Athirady

We, the undersigned academics attached to different universities in Sri Lanka, call upon the government to re-consider the proposed 18th Amendment to the Constitution for the reasons set out below.
Constitutional reforms, like elections, go to the heart of what it means to be a democracy in the
modern-day world. Any changes that are introduced to a [...]

Singh’s comments follow repeated diplomatic sparring between the two Asian powers in the last two years, reflecting growing friction over their disputed borders and roles as emerging global powers despite bilateral trade that has grown 30-fold since 2000.
New Delhi:  China is seeking to expand its influence in South Asia at India’s expense, Indian Prime Minister [...]

LONDON (Reuters) – Millions of London commuters struggled to get to and from work on Tuesday as a 24-hour strike by workers on the capital’s underground rail system disrupted much of the network, hurting the city’s convalescent economy. Passengers took to bikes and buses, walked, or made use of extra boat services on the River [...]

Government accused of scaremongering after prime minister claims 500 asylum seekers aboard boat a security concern
The arrival off the west coast of Canada of a rusty boat containing nearly 500 exhausted Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers has sparked an angry debate about racism that has divided national opinion.
The merchant vessel Sun Sea limped, under escort, [...]

Gampaha District United National Party MP and actress Upeksha Swarnamali popularly known as ‘Pabha’ expressed her support to the government on the 18th Amendment to the constitution a short while ago. Meanwhile Nuwara Eliya District UNP MP and former journalist J. Shree Ranga and Kurunegala District MP Nilwala Wijesinghe also have decided to extend their [...]

A mass grave from the end of World War II has been discovered in Slovenia.
The 20m-long pit near the town of Prevalje is believed to contain the remains of up to 700 men and women, said government official Marko Strovs.
Some of the people buried in the grave appear to have been shot, others seem to [...]

The government yesterday assured all UNP Parliamentarians, who would vote for the 18th Amendment in Parliament today, that they would be given total protection.
SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena, when asked whether the government would provide legal and other assistance to those UNP MPs if they got into trouble for supporting the government, said the [...]

We have witnessed thirty years of armed conflict and the erosion of democratic values entrenched in the first post-independence Constitution. The end of the armed conflict brought with it high expectations of a just peace, strengthened democracy and development.  The proposed changes to the Constitution do not merely disappoint these expectations, but in themselves give rise to [...]

Alberto Lubang said he used a nail file to destroy the handcuffs that kept him tied to the wheel and escaped through the window of the tourist bus.
Manila: Philippines police commanders and their negotiators “were eating in a nearby Chinese restaurant” when a dismissed police officer started shooting at 15 hostages in a tourist bus [...]

There were protests in parliament as the Supreme Court decision cleared the way for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to run for a third term.
Supreme Court declared that the constitution can be amended by a vote in parliament, and a referendum is not needed to endorse the changes.

The amendment will concentrate more powers on the president

Ruling [...]

The UN has made a fresh appeal for Pakistan’s flood victims as film star Angelina Jolie has arrived in the country to highlight their plight.
The UN High Commission for Refugees says that it needs $120m (£78m) for tents and other supplies.
A UN official told the AFP news agency that so far it has received about [...]

In the wake of threat letters warning her against visiting Madurai

Additional security will be provided to Opposition leader Jayalalithaa in the light of threat letters received by her, said Letika Saran, Director-General of Police (DGP).
On the sidelines of ‘Leadership development programme for women,’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) here on Monday, Ms. [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-STM-190-2010
September 7, 2010
A Statement by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: September 18–Black Wednesday to mark end of liberal democracy
On September 8 (tomorrow) the government will move 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which is to be voted on that day itself to remove the constitutional limitation of two terms on the [...]

The removal of the two-time bar on the President from contesting is among the key changes proposed to the Constitution

The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has opined that the changes proposed by the government to the Constitution were not inconsistent with the provisions of the existing Constitution and a referendum was not required on them.
The Parliament [...]

Eighteen people including children were feared killed and at least 40 injured in a powerful blast that ripped through the police lines in Kohat, a cantonment town in Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa.
The toll is expected to rise as many people are said to be buried under the rubble of the buildings that were brought down by the explosion.
Khyber-Pukhtoonkhwa [...]

OTTAWA – If you frequent escort services, massage parlours or strip clubs, the RCMP and the federal government want you to know that you may be supporting a crime: human trafficking.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews joined the RCMP and Crime Stoppers Canada to announce simultaneous public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the issue [...]

FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-022-2010
September 7, 2010
An article by Sunalie Ratnayake and Sanath Jinadasa published by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: Proposed 18th Amendment to the constitution — An encoded devious mission of the ruling schemers
Sunalie Ratnayake and Sanath Jinadasa

In a concise epoch, much succinct than one could have ever imagined, or may have ever anticipated, [...]

IFON, Nigeria (AFP) – The “magic” cassava roots the Nigerian farmer pointed to might have made Charles Darwin smile — and they may also turn out to be part of the solution to hunger across swathes of Africa.
“If you uproot it, you can see six or seven tubers,” said Bashir Adeyinka Adesiyan, a farmer from [...]

PARIS—Strikes hobbled public transit across France and in London on Tuesday, with tourists and commuters bearing the brunt of a wave of discontent over government austerity measures.
French unions challenged unpopular President Nicolas Sarkozy with a major nationwide strike over plans to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, cutting service on trains, planes, buses [...]

Most of the proposals in the 18th Amendment, to be presented to Parliament today, came from the Opposition, though the UNP is staging protests against it, President Mahinda Rajapaksa says.
Addressing a group of media heads and newspaper editors at Temple Trees yesterday, President Rajapaksa said resistance to the 18th Amendment emanated from chronic prejudices that [...]

It is reported that the vote of a non Govt. M P who votes with the Govt. for the constitutional amendments has been estimated at a value of Rs. 500 to 1000 lakhs .
While the minimum amount on offer is Rs. 500 lakhs , commensurate with the individual’s status, his seniority and his prominence it [...]

The DNA MP and Former chief of Army General Sarath Fonseka told Parliament that during his tenure as Army Commander for four years , 200 kilograms of gold had been unearthed from the Vellamullivaikkal area in the Mullaitivu district , during operations there.
Speaking during extension of the emergency Mr. Fonseka said even larger stocks of [...]

FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ART-089-2010
September 7, 2010
An Article by the Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN: Flood-stricken children’s vulnerability increases because of politics and negligence of authorities
Darja Merkina

The current floods are having a detrimental effect on children’s health due to the potential outbreak of endemic waterborne diseases. The UN Office for the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesman, [...]

The federal government is partnering with Crime Stoppers to enlist the Canadian public’s help in detecting and reporting signs of potential human trafficking.

The announcement Tuesday by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews comes in the wake of last month’s arrival of a ship carrying hundreds of Tamil migrants in B.C.
Toews said the “Blue Blindfold” campaign will [...]

New manufacturing facility in India expected to be up and running by 2013
Tokyo: Suzuki Motor Corporation is planning a third vehicle plant in India to keep up with burgeoning sales, the Japanese small-car maker said on Monday.
The plant will be up and running, perhaps as early as 2013, at the same site as its plant in [...]

UNP Ratnapura District MP Ranjan Ramanayake said there were only three males at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Saudi Arabia to look into the welfare of about 500,000 Sri Lankan housemaids employed in that country.
Ramanayake was in Matara yesterday to look into the progress of the work on the house being built for the Lankan [...]

FOR PUBLICATION
AHRC-ETC-021-2010
September 7, 2010
An article by Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza published by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: 18th Amendment through American eyes
Repercussions of the 18th Amendment and the Decline of Democracy
Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Lord Acton, 1887

(Pictured above: A group of Sri Lankan lawyers burn a [...]

India and Poland discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relationship especially in the fields of defence and trade and investment during a series of meetings between Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Indian leadership here.
Mr. Tusk, who arrived in Bangalore on Monday, held delegation level talks with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and called on President [...]

The new software can translate simple statements uttered into an Android-enabled phone, with a short delay

Internet search giant Google unveiled new technology Tuesday that slowly interprets conversations between two people who do not speak the same language.
The software was demonstrated during a presentation by Eric Schmidt, chief executive of U.S.-based Google, at the IFA consumer-electronics [...]

Another ship bearing Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka may be getting ready to head for Canada.
CTV News reported Monday night that federal officials are preparing to head off the third such boat to cross the Pacific Ocean. The report remains unconfirmed by the federal Public Safety Department.
On Aug. 12, the MV Sun Sea, carrying 492 migrants, [...]

Dear Readers,
We wish to share with you the following statement from a group of Sri Lankan citizens.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-FST-068-2010
September 7, 2010
A Statement from a group of Sri Lankan citizens forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
SRI LANKA: An appeal made to all members of parliament of Sri Lanka by a group of Sri Lankan [...]

Now the patients and their guardians who visit the National Cancer Institute for treatment can stay together free and meals will also be available for them a Health Ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman there are 250 rooms in the newly built hostel. Both patients and their guardians can stay together in these rooms. [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-STM-191-2010
September 7, 2010
A Joint Statement by the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) and the Asian Human Rights Commission
INDONESIA: Key perpetrator of student crackdown and riots in 1997/98 promoted to vice minister of defense
The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) and the Asian Human Rights [...]

Sound sleep very early in life is the best insurance against obesity, a research has found.
Babies, toddlers and pre-school children sleeping less than 10 hours a night are more likely to be overweight as they age.
Experts believe that lack of sleep causes one to feel hunger and crave calorie-rich snacks during the day, reports Daily [...]

A terrorism expert claims a group of Tamils are gathered in Thailand waiting for a ship to collect them and bring them to Canada.

“The same network responsible for the Sun Sea and Ocean Lady are in the process of collecting people, to pay to come to Canada,” said Prof. Rohan Gunaratna, of the International Centre [...]

Authorities on Tuesday clamped curfew in Srinagar city and imposed restrictions elsewhere in the Kashmir Valley after mobs went on a rampage attacking two police stations to protest killing of four persons allegedly in firing by security forces.
Curfew was clamped in eight police station areas — Rainawari, Maharajgunj, Safakadal, Khanyar and Nowhatta in old city, [...]

Dear Readers,
We wish to share with you the following statement from the Steering group of the Right to Food Campaign.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-FST-067-2010
September 6, 2010
A Statement from the Steering group of the Right to Food Campaign forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
INDIA: Campaign urges Supreme Court to expand the public food distribution system
The [...]

China on Tuesday underlined its role in South Asia, saying that as an “important member” of Asia it is willing to work with India for peace and stability in the sub-continent.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said China is committed to safeguarding peace and stability of Asia, including South Asia.
“I would like to say that [...]

Dear Readers,
We wish to share with you the following article from Mr. Abdullah Khoso.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AHRC-FAT-047-2010
September 6, 2010
An article from abdulhumanrights.blogspot.com forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission
PAKISTAN: Frontier Crimes Regulation — Infringing Human and Child Rights
By Abdullah Khoso
Introduction
During the time of the British Raj in the subcontinent of India, a set of [...]

Amid reports that another boat of Sri Lankan migrants could be bound for Canada, the Conservatives are mulling new legislation aimed at deterring human smuggling.
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews is expected to take a list of choices before cabinet during the week of Sept. 13.
At least three measures designed to combat the smuggling of [...]