Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Those white Van murders killed 60,000 of youths (majority Sinhalese ), where were you, did you say anything about it at that time,

It is dangerous to have eyes in the land of blind!

The Security Forces appear to be adopting the U.S. tactics of saturating the target area with huge firepower both pre-emptively and during operations. Purely from the tactical point of view, this is unsuited for counter insurgency operations in Sri Lanka. Northeast is geographically totally different from Iraq and Afghanistan where vast areas are devoid of population. Even in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. forces have not covered themselves with glory in spite of such tactics with frequent use of such heavy ordnance. In Sri Lanka, the operational areas are mostly urban and partly urban plains with a lot of greenery. The built up areas are densely populated and air and artillery strikes cause little casualty to well entrenched trained troops. On the other hand, they cause terrible civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. In counter insurgency, mere body counts give a false sense of achievement because the Security Forces have a much bigger and more difficult mission. They have to replace the terrorists in the minds of the population that supports them.

This is one reason why Indian Army in counter insurgency operations does not resort to the use of artillery or aerial bombardment as freely as the Americans do, particularly while operating in built up or populated areas. India's military actions may not be as spectacular as the Americans. But spectacular actions might only make it to the TV news channels, while not producing useful results.

LTTE's lack of accountability as an autocratic insurgent force allows it to use any means to achieve its end. It has often used of civilian population as a cover for bringing stealth fire upon targets. It has also carried out covert operations causing huge loss of life to innocent civilians. However, the Security Forces are the legal arm of an elected government, accountable to the people. This might be called a disadvantage from the military's point of view. But it is an actually an advantage because it distinguishes the organised force from armed extremists, who are a law unto themselves.

Moreover, Security Forces are meant to defend the lives and property of the people. They cannot afford to unleash retaliatory or pre-emptive air and artillery bombardment in civilian areas regardless of casualties to the innocent public. This is what appears to be happening with increasing frequency in Sri Lanka. Vakarai in the East, was the scene of such the bombardment carried out recently. The target area had a few thousand civilians refugees and the artillery fire killed at least 27 people, if not more, and wounded over 130 people. The operation served no military purpose because the LTTE mortars that fired from the location had moved out from there when the retaliatory fire came. ('Fire and move' is a basic tactics in the operational use of mortars).

- http://www.saag.org/%5Cnotes4%5Cnote350.html

Act now! Tomorrow may be too late!

(LeN-Nov16, 6.00am 2nd Edition))We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the rapid deterioration of political and democratic rights of the people of Sri Lanka and the steady militarization of the Sri Lankan society.

The escalation of military attacks and recent abductions and killings of civilians further vindicate that the Ceasefire Agreement signed between the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has already been abandoned. The public statements by the two parties that they continue to adhere to the CFA and the current military engagements are 'defensive' operations are just for the purpose of keeping the international opinion at bay.

Despite the wave of direct assassinations, disappearances, abductions and destruction of property using shock and awe aerial operations or suicide and other forms of bombing, the parties to the conflict have not come closer to achieving their objectives militarily. However, the escalation of the war has pushed the communities further apart than ever. Previously, the activities of the armed wing of the LTTE and paramilitary groups were mainly concentrated in the north and east. Now the circle seems complete with paramilitaries seemingly controlling the political decision making in the south, which is a reappearance of a situation similar to that of the 1988-89 period. It is very clear that the GOSL is neither capable of dealing with the situation nor willing to deal with it effectively. Each act of excess and outrage is met with a promise of an inquiry but nothing comes out of these promises.

We are very sad that the Tamil people in the North and East have been subject to collective punishment as done in Palestine and Lebanon, depriving them their right to food, medicine and adequate healthcare for their basic survival as human beings. Hundreds of thousands of people in the northern Jaffna peninsula are cut off from the rest of the island and are living precariously on meager and uncertain supplies of food shipped by the government. Thousands more in the East are living in refugee camps exposed to the constant bombardment. Sri Lankan society cannot be reconciled or made peaceful by destroying the dignity of its people, by placing embargos on essential items or by taking away their rights to live as equals irrespective of their socio-cultural backgrounds.

The recent Memorandum of Understanding between the two main political parties in the South does not seem to have been developed for the benefit of the Sri Lankan society. The MOU appears to be an essential measure to maintain the status quo of the two parties intact, where one party wants to stay in power and the other to avoid further weakening of their party. Despite their grandiose talk about new levels of understanding they have reached, the two parties do not seem to have an agreed vision for leading Sri Lankan people towards safeguarding the unity and the aspirations of the peoples of the island, and alleviating the extreme economic and social sufferings of the people, in particular the Tamil and Muslim people in the north-east.

The LTTE for its part, is not making things any easier, least of all for the long-suffering people of the North and East. Not only has it continued to egg on the armed forces but it seems to be doing so with a view to causing maximum political, economic and social mayhem.
In short Sri Lanka is trapped between two warring parties who are not only shortsighted but are also committed to narrow interests. This is most irresponsible behaviour for a democratically elected government and a 'Liberation Organisation'. Both parties appear to be interested only in furthering their own agendas even if it is at the expense of the people they claim to represent and whose welfare they are responsible for. Left to their own devices they can only bring more misery to the people and in the most devastating fashion.

We call upon the international community to intervene immediately and forcefully to check the rapidly deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka. At present, neither the Sri Lankan government nor the LTTE has either the will or the foresight to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. On the contrary, they seem to be driving the country headlong into the abyss. Only the international community with the influence some of its members commands over both parties can prevent this from happening.

Therefore, we call upon the international community to exert maximum pressure immediately:

* To cease all acts of violence and hostilities with immediate effect and resume negotiations for a lasting solution to the current conflict.

* To open up A9 highway, the closure of which has led to starvation and strangulation of the population dependent on this route for their supplies and travel.

* To ensure an adequate supply of food and medicine to the besieged people of the north-east Sri Lanka.

* To adopt a federal constitution as the way to achieve a just and fair solution to the national question that satisfy the aspirations of all peoples of Sri Lanka.

* To conduct open and transparent investigations by independent international institutions into recent incidents of disappearances, killings, abductions and the targeting of civilian population for military attacks.
It is time for the international community to show their sincere commitment by immediate and forceful intervention in order to assist the people of Sri Lanka to come out of this critical and grave situation.

Act now! Tomorrow may be too late!

Signed
Dr Channa Wickremasekera, Alice Springs, Australia
Asanka Perera, Canberra, Australia
Dr Willie Senanayake, Canberra, Australia
Gamini Viyangoda, Paris, France
Vimukthi Jayasundara, Paris, France
Professor Kumar David, Hong Kong
Sylvester Jayakody, Italy
Bilal Yusuf, Sri Lanka
Shashikala Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka
Ajith Lakshman, New South Wales, Australia
Asela Jayanath, New South Wales, Australia
Nishantha Jayakodi, New South Wales, Australia
Thilan Perera, Sri Lanka
Shamil Mohommad, Sri Lanka
Ashwini Aiyar, Sri Lanka
Srikantha Nadarajah, New South Wales, Australia
Ajith Munasingha, Sri Lanka
Kanishka Ratnapriya, Sri Lanka
Ajith Rajapaksa, Melbourne, Australia
Dr Prasad Mohotti, Melbourne, Australia
Lionel Bopage, Melbourne, Australia
Nalliah Suriyakumaran, Melbourne, Australia
Sumith Piyadasa, Toronto, Canada
Nimalka Fernando, Sri Lanka
Samanthi Gunawardana, Melbourne, Australia
Dr A. R. M. Imtiyaz, Philadelphia, USA
Dr Michael Roberts, Adelaide, Australia
Asela Ratwatte Wickremasooriya, Sri Lanka
Pujitha Jayakody, Sri Lanka
Hashintha Jayasinghe, Sri Lanka
Cyril Gunaratna, Melbourne, Australia

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS in SRI LANKA:
OPERATION USA RESPONDS

Operation USA is collecting funds and pushing the US Government and the UN to take firm action to help re-open humanitarian corridors, enabling our partners on the ground to provide goods and services to the affected Internally Displaced People(IDP?s) and to ensure the safety of tsunami development programs.

Please contact us if you are able to donate medical supplies or nutritional supplements, are interested in sponsoring children in our Schools and Orphanage program, or are looking for ways to assist the tsunami-affected populations in Sri Lanka who have also recently been displaced by political violence.

Why respond NOW:

* A contributing factor to the current tension between the Sinhalese and Tamils is the inequitable distribution of tsunami relief aid by the Government of Sri Lanka. A recent survey found that in the predominately Sinhalese south, 75% of temporary shelters have been dismantled and the families moved into permanent housing. In contrast, only 25 % of the population in the Northeast have been relocated to permanent housing, leaving 77% in deteriorating temporary shelters.

* Due to the recent increase in violence between the Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. 201,800 civilians have joined the existing population of 312,000 Internally Displaced People within Sri Lanka. In addition 15,000 civilians have made the dangerous journey across the Palk Strait into Tamil Nadu, India.At present, 600,000 people in the Jaffna peninsula do not have access to food and medication due to the closure of a key access road.

* 43,000 civilians (9,000 families) from the tsunami-affected regions of Muttur, Sampur, Eechalampattai, and Trincomalee Districts are currently in Vaharai, with minimal access to the region for humanitarian relief.

* There is an immediate need for food, nutritional supplements, medication, relief supplies, and funds to support the growing refugee population in the NorthEast. Despite Operation USA?s advocacy efforts, led by Nimmi Gowrinathan, this aid is not reaching the refugees. This is because the Government of Sri Lanka is not allowing humanitarian access to affected regions.

LTTE - concern
Open A9, only to levy taxes,

Govt - concern
Close A9, only deny taxes,

No one bother about civilian population,

I think the IC (Some NGO) are more concern about these starving human beings than these two WAR mongors,