News vom 30.12.2005

srilanka1998

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The Tsunami, One Year Later: More Than A Million Still Homeless in Sri Lanka
[ Democracy Now ] [ 00:28 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

On this first anniversary of the tsunami that devastated South Asia, we look at the fallout for the people of Sri Lanka. We speak with the Sri Lankan ambassador to the United Nations, an anti-poverty activist in Sri Lanka, and a physician treating Tamil refugees. Memorials are being held across the world this week to mark the devastating tsunami that hit South Asia one year ago. It was one of the world's worst-ever natural disasters. On the morning of a December 26 scientists recorded one of the world's most powerful earthquakes ever off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Scientists soon realized the earthquake could form a deadly tsunami. But, unlike the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean region had no tsunami warning system. The results were catastrophic.


Centre urged not to extend military aid to Sri Lanka
[ The Hindu ] [ 00:37 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Supporters of Sri Lankan Tamils, including two constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre 'the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), on Thursday urged the Manmohan Singh Government not to extend any military assistance to the island Government. MDMK general secretary Vaiko, PMK founder S. Ramadoss and Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) president K. Veeramani addressed an "Eelam Tamils Protection Meeting" held here. Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P. Nedumaran was also present.


Peace in Aceh, war in Sri Lanka: a tale of two tsunamis
[ Times UK ] [ 00:38 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

The indiscriminate, awesome power of the Indian Ocean tsunami did not just annihilate communities, it fundamentally altered the destinies of two bloody, decades-long conflicts. In Aceh, the Indonesian province worst affected by the devastating waves, the apocalyptic aftermath has become a catalyst for peace between the Government and separatists. It seems both parties innately understood that the fighting had to stop if this land was to get the aid required for the huge rebuilding task. Jakarta started the final phase of a troop reduction in Aceh today, a key step in a peace agreement with separatist rebels that was propelled forward by the disaster last year.


Sri Lanka Marxists rap Norway minister
[ AFP ] [ 12:05 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

The main Marxist backer of Sri Lanka's president asked him to reconsider the role of a key Norwegian peace mediator as fresh attacks left at least five more security personnel wounded.The Marxists slammed Solheim over his remarks that Colombo and Tamil Tiger rebels should stop a debate over the venue and get on with talks to salvage their truce."Mr. Solheim should realise that he is not a governor of a colonial Sri Lanka," the JVP said in a statement. "Hence, this person has no right, whatsoever, to issue commands pertaining to the Sri Lankan government." The JVP, or People's Liberation Front, which provides crucial support for the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, said the Colombo administration should "pronounce discontent on the serious matter pointed out by us"."It is the main responsibility of the president and the present government not to allow such personnel to undermine the honour and pride of a sovereign state," the JVP's two-page statement said.


India cool on new Sri Lanka role
[ BBC ] [ 12:07 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has ended his trip to India, but Delhi has made no pledge to become more involved in the peace process there. Mr Rajapakse had said before his visit it was important for India to become involved, amid fears Sri Lanka might slide back to civil war. In a joint statement on Friday, India said it would provide "intellectual and academic resources". Friday's statement said India "reiterated its support for a process of seeking a negotiated political settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society". It added: "The Indian side expressed the hope that a political settlement of the ethnic issue... would emerge through negotiations between the parties concerned." The statement said India and Sri Lanka "emphasised the need for the strict observance of the ceasefire and immediate resumption of talks aimed at strengthening the ceasefire".


Seventeen year old student shot and killed in Kodikamam (Jaffna)
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 12:11 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

SLA soldiers belonging to its intelligence wing entered a house in Kodikamam in Jaffna and shot and killed a 17 year old student. Father of the student had this to say about the incident.'Around 12.30 am on Thursday night I heard dogs bark near my house. I opened the door and saw 6 people in civil clothes inside my section. I shouted, 'Thief', the men pointed the gun at me and told me not to shout. They then entered my house. In the meantime my son who heard my shout got up and came out and asked 'who is that?' The men opened fire at my son and then left.
 
The Tsunami: A lost opportunity
[ Daily Mirror ] [ 14:31 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

The President and the political order failed miserably in using the opportunity to promote reconciliation and coexistence and peace within the country. Rather, it has become the opposite with internecine political conflict, ethnic rivalry and despair amongst the people. A wonderful political opportunity was lost through the short-sighted vision of our political leadership, where the then President should assume her share of responsibility. This same attitude of our political leaders also informed the discourse on our ethnic conflict. Here again it was a question of short-sighted political opportunism and political rivalry which has brought the country to its current state of affairs. This man-made disaster is still not over and with the coming of the New Year we may have a full-scale war visiting us again. Such is the story of human folly.


'Lanka needs lessons from India'
[ Hindustan Times ] [ 15:15 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Lauding India's democratic approach towards solving a crisis, leading Lankan dailies have said that Colombo should take a leaf out of New Delhi's experience to resolve the island's conflict by political means.India, meanwhile, gave no indication that it would accede to visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse's request for help to revive a flagging peace bid after attacks that have stretched a 2002 ceasefire nearly to breaking point. 'Besides being a foremost regional power, India is our closest neighbour and the "world's largest democracy and besides the multiplicity of ties which we enjoy with India, experience has taught us that the country is of considerable importance when it comes to resolving our conflict by political means.'


Sri Lankan president offers prayers at Guruvayur
[ UNI ] [ 15:21 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Fulfilling a personal commitment on his election as the Sri Lankan President and praying for peace in the strife-torn nation, Mr Mahinda Rajapakse today worshipped and performed a `thulabharam' before Lord Krishna at the famous temple here today. Terming his visit as `successful', he said there was great potential for strengthening the ties between the two countries.A heavy posse of security forces, led by 200 local officers and cammandos from Sri Lanka, had turned the temple and the town into a virtual fortress with traffic blocked and devotees kept at bay during the Presidential visit. The Presidential couple earlier arrived at the Kochi international Airport from New Delhi by a special Indian Airlines flight at about 1440 hrs. They reached Guruvayur by an IAF helicopter and spent sometime at the Guest House before reaching the temple at 1605 hrs.


The Tsunami of rip-offs
[ Canada Free Press ] [ 15:37 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

The promised money from Canada for victims of the December 26 tsunami never came.Forty million dollars of the $425-million pledged by Martin was donated by average Canadians. And now we know, courtesy of the Financial Times, "a year after the Indian Ocean tsunami, up to a third of the $590-million so far spent under the United Nations' $1.1-billion disaster flash appeal appears to have gone on administration, staff and related costs." The Canadian $425-million was to have been administered by CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency). Canadian Maurice Strong, an advisor to both UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Prime Minister Paul Martin is the founder of CIDA. For politicians and bureaucrats, the year 2005, like all others, was 365 days. For the victims of the December 26, tsunami, still languishing without shelter and scrounging for scraps of food, 2005 was a century.


A Call to Impose Sanctions on the Government of Sri Lanka
[ Illangai Thamizh Sangam ] [ 15:46 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Tamil Organizations in the USA, are angry and deeply saddened by the brutal murder of Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, Tamil Parliamentarian and a human rights activist. We are shocked that the murder was carried out in a church and during a midnight mass to celebrate Christmas. St. Mary's Church where Mr. Pararajasingham was murdered is in a Sri Lankan army-controlled High Security Zone in the Batticaloa town. The sanctity of a church and the sacredness of the day were not considered in carrying this atrocious act on Christmas day in a Church. This incident should not be considered in isolation, but in the context of the recent persecution of Christians and burning of churches by the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinistic forces in callous disregard for the religious pluralism in the country.


Thirteen Bishops and Christian clergy from around the island meet with Tamilselvan
[ LTTE Peace Secretariat ] [ 15:52 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Thirteen Bishops and Christian clergy from around the island arrived in Kilinochchi today to discuss, with the Leader of LTTE Political Wing, S P Tamilselvan , the arming level of violence against civilians in Northeast and the resumption of peace talks. Talking to the press following the two hour meeting, Bishop Soundaranayagam said they discussed the tragic plight of the people in Northeast, the underlying causes for this situation, the non implementation of all the clauses in the ceasefire agreement and the ensuing problems resulting from this.Bishop also said that the LTTE has told them that they are ready to talk and they the delegation has stressed to the LTTE that the LTTE must overcome all obstacles to the resumption of talks.


TRO: Year after Tsunami
[ TRO ] [ 20:45 GMT, Dec. 30, 2005 ]

Tsunami continues to affect people all over the world one year later. Over 40,000 Sri Lankans are dead and over 1,000,000 are displaced, but Sri Lanka is still grappling with the proportions of this tragedy. Majority of them are still in transitional camps. TRO would like to honor the memories of those lost and express our condolences to their friends and families. We also wish to acknowledge the efforts of our volunteers (10,000 in the immediate aftermath), staff (over 3,500), our 16 offices worldwide and the Tamil Diaspora they represent, our donors, and our partners. Their efforts and hard work over the past year have been an inspiration to all.
 
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