Where do we go from here?

by Nimalka Fernando
 

(June 06, Zurich, Sri Lanka Guardian) Thank you for inviting me to say few words during this Sivaram memorial meeting. One of main features of the meetings organized by the Platform Freedom soon after the assassination of Lasantha campaigning for Rights to Life and Freedom of Speech in which I am a convenor is the performance of Jayathilake Bandara a well known people’s vocalist to sing songs from his collection of People’s Echo.   The songa are written by him to challenge our conscience. At every meeting we held during the period 2007- 2009 all over the country a song specially dedicated to Sivaram. I would like you to listen to this song. He tells us about the singing fish of Batticaloa calling for Sivaram – He reminds about the deep voice of Taraki. Where ever we went this song haunts us – tell us about the brutal reality that Taraki is no more.

Sivaram has continued to live with us as we campaign for Right to Life and Freedom of Expression to universal principles which still remain threatened in Sri Lanka and continue to challenge the civil society activism in post war era.         Full Story>>>

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  06-June-2011n

SRI LANKA: Emerging Trends - Perspective from Tamil Nadu

Guest Column by V. Suryanarayan & Ashik Bonofer 

Sri Lanka watchers in Tamil Nadu were hoping that the Governor’s address to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on June 3, 2011 will be in conformity with the poignant statement made by Jayalalitha to the media soon after her spectacular electoral victory.  In that statement Jayalalitha solemnly assured the people of Tamil Nadu that she will exercise pressure on the Central Government to revise its Sri Lanka policy not only to expose the heinous crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Government during the last stages of the Fourth Eelam War and bring the guilty to book, but also to ensure that justice is done to the Tamils in the island nation. The reference to Sri Lanka in the Governor’s address, in contrast, was matter of fact and in many ways was a dampener to millions of Tamils across the world who expected a more forthright and assertive pronouncement. A former senior civil servant told the authors that while the first statement was an illustration of the heart swaying the head, the second was a political declaration of a government which was keen to maintain cordial relations with New Delhi.     Full Story>>>
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Monday, June 6, 2011

Massacre of Mullivaikal Video Watched by Diplomats, VIPs and CIVIL SOCIETY

 

  Geneva, 04-06-2011– Today, Friday, is one of the most unfortunate days ever for the government of Sri Lanka and its enormous delegation lobbying in the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council Geneva. The day started with the Amnesty International screening of the “Channel 4” videos concerning the last days of the Vanni war. Nearly an hour of video footage was watched by UN Ambassadors, UN VIPs and members of Civil Society from all over the world.
According to Geneva sources, this was the first time that an NGO meeting was so well attended.   All seats were taken and many in the audience were standing. About 250 people watched horrendous war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Security forces carried out under the order of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother, Defense Secretary Gothbaya Rajapaksa. The video screening in the UN building has stepped up pressure on Sri Lanka which has already eventually come under the close scrutiny of the international community.
A VIP said that after seeing this video, many member states may have changed their position on Sri Lanka.                 READ MORE »