srilanka1998
Member
- Registriert
- 26. Juli 2005
- Beiträge
- 511
Sri Lankan military threatens antiwar filmmakers
[ WSWS ] [ 11:04 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
Over past two weeks, senior officers in the Sri Lankan armed forces have issued a series of barely disguised threats against filmmakers who through their works have been critical of the military and the country's protracted civil war. As well as being a flagrant breach of democratic rights and a direct intervention by the 'neutral' armed forces into political life, these actions are a clear warning that the military top brass is preparing for war. According to last weekend's Sunday Times, the armed forces official spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake, accompanied by Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, recently held an informal meeting with several prominent directors of antiwar films at an unnamed advertising agency.
Ranil's manifesto addresses pressing economic issues
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 11:05 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
In his manifesto released here on Tuesday, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the candidate of the United National Party (UNP) for the Sri Lankan Presidency, has laid stress on the economic problems facing the common man and down played the controversial issues relating to the peace process. "The real problem of the people is not war or peace, but economic. The over-riding concern of the people is the issue of the stomach" he contended at a press conference. The manifesto has avoided using the terms "federalism" "peace process" or "talks with the "LTTE", obviously because these are very emotive issues among the Sinhalas, who constitute 70% of the 13 million voters who will decide his fate on November 17.
'Helping Hambantota' probe halted
[ BBC ] [ 12:51 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
Supreme Court in Sri Lanka has issued an injunction order against the investigations carried out by the police on alleged misappropriation of tsunami funds. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath Silva ordered Criminal Investigation Department to temporarily halt the investigation after considering a petition by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. The Police have been earlier granted permission by the courts to inquire into 'Helping Hambantota' bank accounts set up to help tsunami victims. The "Helping Hambantota" fund was set up to help the constituency from which Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa hails. Acting magistrate Jayanatha Dias Nanayakkara earlier this month allowed the police to investigate three bank accounts of the fund. The Criminal Investigation Department sought permission from the courts to investigate the accounts alleging that there was a breach of trust concerning nearly 83 million Sri Lankan rupees (approx 820,000 US dollars).
Nirvana in Reverse
[ Illangai Thamizh Sangam ] [ 19:52 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
That is what is happening in Sri Lanka today. Everything is moving backwards. It is as if the country is being sucked into a black hole by racial and religious intolerance, lawlessness, and political deception, dragging it through a tenuous ceasefire to confront the perils of war again. The patience of the international community also is wearing thin, frustrated by the roadblocks to peace, and Sri Lanka's attitude to the humanitarian plight of the Tamil, highlighted by the tsunami disaster. The world is watching with great concern how Sri Lanka has squandered every opportunity to reach an accord with the Tamils, and it must surely recognize that the Tamil struggle has now evolved to the point where they have earned the right to exercise any viable option to secure their rights.
[ WSWS ] [ 11:04 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
Over past two weeks, senior officers in the Sri Lankan armed forces have issued a series of barely disguised threats against filmmakers who through their works have been critical of the military and the country's protracted civil war. As well as being a flagrant breach of democratic rights and a direct intervention by the 'neutral' armed forces into political life, these actions are a clear warning that the military top brass is preparing for war. According to last weekend's Sunday Times, the armed forces official spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake, accompanied by Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, recently held an informal meeting with several prominent directors of antiwar films at an unnamed advertising agency.
Ranil's manifesto addresses pressing economic issues
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 11:05 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
In his manifesto released here on Tuesday, Ranil Wickremesinghe, the candidate of the United National Party (UNP) for the Sri Lankan Presidency, has laid stress on the economic problems facing the common man and down played the controversial issues relating to the peace process. "The real problem of the people is not war or peace, but economic. The over-riding concern of the people is the issue of the stomach" he contended at a press conference. The manifesto has avoided using the terms "federalism" "peace process" or "talks with the "LTTE", obviously because these are very emotive issues among the Sinhalas, who constitute 70% of the 13 million voters who will decide his fate on November 17.
'Helping Hambantota' probe halted
[ BBC ] [ 12:51 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
Supreme Court in Sri Lanka has issued an injunction order against the investigations carried out by the police on alleged misappropriation of tsunami funds. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sarath Silva ordered Criminal Investigation Department to temporarily halt the investigation after considering a petition by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. The Police have been earlier granted permission by the courts to inquire into 'Helping Hambantota' bank accounts set up to help tsunami victims. The "Helping Hambantota" fund was set up to help the constituency from which Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa hails. Acting magistrate Jayanatha Dias Nanayakkara earlier this month allowed the police to investigate three bank accounts of the fund. The Criminal Investigation Department sought permission from the courts to investigate the accounts alleging that there was a breach of trust concerning nearly 83 million Sri Lankan rupees (approx 820,000 US dollars).
Nirvana in Reverse
[ Illangai Thamizh Sangam ] [ 19:52 GMT, Sep. 28, 2005 ]
That is what is happening in Sri Lanka today. Everything is moving backwards. It is as if the country is being sucked into a black hole by racial and religious intolerance, lawlessness, and political deception, dragging it through a tenuous ceasefire to confront the perils of war again. The patience of the international community also is wearing thin, frustrated by the roadblocks to peace, and Sri Lanka's attitude to the humanitarian plight of the Tamil, highlighted by the tsunami disaster. The world is watching with great concern how Sri Lanka has squandered every opportunity to reach an accord with the Tamils, and it must surely recognize that the Tamil struggle has now evolved to the point where they have earned the right to exercise any viable option to secure their rights.