15 June 2010
A Joint India-Lanka People's Statement for Cultivating Peace and not Free Trade Agreements
Talks towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) are to be intensified by the governments of India and Sri Lanka. This is one of the main messages from the joint declaration in Delhi, India between the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse. A joint commission has been revived for the purpose to deepen economic and agricultural ties. The CEPA is likely to be made final and signed by the end of this year.
This CEPA has no social backing and has been met with people's protests on both sides. In the past the two countries have signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that came into effect in 2000 and reportedly, the next level of trade relations through a CEPA are to “build on the gains” of the earlier FTA. However, a decade later there are neither official impact studies on either side nor real life evidence to show that trade between the two countries has gainfully bettered people's lives. The FTA was only about trade in goods, but the CEPA will broaden out to cover much more, including services and investment.
Despite PM Singh's call for “inclusive growth” and the President Rajapaksa's Election Manifesto Mahinda Chinthanaya motto that Lankans will produce locally, everything they need; our governments are negotiating several bilateral trade and investment agreements amongst themselves and other countries. In these negotiations, as in Lanka “the government (is) determined to give an opportunity to the business community, industrialists, investors, importers and exporters...to air their views on the CEPA and many other agreements which are scheduled to be signed.” Likewise, in India it is the industry bodies and business associations, such as FICCI and CII, that are consulted. The talks are not made transparent to ordinary people's whose lives and livelihoods are most affected by such bilateral trade and investment agreements. The two sides have now agreed to launch a CEOs Forum, so that business communities can interact. It is the economic and political elites that are able to bargain win-win deals for themselves.
South-South FTAs too must be seen as a continuation of relationships of dominance by powerful players and private corporations. The Indian peoples' experience with the Sri Lankan FTA shows that it has had a devastating impact on agricultural livelihoods in states such as Kerala. The same FTA has also had negative impacts on the Sri Lankan side, which explains the anti-India sentiment even with the proposed CEPA. Trade is thus turning our peoples against each other. Trade rules compel us to compete rather than collaborate. Therefore, the urgent need for a new foundation for fostering relationships amongst the countries in South Asia. Trade can not be the basis for lasting peace in the sub-region.
We, ordinary peoples, farmers' groups, worker unions, trade activists, non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations, representing both India and Sri Lanka, express solidarity with the movements on both sides of Palk Strait that work for genuine friendship across its waters. Till small farmers, fisher folk and local communities from both sides progress, there can be no real peace. In securing that peace, we do not need terms of trade – tariff quotas, import duties, CEPAs, etc. but an agreement to first make peace with the natural resources that support lives, cultures and livelihoods. More trading means more impacts on the planet and our peoples. It is our firm belief that resettlement after the many crises – ethnic, economic and ecological, requires rebuilding local economies that are socially just and ecologically appropriate. Therefore, we do not support any of the trade agreements between the two governments. We however endorse the many “alternatives” that people's themselves are building in partnership, such as on seed, food and farm practices. On our part we commit to work on a people-to-people level to sow peace.
Forum Against FTAs, India | MONLAR, Sri Lanka | GRAIN (International) | La Via Campesina, South Asia
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
A village Disappears
Last week, 3 of my collagues of Praja Abhilasha net work visited Mannar area to meet IDPs and search the opportunities for ensure their rights to be attained.
Rev. Thomas John, one among them drafted the following and I thought this is important story to tell others the realities of the so called resettlements of the IDS due to war ended last May, 2009.
Here is the story which Thomas John narrated after their visit to Mannar.
The story of the displacement of 200 households from their habitat in Mullikulam
Our visit to a group of 32 displaced families from Mullikulam in itself was significant achievement and experience. We got a glimpse into the kind of gross violations of human rights in the name of hunting down Tamil Tigers and the sinister designs behind such moves happening in a various parts in Sri Lanka. The story is that of two hundred families who had lived peacefully and with a sustainable means of lived- fishing- in a place called Mullikulam in the district of Mannar. They were uprooted in 1990 from their habitat, but with great resilience and determination they returned to it in 2004 and reconstructed their habitats and livelihood in the same location. In 2007, they were again evicted in one hour notice by the military. After taking them through various temporary shelters, 32 families were finally left in the streets of Mannar to fend for themselves. Since the time of this eviction, the husband of one of the women who had been accompanying them in a motor cycle was never seen again and still he is missing. Another group of evictees was separated from them to another place and some of them have since then left for India. Now the 32 families are squatting on a private land without any public service such as electricity and water and any means of livelihood or any resource base for sustainable livelihood. They have been traditionally dependent on fishing anA village Disappears
The story of the displacement of 200 households from their habitat in Mullikulam
Our visit to a group of 32 displaced families from Mullikulam in itself was significant achievement and experience. We got a glimpse into the kind of gross violations of human rights in the name of hunting down Tamil Tigers and the sinister designs behind such moves happening in a various parts in Sri Lanka. The story is that of two hundred families who had lived peacefully and with a sustainable means of lived- fishing- in a place called Mullikulam in the district of Mannar. They were uprooted in 1990 from their habitat, but with great resilience and determination they returned to it in 2004 and reconstructed their habitats and livelihood in the same location. In 2007, they were again evicted in one hour notice by the military. After taking them through various temporary shelters, 32 families were finally left in the streets of Mannar to fend for themselves. Since the time of this eviction, the husband of one of the women who had been accompanying them in a motor cycle was never seen again and still he is missing. Another group of evictees was separated from them to another place and some of them have since then left for India. Now the 32 families are squatting on a private land without any public service such as electricity and water and any means of livelihood or any resource base for sustainable livelihood. They have been traditionally dependent on fishing and now they have to eke out a living by casual manual labour. Their land is now occupied by the army and they are not permitted in as it is now a High Security Zone. Only 21 houses are now left in that area and the rest has been demolished and are now occupied by the army. It is also learned that now they are negotiating with the Catholic Bishop of the area for the land and a school belonging to the Catholic Church. It is also rumoured that they are going to construct houses for naval officers in that area. The displaced people are determined to get their land and houses back. The 32 families together would have about 80 acres of land. They refused to be lured into accepting anything less than their land and their means of livelihood. They cherish the happy life they had in Mullikulam. The same design of declaring war against innocent people and declaring their habitations as HSZs and handing them over for other developmental activities is replayed in different theatres of war against Tigers.
Rev.Thomas John.
06.06.10
Rev. Thomas John, one among them drafted the following and I thought this is important story to tell others the realities of the so called resettlements of the IDS due to war ended last May, 2009.
Here is the story which Thomas John narrated after their visit to Mannar.
The story of the displacement of 200 households from their habitat in Mullikulam
Our visit to a group of 32 displaced families from Mullikulam in itself was significant achievement and experience. We got a glimpse into the kind of gross violations of human rights in the name of hunting down Tamil Tigers and the sinister designs behind such moves happening in a various parts in Sri Lanka. The story is that of two hundred families who had lived peacefully and with a sustainable means of lived- fishing- in a place called Mullikulam in the district of Mannar. They were uprooted in 1990 from their habitat, but with great resilience and determination they returned to it in 2004 and reconstructed their habitats and livelihood in the same location. In 2007, they were again evicted in one hour notice by the military. After taking them through various temporary shelters, 32 families were finally left in the streets of Mannar to fend for themselves. Since the time of this eviction, the husband of one of the women who had been accompanying them in a motor cycle was never seen again and still he is missing. Another group of evictees was separated from them to another place and some of them have since then left for India. Now the 32 families are squatting on a private land without any public service such as electricity and water and any means of livelihood or any resource base for sustainable livelihood. They have been traditionally dependent on fishing anA village Disappears
The story of the displacement of 200 households from their habitat in Mullikulam
Our visit to a group of 32 displaced families from Mullikulam in itself was significant achievement and experience. We got a glimpse into the kind of gross violations of human rights in the name of hunting down Tamil Tigers and the sinister designs behind such moves happening in a various parts in Sri Lanka. The story is that of two hundred families who had lived peacefully and with a sustainable means of lived- fishing- in a place called Mullikulam in the district of Mannar. They were uprooted in 1990 from their habitat, but with great resilience and determination they returned to it in 2004 and reconstructed their habitats and livelihood in the same location. In 2007, they were again evicted in one hour notice by the military. After taking them through various temporary shelters, 32 families were finally left in the streets of Mannar to fend for themselves. Since the time of this eviction, the husband of one of the women who had been accompanying them in a motor cycle was never seen again and still he is missing. Another group of evictees was separated from them to another place and some of them have since then left for India. Now the 32 families are squatting on a private land without any public service such as electricity and water and any means of livelihood or any resource base for sustainable livelihood. They have been traditionally dependent on fishing and now they have to eke out a living by casual manual labour. Their land is now occupied by the army and they are not permitted in as it is now a High Security Zone. Only 21 houses are now left in that area and the rest has been demolished and are now occupied by the army. It is also learned that now they are negotiating with the Catholic Bishop of the area for the land and a school belonging to the Catholic Church. It is also rumoured that they are going to construct houses for naval officers in that area. The displaced people are determined to get their land and houses back. The 32 families together would have about 80 acres of land. They refused to be lured into accepting anything less than their land and their means of livelihood. They cherish the happy life they had in Mullikulam. The same design of declaring war against innocent people and declaring their habitations as HSZs and handing them over for other developmental activities is replayed in different theatres of war against Tigers.
Rev.Thomas John.
06.06.10
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Internally Displaced People in Sri Lanka
I don't know whether I should Laugh or should Cry when President Mahinda rajapakse is satisfied with the resettlement process and says on IDPs of Sri Lanka as follows;
"Sri Lanka has done the best job in the world of resettling internally displaced persons (IDPs) and rehabilitating militant youth."
“What we have achieved in terms of rehabilitation of those misled youth, and the resettlement of the IDPs, is far superior to any such exercise anywhere in the world,” Rajapaksa told at a business conference related to the ongoing International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards.
I am afraid to think what would be the so called resettlers of 275,000 people's destiny once President of SL says like this. What would be the way for their livelihoods? What would be the future of educationof the children? What will be the way for living for more than 50,000 women headed families?
The so called resettled people are still hanging on under the trees, abandoned houses or temporary shelters have considered as the resettlement.
If this is the assessment of the leader of the nation about his fellow citizens, we can not think what would be the future of those people and their destiny.
Herman Kumara,
05.06.10
Thursday, June 3, 2010
FREE FREE AUN SAN SUKI,! FREEDOM FOR BURMESE PEOPLE!
It is almost 20 years, the Burmese Military Junta keeping democratically elected Leader Aun San Suki of Myanmar. She had received more than 90% votes at the general election. But, the military junta didnot allow her to exercise the power and captured the power forcefully keeping Aun San Suki in the house arrest.
The Third World Friends, lead by Freddie Gamage organized a protest infront of the Myanmar Embassy on 26th May commemorating the victory of Aun San Suki and People of Myanmar.
There were more than 50 people gathered at the occassion including buddhist monks, catholic priests and nuns with number of civil society activists.
Our Main Slogans were;
Free Free Aun San Suki!
Freedom for Burmese people!
Herman Kumara,
03.06.10
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