Sunday Observer
Seylan Merchant Bank
Sunday, 17 July 2005    
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Features
News

Business

Features

Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Oomph! - Sunday Observer Magazine

Junior Observer



Archives

Mihintalava - The Birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhist Civilization

Silumina  on-line Edition

Government - Gazette

Daily News

Budusarana On-line Edition
 


P-TOMS in rough weather

by J. Vitarana


Pic by Saman Mendis

The Supreme Court Friday suspended the operation of four vital clauses of the MoU signed between the Government and the LTTE on the setting up of the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS).

Postponing the hearing for September 12, the SC gave interim relief to the petitioners under which (i) the location of the Regional Headquarters in Killinochchi has been suspended (ii) Regional Fund under Article 7 of the MoU is stayed (iii) Funds have to be audited by the Auditor - General and (iv) Project approval by the Regional Committee is stayed.

Nevertheless the SC upheld that the President has powers to enter into agreements with the LTTE. While the petitioners, the JVP hailed the decision as a significant victory, the Government also issued a statement expressing its satisfaction that the Court has upheld the legality of the Government's decision to sign the MoU.

The SC decision does not prevent the Government from setting up the P-TOMS except for the above restrictions on its operation. Nor does it prevent the government from negotiating with the LTTE on possible revision of the MoU in line with the Court ruling. Thus, while the JVP says that it's only a first step towards victory, there is no need for the government to despair. The main legal battle is still ahead.

The LTTE reaction to the Court ruling was not available at the time this review was written.

P-TOMS potom

There is a small Russian word that aptly describes the plight of P-TOMS following the SC interim relief order. It is potom, which means later. So it is P-TOMS potom.

In reality the delay in the operation of P-TOMS would result in the plight of the hapless victims of the tsunami in the districts under its control being left in the lurch until such time it becomes fully operative. This is a humanitarian tragedy which politicians of all shades have comfortably ignored in their craving for power and prestige.

Not only local politicians even the international community seems to be prioritising politics over humanitarian aid. Several countries including the United States and India have announced that they would not contribute to the Regional Fund set up under the P-TOMS to administer tsunami relief foreign donations.

In the case of both the US and India it is understandable since the LTTE is legally banned in both countries. Any contributions to that Fund to be controlled jointly by the Government and the LTTE might leave room for the latter to challenge their ban in those countries.

There is speculation that the UK would also follow suit after the hardening of its positions regarding terrorism following the recent bomb blasts in London. The European Union has decided to allow individual member countries to decide on the issue. After the set back suffered in promoting the EU Constitution such a liberal attitude could be expected.

These countries would, nevertheless, contribute directly to the Treasury.

Volatile East

Meanwhile, the situation in the East remains not only volatile but also inflammable. Ceasefire violations continue unabated. Communal tension is on the increase. Law enforcing authorities have so far failed to arrest the killing sprees. The cessation of the open guerilla war between the two factions of the LTTE is central to restoring normalcy in the area. The situation is further confounded by the existence of extreme communal groups that set one community against the other for their parochial interests.

Last week President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga expressed concern about the deterioration of the situation in Trincomalee and appealed for restraint. She also dispatched the Army and Navy Chiefs to study the situation there. Earlier she had replaced the Navy's Area Commander in a bid to pacify the situation.

Eastern developments once again highlight the inefficiency of the SLMM and its structural weaknesses that both parties to the CFA have not been able to address until today. It's a paper tiger.

The LTTE has closed its political offices in government-controlled areas in the East and has recalled its political representatives to the Vanni.

This shows their inability to face the guerilla type attacks by Karuna loyalists and the inability of the government to give them full protection or disarm Karuna loyalists.

UNP campaign

The SC interim ruling on the P-TOMS has virtually eclipsed the UNP build up on the Presidential election campaign. While that campaign reached its climax last Tuesday the SC decision last Friday brought back the P-TOMS to the centre of political debate and would continue to hold sway for some more time. UNP's campaign was mainly directed at the need for an urgent Presidential poll.

The participants, mostly party loyalists and supporters were more articulate in demanding a government of their own instead of voicing the problems of the masses. "Apata one anduwak" (We want a Government) was the main slogan audible throughout their long march from Devinuwara to Colombo.

They have now promised stage two of their campaign - Going to the villages. How long they could sustain these long and short marches is a moot point.

Nothing more than curiosity prompted many to line up along the roads to see the UNP performance despite the running commentary with bloated images on private TV channels.

Graduate protest

Graduates working in the public sector under the Graduate Recruitment Scheme of the UPFA government came out in full force last Friday demanding permanent employment. Demonstrating that they have not lost the militancy of their undergraduate days they squatted in central Pettah strategically blocking access from the South to Norris Canal Road the main traffic artery leading to the Colombo Fort Railway Station and the Central Bus Stand.

There was pandemonium as office workers on their way home had to disembark from buses and trod on foot to catch a train or bus home as all traffic was turned back at the Lake House roundabout inconveniencing thousands of commuters and jamming several city roads.

They were successful in obtaining a written undertaking from the Finance Minister to provide them all with permanent jobs by August 31. In fact 5400 of them have already received permanent appointments and thousands more have gone through interviews, tests and other procedures for recruitment to permanent posts.

ANCL TENDER- Platesetter

www.hemastravels.com

www.singersl.com

http://www.mrrr.lk/(Ministry of Relief Rehabilitation & Reconciliation)

www.Pathmaconstruction.com

www.peaceinsrilanka.org

www.helpheroes.lk


| News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security |
| Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries | Junior Observer |


Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services