Exclusive video footage taken by Vikalpa YouTube Channel team on the handing over of weapons by the TMVP in Batticaloa on 7th March 2009, including footage from the press conference.
A related story on Vikalpa in Sinhala can be read here.
Located at the Centre for Policy Alternatives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Groundviews is a citizen journalism website that uses a range of genres and media to highlight critical perspectives on governance, reconciliation, human rights, the arts and literature, democracy and other issues. The site has won two international awards, including the prestigious Manthan Award South Asia in 2009. The grand jury's evaluation of the site noted, "What no media dares to report, Groundviews publicly exposes. It's a new age media for a new Sri Lanka... Free media at it's very best!"
All content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
So this is the official eyewash! Perhaps Karuna will now take over the mercenary activities of the GoSL!
Looks like the fellows were reluctant (understandably) in handing over the arms. They did not 'handover'. Both parties are seen touching it. I am sure the fellows had some discomfort in reconciling with the idea that this symbolises the end of the 'armed struggle'. I can understand that it was not easy. Lets see whether the non cabinet minister for national integration hands over his part of the arms.
What Pillaiyan said must be known by the Sinhalese: '' this should be the beginning of democratising politics and giving over the democracy to the people!!''
Long order for the Rajapakse government. Lot of (not difficult)work for Rajiva and Dayan.
By spending 200 billion dollars on militaryware and such impunity for the armed forces to enforce the PTA and the Executive and the Judiciary holding all the power by Sinhalese and the vast propoganda machinery abroad and the platform at all the international arena and above all 'war-on-terror' bandwagon, thanks to Bush, forcing the TMVP to hand over the guns shouldn't have been difficult.
But let's wait and see if Pillaiyan's faith is honoured by the government and thus the Sinhalese.