Double standards?
A post here points to a powerful new report on the dangers on humanitarian aid work in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Reports in Groundviews, both from Citizen Journalists as well as news…
Trincomalee
Abandoned War Displaced People From Border Villages
The people who are displaced from border villages in the east face many problems. However other communities get assistances through some NGO’s or CBO’s (community base organization) than the Singhalese communities. Specially…
Seeing mobile phones as a basic human right
News that mobile phone users in the North & East of Sri Lanka are once again cut off is a disturbing trend in the erosion of fundamental rights, including Article 19 of…
The Costs and Consequences of ‘Clearing’ the East
Last week this column ended with the statement that there was a lot to be learnt and unlearnt in 2007. The new year is now with us and with it the unfolding…
Human displacement
Two posts on DBS Jeyraj’s blog highlight aspects of the humanitarian crisis in the North and the East already flagged here. Civilians in Vaakarai face death and starvation Displaced Tamils face difficulties…
Daily Security Report from UN – The plight of the North & East
Got this in my email today – paints a bleak picture of the North and East of Sri Lanka. Don’t know to whom this situation update goes to, but I’m sure there…
Update From Trinco
Security is tight in Trinco. It was tightened for the LTTE mahaviru day on November 27 and has remained tight up to now due to the land operation into Vakarai. At the…
Review of “Ethnic Warfare in Sri Lanka and the UN Crisis†by William Clarance
Speaking in early December 2006 to an assorted group of representatives from local and international humanitarian agencies in Colombo, I began my speech with the most virulent expletives imaginable. I then enquired…
Life in an Open Prison
An email from Ammu Joseph, circulated through SAJA‘s email list, pointed to two articles that explore the situation in the North and East of Sri Lanka at present. *LIFE IN AN OPEN…
Discrimination in Law college entrance?
9 students who sat for Law College entrance examination in academic year 2006/2007-appeal case at Srilankan appeal court today with demanding of to reduce cut off marks from 173 to 160. One…
Maps of shame
Every time I look at an OCHA map of Sri Lanka, the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis is made really clear. For here, we have entire regions, districts of Sri Lanka suffering…
Human Shields In The Battle Of Sri Lanka
The SLMM in a statement on Dec 12 said they are concerned over the alarming situation in Vakarai. They pointed to the LTTE failing to protect civilians by restricting their movement, and…
Conflict Situation in Trinco
From my visit to Kantale I can say that Sinhalese people from Seru Nuwara Division are facing human security problems due to artillery and motor strikes from LTTE-controlled Vaharai area. Also over…