JVP split could bring greater Indian involvement in Sri Lanka: Expert

The split in the anti-Indian political party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), may pave the way for greater Indian involvement in finding a solution to the vexed ethnic question in Sri Lanka, says Sri Lankan researcher Anupama M. Ranawana.

Writing in the latest issue of Groundviews Ranawana points out that the majority Sinhalese community have been very wary and disapproving of Western mediation, but have consistently welcomed Indian initiatives.

“The situation has become more conducive to Indian involvement in the wake of the fractious split in the JVP, which has always been a strong critic of India, ” the author, who is attached to Colombo’s Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), says.

With 11 of the 37 MPs of the JVP taking a moderate stance, the party’s anti-Indian plank is bound to be weakened. The JVP has consistently opposed India’s efforts to encourage the Rajapaksa government to devolve power to the minority Tamils. With the JVP’s voice weakened, the Sri Lankan public will take kindly to an Indian face on a foreign mediator, says Ranawana.

Read more,
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?

Story behind the Army's new rockets

Some international organizations have charged that the Sri Lanka Army bought 10,000 missiles from Slovakia against European Union laws. This is completely false. The procurement and storage of these weapons occurred outside of Slovakia, in a non EU country.

The weapons procured were 122mm Rockets for the Army's RM-70 (RaketoMet 1970) Multi-Barrel Rocket Launchers bought at $180 a piece. They are military surplus and are not missiles in the sense that they are unguided rockets.

The country formerly known as Czechoslovakia split into two countries in 1993. One country is now known as the Czech Republic while the other is known as Slovakia.

With the breakdown of the Warsaw Pact, armies of the former Communist Block were downsized. These countries had to conform to NATO regulations in order to join the European Union, hence they commenced what is called a 'Liquidation program'.

Read more,
http://defencewire.blogspot.com/

Vatican informed of LTTE presence in Madhu church

The Mannar diocese has expressed concern over the heavy LTTE presence in the Madhu church sanctuary and the church premises and brought to the notice of the Vatican the overall situation in the sacred area, Vicar General of the Mannar diocese Rev. Fr. Victor Sosai said.

Commenting on the present situation in the Madhu church premises Rev. Victor Sosai told the Sunday Observer since the statue of Our Lady of Madhu was removed for safety to St. Francis Xavier’s Church in Thevanpiddy in the Mannar region, the church zone was more like a battle zone with the heavy presence of LTTE cadres.

“The Mannar diocese has even informed the LTTE hierarchy in Killinochchi over the presence of LTTE cadres with heavy weapons in the church premises.

However, there was hardly any sign of armed cadres leaving the premises. Almost all the important buildings including the meditation centre which is currently being built with around sixty rooms with assistance from the Vatican and Germany has also been occupied by the cadres.

The Mannar diocese has also asked the Security Forces to keep away from the church region as much as possible.

“We do not want a chaotic situation in the sacred area with a big human disaster. The response from the Armed Forces so far is positive,” Rev. Victor Sosai said.

Read more,
http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/04/13/sec01.asp

India intensifies air and sea surveillances along southern coast

India has intensified air and sea surveillance along its southern coastline to prevent infiltration of LTTE cadres into Indian territorial waters as well as smuggling activities.

Indian Media reports said that the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has taken this decision at a high-level Special Coastal Meeting held in Tamil Nadu following increase in smuggling activities to Sri Lanka from the coastal villages of Tamil Nadu.

It was decided to intensify surveillance in 21 unmanned islands between Sri Lanka and India to prevent the activities of anti-social elements and also over the 591 coastal villages and hamlets in Tamil Nadu, reports added. According to the reports India will take necessary steps to prevent Indian fishermen from crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and trespassing into Sri Lankan territorial waters resulting in the firing by the Lankan navy.

Extracted from,
http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/April11162338JV.html

No Pakistani Change in helping against LTTE

Despite recent changes in the Pakistani government following elections there will be no changes of policy in the country’s attitude towards Sri Lanka’s problem of terrorism said Pakistani President Pervez Musharaf.

He asserted to his Sri Lankan counterpart President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Sanya in Hainang island that Pakistan will stand by its South Asian friend, Sri Lanka in its struggle to eradicate terrorism.
Pervez told Rajapaksa, “There will be absolutely no change in our attitude towards Sri Lanka.”

President Rajapaks is in China for the second time in 14 months at the invitation of the Chinese President Hu Jintao to participate in the Boao Forum to which the Pakistani President also came to participate.
The new Pakistani Foreign Minister Sha Mahmud and and Defense Minister Ahamad Mukthar joined the Pakistani President in his discussions with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Pakistan President during the course of the discussions said there is an immediate need to expand the scope of the Free Trade Agreement between both countries. The two countries have doubled their trade within one year since the inception of the trade agreement.

Read more,
http://www.sinhalaya.com/news/english/wmview.php?ArtID=15115

JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe alleges Govt. backing dissident group

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) dissident faction led by its parliamentary group chief, Wimal Weerawansa, has mooted the formation of a Deshapremi Peramuna (Patriotic Front) and pledged to work under that banner. They have vowed to take this action if their disputes with the party leadership are not amicably settled.

The decision by Mr. Weerawansa and ten dissident MPs to form such a front, with the backing of a number of civil society organisations and trade unions was taken at a meeting the dissident group held on Thursday at the Patriotic National Front office in Borella.

Political observers point out that the fact that like the PNM, the new political group also is being formed with a similar name suggests a link between the two. This development came as the crisis within the JVP worsened. Police have begun investigations into several incidents involving the forcible removal of vehicles belonging to JVP dissident MPs with one JVP MP and another JVP cadre being remanded.

The JVP’s Trincomalee district MP Jayantha Wijesekera who had allegedly gone into the Parliament car park along with another man on Wednesday afternoon, and removed two vehicles belonging to two JVP dissident MPs, surrendered to the Police on Friday.

Read more,
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080413/News/news001.html