Comments on: People in the North feel welfare measures by the Govt is due to Western pressure

By: truth

truth — Sat, 19 May 2012 12:50:52 +0000

Thank you Henry de mel.

It is not that the “pro Govt.” people does not know the true situation, but they just want to “defend” the war criminals and want to justify the almost 60 year long injustice heaped on the minorities by the successive Sinhalese Government!! The discrimination and injustice has reached the climax with this Government!!!”Development” is to get the 20% after doing a shoddy job with everyone concerned making their share!!!

By: truth

truth — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:59:25 +0000

“………offering psychosocial assistance. Even Sinhala soldiers who are traumatised by war a killing each other but the GoVT will no offer any help. This is mainly because the so-called Minister of Economic Development has not got a basic degree and knows nothing about development or economics! Nor do those cronies in the Rajpakse circle”

Regarding above:

It is very true that none of the “ruling company” has any education!!(what ever “certificates” they may have, are all earned by “back door methods”! More than that they have no sympathy, compassion, justice or common sense!!! All they are interested in is how to fleece the country and earn enough to last for centuries to come!!! It is foolish to expect compassion, justice from thugs, criminals and killers!!!They don’t care about the mental state of the common man or their lives!!!

By: Henry de mel

Henry de mel — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:25:03 +0000

It appears that Bruno Umbato has not visited the north in recent times and seen the rural folk – how they live and suffer without decent shelter, water/sanitation, livelihoods etc. On paper things are fine but not in reality. One example, government authorities say that fisherfolk are given concessionary loans to purchase boats and gear. However, the fisheries societies affirm that banks have given just three loans to a society and wants full repayment before others get a loan!
Bruno has a lurking fear that every Tamil is after eelam or ellam. So many poor Tamils just want a decent life for themselves and their children, just like the Singhalese and Muslims and want to be treated equally like anybodyelse.
The government is not doing enough for shelter, water, sanitation, education and livelihoods – it has done very little.

The road system is fine, hospitals are coming up but making a living is so difficult for most people in the rural northern areas. Bruno will change his views if only he sees the north with his own eyes!

By: Jehan S

Jehan S — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:10 +0000

Wait, what? You went down a street and asked a few people? That doesn’t seem very scientific to me. But if you are right, this is a big problem. But, you have to realize that sometimes when a question is asked of people .. the question itself is the first time they even think about it –And frankly it’s at too early a stage. The answer then given may be according to a prevailing but temporary wind. Anyway, after the US Civil War, the two “sides” were bitter like that too .. but eventually they sort of got along. Even today 6 generations later, there are some people in the US who are bitter. Long term, it can be solved with education. Also, ironically, some Sri Lankan politicians are the ones promoting this view that somehow the foreign governments care about Tamils! I am not talking about TNA — I am talking about the ones who are “pro” Sri Lanka. Who goes around claiming that that there is Western pressure in favor of Tamils? Who shouts this the most? Think about it.

By: Bruno Umbato

Bruno Umbato — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:23:25 +0000

Jehan has given us the reality here and there in this writing …

“……Despite these significant changes for the better there was reluctance amongst the people I met to give credit to the government for contributing to these improvements”. —-
—-_ significant changes but reluctant to give credit

“……Those amongst the intelligentsia I met were quick to attribute improvements, such as the non-intrusive sentry points and the closure of military shops, to the Geneva resolution. They preferred to believe that it was external pressure that was inducing the government to improve its conduct rather than goodwill that was internal to the government” —-
— reson for improvement due NOT TO GOODWILL but to external pressure

Nothing short of eeellllaaaammm, would satisfy the elements Jehan had talked to … What could the SL do?
It should continue to improve the conditions of people who had suffered in north not only for humanitarians reasons but also to fulfill government’s responsibility.
Should they expect trust in the Tamils who are hellbent on achieving Eellam whether they are in SL or outside?
Definitely not the way Jehan’s concludes (“….The government needs to show more trust in the Tamil people and more care for their concerns if is to win their hearts and minds”) …
Because, hearts and mind are set in concrete at least in the people Jehan talked to … To win them, give 1/3 of the country and 2/3 of the coastal line to less than 5% of the population with long term view of loosing the whole country to them or becoming a state of Motherr India …

By: Bala

Bala — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:57:36 +0000

Timely update by Jehan, Thank You. Any development in the North is welcome by Tamils, No thanks to GoSL. GoSL doesn’t need reconciliation with the Tamils, as it does not depend on their vote bank to hold on to power and control, exept for the International community. Thanks to all the previous regimes, now the Tamils are a needed vote bank in the western countries.

By: Bala

Bala — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:21:25 +0000

Good and timely report by Jehan Perera. Even by external pressure if the GOSL does some development work in the N&E is welcome by Tamils but no gratitude will be given to the GOSL, of course. For the GOSL, there is no need for reconciliation with the Tamils. They can be in power and in control without the support of the Tamils, of course if only the International community can turn a blind eye. Well those days are gone thanks to the previous regimes, now the Tamils are a good voters bank in western world.

By: Kattabomman

Kattabomman — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:40:59 +0000

The GoSL measures development in terms of steel, cement, bricks, asphalt and hardware only. That is where the maximum commissions can be earned!

By: Punchi Pancha

Punchi Pancha — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:03:29 +0000

resplendent,

have you forgotten that they do not form a voter bank?

They were prevented from voting in the 2005 AND 2010 elections by a combination of intimidation, a lack of transport and far flung polling stations-both the last being arranged for the purpose.

There were overwhelming majorities for the opposition but turnout was negligible.

By: Punchi Pancha

Punchi Pancha — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:03:04 +0000

resplendent,

have you forgotten that they do not form a voter bank?

They were prevented from voting in the 2005 AND 2010 elections by a combination of intimidation, a lack of transport and far flung polling stations-both the last being arranged for the purpose.

There were overwhelming majorities for the opposition but turnout was negligible.

With plans for redistricting, the value of whatever votes they have will diminish further.

By: Sriyakantha

Sriyakantha — Tue, 15 May 2012 05:19:08 +0000

The GoSL has a very warped understanding of ‘Development” and no concept of social or human development – hence the unwillingness to let NGO offering psychosocial assistance. Even Sinhala soldiers who are traumatised by war a killing each other but the GoVT will no offer any help. This is mainly because the so-called Minister of Economic Development has not got a basic degree and knows nothing about development or economics! Nor do those cronies in the Rajpakse circle. The so-called minister of economic development is also known as Mr 20 percent and is no doubt making lots of money on all the large infrastructure project contracts that are centralised in his hand via the Presidential task Force (TF) which should be disolved so that local governance institutions can handle reconstruction for people-centered development.
The Rajapakse regime’s notion of development are “building roads to nowhere” and sports stadia so that Namal Rajapakse can have car races and drag races and night races. The Central Bank Governor measures development by the number of luxury SUVs on the road. This neo-liberal model of infrastructure development is one that the international doners particularly the World Bank, IMF and ADB are happy about because they can LEND money. This model of “development” increases the DEBT TRAP and is very different from Amatya Sen’s notion of “development as freedom” to enable human capabilities, individual creativity and human security.. which is what is needed at this time.

By: resplendant

resplendant — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:59:02 +0000

Well, the western countries certainly did not play any part in making sure that the kids of the northerners will no longer be recruited forcibly to die in the battlefield. On the other hand, if everything (however small) is done to help this people by the government is attributed to western pressure, what’s the carrot for the government (as politicians) to keep investing in a bad voter bank?