the Arab League's decision, which he called a “conspiracy that is bound to fail.”
“The Arab League vote to suspend Syria's membership was an illegitimate decision prompted by American incitement,” al-Moallem said, as cited by Al-Arabiya. He added that it was reached “under a plan announced about a month ago.”
“Syria has other cards to play if Arab states decide to become conspirators,” the Syrian FM stated.
Nevertheless, Al-Moallem says he still believes in “united Arab action” and said he would welcome Arab League officials and military and civilian observers to visit Syria this week to supervise the implementation of an Arab League roadmap for ending the bloodshed.
Meanwhile in an interview carried by a British news outlet, Jordan’s King Abdullah has called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to resign.
Before Syria was suspended, the two sides – Assad’s regime and the Arab League committee – reached an agreement on how to stop the violence in the country. The League demanded that tanks be pulled off the streets and that a dialogue be opened with the opposition – measures which the authorities vowed to carry out.
However since agreeing to the deal, more than 250 Syrian civilians are reported to have been killed amid a bloody siege of the city of Homs.
The vote to suspend Syria came during an emergency session of the League on November 12 called to discuss Syria’s failure to end the violence. Eighteen countries supported the move while Lebanon, Yemen and Syria voted against it and Iraq abstained.
On Monday, the European Union moved to impose additional sanctions on 18 Syrian “individuals responsible for or associated with the repression and supporting or benefiting from the regime.” The statement said the EU continues to be deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Syria.
“The EU again condemns in the strongest terms the ongoing brutal repression and widespread human rights violations,” it read.
Brussels had already imposed sanctions on 56 Syrians and 19 organizations over the ongoing government crackdown on the anti-Assad uprising.
Libyan scenario unfolding in Syria
.....continue.....
Isolate and invade
Syria has called an emergency meeting of the League in an attempt to reverse the decision which saw it kicked out of the organization. The suspension and accompanying sanctions are due to come into force on Wednesday.
Syria is the second nation to be expelled from the League this year. Libya’s suspension from the regional bloc in February was swiftly followed by a UN Security Council resolution which opened the way for NATO’s intervention in the sovereign state.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia’s dismay at the League’s decision to suspend Syria.
“We think it is wrong, and it looks like a planned move,” Lavrov said. “Those who took the decision have lost a very important opportunity to redirect the situation onto a more transparent course.”
Lavrov added that a radical opposition movement in Syria had been incited to overthrow the government and said arms were being smuggled into the country for use by extremists.
Russia has repeatedly pledged to prevent a Libya-style scenario unfolding in Syria and backed up its promise by vetoing the UN resolution on Syria on October 5. The move caused outrage among the majority of the UNSC member states.
Syria was one of the founders of the Arab League, and its sudden suspension has triggered pro-Assad demonstrations in Syria and attacks on the Turkish, French and Saudi Arabian embassies in Damascus.
Commenting on the attacks on its missions, Turkey said it would take a “decisive attitude” and continue to support the Syrian people's rightful struggle for freedoms and reforms. Earlier, Turkey welcomed the decision of the Arab League.
Independent web journalist James Corbett believes that the Arab League suspension of Syria brings the West a step closer to achieving its goal of regime change in Damascus.
“With this Arab League suspension I think we see a dangerous new moment where perhaps even a military intervention is definitely on the table,” he told RT.
As Damascus is a key ally of Tehran, possible intervention in Syria would have to be seen as a “pre-strike on Iran,” Corbett explains. “Destabilization of the Syrian regime would further isolate Iran which is already surrounded by NATO forces.”
This is UNWARRANTED INTERFERENCE by the US in the legal decisions taken by the courts of a sovereign nation.
The United States would not stand for such interference in the legal decisions of its own courts by any other nation; neither should Sri Lanka.
Dismissal of Gen. Douglas MacArthur by President Truman for disregarding directives of the civilian government and its duly elected President, and the punishment of Gen. Benedict Arnold for conspiring with the British Colonial Forces against Gen George Washington by the Continental Congress were altogether right and proper, and within the rights of a sovereign nation ... despite all criticism that foreign nations with their own agendas then levelled against the United States.
So it is for Sri Lanka with regard to Gen. Fonseka who, driven by personal ego and unbounded greed for power, violated military regulations and placed his nation's security in jeopardy.
He has been fairly charged, prosecuted, judged, and convicted by his countrymen.
Let the United States not interfere in those lawful decisions of the popularly elected government of the SOVEREIGN people of Sri Lanka.
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US demands SF’s release
… warns govt. through minister
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
November 24, 2011
The US has warned the government that the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in Geneva would be moved against Sri Lanka unless the defeated presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka, whom the US considered a political prisoner, is released from prison forthwith.
The former army chief was sentenced by a Trial-at-Bar on Friday (Nov. 18) to three more years in prison.
Authoritative sources told The Island that the warning had been given during a meeting between a US diplomat and a top minister representing the SLFP following the conclusion of the ‘White Flag’ case.
Sources quoted the diplomat as having told the minister that a survey carried out by the US had revealed that the majority of Sri Lankans wanted Gen. Fonseka released.
The diplomat had, sources said, asked the minister whether the government intended to pardon Gen. Fonseka. Its failure to do so would cause the US to raise the issue with the Geneva HRC, the envoy told the minister.
Responding to a query, sources said that though US Ambassador Patricia Butenis was scheduled to meet the minister initially, she had changed her mind at the eleventh hour and assigned a representative.
Commenting on the on-going negotiations between the government and the TNA, the US diplomat told the minister that the Tamil parliamentarians were not happy with what was going on. The government has taken up the position that the TNA, though engaged in talks here in Colombo, had come under pressure from the overseas LTTE activists during a recent visit to Washington. To the surprise of the minister, the diplomat unwittingly acknowledged that the TNA faced the same dilemma in Jaffna due the presence of ‘radicals’. The minister reminded the diplomat that those threatening the TNA weren’t radicals but terrorists.
New Townships with fuel/rest facilities for travelers being developed at the 8 exit/entry points of the NEW EXPRESSWAY.
Extension to Matara in 2013, and beyond to Hambantota and Kataragama is underway.
Jayawewa!
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Sri Lanka's first expressway will be open for public today
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 27, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will ceremonially declare open the country's first expressway today amid religious blessings.
The President will unveil a commemorative plaque at the Galle entrance to the expressway situated near the Galle cement factory.
He will then travel along the highway to Welipenna in Kalutara district where he unveils another plaque to mark the opening of the expressway. Following the opening a mass rally will be held at Dodangoda in Kalutara district under the patronage of the President.
The expressway will be open for motorists from 6:00 p.m.
A separate police unit consisting of the elite Special Task Force (STF) personnel has been established for traffic control on the expressway. In addition, the expressway traffic will be monitored by a close circuit TV (CCTV) camera network.
The STF personnel have been trained especially to provide emergency medical aid and handle accidents and other emergencies.
The 95-kilometer expressway that runs from Kottawa in Colombo district to Pinnaduwa in Galle district has eight entry points at Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodamgoda, Welipenna, Kurundugaha Hethekma, Baddegama and Pinnaduwa.
With the opening of the expressway the Sri Lankan government plans to develop eight new townships along the road where the entry/exit points of the expressway are located.
The eight new townships are located in Makumbura and Kahathuduwa in Homagama electorate, Gelanigama in Bandarama electorate, Dodangoda and Welipenna in Matugama electorate, Kurundugahahethekma in Elpitiya electorate and Nayapamula in Baddegama electorate.
New fuel stations and other infrastructure are now being developed in these towns.
In the second phase of the development the expressway will be extended to Matara. The segment from Galle to Matara will be opened for public in 2013.
Meanwhile, preliminary plans to extend the Southern expressway up to Hambantota and Kataragama have been finalized.
Pro-LTTE covert operations bared
By Shanika SRIYANANDA
SundayObserver.lk
November 27, 2011
While studying the final report of the much-awaited the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) regarding the root causes of the three-decade long conflict and also to counter the alleged war crimes charges, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his address at the Convocation of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) alerted the nation on covert operation by pro-LTTEers to disrupt normality under the guise of human rights violations.
He said terrorists who attacked the government hiding within civil society, were now attempting to attack the government taking cover over human rights abuses today."Even though two years have passed since defeating terrorism, challenges faced by our motherland are not yet over. During the period of terror, the money earned by terrorists was spent on purchasing weapons, ships and aircraft.
Today that money is spent on various misinformation campaigns and political conspiracies aimed at destabilising the country.False allegations levelled against the Government are still being circulated in the country.
We need to understand that telecasting programs based on fraudulent information about the conflict, forming international human rights commissions against Sri Lanka, and claims about war crimes are all inter-connected", he said.“If this was a personal attack, it would have been easy for me to tolerate. But this is not so. These attacks are against the motherland. You need to understand that it is a threats against national security. It is the duty of all of us to work towards taking the country to a top position in the world. After the liberation of the country we did not forget our war heroes. We love them, respect them and trust them and will do that forever”, the President said.
Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Management, Engineering Technology, Commerce, Technical Sciences and Arts were awarded do the graduates and trophies presented for 2011 by President Rajapaksa.
He said some accuse the government for allocating a higher percentage from the Budget for defence, but they know very little about how it is being spent. It is mainly to upgrade the standard of the forces and also the lives of those who sacrificed their lives to defeat terrorism to usher peace.
"We have allocated Rs. 229 billion for the Defence Ministry and out of that Rs. 197 allocated to pay salaries, maintenance and welfare of the Security Forces. The government intends to allocate Rs. 1175 million for the education of the security Forces as we want to have professional Lankan Forces", he said.
Pro-LTTE covert operations bared
......continued.....
Seventh Budget
Presenting the seventh Budget under his leadership, President Rajapaksa said he was proud over several aspects and would like to provide them backdrop to the Budget Speech. "We were able to create a mine-free North, within a short time span of about two years, having put an end to LTTE terrorism in May 2009. We have demined 1,412 square kilometres out of the 2,046 square kilometres that were laid with landmines. We have resettled around 295,000 persons who were displaced.
The greatest achievement is being able to rehabilitate around 15,000 persons who were part of the LTTE cadres at that time and being able to hand them over to their families. People have no fear any more, that their children will be grabbed by the LTTE.Despite global uncertainties, our country has been able to sustain an eight percent growth momentum gathered in 2010, and in 2011 as well. Inflation has been moderated at five percent underscoring the success of rural centric development initiatives such as Divi Neguma, while resolving long-standing food security challenges faced by our country. Our vision Nilla Pathiruna Ratak - Atu Kotu Pirunu Hetak has become a reality by reaching self-sufficiency in rice.
Above all, I am encouraged to note that income avenues of the low income segment have improved with unemployment being reduced from eight percent to five percent and poverty, from 15.6 percent to 8.9 percent".
He also said that he was inspired to see his elder brother presiding as the Speaker. “You would recall our young days when our father – the late D. A. Rajapaksa, with other late leaders such as S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Philip Gunawardena and S. A. Wickramasinghe were in the forefront to make a decisive change in society.
What they infused into our hearts as young children was a new vision, with aspirations for Sri Lankan values, traditions, equal opportunities for all, rural agriculture as well as an entrepreneurial economy. The vision of these leaders in fact became a formidable force that nurtured a people-centric approach as opposed to the urban elitist and feudalistic political and economic ideologies that prevailed.
Transformation
This transformation was subsequently taken forward by several progressive leaders such as late Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, late Dr. N. M. Perera and late Dr. Colvin R. De Silva.I recall watching with amusement as a young Member of Parliament at that time, how opposing forces got together to destruct this progressive path. I am sure that the Hon. Senior Members of this august Assembly would recall how this path was reversed in 1977.
Pro-LTTE covert operations bared
.....continued 2.....
This nation was placed on to a very destructive path from 1977. This path was overshadowed by neo liberal economic policies on the one hand and separatist terrorist activities, on the other. This caused tremendous hardships to the general public. The whole nation became a victim of terrorism. Democratic values eroded. A revengeful culture came into being. Many wrongful activities such as international money laundering, drug trafficking, smuggling and arms dealing were carried out under the pretext of terrorism.
Separatist terrorist activities aggregated to such a dangerous level, and plans were virtually drawn up to recognise a divided administration. Many internal issues were internationalised by terrorists, thereby threatening the sovereignty of the country. In short, all hopes of our people to live in a unitary state were virtually shattered.
We were also aware that we could not revert back to the policies of the 1960s and 70s. Further, we had also realised the need to rectify the detrimental policies of the '80s and '90s that had an adverse impact on the nation. Although our country remained to be poor, many countries that were poor had by then emerged to be strong economies. The world had witnessed a change.Through these experiences, there was a realisation that over reliance on market forces is as bad as excessive State intervention.It is in this backdrop that ‘Mahinda Chintana - Towards a New Sri Lanka’ - my first election manifesto, was presented in 2005. Our vision was to ensure a rural centric development strategy in which all citizens would get equal opportunities to be engaged in economic and social development. Broad responsibilities were shouldered by us to ensure that national aspirations are protected within a market economy and global trends.
Mahinda Chinthana
Thereafter in 2010, my second election manifesto Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future’ was presented to place the country on a path of rapid economic development.Within the last six years, we have been successful in changing the living conditions of our people in all spheres of life by freeing the nation from the grips of brutal terrorism, by correcting ill conceived economic policies of the past and by promoting a well committed infrastructure network required to create a modern economy.However, it is unlikely that through these measures alone, the effects of the destructive violent culture that prevailed over the last 30 years could be eliminated.
Many more changes need to be done in this regard.We also need to give some time for the world to realise that preconceived views that they have, consequent to the distorted facts spread by the global network of the LTTE, are wrong. However, I am extremely happy to note that countries that respect democracy are gradually accepting the position being explained
by us, having given due consideration to hard facts.The Opposition should also work with us to find solutions to the problems faced by our people and also to find such solutions while ensuring unity.We need to understand that forced solutions cannot be imposed to resolve internal issues by getting trapped to external forces. We need to realise all this if we are to sustain the hard won peace and to create national unity and economic development.Today our country enjoys a per capita income of US$ 2,800.
However, we should not forget that until recently it was below US$ 1,000 and that too was only confined to few urban areas.Another fact that we should also not forget is that several districts were lagging behind in development, until very recently. In fact, people did not have even access to some of the districts. Those people who were in the grips of terrorists for over 3 decades are now enjoying their new-found freedom.
Pro-LTTE covert operations bared
.....continued 3.....
The reconciliation efforts to bring about unity among all communities have made good progress. A dialogue has commenced to address political concerns of the minority. Representations by the minority community in the Provincial Councils and in Parliament have paved a solid platform to this dialogue. Such people now have access to electricity, roads, water, housing, schools and hospitals.Their farmlands have been rehabilitated to improve living standards.
the President concluded the Budget speech at around 5 o’clock.After Parliament was adjourned, President Mahinda Rajapaksa invited the government members and the Opposition members for the traditional Budget tea party.
Inspired by father
At the commemorative speech in memory of D.A. Rajapaksa, a former Deputy Speaker, a Parliamentarian, a founding member of the SLFP Prof. Ananda W. P. Guruge said sons of D. A. Rajapaksa drew inspiration from their father’s philosophy.Delivering the speech on the theme of ‘ Sri Lanka from the Euro-Asian Commercial Hub to Pan-World Sociopolitical Importance’, Prof. Guruge elaborated on the service rendered by late D. A. Rajapaksa’s children who have emulated the patriotic commitment.
“Children of D.A. Rajapaksa have drawn inspiration from their father’s philosophy in serving the country. In the struggle to free the nation from the clutches of terrorism, his children emulated their father’s exemplary career, he said.
Gothabaya hoists Sri Lanka's hypocritical enemies on their own petard!
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Turn the lamp inwards, Gota tells war crimes accusers
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Island.lk
November 27, 2011
In the wake of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) submitting its observations and recommendations to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government has reminded those pursuing Sri Lanka on the human rights front that excesses on the part of individual soldiers had occurred not only in Sri Lanka, but in many other theatres of operations.
Addressing the inaugural session of the first national reconciliation conference on Nov. 24 in Colombo, Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that there had been many excesses by individuals in each and every war. He cited Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq as examples.
Among the audience was the Colombo-based diplomatic community including US Ambassador, Patricia Butenis, who, in a now exposed diplomatic cable originating from Colombo alleged President Rajapaksa, his brothers, Gotabhaya and Basil and former Army Chief, Gen. Sarath Fonseka committed war crimes. The allegation was made in the run-up to the last presidential poll in Jan. 2010.
Since then Wiki Leaks has exposed a spate of atrocities committed by US troops and intelligence services in Iraq, Afghanistan and other theatres of operations, thereby embarrassing the Obama administration.
The UK, too, has commissioned two separate inquiries to probe Iraq war and its complicity in human rights abuses following 9/11.
Commenting on accountability issues relating to Eelam war IV, Rajapaksa said that the government had punished those responsible subsequent to inquiries into allegations, including murder, rape and sexual abuse. He assured that appropriate action would be taken if fresh substantial evidence against its personnel is received.
In Sri Lanka’s case, the rapid expansion of the military to meet the LTTE’s challenge had caused deterioration of discipline, Rajapaksa admitted, asserting there could have been some black sheep among those recruited during Eelam war IV. The armed forces doubled their total strength, with the SLA alone recruiting 100,000 personnel.
The secretary declared that the government’s triumph over the LTTE had transformed Sri Lanka to one of the most secure and stable countries not only in Asia but in the entire world.
The restoration of peace and democracy had given Sri Lanka an opportunity to achieve economic prosperity, he said, emphasizing the need to counter ongoing attempts spearheaded by the LTTE rump to undermine the country.
He harshly criticized some political parties for pursuing what he called a disruptive agenda for their political gain. An angry Rajapaksa said: "It is clear that some politicians promote an agenda not very different from what the LTTE wanted to achieve. They make baseless allegations against the Government to this day, and have failed to recognize our genuine efforts. Instead, they distort the true picture of what is taking place and continue to promote ethnic divisions for their political gain. This is extremely unfortunate.
``Heritage and ethnic identity are important, and it is important to foster them. However, instead of thinking only along ethnic lines and continuing to focus primarily on what differentiates people at the expense of what they have in common, we should look at forging a national identity first and foremost as Sri Lankans."
The Defence Secretary lashed out at the international community for exploiting weaknesses among those still pursuing race politics to undermine the post-war recovery process. He alleged that this posed major threat to national reconciliation efforts.
Mahaveer Day commeration FIZZLES in Jaffna through lack of a QUORUM!
Could Jaffna Tamils be getting SMARTER?
Have they FIGURED OUT that the STUPIDITY is DEFINED as doing the same thing and expecting a DIFFERENT RESULT?
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Jaffna calm: No ‘Heroes Day’
Nation.lk
November 27, 2011
Situation in the Jaffna peninsula remained calm yesterday despite speculation of possible minor unrest following reports of holding LTTE ‘Heroes’ Day’ commemoration activities.
It was reported that a certain section of the Jaffna University students had prepared to commemorate LTTE Heroes’ Day and put up posters and notices inside the campus.
The notices were eventually removed.
Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Major General Mahinda Huthurusinghe told The Nation they had instructed the people not to indulge in such activities as the LTTE was a banned organisation.
“There were no problems. We instructed the university students not to get involved in such activities and they agreed with us. Therefore, the situation is very calm,” he said.
AS USUAL, the Sri Lanka Defence Forces are the FIRST RESPONDERS people depend on in National Emergencies.
May the Holy Triple Gem BLESS & PROTECT these Patriotic Sons & Daughters of Lanka ... ALWAYS!!
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Update:Death toll reaches 17 in Sri Lanka storm, 33 missing
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 26, Colombo: Heavy rains along with gusting winds that lashed the southern coastal areas of Sri Lanka Friday killed 17 people and left 33 fishermen missing, the National Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said today.
The DMC officials said 17 people have been confirmed dead and 30 fishermen who ventured out to sea are missing.
Another three people are missing in Monaragala and Anuradhapura districts after heavy rains overflowed reservoirs and streams.
The DMC figures as of this morning reported 33,957 people belonging to 8,359 families have been affected due to the adverse weather condition prevailing in the country.
Matara District of Southern coast has sustained the most damage from the gale force winds, the Assistant Director of DMC, Pradeep Kodipilli said.
According to the DMC, 8,980 people belonging to 1,796 families were affected in Matara district while 282 houses have been fully damaged and another 1,483 houses were partially damaged.
Electricity to the area is interrupted many roads are blocked due to fallen trees and other debris. Road cleaning and power line restorations are in progress, the DMC said.
In the hill country Badulla district roads were blocked due to landslides brought about by heavy rains. The National Building Research Organization (NBRO) are clearing the roads, the DMC reported.
In Monaragala, Anuradhapura and Batticaloa districts overflowing water reservoirs have forced the irrigation authorities to open sluice gates and warn the villagers of increasing water levels on streams.
Two people have drowned while trying to cross the overflowing streams.
In Ampara district flooding has affected 18,374 people from 4,875 families, mostly in Pottuvil area.
The government has deployed security forces to assist state officials to expedite relief efforts to the affected people in the Galle and Matara Districts, military spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi said.
The security forces are prepared to face any emergency situation that may arise in the country, due to prevailing weather condition, the spokesman said.
The Army had assisted in clearing many roads which were blocked due to toppled trees, while the Navy had assisted in evacuating people who were stranded due to floods with the use of navy boats, the national news agency reported.
Despite strong winds and rains, the Navy on Saturday has deployed Doras and divers to begin rescue missions to find 30 missing fishermen who went to sea on 24th November.
Army personnel have been deployed to the areas affected in Matara and Galle districts in order to provide relief measures during the emergency situation.
According to the Meteorology Department of Sri Lanka, rains and strong winds are expected to continue Saturday.
LOL! Jayalalitha caught with her knickers down:
Indian Coast Guard affidavit testifies that Indian Fishermen violate Palk Strait Maritime Boundary!
THE TRUTH FINALLY LEAKS OUT despite frantic RACIST anti-Sri Lanka outbursts from the incurable demagogue!
Now she attacks India's own law enforcement agencies!
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Coast Guard Stand on TN Fishermen 'Outrageous': Jaya
OutlookIndia.com
November 26, 2011
Terming the Coast Guard stand in the High Court on the fishermen issue as "outrageous", Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention to rectify it before any "irredeemable damage" is done.
Jayalalithaa's sharp response came in a letter to Singh following an affidavit filed by Coast Guard in the Madras High Court, stating local fishermen cross the International Maritime Boundary Line and fish in Sri Lankan waters.
Slamming the Coast Guard stand in the affidavit as "blatantly condemnable", she expressed her "total disagreement" with it and said it was "illogical, preposterous and absolutely outrageous."
The Coast Guard, which had filed its counter affidavit in response to a PIL seeking coast guard protection for fishermen from attacks allegedly by Lankan Navy, had also said the local fishermen used nets banned in Sri Lanka.
"It has also been suggested by the ICG in the counter affidavit that Tamil Nadu should proclaim a 'No Fishing Zone' within five nautical miles distance from the Indo-Sri Lankan International Maritime Boundary Line and impose strict punitive measures against the defaulter," Jayalalithaa noted.
She said Indian fishermen traditionally enjoyed fishing rights since "time immemorial," in the waters of Palk Bay without any geographical or political boundaries.
"I understand that the issue of allowing fishing in each others' waters on a mutually agreed basis is being discussed by the Joint Working Group involving Indian and Sri Lankan authorities," she said, adding that "it is really surprising that the Indian Coast Guard has taken such a blatantly condemnable stand."
"If this stand is implemented, it will mean that the Tamil Nadu fishermen have to stop fishing and starve, which I am sure, is not the intention of the Government of India," the chief minister said.
Jayalalithaa requested the Prime Minister to instruct authorities to rectify the said stand before the court at the earliest before "any irredeemable damage is done."
This is Jayalalithaa's fifth letter to the Prime Minister on the contentious issue of recurring attacks on fishermen.
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