Rajasinglham Narendran,
Thank you for the links, I will reply in due course but it might take some time as I am busy but be assured you will hear from me !

Like you, I too have seen the “work” the government is doing/done and I am not satisfied–more than the pace of its “development” (as I have stated before, yes there are roads being built etc) its the bona fide of the government that is under suspicion for me.

As for the elections, the TNA spokesperson has stated that they are disappointed but overall given the level of abuse by the SLFP of state resources and thuggery and intimidation I am satisfied
The TNA has won 1/3 of the seats and the Tamils roughly make up 1/3 of the population in the east–so I am happy the Tamil people continue to bank on the TNA
(and as you probably have already gleamed from my writings, I too have faith in them)
It is unfortunate that TNA is yet to bridge the gap to our Tamil speaking brethren the Muslims but in time I am sure they will do that too under the able leadership of Sampanthan and up and coming star Sumanthiran.

Dear Ruki,
Excellent article and follow up comments. Keep writing for justice.
Anpu

“Eastern Province …”
Was it a free and fair election? the answer is NO

Illegal radio stations for UPFA campaign; Salley accuses Govt. http://www.srilankabrief.org/2012/09/illegal-radio-stations-for-upfa.html

Basil Rajapaksa’s men threaten Tamil-speaking voters: Sampanthan, Hakeem http://www.srilankabrief.org/2012/09/basil-rajapaksas-men-threaten-tamil.html

CaFFE warns of election violations in Eastern Provincial council election http://eng.lankasri.com/view.php?203dBmYmdac4cQMAA434eaY4Y5B0e033JlOmOcddcdmOlHl220e5B5Y4eae42eSMQU4cadaYmBdB02

123 complaints on election violations http://eng.lankasri.com/view.php?2024Y5B220eYmBd24eaKmOlJ4cadQMAAcddcoSMQCdac4RlOmae43dBmY2e033B5Y402

While you are entitled to your opinion about whether I’m biased or not, i wish you can also respond what you think about the concrete facts i had presented after being present and visiting the people and area described.

Do you think it is ok for the government to send people to areas where mining had not been completed, more than three years after the end of the war?

Do you think its more important to spend Sri Lankan public funds on building monuments for military and developing equipment and buildings used by LTTE into war museums and objects of tourists attractions instead of providing essential things like basic housing, toilets for people who were trying to go back home after more than three years of displacement?

Do you think more than three years was not enough for the government to clear up few kilometers or even few hundred meters of jungle so that at least a foot path would have been there for people to reach where their homes had been once?

Do you think it’s fine that the government doesn’t provide even a tent or basic food rations to these people? ( whatever had been given was given by UN agencies and other well wishers)

As for your comment that i had become silent when questioned to a particular comment you had made, I had responded in detail to your comment and that of others to my article on 19th May, see

http://groundviews.org/2012/06/06/responding-to-comments-whether-the-end-of-the-war-should-be-celebrated-or-mourned/

I had explained again why the event i described was held on 18th May – coz the priest who had served in that particular church had died on 18th May 2009.

And I had emphasized that my insistence on right of family members to mourn on a date of their choosing was irrespective of who the victim was (such as LTTE cadre, Govt soldier or civilian) and who was responsible for the death (LTTE or Government military). I didn’t go asking on this particular day who was responsible for killing of disappearance of relatives or children of particular women, it would have been inappropriate and anyways, as i had mentioned, to me, this was not so important when talking about rights of families to remember and mourn. However, on many previous occasions, i had certainly met women whose children had been forcibly been recruited, abducted etc. by LTTE, same way i had met women whose children had been abducted, killed by Government soldiers. I had mentioned these in previous articles i had written. I was never keen to talk about only one group of people who were suffering, based on who was responsible.

I wonder why you seem to be very particular only to talk about those killed and subjected to other forms of oppression by the LTTE only, while ignoring those killed or subjected to other forms of oppression by Government military? Perhaps this clearly indicates who is biased?

It is your turn now comment on the references I have provided and close this debate. The Eastern Province PC election results are also in and I would like to read your verdict on the permance of the ITAK/TNA, as you have also mentioned the TNA in your opening comment.

Incidentally, I was only one among 21 in the Diaspora delegation you refer to and it was led by Dr.Noel Nadesan (Australia).

Dr.Rajasingham Narendran ( The famous?)

So you think that the people of the north have no option but to wait around without having their voices heard until the government is confident it can find someone who can beat the TNA ? So why hold parliamentary elections? Or local council elections?

The government always takes Douglous Devanada to international forums like the UN to toot the fact that he its “representing” the Tamils of the north. In fact even with the state machinery and lots of rigging behind them they could only win Delft!!!
(as seen and reported by Ratnajeevan Hoole –who let us not forget was appointed by none other than Mahinda as the VC of Jaffna –before you call him a LTTEer too and dismiss his eye witness account. ).
What about governments much publicized visit of the Diaspora led by none other than the famous Rajasingham Narendran? Maybe someone from that group?
What about K P of LTTE? Maybe he can be an alternative? After all he is with the government??

This was the same excuse some people in the south used to deny the rights of the Tamils to have any control over their own lives when TULF was winning elections.
Same old same old…..

The UNP is in disarray, infighting between Ranil and Sajith mean they have very little chance of coming into power, so there is really no alternative to the PA—so why not postpone elections in the south too? It saves a lot of money and will save a few lives??

You want people every else other than the north to enjoy the rights of electing their representatives since in the north there is a possibility that someone who will not bend to the whims of the government might come to power?

Think about it….you want the Tamils to join hands with you to build a prosperous country but do this?

Regarding the national anthem:
I posted this above but got posted in the wrong thread, so I am posting this again.
Switzerland’s anthem has different lyrics for each of the country’s four official languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh).
Canada’s national anthem has different lyrics for both of the country’s official languages (English and French).
South Africa’s national anthem is unique in that five of the country’s eleven official languages are used in the same
Apart from God Save the Queen, the New Zealand national anthem is now traditionally sung with the first verse in Maori and the second in English.
Indian one is in Bengali (a minority language written by Tagore) and was always the ONLY version, so there is no reason to “remove or add” in the case of SL the Tamil version was also official and now removed.

Let me explain a bit more, my argument for bringing back the Tamil version, if the Tamil version of introduced as a result of Indian pressure (13th Amendment) or to appease the LTTE (the many failed peace talks), sure no point in keeping it, take it out.

But it was not so! It was accepted as the official version in 1952, the same time as the Sinhala version, the Tamil version is a very good translation by Nallathamby.
Even the Sinhala only act in 1956 did not remove it !!!
If the country is really interested in building bridges then it would have not removed it, it shows that the government is only interested in stamping its Sinhala hegemony on the minorities.

Dev,

You are posting unrelated material in different threads. That is confusing.

You raised the National Anthem issue in a different thread here
http://groundviews.org/2012/08/16/the-struggle-to-go-home-in-post-war-sri-lanka-the-story-of-puthukudiruppu/#comment-48372

My reply was posted here
http://groundviews.org/2012/08/16/the-struggle-to-go-home-in-post-war-sri-lanka-the-story-of-puthukudiruppu/#comment-48375

You seem to be replying my comment # 48375 in this thread which is unrelated to the National Anthem issue.

I hope readers will take note and read the comments at the above link before reading this.

You say “Here you go, ….”

Where have I gone?
Please re read my reply # 48375 to your comment # 48372 which is linked above.
It is my position that the Tamil version of the National Anthem should stay because it should be understood by a Tamil who sings it.

Thank you for giving me examples of multiple language National Anthems you have reinforced my belief that the Tamil version of the Anthem should stay.

Here you go,
For instance, Switzerland’s anthem has different lyrics for each of the country’s four official languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh).
Canada’s national anthem has different lyrics for both of the country’s official languages (English and French), and on some occasions is sung with a mixture of stanzas taken from its French and English versions.
South Africa’s national anthem is unique in that five of the country’s eleven official languages are used in the same anthem (the first stanza is divided between two languages, with each of the remaining three stanzas in a different language). Apart from God Save the Queen, the New Zealand national anthem is now traditionally sung with the first verse in M?ori (Aotearoa) and the second in English (God Defend New Zealand).

Let me explain a bit more, my argument for bringing back the Tamil version, if the Tamil version of introduced as a result of Indian pressure (13th Amendment) or to appease the LTTE (the many failed peace talks), sure no point in keeping it, take it out.
But it was not so ! It was accepted as the official version in 1952, the same time as the Sinhala version.
If the country is really interested in building bridges then it would have not removed it, it shows that the government is only interested in stamping its Sinhala hegemony on the minorities!

More later on the TNA and elections, I have to go now.

The link numbered one is also faulty due to a typing error. It should be:

http://www.hpsl.lk/Mine_Action.aspx

Dr.R.N

Link mumbered 3, should be as follows:

http://www.hpsl.lk/Files/Situation%20Reports/Joint%20Humanitarian%20Update/LKRN063_JHERU_July_FINAL.pdf

Dr.R.N