“Just once and see if they will make a difference in our lives” – They made plenty of difference the last time they did just that.

You seem to have forgotten (or avoiding) what happened during the tsunami aid times, where uncontrolled access was given to UN/ NGOs. Most of aid went to the LTTE cuase. (forcibly or voluntarily)

The sentiment “Fool me once, shame on you, Fool me twice shame on me” suits this situation fine.

Once, just once, let us heed the recommendations of Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute or the UN.

Just once and see if they will make a difference in our lives.
(After all we never stopped appointing Commissions).

1. http://www.amnesty.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_19457.pdf

In the country of my birth I couldn’t give an independent statement because I was intimidated – Ponnuthurai Yogarajah, March 2008
Two months later, in May 2008, the Sri Lankan government ordered an end to the use of video conferencing in the Commission’s hearings

2. http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport32.htm

‘Sinhalese’ fishermen have been brought under naval protection to fish in the sea off Mannar Island without any restriction. The local Tamil and Muslim fishermen are allowed only about four days a week on the pretext of security for some minor naval movements. The trawlers with Sinhalese fishermen use large Japanese nets of a kind now banned internationally, which drag the seabed, pulling out coral, the nets of local fishermen and damaging the breeding ground, eggs, weeds and fish fodder.

On 28th May the Tamil fishermen protested and had an argument with a group of Sinhalese trawler fishermen, who using the communication set the Navy provided, informed them of the boat number. When the Tamil fishermen came ashore, naval men who were waiting for them with batons, made the Tamils kneel and beat them up severely.

JUST READ BELOW for some similarity to the above and send your comments

Probably the best concept for a political solution with meaningful and just power sharing arrangement.
An earnest APPEAL to all those who strive for sustainable peace in Sri Lanka
“The lack of engagement and communication, in turn adds to the sense of estrangement. This is not in the interests of either side, particularly the Sri Lankan people who yearn for peace, a just solution to the ethnic conflict and the hope of prosperity at least for their children.” – Jehan Perera, Executive Director of the National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.
With the above end in view please spare a part of your valuable time to ABSORB the meaning of the views submitted below.
Too much of time has been wasted in discussing the origins of the problems and the paths taken by various real patriotic and peace-loving persons to solve the problems in the ways they sincerely believed as the best. The problems have grown and evolved and had been twisted by many to suit their way of thinking.
So, it is high-time we start to RETHINK in terms of a solution that would address the ASPIRATIONS ALL THE PEOPLE in the country, not just the aspirations of the Tamils, in a just and meaningful way rather than continue to criticize other people for their “faults”.
Failures are the pillars of success. We have learned a lot of things through experience. With the experiences gained we will have to work for a change of heart not just a change of mind of all the people in the country.
“People who value democracy, equality and equity, needs to pressure the Sri Lankan state to take immediate action towards a meaningful and just power sharing arrangement. That is the only way to ensure security and the dignity of the peoples of Sri Lanka.
If peaceful coexistence through power sharing is not achievable, the only other solution that would be available will be secession” – Mr. Lionel Bopage, former Secretary of the JVP.
There is a vast difference between the policy and thinking of the ORIGINAL JVP to which Mr.Lionel Bopage belongs and the policy of the present JVP.
A new concept that moves towards a meaningful and just power-sharing arrangement based on true democracy – a large number of people participating in the governance of the country based on equality, equity – is a great deviation from the usual thinking of the meaning of the word “sharing of power” is given below for the perusal and comments of concerned people.
Many, who call themselves as ‘moderates’ and advocating a “Unitary State” are not willing to consider this NEW concept of the phrase “sharing of power” that gives a certain degree of ‘power’ with ‘responsibility’ to as many as possible including the poor and voiceless silent majority in the country and not excluding the so-called “minorities” and still maintain the “character” of a “Unitary State”
Now, one word, for those who are actually and sincerely interested in fostering a unitary-state by supporting “devolution” as a means to achieve sustainable peace, please avoid thinking in terms of “devolution” and instead please try to think in terms of “sharing of powers”, rights, duties and responsibilities that cannot be taken back at any time by any government or individual by any method.
The best political solution to address the problems faced by various sections of the Sri Lankan society – particularly the poor, the politically weak and the “minorities” who do not carry any “political weight” – would be to DILUTE the powers of all elected representatives of the people by separating the various powers of the Parliament and by horizontally empowering different sets of people’s representatives elected on different area basis to administer the different sets of the separated powers at different locations.
It has to be devolution HORIZONTALLY where each and every set of representatives would be in the SAME LEVEL as equals and in par and NOT VERTICALLY, where one set of representatives would be above (more powerful than) the other, which is the normal adopted practice when talking of devolution, in this power-hungry world. It is because “devolution of power” has been evolved “vertically”, we have all the trouble in this power-hungry world. So, for sustainable peace it should not be the present form of “devolution of power” but “dilution of powers” or “sharing of powers” in such a way that no single person or single set of people’s representatives be “superior” to another.
This system would help to eradicate injustice, discrimination, bribery and corruption – the four pillars of an evil society – and help to establish the “Rule of Law” and “Rule by ALL” for sustainable peace, tranquility and prosperity and a pleasant harmonious living with dignity and respect for all the inhabitants in the country. Everyone must have “equal” powers, rights, duties and responsibilities and most importantly everyone should be deemed “equal” and treated “equally” before the law not only on paper but also practically – be it the Head of State, The Chief Justice or the voiceless poor of the poorest in the country.
Since all political and other powers flow from the sovereignty of the people, it is proposed herein that these powers be not given to any ONE set of representatives but distributed among different sets of people’s representatives (groups) elected on different area basis (village and villages grouped) to perform the different, defined and distinct functions of one and the same institution – the Parliament – like the organs of our body – heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, nose, ear etc. – performing different and distinct functions to enable us to sustain normal life.
A detailed version of the concept, which is quite long is available for discussion by interested individuals with an aim to change the hearts not just a change of mind of the citizens of this country who aim to preserve a UNITARY form of Government with every section of people from every part of the country PRACTICALLY PARTICIPATING in the GOVERNANCE OF THE COUNTRY in a meaningful way. In a way it may be termed “participatory democracy”. In this system the COUNTRY IS NOT DIVIDED but the “powers of governance’ of the Parliament is separated and administered COLLECTIVELY by different sets of peoples representatives.
The system suggested is neither a federal state for which “Thanthai Chelva” worked hard through non-violent means for nearly thirty years nor the “Two State Solution” for which the LTTE is fighting through violent means for more than thirty years. It is a combination of both and is between both but still a “unitary” state.
The solution advocated can be compared to the policy of the EPDP – a partner in the present government – “self-governance at Regional Level and collective governance at the National Level”. Basically there are some differences between the suggestions above and that of the EPDP. First, the above suggestions are for sharing of power horizontally and EPDP’s suggestions are for sharing power vertically. Second, EPDP’s suggestions are for addressing the aspirations of the Tamils while the above suggestions are for addressing the aspirations of the PEOPLE, not just that of the Tamils alone. A careful perusal of the above suggestions in FULL will enlighten the need for such an approach.
These suggestions are for Regional Self Governance controlled by a Council of Districts and a Council of Regions and are NOT for a “Union of Regions” as proposed by Ms Kumarathunga.
Give and Take is the best policy. Rule or control your “self” and allow everyone to rule themselves.
LIVE AND LET LIVE
IF THERE IS A SINCERE WILL to treat all inhabitants of the county with dignity and as respectful citizens of this country, enjoying equal rights in all respects, then THE ABOVE IS A WAY
The above suggestions are by a voiceless member of the silent majority who wants all voice to be heard.

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We always refer to ethnic minorities, we are all minorities in either way, in the way we think, we feel, what we are economically, socially, always a minority.

I visited an orphange yesterday, it is a minority, children without parents, the disabled, or differently abled, they are a minority, often ignored, because they do not have a voice, or used by others to further their gain, money, presitige, political gains….

It is how we define, minority, to me, all I want is for all of us to be happy here, to feel they belong, I never think of destrying anyones culture, religion, I want this country to be a place where all can practice their religion, the way they want, that is what is said,

sometimes, it is the way one looks, if you look with a biased, prejudiced mine, you always see things as you want to see them, not as they really are….

May all beings be happy, be free of anger, of hatred, of ill will…..may they be full of compassion, tolerance…..

Let us not judge people by their relgion, or by thier ethnicity, simply because I am Sinhalese does not make me an extremist, who wants to destroy Hindus…

As long as we think like this there will never be peace and harmongy in this country……

We’re moving faster and faster away from it.

Sinhalisation of Trincomalee has been getting faster and faster, and at neck-or-nothing speed in the last three years.

The mistake the LTTE made was to assume that India would somehow come round to the view of a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka. They are very unlikely to do so becasue it would stir up Tamil nationalism in Tamil Nadu. This point was not realized by the Tamils. Now they have to depend on India for upholding the rights of the Tamils and to what extent India will do so remains to be seen.

Above everythingelse, Sri Lanka was blessed with JRJ that even the future generations cannot escape his venom.

This is a part of structural violence.

GO TELL IT TO THE MARINES. DO YOU REALLY EXPECT ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN?
OTHERWISE WHAT? LSSP & CP SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM GOVT SAYS HENSMAN! MIGHTY EARTH-SHATTERING EVENT! IN ANY CASE THOSE WHO KNOW THEM KNOW THAT MERVYN SILVA & 1/2 THE SLFP WILL WITHDRAW BEFORE TISSA & DEW GIVE UP THEIR MINISTRIES OR VASU HIS SINECURE. GET BACK TO TERRA FIRMA HENSMAN!

“On the other side, some Sinhalese Leftists, who had split away when their parties embraced Sinhala nationalism, subsequently provided implicit support to the LTTE’s fascism in the name of supporting ‘the right of Tamils to national self-determination’”

PATENT POPYCOCK. WHETHER ROSA OR LENIN WAS RIGHT ON SELF-DET IS A FAIR ISSUE TO DEBATE. BUT TO REDUCE ONCE SIDE ON S-D THEORY TO FELLOW TRAVELLERS OF FASCISM IS RICH! HENSMAN IS CLEARLY GETTING UNHINGED!!

PARA BY PARA A SELF-CONTRADICTORY ARTICLE; HYPOCRITICAL TO THE POINT THAT IT CANNOT MAKE UP ITS MIND ABOUT THE FUNDAMANTAL QUESTION OF THE MOMENT; WHETHER TO STAND WITH THIS GOVRNMENT AT THIS CONCRETE CONJUNCTURE, OR TO OPPOSE IT. GOOD ATICLE FOR READERS WHO DO NOT NEED TO MAKE ONE SINGLE PRACTICAL POLITICAL DECISION IN THEIR LIVES.

The issue of ICRC acces was 1948 Geneva Convention and white flag…so if the SL Govt has abandoned them then brief case, biological or chemical on civilian is ok ? or am I wrong on what basis

I am 35, I have never been to Jaffna, never to Trinco, never to Batti, I would love to. I have seen this war raging all my life, I am scared to go out without my ID, there were times I was scolded at checkpoints for forgetting my purse, not having my ID, I was asked by security people if you are citizen of this country, you have to have proof of it. Our vehicle is stopped three to four times before I reach my office at checkpoints. I am not blaming or complaing of the security forces, they are doing their job, yet, I want all these to stop.

I work with Tamil friends, I see no difference between them and me, I know all of us want to live in a peaceful country, I think compared to that, whatever compromises we have to make is worth it. I look at my children, I look at all the children I passy on my way to work, and tears well up in my eyes, the best gift we can give them is a peaceful country, where all of us can move about without fear.

I see the beauty of this country, this small island, it is big enough for all of us, whatever ethnicity we belong to, religion is something in our hearts, it is not something that can be legally mandated, just let us have the freedome to practice whatever religion we want, just make sure your practice does not hurt or harm anyone else. Constitution cannot guarantee we respect and follow a certain path. During Buddha’s time there was no constitution that said people have to be Buddhist, it was just whoever wants to follo the path followed it. What we need is freedom, and some limits to our freedom by law to ensure that freedom does not hurt anyone else.

Let us stop this fingerpointing, let us accept that we all have our faults, it is time we put the past behind and build a new and a peaceful country, where we all feel we belong and we have equal rights and where we are happy to be and love to be