New documentary to counter channel-4 videos

The Commander of the Army Jagath Jayasooriya addressing the troops in Mullathivu had stated that the Army would release a video detailing the death of the slain LTTE leader and the final stages of the humanitarian operation. This proposed release would come in the wake of the Channel 4 documentary which is set to be released in Geneva and would certainly be aimed at being a response to the latter.

Syria’s landmine stunt

 Syria’s reported attempt to throw a blanket of landmines on its borders is despicable. It is bound to escalate the crisis at hand, as hundreds and thousands of scary citizens are struggling to find their way out of the strife-torn country.

Geneva Resolution: Sting is in the Tail

Once deemed unthinkable may become inevitable if the Human Rights Council by a majority vote endorses the resolution proposed by the United States of punishing Sri Lanka for successfully eliminating terrorism comprehensively.

Sri Lanka and issues of accountability

The killing of 17 aid workers places the  island nation in a problematic position By Mekala Kelegama Beginning last week, the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva has returned to an issue that has haunted it since 2009 — the finish to Sri Lanka’s civil war. On August 4, 2006, 17 Sri Lankan aid workers  with the Paris-based international humanitarian agency Action Contre La Faim (ACF) were summarily executed in their offic

The dead never lie…

The details regarding the mystery of the brutal killing of a mother and her daughter at Kahawatta in Ratnapura on the 31st January have been revealed after more than a month, with the arrest of several persons who are said to be responsible for the killings. Normally people expect perpetrators of a murder to be arrested and taken before the law. If the same procedure took place regarding these murders and secrets that were entangled with the murd

The Kandahar massacre

The gruesome pictures of the corpses of little children shot in their sleep in Kandahar are a grim reminder of the darkness of war.  The fact that a rogue American soldier carried out the brutal massacre of 16 Afghans including nine children in their village and then allegedly burned some of the victims after killing them makes it doubly horrifying. 

Sarath Fonseka- Has he been denied the protection of the Rule of Law?

Contd from last week The procedure with regard to arrest and detention is contained in Chapter IV of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act No 15 of 1979. Section 32 of the Code states that a person may be arrested only if he is concerned in the commission of an offence in respect of which he may be arrested without a warrant or if there is a reasonable complaint, information or suspicion of the commission of such an offence. At the time Fonseka w

Don't give up on Iran oil

India finds itself in a rather difficult situation following the West's sanctions on Iran and the overt pressure being brought on it by the United States to curtail oil imports from the Gulf nation. Iran is India's second largest supplier of crude oil after Saudi Arabia and given the growing energy requirements of the country, it is not a viable option to close the tap on Iran, even if the West has done so.

Continued diplomatic engagement vital to protect our sovereignty

Q: As the wartime Foreign Minister, how do you react to the resolution that has been tabled by the US at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)? Though the original resolution was rejected at the Council during your tenure in office, the problem has re-surfaced, and we seem to be facing an even more uphill task in defeating the resolution this time round. Where did we go wrong?

“National Policy on Reconciliation”

Following are excerpts from the first draft of the “National Policy on Reconciliation” The Goal Harmony and reconciliation for sustainable peace and prosperity through improved inter-communal relationships based on trust, equality, confidence and mutual benefit

“PAKISTAN STRONGLY SUPPORTS SRI LANKA IN PURSUING INDIGENOUS SOLUTIONS TO THE NATIONAL ISSUE”

Sri Lanka’s relationship with Pakistan is on an upward trajectory, with wellrounded cooperation in many sectors says Seema Ilahi Baloch, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, the High Commissioner notes that the bilateral relationship is characterised by robust political and defence cooperation,.....

AGREEMENT ON DETAINEES

Aproblematic issue marring US-Afghanistan relations was that of the responsibility of detainees transfer which now seems resolved. In an agreement reached between Kabul and the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) the Afghan government is to be handed over the handling of detainees,......

BETWEEN THE TWO DRAFTS

Independent of the voting on the US-sponsored resolution at the UNHRC, the process itself has gained greater momentum than in the past. The world, and not just individual nations, is looking at Sri Lanka ,and not just and necessarily at ‘accountability issues’.

“GOING TO GENEVA”:TNA IN THE EYE OF A POLITICAL STORM

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) regarded as the premier political representative organization of the Sri Lankan Tamils has been in the eye of a political storm for the past few weeks. The TNA which contested the 2010 Parliamentary polls under the Housesymbol of the “Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi”(ITAK)has been mired in controversy over its recent decision of not going to Geneva in Switzerland where the 19th session of the United Natio

Putin's victory heralds new world order

The veteran Vladimir Putin is back as president of Russia after a resounding victory at the March 4 election and it is no good news for the West. Putin was post-cold war Russia's second President after Boris Yeltsin. From 2000 to 2008, he served two terms as...

Suu Kyi's army call

The Burmese Nobel laureate has always been a source of inspiration. Her endeavour to broker reconciliation with the powerful military in order to enable the crisis-ridden country march on the path of globalisation is spontaneous and rational. 

You cannot expect political leaders to always be diplomatic - Rauff Hakeem

Minister of Justice and Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff  Hakeem spoke to the Daily Mirror about the chances of Sri Lanka defeating the resolution brought against it by the United States, at the United Nations Human Rights Council Sessions...

A day reserved for women?

Equality for the genders has been a long standing agenda of the United Nations and the International Community. Although only one day has been devoted to focus on this agenda there is a need to bring this into the mainstream because every issue has a gender aspect, since we are talking about half of the world’s population. In Sri Lanka, if you look at our modern history and our culture, the importance of equality for women has been emphasiz

Exodus time in Syria

Diplomacy still seems to have a chance in Syria. Damascus is all set to witness a week full of hectic activities as from UN humanitarian chief to special envoy for the dispute are likely to rub shoulders with the powers-that-be in the capital.

Mahinda Chintanaya or Neo Liberal Chinthanaya

The political partners of the Mahinda Chinthana Alliance who detest and protest against Western Imperialist policies cannot have so much wool between their ears to not know that the Mahinda Chinthana is right on the track of Neo Liberalist policies. The thing is most people still do not know the true definition of Neo liberalism and cast aspersions displaying their ignorance.

Osama burial all at sea

 Osama bin Laden is back in news — and this time around with another controversy of its own. If Stratfor emails leaked by WikiLeaks are to be believed then the American military and the White House authorities would have to undertake another exercise of explanations by sticking to their earlier stance that the dreaded terrorist was buried at sea — and the US is not holding his remains.

Saratha Fonseka- Has he been denied the protection of the Rule of Law?

Increasingly comments are made that there is an erosion of the Rule of Law in the country. The newly elected President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) responded to this widely held belief by announcing that, strengthening the Rule of Law wouldbe foremost in his agenda. Hence, it is timely that we reflect on the content and implications of what is denoted as the Rule of Law and relate it to the predicament of Sarath Fonseka, who was acc

UN Resolution an endorsement of Lanka report

United National Party Member of Parliament Mangala Samaraweera spoke to the Daily Mirror on the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution against Sri Lanka, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Report and the role of the opposition in the face of international pressure on Sri Lanka. He also claims that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the first person to open Sri Lanka up to international “interference”.

The Putin moment

Russians are hoping for spring at the fag end of winter. The presidential vote on Sunday is likely to determine which way the erstwhile superpower goes, and what domestic connotations are there for the international community to explore as they deal with Kremlin.

Firewall against Geneva Syndrome

Events unfolding in Geneva calls for a rational stocktaking exercise at home. The country is sliding down an economic precipice, more a homemade disaster locally fabricated. Had it being skillfully managed, it could have been marginalized. Alongside is the LLRC Report, universally acclaimed with a few passing reservations, not diligently pursued on a fast track?  Being within our control is the sunny side of a sad story of not progressing ah

External involvement at this stage will only confuse and complicate issues:

In an e-mail interview with the Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr. Palitha T. B. Kohona discusses the US-backed resolution against Sri Lanka that is due to be moved at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and responds to criticisms about the foreign policy being pursued by the current administration.

Afghan Spring looms, US seeks face-saving exit

It appears that the foundation for an Afghan spring on the lines of the Arab Spring has been laid. For the first time since the United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan and occupied the country in October 2011, the Afghans have united to show their resentment at the presence of US troops because they are angry the Americans have disrespected their holy book. 

Big match fever is it getting too hot?

It is that time of the year again, the time where revelry and camaraderie takes control of a schoolboy’s life, a time which recalls memories ‘of our days in school’. It is the time when Colombo is set alight with flag-waving youngsters taking control of the afternoon traffic, the cheering seniors not to be outdone taking to the streets and sometimes becoming a law unto themselves. 

A new Cold War against Sri Lanka has begun-- Dr Dayan Jayatilleka

In an email interview with the Daily Mirror Sri Lanka’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to France & Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Dr Dayan Jayatilleka explained Sri Lanka’s position at the Geneva Sessions and expressed his views on the Foreign Policy strategy of the government.

Let truth prevail

Japan's Nuclear Safety chairman Haruki Madarame's recent admission at a parliamentary investigation that the "safety requirements" of the 40-year-old Fukushima Dai-ichi plant for "tsunami and power losses were too loose" goes against the grain of expecting the unexpected when dealing with nuclear power reactor safety.