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Peace
rocks and opposition throws the gauntlet
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By
Amantha Perera
The
opposition which had remained dormant since the election in April,
finally woke up to reality last week. Several meetings were held
in parliament last week initiated by the opposition, and by the
end of the week, they indicated that they have decided to take the
government on.
On
Thursday, the joint opposition sent a letter to Speaker W. J. M.
Lokubandara requesting
him to take action against members from the government that they
accuse have breached parliamentary privileges.
Letter
to Speaker
The
letter signed by Karu Jayasuriya (UNP), M. S. Sellasamy (CWC), M.
K. Eelaventhan (TNA), Rauf Hakeem (SLMC), R. Radhakrishnan (UPF),
and Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero (JHU) named Sripathi
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Karuna
- Yet at the centre of controversy
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Sooriarachchi, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Jeevan Kumaratunga, Mervyn
Silva, Nihal Galappatti and Mahinda Amaraweera as having physically
obstructed Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratana Thero from taking oaths as a member
of parliament.
"The
said physical obstruction resulted in Ven. Akmeemana Dayaratana Thero
and Ven. Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala Thero suffering physical injury which
necessitated their being hospitalised for medical treatment," the
letter said.
It
also requested Speaker Lokubanadara to look into Wimal Weerawansa taking
photographs, the removal of the mace and also the incident involving
Kumari Cooray on April 22, where she was brought into parliament to
influence Hakeem's vote on
the selection of the speaker.
The
opposition also said last week that they would campaign for the setting
up of an Independent Media Commission. During a meeting with civic
organisations on Thursday, the UNP suggested that the Rupavahini and Sri
Lanka Broadcasting Corporations should be subjected to a competent
authority.
The
meeting was attended by members from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce,
Ceylon Chamber of Industries, Exporters Association and PAFFREL among
others. The Free Media Movement submitted a discussion paper on
reforming the state media.
Parliament
will meet next on July 20. However, so far there are no bills on the
order paper. The next session is likely to be a fiery affair all over
again with government members currently promising supporters that they
would achieve a majority and challenging the opposition to topple it if
it could.
The
opposition also stood vindicated last week over the swearing in of JHU
member Ven. Dayaratana Thero with the District Court of Colombo vacating
the restraining order on the monk from taking oaths.
This
not only vindicated the opposition but strengthened its numbers in
parliament.
In
the meantime, two TNA MPs, R. Sampanthan and Gajendran Ponnambalam were
in the US last week attending a series of meetings and public talks. At
a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
in Washington D.C. they said that the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA)
was pivotal to finding a solution to the ethnic crisis. The meeting was
also attended by former U.S. Ambassador Teresita Schaffer. The two MPs
also met US State Department Assistant Secretary for South Asian
Affairs, Christina Rocca who last month told Congress that the US had no
intention of taking the LTTE off the foreign terrorist list unless it
gives up violence.
Karuna
issue
The
war of words between the UPFA government and the LTTE has been going on
for quite some time now. While the government has been ambiguous on how
it plans to approach the stalled peace talks, the LTTE has been quite
equivocal on its demands.
President
Chandrika Kumaratunga has on and off indicated that she was willing to
consider the ISGA proposals, but the JVP has been playing spoilsport.
Two weeks back, General Secretary Tilvin Silva once again reiterated the
threat that if the government in any way gives in to the ISGA demand the
JVP would take action.
The
Tigers have also been putting pressure on the Karuna issue. And there
was drama all the way last week. Inspector C. D. Madanayake of the
Hingurakgoda police carried out a raid on the Bubula Buddhist Temple on
Monday night. The team arrested 14 Tamil youth at the temple. They had
in their possession three T-56 rifles, three T-84 type assault rifles, a
T-81 special assault rifle, six hand grenades and several mobile phones.
A van and a car that the suspects had used were also taken into custody.
The LTTE reacted quickly, observing that the Sri Lanka Army's Special
Forces had trained in close proximity to the temple till recently and
followed with a second salvo when the Batticaloa political office said
that the 14 identified were Karuna supporters who were on their way to
Toppigala jungles where intermittent skirmishes have taken place between
the LTTE and suspected Karuna supporters.
Supporting
Karuna
When
the suspects were produced in court before judge K. Sivapathasuntharan,
they were released on bail though the possession of a dangerous firearm
is a non-bailable offence under the Penal Code. Hingurakgoda police said
that no one had objected to bail being granted. Madanayake told The
Sunday Leader that the suspects posted personal bail of Rs. 25,000 each.
There was no state representation in court. Unconfirmed reports
indicated that there were efforts underway to get the suspects released.
TamilNet
which gave extensive coverage to the arrests blamed the moves on army
intelligence. However, Military Spokesman Colonel Sumedha Perera denied
any army involvement.
Even
the police did not corroborate the accusation that the suspects were
Karuna supporters. "We cannot say for sure they were Karuna backers
or not. We have to do more investigations," Madanayake said.
The
raid was carried out on an anonymous tip-off received over the phone and
Madanayake said that the chief incumbent Ven. Lendigele Sudassi Thero
was not present at the time of the raid.
The
LTTE however, insisted that the youth were Karuna supporters. LTTE head
in Batticaloa told TamilNet that he had conveyed the identities of the
14 to DIG Eastern Range Nevil Wijesinghe.
"Now
it is very obvious that the Sri Lankan authorities are conniving with
their military intelligence and police to gather, arm and send
stragglers of the Karuna group to murder the innocent and sabotage the
peace. What happened today is a travesty of justice,'' he said.
There
was more drama when around 8 p.m. on Thursday night the temple was
attacked with grenades and Ven. Sudassi Thero was injured. It was not
clear who was responsible for the attack.
Ven.
Sudassi Thero earlier told The Sunday Leader that he was unaware of the
identities of the 14 youth or what they were up to. He declined to
comment further. The monk contested on the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)
ticket at the last general election, but lost.
Volatility
The
arrest and the subsequent release should be taken in the context of what
took place on Thursday in LTTE areas in Batticaloa. The day before the
LTTE caught four youth with arms in their areas. The youths carried T-56
weapons, grenades, pistols, first aid material, claymore mines, mobile
phones and first aid material, similar to that used by the army and also
found on the 14 arrested in Hingurakgoda.
The
LTTE said that the four admitted to have been members of a group that
attacked the Batticaloa political office and female Tiger base. On
Thursday evening two from the group, Sundaram Sridaran (23) and
Sundrarajan Tiliyambalam (24) were brought to Illupaiyadi Chenai, the
same spot where they were caught. Their eyes were bound with red cloth
and their legs were chained. The two were executed during a public
execution which was followed by a display of the weapons recovered and a
press conference.
The
LTTE asked parents to refrain from sending their children back to
Karuna's fold and to let them continue with their education. However,
they were informed that if the children wished to rejoin the LTTE they
were welcome.
The
east is likely to become more volatile in the coming weeks. As reported
elsewhere in this issue, EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda last week said
that Karuna was operating from Batticaloa. If the information is true,
then Karuna is also close to the theater of operation.
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The
letter sent by the joint opposition
Hon.
Speaker of Parliament,
We,
the undersigned Members of Parliament, desire to bring to your
notice, the several breaches of privilege of this House which
occurred in the Chamber of this House at the meetings of
parliament held on 22nd April, 2004 and 8th June, 2004, to wit:
1.
On the 22nd of April, 2004 when the Hon. R. Sampanthan, MP and
Hon. Rev. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, MP got up to address the
chair, several members including Chandrasena Wijesinghe,
Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Mahinda Amaraweera, Mervyn Silva, Jeevan
Kumaranatunga and Sripati Suriyarachchi from the government
benches continuously interrupted and threw missiles (books) at
these two members and thereby prevented these two members from
speaking.
2.
At the commencement of business on 8th June, 2004, when you called
upon the new member of parliament, Rev. Akmeemana Dayaratne Thero,
to take the official affirmation in terms of Article 63 of the
Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
read together with Standing Order 19 (1), the under noted members
having left their seats entered the well of the chamber and
physically obstructed the said new member from proceeding to the
table to subscribe the official affirmation.
i.
Sripathi Suriyarachchi
ii.
Mahindananda Aluthgamage
iii.
Jeevan Kumaranatunga
iv.
Mervyn Silva
v.
Nihal Galappatti
vi.
Mahinda Amaraweera
3.
The said physical obstruction resulted in Rev. Akmeemana Dayaratne
Thero and Rev. Kollonnawe Sri Sumanagala Thero suffering physical
injury which necessitated their being hospitalised for medial
treatment.
4.
The member, Wimal Weerawansa, took photographs from the floor of
the chamber with the use of a mobile phone camera, without prior
permission of the Hon. Speaker, causing disturbance in the
chamber.
5.
The member, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, removed the mace from the
chamber and defied the repeated orders of the Speaker to return
the mace to the chamber.
6.
The member, Mervyn Silva tore a document, which was on the table
of the chamber.
7.
The said several acts of breach of privilege were committed
knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the
proceedings of the house are likely to be interrupted, and which
acts in fact caused disturbance in the chamber and interrupted and
prevented the house from proceeding with the business of the house
for the day.
9.
Member Dilan Perera, Mangala Samaraweera, Lasantha Alagiyawanne
and Sripathi Suriyarachchi had persuaded Mrs. Kumari Cooray to be
present on 22nd April 2004 in parliament for making false
allegations against Hon. Rauf Hakeem with the intention of unduly
influencing his vote and the votes of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress
members in the matter of the election of the Hon. Speaker.
We
respectfully ask that appropriate action be taken against the
aforesaid members for any one or more of the said breaches of
privilege of parliament. |
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