Electricity from drainage water: கழிவு நீரில் இருந்து மின்சாரம்

 கழிவு நீரில் இருந்து மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்க சரியான நேரம் : மாநகராட்சி அசத்தல் திட்டம் அறிமுகம்

கோவை : தமிழகமே மின்தடை யால் அவதிப்பட்டுக் கொண்டிருக்கும் இந்த சூழலில், கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையம் செயல்படத் தேவையான மின்சாரத்தை, கழிவு நீரிலிருந்தே பெறும், புதுமையான திட்டத்தை, கோவை மாநகராட்சி, செயல்படுத்தவுள்ளது. மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்தின் உதவியுடன், இத்திட்டத்துக்குத் தேவைப்படும், கூடுதல் நிலத்தை கையகப்படுத்தும் பணிகளை, மாநகராட்சி முடுக்கி விட்டுள்ளது.
மாநகராட்சி வார்டுகளில், வெளியேறும் கழிவு நீரை சுத்திகரிப்பது, ஒவ்வொரு மாநகராட்சி நிர்வாகத்துக்கும் பெரும் சவால்தான். மின்தடை பிரச்னையும் இதனுடன் சேர்ந்து கொள்ள, வார்டு எண்ணிக்கை 72ல் இருந்து 100 ஆக உயர்ந்து விட்ட நிலையில், இப்பிரச்னைகளை, நவீன தொழில் நுட்பத்தின் உதவியுடன் எதிர்கொள்ள முடிவு செய்துள்ளது, கோவை மாநகராட்சி.
ஜவகர்லால் நேரு தேசிய நகர்ப்புற புனரமைப்புத் திட்டத்தின் கீழ், ரூ.377.13 கோடியில் செயல்படுத்தப்படும், பாதாள சாக்கடை திட்டத்தின் ஒரு பகுதியாக, 70 எம்.எல்.டி.,(ஒரு நாளைக்கு 70 மில்லியன் லிட்டர்) 60 எம்.எல்.டி., 40 எம்.எல்.டி., கொள்ளளவு கொண்ட மூன்று கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையங்கள் அமைக்கப்படுகின்றன.
இதில், 70 எம்.எல்.டி., சுத்திகரிப்பு திட்டம், உக்கடத்தில் துவங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதூஞிடூடிஞி அஞிtடிதிச்tஞுஞீ குடூதஞீஞ்ஞு கணூணிஞிஞுண்ண் எனும் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி, கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிக்கப்படவுள்ளது. இந்தக் கழிவு நீரில் இருந்து, மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கும் புதிய திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்தவுள்ளது மாநகராட்சி.
உக்கடத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையத்தை இயக்க, தமிழ்நாடு மின்சார வாரியத்துக்கு, மாதம் ரூ.எட்டு லட்சம் கட்டணமாக செலுத்துகிறது மாநகராட்சி. வரும் ஆண்டுகளில் மின் கட்டணம் உயர வாய்ப்புள்ளது.
மின்சாரத்தை சிக்கனமாக செலவிட வேண்டிய தற்போதைய சூழலில், சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையங்களை இயக்குவதற்கென பெரும் தொகையை, மாநகராட்சி செலவிட வேண்டிய நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.
மின்தடை ஏற்படும் நேரங்களில் டீசல் ஜெனரேட்டரையும் இயக்கினால், சுத்திகரிப்புக்கென செலவிடும் தொகை, மேலும் அதிகரித்து விடும்.
ஆகவே இதே தொழில் நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி, கழிவு நீரில் இருந்து மின்சாரம் தயாரித்து, அந்த மின்சாரத்தின் மூலம் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையங்களை இயக்க மாநகராட்சி திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது.
ஒண்டிப்புதூரில்அமைய வுள்ள 60 எம்.எல்.டி. கொள்ளளவு கொண்ட, கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையத்தில், இத்திட்டம் செயல்படுத்தப்படவுள்ளது.
ஏற்கனவே வடிவமைக்கப்பட்ட சுத்திகரிப்பு திட்டத்துடன், மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கும் தொழில்நுட்பமும், இணைந்து கொண்டதால், கூடுதலாக ஆறு ஏக்கர் நிலம் தேவைப்படுகிறது. மாவட்ட நிர்வாகத்தின் உதவியுடன், இதே பகுதியில் உள்ள தனியாரிடம் இருந்து, இதற்கான 14.34 ஏக்கர் நிலத்தை கையகப்படுத்தும் முயற்சிகள், மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்த பணிகள் முடிவடைந்தவுடன், கழிவு நீர் சுத்திகரிப்பு நிலையம் கட்டுவதற்கான ஒப்பந்தப்புள்ளிகள் கோரப்படவுள்ளன.
கழிவு நீரில் இருந்து மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கும் இத்திட்டத்தின் வாயிலாக, மின்சார பயன்பாடு குறையும்.
மின்வாரியத்துக்கு மாதாமாதம் லட்சக்கணக்கான ரூபாய்களை கட்டணமாக செலுத்த வேண்டியதிருக்காது. மின் தட்டுப்பாடு ஏற்பட்டுள்ள இந்த காலகட்டத்துக்கு ஏற்ப, பொருத்தமான திட்டத்தை மாநகராட்சி அமல் படுத்தியுள்ளது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

--தினமலர்ச் செய்தி

NASA is the future: "நாசா' தான் எதிர்காலம்!"

சொல்கிறார்கள்                                                                                                                                

"நாசா' தான் எதிர்காலம்!"நாசா' அறிவித்த கட்டுரைப் போட்டியில், தங்கப் பதக்கம் வென்ற திவ்யா, துர்கா தேவி:  

சென்னை மைலம் பொறியியல் கல்லூரியில், பி.இ., கம்ப்யூட்டர் சயின்ஸ் படிக்கிறோம். பன்னிரெண்டாம் வகுப்பு முடிச்சவுடனே, "ஏரோநாட்டிக்கல் இன்ஜினியரிங்' தான் படிக்கணும்னு ஆசைப்பட்டோம்; அந்த ஆசை நிறைவேறல.ஆனாலும், அந்த ஆசையை ஆசையாகவே நிறுத்தாமல், "நாசா'வின் இணையதளத்தில், எங்கள் பெயரை பதிவு செய்து, "நாசா'வைப் பற்றிய தகவல்கள் எப்போதும் எங்களுக்கு வந்து சேரும்படி பார்த்துக் கொண்டோம்.இதிலிருந்து வரும் தகவல்கள் மூலமே அறி வை வளர்த்துக் கொள்ளும் முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டோம். அவ்வப்போது,"நாசா' விண்வெளி அமைப்பில் உள்ள விஞ்ஞானிகளுடன், "சாட்' செய்து, அவர்களுடன் நட்பை வளர்த்துக் கொண்டோம்."மாற்று சக்தி மூலம் ஒரு நாட்டை எப்படி முன்னேற்றலாம்' என்ற தலைப்பில், கட்டுரைப் போட்டிக்கான அறிவிப்பு வெளியானது. "நாசா' அறிவித்த அந்த போட்டிக்கு, நாங்கள் அனுப்பிய, "ஐடியா'வை பார்த்து, நெதர்லாந்து அழைத்தது, "நாசா' விண்வெளி அமைப்பு. போட்டியில் பங்கேற்ற இரண்டாயிரம் கட்டுரைகளில், சிறந்ததாக தேர்ந்தெடுத்த, 15 கட்டுரைகளில், எங்கள் கட்டுரையும் ஒன்று.தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்ட மற்ற போட்டியாளர்கள் அனைவருமே வானவியல் துறையில் பிஎச்.டி., படித்தவர்கள்; ஆனால், நாங்கள் பொறியியல் கல்லூரி இளநிலைப் பட்டம் பெற்ற மாணவியர்."தொழிற்சாலைகளில் இருந்து வெளியேறும் நச்சுப் புகை, வளி மண்டலத்தில் உள்ள ஓசோனை பாதித்து, ஓசோனில் ஓட்டையை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. இதனால், புவி வெப்பமயமாகிறது. இதை தடுக்க, வளி மண்டலத்தில், ஓசோனை அதிகரித்தால், இந்த பிரச்னை தீர்ந்துவிடும்' என்ற ஐடியாவைச் சொன்னோம்; இது, "நானோ' டெக்னாலஜியில் ஒரு வகை.இதற்கு, முதல் பரிசாக தங்கப் பதக்கம் கிடைத்ததோடு, 13 ஆண்டுகளாக நடந்த இந்தக் கருத்தரங்கில், ஆசியாவிலிருந்து கலந்து கொண்ட முதல் போட்டியாளர்கள் என்பதில் எங்களுக்கு மகிழ்ச்சியளித்தது.இந்தப் போட்டியில் கலந்து கொண்டதன் மூலம், எங்களுக்கு நிறைய விஞ்ஞானிகள் நண்பர்களாகக் கிடைத்துள்ளனர். இனி, 'நாசா' தான் எங்கள் எதிர்காலம்!

Women upbringing Kangeyam bulls : பெண்கள் வளர்ப்பில் காங்கேயம் காளைகள்: அழியும் இனத்தை காப்பதாக உறுதி

 பெண்கள் வளர்ப்பில் காங்கேயம் காளைகள்: அழியும் இனத்தை காப்பதாக உறுதி

ஈரோடு: திருப்பூர் மாவட்டம் காத்தசாமிபாளையத்தில், இரு பெண்கள் இணைந்து, ஏழு காங்கேயம் காளைகளை வளர்த்து வருகின்றனர். ""அழிந்து வரும் காங்கேயம் இனத்தை அழிவில் இருந்து தடுப்பதே எங்கள் குறிக்கோள்,'' என, அப்பெண்கள் உறுதியாக கூறுகின்றனர்.

ஆந்திராவில் சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த, "ஓங்கோல்' பசுவுக்கும், கர்நாடக மாநிலத்தில் சிறப்பு வாய்ந்த "ஹெலிகர்' இனக் காளைக்கும் பிறந்த கம்பீரமான இனமே, "காங்கேயம்' இனம். காங்கேயத்தில் இவை அதிகமாக வளர்க்கப்பட்டதால், இதற்கு இத்தகைய சிறப்பு பெயர் பெற்றது.மற்ற சாதாரண மாடுகளை விட, காங்கேயம் காளைகளின், முகத்தோற்றம், கொம்பு, கால், திமிழ், பல், தாடை, எலும்பு, தொப்புள், பின்புறம், வால் ஆகியவை மிடுக்காக இருப்பதால், தோற்றத்தில் காங்கேயம் காளைகள் மிரள வைக்கும்.ஆரம்ப காலத்தில் காங்கேயம் காளைகள் விவசாயிகளின் உற்ற தோழனாக விளங்கி வந்தது. அதிக டன் வரை இழுவை திறன் கொண்டு, வலிமை உள்ளதாக விளங்கியதால், காங்கேயம் காளைகள், மாடுகளுக்கு நல்ல மவுசு ஏற்பட்டது.

பாலை மட்டுமே முக்கியமாக கருதி, சீமைப்பசுக்களை மக்கள் விரும்ப ஆரம்பித்ததால், காங்கேயம் காளைகளின் எண்ணிக்கை படிப்படியாக குறைந்து, தற்போது காணாமலேயே போனது. காங்கேயம் காளைகளை இன விருத்திக்காக மட்டுமின்றி, அதன் இனத்தை காக்க போராடும் இரு பெண்கள், திருப்பூர் மாவட்டத்தையே மிரள வைக்கின்றனர்.வெள்ளகோவில் மயிலரங்கம் அருகே, காத்தசாமிபாளையத்தை சேர்ந்தவர் பழனியம்மாளின் (65), அவரது மகள் சவுந்திரம்(46). சிறு வயது முதலே சவுந்திரத்துக்கு, காங்கேயம் காளைகள் மீது ஈர்ப்பு இருந்ததால், அவற்றை வளர்க்க விரும்பினார்.இதனால் செவளை, மயிலை இன காங்கேயம் காளைகளை வீட்டிலேயே, தாயும், மகளும் வளர்த்து வருகின்றனர். தற்போது, ஏழு காளைகளை வளர்த்து, அவற்றை இன விருத்திக்காக பயன்படுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

பழனியம்மாள், சவுந்திரம் ஆகியோர் கூறியதாவது:சிறு வயது முதலே எங்களுக்கு காங்கேயம் காளைகள் மீது ஈர்ப்பு அதிகம். என் தந்தை காலம் தொட்டே, எங்கள் வீட்டில் காங்கேயம் காளைகள் குழந்தைகள் போல் வளர்ந்துள்ளன. எங்களிடம், "செவலை'யில் ஐந்தும், "மயிலை'யில் இரண்டும் உள்ளன. ஏழு காளைகளையும், நாங்கள் பெற்ற பிள்ளைகள் போல் வளர்த்து வருகிறோம்.மற்றவர்களிடம் முரண்டு பிடிக்கும் காளைகள், எங்கள் கண் அசைவுக்கும், மிரட்டலுக்கும் கட்டுப்படும். கம்பீரத்துக்கு காங்கேயம் காளையைத்தான் எடுத்துக்காட்டாக கூறுவர். அக்காளை இனம் தற்போது அழிவுப்பாதையை நோக்கி செல்வது வருத்தமாக உள்ளது.காங்கேயம் இனக் காளைகளை இன விருத்தி செய்வதற்காவும், இந்த இனத்தை அழியாமல் காப்பதற்கும், எங்களாலான பணியை செய்கிற÷õம். இக்காளைகளை இன விருத்திக்கு பயன்படுத்தி வருகிறோம். நாங்கள் உள்ளவரை காங்கேயம் இனக் காளைகளை அழிய விட கூடாது என்பதில் உறுதியாக இருக்கிறோம்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

2ND LEAD (ADDS VIDEO)

We always requested international investigation: TNA’s Suresh Premachandran

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 March 2012, 18:40 GMT]
“We have been to various countries like United State of America, Great Britain, Canada and South Africa, and we requested those countries that there must be an international investigation on the accountability, because the LLRC report does not have anything about the accountability as such,” said TNA parliamentarian Mr Suresh Premachandran in conducting a press meet at the TNA office, which is also the EPRLF office, in Jaffna on Sunday. On TNA’s talks with the SL government, Premachandran said Colombo has not yet fulfilled an understanding between Sampanthan and Rajapaksa that a bilateral agreement on solutions should precede before the TNA naming participants to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC). Without third party mediation the talks are futile, as SL doesn’t want to settle the problem through power sharing, Premachandran said.



“For more than a year we were negotiating with the SL government but we couldn’t move an inch, because the government doesn’t want to share power with Tamils.

“Under these circumstances, if you want to continue the talks, then I strongly feel that there must be a third-party mediation.

“Only when there is a third-party mediation the international community will come to know what actually the government is up to […] Otherwise, this can go on for another year and the government might say so many things.

“In the future, if you want to continue the talks and if the International Community seriously want to see any progress, I strongly feel we need a third party mediation in the talks,” Mr Premachandran said in English at the press meet.

A day before on Saturday, conducting a press meet in Jaffna, the leader of Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnabalam, denouncing the US-tabled resolution at Geneva as “extremely disappointing and counter-productive”, said that justice could only come from independent international investigation.

* * *

Meanwhile, talking in Tamil at the press conference on Sunday, Mr. Premachandran discussed at length the internal differences in perception inside the TNA on the issue of the Alliance not going to Geneva in making a campaign.

The following are translated summary of his discussion with the press in Tamil:

During the first week of February the opinion among most of the TNA parliamentarians was in favour of participating at the UNHRC sessions in Geneva.

Without holding any further meeting with the parliamentarians if there were any reviews in the decision, Mr. Sampanthan [TNA parliamentary group leader] issued a press statement on February 25, that the TNA would not go to Geneva.

Myself, and the other leaders of the Alliance, Selvam Adaikkalanathan and Maavai Senadhiraja were in India at that time. The other parliamentarians were in their constituencies. Mr. Sumanthiran [the nominated parliamentarian] contacted us over the phone to readout the press statement.

As the statement was against the earlier opinion of most of the parliamentarians, I told him not to release the statement and hold another meeting.

Selvam came to know about the statement through me and he also told Sumanthiran to hold on. Maavai who was in Trichy didn’t know anything. The other parliamentarians in the island were informed over the phone through Sumanthiran.

However, rejecting our opinion, the statement was released on February 25. This shows the anti-democratic tendencies inside the alliance and also the urgency to come out with such a statement.

Later, several reasons were said:

If the TNA goes to Geneva violence may erupt against Tamils was one of the reasons said.

Speaking to BBC, Sumanthiran said that the international community advised against TNA going to Geneva.

There was no invitation; going to Geneva at the sponsorship of another is below the prestige of the TNA that is recognized by the USA and India; there is nothing to achieve by going to Geneva, we have sent letters to the 47-member countries – these were some other reasons said.

The question is that to whom the hasty statement announcing the non-participation of the TNA was beneficial.

Sri Lanka government made the maximum use of it for its campaign at Geneva. Colombo advised that others too should follow the example of the TNA. An image was projected that the TNA has found agreement with the SL government.

Contradictions within the TNA and in media appeared thereafter. The trust of people in the TNA became the casualty. A parliamentary group meeting was convened and even there, Mr Sampanthan insisted on not going to Geneva, citing the advice of the international community. The decision was imposed to save the unity of the TNA.

But the diaspora wanted our presence.

As a political party we have no space in the sessions. But sponsored by registered human rights organizations, we could have gone to make a campaign inside and outside of the UNHRC.

We don’t need to get permission from anyone to do this, and SL government cannot project it as against the sovereignty of its state. During 1988-89 JVP times, the current SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa and SL minister Vasudeva who were then in the opposition went to the same UN human rights session to argue for the human rights of the Sinhalese.

TNA was formed to win the rights of the Tamil people. That’s why people overwhelmingly elected us. After getting elected by people, if anyone says that our status has now gone up, because the USA and India recognise us, and we should not make our campaign, standing at the gates in Geneva, it is a wrong argument.

I speak on length at these issues not to weaken the TNA or to accuse individuals, but to enlighten the people. Only an enlightened people could course-correct their polity, Suresh Premachandran said.

* * *

On Saturday, at the TNPF press meet, Mr Gajendrakumar said that the closing date at Geneva for registering the names of the participants through registered human rights organisations was Feb 24. Since there was an expectation that the TNA would go, others were not concentrating on it. But, as the TNA chose to announce its decision on Feb 25, even substitutes also could not be arranged, Gajendrakumar said

Many things making an impact could be said within the 5 minutes time one gets in the session. On earlier occasions many freedom fighters have used the UNHRC forum in such a way, Gajendrakumar further said.

But the actual problem of the TNA was what to tell at Geneva – without contradicting the US agenda and at the same time not going against the pulse of Tamils, commented a political observer who went through both the press meets in Jaffna.

Chronology:

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..

Salvadoran Ex-defense minister convicted of torture, ordered deported

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 March 2012, 13:46 GMT]
A U.S. immigration judge has ruled that there are sufficient grounds to begin deportation proceedings against a former Salvadoran defense minister for his alleged involvement in torture and extrajudicial killings in the Central American country in the 1980s, Reuters reported. Center for Justice & Accountability (CJA), a human rights group involved in the case, praised the ruling saying it was "the first judicial affirmation of Mr Casanova's role in those horrendous crimes."

Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Coburn (R-OK), assisted CJA in requesting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice to review the prosecution and deportation against Casanova.

In 1999, CJA filed suit against Vides Casanova for human rights abuses. Dr. Juan Romagoza Arce, Neris Gonzalez, and Carlos Mauricio, endured torture at the hands of troops under Casanova's command. In 2002, a West Palm Beach, Fla., jury returned at $54.6 million judgment against Generals José Guillermo García and Carlos Vides Casanova, a verdict that led to the deportation proceedings against Vides Casanova. In January 2006, the 11th Circuit court upheld the verdict on appeal and, in July 2006, Vides Casanova was forced to relinquish over $300,000 of his assets, the CJA said in its website on the history of the case.

The ruling is the first time that a senior foreign military official has been held responsible in U.S. immigration court for rights abuses committed under his command, according to human rights lawyers.

Vides Casanova was defense minister during a brutal period of civil war in the 1980s between leftist rebels and U.S.-backed government forces. He retired and moved to Florida in 1989.

Spokesperson for Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), a legal activist group that seeks redress to Sri Lanka's Tamil victims of war, said, "the role of equities in the American justice system which render statutes of limitations flexible for particular crimes will bolster Tamil justice efforts in the long run. The immigration ruling is a welcome warning sign to Sri Lanka's alleged war-criminals, some of whom are either holders of Green Card or hold U.S. citizenship."

The Casanova case also involved Court struggle over statute of limitations which is 10 years for TVPA cases.

• Casanova 2nd Appeal

• Casanova 1st Appeal

After the jury award in 2002, the defendants appealed the verdict and, in February 2005, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned CJA’s victory in the case. The Court ruled that the plaintiffs failed to state a cause of action within the 10-year statute of limitations of Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA).

Then, in June 2005, the 11th Circuit acknowledged certain factual errors in its prior ruling: the court had failed to consider that Vides Casanova had left power in El Salvador in May 1989, and that therefore CJA’s May 1999 filing was just under the 10 year mark.

On January 5, 2006, the 11th Circuit issued a new ruling upholding the verdict in its entirety: the jury’s verdict against both generals remained valid. The court’s opinion reached two important conclusions on the question of equitable tolling in ATS cases. Equitable tolling is a legal doctrine that allows for the extending of statutes of limitations, when a deliberate act of the defendant, or an extraordinary circumstance prevented the plaintiff from timely filing suit. In this case, the court held that "exceptional circumstances" allowed for the tolling of the statute of limitations until the end of the civil war in El Salvador in 1992.

External Links:

CJA:		Ex-Salvadoran Defense Minister Vides Casanova Ruled Deportable for Human Rights Abuses
Reuters:		Former Salvadoran defense minister can be deported: U.S. judge

LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gajendrakumar

[TamilNet, Sunday, 11 March 2012, 11:37 GMT]
The US-tabled resolution at UNHRC, based on the fundamentally flawed LLRC recommendations, is extremely disappointing and counter-productive, said Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, leader of Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), in a press meet held at the party office in Jaffna on Saturday. The resolution envisages an accused in the violation of international humanitarian law to become the investigator of the crime. If the LLRC findings are going to be the ‘starting point’ for any future prospects, chances of progress are difficult. Rather than keeping the expectations of the grieved party at the bare minimum, the resolution should begin with the UNSG panel report. What need investigation are the genocide of 60 years culminating into the war and the on-going structural genocide. Justice could come only from independent international investigation, he said.



Our position is that what is happening in Sri Lanka is a systematic genocide. It has been happening for the last 60 odd years. What happened in the last stages of the war was taking that genocidal project to its extreme.

It has been three years since the war ended. There are several steps that are being taken currently that carry on the structural genocide of our people. What is happening in Sri Lanka and particularly to the Tamil nation in the island of Sri Lanka is the dismantling of the existence of the Tamils as a distinct nation of people. That is what is happening and it is that what has to be investigated and our belief is that if there is any prospect of justice to be met, it can only happen through one international independent investigation. Nothing short of it was advised, Gajendrakumar said in the English session of the press meet.

TNPF officials: [L-R] Mr. Jeyasingam Jeyarooban, Mr. Manivannan, Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam, parliamentarian Mr. S. Kajendren and Ms. Pathmini Sithamparanathan

The translated summary of Gajendrakumar’s detailed press session in Tamil follows:

Tamil people should not keep quiet anymore. Their mass organisations and civil groups should realise their duties and the fact that the unfolding scenario has no room for individual issues.

It is futile for the Tamil political leadership, positioning itself against the aspirations of the people, to again and again get trapped in the old ways of polity. The next stage should be a mass struggle.

In the given context of political vacuum, the Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF) should function as an alternative force, is a demand that comes from certain sections in our homeland as well as in the diaspora. But we try to avoid becoming another political party. Our politics has to be a mass movement. At the moment, the contribution of civil groups in our society is historic. Such a civil movement has to be built up in every part of our homeland. We only like to function participating with the civil movement.

There is an on-going campaign that the US-resolution at Geneva is against Sri Lanka and it would benefit Tamils. But, the resolution completely harps on the LLRC recommendations of Sri Lanka.

The LLRC was conceived only as an escape route for Sri Lanka. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has earlier rejected it completely.

We want to categorically state that the USA has disappointed Tamils by basing the resolution on the LLRC recommendations.

During the war, when I was part of the TNA and its foreign affairs committee, the international diplomats whom we met have assured us and wanted us to believe that they had warned the Colombo government of dire consequences if there were a bloodbath.

Now, after 3 years of what had happened the resolution comes in Geneva, exploiting the sufferings of Tamils. To muffle the escalating criticism, an excuse is said that it is a ‘first step’ and the process should go ‘step by step’.

Tamils have to be careful.

While Tamils face day-to-day structural genocide and annihilation of their nation from various angles in the post-war context, to what extent such a resolution could exert pressure on Sri Lanka is doubtful.

Sri Lanka knows this well, but its efforts will be to dilute the resolution further, far below the level of any Tamil aspirations. In such an eventuality, the possibilities of enhancing the resolution are doubtful.

Besides, the resolution envisages the accused to become the investigator. The UNSG panel experts have pointed out that the LLRC recommendations are too weak.

When the LLRC report was out, the TNA rejected it. But when the USA based its resolution on the implementation of the LLRC recommendations, the TNA leadership in a written statement sent to the 47-member countries of the UNHCR, has not only welcomed the report but has also argued that the recommendations contain all the unfulfilled promises of earlier SL governments and the implementation of them would satisfy all Tamil aspirations.

Once the TNA has taken this stand, it would be difficult for Tamils to come out of the bindings of this resolution, if it is going to be passed at Geneva. This is a big challenge for our future.

The whole exercise seems to be ruining Tamils with the permission of Tamils. Even after the truth becoming explicit, Tamils cannot be aloof by handing over their polity to politicians. They should be awake at least at this juncture, Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnampalm urged at the press meet.

Chronology:

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..

Tamil plaintiffs to appeal ruling on war crimes case against Rajapakse

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 March 2012, 16:37 GMT]
Bruce Fein, the attorney for the three Tamil plaintiffs who filed war-crimes charges against Sri Lanka's President Rajapakse, said Saturday that his clients have given consent to file an appeal against the ruling by the District Court of District of Columbia. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said in the Court opinion that she had to dismiss the case because the Obama administration had said Rajapakse was immune from litigation as a foreign head of state. The appeal will be heard by a panel of three judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after the notice of appeal is filed within 30 days of the lower court ruling on the case.

Court of Appeals, District of Columbia

Bruce Fein, when queried on the decision to proceed with the appeal, told TamilNet:

The decision to appeal the District Court’s dismissal of the TVPA suit against President Rajapaksa on the Suggestion of Immunity by the Department of Justice and to postpone suits against Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Sareth Fonseka pivots on two grounds. The District Court’s ruling verges on the obtuse and is exceptionally vulnerable to reversal by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The ruling relies on irrelevant precedents, and invents of canon of statutory construction that Congress is presumed to enact meaningless statutes that leave international common law undisturbed unless it explicitly declares the statute is intended to be law, not mere wallpaper. The case has attracted widespread national and international media attention, which is invaluable publicity shining the spotlight on GOSL atrocities. I believe the constitutional issue raised by the litigation against President Rajapaksa is a good candidate for ultimate review in the United States Supreme Court. In addition, to sue Gotabaya and Fonseka now would diminish the moral pressure on the courts to uphold the TVPA suit against President Rajapaksa because the judges would perceive that dismissing the case would not leave the TVPA victims of the President’s abominations without a remedy, i.e., they could sue the President’s henchmen. Finally, the statute of limitations for TVPA suits is 10 years. Thus, awaiting the outcome of an appeal of the TVPA suit against President Rajapaksa will not prejudice our ability to sue Gotabaya and Fonseka later, Fein said.

The complaint for this case alleged multiple violations of the Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA) based on Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa’s command responsibility for the extrajudicial killings of Ragihar Manoharan, the son of Plaintiff Dr. Kasippillai Manoharan, of Premas Anandarajah, a humanitarian aid worker for Action Against Hunger, and husband of Plaintiff Kalaiselvi Lavan, and four members of the Thevarajah family, all relatives of Plaintiff Jeyakumar Aiyathurai.

Chronology:

10.03.12  Tamil plaintiffs to appeal ruling on war crimes ca..

04.03.12  Worried Colombo consulted top D.C. law firm for ad..

02.03.12  Supreme Court's June ruling can undermine Rajapaks..

01.03.12  Head of State immunity saves Rajapakse from war-cr..

19.02.12  Court to decide if US can save Rajapakse from war-..

05.02.12  Fein: TVPA's plain language interpretation negates..

20.01.12  Tamil plaintiffs oppose US Government's stand on R..

15.01.12  Executive overreach to provide immunity to Univers..

14.01.12  US "suggests" immunity to Rajapakse from suit

18.12.11  Rajapakse case, a legal pioneer, reaches historic ..

17.12.11  Rajapakse accepts Court summons, asks US to confer..

04.12.11  War crime litigations reach crucial phase in US co..

23.11.11  Judge Kotelly to decide Rajapakse's legal fate in ..

19.10.11  Rajapakse says will defy Court Order, Shavendra hi..

14.10.11  US Court authorizes use of TamilNet to serve Rajap..

01.10.11  Rajapakse, an enemy of all mankind, filed U.S. Cou..

20.09.11  Rajapakse has no immunity against war crimes prose..

06.08.11  US Court rules Rumsfeld can be sued for torture

27.06.11  Colombo fears judgment against Rajapakse in US Cou..

18.06.11  Hague summons reaches Rajapakse for US Court case

02.06.11  U.S. case: Rajapakse ducks service, Court order so..

09.02.11  DC Court to serve summons to Rajapakse

29.01.11  Ambassador, an honest man sent to lie for Sri Lank..

28.01.11  Rajapaksa sued in US Courts over war-crimes, plain..

23.01.11  TAG to file civil case against Rajapakse in Texas ..

External Links:

US:

United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit

SLA re-confiscates land ‘declared’ resettled in Jaffna HSZ

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 March 2012, 11:56 GMT]
The Sinhala state occupying the country of Eezham Tamils will never observe any of the ‘reconciliation’ hoodwink it simulates to the outside world. This becomes explicitly evident with the Sri Lanka military re-occupying villages ‘declared’ for resettlement in the Valikaamam High Security Zone, to create an extensive and fenced militarized region along the northern coast of Jaffna, news sources in Jaffna exposed. Several traditional villages of Jaffna in the fertile red-soil belt will be lost forever in the creation of an extensive Sinhala military region in the most strategic and economically important part of the country of Eezham Tamils, and civil officials in Jaffna are gagged to open their mouths on the blatant grab that takes place after showcasing resettlement to the world, news sources further said.

Freshly-laid permanent fence for the Sinhala military region in the northern coast of Jaffna

Resettlement will never take place in the Valikaamam HSZ, people are realizing now. Even the semblances of the resettlement activities are now silenced. In the last four months no resettlement has taken place.

It was not only the politicians and officials of occupying Colombo, but was also the diplomats of the international abetters of the genocidal state, who were showcasing the ‘rehabilitation’ of the IDPs in the HSZ, with a big noise until sometimes back.

But now the SLA is silently re-occupying the territory with permanent fences built to seal off the entire region.

From Achchuveali and Vazhalaay to Keerimalai– a large tract including Palaali, Kaangheasan-thu’rai (KKS), Mayiliddi North, Thaiyiddi North, parts of Maaviddapuram, Kurumpachiddi, Kuddiyappulam etc.– will make the new SL military enclave, and people will never be allowed in the region, Sinhala military officials told the people struggling to get back their lands and villages.

15 villages completely and 8 villages partially will make the Sinhala military region carved out in the north of Jaffna peninsula.

Thousands of occupying troops work day and night with an incredible speed in fencing the Sinhala military region.

The fences go through even the so-called resettled villages and horticultural lands, cutting them through and isolating them from one another.

The resettlement showcase took place only in some patches and even they are now either lost or cut through and are discouraged for use of people. As the resettled people in the pockets cannot communicate with one another they simply leave.

De-mining stopped in bordering villages of the HSZ

Only 30 per cent of the HSZ was earlier declared for resettlement and even that is now either re-occupied or made uninhabitable.

De-mining in the Valikaamam HSZ and in some other strategic parts of the peninsula has also been stopped, ostensibly citing financial constrains of the de-mining organisations, but actually to excuse from resettlement.

Organisations involved in de-mining are now reluctant in undertaking work in villages bordering the Valikaamam HSZ. Earlier, de-mining work has been stopped at Naakar-koayil and Vadamaraadchi East.

New areas demarcated for the High Security Zone. After more than two decades of SL military occupation, the once densely populated Tamil villages have now become a semi-forest region.

Concrete posts – barbed wire fences being currently laid at Oddakap-pulam locality of Vasaavi'laan.

Even the Tamil politicians have become silent as they too have been ‘convinced’ by the masters of the ‘inevitability’ of the land grab for the need of the genocidal agent state and its imperial masters, new generation political circles in Jaffna said.

The US-resolution at Geneva that talks of de-militarisation of the North avoiding de-militarisation of the East where Trincomalee is located, needs careful perusal by all, the political circles in Jaffna pointed out, adding that the US is trying to benefit by the Sinhala militarisation of the East.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was on record for saying that he had fought India’s war. He may now try to show that even the militarisation of the North is for India’s benefit.

By giving Hambantota to China, Trincomalee to the USA and KKS to India, Rajapaksa regime and the Sinhala state is trying to achieve its historical obsession of the genocide and annihilation of the nation of Eezham Tamils, the political circles in Jaffna further said.

Sri Lanka's large military establishments that choke Jaffna peninsula and threaten Indian security. Sinhala colonisation is carried out in places no 11, 13, 14, and 16. The locations: 1. High Security Zone, Valikaamam North, 2. Kaarainakar naval base, 3. Vallan, Pungkudutheevu, 4. Periyathu'rai and Saamiththoadda-munai, Delft (Key location for Kachchatheevu and Rameswaram), 5. Kunthavadi, Delft, 6. Thalai-mannaar, 7. Mannaar Fort, 8. Tha'l'laadi, 9. Poonakari Fort, 10. Elephant Pass, 11. Vettilaikkea'ni, 12. Naakarkoayil, 13. Ariyaalai East and the opposite sandbar Ma'n'niththalai, 14. Naavatkuzhi, 15. Ma'ndaitheevu and 16. Jaffna city. The innumerable small military posts and the newly planned cantonments in Vanni are not shown in the map. [Satellite Image courtesy: NASA, Visible Earth. Legend by TamilNet]

The Sri Lankan military occupied High Security Zone (HSZ) along the northern coast of Jaffna peninsula, that evicted a large number of Tamil civilians from their homes for two decades now [Satellite image courtesy: Google Earth]

A map revealing the status of mine clearing within the High Security Zone obtained by TamilNet in December 2010

Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-resolution ploy

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 March 2012, 00:07 GMT]
Diaspora Tamils, who have witnessed several setbacks, are made to believe that they should welcome and promote anything that looks like a buoy to hold on. This is wrong and Diaspora groups should think before being carried away in an imposed trend to welcome such ploys, opined activists from Tamil Nadu belonging to various shades of polity in a flagship programme, Neethiyin Kural (Voice of Justice), in WinTV on Friday, anchored by CR Baskaran. Thoazhar Thiyagu called the resolution as an escape route being offered to Sri Lankan state by the USA. Professor Dheeran said Tamils should not be trapped once again by the joint ploy of the USA, India and Norway. Oaviyar Pukazheanthi said Tamil organisations had attributed much significance to the Geneva sessions without the knowledge of the outcome and now the draft resolution clearly exposes the agenda seeking bailout of the SL state.

Mr. Thiyagu, an activist of Tamil Nadu, has been a long-time supporter of Eezham Tamil struggle.

Professor Dheeran is currently the president of Thamizhar Vaazhvurimaik Kadchi. Until recently, he was associated with Naam Thamilar movement.

Oaviyar Pukazhenthi is a veteran artist, whose paintings have long portrayed the Tamil struggle. He travelled extensively in Tamil Eelam under LTTE control.

The US-tabled resolution on Sri Lanka seems to be designed carefully to betray Eezham Tamils and bail out the Sinhala state in the island of Sri Lanka. Tamils therefore should not be hurrying in welcoming this resolution, said Thoazhar Thiyagu.

Tamils all over the world should be unanimous in fixing the minimum requirement of any international move and it could be nothing but independent international investigations, he further said.

Giving a historical outline of events on the international forums after May 2009, Thiyagu recalled that Switzerland had initially come out with a draft in 2009 calling on Sri Lanka to investigate alleged war crimes, but that move was countered by China, Russia, India and associated countries that gave credit to Sri Lanka for its ‘victory’. But, crucial evidences on the war crimes surfaced after that session and there has been four significant steps in the form of tribunals, panel reports and media coverage that attributed significance to the issue by keeping it burning throughout the last 3 years.

This resolution will seek to silence the Tamils by not demanding anything further as everyone would say that there has been a UN Human Rights Council resolution confining the process within the island and one should only follow it up. This would seek to seal off Tamils taking forward their struggle, he warned.

Professor Dheeran said that the draft tabled by the USA in UN Human Rights Council, which limits its reference to the local LLRC findings and recommendations, has failed the intentional community by not referring to UN Secretary General Expert Panel report, which has not only criticized the LLRC, but also recommended international accountability and investigation mechanism. Tamils should take note that the draft placed in the UN body has no reference to the UN expert panel report.

Prof Dheeran argued that the draft seemed to be a joint agenda by the USA, India and also Norway. Former Co-Chair countries had routed the Tamils with their declarations in Oslo. Tamils should be aware of this and be careful in encountering similar traps like this resolution.

The Tamils should continue their campaign vigorously by demanding International Investigations and Right to Self-Determination-based UN-monitored plebiscite among Eezham Tamils in the island and in the diaspora.

Tamils should be even prepared to deal with China, if that is what needed, Prof Dheeran said.

When prompted for their reactions on India's take on the move, Mr. Thiyagu said India is in complicity with Rajapaksa's war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. If you effectively charge Rajapaksa for the war-crimes, then Congress-India will also be found guilty on these three counts. That is why Rajapaksa is being bailed out from war crimes in the curent move, he said.

C.R. Baskaran, the Win TV anchor

When C.R. Baskaran questioned the participants on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Ms. Jayalalithaa's letter to the Centre urging India not to back Rajapaksa, Mr. Thiyagu drew a parallel to former CM, Karunanidhi's letter to Manmohan Singh, before the 2009 Human Rights Council session and said that New Delhi had ignored the request. He implied the same plight to Ms. Jayalalithaa's request. The approach by Centre hasn't changed even though there is a new CM in the state, he said.

Oaviyar Pukazeanthi blamed that the New Delhi establishment doesn't respect the feelings of 60 to 70 million Tamils in India and added that Tamil activists were not sure, whether the CM had realized that the US-tabled resolution will not be helping Tamils, but will only bail out the Sri Lankan state. Professor Dheeran, echoing the same opinion said one should take note of the additional demand that has been put forward by Ms. Jayalalithaa requesting the Centre to call for international economic sanctions on Sri Lanka.

Chronology:

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..