“These are another drain and pain on the people and the government. These forces are also in the payroll of the GoSL. Besides paying them, the government has to mediate the infighting among them. Since of late the Pillaian Group and that of Minister Devananda (EPDP) are at daggers drawn and involve in killings. The Pillian group and the Jihad elements have started shooting and killing each other in the Eastern province. A good number of the army personnel who are under constant fear are undergoing psychological problems.”
____________________
by: Kandiah Mylvaganam
(July 07, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) Lots of dark clouds are covering over the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). There are lots of political upheavals both within and outside the alliance. The economy is plunging steeply leading to almost bankruptcy. The departure of the Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) from its alliance has shaken its stability. The renegades led by Karu Jeyasuriya are sending feelers to rejoin the UNP. The danger of a consolidated United Front against the GoSL is in the offing. The Cost of Living (CoL) has reached a record high figure despite the GoSL trying to soften it by reducing it with a couple points by juggling with a new formula in calculating the Cost of Price Index (CPI). The LTTE is threatening a frontal attack. This has prompted several men to desert the army.
Labour Unrest:
The Trade Unions are agitating for a substantial increase in their salaries. The JVU backed trade union called the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), which has nearly 400 trade unions affiliated to it has confirmed that trade union action will be put into force on the 10th of July 2008, if their demand for a monthly salary increase of Rs.5,000.00 is not put into effect from the 1st of June 2008. This increase shall be for all the employees in the public, private and the plantations. It has also demanded a sum of Rs.2.50 to each increasing point in the Cost of Living Index (CLI) as pledged by the GoSL. He has sent an open invitation to all other trade unions in the island to join in the struggle. I understand that some trade unions have positively responded to his invitation. Even though it is only a token strike meant for only one day yet it is said that it would be reintroduced if the GoSL does not respond positively.
He has warned that if the GoSL were to declare the 10th of July as a public holiday, as it did with the strike of the teachers on the 11th and 12th of June 2008, then this strike would be launched on the following day. He has further warned that the strike will be launched on an island wide scale continuously if the GoSL fails to meet the demand of the trade unions.
He added that the strike will not affect the war efforts as the war is conducted on Public holidays, Poya days, Saturdays and Sundays without being affected. Quoting the war is an attempt by the GoSL to deny the workers their rights that they are entitled to. The war is shown a s a reason to burry the faults of the government. The people are asked to tighten their belts but the extravagances are galore in government spending by way of foreign trips by the ministers, salary increases and luxury vehicles to the parliamentarians and holding “Tamashas” on government expenses. Even recently 8 super luxury vehicles have been ordered costing billions of rupees.
The Consumer Affairs Minister has said that such salary increases cannot be made as it would wage spiral inflation. But the JVP parliamentarian and the president of the Inter Company Employees Union (ICEU) Wasantha Samarasinghe said that it was due to the government’s wrong economic policies and mismanagements of funds the country is in this perilous state. He quite rightly pointed out Mihin Air as one striking example for mismanagement. The top executives are paid a monthly emolument around Rs.300,000.00 to Rs.400,000.00 each. The loss recorded so far exceeds Rs.3.2 billion. He further pointed out to the number of ministers ( it was 107 last year I have lost count of it now), the corruption from top to bottom and the sheer wastage of funds as causes for the present state of affairs.
The Technological Service Trade Unions Federation (TSTUF), which has no political affiliations but very powerful has declared that they would go all out and support the JVP sponsored strike on the 10th instant. Its president Nimal S.Andradi said that the government says it has no money to meet our just demand. But it wastes money in maintaining over 100 ministers and ignoring all the bribery and corruption going on by the top people.
The War Front:
The war is costing the GoSL billions of rupees. There were only 11,000 men in all the three forces – army, navy and the air force – before the war commenced. Today there are more than 250,000 on regular payroll. Besides for every person killed a compensation of Rs.100,000.00 is paid to the next of kin and the payment of pension also continues. When ships are sunk and planes are destroyed by the rebels it costs millions to replace them. The army deserters who are said to be over 70,000 are causing social problems in the country even though the government is playing it down. Several personnel from the forces are engaged in hunting the deserters.
Paramilitary Forces:
These are another drain and pain on the people and the government. These forces are also in the payroll of the GoSL. Besides paying them, the government has to mediate the infighting among them. Since of late the Pillaian Group and that of Minister Devananda (EPDP) are at daggers drawn and involve in killings. The Pillian group and the Jihad elements have started shooting and killing each other in the Eastern province. A good number of the army personnel who are under constant fear are undergoing psychological problems. Several suicide incidents among them go to prove this point. Many who go on leave do not report back.
When pressure is exerted on the government to disarm the paramilitary forces the GoSL says that the LTTE also must be disarmed. Government seems to be ignorant of the fact that the LTTE is not a paramilitary movement. According to the Oxford dictionary a paramilitary movement is “Ancillary to and similarly organised to military forces.” And ancillary means “subservient, subordinate.” Unlike the EPDP, PLOT, EPRLF and the Pillaian groups, which lick the boots of the government and is paid and protected by it, the LTTE is an independent movement of its own. It doesn’t dance to the tune of the GoSL. But it is a liberation organisation involved in fighting the government for the freedom of the oppressed Tamils.
Cost of Living:
The cost of living is rising in leaps and bounds. Some items have even doubled in price in Colombo. The Cost of Living Index was 4304 in January 2006 but it has shot up to 6527 in April 2008; an increase of 2223 points. For the plantation workers their daily wage of Rs.290.00 is to be increased to Rs.500.00. The President of this Trade Union is the vociferous JVP parliamentarian K.D.Lalkatha, who is fairly popular among the working class. He said that a family of five needs a minimum income of Rs.31,000.00 per month to cover the basic needs. The prices of food items, fuel and textile are soaring. Bus fare has gone up by 27% and the train fare by 100% to 400%. Rice is being sold at Rs.80.00 and more in the south. In Vanni it is Rs.38.00. This speaks of the efficient economic policy management. The GoSL should send their economic policy makers to Vanni for lessons.
To make things worse Mahinda has decided to hold the SAARC meeting in Colombo. This is going to cost nearly Rs.2.9 Billion. Actually it is the turn of the Maldives’ to have this meeting in their country. It cleverly wriggled out of it and Mahinda offered to step in. That speaks of his intelligence.
The International Community (IC)
The IC has begun to express its dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms; especially regarding the violation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka. The recent high powered visit from Delhi was no social call, even though the GoSL is trying to play it down. The IC has also come out strongly against the Paramilitary forces operating under the GoSL army. The removal of GoSL from the Human Rights Committee in the United Nations is only a forerunner of what is in store. Strong warnings are in the air regarding the renewal of the GSP+ by the European Union. The recent visit by the representatives from the EU did not mince their words. They have pointed out several flaws in the Human Rights violations.
Dissatisfaction was also shown in not bringing the perpetrators to justice. Special emphasis was made against the unacceptable way the 16 cases that are being inquired at snail speed. The French International Non Governmental Organisation (INGO) the Action Contra de Faime (ACF Action Against Famine) has packed up and left Sri Lanka as they were dissatisfied with the manner the inquiry is being held on the murder of 17 of their employees in broad day light. It is said that they are going to take legal action to put things straight. The French Government also has expressed its support to the ACF and its actions. There is a strong possibility that some of those responsible directly or indirectly will be tried for war crimes as well.
MR is Choking
The JVP has severed connection with the GoSL and threatening to bring it down. A consolidated opposition is in the making. The seventeen renegades led by Karu Jeyasuriya are holding secret meetings with the UNP stalwarts to put a feeler as to whether they would be taken back. The senior members of the SLFP and a good number of the ministers are disgruntled with the way the Rajapaksha & Bros are behaving. The ministers especially feel that Basil Rajapaksha is treating them shabbily. Thus the noose is tightening round the neck of the President. It is a matter of time before MR chokes.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
____________________
by: Kandiah Mylvaganam
(July 07, Jaffna, Sri Lanka Guardian) Lots of dark clouds are covering over the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). There are lots of political upheavals both within and outside the alliance. The economy is plunging steeply leading to almost bankruptcy. The departure of the Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) from its alliance has shaken its stability. The renegades led by Karu Jeyasuriya are sending feelers to rejoin the UNP. The danger of a consolidated United Front against the GoSL is in the offing. The Cost of Living (CoL) has reached a record high figure despite the GoSL trying to soften it by reducing it with a couple points by juggling with a new formula in calculating the Cost of Price Index (CPI). The LTTE is threatening a frontal attack. This has prompted several men to desert the army.
Labour Unrest:
The Trade Unions are agitating for a substantial increase in their salaries. The JVU backed trade union called the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), which has nearly 400 trade unions affiliated to it has confirmed that trade union action will be put into force on the 10th of July 2008, if their demand for a monthly salary increase of Rs.5,000.00 is not put into effect from the 1st of June 2008. This increase shall be for all the employees in the public, private and the plantations. It has also demanded a sum of Rs.2.50 to each increasing point in the Cost of Living Index (CLI) as pledged by the GoSL. He has sent an open invitation to all other trade unions in the island to join in the struggle. I understand that some trade unions have positively responded to his invitation. Even though it is only a token strike meant for only one day yet it is said that it would be reintroduced if the GoSL does not respond positively.
He has warned that if the GoSL were to declare the 10th of July as a public holiday, as it did with the strike of the teachers on the 11th and 12th of June 2008, then this strike would be launched on the following day. He has further warned that the strike will be launched on an island wide scale continuously if the GoSL fails to meet the demand of the trade unions.
He added that the strike will not affect the war efforts as the war is conducted on Public holidays, Poya days, Saturdays and Sundays without being affected. Quoting the war is an attempt by the GoSL to deny the workers their rights that they are entitled to. The war is shown a s a reason to burry the faults of the government. The people are asked to tighten their belts but the extravagances are galore in government spending by way of foreign trips by the ministers, salary increases and luxury vehicles to the parliamentarians and holding “Tamashas” on government expenses. Even recently 8 super luxury vehicles have been ordered costing billions of rupees.
The Consumer Affairs Minister has said that such salary increases cannot be made as it would wage spiral inflation. But the JVP parliamentarian and the president of the Inter Company Employees Union (ICEU) Wasantha Samarasinghe said that it was due to the government’s wrong economic policies and mismanagements of funds the country is in this perilous state. He quite rightly pointed out Mihin Air as one striking example for mismanagement. The top executives are paid a monthly emolument around Rs.300,000.00 to Rs.400,000.00 each. The loss recorded so far exceeds Rs.3.2 billion. He further pointed out to the number of ministers ( it was 107 last year I have lost count of it now), the corruption from top to bottom and the sheer wastage of funds as causes for the present state of affairs.
The Technological Service Trade Unions Federation (TSTUF), which has no political affiliations but very powerful has declared that they would go all out and support the JVP sponsored strike on the 10th instant. Its president Nimal S.Andradi said that the government says it has no money to meet our just demand. But it wastes money in maintaining over 100 ministers and ignoring all the bribery and corruption going on by the top people.
The War Front:
The war is costing the GoSL billions of rupees. There were only 11,000 men in all the three forces – army, navy and the air force – before the war commenced. Today there are more than 250,000 on regular payroll. Besides for every person killed a compensation of Rs.100,000.00 is paid to the next of kin and the payment of pension also continues. When ships are sunk and planes are destroyed by the rebels it costs millions to replace them. The army deserters who are said to be over 70,000 are causing social problems in the country even though the government is playing it down. Several personnel from the forces are engaged in hunting the deserters.
Paramilitary Forces:
These are another drain and pain on the people and the government. These forces are also in the payroll of the GoSL. Besides paying them, the government has to mediate the infighting among them. Since of late the Pillaian Group and that of Minister Devananda (EPDP) are at daggers drawn and involve in killings. The Pillian group and the Jihad elements have started shooting and killing each other in the Eastern province. A good number of the army personnel who are under constant fear are undergoing psychological problems. Several suicide incidents among them go to prove this point. Many who go on leave do not report back.
When pressure is exerted on the government to disarm the paramilitary forces the GoSL says that the LTTE also must be disarmed. Government seems to be ignorant of the fact that the LTTE is not a paramilitary movement. According to the Oxford dictionary a paramilitary movement is “Ancillary to and similarly organised to military forces.” And ancillary means “subservient, subordinate.” Unlike the EPDP, PLOT, EPRLF and the Pillaian groups, which lick the boots of the government and is paid and protected by it, the LTTE is an independent movement of its own. It doesn’t dance to the tune of the GoSL. But it is a liberation organisation involved in fighting the government for the freedom of the oppressed Tamils.
Cost of Living:
The cost of living is rising in leaps and bounds. Some items have even doubled in price in Colombo. The Cost of Living Index was 4304 in January 2006 but it has shot up to 6527 in April 2008; an increase of 2223 points. For the plantation workers their daily wage of Rs.290.00 is to be increased to Rs.500.00. The President of this Trade Union is the vociferous JVP parliamentarian K.D.Lalkatha, who is fairly popular among the working class. He said that a family of five needs a minimum income of Rs.31,000.00 per month to cover the basic needs. The prices of food items, fuel and textile are soaring. Bus fare has gone up by 27% and the train fare by 100% to 400%. Rice is being sold at Rs.80.00 and more in the south. In Vanni it is Rs.38.00. This speaks of the efficient economic policy management. The GoSL should send their economic policy makers to Vanni for lessons.
To make things worse Mahinda has decided to hold the SAARC meeting in Colombo. This is going to cost nearly Rs.2.9 Billion. Actually it is the turn of the Maldives’ to have this meeting in their country. It cleverly wriggled out of it and Mahinda offered to step in. That speaks of his intelligence.
The International Community (IC)
The IC has begun to express its dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms; especially regarding the violation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka. The recent high powered visit from Delhi was no social call, even though the GoSL is trying to play it down. The IC has also come out strongly against the Paramilitary forces operating under the GoSL army. The removal of GoSL from the Human Rights Committee in the United Nations is only a forerunner of what is in store. Strong warnings are in the air regarding the renewal of the GSP+ by the European Union. The recent visit by the representatives from the EU did not mince their words. They have pointed out several flaws in the Human Rights violations.
Dissatisfaction was also shown in not bringing the perpetrators to justice. Special emphasis was made against the unacceptable way the 16 cases that are being inquired at snail speed. The French International Non Governmental Organisation (INGO) the Action Contra de Faime (ACF Action Against Famine) has packed up and left Sri Lanka as they were dissatisfied with the manner the inquiry is being held on the murder of 17 of their employees in broad day light. It is said that they are going to take legal action to put things straight. The French Government also has expressed its support to the ACF and its actions. There is a strong possibility that some of those responsible directly or indirectly will be tried for war crimes as well.
MR is Choking
The JVP has severed connection with the GoSL and threatening to bring it down. A consolidated opposition is in the making. The seventeen renegades led by Karu Jeyasuriya are holding secret meetings with the UNP stalwarts to put a feeler as to whether they would be taken back. The senior members of the SLFP and a good number of the ministers are disgruntled with the way the Rajapaksha & Bros are behaving. The ministers especially feel that Basil Rajapaksha is treating them shabbily. Thus the noose is tightening round the neck of the President. It is a matter of time before MR chokes.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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