Wednesday, April 30, 2014

JVP’s Vision And Policy Framework: A Lapse In The ‘Vision’!

By Hema Senanayake - April 30, 2014

Hema Senanayake

Without any shame, capitalists do admit that “human greed” is driving the economic progress. In a response to my previous article on this same subject, a reader of CT made a blunt comment of this fact. It is interesting. Let me quote it.

“Until JVP believes that every human has a right to work hard and become rich, JVP will not be successful in their Politics. Becoming rich through hard work and through sheer talent is one’s own right. Therefore JVP cannot dictate terms or put a ceiling or limit people working hard to make Profits in Business or become rich with their born talents. It is only those talents that bring Jobs and revenue and make societies rich. … Business, innovation and entrepreneurship are talents and skills which cannot be taught or copied or bought. It should be encouraged and helped like arts, drama and other skills.” (CT reader, Lasantha)

Do the socialists admit the above notion? I am raising this question because it is an important question to be resolved not only by socialists but also by economists of all schools too. If we do admit “human greed” as the most important element that drives the economic prosperity, then we have to admit the validity of economic mechanism that nurtures the “human greed” more and more. What is that mechanism? It is none other than the individual’s right to own the means of production; in other words, private ownership of the means of production. Capitalism has accepted it.

However, as far as I know, Karl Marx said that private ownership of the means of production leads to exploitation of workers labor power. This is also true. JVP held this view earlier. But, in its latest “Vision and Policy Framework, JVP has surrendered its earlier conviction on private ownership of production means. JVP has now accepted the existence and fostering of private businesses. Read More

CJ’s mafia to hide rulings of cases heard by him!

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

We are receiving many complaints that there are undue delays running into several months in issuing rulings of the cases being heard before Chief justice Mohan Peiris of the Supreme Court.

The CJ especially has a habit of keeping copies of the rulings influenced by Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in his official chamber without giving them to the other parties, according to SC sources.

Therefore, the aggrieved parties have become helpless and are unable to obtain justice. Although the CJ has ordered judges in the lower courts to speed up the availability of case files for copying, he is not making that requirement applicable to himself.

SC employees say the CJ keeps files of the case he had heard, with himself for months on end. These are the files of cases in which he had given rulings at the influence of others, reports say.

In just one instance, the SC has issued an interim order against the construction of a swimming pool at Gateway International School run by businessman Tiran Alles and his brother Harsha Alles, but the CJ is keeping the case files in his official chamber, denying the opportunity for the aggrieved parties to obtain copies of the order and other relevant documents.

Wimal’s latest playact – leaving govt!

Wednesday, 30 April 2014

As per a secret agreement with the president, Engineering and Construction Services minister Wimal Weerawansa is to ‘leave the government’ in his latest playacting, for which he is famous after his ‘lemon puff playact’ in front of the UN office in Colombo. The president has promised him all facilities and security even after he ‘leaves the government’.

The two have reached this pact in order to prevent the Democratic Party of Sarath Fonseka and the JVP from attracting votes.

As the first step, the LankaCNews website owned by minister Weerawansa is resorting to a fake anti-government stance. The aim is to get the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to ban the website.

After ‘leaving the government’, Weerawnsa will strongly criticize the government in order to garner the support of all patriotic forces. At the eleventh hour, he will betray all opposition forces, claim that Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only alternative and rejoin the government, as per the script of his latest playact.

The president is resorting to various moves to come out of the crisis unscathed after the State Intelligence Service warned that the government’s popularity was going down steeply. He is expected to take several more controversial decisions. Towards that, government affiliates other than Bodu Bala Sena, Sihala Ravaya, Ravana Balaya will have to play various roles.

UPDATE: 45 injured, four critical following train collision

April 30, 2014

Forty five persons have been admitted to the Kurunegala Hospital following the train accident at Potuhera. Five of those admitted are reportedly in critical condition, Director Kurunegala Hospital told Ada Derana.

A microbial X-factor with Charles Darwin chairing the judges

Wednesday 30 Apr 2014

A new UN report concludes bacteria around the globe are evolving resistance to antibiotics, leaving us facing a “major threat to public health.”

A Microbial X-factor With Charles Darwin Chairing the Judges by nelvely

Abhisit tries to take on a new role…facilitator to end the political crisis

By Bangkok Pundit Apr 30, 2014

Thai Rath first had some comments from former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on April 23 where he said that he had called on Yingluck and Suthep to talk to each other to find a solution for the country, but they haven’t talked (ซึ่งตนเสนอมาตลอด และเรียกร้องให้ น.ส.ยิ่งลักษณ์ ชินวัตร นายกรัฐมนตรี กับนายสุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ เลขาธิการ กปปส. หารือกันแต่ก็ยังไม่มีพูดคุย เพื่อหาทางออกให้ประเทศ) so if it is like this then another way has to be found (ซึ่งหากเป็นเช่นนี้ คงต้องหาทางอื่น). The Democrats are ready to talk: “we will help to do things, but the government doesn’t pay any attention to this” (พรรคประชาธิปัตย์พร้อมที่จะพูดคุยว่า เราจะช่วยทำอะไรได้บ้าง แต่ถ้ารัฐบาลไม่สนใจโจทย์นี้เลย).

Then on April 24, Abhisit released the below video:

The Bangkok Post on April 24:

Abhisit Tries to Take on a New Role…Facilitator to End the Political Crisis by nelvely

Ukraine crisis: Kiev powerless as east slips out of its control

Pro-Russian crowd seizes control of state buildings in Horlivka, while Donetsk looks likely to declare autonomy after May vote

Luke Harding in Donetsk-Wednesday 30 April 2014

Ukraine's beleaguered government appears to have lost control of law and order in the east of the country as pro-Russian separatists seized control of state buildings in Horlivka, almost unopposed by police.

Ukraine Crisis Kiev Powerless as East Slips Out of Its Control by nelvely

''US seeks to destabilize Muslim nations'' (VIDEO)

Salem-News.com-Apr-29-2014

Press TV has interviewed Tim King, editor of Salem-news.com to discuss the situation of Iraq since the US-led invasion of the country in 2003.

Tim King of Salem-News.com

(TEHRAN / SALEM) - Press TV: Now, we are seeing a lot of bloodshed. This month alone, over 500 casualties, deaths that is, as a result of terrorist attacks on Iraqi soil. How do you see terrorism basically, impeding Iraq’s progress towards democracy?

King: Well, I don’t think we even really know what the source of this terrorism is. You know, the new movie by Jeremy Scahill called Dirty Wars that details the US Joint Special Operation Command’s (JSOC) ventures all over the world over the last few years makes me wonder if this is even a Sunni versus Shia matter.

When I was covering the war in Iraq, I saw this exact thing. I think we all can agree that sectarian violence was not much of a problem until the US war effort was waged in Iraq, bringing all kinds of divide. Of course, the Americans put up the walls that divided Sunni and Shia neighborhoods. People had always gotten along to some extent, much greater than what we are seeing now. So, again, I saw this when I was over there. I saw massive numbers of people killed in these bombing attacks and we just rarely ever really know what the source is on this [terrorism]. Anyway, there are far more questions at this point than there are answers.

Press TV: Well, we have our correspondent there reporting from the ground in Baghdad who says that will of the Iraqi people is such that they will face these bombs and terrorist attacks and go to the polling stations. However, one does question, who benefits from this instability in Iraq?

King: The same beneficiaries that have been that from the beginning of the US effort, and that is the military contractors, the people that are providing weapons. You know, there is nothing to be gained.

It’s just such a terrible thing that has befallen the whole Muslim world since the US decided to wage these wars based on little to know information or completely erroneous information, as the case turns out to be in Iraq.

This was a stable country that was not perfect but it was operating smoothly until 2003. So, I fear for the people of Iraq, I appreciate their resolve. I do understand this. They are going to go forward no matter what, but it’s just a shame that Western powers have dealt such a heavy blow, causing these types of acts to happen today.

Press TV: Well, there are those that say that each vote and each procedure in the path toward democracy is like a nail in the coffin for terrorism, the instability, the divide among different factions in Iraq. Do you see it that way?

King: I see that no Jeffersonian style of democracy like what we have here in the US is ever going to work in that part of the world. I think that President [Saddam] Hussein’s heavy-handed tactics kept things moving in a much more succinct and smooth and non-violent way. So, you know, democracy is a wonderful idea if it can actually be brought forward, but I think that when the reasons for the war in the first place are so disingenuous, it’s very hard to be positive, but again I greatly admire the resolve in the will of the Iraqi people. These last few years have been so difficult for them.

SZH/HSN

Tornado-spawning US storms seen from space

Wednesday 30 Apr 2014

Recent days have seen the US experience its first significant tornado outbreak of 2014, with severe thunderstorms affecting an area from the Plains, through the Midwest and into the Carolinas.

Tornado-spawning US Storms Seen From Space by nelvely

Norway to restage 1914 'human zoo' that exhibited Africans as inmates

Artists claim recreating exhibition will help country confront its colonial past. Bwesigye bwa Mwesigire is not convinced

Bwesigye bwa Mwesigire-Tuesday 29 April 2014

As part of mammoth celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Norway’s constitution, the government is funding two artists to re-enact a "human zoo", which will open to the public on 15 May.