Category Archives: governance

December 21, 2019 · 9:48 am

Sri Lanka’s Non-Alignment Today in the Midst of China-US Tussles

Asoka Amaratunga, from The Island, 13 December 2019, where the title runs“Non-alignment relating to Chinese and US aid” ….. with emphasis being the work of The Editor, Thuppahi

asoka pic

Map & Scheme from Hariharan article cited below

First let us take a look at non-alignment, which third world countries like to invoke when confronted with world power rivalry. The Non-aligned Movement was based on the principles suggested at the Bandung conference in Indonesia in 1955, and then formally adopted by a Declaration in Bruin Islands in Yugoslavia in 1956 on the initiation by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Tito, where the member countries adopted a resolution in condemnation of hegemonic practices by the US and other countries, and criticism of the UN for being dominated by the US. The leadership for the movement was provided by Jawaharlal Nehru, President Tito, Sukarno and Nasser.

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December 19, 2019 · 1:19 am

Dear Tamil Brethren ….

A LETTER from A Sinhala Collective, in Island, 14 December 2019, where the title runs thus “A Letter to Tamil Citizens from a Group of Sinhalese” …. with highlighting emphasis added by The Editor, Thuppahi

After the recent Presidential election, we were saddened to see, how the Tamil voting pattern reflected the division between us and that the Tamil Eelam map was drawn once again. We know, there was significant fear created by politicians who had a lot to gain from the Tamil voters, but unfortunately it was representative of the fact that the Tamils are not one with the rest of the country.

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December 16, 2019 · 12:45 pm

Boris and Gota: Where the “Progressives” were Out-of-Mind

Malinda Seneviratne, in his Blog where the title runs thus: “The flooring of ideologies and ideologues”

Labour gaining ground. One in ten still undecided. Jeremy Corbyn is much closer to becoming Prime Minister than voters think, according to a Conservative party memo. Hung parliament will see Boris Johnson removed from No 10 Downing Street. Labour minority government likely. Opinion polls tightening — Corbyn might just become Prime Minister.

These were headlined claims in the run up to the British Parliamentary Elections.

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December 13, 2019 · 10:08 am

Gerald Peiris’s Review in 2014 of the Literature on the Death Counts during the Final Stage of Eelam War IV

  Gerald H Peiris, presenting a review article in February 2014, which is pertinent to claims TODAY. The original title runs as “Encountering ‘Death Counts’ in the Final Phase of the Eelam War” …. and appeared in both http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=97232 …. And also at https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/encountering-death-counts-in-the-final-phase-of-the-eelam-war/ …. where it drew 77 comments with the last violent chauvinist ‘gunshot’ being on 17th February 2014 (see below)

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December 12, 2019 · 12:19 pm

Swiss Power Plays: A Violation of Sovereignty

 Tamara Kunanayakam, Island, 12 December 2019, where the title runs “The Swiss Affair – ‘exfiltration’ of a top Intelligence Chief and a tale of ‘abduction’,”

  Kunanayakam is a former Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the U.N. at Geneva and is guided by this dictum in confrontations: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” Sun Tzu, The Art War, 5th Century BC

The recent dramatic events involving the Swiss Embassy came as a surprise to most Sri Lankans. Just as the large majority was looking ahead to a new era with a President they had just elected, a non politician with a simple lifestyle, yet a determined,man who who they believed would be capable of returning a sense of security, peace, economic development to their lives,  the shot came from a quarter they least expected. From a small country in the Alps known for its neutrality, chocolate, cheese and snow capped mountains.

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December 10, 2019 · 2:09 am

An Incisive Note in Demolition of the R2P Programme of the Western Mighty

Gerald H. Peiris … A Memo prresented this December 2019 on the basis of articles on R2P presented initially in 2007.

There is no difficulty about accessing the considerable volume of writings available on the R2P ‘Principle’/’Norm’.

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December 9, 2019 · 3:10 pm

An Indonesian evaluates the R2P Interventions

Agung Wasono: “The Responsibility to Protect and State Sovereignty,”  http://www.agungwasono.com/2016/06/the-responsibility-to-protect-r2p-and.html#

Crisis in Syria – Implementation of R2P 

Introduction: This article discusses the criticism to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and more specifically on the debate of its relationship to State sovereignty. This article is divided into four main parts: the first part discusses the background of R2P including its pillars and principles, the second part discusses the different understanding of sovereignty in the context of national and international relations, the third part explores the debates on R2P and sovereignty, and last but not least is the conclusion. Overall, I found that criticisms to R2P are mostly addressed to its imperfect implementation instead of its principles. I argue that the difference concepts of State sovereignty should not be contested each other. In addition, R2P should also be understood in a comprehensive approach by considering all pillars and principles.

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December 9, 2019 · 2:41 pm

Evaluating Gotabaya’s Early Moves — Rajeewa Jayaweera

Rajeewa Jayaweera, Island, 7 December 2019, where the title is “Gotabaya Rajapaksa Presidency: some positives, negatives and challenges”

For all intent and purposes, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s (GR) recently concluded state visit to India, his first as Head of State is considered a success. A one on one meeting scheduled for 15 minutes had lasted one hour. During this time, both leaders have supposedly found common ground and established a personal rapport, so essential in relations between countries, especially between countries with a history of thorny periods.

The newly elected Sri Lankan President, in his inaugural speech stated, “we want to be neutral and stay out of conflicts amongst the world powers.” While in India, he reiterated his intention to renegotiate the 99-year lease with state-controlled China Merchants Port Holdings which would have no doubt pleased his hosts.

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December 9, 2019 · 10:22 am

Mockery: Veils and Subterfuge in the High Mountains of the Swiss Embassy

Lalin Fernando,* in Asian Tribune, 9 December 2019, where  the title is  “Swiss strike Gold and Salman in Sri Lanka”

When God on his final inspections round the world visited Switzerland he dropped in on a Swiss farm house. The Swiss farmer was overwhelmed. He invited God in, asked him to sit and rest. He offered God a glass of delicious milk. God thanked him for it. The Swiss farmer said ‘God please don’t thank me. You have given us everything people can want. We live in the most beautiful and richest country in the world. There are beautiful lakes with plenty of fish, high snow capped mountains that give us protection, green fields for us to farm and provide fodder for cattle, gushing rivers and an invigorating climate. I have a large family and everything we need. Thank you God’.

NOTE — my attempt to place photos of Herr Ambassador Herr Hanspeter MOCK drawn from web were defeated by the embargo attached to his PIX on web. Wow! Halleluyyiyah! Swiss barriers on free speech?

After a short rest, God got up to leave. The Swiss farmer said ‘excuse me God, you forgot something’. God checked and said ‘nothing’s missing. May I go please’? The Swiss man said ‘Of course but God you haven’t paid me for the milk’.

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December 3, 2019 · 2:16 am

Jehan Perera’s Appraisal of President Gotabaya’s First Steps

Jehan Perera, in Island, 3 December 2019, with this title: “President’s early parameters may require revision”

One of the weaknesses of the previous government was its failure to have cohesive policies that it implemented with determination. Instead there was a sense of free space and license to do as one pleased. It gave people a welcome sense of freedom, but it also led to strikes and pickets on an almost daily basis and frustration among the general population who did not see government at work. Along with the change of government that took place after the November 16 presidential election there is a sense of strong government and an uncertainty about what the parameters of free space will be. Recent pronouncements by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are providing an initial indication of what some of the parameters will be. The President’s visit to India and the speeches and interviews he gave there provide a first indication of what some of the parameters might be.

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