Thursday, December 23, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Top Three UN Officers Dodged Crimes By USA in IRAQ & Pinpointed Sri Lanka
AT THE DEBATE ON CIVILIAN PROTECTION AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL, THE MOST SENIOR UN OFFICERS (Ban Kimoon, Navi Pillai, John Homes) FORGOT U.S. ATROCITIES IN IRAQ AND PIN POINTED SRI LANKA. SRI LANKA DELEGATES SLAMMED FOR POLITICIZING CIVILIAN PROTECTION.
The guardians of human rights (UNHRC, UN) have double standards on atrocities against humanity. One standard is for USA, UK, EU (friends) and another standard for other nations. The credibility of UN has come down to zero due to step-motherly treatment by super powers. If the UN top most senior officers ignore super powers' war crimes just because those nations contribute more funds to run the UN, the existence of UN is is to legitimize western dictatorship in the world therefore international community should boycott United Nations. UN gen secretary Ban Ki-moon, Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillai and John Holmes (Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator)have dodged human casualties in Iraq and finger pointed Sri Lanka during debate on Civilian Protection at UN Security Council. Dr. Palitha Kohana slammed for politicization and selectivity characterizing the debate on Civilian Protection at UN Security Council
JOHN HOLMES,
"Nevertheless, I fear all too little has changed for the better on the ground in recent years," he said, noting that civilians accounted for most casualties in armed conflict. In 2009 alone, there had been thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and elsewhere; 2010 did not look much better. Displacement through conflict was getting worse, he said, recalling that 2009 had seen 6.8 million people internally displaced, more than at any point since the mid-1990s. Conflict had displaced an alarming total of 27.1 million people around the globe — the highest ever — at the end of 2009.
NAVI PILLAY
Recalling the conflict in Sri Lanka, she said there had been unacceptably high civilian losses caused by both sides, noting also that some progress had been made since the end of the conflict in returning and resettling internally displaced persons. Concrete initiatives must now follow to provide justice and redress to victims, while promoting accountability and longer-term reconciliation. She welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to set up an expert panel to advise him on the issues in Sri Lanka.
PALITHA KOHONA
( Sri Lanka) said that although a substantial normative framework had been developed for the protection of civilians, the politicization and selectivity characterizing the debate on implementation had affected its credibility, thereby calling into question the sincerity of the concerns expressed for the plight of civilians affected by armed conflict. The issue could not be addressed on humanitarian terms alone, and nor could the normative framework be applied in a merely theoretical manner.
He said that his country's experience in dealing with terrorists that used the civilian population as shields behind which to launch attacks showed the complexity of the challenges involved. Many of the rules of war were based on the presumption that parties to a conflict are conventional armies, but terrorists totally disregarded those laws and principles. The causes of armed conflict must also be addressed, including the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, he said, adding that there was also a need to recognize the legitimate role of the military in civilian protection, though it was not an exclusive one.
The principle of unimpeded access for humanitarian personnel must be respected, but it could not disregard the State's primary responsibility to ensure their safety and security, he said. In Sri Lanka's experience, the military, often at huge cost, had had to bring civilians out of harm's way, he said, adding that military and humanitarian personnel must therefore seek to work in partnership. Similarly, civilian displacement must not be politicized or turned into a theoretical problem, he said, calling for the development of a means for holding non-State actors accountable and recognizing the problems of asymmetrical conflicts.
Transcript on Debate on Civilian Protection 7th July
(At UN meda briefing on Sri Lanka questions raised by Iner City Press, (Popularly "LTTE Pimp") 0:02 Hunger strike 0:32 Gotabaya's call 1:25 Statement of Ban Ki-moon on withdrawal of UN Country rep. 2:23 reaction on panel 2:43 visa to panel)
The guardians of human rights (UNHRC, UN) have double standards on atrocities against humanity. One standard is for USA, UK, EU (friends) and another standard for other nations. The credibility of UN has come down to zero due to step-motherly treatment by super powers. If the UN top most senior officers ignore super powers' war crimes just because those nations contribute more funds to run the UN, the existence of UN is is to legitimize western dictatorship in the world therefore international community should boycott United Nations. UN gen secretary Ban Ki-moon, Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillai and John Holmes (Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator)have dodged human casualties in Iraq and finger pointed Sri Lanka during debate on Civilian Protection at UN Security Council. Dr. Palitha Kohana slammed for politicization and selectivity characterizing the debate on Civilian Protection at UN Security Council
JOHN HOLMES,
"Nevertheless, I fear all too little has changed for the better on the ground in recent years," he said, noting that civilians accounted for most casualties in armed conflict. In 2009 alone, there had been thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and elsewhere; 2010 did not look much better. Displacement through conflict was getting worse, he said, recalling that 2009 had seen 6.8 million people internally displaced, more than at any point since the mid-1990s. Conflict had displaced an alarming total of 27.1 million people around the globe — the highest ever — at the end of 2009.
NAVI PILLAY
Recalling the conflict in Sri Lanka, she said there had been unacceptably high civilian losses caused by both sides, noting also that some progress had been made since the end of the conflict in returning and resettling internally displaced persons. Concrete initiatives must now follow to provide justice and redress to victims, while promoting accountability and longer-term reconciliation. She welcomed the Secretary-General's decision to set up an expert panel to advise him on the issues in Sri Lanka.
PALITHA KOHONA
( Sri Lanka) said that although a substantial normative framework had been developed for the protection of civilians, the politicization and selectivity characterizing the debate on implementation had affected its credibility, thereby calling into question the sincerity of the concerns expressed for the plight of civilians affected by armed conflict. The issue could not be addressed on humanitarian terms alone, and nor could the normative framework be applied in a merely theoretical manner.
He said that his country's experience in dealing with terrorists that used the civilian population as shields behind which to launch attacks showed the complexity of the challenges involved. Many of the rules of war were based on the presumption that parties to a conflict are conventional armies, but terrorists totally disregarded those laws and principles. The causes of armed conflict must also be addressed, including the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, he said, adding that there was also a need to recognize the legitimate role of the military in civilian protection, though it was not an exclusive one.
The principle of unimpeded access for humanitarian personnel must be respected, but it could not disregard the State's primary responsibility to ensure their safety and security, he said. In Sri Lanka's experience, the military, often at huge cost, had had to bring civilians out of harm's way, he said, adding that military and humanitarian personnel must therefore seek to work in partnership. Similarly, civilian displacement must not be politicized or turned into a theoretical problem, he said, calling for the development of a means for holding non-State actors accountable and recognizing the problems of asymmetrical conflicts.
Transcript on Debate on Civilian Protection 7th July
(At UN meda briefing on Sri Lanka questions raised by Iner City Press, (Popularly "LTTE Pimp") 0:02 Hunger strike 0:32 Gotabaya's call 1:25 Statement of Ban Ki-moon on withdrawal of UN Country rep. 2:23 reaction on panel 2:43 visa to panel)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Handshake - Namal Rajapakse & General Fonseka
(Dialy Mirror Editorial, 01 July 2010)
The rush of emotions is obvious.
Though both General Fonseka and young Namal Rajapaksa looked a little diffident there was certainly no sign of regret. The handshake however would have brought back the memories of the good old days when the two families remained thick before the dark clouds of the present day saga overshadowed the recollections.Reportedly it was Namal who had first extended the hand to the former Army Commander and chances are that this move was much more spontaneous than the one made by his father on the nominations day. Rajapaksas, whatever others may say, know how to make the right moves at the right time and given the knack that the young Hambantota district MP has displayed in cultivating people so far, he is definitely picking the ropes faster than the father.One thing for sure. While it is quite courageous from the part of the young Namal to make the move it is also quite magnanimous of the General to reciprocate the gesture the way he has done as was seen in photos. He could have well afforded to cold shoulder Namal Rajapaksa however much undiplomatic it would have looked. Instead General Sarath Fonseka opted to be the gentleman. Perhaps he would have thought ‘what can he do about the work of the adults’.
The handshake came a few hours after the Court of Appeal dismissal of the writ application filed by the General against the second court martial set up against him. It was also on the same day that the BBC Sandeshaya quoted the former Army Commander as saying that he was prepared to meet the UN panel to advise Ban Ki-Moon on the alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka. The General was also quoted as saying in the same story that he did not see the conditions imposed by the EU to renew the GSP plus concession as an ‘intervention of the internal affairs of the country’.
“The EU has demanded the release of political prisoners -- which includes me," he had said.
And all this at a time when President Rajapaksa and his ministers are going hammer and tongs, making mince meat out of the UN and the EU for their latest moves.
Had he not fallen out with the Rajapaksas, the General may not have gone for that public posturing on the UN and EU, one may say.
There are indeed a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in the saga.
However, nothing seemed to have mattered for the duo that shook hands in parliament. Together they made a beautiful picture in an extremely dull budget day.
source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/editorial/106-editorial/14387.html
The rush of emotions is obvious.
Though both General Fonseka and young Namal Rajapaksa looked a little diffident there was certainly no sign of regret. The handshake however would have brought back the memories of the good old days when the two families remained thick before the dark clouds of the present day saga overshadowed the recollections.Reportedly it was Namal who had first extended the hand to the former Army Commander and chances are that this move was much more spontaneous than the one made by his father on the nominations day. Rajapaksas, whatever others may say, know how to make the right moves at the right time and given the knack that the young Hambantota district MP has displayed in cultivating people so far, he is definitely picking the ropes faster than the father.One thing for sure. While it is quite courageous from the part of the young Namal to make the move it is also quite magnanimous of the General to reciprocate the gesture the way he has done as was seen in photos. He could have well afforded to cold shoulder Namal Rajapaksa however much undiplomatic it would have looked. Instead General Sarath Fonseka opted to be the gentleman. Perhaps he would have thought ‘what can he do about the work of the adults’.
The handshake came a few hours after the Court of Appeal dismissal of the writ application filed by the General against the second court martial set up against him. It was also on the same day that the BBC Sandeshaya quoted the former Army Commander as saying that he was prepared to meet the UN panel to advise Ban Ki-Moon on the alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka. The General was also quoted as saying in the same story that he did not see the conditions imposed by the EU to renew the GSP plus concession as an ‘intervention of the internal affairs of the country’.
“The EU has demanded the release of political prisoners -- which includes me," he had said.
And all this at a time when President Rajapaksa and his ministers are going hammer and tongs, making mince meat out of the UN and the EU for their latest moves.
Had he not fallen out with the Rajapaksas, the General may not have gone for that public posturing on the UN and EU, one may say.
There are indeed a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in the saga.
However, nothing seemed to have mattered for the duo that shook hands in parliament. Together they made a beautiful picture in an extremely dull budget day.
source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/editorial/106-editorial/14387.html
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
KP-Diaspora programme operated by SL Military Intelligence: Doctor Arudkumar
Updated on 12 Oct 2011
[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2010, 21:31 GMT]
Sri Lankan Director of National Intelligence, Major General Kapila Hendawitharana, the longest serving intelligence officer of the military, is in charge of the covert and overt programme of dividing and conquering the Tamil diaspora, alludes British Tamil doctor Velauthapillai Arudkumar, who visited the island recently as part of a ‘Tamil diaspora visit’ organised by Colombo through Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP. TamilNet releases an exclusive video interview with Dr. Arudkumar taken two days ago, in which he reveals the details of the trip. SL Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Maj. Gen. Hendawitharana and External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris, all spoke in a well-synchronised way. Military counterinsurgency and 'post-war development' are intertwined aiming at Tamil subjugation, the doctor infers in his interview Dr. Arudkumar was one of the nine diaspora Eezham Tamils who visited the island from 6 countries between 15 June and 20 June. KP and his associates in the diaspora played a crucial role in mobilising this diaspora group to have talks with the Sri Lankan government on post-war rehabilitation of civilians and former LTTE cadres in detention. The doctor says he made the decision as an individual to explore the opportunity to help the uprooted civilians, people incarcerated and those held in detention camps. Earlier, he had served the people of Vaakarai in Batticaloa for four weeks after the 2004 tsunami catastrophe. "I am not a politician. I only wanted to help," he said.
But, after sensing the intentions behind the Sri Lankan military intelligence, the foreign minister and the defence secretary, and experiencing the restrictions put in place, his decision was not to succumb to the tactics of Colombo. They will only bring their mindset into you, attempt to divide and destroy you. They will misuse your intentions for their advantage, especially in convincing the West that the Tamil diaspora is now cooperating with them, the doctor said. KP told the diaspora visitors that one should be satisfied with what is being offered and should look after the civilians and the former cadres. He was sounding 'spiritual' and was criticising the political initiatives of the diaspora.
The TNA speaks only about political solution and Tamil Nadu leaders are jokers (koamaa'lika'l), is the opinion reflected in the speeches of Kapila, Gotabhaya and KP, says the doctor. The visitors were told of outside interests in the land of the North and East. When asked who were those outsiders, the reply pointed at India. Dr. Arudkumar thinks there is an intention in the Sri Lankan side to bring in a rift between Eezham Tamils and India / Tamil Nadu.
"Even if you can't, we will bring the diaspora to cooperate," the visitors were told with arrogance and confidence.
Tamils have no right to ask for political solution and they should accept whatever that is given, was the attitude of the government side, and it was like treating Tamils as slaves, says Arudkumar, adding that when such was the attitude he felt embarrassed to see KP’s gesture of embracing Gotabhaya at the meeting.
The terms like transnational, united, federal, etc, are sensitive terms and they should be avoided. From South Africa to Japan, countries have so many other models. One should go to the grassroot to find the solution, professor G.L.Peris told the visitors. One should not talk about the 'past' or 'history', but should cooperate to build the country together. Mahinda has got a mandate from the [Sinhala] people, was the response from the government side when the visitors began talking about political solution.
When KP was asked about his arrest, he told the visitors that he was arrested by the Malaysian authorities, interrogated for two days and was flown to Colombo with Sri Lankan intelligence officer Sam, a subordinate of Kapila Hendawitharana. Sam was also present at the meetings. Kapila Hendawitharana in his conversations mentioned that he had met KP back in 2006, says Dr. Arudkumar, who describes the intelligence chief as the 'master mind'. KP was giving details of different personalities in various countries and was talking about properties and money associated with them. When Arudkumar asked why couldn't the Sri Lankan government release the frozen TRO money for the use of the resettlement of civilians, Kapila Hendawitharana responded by saying that the visitors should first start bringing in the diaspora money.
The number of people to be rehabilitated varies from one government agency to another, between 190,000 to more than 300,000. Perhaps the needs are different for them to cite different numbers, politics on one hand and money on the other. The visitors were taken to Palaali military base and were briefed by the commanders there before being taken to Raamaavil in Thenmaraadchi where they met resettled families. But, there were intelligence operatives. Visitors were not allowed to meet civilians in Ki'linochchi. When visiting Cheddiku'lam internment camp in Vavuniyaa, the visitors wanted to see Zone-4 of the camp, but they were only taken to Zone-2. While talking to the families in the camp we were able to detect that some people had been planted among the IDPs to interact with us, the doctor said. When there are already a number of organisations working for rehabilitation what was the need for Tamil Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) initiated by KP, asks the doctor, reasoning that it was to show the outside world that the diaspora is now politically with the government. Even while we were on our visit there was talk that many more diaspora groups were going to come. What I tell them is that it is of no use. KP can do very little, Dr. Arudkumar said. Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendawitharana During Chandrika Kumaratunga's presidency, Kapila Hendawitharana was in charge of the military intelligence. He played a crucial role in getting the renegade LTTE commander Karuna to work with the Sri Lankan military intelligence and in launching covert operations against the LTTE, resulting in a series of assassinations. His unit was mainly responsible for the serious violations of the clause 1.8 of the Ceasefire Agreement by deploying paramilitary operatives against the Tigers. After repeated complaints from various actors, he was transferred and posted to Thailand as Defence Attaché. Later, when Rajapaksa came to power, he was made the intelligence chief to coordinate with Gotabhaya and Fonseka.
As the Sri Lankan diplomatic establishments across the world are extensively militarised in recent times, diaspora circles fear that a major covert operation against diaspora Eezham Tamils is already in progress and that the KP programme is only a tip of the iceberg.
Source: Tamil Net: KP-Diaspora programme operated by SL Military Intelligence: Doctor Arudkumar
Related articles:
KUMARAN PATHMANATHAN a.k.a. KP IS STILL A HARD CORE TERRORIST WHO DOESN’T DESERVE ANY MERCY
http://www.tamilnewsnetwork.com/2010/06/28/kp-diaspora-programme-operated-by-sl-military-intelligence-doctor-arudkumar/
Tags: Dr Arudkumar Velauthapillai, Kapila Hendawitharana, KP, KUMARAN PATHMANATHAN, LTTE, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, Sri Lanka, sri lanka expats, Sri Lanka News, Sri Lanka War, tamil diaspora, Eezham Tamils, tamil eelam, tamilnet, Counter Terrorism, LLRC, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, KP Arrest, tiger trap, TRO, Sri Lanka reconciliation, TAG, IDP sri lanka,
[TamilNet, Monday, 28 June 2010, 21:31 GMT]
Sri Lankan Director of National Intelligence, Major General Kapila Hendawitharana, the longest serving intelligence officer of the military, is in charge of the covert and overt programme of dividing and conquering the Tamil diaspora, alludes British Tamil doctor Velauthapillai Arudkumar, who visited the island recently as part of a ‘Tamil diaspora visit’ organised by Colombo through Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP. TamilNet releases an exclusive video interview with Dr. Arudkumar taken two days ago, in which he reveals the details of the trip. SL Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Maj. Gen. Hendawitharana and External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris, all spoke in a well-synchronised way. Military counterinsurgency and 'post-war development' are intertwined aiming at Tamil subjugation, the doctor infers in his interview Dr. Arudkumar was one of the nine diaspora Eezham Tamils who visited the island from 6 countries between 15 June and 20 June. KP and his associates in the diaspora played a crucial role in mobilising this diaspora group to have talks with the Sri Lankan government on post-war rehabilitation of civilians and former LTTE cadres in detention. The doctor says he made the decision as an individual to explore the opportunity to help the uprooted civilians, people incarcerated and those held in detention camps. Earlier, he had served the people of Vaakarai in Batticaloa for four weeks after the 2004 tsunami catastrophe. "I am not a politician. I only wanted to help," he said.
But, after sensing the intentions behind the Sri Lankan military intelligence, the foreign minister and the defence secretary, and experiencing the restrictions put in place, his decision was not to succumb to the tactics of Colombo. They will only bring their mindset into you, attempt to divide and destroy you. They will misuse your intentions for their advantage, especially in convincing the West that the Tamil diaspora is now cooperating with them, the doctor said. KP told the diaspora visitors that one should be satisfied with what is being offered and should look after the civilians and the former cadres. He was sounding 'spiritual' and was criticising the political initiatives of the diaspora.
The TNA speaks only about political solution and Tamil Nadu leaders are jokers (koamaa'lika'l), is the opinion reflected in the speeches of Kapila, Gotabhaya and KP, says the doctor. The visitors were told of outside interests in the land of the North and East. When asked who were those outsiders, the reply pointed at India. Dr. Arudkumar thinks there is an intention in the Sri Lankan side to bring in a rift between Eezham Tamils and India / Tamil Nadu.
"Even if you can't, we will bring the diaspora to cooperate," the visitors were told with arrogance and confidence.
Tamils have no right to ask for political solution and they should accept whatever that is given, was the attitude of the government side, and it was like treating Tamils as slaves, says Arudkumar, adding that when such was the attitude he felt embarrassed to see KP’s gesture of embracing Gotabhaya at the meeting.
The terms like transnational, united, federal, etc, are sensitive terms and they should be avoided. From South Africa to Japan, countries have so many other models. One should go to the grassroot to find the solution, professor G.L.Peris told the visitors. One should not talk about the 'past' or 'history', but should cooperate to build the country together. Mahinda has got a mandate from the [Sinhala] people, was the response from the government side when the visitors began talking about political solution.
When KP was asked about his arrest, he told the visitors that he was arrested by the Malaysian authorities, interrogated for two days and was flown to Colombo with Sri Lankan intelligence officer Sam, a subordinate of Kapila Hendawitharana. Sam was also present at the meetings. Kapila Hendawitharana in his conversations mentioned that he had met KP back in 2006, says Dr. Arudkumar, who describes the intelligence chief as the 'master mind'. KP was giving details of different personalities in various countries and was talking about properties and money associated with them. When Arudkumar asked why couldn't the Sri Lankan government release the frozen TRO money for the use of the resettlement of civilians, Kapila Hendawitharana responded by saying that the visitors should first start bringing in the diaspora money.
The number of people to be rehabilitated varies from one government agency to another, between 190,000 to more than 300,000. Perhaps the needs are different for them to cite different numbers, politics on one hand and money on the other. The visitors were taken to Palaali military base and were briefed by the commanders there before being taken to Raamaavil in Thenmaraadchi where they met resettled families. But, there were intelligence operatives. Visitors were not allowed to meet civilians in Ki'linochchi. When visiting Cheddiku'lam internment camp in Vavuniyaa, the visitors wanted to see Zone-4 of the camp, but they were only taken to Zone-2. While talking to the families in the camp we were able to detect that some people had been planted among the IDPs to interact with us, the doctor said. When there are already a number of organisations working for rehabilitation what was the need for Tamil Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) initiated by KP, asks the doctor, reasoning that it was to show the outside world that the diaspora is now politically with the government. Even while we were on our visit there was talk that many more diaspora groups were going to come. What I tell them is that it is of no use. KP can do very little, Dr. Arudkumar said. Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendawitharana During Chandrika Kumaratunga's presidency, Kapila Hendawitharana was in charge of the military intelligence. He played a crucial role in getting the renegade LTTE commander Karuna to work with the Sri Lankan military intelligence and in launching covert operations against the LTTE, resulting in a series of assassinations. His unit was mainly responsible for the serious violations of the clause 1.8 of the Ceasefire Agreement by deploying paramilitary operatives against the Tigers. After repeated complaints from various actors, he was transferred and posted to Thailand as Defence Attaché. Later, when Rajapaksa came to power, he was made the intelligence chief to coordinate with Gotabhaya and Fonseka.
As the Sri Lankan diplomatic establishments across the world are extensively militarised in recent times, diaspora circles fear that a major covert operation against diaspora Eezham Tamils is already in progress and that the KP programme is only a tip of the iceberg.
Source: Tamil Net: KP-Diaspora programme operated by SL Military Intelligence: Doctor Arudkumar
Related articles:
KUMARAN PATHMANATHAN a.k.a. KP IS STILL A HARD CORE TERRORIST WHO DOESN’T DESERVE ANY MERCY
http://www.tamilnewsnetwork.com/2010/06/28/kp-diaspora-programme-operated-by-sl-military-intelligence-doctor-arudkumar/
Tags: Dr Arudkumar Velauthapillai, Kapila Hendawitharana, KP, KUMARAN PATHMANATHAN, LTTE, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, Sri Lanka, sri lanka expats, Sri Lanka News, Sri Lanka War, tamil diaspora, Eezham Tamils, tamil eelam, tamilnet, Counter Terrorism, LLRC, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, KP Arrest, tiger trap, TRO, Sri Lanka reconciliation, TAG, IDP sri lanka,
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Paul Collier's new rules for rebuilding a broken nation | Video on TED.com
Paul Collier explains the problems with current post-conflict aid plans, and suggests 3 ideas for a better approach.
Please do leave a comment how you find it. That will perhaps help to see those approaches in defferent perspective.
About the speaker (Paul Collier):
Paul Collier studies the political and economic problems of the very poorest countries: 50 societies, many in sub-Saharan Africa, that are stagnating or in decline, and taking a billion people down with them. His book The Bottom Billion identifies the four traps that keep such countries mired in poverty, and outlines ways to help them escape, with a mix of direct aid and external support for internal change. From 1998 to 2003, Collier was the director of the World Bank's Development Research Group; he now directs the Centre for the Study of African Economies at Oxford, where he continues to advise policymakers. "Collier sheds much light on how the world should tackle its biggest moral challenge. [He] shows, too, how far western governments and other external actors are from currently giving the sort of help these countries desperately need."
Martin Wolf, Financial Times
The Transcript of the speech:
I'm going to talk about post-conflict recovery and how we might do post-conflict recovery better. The record on post-conflict recovery is not very impressive. 40 percent of all post-conflict situations, historically, have reverted back to conflict within a decade. In fact, they've accounted for half of all civil wars. Why has the record been so poor? Well, the conventional approach to post-conflict situations has rested on, on kind of, three principles.
The first principle is, it's the politics that matters. So, the first thing that is prioritized is politics. Try and build a political settlement first. And then the second step is to say, "The situation is admittedly dangerous, but only for a short time." So get peacekeepers there, but get them home as soon as possible. So, short-term peacekeepers. And thirdly, what is the exit strategy for the peacekeepers? It's an election. That will produce a legitimate and accountable government.
So that's the conventional approach. I think that approach denies reality. We see that there is no quick fix. There's certainly no quick security fix. I've tried to look at the risks of reversion to conflict, during our post-conflict decade. And the risks stay high throughout the decade. And they stay high regardless of the political innovations. Does an election produce an accountable and legitimate government? What an election produces is a winner and a loser. And the loser is unreconciled. The reality is that we need to reverse the sequence. It's not the politics first; it's actually the politics last. The politics become easier as the decade progresses if you're building on a foundation of security and economic development. The rebuilding of prosperity.
Why does the politics get easier? And why is it so difficult initially? Because after years of stagnation and decline, the mentality of politics is that it's a zero-sum game. If the reality is stagnation, I can only go up, if you go down. And that doesn't produce a productive politics. And so the mentality has to shift from zero-sum to positive-sum before you can get a productive politics. You can only get positive, that mental shift, if the reality is that prosperity is being built. And in order to build prosperity, we need security in place. So that is what you get when you face reality. But the objective of facing reality is to change reality.
And so now let me suggest two complimentary approaches to changing the reality of the situations. The first is to recognize the interdependence of three key actors, who are different actors, and at the moment are uncoordinated. The first actor is the security council. The security council typically has the responsiblity for providing the peacekeepers who build the security. And that needs to be recognized, first of all, that peacekeeping works. It is a cost-effective approach. It does increase security. But it needs to be done long-term. It needs to be a decade-long approach, rather than just a couple of years. That's one actor, the security council.
The second actor, different cast of guys, is the donors. The donors provide post-conflict aid. Typically in the past, the donors have been interested in the first couple of years, and then they got bored. They moved on to some other situation. Post-conflict economic recovery is a slow process. There are no quick processes in economics except decline. You can do that quite fast. (Laughter) So the donors have to stick with this situation for at least a decade.
And then the third key actor is the post-conflict government. And there are two key things it's got to do. One is it's got to do economic reform, not fuss about the political constitution, It's got to reform economic policy. Why? Because during conflict economic policy typically deteriorates. Governments snatch short-term opportunities. And by the end of the conflict, the chickens have come home to roost.
So this legacy of conflict is really bad economic policy. So there is a reform agenda, and there is a an inclusion agenda. The inclusion agenda doesn't come from elections. Elections produce a loser, who is then excluded. So the inclusion agenda means genuinely bringing people inside the tent. So those three actors. And they are interdependent over a long term. If the security council doesn't commit to security over the course of a decade, you don't get the reassurance which produces private investment. If you don't get the policy reform and the aid, you don't get the economic recovery, which is the true exit strategy for the peacekeepers. So we should recognize that interdependence, by formal, mutual commitments. United Nations actually has a language for these mutual commitments, the recognition of mutual commitments. It's called the language of compact. And so we need a post-conflict compact. The United Nations even has an agency which could broker these compacts. It's called the Peace Building Commission.
It would be ideal to have a standard set of norms where, when we got to a post-conflict situation, there was an expectation of these mutual commitments from the three parties. So that's idea one. Recognize interdependence. And now let me turn to the second approach, which is complimentary. And that is to focus on a few critical objectives. Typical post-conflict situation is a zoo of different actors with different priorities. And indeed, unfortunately, if you navigate by needs you get a very unfocused agenda. Because in these situations, needs are everywhere. But the capacity to implement change is very limited. So we have to be disciplined and focus on things that are critical.
And I want to suggest that in the typical post-conflict situtation three things are critical. One is jobs. One is improvements in basic services. Especially health, which is a disaster during conflict. So jobs, health, and clean government. Those are the three critical priorities. So I'm going to talk a little about each of them.
Jobs. What is a distinctive approach to generating jobs in post-conflict situations? And why are jobs so important? Jobs for whom? Especially jobs for young men. In post-conflict situations, the reason that they so often revert to conflict, is not because elderly women get upset. It's because young men get upset. And why are they upset? Because they have nothing to do. And so we need a process of generating jobs, for ordinary young men, fast. Now, that is difficult. Governments in post-conflict situation often respond by puffing up the civil service. That is not a good idea. It's not sustainable. In fact, you're building a long-term liability by inflating civil service. But getting the private sector to expand is also difficult. Because any activity which is open to international trade is basically going to be uncompetitive in a post-conflict situation. These are not environments where you can build export manufacturing.
There's one sector which isn't exposed to international trade, and which can generate a lot of jobs. And which is, in any case, a sensible sector to expand, post-conflict. And that is the construction sector. The construction sector has a vital role, obviously, in reconstruction. But typically that sector has whithered away during conflict. During conflict people are doing destruction. There isn't any construction going on. And so the sector shrivels away. And then when you try and expand it, because it's shriveled away, you encounter a lot of bottlenecks. Basically, prices soar and crooked politicians then milk the rents from the sector. But it doesn't generate any jobs. And so the policy priority is to break the bottlenecks in expanding the construction sector.
What might the bottlenecks be? Just think what you have to do successfully to build a structure, using a lot of labor. First you need access to land. Often the legal system is broken down so you can't even get access to land. Secondly you need skills, the mundane skills of the construction sector. In post-conflict situations we don't just need doctors without borders, we need bricklayers without borders, to rebuild the skill set. We need firms. The firms have gone away. So we need to encourage the growth of local firms. If we do that, we not only get the jobs, we get the improvements in public infrastructure, the restoration of public infrastructure.
Let me turn from jobs to the second objective, which is improving basic social services. And to date, there has been a sort of a schizophrenia in the donor community, as to how to build basic services in the post-conflict sectors. On the one hand it pays lip service to the idea of rebuild an effective state in the image of Scandinavia in the 1950s. Lets develop line ministries of this, that, and the other, that deliver these services. And it's schizophrenic because in their hearts donors know that's not a realistic agenda. And so what they also do is the total bypass. Just fund NGOs.
Neither of those approaches is sensible. And so what I'd suggest is what I call Independent Service Authorities. It's to split the functions of a monopoly line ministry up into three. The planning function and policy function stays with the ministry. The delivery of services on the ground you should use whatever works, churches, NGOs, local communities. Whatever works. And in between, there should be a public agency, the Independent Service Authority, which channels public money, and especially donor money, to the retail providers. So the NGOs become part of a public government system, rather than independent of it.
One advantage of that is that you can allocate money coherently. Another is, you can make NGOs accountable. You can use yardstick competition. So they have to compete against each other for the resources. The good NGOs, like Oxfam, are very keen on this idea. They want to have the discipline and accountability. So that's a way to get basic services scaled up. And because the government would be funding it, it would be co-branding these services. So they wouldn't be provided thanks to the United States government and some NGO. They would be co-branded as being done by the post-conflict government, in the country. So, jobs, basic services, finally, clean government.
Clean means follow their money. The typical post-conflict government is so short of money that it needs our money just to be on a life support system. You can't get the basic functions of the state done unless we put money into the core budget of these countries. But if we put money into the core budget, we know that there aren't the budget systems with integrity, that mean that money will be well spent. And if all we do is put money in and close our eyes it's not just that the money is wasted, that's the least of the problems, it's that the money is captured. It's captured by the crooks who are at the heart of the political problem. And so inadvertently we empower the people who are the problem.
So building clean government means, yes, provide money to the budget. But also provide a lot of scrutiny. Which means a lot of technical assistance that follows the money. Paddy Ashdown, who was the grand high nabob of Bosnia to the United Nations, in his book book about his experience, he said, "I realize what I needed was accountants without borders, to follow that money." So that's the -- let me wrap up, this is the package.
What's the goal? If we follow this, what would we hope to achieve? That after 10 years, the focus on the construction sector would have produced both jobs and, hence, security. Because young people would have jobs. And it would have reconstructed the infrastructure. So that's the focus on the construction sector. The focus on the basic service delivery through these independent service authorities would have rescued basic services from their catastrophic levels. And it would have given ordinary people the sense that the government was doing something useful. The emphasis on clean government would have gradually squeezed out the political crooks. Because there wouldn't be any money in taking part in the politics. And so gradually the selection, the composition of politicians, would shift from the crooked to the honest. Where would that leave us? Gradually it would shift from a politics of plunder to a politics of hope. Thank you. (Applause)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Congratulations Mr President Mahinda Rajapakse - A Note With Love
Dear Mr. President Mahinda Rajapakse,
Congratulations! You have won the Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2010. You have been rewarded by the people of Sri Lanka for the promises you delivered. You deserve that. You have been a great leader to the nation by delivering promises you made and defending us not only from the most ruthless terrorists but also from foreign intimidations. We elected you as our next president because we thought you stood out of other candidates. You are more resourcefull serving the national interests. The most of the people endorsed you as the president because you eradicated terrorism in Sri Lanka. You have won the trust of the people. We admire you for restating democracy and reuniting our country.
It s also worth looking at past term (2005-2009) and reflect on shortcomings. Among other issues constant criticisms and allegations about media freedom, corruption, nepotism, political harassments, thuggery, murders, abductions and abuses of state media take significant impact on our people. People tolerated, sacrificed for the sake of war. We do not consider “war crimes” allegations of west during last stage of war since it was not intended but happened in a war situation. But we do aware that there is room for improvements in maintaining law and order in the country and democracy, tolerance for criticisms and opinions. The hard earned tax money of poor people needs to be utilized for the betterment of very same people and not for a group of people. We overlooked those allegations because you showed us how steady you are in decision making on national interests.
Today is the moment of glory, the moment of a birth of a national leader; one country, one law and one president. A leader, not for one group but to all the citizens despite to whom they have voted.
When it comes to “all”, it means different interests and needs, young and old, Tamil and Sinhalese, Christians and Muslims. A good leader would choose what is best for all.
The most important priority at the moment are the development in the North and East, national reconciliation and a political solution has to be taken within undivided Sri Lanka. There are people who have suffered three decades of war and their lives have to begin from scrap; from zero. Providing them basic needs, such as; food, clothes, shelter, medicine, health care, jobs and education will help them to understand us as a nation and seek their help to rebuild the nation.
There is increased violence, thuggery, intimidations, murders that need your immediate attention to bring perpetrators to justice and make Sri Lanka a better place to live. The bureaucracy of civil administration, murderers who walk-free because of corrupted system, decades dragging civil law cases sucking money out of poor people etc are burdens to poor people and are more important than banning adultery movies. We assume you are smarter than Taliban extremists, we do not wish to have extreme restrictions, we as Buddhists, respect freedom of speech and beliefs. In short we are thirst of democracy. So please educate every citizen about laws, rights and obligations, so you can reduce abuse of law and violence in the Country.
Mr. President, do not take extreme paths; neither extreme Buddhism nor extreme Islam. Stay in the middle path, the path where we all can walk freely! Then you will find hearts of all people, and we shall treat you as our king!!!
We sent you this message not to humiliate you but to congratulate you and to let you know that we love our president and our country. We hope you have an ear for us to listen what we got to say! We wish you all the best, the strength and the determination to deliver the promises you mentioned in your 2010 manifesto!
Subha Anagathayak!
NoEalamInSL
27.01.2010
Congratulations! You have won the Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2010. You have been rewarded by the people of Sri Lanka for the promises you delivered. You deserve that. You have been a great leader to the nation by delivering promises you made and defending us not only from the most ruthless terrorists but also from foreign intimidations. We elected you as our next president because we thought you stood out of other candidates. You are more resourcefull serving the national interests. The most of the people endorsed you as the president because you eradicated terrorism in Sri Lanka. You have won the trust of the people. We admire you for restating democracy and reuniting our country.
It s also worth looking at past term (2005-2009) and reflect on shortcomings. Among other issues constant criticisms and allegations about media freedom, corruption, nepotism, political harassments, thuggery, murders, abductions and abuses of state media take significant impact on our people. People tolerated, sacrificed for the sake of war. We do not consider “war crimes” allegations of west during last stage of war since it was not intended but happened in a war situation. But we do aware that there is room for improvements in maintaining law and order in the country and democracy, tolerance for criticisms and opinions. The hard earned tax money of poor people needs to be utilized for the betterment of very same people and not for a group of people. We overlooked those allegations because you showed us how steady you are in decision making on national interests.
Today is the moment of glory, the moment of a birth of a national leader; one country, one law and one president. A leader, not for one group but to all the citizens despite to whom they have voted.
When it comes to “all”, it means different interests and needs, young and old, Tamil and Sinhalese, Christians and Muslims. A good leader would choose what is best for all.
The most important priority at the moment are the development in the North and East, national reconciliation and a political solution has to be taken within undivided Sri Lanka. There are people who have suffered three decades of war and their lives have to begin from scrap; from zero. Providing them basic needs, such as; food, clothes, shelter, medicine, health care, jobs and education will help them to understand us as a nation and seek their help to rebuild the nation.
There is increased violence, thuggery, intimidations, murders that need your immediate attention to bring perpetrators to justice and make Sri Lanka a better place to live. The bureaucracy of civil administration, murderers who walk-free because of corrupted system, decades dragging civil law cases sucking money out of poor people etc are burdens to poor people and are more important than banning adultery movies. We assume you are smarter than Taliban extremists, we do not wish to have extreme restrictions, we as Buddhists, respect freedom of speech and beliefs. In short we are thirst of democracy. So please educate every citizen about laws, rights and obligations, so you can reduce abuse of law and violence in the Country.
Mr. President, do not take extreme paths; neither extreme Buddhism nor extreme Islam. Stay in the middle path, the path where we all can walk freely! Then you will find hearts of all people, and we shall treat you as our king!!!
We sent you this message not to humiliate you but to congratulate you and to let you know that we love our president and our country. We hope you have an ear for us to listen what we got to say! We wish you all the best, the strength and the determination to deliver the promises you mentioned in your 2010 manifesto!
Subha Anagathayak!
NoEalamInSL
27.01.2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sri Lankan Media, Western Media, Elections Loom
by NoEalamInSL
Its Presidential elections in Sri Lanka. Unlike previous 5 presidential elections (in 1982, 88, 1994, 1999, 2005); this presidential election is held under one law, one president, and one country. Sri Lanka is finaly freed from LTTE brutal terrorism after 30 years. Eelam War IV ended on 19th May 2009. Ever since President Rajapakse came to power in 2005, Sri Lanka has been on continuous development despite eruption of bloody Eelam war IV in 2006 against LTTE. The war was 24-7 for 2 years time. It is not just a war but a war against most ruthless terorists and who were funded, guided and directed by super powers. President Rajapakse not only fought a war against the most brutal terrorists in the world but also against pro-LTTE propaganda by west media and diplomatic intimidations by super powers in UN, UNHRC and other world bodies including ICRC, HRW which are under the leadership of same super powers; USA, UK, EU.
In comparison to war against terror superpowers whom were fighting a war against terrorism (Al Qaeda) are yet to achieve results while President Mahinda Rajapakse not only totally eliminated LTTE and won the war but also accomplished 90% of his promises given to his people in his 2005 manifesto. What west and the western media and its local agents here in Sri Lanka still struggling are try and manipulate the ground realities in Sri Lanka. They will again hear from Sri Lankans on the 26th January 2010 that they are not only wasteful creatures to bombard nations to stone age but also brainless hypocrites to have double standards on war against terror.
The FBI called LTTE as the most ruthless terrorists in the world followed in 2008. Al Qaeda which was the number one enemy of USA and its allies ( FBI LTTE Gets 1st Place Over Al Qaeda in 2008, Temilnet FBI: Taming the Tamil Tigers ) The war against Al Qaeda terrorists was supported by every state of the world while the war against LTTE was supported by only few countries. Surprisingly the superpowers US, UK, EU objected the Mahinda Rajapakse's war against LTTE. President Mahinda Rajapakse Government might not be perfect yet it is the best government Sri Lanka ever had.
There are certainly room for improvement but it is unlikely that Sri Lankans will choose another candidate as the President of Sri Lanka in 2010!
Anti-Rajapakse-front (as appear on this video)also criticizes President Rajapakse for sending a personalized greeting to mobile phones in Sri Lanka on the new year day. A personilzed greeting to a mobile seems an innovative thought by a president. I would definitely be delighted to have such a greeting from the president my country on the new year day. It gives me an impression of a symbol of a friendly nation. But unfortunately they use his friendliness as a intimidation to attack the president. Do they expect us to imitate their western norms and values? Or are they trying to imply western standards in Sri Lanka? What they forget is, Sri Lankans belong to a collective culture, it differs from western individualistic norms and values. They may have absorbed western norms, values and attitudes but should not criticise Sri Lankans in western perspective.
Sri Lanka is a hot topic for both businessmen and politicians, especially for the West Europeans, because giving a critic on Sri Lankan government attracts millions of Tamils around the world. They are busy attacking President Mahinda Rajapakse government to attract Tamils votes and try to defeat President Rajapaksa at elections on 26th Jan 2010.
So pro-LTTE western nations are sending their media agents and UN Special Rapporteurs on TV, You Tube, renewing outdated, discarded issues like Channel4 Executions, media attacks, killings, as well as new staged grenade attack of Tiran Allas to tarnish image of Sri Lanka. These deliberate manipulations and intimidation s are directed at Mahinda Rajapakse who fought and won a war super powers were embarrassed to admit or accept. They invaded Iraq on false allegation of WMD, later, post war investigations and commissions (NL, UK, USA) concluded that the war against Iraq was illegal but none of these media gave such a publicity as they do for Sri Lanka. Is this called unbiased reporting? is this called reporting with responsibility in west part of the world?
The human rights violaions, media threats, corruptions and thuggery have been decreased since the end of war in May 2009, as it is said here. But some journalist who makes comments on free media (Groundviews journalist 7:43 doesnt even allow readers to make a critic in his blog. Before pointing out others, it is wise to criticize your own attitude, be an example to others.
Dr. Palitha Kohana:
With regard to the west, we had some difficulties mainly owing to the fact that the LTTE had a well oiled propaganda machine operating in western capitals and in various international agencies. They influenced the policy makers in such a way that they tended to take a fairly sympathetic view of the LTTE. Despite this, Sri Lanka was successful in getting the LTTE proscribed in 27 European Commission states, in the United States, in Canada and so on. So we did have a number of significant successes in our foreign relations, even with regard to the west. The president has consistently maintained that Sri Lanka is a non-aligned country, and therefore, we have to ensure that good relations are maintained with all countries. It has to be said that the president's influence on foreign policy formulation in the last four years was a significant factor in managing our foreign relations in a satisfactory way. There was a time when we were not getting what we needed from the west including military material and funding for our development efforts. President Rajapaksa turned to other friends India, Iran, China and Russia.
Related links:
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100123_03
Please read Mahinda Rajapakse Manifesto 2010
http://www.mahinda2010.lk/manifesto2010.html
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Human Rights Improved EU Freezes Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to Sri Lanka - 19.10.2009
The European Union has decided to freeze Generalized Systems of Preferences (GSP allows Sri Lankan 7,200 products to enter EU markets free of taxes or duty free access) to Sri Lanka as a collective punishment for so called Human Rights Violations during war against LTTE separatist terrorism.
LTTE terrorism has destroyed the tiny island, Sri Lanka both economically and socially. The present president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse ended 30yr war by eliminating entire LTTE leadership and most of its members in 2years of his four year presidency. The West Europeans (especially EU) strongly condemned the President Mahinda Rajapakse's war on LTTE and threatened to use economical sanctions if the war against LTTE was not stopped. President Mahinda Rajapakse continued his war against LTTE, and eliminated entire LTTE leadership and most of its members. EU is bit embarrassed of Mahinda Rajapakse and uses its resources to punish this war torn tiny nation collectively. EU's accusations are war crimes during last phase of war against LTTE, human rights violations, 300,000 IDPs (Tamil refugees), media freedom, labour etc which have improved (investigations to deaths were done, 200,000 IDPs resettled etc) since the war over on 19th May 2009.
Now, Sri Lanka has become again a focus point. The presidential Elections will be held on 26th January 2010, West Europeans use this golden opportunity and use their resources to influence Sri Lankans not to choose Mahinda Rajapakse because MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE defeated 30 year conflict on which they lived as a parasite letting Sri Lankan poor people suffer three decades. The cause of the conflict was not apparently genuine but initiated from a group of Eelam extremists who claim Tamils are discriminated and genocided by the majority Sinhalese while 58% of minority Tamils live among Sinhalese and Europeans used it as a weapon to carve out Sri Lanka and promote two states option as a solution to the conflict like they did in other conflict zones.
The approach of Mahinda Rajapakse to the conflict is integration and democratization giving all citizens equal rights.
LTTE terrorism has destroyed the tiny island, Sri Lanka both economically and socially. The present president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakse ended 30yr war by eliminating entire LTTE leadership and most of its members in 2years of his four year presidency. The West Europeans (especially EU) strongly condemned the President Mahinda Rajapakse's war on LTTE and threatened to use economical sanctions if the war against LTTE was not stopped. President Mahinda Rajapakse continued his war against LTTE, and eliminated entire LTTE leadership and most of its members. EU is bit embarrassed of Mahinda Rajapakse and uses its resources to punish this war torn tiny nation collectively. EU's accusations are war crimes during last phase of war against LTTE, human rights violations, 300,000 IDPs (Tamil refugees), media freedom, labour etc which have improved (investigations to deaths were done, 200,000 IDPs resettled etc) since the war over on 19th May 2009.
Now, Sri Lanka has become again a focus point. The presidential Elections will be held on 26th January 2010, West Europeans use this golden opportunity and use their resources to influence Sri Lankans not to choose Mahinda Rajapakse because MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE defeated 30 year conflict on which they lived as a parasite letting Sri Lankan poor people suffer three decades. The cause of the conflict was not apparently genuine but initiated from a group of Eelam extremists who claim Tamils are discriminated and genocided by the majority Sinhalese while 58% of minority Tamils live among Sinhalese and Europeans used it as a weapon to carve out Sri Lanka and promote two states option as a solution to the conflict like they did in other conflict zones.
The approach of Mahinda Rajapakse to the conflict is integration and democratization giving all citizens equal rights.
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