NDP statement on Sri Lanka
October 4, 2008 7:37 am Canadian Politics
Congrats and thanks to the New Democrats for speaking up on the Human Rights violations in Sri Lanka and standing up for Canada on a critical foreign policy issue that unfortunately Harper has politicized for political gain.
It is very rare that I might appreciate NDP or Layton(btw, I do know him and Chow) for policy issues, bu then I constantly remind myself that partisan politics is about bringing ideas to the table from different sides and challenging ourselves to bring the best out of the situation keeping the interest of the people in mind. I have no qualms in appreciating the Dippers or Tories for good policies and holding the Grits accountable for issues that I don’t agree with. To me that is good politics.
Canada needs to get back on the international stage as peacemakers and be seen as champion’s of armed conflict resolution, something the Conservatives are refusing to do so.
There is gross Human rights violations of minority Tamils in Sri Lanka from the sri Lankan government. Recently all media, foreigners, aid agencies were forced to be moved out of the conflict zone making it impossible for the outside world to see the implications of the war mongering Sri Lankan government.
The actions of the LTTE do not justify the in-actions of the Sri Lankan government in protecting minority Tamils, Sri Lanka is the only country that has been consistently aerial bombing its own citizens for decades, because it does not care for the minorities.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 3, 2008
NEW DEMOCRAT STATEMENT ON SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka has been involved in a deadly and violent conflict for over two decades. The situation has resulted in widespread death and destruction, impacting innocent civilians and international aid workers and humanitarian efforts. New Democrats unequivocally condemns the violent actions committed by both sides of the conflict which have caused the loss of civilian life.
Jack Layton and the New Democrats are listening to the community. They are telling us that the violence is escalating, human rights are being violated, and the number of deaths, political disappearances and forced evictions are growing.
As in the past, New Democrats continue to repeat calls to end the war and urge the Sri Lankan government and military to resume discussions to establish peace with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Additionally, we stand by the following points, as outlined by Louise Arbour, the former United Nation’s Human Rights High Commissioner:
All sides of the conflict must commit to an immediate peace settlement
All sides must respect humanitarian law and accept monitors to report and address all serious violations of human rights and war crimes
The government of Sri Lanka must support an independent inquiry into the human rights violations and prosecute the perpetrators immediately
Reopen the A9 land link and work with all sides to establish an international peacekeeping force, that is acceptable to all parties, to maintain the link
We remind our fellow Canadian politicians and parties not to use the situation in Sri Lanka as a partisan issue. The human rights and dignity of the Sri Lankans, Tamils and other minorities need to be respected and preserved.
Peace must always be the goal and New Democrats are prepared to explore options and solutions to bring peace to Sri Lanka .
-30-
For more information:
Rupinder Kaur , Media Officer: 613-222-5048 or rupinder@ndp.ca
Rupinder Kaur
Media Officer
rkaur@ndp.ca
300 – 279 Laurier West
Ottawa (ON) K1P 5J9
T: (613) 236-3613 x2883
C: (613) 222-5048
Careem :
Date: October 5, 2008 @ 12:12 am
Lets learn a lesson from Singapore
How it came to the present situation within a short period of time.
Democracy and Development are both important to a country. But could both go together in achieving results
Sie.Kathieravealu :
Date: October 5, 2008 @ 5:34 am
Respected Sir,
Please accept my Salutations, Greetings and best wishes for the dawn of a bright future to everyone.
In my humble opinion, Peace is neither elusive nor evading us, but on the contrary we are evading Peace by not viewing the problems sincerely in the correct perspective and with the correct attitude that will automatically take us on the correct track to reach Peace.
Please consider the view, attitude and the track pointed out in the extract given below – not thought earlier by any of us as being available – for its ability to lead us on to the correct track to peace. I am sure we will be able to meet peace in double-quick time since no sooner we get on the correct track towards Peace; Peace too would automatically start traveling towards us on this track.
* * * * * * *
Sharing Power is essential
for Peace and Democracy in our Country
It is not the impossible which gives cause for despair
but the failure to achieve the possible
The conflict arose, in my humble opinion, due to the turmoil in the country. This conflict is often portrayed as a bi-polar conflict between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority by-passing the substantial minorities like the Muslims and Upcountry Tamils. This sad state of affairs has to be changed. All efforts must be taken to change the mindset of ‘dividing’ the people as “majorities” and “minorities” not by words but by deeds. It is a well-known fact that these “majorities” and “minorities” are living together in many parts of the country as kith and kin, helping each other in times of need. So it is the duty of all rationale minded people of this country to converge this idea to integrate the nation if we are to end the turmoil in this country and forge ahead as a nation.
Everyone agrees that power should be shared as a means to end the present national crisis. But the stumbling block is in the way the power has to be shared. The various suggestions proposed center on a system with a central government and other governments under it, with the central government holding wide powers.
But the need of the day is a system of governance that will truly portray the spirit of democracy, while preserving the sovereignty and dignity of the people. These people should be empowered at gramasevaka area level so that even a small area will be able to project its needs without going through others. It is to this extent that we should go, if sustainable peace, solidarity and development with a pleasant living to all inhabitants, is our goal.
Therefore, a suitable system of democratic governance that would be acceptable to all rationale minded people (or one that cannot be rejected by these rationale minded people), must replace the present system of governance.
“My notion of democracy is that under it, the weakest should have the same opportunity as the strongest” so said Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela for his part said, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others”
Keeping the above views in mind, a democratic system of governance that is rationale and based on equality of all has been developed on the basis that all powers flow from the sovereignty of the people. The peculiar concept in this system is an unprecedented mode of sharing power –horizontal and not vertical – developed in the true sprit of democracy. This system would unite all the divided communities and resurrect the “Paradise Isle” that existed some time back.
* * * * * * * *
In the present system the people cannot elect their own representatives but have the option of electing one set of party representatives who are empowered by the party to participate in the governance of the country. But in the proposed system the people have the option to elect and empower different sets of their own representatives based on different extent of areas (villages and villages grouped) to perform defined, distinct and different functions of the same parliament through different segments of that parliament like the different organs of our body – brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes, nose, ears etc – performing different functions and helping us to govern ourselves. To be more explicit the concept is as follows:
1. Segment A – a group to enact laws for – good governance, defining policies, collection of revenue and other connected affairs – with the concurrence of all the groups in Segment C, but excluding implementation of any policy (at National level and consisting of 10 members elected from each district area, 100 members elected nationally on trade basis and 50 members elected nationally on ideological basis).
2. Segment B – a group to coordinate the activities of all the groups in Segment C, manage the country fiscally including collection and disbursement of revenue, foreign affairs, national planning in consultation and with the concurrence of the concerned groups in Segment F and the like and complying with all policies laid down by Segment A and implementing its proposals through concerned groups in Segment D by directly providing them with the necessary funds (at National level and consisting of not more than15 members elected from each regional area).
3. Segment C – Groups to administer different regions of the country based on the laws enacted and policies laid down by Segment A with the concurrence of all the groups, maintain law and order, approve project proposals submitted by concerned groups in Segment E and to obtain the necessary funds for expenditure from Segment B and allocate same to concerned groups in Segment D for implementation (at Regional area level and consisting of 04 members elected from each divisional area within that regional area).
4. Segment D – Groups to implement all project proposals approved by Segment B or by concerned group in Segment C and with funds provided by them – Segment B & C (at District area level and consisting of 03 members elected from each sub-divisional area within that district area).
5. Segment E – Groups to coordinate and confirm project proposals submitted by concerned groups in Segment F and forward them for approval to concerned group in Segment C (at Sub-divisional area level and consisting of 03 members elected from each gramasevaka area within that sub-divisional area).
6. Segment F – Groups to prepare project proposals for their area and approving concerned proposals submitted by Segment B and submit all proposals to concerned Segment E for confirmation and overseeing all the proposals that are implemented by concerned Segment D (at gramasevaka level and consisting of 05 members elected from within that gramasevaka area).
7. Segment G – Groups to monitor the functions of all the Segments for transparency, accountability, and take necessary action to curtail irregularities with an eye on the elimination of bribery and corruption (at Divisional level and consisting of 02 members elected from each gramasevaka area within that divisional area)
In these proposals, gramasevaka (G.S.) area is the smallest unit and these gramasevaka (G.S.) areas are grouped to form sub-divisions, sub-divisions are grouped to form divisions, divisions are grouped to form districts, districts are grouped to form regions and the regions grouped to form the country.
There would be only one institution – the Parliament with seven different segments with different functions that do not overlap –to satisfactorily govern the entire country. Presently we have the presidential secretariat, cenk
Due to the fratricidal violence that we are now embroiled in, it is far too easy to lose sight of these matters, so much to rob us of the very ideas that can be our salvation.
For further details and clarifications of this unprecedented concept for good governance, please contact: endingturmoil@yahoo.co.uk or sie.kathieravelu@gmail.co.uk
* * * * * * * *
If your good self is of opinion that this system merits consideration, please be good enough to render moral assistance by promoting the idea through the internet, print and electronic media and create awareness among all stake-holders that there is an easy way to solve the national crisis – by sharing power in a way that will satisfy the aspirations of all the people.
In promoting and discussing these ideas, it is my humble opinion that we make use of the email in addition to the print and electronic media as it would save money, time, and the environment and reduce the workload of the postal department.
Thanking your good self in advance in anticipation of an early response,
Yours in Service,
Sie.Kathieravelu
IF THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY
I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.
What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the Grace of God, I will do.
– Edward Everett Hale (1822 – 1909)
NB: The above proposal was published in the “Sunday Island” of 8th June 2008
The basic idea is promoting the eradication of corruption, planning from the village level with the needs of the village being given top priority and the powers, duties and functions now vested or usurped in by parliament be SEPARATED and different and distinct powers, duties and functions be given to different and distinct groups of representatives directly elected by the people at different levels of groupings. These powers, duties and functions MUST NOT OVERLAP and the different groups of representatives are connected to form one unit - the Parliament.
It is not the present federal or quasi-federal system where there is a Central Government directly elected by the people with powers to dismiss Provincial Governments that too are directly elected by the people.
In the present system one elected institution is above/below another elected institution and powers, duties and functions are DELEGATED and overlap and power is shared vertically - one above/below another - from Colombo unto a remote village Gamsaba. People elect and authorize an elected body to administer BUT the powers to administer are DELEGATED by Colombo
In the system proposed/suggested by me nor elected institution is above/below another elected institution and cannot be dismissed by any other elected institution. All institutions are in the same level and enjoy equal rights given directly by the people.
The powers to perform and administer the duties and functions specifically assigned to elected institutions are directly given by the people who elected the institutions and not by ANOTHER institution directly elected by the people. This is a great deviation from the present system that BREEDS corruption.
Nightwatch :
Date: October 5, 2008 @ 10:42 am
I am an NDP supporter, but the content of this statement as well as its timing is so transparently opportunistic that I am disgusted. This is obviously an attempt to win over the votes of Tamil Tiger sympathizers in the GTA (mostly in the east) who, because of past actions by the federal Liberals, tend to vote for them. Does the NDP think for a second about the consequences of such a statement?
The Tamil Tigers are on the run in Sri Lanka, cornered by a military campaign against them by a Sri Lanka that is FED UP with their suicide bombings, unremitting use of violence, recruitment of children, political assassinations, lack of compromise, destruction of democratic institutions, and wrecking of the island nation’s vast potential. Sri Lanka has tried to compromise with these terrorists on numerous occasions; the Tigers have always walked away if they did not perceive a clear road map to their racist Eelam nation.
With the maximalist Tiger supremo Prabhakaran out of the picture, Sri Lanka wants to start anew. The Eastern part of Sri Lanka, once controlled by the Tigers but now a democratically-run province (howevermuch the shortcomings) is a blueprint for the North from whence the Tigers are being chased.
Why then this statement from the NDP that pumps oxygen towards the terrorists when a new era is dawning in Sri Lanka? Get involved in rebuilding the country after the expulsion of the Tamil Tigers. Don’t go hunting for Tamil votes in the GTA at the expense of lives in Sri Lanka. Canadians — including the NDP — do not tolerate the suicide bombers in Afghanistan that kill her troops in Afghanistan; why does the NDP see Sri Lankan lives differently?
Vijay :
Date: October 5, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Nightwatch,
This is not about the 5,000 cadres of Tamil Tigers. It is about the 2 million minorities in Sri Lanka.
To kill 5000 tigers, the govt has already killed over 100,000 civilians, displaced over a million tamils, who are refugees in their own country
deported and prevented Media, aid agencies, international observors from the conlict zone. What are they trying to hide
Teh Tamil tigers are terrorists, let the media, international agencies and observors in there and see for themselves the terrorists. Why is the government stopping and removing everyone from the conflict zone ?
What are they trying to hide? how many more mass graves are we going to find in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is the second most worst country in the world for Journalists, the most missing civilians in the world, among the worst on corruption index, worst for aid agencies workers in the world and all these because of the government and not the Tigers.
This is not about the LTTE, this is about the Tamil civilians who are persecuted by the Sinhalese majority ruled government in a Sinhalese state, where there is very little freedom of religion, expression for minorities.