|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sri Lanka's warhorses fail at peace - Analysis
Guardian,
jan 19.
Two celebrated heroes who, as president and army chief, helped end Sri Lanka's long and brutal civil war against the Tamil Tigers are now crossing political swords. Whichever candidate wins Sri Lanka's presidential election on January 26 will have to lead that small but strategically located island-nation in a fundamentally different direction – from making war, as it has done for more than a quarter-century, to making peace through ethnic reconciliation and power sharing.
Sri Lanka, almost since independence in 1948, has been racked by acrimonious rivalry between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils, who make up 12% of today's 21.3 million population. Now the country is being divided by the political rivalry between two Sinhalese war idols, each of whom wants to be remembered as the true leader who crushed the Tamil Tiger guerrillas.
More...
Discuss this story
Published: Mon Jan 18 20:45:42 EST 2010
|
|
|
|
|
Fonseka Vows Reconciliation in Bid to Win Sri Lanka Presidency
Bloomberg,
Jan. 19.
Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Sarath Fonseka, the general who led the army to victory over separatist rebels ending a 26-year civil war is promoting reconciliation with minority Tamils as he tries to win this month’s presidential election.
“With the war over and resources available for development, Sri Lanka is at the crossroads,” Fonseka said in his election manifesto. Relief and development aid will be given to the war- torn north to “address the burning problems” of Tamil speaking people, he pledged.
Fonseka, 59, is challenging President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who called the Jan. 26 election two years before his mandate expires to capitalize on the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in May and an economy boosted by rebuilding industries such as agriculture and tourism after the conflict.
More...Discuss this story
Published: Mon Jan 18 20:31:41 EST 2010
|
|
|
|
|
Sri Lanka: Time for a New Start; A Human Rights Agenda for Sri Lanka’s Presidential Candidates
AI,
jan 19.
Amnesty International calls on all candidates standing in Sri Lanka's Presidential elections on January 26th to end widespread human rights violations and the culture of impunity that continues to plague the country.
On Monday, the organization issued a 10-point Human Rights Agenda for all candidates.
"Candidates should commit to restoring respect for basic rights, like life and liberty, ending arbitrary arrests and detention, enforced disappearances and torture, and to restoring respect for freedom of expression, said Yolanda Foster, Amnesty International's Sri Lanka specialist. "In the longer run, what's needed is to rebuild Sri Lanka's institutions so that they can protect efficiently and without discrimination. That's the only way to restore public faith in the justice system."
More...Discuss this story
Published: Mon Jan 18 20:37:44 EST 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Express your opinions, meet others at the
