Catholic Church protest : Distortion of whose history? - by Janaka Perera (29.07.2010 - Asian Tribune)
The
media reported recently that Sri Lanka’s Roman Catholic clergy is
reacting in spontaneous protest against the Education Department’s
history text books. It is however not clear which sections and
paragraphs in these books the clergy is referring to.
If the books criticize the Catholic religion itself and carry derogatory
remarks about Jesus Christ, Virgin Mary and the Bible there is no
question that the books should be withdrawn since such criticism would
be offensive to Catholics and Christians. But if the Catholic Church is
objecting to references on the use of religion by European Colonialists
as a Trojan horse to consolidate their power in the conquered
territories that is an entirely different issue. It cannot and should
not be swept under the carpet in the name of ‘religious harmony’ however
unpalatable it may be to some. ...............................>>
WikiLeaks disclosure of US Secret Afghan war documents reveals US War Crimes - Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune (27.07.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Washington, D.C.
: The most significant and salient message that emanates from the
75,000 Secret Classified U.S. documents on the Afghanistan war theater
disclosed on Monday, 26 July by the online whistleblower WikiLeaks is
the evidence of U.S. war crimes.
WikiLeaks posted some 75,000 leaked U.S. military records of six years
of the war – 2004 through January 2010 - including unreported incidents
of Afghan civilian killings and covert operations against Taliban
figures. The White House on Monday condemned the release. But there are
more to come – some 15,000 secret/classified military documents
pertaining to the Afghanistan war. ..............................>>
Sri Lankan expatriates to demonstrate in front of the Geneva UNO head office on 25 th July (24.07.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Geneva
: Sri Lankan expatriates residing in Italy and in other European
countries have organized a massive demonstration in front of the Geneva
UNO head office fron 2 p.m., on 25th July 2010.
The demonstration is planned to protest the appointment of Ban-Ki-Moon’s
so called expert panel and the withdrawal of the GSP+ tax concession by
the European Parliament.
Given below the letter handed over to the European Parliament Rome Office regarding the “GSP+” concession. ..............................>>
The 13 - an outbreak of the thirty years long war in Sri Lanka - by Leel Pathirana (24.07.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Number
13 is considered a bad number or inauspicious mostly among Europe and
America. There’s no thirteenth floor in the storied buildings there and
neither in the hotels can be found room number thirteen.
Outbreak of the Sri Lankan thirty years separatist war was also begin
from the No. 13, when the LTTE detonated a landmine on 23rd of July 1983
at Thrunelveli, Palai road in Jaffna Peninsula. The victims were
thirteen soldiers in the Sri Lankan Army, when they were moving in
night, at 23:45 hrs. However, killing of the thirteen soldiers SLA (Sri
Lankan Army) became a turning-point and led to a three decade long
separatist terrorist war. The ethnic conflict ended after losing more
than one hundred thousand lives. ............................>>
Histrionics, hysteria and history - by Old Soldier (Protecting Sri Lanka) (25.07.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Sri
Lanka was once again in the world news in the 2 pre Murali weeks. A
government minister who never misses an opportunity to take center stage
on nationalistic issues took up cudgels with the United Nations
Secretary General (UNSG), Mr. BK Moon, no relation to Full or New.
Histrionics
Yet he appears quite like a satellite of the western world and had
‘decided’ on his own but not on the UN’s behalf or interests, to appoint
a ‘panel’ of biased non entities to ‘advise’ him on any misdemeanours
that may have occurred during the final stages of battle that ended the
30 year LTTE reign of terror in SL. .............................>>
Colorful 'Adi Vel' procession returned to the streets of Colombo, after lapse of 16 years (24.07.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Colombo
: The colorful Adi Vel procession conducted by Hindus, returned to the
streets of Colombo after 16 years. This procession of Lord Muruka
proceeded from Pettah and traveled through York Street, Achilon Square
and Galle Road, stopping to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa in front of
his residence at Temple Trees.
The procession was organized yesterday by the trustees of the Sammangod
Sri Kathir Velautha Swami Temple and Manicavinayagak Temple.
On the last 18th, trustees and members of Sammangod Sri Kathir Velautha
Swami Temple and Manicavinayagak Temple extended an invitation to
President Rajapaksa at the Temple Trees to participate in the 2010 Adi
Vel Festival. ..............................>>
Kosovo statehood a special case : No parallel to Tamil Tiger-remnants’ demand for statehood in Sri Lanka - Daya Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune (25.07.2010 - Asiantribune.com)
Washington, D.C.
: The United Nations highest court - International Court of Justice,
ruled on Thursday July 23 that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of
independence from Serbia in 2008 did not violate international law but
the ruling was significant when it avoided saying that the state of
Kosovo was legal under international law.
But the ruling would have sent a chilling effect on nations that
currently face separatist movements that legal experts warned could spur
separatism in those regions.
Sri Lanka which ended its violent Tamil Tiger separatist movement with
the annihilation of its top leadership in May 2009 may not be one of
those countries that had a chilling effect following the ICJ decision on
Kosovo but could be cautious because of the growing international call
for alleged war crimes and genocide probe that the remnants of the Tamil
Tigers domiciled in Western nations visualize may lead to a separate
Tamil nation that the separatist Tamil leader Velupillai Prabhakaran
could not achieve before his brutal death on 19 May last year. .............................>>
SLTDA drags ‘Ramayana’ Trojan horse - by Janaka Perera (20.07.2010 - Asian
Tribune)
A public symposium held on July 17 on the Sri
Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) promoting the so-called
Ramayana Trail exposed a shocking attempt to distort Sri Lanka’s
recorded history merely to attract Indian tourists, ignoring its serious
political implications.
The symposium was organized by the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
(RASSL) which earlier had an internal workshop where it was concluded
that the sites being marketed by the tourist authorities were not
genuine and had severe potential security concerns for the country. ...............................>>
Wikileaks
web site founder hunted by US
authorities, now in hiding - by Daya
Gamage – US National Correspondent Asian Tribune (18.07.2010 -
Asiantribune.com)
Washington, D.C. : Wikileaks founder Julian
Assange has gone into hiding, fearful of arrest by U.S. authorities, an
Icelandic parliamentarian confirmed.
Birgitta Jonsdottir, a close supporter of Assange in the Icelandic
Parliament, said. “And obviously Julian Assange does not necessarily
want to have a chapter written about any leaks.”
Authorities are interested in locating Assange following reports that an
Army intelligence analyst, Bradley Manning, recently transferred a huge
volume of classified files to Wikileaks. Manning is now in military
custody in a US base in the Middle East. ..............................>>
