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In
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In discussion with army top brass in
Jaffna A top level South African parliamentary delegation last Saturday raised human rights issues, rape and alleged Chemmani graves during discussions with the Security Forces top brass in Jaffna, authoritative officials said yesterday."Controversial issues were raised by the South Africans," a senior official told The Island yesterday adding that the discussions at the Security Forces, headquarters, Jaffna lasted for at least two hours. The delegation had questioned the military about the number of rapes reported in the Jaffna peninsula, delays in investigating the alleged Chemmani mass graves, human rights violations, security operations and other related matters. The delegation had been accompanied by Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Pretoria, Mr. Gamini Munasinghe. The Security Forces Commander,Jaffna Major General Lohan Gunawardene, the General Officer Commanding[GOC] 54 Division deployed in the Elephant Pass-Paranthan sector and senior officers representing the Airforce, Navy and Police had been present at the briefing. The military had said that 10 cases of rape had been reported in the past three years.The officers had explained the current security situation in the peninsula and steps taken by both the government and the armed forces to improve the living conditions there. The delegation had sought to visit uncleared areas. "They wanted to move overland and go beyond army held positions at Paranthan and visit the LTTE held areas.However the military has pointed out such an unscheduled visit was not possible. Later in the day the delegates had visited Jaffna town where they met government officials, representatives of NGOs,university teachers,clergy and the Jaffna based representatives of the Human Rights Commission[HRC].The delegation during brief meetings [not with the military] had indicated that the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE must resume negotiations with outside help.Sources said that the delegation had said that South Africa was ready to assist Sri Lanka and the LTTE to conduct talks abroad. In talks with the security forces top brass in Jaffna, the delegation had raised human rights issues, rapes,harassment of the civilian community and other related issues. The military had told the delegation that they were not responsible for delaying investigation into so called alleged mass grave at Chemmani. "The area had gone under water," the military had told the delegation adding that a foreign expert had arrived in Colombo to assist the local police in the investigation. Senior officers told The Island that the delegation wanted to cross check whatever the information provided to South African authorities by the LTTE. "We are fully aware of the LTTE's links with South Africa," informed sources said admitting that there was no clear evidence so far to suggest that Sri Lanka's diplomatic offensive has been successful. The delegation arrived in Jaffna a day after the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) briefed them of the situation and sought SA's help to persuade Sri Lanka to resume negotiations with the LTTE. The TULF during talks with the delegation had stressed the need to end the on-going military campaign against the LTTE and bring the organisation back to the negotiating table. The South African delegation comprising Chairman of the Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs [ANC], Ebrahim Ebrahim, Dr. E. Jesset [ANC], S. Mgidi [ANC], Y. Carrim [ANC], D. Dalling[ANC], Dr.K.Rajoo [Inkhata Freedom Party] and Desmond Padiachey [National Party] was flown to by the SLAF on Saturday morning. The delegation which arrived here on December 8 was scheduled to leave yesterday. The LTTE engaged in a campaign to cripple civil administration in Jaffna had killed two Jaffna Mayors.Both victims belonged to the TULF. The TULF last month voted against the government's fifth's budget over the allocation of staggering Rs 47.03 billion for defence.During a meeting with the President last month, the TULF impressed upon the compelling need to commence a dialogue with the LTTE and the importance of structuring talks with third party facilitation so as to ensure meaningful progress. Despite denials, government officials strongly believe LTTE was active in South Africa. "There was no doubt about that," one source said. Political and official sources said that a lot will depend on the observations made by the SA parliamentary delegation.Before visiting Jaffna, the delegation had met the deputy defence minister,Anuruddha Ratwatte in Colombo. Tamil sources said that they expect South Africa to play a role similar to the one played by India in the early stages of the North-East conflict. Major General Sri Lal Weerasooriya will replace Lt. Gen. Rohan de S. Daluwatte tomorrow Dec. 16 as Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), army headquarters official told 'The Island' yesterday. The proposal to build a road through Kandy's forest reserve Udawattakele has been abandoned. SLFP MP for the Central Province and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kiriella has told Dr. Nihal Karunaratne who headed public protests against this move that the proposal has been dropped. Carl Muller, internationally known author who wrote against the proposed road in 'The Island' on Saturday had been told by Dr. Karunaratne that it was a 'Victory for the people of Kandy' Last week girls of Mahamaya College, Kandy posted 2000 postcards to President Kumaratunga protesting against the move. More students were to join in the protest. The Kandy post office has run out of postcards. Thomians claim that the field of medicine for 1998 should be referred to as the "Year of the Thomians". The post of President of seven prestigious medical associations and colleges held by Old Boys of St. Thomas' College, Mt. Lavinia are:
Except Dr. Sunil Fernando, the other four were in the same class at school. Nurses' 'sick note' campaign islandwide The President of the Public Services United Nurses Union (PSUNO), Ven. Murutettuwe Ananda Thera and committee members are expected to hold a crucial emergency meeting to discuss the impending 'sick note campaign' by nurses in government hospitals islandwide. They are also due to meet Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva to discuss their demands. The future course of action will depend on the outcome of the deliberations with the Minister, Ven. Ananda thera told 'The Island' yesterday. The PSUNO earlier announced a two-day islandwide 'sick note campaign' on Wednesday and Thursday in a move that could paralyse work at all government hospitals. The Union is demanding that the recruitment of nurses as 'pre pupil nurses' be stopped as it's not giving them the appropriate and required training. The PSUNO says that the normal training period for nurses is three years in Nursing Training School (NTS) while they have their practicals in hospitals. But in this case, the new nurses who will be recruited by the government will have only three weeks training in (NTS) and will directly be attached to government hospitals. For these nurses as well as for patients, this will turn out to be tragic because the training period is so short there is nothing that they can learn, he claimed. Meanwhile the staff of the Nivithigala hospital, except doctors staged a token strike yesterday to protest against alleged death threats on a nurse by a local politician over a private dispute. CWE well prepared to meet demands of
festive season The Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) is well prepared to meet the demands of the festive season. Prices of certain essential items have been reduced from last Saturday. Upali Cooray, General Manager (Marketing) assured at a press conference yesterday. Among the items are potatoes which have been reduced from Rs. 44 to Rs. 37.50, sugar from Rs. 28.50 to Rs. 27.50, samba rice from Rs. 31.50 to Rs. 31.00, samba 10 kg from Rs. 305 to Rs. 300, onions from Rs. 45.00 to Rs. 38.00, canned fish from Rs. 44.00 to 42.00, and Red dhal from Rs. 48.50 to 48.00. Mr. Cooray said that due to adverse weather conditions that prevailed during the months of May, June and July in the countries from where goods are generally imported, there was a problem. He said that rice is not imported except in special occasions. He said that during the Maha season it was not necessary to import rice as the local produce was used but during the Yala season rice was imported. During the Maha season the minimum price for rice grain bought from farmers was Rs. 9/- and it increased from Rs.10 - 11 and that the farmers got a good price. At present 12,000 tonnes of rice have been ordered and 4000 tonnes of it have already arrived and are in stock. The rest of the stock is expected to arrive within the week. According to statistics the price of rice has stopped going up in price, he said. Onions abundantly found in the market at present have been imported from Holland CWE Chairman S. P. Chandradasa said that this was partly due to the fact that the Indian government has implemented 50% tax on exports of foodstuffs. One of the main reasons was because after the floods in India exporting of these foodstuffs have been banned. About 250 metric tonnes of onions and rice were got down every week and also 200 metric tonnes of potatoes. Some of the goods essential for the season and available without a scarcity will be rice, flour, onions, Christmas cake ingredients, spices and toys, he assured. Mr. Cooray said that franchise shops have brought in an increase of Rs. 200 m this year. One of the main reasons for this was because of the system which enables supplies directly to the franchise shops to meet their requirements. Earlier, to obtain requirements, franchise shop holders, especially in rural areas had to close shop to come to Colombo, he said. The two main rice mills of the CWE are in Lunugamvehera and Hingurakgoda. On an initiative taken by the government, the CWE is now required to supply rice to the army and also hospitals through the Commissioner of Essential Services, he said. Working Director CWE Anton Ratnayake said that the franchise shops in the Jaffna area were fuctioning well. Commodities that are in most demand were sugar and dhal. The CWE will also conduct a mobile service from Chilaw to Panadura especially for the festive season. All retail shops have also been asked to remain open for an extended hour and also open on Sundays until December 24. The annual turnover this year for CWE is Rs.17 billion. The profit is 100 million while last year's turn over was Rs. 16 billion. |
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