humanity is my fraternity”
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TSUNAMI AND WAR REFUGEES
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
Non - Governmental organizations involved in refugee relief work in
Sri Lanka allege that the Government is guilty of blatantly
discriminating between two sets of refugees in the Country.
According to these circles the "older" class of refugees displaced
by the war are being given step - motherly treatment while the
recent category of refugees comprising Tsunami victims are given
preferential treatment. [Contd]
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looking back [BBC News]
The BBC's Dushiyanthini
Kanagasabapathipillai
has travelled widely
through Sri Lanka in
recent weeks witnessing
the devastation wrought
on her country by
December's Indian Ocean
tsunami.
This small selection of her
photoghaphs gives some
indication of the task
ahead for those who
survived.
Discuss Tsunami Relief Efforts
By Patricia Nunan
Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka
A leader of the Tamil Tiger separatists has accused the Sri Lankan
government of taking advantage of last month's tsunami disaster to
build up its military strength. The accusation came as a team of
Norwegian peace mediators traveled to the rebel stronghold of
Kilinochchi, to discuss relief efforts.
The chief negotiator for the Tamil Tiger rebels, Anton Balasingham,
says that despite the disaster, the Sri Lankan government plans to
buy $150 million worth of arms on the international market.
"I am not saying that they are utilizing aid devoted to tsunami for
military purposes. What I have said is it is a monumental tragedy
that people are facing - both the Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims,"
he said. "So it is not the time for the government to spend an
enormous amount of money to purchase military hardware. That is
giving us concern."
Kanagasabapathipillai
The focus last week had been on relief, rehabilitation and
reconstruction.
From Tamil Press by S. Selvakumar
The absence and re-emergence of LTTE Leader Velupillai
Prabhakaran and his scheduled meeting with Norwegian Foreign
Minister Jan Peterson in the company of Anton Balasingham who
was scheduled to fly in from London to participate in the meeting
with Prabhakaran was also highlighted in the Tamil press.
passion than profession.
How easy is it to be a
female Journalist in Asia,
especially a
war-ravaged country like
Sri Lanka? Working for
eleven years a
Journalist, I have
witnessed people
suffering and seen
fellow Journalists paying
the price for covering
the war in the recent
past. Many Journalists
have lost their lives,
some left the country
while others live in fear.
Do you want to
challenge yourself as I
do? [Contd.]
Canadian Prime Minister
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Martins were exhilarated by the sight of beaming faces and
cheerful smiles in the face of adversity. Numerous people flocked to
them sayng "Thank You Canada" through words, smiles and
gestures. The delighted Martin was also deeply moved by the
pathetic plight of children. One poignant moment for Martin was
when a man with a child standing alongside had pointed to a
destroyed house and said that it had been his home. assuming that
the little boy was his son Martin knelt down and asked him whether
the man was his father. He was taken aback when the boy replied
"no" and said that his father was killed by the tsunami.
The PM and party then boarded helicopters for the return flight at
11 am. Upon arrival in Colombo Martin met the press where a visibly
moved PM made it known that he had never imagined the scale of
damage would be anything like this. An emotional Martin said that
"one had to be a stone not to be moved by something like this". He
perceived the whole crisis as a humanitarian issue and snapped at
questions from a political perspective. [Contd.]
aftermath
in quotes “ ”
[Click] - updated daily........
Sunday Essay by Ajith Samaranayake
The first novel named Bagandara dealt with the decay of the Old
Left and the emergence of the JVP while the second named
Vithanda Samaya' took for its theme the evolution of the Sinhala
entrepreneurial class and its gravitation to a fiercely majoritarian
frame of mind.
In the present novel the writer discusses the development of a
generation of socially-conscious youth against the backdrop of
Marxist ideas and the paradoxical convolutions, sometimes tragic at
others comic, which they undergo in our muddled times
Bumper stickers to thank
the overwhelming
generosity of the
Canadian public in
response to the Tsunami
disaster is being
displayed throughout
GTA. "In light of the
personal interest the
Canadians took in our
country and community,
we felt that it was
important that we show
them our gratitude", says
a group of Tamil
Canadian business
associates who
sponsored the project.
The laminated neon
stickers are available free
of charge at all Sri
Lankan grocery stores in
and around Toronto, for
those who wish to display
them.
PRESSURE
By D. B. S. Jeyaraj
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has demonstrated that he is a
bold and principled political leader by standing up to pressure
exerted by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam supporters in Canada.
Martin concluded his 24 hour Sri Lankan visit last week without
going to tiger controlled areas in the North or meeting with members
of the LTTE hierarchy. This is considered a courageous move within
the current political context within Canada.
The pro - tiger Tamil lobby in Canada had whipped up a
widespread campaign that tsunami aid was not going to Tamil
areas. There was also pressure that Martin should visit "Tamil
administered areas" (euphemism for LTTE controlled areas) and
meet LTTE leaders personally. There was also a demand that
Canadian aid should go directly to Tamil organizations and not be
channelled through Colombo.
At a meeting held earlier in Canada the Prime Minister assured
Tamil representatives that Canadian officials on ground would
ensure that affected Tamil areas will receive adequate aid.
Canadian assistance would be provided to all areas in equitably
according to required needs. This in effect meant that there was no
need for Martin to visit the Wanni. But tigerish Tamil elements would
not accept it and continued with an intensive campaign through
mass petitions, letters, e - mails, faxes and telephone calls that the
PM should visit Tamil areas.
When a TV station conducted a telephone poll as to whether Martin
should go to LTTE controlled areas or not the local Tamil lobby
became active. The Tamil media asked people to vote on the
telephone in favour of the PM going to the LTTE controlled areas.
The poll soon became a farce thanks to the manipulated voting that
inundated the telephone lines. The result was a foregone
conclusion. 93 % Wanted Paul Martin to visit the Wanni.
The tricky situation that Canada and many other Western nations
face is this. All these countries have a substantial Tamil population
due to the ethnic crisis. They are becoming an integral component
of their "new" Countries and cannot be ignored. At the same time
the only organized articulate supposedly representing them are
fiercely pro - LTTE. In the changed world of post - Sep 11th 2001
the LTTE is perceived as terrorist by the West. Also the Sri Lankan
state is ruled by the Sinhala majority. This creates a peculiar
problem where governments have to charter a difficult course amid
conflicting necessities such as an international drive against
terrorism, domestic political compulsions and maintenance of
satisfactory inter - state relations. [Contd.]
The primitive tribes of India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands
largely escaped last month's deadly tsunami unscathed. But
anthropologists fear that the massive damage to their habitat has
left them vulnerable.
The five aboriginal tribes that inhabit the lush jungles and
beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar islands number less than
1,000 people.
The god of Love, beauty and knowledge has been exerting His
charm on millions of people in South India The word Muruga is
derived from the Tamil word `Murugu' which means honey,
beauty, fragrance and eternal youth. He is handsome, brilliant,
elegant and enchanting. He symbolises valour, youthfulness,
benevolence and compassion.
From Parvathi's statement, "Pazham Nee" (You are the fruit, after
the tiff between Subramanya and Ganapathi) the place Muruga
chose to reside has come to be known as Pazahani. But
according to some Tamil scholars, the place was known as
`Pothini' which term later came to be known as Pazhani. The
people of Tamil Nadu claim Muruga as Thamizh Kadavul and the
Lord exercises an overwhelming influence on their lives, thoughts
and deeds.
Ayyaa: EVERY FRAME of Kavithalaya's "Ayyaa" (barring the
pace-spoiling duets) has a commanding dignity about it.
Thiruppachi: AFTER MADHESH'S "Madhuray" it is Perarasu's
"Thiruppachi" (U/A) — but Vijay is the same, performing
incredible stunts and scaling superhuman heights with the ease
of a typical commercial hero.
Devadhaiyai Kandaen: THIS IS probably the first Dhanush film
that comes with a U certificate! And again presumably for the first
time you come across a heroine who is practical — one who
doesn't allow her heart to rule her head.
Iyer IPS: HARIRAJAN, DIRECTOR of "Mangai," family soap, has
ventured into big screen. He has produced and directed "Iyer
IPS" for Priyanka Art Productions. He should have worked more
on the script, his own, to make it neat and tight. As such it sags at
several places tempting the viewer to take a nap not only in
between, but also in the climax. Except Satyaraj, the actors fail to
raise to the expectations.
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