Category Archives: human rights

Kenya: An IMF Lapdog in Serious Strife

A. K. L.  Steinbeck, …. with title and underlining imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

WATCH =  https://x.com/DOmowale/status/1805701195366822364 …& … https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/6/25/kenya-protests-live-deadly-anti-tax-protests-after-finance-bill-approved

ONE = Here, Kenyan protestors wreck Kenya’s parliament, setting fire to the building. About 20 protestors have been killed by police at a time when Biden refers to Kenya as “a major non-NATO ally,” after Kenya surrendered its sovereignty over to the IMF, World Bank, Western creditors, bankers, NATO and the CIA. 

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For Muralidhar Reddy: Thoughts on Eelam War IV in late 2009

ONE: Preamble by Michael Roberts

I was in Colombo from mid-April 2009 to early June and observed the local coverage of Eelam War IV at its bitter end. I was invited by Muralidhar Reddy[i] to write articles for Frontline on aspects of the politics surrounding the war. Though Frontline is a magazine produced by The Hindu consortium, I was not a regular follower of that newspaper on web — even though I had once been introduced to its owner and chief executive, N. Ram, way back in time by Chandra Schafter and had also had an extended chat with him in Delhi in 1995.[ii]

 

 

Thus, the receipt of a Hindu report on President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s thoughts in mid-2009, expressed in an extended session with him conducted by N. Ram serves up new material from my position. In step with my policy of raising significant episodes in the course of Eelam War IV to public notice,[iii] I  hasten to present this exchange in the public domain.

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ITIHAS Launched …. and Spreads Its Wings

Go to …. https://itihas.lk/contact/    … Note that the presentation here is a re-cast selection by The Editor of Thuppahi who has also imposed his colourings on the text

Mission:  What we hope to achieve

Itihas aims to equip Sri Lankan youth with the ability to think critically about their past, present, and future. It specifically aims to debunk mythological understandings of history that afford to particular ethno-religious groups a sense of superiority or authenticity over others. Rather than acting as a gatekeeper of knowledge, Itihas seeks to empower future generations of students, scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to learn about, research, and make informed decisions on divisive issues such as conflict, discrimination and violence in a manner that advances a more inclusive Sri Lanka.

Photo by Tashiya De Mel

Itihas – Advancing history education reform in Sri Lanka

 

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More Revelations re the Crocus Concert Hall Attack

Observer in a Black Sea Resort

After a lengthy and detailed investigation,  the Director of the Russian Security Service, Aleksandr Bortnikov, has confirmed that Ukrainian military intelligence had direct involvement in the Crocus terrorist attack.
 Thus, Russia has gathered evidence that confirms the preparation,  financing and escape from the crime scene was coordinated by members of Wailayat Khorasan or ISIS-K. Twenty people have now been arrested. Not all are members of ISIS-K.
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Director Aleksandr Bortnikov attends a meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB) Board in Moscow, Russia. ©  Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov

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US Republican Senators Threaten the ICC … [and we are not talking cricket!]

Hot Press: Senators Tom Cotton, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz are among a dozen Republicans that signed a letter that threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) if they arrest Israeli leaders for war crimes.

Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian discuss on The Young Turks. Your Support is Crucial to the Show: https://tyt.com/team Get the Progressive battle plan: https://go.tyt.com/book-description Watch TYT LIVE on weekdays 6-8 pm ET. http://youtube.com/theyoungturks/live Read more HERE: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4… “A dozen GOP senators threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) with sanctions if the body moves forward with an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or other Israeli leaders. The ICC has reportedly considered a warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest for weeks as accusations rise of war crimes in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. “

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Hot Press from Columbia University Today

Thalif Deen … in Email to Roberts, 1 April 2024**

At a press conference last night, New York City Mayor and his Police Commissioner tried to justify the police intervention against pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University claiming the protests have been corrupted by “outside agitators.”

I think this is a steaming pile of horse-shit.

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Jewish Nazis of Today in Powerful Places

JW

Shai Davidai, a Jewish researcher, is demonizing the students protesting at universities across the US against the genocide taking place in Gaza. He calls them “Terrorists”.

Students protest at an encampment supporting Palestinians on the Columbia University campus in New York City, April 25 [Caitlin Ochs/Reuters]

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Imagine there’s no countries, nothing to kill or die for

Rohini Hensman …. An article composed at the end of the year 2003 for a conference in January 2004; and eventually published in 2012 (see below: fn 1) …. with the title being borrowed from ‘Imagine,’ by John Lennon …. and the highlighting emphasis imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

I would like to look at the issue of community and nationalism and its continued relevance at the present, and in particular to analyse its association with authoritarianism, militarisation, nuclearisation, terrorism, and questions of war and peace in South Asia. Within this region, there is a very close parallel between the current situation in Sri Lanka [2003-04] and developments which have taken place much earlier in India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh. In both cases, we see the development of strong authoritarian tendencies, linked up to either religion or ethnicity.

 

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The Crocus Terrorist Attack: Steven Seagal, the Australian Embassy, the Perpetrators and Victim

An Observer in a Black Sea town  …. with highlighting imposed by The Editor, Thuppahi

The American actor Steven Seagal has just visited the victims of the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, who are now in the National Medical and Surgical Centre named after N. I. Pirogov.  Steven said: “What happened was a terrible tragedy that should not have happened. And I think that Russia will serve as an example and let the world understand that you can’t just do this to any people and go unpunished. I thank the doctors for the prompt work they are doing. I am glad to see that the patients are feeling well and are recovering. God bless them.”

 Steven Seagal visiting the victims of the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack.

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Gotabaya Claims Local & International Conspiratorial Hands were Behind His FALL

Kalani Kumarasinghe, in Daily Mirror, 8 March 2024 ……. where the headline runs; “Shavendra and Kamal villains in GR’s new book”

Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has acknowledged his shortcomings in appointing key defence personnel, including General Shavendra Silva and General (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne in his tell-all memoir “The Conspiracy to Oust Me” launched yesterday (March 7). .Rajapaksa recounts the dramatic circumstances which led to his ousting in 2022, describing it as a first-hand experience of an internationally-sponsored regime change operation

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