The future of South Asia---Special Feature Article

Special  feature   Article

VIEW: The future of South Asia -by Mohammad Jamil

So far, SAARC has been little more than a talk-shop since its inception in 1985, where
speeches are delivered and leaders express their determination to convert the region into a South Asian Union

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held their first
meeting in nine months on Thursday on the sidelines of the SAARC summit, with a view to
ending the diplomatic stalemate lingering since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. According to a local TV report, both sides have decided, in principle, to resume the Composite Dialogue. According to Pakistan's foreign minister, he and his Indian counterpart have been tasked with the homework for resumption of the dialogue. Though no date has been fixed for the meeting between the two foreign ministers, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, an incorrigible optimist, has called the meeting
between the two prime ministers very positive. There is pressure on India and Pakistan from the
smaller member countries to resolve their differences so that all can work in unison for the
progress of their countries and prosperity of their people. During the two-day 16th SAARC summit in Bhutan, the leaders signed an agreement on the environment, encouraging the exchange of ceo-friendly technologies and knowledge about climate change and wildlife conservation. Another agreement on trade covered services in areas like health, hospitality, communications, computers and air transport.

The future of South Asia, inhabited by more than 1.6 billion people, depends on the leaderships
of the countries of the region. So far, SAARC has been little more than a talk-shop since its
inception in 1985, where speeches are delivered and leaders express their determination to convert the region into a South Asian Union. But these ideas have not gone beyond noble
sentiments. After three years of a free trade regime, the trade between SAARC countries reached only $ 688 million in 2009. It, however, goes without saying that India, being an industrially
developed country in SAARC, stands to gain the most if it normalises relations with its neighbours by resolving all outstanding issues. In case some progress is made on the Kashmir
dispute or if India shows a sincere desire to resolve the core issue, Pakistan could allow India to trade with the Central Asian Republics through its land route.

There was indeed a common .desire of the countries to open a new chapter of Asian prosperity. Where millions live below the poverty line, South Asia could benefit from the proposed economic partnership, and also improve the living standards of its people. Secondly, by trading
with each other they can, in addition to saving the cost of freight, save a lot of foreign exchange because imports from the US and European (EU) countries are expensive. If SAARC countries
can convert the forum into an economic union, all of them will gain. So, far as the South Asia Free Trade Agreement's (SA FTA's) implementation is concerned, it delayed because some
members had expressed reservations over the list of sensitive products rules of origin and compensation mechanism for the least developed countries.

On January 6, 2004, the leaders of the seven SAARC countries reached a landmark decision at
the closing session of the 12th SAARC summit when they adopted Additional Protocol to the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and SAFTA. The Additional Protocol envisaged declaring the provision, collection or acquisition of funds for terrorist activities as illegal, and taking further measures to prevent and suppress financing of such acts. On April 6, 2005, the representatives of 26 Asian countries participating in the 4th Asia Cooperation
Dialogue (ACD) ministerial meeting in Islamabad on 'Economic Cooperation in Asia' had stressed the need for introducing a common currency, constituting a monetary fund and
liberalizing the Asian bonds market and trade. In other continents - Africa, Europe and the US - such associations and institutions have been effective, but Asia is lagging behind.

Asian leaders, therefore, should rise to the occasion and give a practical demonstration of their
will to resolve all political disputes infesting the continent. It is, however, an irrefutable fact that
no progress can be made unless major irritants like the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan are removed. India and Pakistan have held many rounds of talks in the past and the
question remains what they have to discuss when the Composite Dialogue is resumed. Naturally, these issues are Sir Creek, Siachin and the Kashmir dispute. There have been three wars between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. War is not an option for two nuclear states, but that does not mean that there is no need for the resolution of conflicts between
them. Members of SAARC often talk of emulating the EU. EU came about due to the efforts and joint vision of the then French President Charles De Gaulle and German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, which united the European nations that had a history full of wars, in addition to two World Wars.
It was the building of such a sound foundation that even East European countries have become
part of the EU. It, however, took more than 50 years to reach the present stage. Even today, at
least four countries from the original IS-member European Union (now 27) have not accepted the
single currency. The idea of an Asian Union may sound premature, but in the interest of peace and
prosperity in the region, India and Pakistan should resolve all disputes and pave the way for establishment of, at least, the South Asian Union to start with. The benefits to India and the
countries of the region would be enormous.

The writer is afreelance columnist. He can be reached at mjami11938@hotmail.com

67th. Anniversary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka held in Jaffna on 10th. July, 2010

67th. Anniversary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka held in Jaffna on 10th. July, 2010

Reported  by  Chandana  Wijekoon  from  Jaffna

he 67th. Birth Day of our Party – Communist Party of Sri Lanka falls on July 3rd. 2010. To mark this event we decided to hold this Anniversary Meeting today in Jaffna.

At the outset, I take this opportunity to remember with deep respect and honour the founding leaders of our Party, namely Dr. S.A. Wickremasinghe, Pieter Keuneman, Rev. Udakendawala Sri Saranankara, T. Duraisingham, A. Vaidyalingam and, P. Kandiah etc.

It is also with deep respect that I wish to recall the pleasant memories of Comrades S. Jeyasingham, N. Shanmugathasan, A. Ariyaratne, V. Ponnambalam, M. Karthigesu, P. Kumaraswami, C. Kumaraswami, S.P. Nararajah, M.C. Subramaniam, and S.Wijayananthan. The distinguished members of our Party from the North who nourished and built our Party . There are so many others from the North who were associated with the Left Movement.

Today we are back in politics in the North with sad memories of the past but with full of optimism of our future. I do not propose to recollect that painful and miserable past during this healing and reconciliation period.

Although, our Party was formed 67 years back, its origin goes as far back as 1920s, the historic days of the Jaffna Students Congress, later Jaffna Youth Congress led by Handy Perimpanayagam. The birth of All-Ceylon Youth Congress in 1931 and the Sooriyamal Movement in 1933 and the L.S.S.P. in 1935 were further developments of the anti-Imperialist struggle.

Winds of the Great October Revolution in 1917 brought inspiration to the people of Asia and awakened them to the struggles for independence. Only a few know that it was Ponnambalam Arunachalam who first broke the news of the Great October Revolution to the people of Sri Lanka and he was accused by the British Colonialists for drifting towards Bolshevism. Ponnambalam Arunachalam in 1917, breaking the news of the Great October Rervolution said that “there is nothing to fear we are now in the company of friends”.

Today we are here in the midst of our comrades and friends after a lapse of over 30 years – we were here last in the year 1976 when we put forward our candidate V.Ponnambalam at the by-election for KKS Seat. Much water has flowed under the bridges of our rivers and I do not propose to recollect those painful and dreadful days of the past during this healing and reconciliation period. No one can be happy over what had happened during this dark period. The loss of precious lives, destruction to the property, the economic ruin, prolonged suffering especially to the lower segments the Tamil society, emergence of cult of violence, collapse of national unity, emergence of under-world were all products and by-products of the war.

I do not want to be disrespectful to the departed leaders of any community who guided the destinies of our nation. I do not want to unearth those unfortunate events. But, they are facts of history which we cannot forget even though we can forgive. It is necessary to draw necessary lessons from this history if we are re-emerge from catastrophe and move forward.

We have missed so many opportunities offered by history and let us be determined that we shall not miss, yet again this golden opportunity.

Absence of a national consensus has been the main cause of our failures in the past and even today.

As far as our Party is concerned, we identified the national question from the very inception of our Party. In fact, the concept of regional autonomy within a united Sri Lankla (i.e. devolution of power in day’s context) was introduced to the Country by our Party as early as 1944 based on a scientific analysis of socio-economic-cultural realities and also international experiences.

The ruling bourgeoisie parties since Independence failed to comprehend these realities and were carried away by petty-narrow political interests and privileges – They abdicated their historical responsibility in the task of nation-building.
It was so in the case of bourgeoisie Tamil leaders in the North – Tamil Congress and Federal Party. They played a conservative and at times reactionary role in the realm of politics, prioriting their tasks to their narrow class interests.
They opposed every thing progressive and radical – Paddy Land Act, Nationalization of foreign interests, nationalization of Transport, Port, some even went to the extent of supporting the disenfranchment of workers of Indian Origin and their citizenship rights. Naturally, they were identified with the reactionary politics. That is how they were distanced from the progressive forces and even from people in the South.

As you all know, the events of Black July of 1983, and the subsequent notorious amendment to the 1978 Constitution (4th. Amendment) brought about a change in the political leadership of the Tamil people from the Tamil bourgeoisie to the right-wing petty bourgeoisie in 1980s. This was the turning point of history followed with a policy of blood and iron-chauvinism, terrorism, and separatism. The right-wing petty bourgeoisie sought refuge in support of reactionary forces abroad.

We of the Communist Party and of course the L.S.S.P stood firmly by our political positions in support of the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Tamil people. We suffered defeat, set-backs in the political front. We were targets of attack from both the terrorists in the North and the chauvinists in the South.

The left-wing political parties in the North who opted for national unity, a democratic path of development, for a political solution within the framework of unity were all marginalized, eliminated or destroyed. Even the moderate bourgeoisie Tamil leaders were not spared.
Even we who gave support for the 13th. Amendment were not spared both by the terrorists in the North and the chauvinists in the South.

I must reveal and reiterate the fact that the Communist Party lost 48 of its leaders at the hands of the J.V.P. and six at the hands of L.T.T.E.
Amazing and mysterious fact of history during the course of the last 30 years is that the L.T.T.E. did not touch the J.V.P. or J.H.U. despite their venomous anti-Tamil and anti-Indian and anti-L.T.T.E. political positions.

Of course, history provides enormous evidence to the effect that the extremists of either side always nourish and nurture each other for their mutual existence and survival.
Both in the North and the South, the chauvinists and extremists survived, thrived, and flourished at the expense of the Left movement and progressive forces. The country thereby lost its balance, and sense of direction and an era of violence and destruction dawned.

Our Party never embraced terrorism or violence as a means of capturing power. Our hands are not stained with blood. Our Party has always been patriotic as well as internationalist.
During the 67 years of our Party’s existence we have contributed much, in many ways for the cause of our people. Above all, we have enriched the social thinking of our people. We have made our people more enlightened, removing from their minds and thoughts, casteism, mysterious beliefs and obscurantism etc, We are proud of our contribution for all those rights of the people – political, economic, and social – that have been achieved through struggles of the Left Movement.

Now is the time for the progressive forces both in the North and the South to work together in the brooder interests of our Country and our people.
I wish to take this opportunity to apprise you of positive and inspiring developments in the international arena.

With the collapse of the Berlin Wall and subsequently of the Soviet Union, many bourgeoisie leaders predicted the end of socialism and the eternal existence of capitalism.

Within 20 years, the face of the world has changed again and continues to change profoundly.
The citadels of world capitalism, U.S. and Western Europe are collapsing, faster than we expected.

The continent of Asia is leading the world economy – with two giants, China and India emerging.

The reawakening of Latin America with 13 Left-wing Governments has altered the political map of Latin America, thus isolating the United States.
The democratization of Africa, has set in. Bridges are being built between China – Africa, Latin America – Africa, Middle East - Africa, Asia – Euro Asia, Russia – China – India. New economic centres, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, and Argentina are emerging.
Power of the omnipotent Dollar is weakening. 75% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves today belong to the developing countries. One third of the world’s foreign exchange reserve is owned by China.
These are the new realities of the world developments – This is why the Western Powers could not have their own way and their own say on matters relating to Sri Lanka. This is what Prabhakaran failed to comprehend.
The world’s Left Movement has revived. Today, there is globalization of Left and Progressive forces, the world over.

So, the international and national political environment is becoming favourable to us. This is the time for the progressive and democratic forces in the North and the South to work together.

This is the message of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka to the people of the North on its 67th. Anniversary.

Dew Gunasekara
General Secretary

Communist Party of Sri Lanka /

Minister of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms

SRI LANKA PAKISTAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES WEBSITE

SRI LANKA PAKISTAN FRIENDSHIP
ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES WEBSITE

In an impressive ceremony held at Pakistan High Commission Colombo, the first ever website of the Srilanka Pakistan Friendship Association (SLPFA) was launched by the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan Ms. Maryam Saeed. The ceremony was also attended by the President and other office bearers of the SLPFA, Embassy officials, diplomats and representatives of various media organizations.

The new website of the association http://www.slpafa.org/ is an open source knowledge portal , offering free downloads of all relevant information about the association, its past history, current projects and programmes, latest news and reference material about Pakistan and Sri Lanka in an interactive and user friendly manner. This website will not only cater to the members of the SLPFA alone but the society at large including the Pakistani community in Sri Lanka, other similar associations, NGOs, state agencies, researches, academics, business and civil societies and a host of others.

While speaking on the occasion the Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan, who is also the patron of SLPFA, applauded the management and members of the Association for the successful launch of the website. She said that the new leadership of Sri Lanka-Pakistan Friendship Association has injected great dynamism into the organization, which for many years, has been instrumental in strengthening the bonds of friendship between peoples of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The initiative of launching the Sri Lanka – Pakistan Friendship Association website will set the futuristic direction for the organization and will ensure fostering friendships, speedy connectivity, and appeal for the younger generation, she added.

The President of the SLPFA, Mr. Ifthikhar Aziz said that the Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Association has launched this site with the aim to completely revamp and enhance the image of the association, so that its members could have a sense of belonging and a passion to promote the aims and objectives of the SLPFA. This website can and will play a major role in realizing this commitment. He added that the Association welcomes suggestions, comments and the views of those accessing the website, so as to improve its contents and also to serve society at large in a more meaningful manner.

The new website would further strengthen the bond of friendship between the people of Sri Lanka and Pakistan and provide valuable information to a wider range of public.

web:http://www.slpafa.org/

Sri Lanka has lesson to world on defeating terror - President Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka has lesson to world on defeating terror - President Rajapaksa

We are aware that some countries being battered by terrorism have taken strength from the victories won by Sri Lanka over terrorism. It is time for the countries facing attacks from terrorism to look back and see where they had gone wrong, whereas Sri Lanka has succeeded, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his address to the Nation on the Victory Day celebrations at Galle Face, Colombo today.

It is a grave error of judgment to think that while being opposed to terrorism targeting you, to believe that terrorism that is no threat to you is good...The world has so far trod on this wrong path. Terrorism remains unvanquished because of this incorrect thinking. The countries that show sympathy towards terrorism and separatism will be the victims of terrorism. This is the lesson of history, President Rajapaksa further said.

Among the highlights of the President's address are:

 

* We have already appointed an Independent Commission to inquire into the causes that led to terrorism, the lessons we can learn from this, and the path to reconciliation.

*As long as we remember that those who sacrificed their lives now rest in the soil of our land, I declare with pride that our people shall not leave room for anyone to divide this motherland of ours.

*The people should have complete faith and confidence that the land that was liberated from terrorism through great sacrifice of life will not be handed over to the forces of separatism again.

*Our armed forces comprise those who went to battle carrying a gun in one hand, the Declaration of Human Rights the other, as well as taking food for the liberated people of the North and full of human kindness in their hearts.

*What those from abroad who seek to strengthen separatism are really doing is to once again corral the people of the north into camps...The world should look into what happened to all the aid that was given as relief for the Tamil people of the North. For thirty long years they did not see the development of roads, electricity and schools.

*It did not take us long to restore normalcy to the East that was affected by terrorism. We shall next resolve the problems faced from terrorism by the people in the North, by the end of this year.

*What is most needed to prevent the shedding of blood and tears for the country is to restore the hearts shattered by violence and ease such pain. I am confident that the Sri Lankan nation has the will to achieve this.

*We must line up under the slogan, 'We for the Country'. Many countries in the world have developed through the extra-ordinary endeavors of their people. We, who have astonished the world through success in our humanitarian operation, must do so in development, too. We must surprise the world through the unthinkable.

Sakuntalam in Jaffna

Sakuntalam in Jaffna

By Indian Council for Cultural Relations

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations presented the world famous classical Sanskrit play Abhijñana Sakuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala) of Kalidasa in the form of a musical dance drama in Tamil before a packed audience at the Veerasingham Hall in Jaffna on 5th May, 2010. Hon’ble Governor of the Northern Province, Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The Governor and Mrs. Chandrasiri were received upon their arrival by H.E. Mr. Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India, and witnessed the performance with him. Members of Parliaments, the Mayor of Jaffna Mrs. Yogeswari Patkunarajah, Chief Secretary Mr. A. Sivaswamy, Government Agent Mr. K. Ganesh, Mr. L. Illangovan, Secretary for Education, Culture and Sports, Northern Province and senior government officials were also present.

Speaking at the occasion, the Hon’ble Governor highlighted the importance of epics, classical literature and the fine arts, in particular the performing arts, in the nurturing of the cultural and social life of the society and transmission of culture and human values from generation to generation. The Governor recalled that Jaffna had been a society that had produced many eminent personalities in field of the fine arts and had had close cultural linkages with South India that included regular exchanges of well-known artistes and expressed the hope that these linkages would resume with the end of the armed conflict. Citing the staging of Abhijñana Sakuntalam as an instance, he praised the contribution India was making in the rejuvenation of the social and cultural life of the Northern Province.



Mahakavi Kalidasa was a renowned classical Sanskrit writer and is widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in Sanskrit. The period during which he flourished has not been established with precision, but it was probably during the Gupta period (4th-6th century C.E.). His plays and poetry are primarily based on Hindu mythology and philosophy.



Kalidasa wrote three plays besides a number of “mahakavyas” or epic poems. Among his plays, Abhijñana Sakuntalam is regarded as a masterpiece, the other two being Malvikagnimitram (i.e. Malvika and Agnimitra) and Vikramorvasiyam (i.e. Vikrama and Urvasi). Abhijñana Sakuntalam was one of the first works of Indian literature that became known to Europe and has been translated into English and many other European languages. Besides, Abhijñana Sakuntalam has over the centuries been translated into many South Asian languages, including Tamil, Sinhala and Hindi, and is well known in Sri Lanka among both the Tamils and the Sinhalese.



Last year, the Aru Sri Art Theatre had produced Abhijñana Sakuntalam as a musical dance drama in Sinhala for the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and it was staged in Colombo in September 2009 to a full audience at the Kularathne Hall at Ananda College. Following its success and the excellent media reviews it received, Abhijñana Sakuntalam was produced as a musical dance drama once again, this time in Tamil, by the Aru Sri Art Theatre under the able direction of Kalasuri Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan, a senior broadcaster, a reputed musician, composer and choreographer who needs no introduction to the cultural scene in Sri Lanka. The choreography has been done primarily in Bharatnatyam style, with flavours from Kathakali, Kathak, Oddisi, Kuchchipudi and Kalari. Also, the merging of Carnatic music and different Indian classical dance styles is unique.

The people of Jaffna turned out in large numbers to witness the performance and the High Commission and Indian Council for Cultural Relations are greatly moved and encouraged by the overwhelming response and would work to organize cultural activities on a regular basis in the Northern Province.



The High Commission and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations thanked the Hon’ble Governor of the Northern Province, Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri and his team for their support in organizing the performance.

UN Chief appeals to Sri Lanka show restraint and refrain from violence

Concerns over Gen. Fonseka's arrecst

On hearing the reports of the arrest of Sri Lanka's defeated opposition presidential candidate, General Sarath Fonseka by the Sri Lanka military, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Monday appealed to all the parties in Sri Lanka and their supporters to show restraint and refrain from violence.
The UN chief urged all parties to adhere to the electoral laws and to avoid provocative acts, not only in the election period, but also in the post-election stages.
Responding to the questions from journalists today about the General's arrest Martin Nesirky, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said the United Nations was monitoring the situation.
The spokesperson for Mr. Ban said that "the peaceful conduct of the first post-conflict national election and its aftermath is of the highest importance for long term peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka."
The statement was issued following media reports that the Sri Lankan military has arrested Sarath Fonseka, the former army chief who contested the recent presidential elections.
He was arrested by the military police on charges of military offences conducted during his time as the army commander, the Sri Lankan government said yesterday. Military investigations are in progress and a detailed statement will be issued later, the Media Center for National Security said.